I’ve been off the grid too long. Part 2 of “That Shit You Call Music” should have been up weeks ago, but Covid-19, as well as my usual chronic procrastination, got in the way. I went back to Iowa for a high school class reunion on July 16. Returned on July 19 to find my wife had tested positive, which necessitated adjustments to our household life. She tested negative a week or so later. A week after that, it was my turn. Tested positive on August 5 and wasn’t negative until the 23rd. This is no excuse, but while we were in that limbo state, I couldn’t crank up the motivation to do any blog work, or much of anything else. Though I did manage to watch all five Daniel Craig Bond films one after the other (though not in order), as well as I Was a Teenage Frankenstein and I Was a Teenage Werewolf, both enhanced by the presence of the great character actor Whit Bissell. It is what it is.

Part 2 still has to be written, but in the meantime, to get going again, here is another random array of material I’ve accumulated over time. There’s no particular rhyme or reason to this collection, other than that these items all got my attention in one way or another. There’s no theme or message that I’m aware of (you’d have to ask Freud). It doesn’t begin or end anywhere, it just starts and stops. Make of it what you will.

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Below, the young Max Schreck, years before appearing in Nosferatu.

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Laurel & Hardy, Jimmy Durante, Buster Keaton

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Basil Rathbone & Lana Turner.

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Lon Chaney with his make-up box.

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Jeanne Moreau

Fay Wray, publicity shot for King Kong

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Illustrations by artist & filmmaker Ed Emshwiller.

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Okay, I think that about does it. The delayed part 2 of my music saga is coming up next. Stay safe. — Ted Hicks

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