Set in the riotous 1960s, this documentary explores the intricacies of Up With People, a clean-cut singing youth group who believed they could change the world. They were a cultural phenomenon spanning 40 years, reaching 20 million people, singing in 47 languages to 3,600 worldwide communities, performing for popes and kings, as well as four Super Bowl half-time shows. Smile Til It Hurts weaves together members’ heartfelt perspectives and private secrets with 40 years of Up With People’s vast archive of footage, photos and news clips into a smile-drenched, entertaining and thought-provoking romp through the underside of politics, cults and money.- Slamdance Film Festival
I saw Up With People a few times during the early 80’s, and met some Uppies while traveling in Europe once. They’re good people. I could have been an Uppy.
I came across an old picture of a Butlin camp monorail one night on Flickr, and then stayed up until 4am reading everything I could find online about it. Butlin camps were popular seaside resorts for several generations of UK families. They were a magical place where families could go, leave their kids with the children’s staff, and then head to one of many spectacular themed bars for a real vacation.
www.redcoatsreunited.com is another great site dedicated to staff memories. Be sure to check out the page on The Big Fire of 1974, which pretty much marked the end Butlin camp heydays.
Our True Intent is All for Your Delight: The John Hinde Butlin’s Photographsis a gorgeous coffee table book full of oversaturated and meticulously staged publicity pictures taken by John Hinde and associates in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. I found a copy on the Amazon marketplace for around $10., and its easily one of the coolest photo books I’ve ever bought. I think a lot of my upcoming work will draw inspiration from here.
Don’t let the crappy packaging fool you. Almojabanas are tasty buns made of spanish cheese, rice and yucca flour. It took me about half an hour to whip up a batch last night from this mix, and they came out terrific. I’m enjoying a warm one with my coffee now. Delicious.
Tonight Rene called to say that he and Jon needed to come over. At first I asked why and realized (after Rene told me) I was being rude. So they came over and Jon gave me this (poorly photographed) gift:
Thanks, Jon, it made my week. I know Annette is laughing her ass off.
These two have been snuggling for about an hour. Loretta keeps her face about an inch from AnnaB’s and kisses her chin every few minutes. They stare into each other’s eyes. I just peeked in and they are both asleep.
Last night I watched the first disk of Thrill of it All: A Visual History of Roxy Music. It reminded me why I love them so much. If you don’t know their music I can’t recommend this disc as a way to get introduced to them since many of the tracks are live and not optimal recordings. However, if you already know their music, or want to know (or be reminded) just how FAB a group of guys could be in the 70’s check it out. I don’t think I could have become who I am without people like Roxy Music inspiring me into glamorous oddness.
The disc is basically a bunch of TV appearances and some concert footage, probably made for TV as well. Pay particular attention to the first few songs since you’ll see Brian Eno (one of the founding members) in his uber-femme-70’s-oddness. Sadly he left the band early.
If you’re interested in their music I think everyone should own Siren, Roxy Music and Avalon. The others have great songs on them but I don’t like the whole albums.
Today at work I got the call you never want to get. My dear friend Annette died in her sleep last night of a heart attack. While nobody would accuse Annette of being healthy she surely wasn’t the most unhealthy person I know. I suppose I’ll be making some firmer New Year’s resolutions this year.
Annette was great. I don’t think I’ve laughed more with any other person. She was always the person pushing you to do something outrageous and then run and hide while you did it. Of course she was also the person who I had to drag down off the fence of the dance floor at the Starck Club one to keep her from getting kicked out. And I’m pretty sure this was during her sober period. When she and Gene (also deceased) got together it was madness. The photo of us at Space Mountain was taken with the two of them on my last (and final) trip to Disneyland. It’s a miracle we weren’t arrested.
The photo below is my favorite photo that I have of Annette and the most iconic. She loved Baton Rouge and couldn’t understand why I wanted to move. This picture shows Annette in a typical attempt to fly under the radar and not quite making it. I’ll really miss her. Even when she couldn’t remember to not call me Bob.
One of the last things Annette did in life was buy a ton of fireworks for New Year’s Eve. If you can I encourage you to shoot off some fireworks this year in her honor.
The other night I was lounging on the sofa with a glass of champagne enjoying my Christmas tree when a completely inappropriate to the moment song came on my iTunes. It was a tough call to decide whether to just sit through the song or to get up, walk ALL the way into the kitchen and skip the track. As I walked into the kitchen I thought to myself that there should be an iPhone application to control your iTunes.
Turns out there is and it works great, although it does wear down your battery really quickly.
I somewhat knew this album growing up. Then in the late 80’s Kevin L bought it at a thrift shop or sidewalk sale and it became a Christmas staple around our houses. Barbra delivers some seriously beautiful Christmas tunes and it’s hard to even think about it being ironic that she’s Jewish and belting out the glories of the Christ child. I can’t believe I let this album go in my purging of all things vinyl/plastic because it’s so good. Even better that it was a “gift” from Maxwell House. (I thought it was one of the Firestone records but I was evidently wrong. Although most of those are really good too!)
Please, if you come across it buy it for me or Rene.
Merry Christmas to all, regardless of what you actually believe in.
