The latest VANITY FAIR profile of Ms. Palin: IT'S ALIVE.....
 
Could not resist offering this profile of THAT PALIN WOMAN:  Hit this link for a revealing look at THE ALASKAN HUNTRESS.
 
I try to stay way from political pieces but this is just too ON THE MONEY.
 
Enjoy!
Glenn

Posted by Glenn Shadix at 09:21 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

for information on Dana's career, click here.

 

This blog is taken from an email to David Kaplan, curator of The T. Williams Festival In Province Town: 

We just spoke and, while fresh, I thought I'd let you know my connection to Dana.  We never met but I had a wonderful relationship with Dana's mother, Mary Nell Santacroce and her step-father Dante Santacroce.  (Back in 1974, I was actually a cute, curly haired 180 pound 21 year old living in Atlanta)

I had just come off my first Equity tour of MAN OF LA MANCHA and Dante directed me in a memorable production of THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES.  Mary Nell coached me in this role and Dante was a wonderful director and became a friend as did Mary Nell.  I was hungry for more coaching and felt I needed to get a more solid foundation by getting into a good liberal arts school. All my instincts told me I was not ready for a professional career. I was 21 and incredibly insecure.  Response to my work in both plays I did in Atlanta had been extremely positive but I was well aware of the well trained competition I would be facing and was in search for solid experience--this came in the form of a Drama scholarship at Birmingham Southern and I was enrolled and in rehearsals for Claudius in HAMLET by the 1974 fall term.                                                                                  

Mary Nell arranged a lunch at Harry Ellerbe's.  It was just Harry and me and his older sister who was quietly charming but distant.  She served us in the beautiful breakfast room and then disappeared.

I had no idea Harry had been the original "gentlemen caller" in The Glass Menagerie and he never brought it up--I only found that out a few years ago.

We enjoyed our lunch and he had many simple, solid pieces of advice for a young actor.  He drove home the point that actor's today do not treasure the "words".  This remained with me.

Just, if not awkward, pass on my deep affection to Dana for Mary Nell and Dante.  I feel they must have both passed away at this point.

Mary Nell was quite wonderful as "the land lady" in John Houston's WISE BLOOD and did appear in several films.  She would have worked non-stop in Los Angeles but chose to remain in Atlanta.

Dearest David, sorry to have allowed this little note to grow into a 'bio tale' but it just flowed...........   I know how busy you are but once I begin a tale it sometimes happens!  Hope the T. Williams Festival is coming together.  My Sciatica should be better soon but, regretfully, I will miss the 5th Season.  Very disappointed but health has to take the front seat this year. 

Best to you and Jerry and Spot,
Glenn

For those who can make it to Province Town, here's a link with info:  http://www.twptown.org

Posted by Glenn Shadix at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Thursday August 5, 2010 was my first opportunity to see  one of my life long inspirations.  A social conscience with a voice that must have aroused envy amongst the most modest of angels.  My fellow fans and travelers to see Joan Baez in Baton Rouge were Diane Tune and James Gunter.  All Alabamians.
 
Growing up in and around Birmingham, Alabama I had some relatives who made it necessary to hide Joan's recordings along with other such "subversive" artists as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and The Mamas and The Papas) under the mattress in my bedroom. These LP's all lay there quietly as in a bunker awaiting further orders.   I  listened to Pete Seeger at the home of a trusted friend.  Patti Page seemed free to sing about little doggies in windows at will. Was it that pretty blonde hair that gave her clearance?  These hidden treasures (Pete got lucky) all burned in a house fire December 5, 1970.  They were later replaced with money I earned cutting grass or re-capping tires at my father' Goodyear dealership.
 
By late Thursday August 5, 2010 while the band loaded for their late night trip to Phoenix I got the opportunity to sit down with Joan for a few minutes.  We returned from Baton Rouge the next morning.
 
Here are some photos from a memorable night in Baton Rouge

 

Glenn Shares some time with Joan Baez after the show.

 

Joan playing to a packed house in Baton Rouge.

 

The Baez Band

 

     John Doyle----------Guitar, Vocals
     Dirk Powell----------Fiddle,Banjo
     Todd Phillips--------Bass
     Blair Woods---------Tour Mgr.
     Jim Stewart----------Merchandizing
     Emma Vasseur-----assistant to  Ms. Baez

 

 

The bittersweet lone mic as Joan leaves the stage.

Posted by Glenn Shadix at 05:58 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

-----Original Message-----
To: ninemooncorp <ninemooncorp@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jul 16, 2010 7:49 am
Subject: You're Alive

Mr. Shadix,
    Hollywood isn't the only place that thinks you are dead. I drove by the empty lot the other day and was lamenting that you haven't rebuilt that gorgeous house yet when I was informed by several of my officers that you were deceased.  Several citizens I spoke with thought so too! My heart broke. ImDb didn't list you're death but one of my officers "remembered" reading about it in The News last year.
    I was so HAPPY to see as of the 27th of April 2010 you're alive and still going after roles! Here's to your health, good luck on your continuing career, and wishing you the best!

Jacqueline Pearson
Your Fan
Bessemer PD

P.S. Are you rebuilding the house?

 

-----Original Message-----
From: ninemooncorp <ninemooncorp@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jul 23, 2010 11:01 pm
Subject: Re: You're Alive

Yes, Jaqueline,
 
  To quote Mark Twain,"Reports of my death are greatly
exaggerated!"  After the devastating blaze on Dartmouth Ave  I bought a lovely home at 2250 South Highland Ave between 22nd and 23rd streets south.  I made a film in August and September of 2009 on the north shore of Maui (FINDING GAUGUIN, a period piece set in 1903) and have been doing a great deal of traveling since my tragic house fire of Dec 2008.
 
  I worked with The Museum of Modern Art(MoMA) both at the opening (Nov. 2009) and closing (April 2010) of the tremendously successful career retrospective of Tim Burton.  At Tim's request I helped open the show and then in April 2010 was brought to NYC at MoMA's request to speak at the museum, introduce the Museum's final screening of BEETLEJUICE and do a Q&A after the screening.  It was a great reunion of all the artists who have worked with Tim Burton on the last 25 years.  This magnificent museum installation moves on to Toronto and next year to The Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art before traveling on to London.  Its been an exciting year.
 
  I will be starting work with the USO later this year and in 2011 on The Wounded Warrior Project, and with the guidance of The USO begin visiting military hospitals throughout the USA to visit with the many men and women of the armed services who are dealing with appalling injuries sustained while in service to our great country.  I will highlight this tour with a visit to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C.
 
  In late 2011 or early in 2012 will be visiting active duty troops both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Alabama's young men and women have always been among the quickest in America to step up and serve our great country during times of threat.  This is not about politics.  This is about answering the call when our country needs our brave young men and women.  I am so very proud of all our armed services and in particular the courageous people of my great home state of Alabama.
 
 Thank you for your email Jacquline and once again, I can assure you I am very much alive.  I will be updating my 13 year old website soon.   Check it out and as I begin my work with The Wounded Warrior Project there will be regular updates.
 
All the Best to You,
Glenn Shadix

Posted by Glenn Shadix at 07:32 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Glenn And MoMA Film Curator, Jenny He

The Museum of Modern Art invited me to speak at the museum's final screening of BEETLEJUICE this month.  It was quite an honor and so much fun! They flew me to New York and booked me into The Warwick, just across the street from MoMA.  Jenny arranged a private tour of Tim's career retrospective so my friends could get a good viewing before the throngs of this sell-out installation swamped the museum.  I was so busy that I took very few pictures, but have gathered a few from friends.

 

The kids at the screening of Michael Lehmann's HEATHERS

 

By chance, Michael Lehmann's HEATHERS was screening at 5pm to a group of High School students so I popped over and introduced that little cult classic at 5pm.  I had the kids all raise their hands and scream "Eskimo". Since I had a sold out screening of BEETLEJUICE I could not stay for the film but got to tell a bit about it's origins before the show.

 

At 7pm I spoke to the BEETLEJUICE crowd and related my stories of the making of the film. Among my guests were Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gordon, K .Blaine Johnson, recent Academy Award nominee, Rebecca Cammisa (for her feature length documentary, WHICH WAY HOME), author and actress, Mari Gorman, TRUTH WINS OUT founder, Wayne Besen, Shade Rupe, Ian Fedorchik, Joseph Adams and pictured below my friends from Birmingham, James and Mollie Pittman.

 

James Gunter (left)  Mollie Pittman (right)

 

My talk before the film was a way of honoring Tim and all the people in front and behind the camera that I came to know and love. I told the story of how I (with essentially no film credits) was cast by Tim and the incredibly loving atmosphere on the set--one the likes of I have yet to experience again.  I did stay and watch this screening and for the Q&A I pulled out of my bag the oriental robe I wore in the film and wore it back on stage.  Sounds silly but it was just so much fun for the crowd (and for me!)  The Q&A lasted until MoMA dimmed the lights and I met with fans outside.  It was such a sweet way to end this magnificent retrospective of Tim's wild creativity.  The installation closed yesterday, April 26 and will be going on to Toronto and Los Angeles and the goodness knows where!  Also got a chance to see Valerie Harper as Tallulah Bankhead and a magnificent production of A Little Night Music with my beloved Angela Landesbury.  It was a magical time in Manhattan.

 

James Gunter and Glenn inside Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture

Posted by Glenn Shadix at 08:52 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)