March 31 - Back to the boring
grind today. Or is it a grinding bore? Well, actually, first there
is boring, then grinding, after which the raw
anthracite is shipped all over the world. Uh...I forgot what the heck I
was talking about...OH, YES! The dreary "real" job. Sigh. Not
much fun today, I'm afraid. I did deliver my homemade mannequins to the
museum earlier, but that's about it. I also added a couple of things to my
CafePress site, and tidied up its appearance a smidge. Have you checked it
out yet? Click HERE to see what
I've been up to. As I mentioned last night, the site currently features
Conscience-related characters (and a handful of WOMP logo items). The
"motto" of the Conscience line is "What does your
CONSCIENCE struggle with?" Yes, yes...I know that
it is incorrect grammar (should be "With what does your CONSCIENCE struggle?" or
perhaps even "Your CONSCIENCE struggles with what?"), but it is supposed to
sound more naturally conversational. Hopefully, the various T-shirts and
bumper stickers will spark some conversation...not here in the ol' WOMP-Blog,
though...I gotta get some sleep (I foolishly volunteered to go to work early
tomorrow). See ya tomorrow for a special
tradition...
March 30 - HOORAY! I got the
day off! I was (and am still) like a whirling dervish today as I got all
sorts of projects done! Among other things, I constructed three mannequins
for the Prairie du Chien Museum (and rounded up the vintage costumes which will
be displayed on them), sent off several projects and eBay sales in the mail,
completed two small commissioned pieces, cleaned up and seeded the yard between
hail storms (!), did some grocery shopping, and even FINALLY created products in
my CafePress Store! On that note, you may want to check it out! The
site limits sellers to one design per product type, so I decided that, in
addition to a handful of WOMP logo items, I would temporarily feature "sets" of
WOMP characters for limited periods. Right now, I went with Conscience and
related characters of The Collective. There are prints and T-shirts and
even a wall clock featuring the image of a weary Death! If you'd like to
see what I have listed, check it out by clicking HERE! AND
I'M NOT DONE! It's only 1:30am on the 31st as I write this, so I have at
least two more productive hours of work time left before I pass out in a
heap. I'm not sure what I'll do, but I'd better go do it while I
can! Until tomorrow, I leave you with this prediction; there will be
"Oscar buzz" for Mickey Rourke's Sin
City performance. Just a
guess, but I will look like a genius if it comes true! See
ya!
March 29 - I know that I've been a
little "out of it" now for a couple of weeks, due in great part to my work
schedule and recent illness, but THIS is ridiculous! I not only forgot
(yes, literally FORGOT) to post anything in the ol' WOMP-Blog last night, but
today I actually had one of my recent commissioned art projects returned to me
in the mail...not because it was rejected, but because it couldn't be delivered
since I addressed it with the WRONG ZIP-CODE! Man! I am losing
it! Plus, it only occurred to me today that, with my next day off being
the 14th of April (UGH!!), I will have just ONE day to do our taxes! I
almost forgot THAT, too. Brother, I am falling apart! I don't think
that I can keep up this pace, my friends. I must get a day
or two off from my dinky "real" job, or I might just drop from the mental
exhaustion! I think that I would have been OK over this expanded schedule
if I hadn't also been sick. When I was combing my hair, getting ready for
work yesterday, I caught a good look at myself in the mirror and, YOW! I realized that I had
two black eyes! It looked like I had been in a fight, and lost! Now,
I'm not claiming that I have the hardest job, or toughest life, or anything like
that, but I am saying that I was completely caught off guard by the combination
of sudden, dramatic workload increase, a lingering flu, and my usual
procrastination. NOW, now.....Now all I want to do is sleep. But I
owe you all something, ANYthing, for reading the WOMP-Blog in hopes of actually
being entertained or informed. So, here it is, a little something just for
YOU! It's....
WISCONSIN TRANSPORTATION HISTORY TRIVIA!
1871 - First self-propelled vehicle operated (in
Racine).
1878 - First Wisconsin road race - Green Bay to
Madison.
1905 - First speeding law passed, and first license plate was
issued.
1912 - The National Safety Council was founded (in
Milwaukee).
1918 - First Wisconsin highway map was issued.
1925 - First driver's license was issued.
1940 - "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" was added to license
plates.
1942 - Round license plates were issued to conserve metal during
World War Two (discontinued in 1945).
1962 - Seat belts are required in all new vehicles for the first
time.
2005 - Soaring gas prices force the temporary (I hope) retirement
of the beloved WOMPmobile.
There. It's not much, but at least it is technically
"something." OH, and as an added bonus, I will add that tonight, my late
night TV viewing seemed to be an homage to Mr. Frank Miller and Sin
City!
Brittany Murphy was on The Late
Show with David Letterman, and the two of them went on and on about
how great the film is, how much like Mr. Miller's graphic novels it is, and how
Mickey Rourke, as Marv, looks STRANGE but cool. Right after that, Craig
Ferguson had Robert Rodriguez on The Late, Late
Show. Mr. Rodriguez went off on Frank Miller's genius, and gave
many interesting insights into their working relationship. Of course, all
of this was punctuated by clips and ads, so I am feeling pretty confident that,
based on all of this, the film might actually be good. Of course,
I won't get to see it in the
theaters unless it is held over past the 13th of next month. OOPS!
I'm back to griping about my life! Sorry! It just comes
naturally!
March 27 - Hello. I hope
that the Easter Bunny found those of you who were expecting him! Not much
else to talk about today, just the same-old same-old. You know...dumb
"real" job, tail end of the flu, no time to get anything done, etc.. Whine
and mope. Grouch and groan. Whatever.......SIGH......Someday I will once again have my life back (I
have now seen my schedule, and my next day off is APRIL 14th!! UGH!!!!),
at which point I hope to have something more to
talk about in the ol' WOMP-Blog beyond griping about my stupid "real" job and
the occasional illness. Unfortunately, until then, that might not be
possible. Oh, well. Maybe I'll quit the dead "real" job soon.
That will help (?)! See ya!
March 26 - Hey! I'm feeling
better today! I still had to waste my day at the dopey "real" job, but at
least I could do so without sneezing and hacking and swooning and sweating and
aching and all of the other fun stuff that came with the flu. I'm still
pretty worried about how I'm going to get anything done over the next few weeks,
as my schedule is PACKED with either
dumb "real" job hours or some sort of caricature event or something. For
the foreseeable future, I have absolutely no days
off!! ACK!! My dorky "real" job boss is on vacation, but,
the second that he is back, I think that I have to have a talk with him.
As I said earlier this year, and hereby re-declare, ART IS MY
JOB...the dull "real" job is supposed to help supplement that, not
detract from it, and it certainly shouldn't prevent it!
Vickie and I had a serious talk about the situation, and even she
thought that this situation was not conducive to our future. "Helping out"
is one thing, but I think that my boss is taking advantage of me!
UGH! The problem with art is that you always have to fight for it.
Nothing worth anything was ever easy. Of course, many things that are
worth absolutely nothing are also difficult, so the trick, I reckon, is to
believe that what you are daring to do is worth doing. Oh, and then you've
got to do it! So, now I am going
to try to "do it," working on some more art stuff tonight before I pass out from
exhaustion. Bye!
March 25 - Still sick, but
better. It was a long, long day at the
dumb "real" job, made bearable by the great people that I work with. Even
through sickness (one co-worker has the same crud that I do, apparently), crazy
intense heat, hectic conditions, and unusually strong emotional circumstances,
we managed to keep each other's spirits up. Sometimes, a shared laugh may
be the best medicine (Reader's
Digest was right!), because I feel like I'm getting over this stupid
flu, at last! I have a day off next week (yes, just one), so I hope to get
stuff done, FINALLY! Oh, well. Gotta sleep. See
ya!
March 24 - STILL SICK! Worse
today, not better. I'm going to try to sleep it away. Sorry for the
non-entry.
March 23 - I'm still sick. Isn't that
stupid? I hate being sick. Not that most people enjoy the experience, but my bouts
with sickness have the unfortunate added feature of pointedly reminding me of
all of those things which I normally have to actively overcome, or at least
ignore, just to get through a day without crying (my generally unhealthy body,
my natural clumsiness, my lack of insurance, my procrastination, etc.,
etc.). Like I was telling folks today, I am now at about 75% of "healthy,"
which is pretty good because I'm never at more than 90% to begin with!
Anyhoo, I have nothing to talk about, I guess. More caricatures tonight,
plus some odds and ends, so I'd better get to it. See ya!
March 22 - Hello, my e-buds.
Yes, I'm still sick, but well enough today to finally install the mural that
I've been working on! My Dad helped me load all of the panels into his
van, after which we carefully drove them across town. When we got to the
Prairie du Chien Museum at Fort Crawford (their home), I was happy to see a
small team of people waiting to help with the installation. The rag-tag
crew of volunteers (like six? The number fluctuated throughout the day as
some left and others popped up) made the job easy and fun, that's for
sure. With a little improvisation, some creative scrounging, and some
actual "planning" (whatever that is), it
only took about five hours to set everything up. I asked if they were
going to take the mural down at the end of the season, or just before the start
of the next. They laughed and said that it was now the plan to leave it up
for THREE TO FIVE YEARS!! UGH!!! I think
they may have been kidding, but I suppose that it's possible. Anyhoo, they
took digital photos of the progress, as I did here at WOMP Central while I was
making it, so I will soon be updating the Recent
Event page with a photographic step-by-step mural montage! Well,
I suppose that I should get some rest. I have to shake
this rotten cold/flu/plague thing I've got goin' on. See
ya!
March 21 - Short, sweet;
SICK...sorry. See ya.
March 20 - OK, so I'm still sorta
sick, but at least I can file a report about yesterday's comic book convention
in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin! As you may know, the weather has been rotten for
a few days, but, yesterday, it cleared just enough for me to drive to the
show. Actually, my first stop was about mid-way to Beaver Dam, as I
retrieved Mr. Eric Gillitzer (wit, writer, and Founder of The
International Order of Official Friends of WOMP) from his
Dark Lair. We had a surprisingly smooth trip, with only a few hundred
yards of icy road to navigate. The show was easy to find, and we had the
WOMP booth set up more than a half an hour before the event began. Once
the show started, we had a great time meeting all sorts of people, including
some of the other guests. I had a nice conversation with Hope Sherron, an
artist who creates photo collages and nifty drawings of sprites and fairies and
other similar fantasy folk. Eric had a long conversation with fantastic
painter Kelly Howlett about Green Bay. We both visited at length with
Jeffrey Moy, amazing comic book artist perhaps best known for his work on
Legion of Super-Heroes. Gene Ha, who, until
recently, has been the artist of The Adventures of
Superman, spent some time at the ol'
WOMP booth as well (a great guy and a fabulously talented artist, Mr. Ha is also
a fiendish subversive who will draw sketches for people only if they perform
acts of public embarrassment! At Beaver Dam, he taped a makeshift costume
directly onto a guy's head and made him stand a chair while singing the Captain
America theme song, AND he called another guy's Mom and told her that her son
would have to be her slave for 24 hours in return for a sketch! Evil, and
hilarious! No wonder I like him!). We also had some nice
conversations with Mr. Joshua D. Goes, the organizer of the event. There
was a nice number of attendees (like seventy? maybe more), and I think
that we talked to most of them over the course of the day. Oh, and Eric
sold lots of Monkey stuff, too! I sat there like the socially awkward lump
of cartilgelatinous goop that I am (private joke), while he sold comics like
they were magic snake oil elixir! Later, fearing impending darkness and
potential weather problems, we packed up shop about ten minutes before the show
ended (uncharacteristic for me, but Eric had to get to another function).
We said our goodbyes, and hit the road. I was back in WOMP H.Q. at
7:30...which is good, because my cold medicine ran out at 7:00! Man, was I
sick! Anyhoo, to everyone I met this weekend, I hope you consider sending
me an e-mail! I'd love to hear from
you! Well, see ya tomorrow, same WOMP time, same WOMP
channel!
March 19 - Hey! We (Mr. Eric
Gillitzer and I) made it to the comic book show in Beaver Dam, in spite of
everything! We had a great time, and I have a lot to report to you, but I
will have to debrief you all later...I'm really sick now. I was, I now
see, only kind of sick the last few days, but, now I'm in really bad
shape. I hope I'm over this soon. Oh, well. Bye.
March 18 - Yuck. It's not
looking good. I might not be able to go to the Beaver Dam comic book
convention. It's snowing like crazy all across Wisconsin tonight, with
projected accumulations of anywhere from seven to twelve inches. On top of
that, I absolutely am NOT better today. I mentioned last night that I was
getting some kind of cold. Today, it has beaten me up pretty badly.
The worst of it is the painful swelling of my throat and neck, which feels like
I've got mumps again or something. I don't know If I can trust myself to
drive tomorrow if I'm still sick like this. So, as of right now, at 9:30pm
on Friday night, I'd say that my chances of getting to Beaver Dam are about
70%. I've never backed out of an invite to a comics show, and I definitely
don't want to start now...especially since this will be one of the few shows
held in Wisconsin all year. Ugh. Well, I'll try to get some sleep,
and I'l check the weather tomorrow. See ya there (?).
March 17 -
Greetings, e-buds! Not much to talk about tonight. Again, for the
umpteenth time this year, I'm sick. It's just some sort of cold. I'm
going to try to get some extra sleep tonight so that the cold has a chance to
work out of my system before the comic book show in Beaver Dam on
Saturday. I also have a bunch of art stuff due this weekend, so I hope to
do that tomorrow if I am up to it. Otherwise, I hope that I will see some
of you in Beaver Dam. Somewhere on my way to the show, I will also be
picking up Mr. Eric Gillitzer (bon vivant, Dark Lord of The
Sith, and Founder of The International Order of Official Friends of
WOMP) along the way, so stop in and say "Hello" to both of us!
See ya!
March 16 - Hi! Well, the
"mural" is 99.9% complete! Hooray! Besides installation, the only
things left to do on it are some paint touch-ups and a little cleaning. It
looks pretty good, too! If asked, I might actually admit to having made
it. I haven't decided whether or not I will sign it. I don't want my
crazy, scribbly signature to detract from the images, and I definitely don't
want people to think that I believe I'm some snooty "artiste" or anything.
In fact, unless they somehow trick me into it, I plan to avoid any kind of
"unveiling." Beyond the general embarrassment that I would experience, I
fully intend that the "mural" be seen as just another one of the decorations for
the exhibit. It's not fancy, and it is definitely not a "mural" as most
people would think of it. Someday, I might venture into the realm of real
mural painting, but, for now, I don't want anyone to look at the museum backdrop
that I've just made and ask "He thinks that's a
mural?" Ugh. I know that it seems like I'm apologizing in advance
for something that, really, looks very much like what I'd planned to
produce. I guess that I just want it on the record somewhere that
this "mural" is meant to lightly
compliment the more important educational displays which will sit in front of
it. That's all. Uh...I think that I am getting a
little defensive. It may be the idea that something I have made will be on
a museum wall that is freaking me out. I'm not the kind of artist who
should have stuff in a museum, but, well, I guess I'm gonna anyway. That's
bothering me more than I care to admit. Oh, well...the display will be
taken down in November, so at least it won't bother me for very long.
Sigh. Toodles!
The Ides of March - Greetings, citizen! I'm
working on a couple of nifty surprises for YOU! I
cryptically alluded to one of them a few months ago, but that surprise,
and an interesting new WOMP-Site
feature, are finally coming to a computer screen near you (literally near
you...like less than three feet away). I'm finalizing some format
questions over the next few days, after resolution of which I hope to launch
both surprises next week (I can hardly wait!). Tonight, though, I'm going
to keep the entry short. Before I turn off the trusty WOMPuter, though, I
did want to offer an unsolicited endorsement. For whatever it's worth, I
just have to say publicly that, even though I appreciate classic, traditional
stuff, I absolutely LOVE the new
format of the great Comics Buyer's
Guide! At first, I grouched
around WOMP H.Q., lamenting the loss of "the Variety of comic books." I
mean, come on...I started my subscription to the CBG in 1982, so
I had become more than a little partial to the weekly periodical version (even
though that, too, went through a few format changes). Then, I sat down and
read the first magazine-style issue. YOWZA! Each
issue is so cram-jam-packed with awesome comics related stuff that it takes
nearly the entire month to read it anyway. The old favorite features, like
Peter David's But I Digress, are still there (some in
dramatically expanded or enhanced form), as are a ton of cool new features, like
the fun Ten Favorite Comic Book Covers. If you see
the latest issue on the stands at your local comics shop, I strongly suggest
that you pick up a copy! Better yet, subscribe! Try clicking
HERE for subscription info.
If you like reading comics, you will love the new
CBG. If you love reading
comics, then, well, you may have to be electrically resuscitated after being
exposed to it! It's just that
good!
March 14 - Man! The future's
so WEIRD! I've been watching a special on PBS about developments in, well,
cyborgs. Yep, real, honest to
goodness, Six-Million-Dollar-Man-Deathlok-Cyborg cyborgs. It was
fascinating, and just a little disgusting (for example, we got to see a woman's
head being opened up for surgery...YUCK). As I write this, cyborgs already
walk amongst us. And I'm not just talking about the hundreds of thousands
of people with pacemakers or insulin monitors, either. There are formerly
deaf people who now have cybernetic hearing, and once blind people with
electronic implants which allow them to visually translate signals from a pair
of special camera-fitted sunglasses. Even more amazingly, researchers are
not far from perfecting implant devices which would allow people, like spinal
injury victims (or anyone else, I suppose), to remotely move a prosthetic arm or
a cursor on a computer screen, merely by thinking about doing
it! The implants are shrinking, too! Instead of extremely fine
"wires" completing circuits on microprocessors, there are models now which do
the same thing with individual molecules! The
production of these one-millionth (!) size chips is also amazing, in that,
because it is a chemical process, they are made like mixing ingredients for
cookies. Soon, these millionth-size processors will be part of everything
that we may use. As the narrator of the PBS special put it (paraphrasing),
"Years from now, if you ask your grandchild to go to the store to buy a
computer, they will give you a very strange look...because computers will be
inherent in all products made!" With the development of other
technologies, we may actually see a "quantum leap" in human ability...which may
very closely resemble superpowers! The moral dilemmas,
societal impact, and questions of man's nature and purpose that this cyborg
infested generation will be forced to confront will just be catching up to what
comic books have been dealing with for years! I've always thought that
many comics are either intentional or interpretable metaphors for how we live
today, but it never occurred to me that they may have also been laying the basic
groundwork for how we will deal with what can only be called the coming
e-volution of the human species.
What does make us human? Who
should benefit from such advances if it is not possible for everyone to do
so? What responsibilities would the recipient of these cyber-powers have
to the non-transformed? How would the altered people be treated? As
paradigms? As freaks? Who would make these decisions, and what
guiding principles would form the basis of those decisions? All of these
questions, which will have to be
asked (and answered), have already been explored through stories about X-Men,
Superman, even Monkey. More than a century ago, author Jules Verne was
able to write stories that were just on the cusp of (then) current innovations
and discoveries, stories in which he explored the clash of concepts that these
advances were about to have with his Victorian world. Today, it may be Jim
Lee or Mark Waid or whoever, but I believe that the comics stories of today will
be seen as uncannily intuitive, insightful, and perhaps even prescient to future
generations. So, what is our responsibility in all of this? I'm not
saying that everyone has to drop whatever they are doing in favor of creating
science fiction based superhero comic books. You and I, as creative type
people, would do well, I think, just to always have an eye on such things as the
essential questions of how power and wealth are distributed, the beneficial and
detrimental aspects of war and suffering, the nature of what society is, and
what makes us human. If you think along these lines, I believe there is a
very strong possibility that you may actually help mold a cyberiffic future!
March 13 - OOPS! I missed
the boat on something a few days ago. I was doing a Google search of one
of my Kubert School teachers, Mr. Milt Neil, yesterday. First, I found out
that Milt had passed away in 1997, which saddened, but did not surprise
me. I wanted to tell you all how cool Milt was, so I was trying to find
information about his career when I came across a tribute to Milt in the
official records of The United States House
of Representatives! On Wednesday, March 9,
1994 (just a smidge over eleven years ago now), New Jersey Representative Herb
Klein offered the following remarks in the halls of Congress -
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Mr. Milton
Neil who on March 23 will be given the Paul Harris Award [a prestigious,
and rare, Rotary Club commendation]. I am very proud to join
the Wayne [New Jersey] Rotary in honoring him for
his many accomplishments. Mr. Neil graduated from the Pratt Institute in
Brooklyn in 1935. He then went to work at Walt Disney Studios and worked on such
projects as Snow White, Fantasia, Pinocchio, and Dumbo. In addition, he
specialized in Der Fuehrer's Face, a Donald Duck short which
won an Academy Award. During World War II, Mr. Neil directed educational
films on aerial bombing evasive maneuvers, bombing procedures, and other
military films. After the war, Mr. Neil created the Howdy Doody characters
for television. He also designed many toys and games. In 1983, Mr. Neil turned
to teaching animation, and in fact, many of his students are now working at
major studios. Presently, Mr. Neil is producing animated educational
films, such as How to Animate and various children's
films. He also launched an intensive animator development program at Walt Disney
Studios, teaching artists the principle of animation. I know that Mr. Neil
has brought joy to millions of Americans, and it is with great pleasure that I
ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him a wonderful day.
That must have been pretty cool for Milt. He deserved all of
that recognition, and more. He was a striking figure (at least to my 18
year old self). In 1984, this man, who had also trained to become a jet
captain (actually piloting cross-country commercial flights on weekends), was
about six feet tall, had a shock of pure white shoulder-length hair, and a face
that reminded me of Gary Cooper. He was an incredibly talented artist, a
teller of wonderfully filthy jokes, someone who had an encyclopedic knowledge of
EVERY U.S. city (for example, he
knew exactly where Prairie du Chien was, how far it was from La Crosse, and that
it had a tiny airport on the South end of town!), and he was always available to
the students. He also was the guy who convinced me not to limit my
cartooning "career" to any one sort of project. He was an animator, yes,
but he also designed famous board games (Chutes and
Ladders and Candyland) and
characters (like Howdy Doody and the
Thundercats), drew caricatures, dabbled
in illustration, and was involved with computer animation at a time when Pixar's
Toy Story was still more than a decade
away. On top of all of that, he was a great guy. If you ever want to
see into Milt's soul, it's easy; he animated the famous "Baby Of
Mine" sequence in Dumbo, one of the greatest moments
in film history. Whenever I watch sad little Dumbo visiting his shackled
and unfairly caged mother, I can't help crying. There, in a scene which so
easily could have been campy or insipid, Milt perfectly captured the emotional
power of the moment. Such a gift. I know that I hadn't seen him
since the day I left school, but I feel like an important chunk of me is gone
now that I know that Milt has passed. At least his work lives on.
Well, see ya tomorrow.
March 12 - Yowza! Crazy day
here at Casa de WOMP! I don't even know where to start. In fact, I
don't think that I even can
start! Suffice to say that, now, at 2:30 in the morning of the 13th, I am
finally sitting down to take a break. Whew! I had some interesting
e-messages today, too. The first was from Official Friend of
WOMP, Mr. Mitch
Nelson, who was just checking in on me to see if I'm still alive (I
am). The other message was from Mr. Joshua D. Goes, organizer of the
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Comic Book Convention, who let me know that I am still
invited to the event next Saturday (the 19th). Find out more about the
show by clicking HERE. I...I guess that I'll
just cut this short and say goodnight. I don't have the energy to write
more about my zany day, and it's all kinda boring anyway. See ya
tomorrow.
March 11 - I'm feeling much better
today, thank you. I have felt like a bundle of energy all day, so I've
been working on a lot of
stuff. I did have a couple of artistic set-backs, though. The first,
less serious set-back was that I ran out of supplies for the mural, right as I
was getting into a groove. No biggee, except that our local Wal-Mart was
OUT, so I'm stuck waiting until other stores open tomorrow. The other
set-back (and this one, a reminder of my earlier, sloppier days, is a rarity
now) was that I was working on a nice caricature portrait, of a little baby as
Supergirl, when I spilled Wite-Out all over it! ACK! I was just
shaking the little bottle, and, ZAP, the lid flew off, and a starburst pattern
of white went all over everything!
It was on my face, my clothes, the desk, and, as I said, the
artwork. I tried to salvage the drawing, but it was a total loss. I
don't know right now whether I will try to light-box the basic lines, or just
start again from scratch, but one thing is for sure; I will make sure the darn
lid is on the Wite-Out next time I shake it! Ugh! Anyhoo, last night
I wrote about "dream casting" a hypothetical film based on The Adventures of
Monkey. As coincidence would
have it, I saw the new trailer for the Sin
City movie several times today
(opening April 1st....mark your calendars with a big red X!). Talk about a dream
cast! Wow! It looks AWESOME! Of course, as you may know, I am
a little less than unbiased when discussing anything even remotely connected to
Mr. Frank Miller, so it may not seem as cool to you as it did to me, but, with
that caveat in place, I reiterate; it looks AWESOME! It got me a-thinkin'
about my possible "dream cast," and why I haven't indulged in dreaming about it
for some time. I realized that, after my community theatre experiences, I
wouldn't cast it in a "dream" fashion anymore. I've come to respect the
artistry of acting, and the special talents of good actors. My old "dream
casts" were more typecasting, based on
roles already performed, rather than potential performances. So, I no
longer have a "dream cast" for The Adventures of
Monkey in mind, I guess. What
I would look for is great actors, then let them "become" the characters.
Besides, so many of my characters are generic superdudes, so it's not like
finding the perfect Romeo and Juliet or anything. That all having been
said, there are a lot of actors whom I admire, and it would be cool to see what
they could do with a character that I had created. I tend to gravitate
toward the Indie actors, like, oh, say Steve Buscemi. I also have a thing
for "washed up" actors who, despite their talents, haven't been offered any good
(or just plain ANY) roles recently (Richard Thomas, where are you?). I
also understand that, for every well-known actor, there are thousands of
talented performers who are as yet undiscovered. That untapped throng, in
the end, is probably from where most, if not all, of the cast of my "dream"
movie will come. Oh, and, of course, in the tradition of both the great
Alfred Hitchcock, and my five year stint as theatre director, I will probably
have a walk-on cameo! Ah, it's the role I was born to play - Confused
Onlooker #4.
March 10 - It must be the
flu. I hope it's the flu. Something has made me sick, and I'm hoping
for something that I can easily recover from. Whatever it is, I could not
ignore it anymore. Yesterday, even though I did actually get quite a bit
done on the mural, I ended my day at about 10:00pm, quivering in agony from a
series of interesting pinpoint head pressures, intermittent loss of equilibrium,
and just a touch of what I like to call "Party Bowels" (a condition marked by
your digestive system jumping out from behind a couch and shouting
"SURPRISE!"). Today, the head pressure has finally localized behind my
ears and in back of my eyes, and the "Party" seems to have died down. I
didn't have much energy, though, so I haven't done much artwork, mural or
otherwise. I did post a few more things on eBay. I also did some more
preliminary work on a couple of caricatures for Official New Acquaintance
of WOMP, Shelina
Fitzpatrick (Hello, Shelina!).
Other than that, I've spent much of the day just loafing around, doing nothing
(so, business as usual). I did watch the DVD of the film Mystery Men, based on the characters that
Bob Burden created for his Flaming Carrot comic
book. I liked it! It didn't do well when it came out theatrically,
but it is pretty cool. The highlight of the film as a whole is probably
the fantastic cast, which includes many of my favorite actors...all in a comic
book based project! How cool is that? It reminded me of an exercise
in futility that I used to indulge in, oh so many years ago. I would
"dream cast" The Adventures of Monkey, as if it
would be the basis for a movie. Strangely, I can't remember any of my
choices from back then, but I do remember that it was fun (if also a little
self-indulgent). Since those days, there have actually been MANY comics
movies which featured "dream casts." I mean, how perfect is Halle Berry as
Storm, for example? Isn't that exactly who you'd have wished would play
that part? Even better; Patrick Stewart as Professor X! Of course,
there have been surprises, both pleasant (Michael Keaton as Batman) and
miserably unpleasant (I mean, Michael Clarke Duncan as The Kingpin? Ugh),
but, today, "dream casting" superhero movies seems to be not only common, but
de rigueur (Ha-ha! I have finally
used "de rigueur" in a sentence! Take
THAT, anonymous snooty judge at State Forensics in 1984!). Hmmm...maybe I
will think about the "dream cast" of The Adventures of
Monkey again over the next few
days. If I come up with some good choices, I'll post them here. If
not, at least it will keep me occupied while attending my next "Party."
See ya later.
March 9 - Ugh. More mural,
plus increasing flu symptoms, equals another non-entry tonight.
Sorry. See ya tomorrow.
March 8 - Hey. Not much
goin' on tonight. I was Mom's chauffeur for a few hours today, so I don't
have much time to post anything if I want to also get some art work done, but my
mind is racing with odd ideas. In that spirit, I give
you...
Limeny WOMPett's "A Series of Unconnected
Thoughts"
Ewan McGregor - glissando - goosestep - Andrew Jackson - hurricane
- mirror - Shrinky Dinks - quicksand - Mongolia - American Bald Eagle - Rasputin
- jumpsuit - wire whisk - apple core - Roto-Rooter - dustmite - Mena Suvari -
patchwork quilt - long jump - Antarctica - Cassius Clay - chivalry - planked
boardwalk - cowboy hat - poplar trees - guidance counselor - logo - dentures -
carry-on luggage - throw pillow - Ernest Borgnine - Bobby Darin - chihuahua -
red and white checked tablecloth - Los Angeles - Batman - Sir Lancelot -
buckskin - pushpin - clutter - marathon - TicketMaster - tick - jock - job - bog
- glob - gob - slog - clot - blot - route - writ - mitt - trot - flit - flood -
mod - mutt - but - blunt - BLOG!
March 7 - More mural painting
today. I'm back on schedule (somewhat). I've got some caricatures to
draw over the next few days as well, so plans are to paint by day, then draw by
night (wait a minute...wasn't that the Moonlighting theme song? Ah,
yes...the soothing warbling of Wisconsin's own Al Jarreau...). Anyhoo,
tonight I'm initiating a new feature for the ol' WOMP-Blog. The idea came
to me when I was cleaning (yes, despite what you've heard, I do clean on occasion). I
was dusting the shelves of the vast WOMP Library (or Bookatorium, as the Latins
would say), when I realized that you, dear reader, may be interested in knowing
about some of the comic book and cartoon related literature that I have
collected over the years. So, what follows is part book review, and part
approved snooping. I call this new feature...
WOMP's Randomly Selected Books In Review
The "rules" are simple. I blindly grab at books, removing,
say, five from the shelves. I then discuss them, just in case you'd
actually come across them someday, and ask yourself "I wonder what John thought
of this book..." Here we go...
#1) The History of Little
Orphan Annie by Bruce Smith, 1982.
Produced to capitalize on the film version of the musical Annie, this book is an extremely
thorough accounting of all things Annie. There are several illustrations,
including reprinted strips and rare photographs (although a disproportionately
large number are from the movie, which starred Aileen Quinn in the title
role). Every aspect of Annie's impact on American society, from the
Ovaltine Radio Show to Little Annie Fanny, is explored in scholarly, yet
entertaining, detail. I was especially interested in reading about Tex
Blaisdell, the cartoonist who was hired to "ghost" the strip after Harold Gray
died. Tex was one of the teachers at the Kubert School when I was there,
and the focus of one of my most memorable comic book stories (which I already
wrote about here in the ol' WOMP-Blog about a year ago, so I won't bore you with
it again). I give it 4 out of 5
WOMPS.
#2) Can You Top
This? by "Senator" Ed Ford, Harry
Hershfield, and Joe Laurie, Jr., 1945. OK, so I don't know a whole lot
about this one. I got it fairly recently at a rummage sale or
something. It is apparently some sort of tie-in with a radio show of the
same name. Hershfield was one of the most important cartoonists in
American history, but has been mostly forgotten, due to combination of starting
his career long ago (pre-World War One), a feud with the onmipowerful Hearst
Newspapers, and an "old school" style which does not jive well with modern
sensibilities. In fact, this book represents one of the later stages of
his career, when he became a semi-successful columnist. This book is
filled with three lifetimes of one-liners, puns, and other assorted lame
gags. Example? "How do you make anti-freeze? Steal her woolen
nightgown". As far as the cartoons go, they're cool, but sparse. I
give it 1 out of 5 WOMPS.
#3) The Legion of
Superheroes Archives, Volume One, by many, 1991.
Cool! What good person doesn't like the LSH? This first volume (of
how many?) covers some of the earliest adventures of the teen dreams of the
future. A little like memories of a grade school crush, these stories are
surprisingly sweet and quite tame when compared to those that would follow, but,
when they first came out, they seemed pretty serious. Part of that is
undoubtedly because they showed positive, attractive visions of the future, in
spite of what current events of the time might have suggested. Of course,
these are also just plain great stories by some of the best writers and artists
in the biz. Oh, and the characters are awesome! The whole gang is
here; Superboy, Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and the rest...including
Bouncing Boy, and, in a shocking number of stories, Supergirl! The Legion
stories seem to have allowed storytelling without consequences. Although
now part of what we might call DC
Continuity, Legion stories were originally a breath of fresh air to readers,
and to the creators who were not otherwise allowed to advance characters in any
way. Here, in a future which may or may not ever happen anyway,
relationships could mature, team membership could change, and characters could
even die (although not yet in this volume). This collection beautifully
reprints, and surreptitiously reveals, those ideals and values which Cold War
Era readers imagined as surviving a thousand years of (super) human
history. I guess it also empowered the growing "teenager" segment of
society, showing them in the future as protectors of the universe (which, in
some respects, is what they have now become). Rating: 5 out of 5
WOMPS!
#4) A Life
Force, by Will Eisner, 1988.
Uh, um...I know that I tell you all the time about how much I idolize the late,
great Mr. Eisner, but I have a terrible confession to make; I have never read
this book! Oh, the shame! I won this book in an auction, and it's in
minty-mint condition. Because of its value as a collectible, I've always
thought that I'd read the story when I could find a low-grade copy to sweat on
with my greasy fingers. The book came into WOMP H.Q., went directly into a
protective plastic sleeve, and found a nice place on my shelves, there to sit
for years. And it looks so good! Just peeking inside, I can see all
of the illustrative trademarks of Mr. Eisner's peerless storytelling, combined
with that special artistic style which so comfortably bridges the gap between
Golden Age and Modern comics. Ugh. I can barely stand it now....I
may have to break down and read it! Rating: Pending.
#5) A surprise! It's The Anything
Book, a blank page book which I
half-filled with drawings between 1976 and 1977! How neat is that?
It started as a pseudo-diary, in which "Monkey" kept his private thoughts (not
me...tee hee), including such
diary-worthy entries as designs for amphibious science vehicles, a review of the
film Oliver!, and patterns created by
tracing the inside of the handle-holes on a pair of scissors! More
interestingly, the "book," the pages of which are now brittle and loosely
confederated at best, became a notebook of Monkey ideas. Here, for the
first time, I drew such characters as Dustman and Mirage Man. I also toyed
with possible superpowers that Monkey might have. He is depicted with
transformation powers ("From of a telephone!"), super-mimicry, and his
infamously stupid stretchable tail! It's fun to look at these old
drawings, which actually do sort of
transport me back to the time during which they were drawn. Looking
through the book, the drawings seem to fall into three categories. They
are extremely nascent attempts at being commercial, unguarded explorations
of artistic style, or genuinely heartfelt storytelling. It all smacks of the desperate wish
to be popular, and, like all diaries, journals, and blogs, it was all created
with the assumption that someone, somewhere, sometime would see it. How
interesting it is, then, for me see the me that I was, even when I was trying to
hide it, even as I also knew that it wouldn't stay hidden. Rating:
Ineligible.
Well, that's about it for now, I guess. I gotta get some
more work done. See ya later!
March 6 - Jello, EveryWOMP!
Sorry for the day off. Yesterday, I realized that the dread "real" job
needed my help today, so I volunteered for a little extra work, for which I had
to go to bed early last night right after I got home (what was
I thinking?), thus no entry in the ol'
WOMP-Blog. It, of course, turned out to be the best day in months, with
temperatures reaching 70 degrees! I could have been working on the mural
all day....even outside in the sun! Right now, the temp is dropping, it's
raining, and the forecast high for the 7th is a pathetic 28 degrees.
UGH. Of course. Anyhoo, I don't really have anything to talk about
tonight, but I feel like I owe ya. I've had three days of non-entries in a
row now, so I have to write something tonight to still have a street-legal
blog. But what? I go 'round and 'round with myself when I try to
figure out what to post. So, when in doubt, RAMBLE INCOHERENTLY!
What follows is a list of unconnected, odd thoughts that have made brief
appearances in my otherwise unused brain. Here we go...
1) I'm starting to make
plans for the next FALLFIRE contest. I have had
some preliminary talks with possible co-sponsors, and I'm scouting out ways to
advertise, promote, and strengthen the whole thing. Keep an eye out for
that.
B) Did I mention that I'm
selling some artwork on eBay? Some WOMP characters,
and one of the Oziana pieces too.
%) I love Home Movies. It's only on the
Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" programming on Sunday nights. It is one of
the funniest animated shows that I've ever watched! It's a little like a
twisted radio show, in that the animation is rudimentary (but fun and funky, in
a stylized crayon-art-on-a-fridge sort of way), so the stories, scripts, and
voice talents carry the show. The episode where the kids go to Camp
Campingston Falls is easily one of my favorite single episodes of ANYTHING that
I've ever seen (and I have seen literally hundreds of thousands of television
episodes in my 114 years, including classics from Sgt.
Bilko to The
Simpsons).
78) The local middle school
play went off without a hitch, apparently. I was at the darn "real" job,
so I missed all of the excitement. As I mentioned right here in the ol'
WOMP-Blog, the play's author planned to attend. Not only did he show up,
but the original cast came with him as well! Now seniors and juniors in
high school, they later each posed for photos with their sixth, seventh, and
eight grade counterparts from our production.
n) There was only a brief
time, in late 1985, when I thought Margot Kidder was attractive. Other
than that, YUCK!
3.14) There is a new (or "new
to me" anyway) art gallery in Boscobel, Wisconsin. It features local
artists exclusively. The WOMP Staff took a field trip to check it out a
couple of days ago, and, speaking for all, it was cool! The place is
called The Artist's Eye Gallery, located on State Highway 61 (a large roadside
sign, in the shape of a gigantic easel with the Mona Lisa on it, makes it one of
those "can't miss it" places). Right now, it's only open on weekends, from
11:00AM to 5:00PM. If you live nearby, check it out!
USA) Hmm...come to think of
it, I should talk to the Artist's Eye people about FALLFIRE. Yes, yes...I should do
that.
9) I need a haircut.
SERIOUSLY. I must be shorn. My mop must be topped. My
follicles need pruning. My lawn must be mown. I meant to get a
haircut in DECEMBER, but still haven't! Honest! ACK! It's
making me CRAZY!
B-5) You sank my
battleship!
12) Uh, I guess that's
enough for tonight. See ya tomorrow!
March 4 - Another non-entry
tonight, my e-friends. I seem to be sick or something, with throbbing
headache. I think it started when I was working on the mural in the cold
(at least that's when it started). Not much to report anyway, except that
my work so far has reinforced the commonly held belief that I can't paint to
save my life. Ugh. Messy. See ya!
March 3 - Hey there! Real
short entry tonight. I'm working on the mural, hoping to get a huge chunk
of it done tonight. I work at the dread "real" job for the next few days,
so I may have to put it on hold (which is not good, considering I'd hoped to
have it DELIVERED, if not installed, by this weekend....OOPS). Gotta
go. See ya tomorrow! Bye!
March 2 - So, last night I posted
the 1870 newspaper article upon which the mural I'm painting is based. I
should probably point out that that was the
assignment, not some idea of mine pulled from thin air. So, how am I
turning a 135 year old report of a party into a wall of art? Well, what
follows are the particulars of that metamorphosis. It all started on site,
at the Prairie du Chien Museum at Fort Crawford. In one of the
non-recreated-fort buildings on the site (called Stovall Hall), I met with
several of the museum's staff and volunteers. They presented me with a
copy of the 1870 article and showed me the wall on which they hoped I'd provide
some interesting artwork. I've never done a mural, but I have created many
sets during my years in community theatre, so I agreed to give it a try.
The wall to be decorated is immediately to the right when you come into the
museum from its entryway. During the time when the mural will be
displayed, the museum will feature a display honoring our city's German
heritage, which is why they wanted me to interpret that particular
article. As we talked, we discussed first some practical matters, like how
I would paint the mural in several four foot by eight foot panels, which we
would then mount away from the wall (which has assorted switches and plug-ins
and such). I imagined the mural, and my mind's eye saw a fairly literal
interpretation of the article, starting with streets swollen with wagons and
on-lookers, passing through the parade, the ball, dinner, and finally
dancing. That original vision "read" like a comic strip of sorts, except
it went from right to left as the museum patron would walk from the doorway and
into the room. I made some quick, sketchy notes, measured the space, and
left. My next step was to research the various elements of the article (as
I noted at the time, right here in the ol' WOMP-Blog). Hooray for
Google! I found lots of great information and many detailed images, all
very helpful. I then began to sketch some preliminary thumbnail versions
of the mural, but, as I did, something didn't feel right about it.
Actually, a LOT didn't feel right. First, I hate drawing horses, and the
1870 event was swarming with
horses. That's no good. Also, the work seemed extraordinarily busy,
even in the simple style I had envisioned. Lastly, I was a little
uncomfortable with the right-to-left comic strip aspect. In a moment of
surprising clarity, I realized that I had seen the work from "too far back,"
with full-figure characters. I decided to move the "frame" to more of a
"close-up." This dropped the number of figures from around FORTY to a
healthy SIX. It also eliminated the darn horses (yippee!), and the need
for any literal background elements or sense of sequence, either left-to-right
or right-to-left. So, I picked out my favorite costume descriptions from
the article, and placed them into this new, streamlined layout. The first
version of this up-date had a good flow, some dynamic elements appropriate for
the mural's size, and some really cool characters....but...but....but what?
Something was still bothering me. To move forward while I wrestled with
this nagging feeling, I decided to paint the panels (which I had gotten just a
short time before) with their white base coats. As also noted in the
WOMP-Blog, this was a miserable procedure as the temperature in my makeshift
studio (our garage) never reached twenty degrees. ERG! The time
alone did help me figure out what was
troubling me; although historically accurate, based on solid research, and
requested by the people who engaged me, the costumes that I picked out weren't
all German! That seems pretty obvious, yes, but I was still operating from
a fairly literal interpretation of the article. During the original 1870
event, people dressed as Scots, Spaniards, French and English knights, Union
soldiers, and other decidedly non-Germanic characters. It occurred to me
that this mural will not just accompany the German immigrant displays, it, by
virtue of its size and location, will set the tone for the whole event!
So, back to the drawing board, I morphed the figures into those whose costumes
had German influences. The "cast" is now a milk-maid/flower-girl, two guys
in traditional Tyrolese costume, "Prince Carnival" (an image of Gambrinus), his
page, and a Daughter of The Regiment. The artwork will be spiced up with
swaths of golden yellow and crimson red, as well as hand printed quotes from the
article itself. That pretty much brings us to right now. I hope to
transcribe my little scale version onto the full-size panels on Thursday, maybe
even getting some of the painting done. I've decided not to worry about a
direct recreation of the scale model, opting instead to free-hand the figures,
using the scale and proportions of the model as reference and inspiration,
rather than strict blueprint. I will still probably mark where the top of
a figure should be, etc., just to stay safe, but stuff like faces and costume
elements will be better if I just sorta "wing it." We'll see. More
later. See ya then!
March 1 - Hiya, gang! For
you curious little WOMPlings out there,
I have an EXTREME "Blast
From The Past" for ya tonight. This
newspaper article, from our local Courier (precursor to the more
recently amalgamated Courier
Press), first appeared on February 29, 1870. It reports on events
that took place on or about the 26th of that month, now 135 years ago.
This article, and the events it recalls, form the basis for the mural which I
was asked to create for the Prairie du Chien Museum at Fort Crawford. The
mural will accompany a display reflecting German heritage in the P.d.C.
area. I must warn you all that this article is not what we modern people
would call "politically correct," so please accept it as a historical piece
(complete with original spelling and grammatical errors). Tomorrow I will
write about how I am turning the article below into a painting eight by twenty
feet in size. So, here is the 1870 report;
Burlesque Parade!
Masque Ball!
For
the first time, in Prairie du Chien, our German Citizens have celebrated the
"Prince Carnival," and participated in the recreation and ludicrous pastime
usual to such occasions. Early on Tuesday morning of the Carnival-Day, the
streets assumed a lively appearance, filled with expectant citizens, and teams
from the country filled with farmers, who had come into town to see the
fun. The stores were all filled with customers, and trade was brisk, owing
to the large number of persons in town.
About
11 o'clock the Procession formed on Bluff Street under the direction of
Chief-Marshal Max Loper and marched through town, stopping at the Dousman House
and were pleasantly welcomed by Mr. Williams and handsomely treated. Then
to Lower Town, and another hardy welcome at Henry Weibrecht's, thence across the
Mississippi River to McGregor, where the excitement and fun was continued, and
returned to Prairie du Chien about 8 o'clock, marched through town and
dispersed. The affair was a success, was fun alive, and not a thing
occurred to mar the pleasure of the Procession, and crowds of
spectators.
We
have space only to briefly allude to some of the principle characters of this
"all Fool's" parade.
First
came Geo. Wachter dressed as a knight with his two aids, bearing the Gambrinus
Banner, a mammoth Fools-Cap of variegated colors. Then followed the German
Band in Uniform.
Wm.
Goodman, as Lola Montes, mounted on a splendid Black Horse, in magnificent
costume - a true representation in all respects.
Then
came "Prince Carnival" - F. Gordier, in costly Court-Dress and Jewels - drawn in
open Barouch Sleigh by splendid Horses, driven by Wm. Wilt, who was dressed in
splendid Livery costume. Then came an Old Trapper on foot, dressed in
complete suit of buckskin, moccasins, fur-cap, gun, hunting-knife, with pack of
un-tanned deerskins on his back. Then came mounted horsemen, in costumes
of Sailors, Jesters, Market-Women, Chevaliers, Dragons, Yankee Officers,
etc.. Joseph Neizen, as Sailor: Wm. Sauer as Jester: Master Bisbeo as
Union Soldier: J. Limery as a Monk: and others assumed very excellent
characters.
Then
came comic characters in the wagons and sleighs.
A
moving Barber Shop, by Messrs. Mills, Menges and Raffauf made lots of "Fun for
the Boys."
"Women's Rights" was the title of a scene enacted on a platform
dray by Mr. Boehlka and Mr. Hemline. It was a good play with a --- funny
final!
Jac
Raffauf in a Jester's costume in a sleigh performed well. Master Alex
Raffauf, in rich livery, drove with his father, and attracted attention from
every person.
These
were some of the characters of the Procession; and though there was not as large
a display as might have been, yet for the first of its kind here, we think it
was appreciated by all who like innocent FUN. The managers all deserve
credit for making it a pleasant success throughout the whole affair.
The
Masque
In the
evening the Grand "Masked Ball" at Germania Hall, was the center of
attraction.
The
spacious Halls were filled with the largest and most attractive company ever
seen in Prairie du Chien. Hundreds of tickets had been sold, and
delegations from McGregor, Grant County, and other places came pouring in from
the crowded hotels. The most grotesque, charming, and costly costumes
filled the main hall before 10 o'clock, so there was hardly room for others to
move about. The affair was creditable to Geo. Schweizer, and must have
been quite remunerative. We are sure that everybody was well pleased, and
got their money's worth.
It
would be difficult for us to name half of the costumes.
Mrs.
Raffauf, in Tyrolese, and young Master Alex. Raffauf as a Page, both in rich
costumes, were very attractive, beautiful representation.
Mrs.
Wetzel and Mrs. Schuman were dressed in Scotch highland costume, and presented a
Lad and Lassie. These were beautiful representations.
Max
Loeper, in Tyrolese, Jesters and other costumes was perfect.
Comic
Scene, of Patent-Mill, into the hopper of which old and ugly looking women were
put, ground up and came out beautiful Young Ladies, and Flower Girls.
Menges was miller, and Jac Raffauf engineer.
Emma
Christoph, and her sister Louisa, and Miss Lena Sauer and Miss Lena Smith,
presented charming Milk-Maids and Flower Girls.
Mary
Rosenbaum, as "Daughter of the Regiment," was charming.
H.
Seigbert, as "Old Commodore," looked grand, and assumed his part
well.
Major
Viele, in rich Spanish costume a la Don Cresar de Bazan - was
capital.
Joseph
Zeeh, did first-rate, and he made everybody happy with his fun.
In
fact, all was pleasant; and no improper or rough sports. All, young and
old, sported like School Boys out on Holiday.
S.
Rosenbaum, and Dr. Mills - as Dr. Eisele & Bieele - could not be
excelled.
Mr.
Lacy, as Bro. Johnson in dark suit, acted his part natural as
life.
The
"Burlesque Bell Ringers," (with Cow Bells of all sizes) made a
sensation.
L.
Weidenfield, Geo. Wachter, the Raffauf Bros. and Mr. Hemline, Sauer, and many we
did not know appeared to advantage, and aided in making entertainment
attractive.
SUPPER
At 12
o'clock, masks were taken off, and a splendid Supper was served in the Dining
Hall. After hundreds had partaken of the Supper, the dancing began in
earnest, and continued until daylight.
WHEW! That must have been one crazy day! These
"Carnivals" were held for several more years, until the late 1920's. I
have to believe that this first one was the wildest of them all! See ya
tomorrow!