Tom is going to sending in a massive amount of reviews covering SXSW, he wanted to cover the last night first, and tell the rest in (((FLASHBACKS))). Wow... so non- linear!!!
Tom Joad here, once an’ again addin’ to my Southern road adventures which recently came to their most recent conclusion… I’d like ta say that them there Austin folk’ll make ya feel right at home – great hospitality, great friends, great conversation, great fun…
I’m a talkin’ bout none other than the cool kat himself, Harry Jay Knowles… sure ‘nuff – with an invite from Harry and his pa, Jay, I set off with my ladyfriend, Annette, in the ol’ clunker and made our way to the homestead of cool movie geekdom and was treated to a hot fish dinner with frothy Texan brew… a welcome change from the grub I been served the last four years in the penitentiary , but that’s a whole ‘nother story…
An occasion of pure film lovers bliss, with Jay runnin’ the 16mm projector in the backyard as we all gathered ‘round the fire to warm ourselves on the outside whilst warming ourselves on the inside with rich, intoxicating Texan brewed pleasure. We were privy to a perfect night: starting off with footage of Jay’s comic book store, we were treated to an eyefull of vintage comics, posters and memorabilia that made us long for the days when comic book stores were cool… Then we was showed 16mm reels of horror and sci-fi trailers: everything from SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM and NAKED UNDER LEATHER, through PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE and DEEP THRUST, to THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD and COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE with everything imaginable crammed in between. True magic. Ya know, it takes a particular type of film fan to sit through and be able to enjoy trailer after trailer for hours, and for those of you who can’t take it, need to learn to love it… because they are some of the best stuff out there, remindin’ you of flicks you haven’t seen in years, or EVER! Healthy doses of FOOTLIGHT PARADE, LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH segued into the Academy Award winning short featuring Sylvester and Tweety (back when Sylvester’s name was Thomas and Granny was a pretty and trim looker in her twenties), and original Mighty Mouse cartoons!!! This was before we viewed a reel of film featuring images that are one hundred years old this year!!!!! Stage antics of a man dressed as death performing various “magical acts,” camera tricks and illusions. 100 YEARS OLD!!! Incredible. An evening to dwarf all others in comparison, the epitome of cool, laid back fun!!!
We were then treated to the first of two feature films. The unavailable, unreleased, you’ll-never-find-this-flick-of-a-lifetime: Disney’s SONG OF THE SOUTH starring the incredibly talented, James Baskett, in a film that, let’s just say, isn’t on Disney’s current slate of what they should release soon… As all gleefully sang along to Zipidee Doo Da, we – felt that wealth and warmth of great friend and great fun wash over us. A treat worth the trip missin’ my wife, sleepin’ in my car, an’ dodgin’ cops and cold breezes at the Dobie, alone. And as’n if that weren’t enough, the second film on the double bill platter of incredulous film experiences was the one, the only, the king… KING KONG!!! Complete with the scenes of human squishings and gobblings cut for television, which remained largely unseen – in all their glory. By eve’s end, we were closin’ in on five o’clock in the mornin ’ time and half of our original crew remained. Some folks just ain’t got no longetivity, and only the few and proud remained… and we know we coulda gone all night, dammit – I guess we’ll have to save CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON for next time…
Golly I wish I lived in this town, which I already love… I WILL… and it won’ t be long…
Ya know how sometimes you’ll imagine somethin’ and you’ll wish harder than anything that you were there? Well, I reckin’ if that wishin’ trick ever really did work, and I was told I could be anywhere I wanted… I’d be here with Harry and Jay, shooting the shit and sharing life experiences.
I’ve got gobs of flick reviews for you, and I’ll have them sent directly… and remember, I’ll be all around in the dark, I’m everywhere!
Tom Joad signin’ off…
