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Sunday, September 25, 2005 We All Have The Same Problems "We All Have The Same Problems" was the slogan I used when running for the Illinois State Senate as a Democrat in the so-called most Republican county of the state, if not the nation. The ad campaign won awards but not the election. I did garner more votes than any Democrat, since Reconstruction, I was told. Many assumed I was a Democrat, when I was really a JFK, RFK and Otto Kerner acolyte. In those days I was a military-industrial hawk from a very Republican family. I wanted to be a US Senator and my support would come from the Democrats, primarily Gov. Kerner and Mayor Richard Dailey, (the first). They felt I could win. During that critical summer I also came under the influence of a young pacifist gardner and his mind-altering crop. I became a dove. The rest is my history of becoming the producer of HAIR. My motivation came from a desire to communicate the message of Freedom, Peace and Love from one generation to another. I believed, and still do, that the basic tenets of the hippie philosophy are the only real future of the world if we are going to avoid destroying the human race, or the environment that supports it. When I tested my political inclinations, I came out as a Libertarian, where I exist comfortably today-socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I was sorely disappointed with many of the Clinton antics. However I felt that his private life was none of our business. Such witch hunts are handmaidens to the fundamentalist elimination of any politician who does not agree with their philosophy. It has made many suitable and adequate people decide to stay out of politics. I felt that 'we all have the same problems'. I still feel that basically we have the same objectives. Whether we are Red or Blue, Democrat or Republican people have the same basic desires. Most differences are about the methods of attaining our desires. I had little idea of the major conspiracy facing America, namely the take over of the country by the "compassionate conservatives". That was a great phrase that many took to heart, myself included. However, my choice in those early days was for Senator John McCain. I felt here was a straight shooter who had proven his dedication and would be a fair leader. I did not have very strong opinions about Bush until I saw what the compassion of Carl Rove did to McCain in the primaries. Then came the election with the obvious chicanery by Jeb Bush and cohorts to give his brother the edge. Further dissolution came with the Spreme Court overridding the State Courts and the cave-in of Gore. To this day I do not understand why he gave up his victory. Is it not a problem that we all have to face real concern for may subjects: The War in Iraq, the reasons for that war, The Patriot Act, the Downing Street Memos, Environment, Medical Insurance, Cost of Housing, Unlimited political funding of both major Party's, and the Ohio election results are just some of the critical issues. Not to even talk about our protection in the case of a major terrorist attack when we have Katrina as an example of the lack of prevention and preparedness. These are problems for all of us. They will be solved only be clear investigation and correction. Finding non partisan answers to such questions is too often confounded by political parties which have too much at stake financially. Our greatest concern is the disappearance of a watchdog press. Since deregulation allowed rampant conglomerations of communication media, we have seen a blanket thrown over real scrutiny of the government. Mergers and acquisitions have reduced the voices of dissent. The media moguls and monsters are beholden to the government in power, no matter who it is. So "we all have the same problems." we are not getting the straight story, or the full story; adverserial positions are not being pushed. No matter what one's politics are we are being entertained by big media beholden to big government and not to the people. The only way to cure this problem is to have open and clear information available to all. In an information age, an enlightend citizenry is our only hope. Monday, September 05, 2005 Fury, Rage, Sadness, Embarrassed, Ashamed These are feelings we have had in recent days. To one degree or another we had one or more of these emotional reactions but Katrina has forced us to really look seriously at what is happening in our America. I have felt for a long time it would take some major catastrophe to make us study the status quo. This hurricane, with the tragedy of New Orleans, could be that event. Perhaps not even the storm but the reactions to it and the ignorance beforehand. Ignorance beforehand: FEMA being downgraded and subordinated to Homeland Security. Natural disasters made second to terrorists. Wetlands trashed despite constant warnings of their importance to ecological systems. Resignation of the Chief of Army Engineers over drastic reductions in funding of levee support. Prior to 9/11 warnings of the three prime disaster probable in America, in which New Orleans was ranked first. Climate warming increasing the frequency and severity of hurricanes. Concentration on terror, a long time danger, created a false premise for invading Iraq. All these caused shifting priorities in men and money. The consequences are dreadful. At the critical time does the C in C fly to the side of the victims? Does he join his larger family, the citizens of this country? As in his flight from Crawford to Washington in support of the politics of the Terry Shiavo case. No, he flies to San Diego to con WWII veterans into equating their war with the one in Iraq. Fund raising makes the day. Our President also admitted that he never considered the levee's would be breached, a statement contrary to all advice and published warnings before. He should have flown straight to New Orleans to the Heart of the Disaster. The chorus aka, Chertoff, et al, said all was under control by his Department of Homeland Security. Minions were dispatched everywhere to show the flag for the actions of our government. Cheney was strangely silent, probably bunkered with Rove; Dennis Hastert, our Speaker of the House was quoted with suggesting the trashing of New Orleans. He quickly backtracked when it became obvious that his Illinois farmer constituents need the Port of New Orleans to ship their produce. Duh! Still Hastert wasn't present for the vote for relief in Washington. He had a fund raiser to attend. I suppose Rumsfeld could only reflect how "Stuff Happens". Even Bill Clinton, the so-called 'black president' had to chime in support of Bush's innocence. Or is it ignorance? His administration is embarrassing in its incompetence. One is ashamed of its 'spinning' those who have 'bought' its messages. I have raged over the obvious lack of concern for our dark-skinned fellows suffering days without food, shelter, clothing, even water. Furious the administration and the legislature would even think of repealing the estate tax at such a time. One might favor such a repeal on principle, but at a time like this the South needs every penny that can be sent. I feel sadness at the state of our nation with leaders such as what we have. Not only George W. Bush and his satraps; where is the opposition? Are the Democrats creating anything we can hope for? Carpe Diem |
ARTICLES
OF NOTE
Remarks for Friends of Conservation Probably Our Major Problem Today All In The Name You Give It We All Have The Same Problems Questions About HAIR Fury, Rage, Sadness, Embarrassed, Ashamed Answers for Simon "But I Can't Make A Difference" "God said it. I believe it. That settles it" ARCHIVES December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005
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Friday, September 16, 2005
Questions About HAIR
Recently I have been asked about the HAIR film. I have been asked why the show didn't last longer on Broadway. Both these questions were put to me in a negative derogatory fashion. I am going to explain my aspect of those stories.
Originally I acquired the film rights as it seemed no decision would ever be made for it to go forward. I paid $1,000,000, quite a sum in 1969. After much negotiation I made a deal with Paramount. This studio was owned by Gulf & Western. It was run be the mercurial Frank Yablens. He had made it very successful. He gave me Peter Bart (now Editor-in-Chief of Variety) as the Executive Producer. Peter and I hit it off very well. We had a dream team: Hal Ashby to direct, Colin Higgens as screenwriter, Michael Heller for design and Doug Trumbell to do special effects.
Hal Ashby spent some weeks with me in England where we worked out a good relationship. One of our understandings was to consult with the authors of the play. He had no problem with this. Neither did Colin. We started to put the project together with considerable additional personal investment. Suddenly, without warning Ashby withdrew. He was a drug casualty who eventually succumbed to the habit. You can imagine the catastrophe to our plan.
We proposed that Colin Higgens direct. We couldn't get the approval as he had never directed.
A bad decision that was as he turned out to be a top director. One of the problems influencing this mistake was a great ego fight between Frank Yablans and Charles Bludehorn, the head of Gulf & Western. Naturally the boss won and Yablans was out too. Then Barry Diller was brought in to run Paramount. He had his own agenda and it did not include HAIR.
The film project languished until Robert Stigwood took me to his premier of "Tommy". I liked that work and asked him if he would be interested in doing HAIR. He was and we started to negotiate. Robert brought Lester Persky in as associate. Later Robert dropped out. I was left with Persky. We agreed to Milos Foreman as director. I understood the authors to be happy with Milos who had wanted for sometime to make the film. Lester and I had a clear understanding that the authors would be consulted. Michael Weiller was brought on to write the screenplay. My dislike of the screenplay, in particular the ending and the handling Claude's character, was so strong that I never went on the set again. I really dropped out of having anything to do with the production. I only returned to the scene when asked to assist in the promotion with speeches and presentations.
While I was disappointed I am very happy the film was made. It has given many an opportunity to be exposed to the basics of HAIR. Countless people have really enjoyed the film. Yes, it is not the play but it has made many fans who have gone on to want to see a live production with the author's intended. It is still the strongest anti war statement in the history of musical theatre.
As for the Broadway run not being longer. First, very few shows run on B'way for 1750 performances. Second, I elected to mount the show in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington' which, although exposing many to HAIR who otherwise might not have seen it, (including government officials) drew from the NYC fan base. I also mounted more than 12 productions in various cities without waiting on the end of the B'way run. Traditionally, road shows do not start until after their NYC production shuts down. We knew that this also would erode the NYC market base, but felt HAIR was too pertinent to await the normal flow of New York run. Given the same situation-with human beings dying every day- I would do it that way again.
Another not altogether unitended consequence of this decision allowed us to produce live, equity musical productions in more cities simultaneously than any other production, with casts drawn from these respective cities. I believe this dimension of authenticity gave HAIR: The Musical, and its message, a greater authenticity than it may have had had it played ten years in New York, on Broadway or Off. In the process, I believe HAIR brought more new actors to the American stage, if not the world's than any other legitimate stage production.
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