The line went around the building like i hoped. a great crowd.

Humid day. Not the best time for black. But i must. Arrived at the Official Mods and Rockers Clubhouse in the back of the Pig & Whistle with Anderson Berry, Boy Lawyer, at 4:30. Finally met face to face with the sprite impresario Martin Lewis and met assorted beautiful people.

Watched the terrific doc Who Is Harry Nilsson And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him? Made me love Nilsson even more. You can't help but be moved.
But the word SKIDOO is dare not spoken...

Start getting pre-show jitters. My sister Lynn arrives from Sacramento. More friends outside. Hug Jerry Beck, animation archivist and fellow SKIDOO-phile. We've waited a long time for this. Play social butterfly. Watch the line grow.

Martin puts on my pre-show music. Nothing like forcing Status Quo's "Technicolor Dreams" on a willing audience.

Finally...Showtime. Martin comes out and jazzes the audience up for the festival. Asks how many have seen SKIDOO...nice smattering of applause.
He talks about the first time he saw it a press screening in 1969 and has wanted to show it at the M&R Fest since it began in 1999.

He introduces me and i walk to the stage in excitement. We blab. i forget two things for every one thing i say. video posted soon. i set up the two media pieces before the film, Nilsson and Otto Preminger pimping SKIDOO on Playboy After Dark from 1968 followed by a dv intro with John Philip Law.

I love this clip of Nilsson and Preminger with Hef. The audience always eats this up; it's the perfect primer for the era and forthcoming film.

The i slide into my chair in the dark, that delicious anticipation building. i've waited for this moment for 7 years. And with the first blast of the infectious SKIDOO theme over the animated Jackie Gleason logo, away we go...