Standing under the Aero Theater marque with THE PARTY and SKIDOO in red letters under a full Aquarian moon in breezy Santa Monica...well yeah.

I had a nightmare before the screening that it had gone disastrously wrong and as I was wilting in the angry audience, somebody called me a "Skidoofus." Which struck me as mean, yet perfect. Collectively we are Skidoofi. Thank God it was a dream. And I woke up to my Huffington Post essay.

The screening was all kinds of wonderful. Sadly, Blake Edwards had to cancel due to some surgery, but his daughter Jennifer introduced the film to the absolutely packed house. Getting this kind of audience out for a Sunday night movie proves you can get one. Jennifer said her father really wanted to be here.

THE PARTY, from 1968 (the same year as you know what), killed the crowd. Last time I saw it was at the New Beverly...It was great to hear the audience laugh like they probably did when it opened. Peter Sellers arguably transcends the stereotypical Indian with his unique, iconic character; then making him both sweet and destructive (and the origin of Apu on THE SIMPSONS). The action takes almost entirely in a lounge wet dream Hollywood palace as Sellers wrecks endless havoc on the revelers. Clearly a tribute to Jacque Tahti's comedies, THE PARTY is almost like an Antonioni film with Jerry Lewis, except he's played by Peter Sellers.

I had to wait outside for John Phillip Law, so as I contemplated all things SKIDOO beneath moon and marque, a van pulled up and a slick family stepped out followed by an older man I recognized as Blake Edwards. He was a bit frail but sturdy as they wheeled him into the theater. I met his other daughter outside and she said he had demanded to go. Right on.

I had to go watch Edwards watch what he considered his best comedy. It was great to hear the unaware audience roar with laughter as he sat in the back. After the film ended to applause, Mods & Rockers Guru Martin Lewis announced Blake Edwards in the house to a thunderous standing ovation that went on all night long.

We flew immediately into SKIDOO mode. We still had the same packed house, a rowdier crowd than in Hollywood. Martin brought John Law and I up to chairs and microphones. John talked about Otto Preminger and some SKIDOO anecdotes. I talked about the film's history and its unique place in the 60's. There's always the chance for awkward moments during these discussions, but we managed to roll along. The crowd voiced its approval of getting a DVD out there.

Another fantastic screening at the amazing Mods & Rockers Film Fest. It was of course great to watch the film again with a new audience (minus the Skidoofi) and sit near John Phillip Law enjoying it as well. I always love the crowd's palpable anticipation of Jackie Gleason's acid trip. My weird dream is to have people break out into song and dance along with Carol Channing at the end. I think some truly wanted to. And the final shot gets me everytime. After the stunned audience filed out, I met some internet pals and Matthew Rabin took shots of John Law and I in front of the SKIDOO poster flashing peace signs.

Okay, I'm a Skidoofus.