Hello, gang! Some news and notes from the past week. Shall we begin?

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WE GOT MARRIED IN A FEVER!
As Nolan noted last issue, country music legend June Carter Cash passed away last Thursday at the age of 73 after a long illness. Born Valerie June Carter in 1929 was literally born into show business. Her mother, Maybelle Carter, was pregnant with June when the Carter Family released one of country music's most popular songs, "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes." At the age of 10 she began joining the family on their weekly radio broadcasts, culminating with regular appearances on the Grand Ole Opry in 1950. Carter soon proved herself more then just a singer. Director Elia Kazan had her study at The Actor's Studio in New York City. Over the years she appeared on many television shows and in films, including a well received performance in Robert Duvall's 1997 film, "The Apostle." She was married three times and had one child with each husband. Her first daughter, country singer Carlene Carter, was born to her and Carl Smith, daughter number two, Rosey Nix, with Rip Nix, and John Carter Cash by third husband, Johnny Cash. Carter and Cash met at the Grand Ole Opry and began touring together in 1961. They married in 1968. They won Grammy awards for their songs "Jackson" (1967) and "If I Were A Carpenter." (1970) Carter later won a Grammy in 2000 for her album, "Press On." A songwriter in her own right, Carter co-wrote with Merle Kilgore what would go on to be one of Cash's signature songs, "Ring of Fire."

SIGN THE APOCALYPSE IS UPON US
Scary postings on the "Jaws" web site tell me that Universal is trying to convince actor Ian Shaw, son of the late Robert, to portray the young Quint in "Jaws 5." Excuse me why I go pound my head against a wall.

50 YEARS YOUNG
Was very impressed with this past Monday's airing of ABC's 50th Anniversary Party. As a child of the 60's television was a big thing growing up. I'm old enough to remember that some shows, like "Get Smart," "Lost in Space" and others were first broadcast in black and white. What was amazing to me was that I didn't associate ABC with any of the shows I grew up with. I mean I knew "Star Trek" and "The Monkees" were NBC, "Lost in Space" was CBS. The only thing I can remember as being from ABC was "American Bandstand," "The Beatles" cartoon show and, of course, "School House Rock." For those who wondered, they even brought out the "agony of defeat" skier from the opening of "Wide World of Sports." I'm hoping that when CBS does this that they find the old lady with the glasses that stares at Mary Tyler Moore every time she threw her hat up in the air!

WHAT A WHINY BOY!
Jeers, indeed, to professional golfer Vijay Singh, who showed his true colors by withdrawing from this week's Colonial Golf Tournament rather then play against a woman. That woman is Annika Sorenstam, who just happens to be the best woman's player in the world. Given a sponsor's exemption to play in the tournament, Sorenstam accepted so she could measure herself against the best golfers in the world. But some golfers, like Singh, balked at having a woman playing with them. First, Singh said that he would not play if he were teamed with Sorenstam. Pretty stupid statement since, as a tournament winner, he would be in a separate grouping and knew there was no way he would be teamed with her. He later said that he hoped she missed the cut, which means she would not be allowed to complete the tournament unless she shot a respectable score. Later, Singh said that he said that because he didn't want to "lose to a woman." Now, showing that the only balls he has are in his golf bag, Singh has withdrawn from the tournament, claiming that he had told his wife that were he to win a tournament this year he would skip the next. Yeah, right! I'm glad you won last weekend. I'd hate to hear you say you pussed out because you promised that if you placed fourth in a tournament you'd skip the next. Do I think Sorenstam will win? No. She's playing off the men's tees on a course that is almost 600 yards longer then any she's ever placed. But I do think she won't embarrass herself either. Which is more then I can say for Vijay Singh!

WHAT IS "CULT?"
This week, Entertainment Weekly listed what it called its Top 50 Cult Films of all time. What makes a cult film? Is it a film that only you and five of your friends like? Is it something that's just so weird that it gains a following just because of the weirdness? A small film with no budget that just appeals? Between "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Steven Spielberg made a film called "1941." I LOVE this movie...........but most of my friends tell me it's a piece of crap! So does that make it a cult film to me? Hmmmmmmm. Anyway, here are the top 10, and a few that made the list that I really enjoy:

1. This Is Spinal Tap: Great movie! Exploding drummers and an amplifier that "goes to 11." Tender moment when Nigel Tufnel plays a hauntingly melodic piece on the piano, explaining it's part of a love story/rock opera he's writing. The title: "Lick My Love Pump."
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Many fine memories abound for most of us at the PCR. This thing ran forever at the University Theatre in Tampa. Extra kudos to Corey Castellano, who braved dressing up in gold lamé undies and nothing else one night! Oh, to be that thin! (Funny, I can't seem to find that on his resumé!--haha. N)
3. Freaks: I am happy to have been part of the group that reenergized the Tampa Theatre in the late 1970's. I volunteered many a night to setting up displays, pouring sodas and making sure that everyone had a good time. I remember watching this at the Tampa Theatre with a group of friends (Matt, Rick Sousa and Scott Gilbert, among others, stand out in my mind.) It was during the summer where we never slept.......we would stay up for DAYS at a time. Anyway, the giddiness of sleeplessness and whatever else we may have been doing in those days culminated in yours truly screaming "It's a CHICKEN!" at the end of the movie!
4. Harold and Maude: saw this again recently and to me it doesn't hold up as well as other films of it's time. My favorite part is when Harold appears to set himself on fire on his front lawn.
5. Pink Flamingos: call me stupid, but I lived in Baltimore for a year before I even heard the name John Waters. His brand of movie making was introduced to me by Tom Bowles when he, Matt and Corey came up for the World Science Fiction Convention. By the time they had arrived, I had tracked down Edith Massey, a major character in many of Water's films, so that Tom, who was a huge Water's fan, could meet her. I'll always remember that Edie told Tom that he looked exactly like her brother, which was pretty funny since Tom is Korean and Edie wasn't. I eventually got to know Mr. Waters pretty well as the theatre I managed was his theatre of choice. I've got quite a collection of autographed "Hairspray" and "Cry Baby" posters if anyone's interested!
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Whoa! Pretty scary stuff. I want to say I saw this at the Hillsboro Drive-In in Tampa, FL. Not as bloody as it was made out to be.......at least not in my opinion.
7. Repo Man: the only thing I remember about this movie was that I took an entire Sunday to drive to DC to see it. To me it was overhyped.
8. Scarface: "Shay hello to my liddle frend!" One of the guilty pleasures in my life. When I was in the service, my friend Kent Ward and I went to see this movie twice every Monday night for six weeks (only on Monday, since it was $2.00 night). The last couple weeks it was just us in the late show.
9. Blade Runner: good movie. Any time you have a chance to be crushed to death by Daryl Hannah's thighs around your head has got to be a good thing. Extra credit to the director's cut where it's revealed, to me anyway, that Deckard is also a replicant.
10. The Shawshank Redemption: OK, here's where you start wondering about the word "cult." Can a major studio release that gets nominated for many Oscars, including Best Picture, be a cult film. Yes. This movie didn't do dime one in theatres. It was only after video release and cable showings that it took off. Think "Eddie and the Cruisers" without the music and Michael Pare and you get the picture.