Prattling before the Pratfall – Page 214

A Long Time Ago…

Syd Mead concept illustration for United States Steel that became the basis for the AT-AT walkers in *The Empire Strikes Back*

Much of the third part of Light & Magic, Lawrence Kasdan’s ILM documentary on Disney+, is about the making of The Empire Strikes Back. Something I’ve neglected to say is, the clips from Star Wars and Empire are from the original film elements, with scratches and speckles intact.

Seeing these widescreen HD snippets of the movies as they first appeared in movie theaters, even the color differences compared to the “corrected” digital releases opened doors in my memory. It would be wonderful if Disney were teasing us for an upcoming re-release of the original Star Wars, before the “New Hope” title was added in 1978. What is much more likely is that Kasdan wanted to show examples of the special effects that were faithful to what the ILM team created.

My favorite moment in part 3 is when illustrator Joe Johnston talks about Syd Mead’s portfolio of concept paintings for United States Steel.

One of Mead’s paintings has a vehicle with a split rear window. It reminds me of the 1963 Corvette Stingray, a car that fascinated me as a kid.

https://sydmead.com/category/gallery/us-steel/

1963 Corvette Stingray with split rear window

To the Library!

With the pandemic being more or less under control, I’ve started visiting the town library. Nothing says I’m an old retired guy more than that.

During a fundraising campaign to renovate and expand the library I donated $1000. The Boston Globe, that I no longer have delivered at home, is there. Along with several magazines of interest, The Economist, Scientific American, and Smithsonian.

Endfull Summer

Staying on the subject of DJ’s and beaches, Tomboy Hanks will be returning soon to Boss Radio 66 with his summer wrap-up show.

Play it Again

Denro’s brother is living the radio DJ dream I lived for a while, but gave up, so long ago. He’s covering the overnight shift on MVY Radio, on Martha’s Vineyard. Yeah, the island off the Cape Cod shore where the Obamas have an expensive house, but without any top secret documents in the basement.

Monday night Rich played one of my very favorite “recent” (2010) tunes, and I didn’t even request it.

This one you can click (or tap).

Calling Out Copyists

This Bizarro comic strip last week got some people exchanging views, once again, about the validity of Roy Lichtenstein’s work.

In cartoonist Wayno’s blog he tells of his thinking behind the strip. (I’m amazed Google still hosts blogs.)

http://waynocartoons.blogspot.com/2022/08/copycat-crime.html

David Barsalou’s extensive research project, Deconstructing Roy Lichstenstein, reveals every one the comic book panels that were copied by Lichtenstein.

Tweets by DavidBarsalou

David and I were fortunate to have had Barbara Harris as our Art History instructor in college.

http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/check-barbara-harriss-artwork/

Barbara Harris, who taught Art History, and my drawing instructor, Arno Maris.

Stapp’s Straps

Jack Kirby was born on this day in 1917. The late-50’s comic strip Sky Masters of the Space Force was superbly illustrated by Jack, with perfectly complementary inking by Wally Wood. Note: Kirby/Wood refers to writer Dave Wood, not the unrelated Wally.

The last panel in that strip reminds me of the famous rocket sled tests performed by Dr. John Stapp.

Stapp’s groundbreaking Air Force work, testing the limits of human endurance under extreme conditions, was nothing like the ghoulishly criminal experiments conducted by the Nazis. Stapp was entirely practical in considering the effects of supersonic flight on pilots, and his data was invaluable when the manned space program began. The 3-point lap belt for cars came from Stapp’s research. The PBS series American Experience profiled Stapp in its “Space Men” documentary.