ONOFFON

[onoffon]

Okay now, this is gonna blow you away! I found this auction on eBay for a publicity still from the movie, A Song Is Born. My brother, Perry, just won the auction so we've got our hot little hands on it. The thing that's so cool about this particular photo is that it's not from the set of the movie, it's taken in the recording studio while the band was recording the soundtrack!!! My dad is almost dead center and is the only one fully facing the camera. I couldn't have asked for a better shot! This is a copy I saved on my hard drive -The description is as follows: "A rare original 8" x 10" publicity still from the 1948 RKO film "A Song Is Born". Pictured, from left to right in the back row are Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnet, Harry Babasin; in the front are Al Hendrickson, Mel Powell, and Louis Bellson. Other than a 1" wrinkled area near the center of the top border, the photo is in excellent condition." If you look over the piano player's shoulder, Mel Powell, you'll see the sheet music laid out on the piano. I'm hoping that the actual photo will be clear enough to see the title of the track they're playing - I'm sure it will be.It makes me wonder if MGM has an archive of behind the scenes photos from the movie that I've never seen. Obviously, this is one... This just keeps getting better and better...

[liamkelly]

Mar 31, 2009, 1:35pm, onoffon wrote:Okay now, this is gonna blow you away! I found this auction on eBay for a publicity still from the movie, A Song Is Born. My brother, Perry, just won the auction so we've got our hot little hands on it. The thing that's so cool about this particular photo is that it's not from the set of the movie, it's taken in the recording studio while the band was recording the soundtrack!!! My dad is almost dead center and is the only one fully facing the camera. I couldn't have asked for a better shot! This is a copy I saved on my hard drive -The description is as follows: "A rare original 8" x 10" publicity still from the 1948 RKO film "A Song Is Born". Pictured, from left to right in the back row are Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnet, Harry Babasin; in the front are Al Hendrickson, Mel Powell, and Louis Bellson. Other than a 1" wrinkled area near the center of the top border, the photo is in excellent condition." If you look over the piano player's shoulder, Mel Powell, you'll see the sheet music laid out on the piano. I'm hoping that the actual photo will be clear enough to see the title of the track they're playing - I'm sure it will be.It makes me wonder if MGM has an archive of behind the scenes photos from the movie that I've never seen. Obviously, this is one... This just keeps getting better and better... VonWhat a photo to get your hands on! Very cool, and a who's who of the era! I'm very happy for you Strange drum kit though Hope you're real well.

[onoffon]

Mar 31, 2009, 1:50pm, liamkelly wrote:Strange drum kit though Thanks buddy... hey, who are we to question Louis Bellson?

[onoffon]

Mar 20, 2009, 10:25am, onoffon wrote:I learned that there is a gentleman in the U.K. who is writing a book about the making of John Carpenter's The Thing. I have recently completed my third hour of phone interviews he has conducted with me about my experiences on the film. There have been a few stories I've contributed that no one else brought up so I know I will be mentioned more than a few times in the book. And, I have a few choice pieces of conceptual art and a few pics that I am sending him copies of.Just an update on the book from the author -"Hi Von,Both packages that you sent me have now arrived safely in the mail. Thank you very much for that. It is very much appreciated. The pictures and illustrations are just wonderful and will make welcome additions to the book. Incidentally, I interviewed producer Larry Franco today and he vividly remembered the miniature helicopter disaster. Nobody else has ever mentioned it but Larry did as soon as I mentioned it. Thanks again for the pictures. Take care of yourself.Michael"I'm so honored to be included in this - how cool to be a part of something that has gained such a cult following through the years. I was so happy to hear that someone finally copped to the "miniature helicopter disaster". It's funny how people recall the successes but rarely remember the failures. I'm the only one with the cajones to bring it up...hehehehe.... Anyway, in looking through some old photos, I stumbled on one more that I originally couldn't find - it's a picture of me holding up one of the dead dog carcasses used in the kennel scene when the creature blows out of the dog that brings it into the American compound. I'm going to send it in the off case he decides to include it... who knows...

[crystallions]

Mar 31, 2009, 1:35pm, onoffon wrote:Okay now, this is gonna blow you away! I found this auction on eBay for a publicity still from the movie, A Song Is Born. My brother, Perry, just won the auction so we've got our hot little hands on it. The thing that's so cool about this particular photo is that it's not from the set of the movie, it's taken in the recording studio while the band was recording the soundtrack!!! My dad is almost dead center and is the only one fully facing the camera. I couldn't have asked for a better shot! This is a copy I saved on my hard drive -The description is as follows: "A rare original 8" x 10" publicity still from the 1948 RKO film "A Song Is Born". Pictured, from left to right in the back row are Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnet, Harry Babasin; in the front are Al Hendrickson, Mel Powell, and Louis Bellson. Other than a 1" wrinkled area near the center of the top border, the photo is in excellent condition." If you look over the piano player's shoulder, Mel Powell, you'll see the sheet music laid out on the piano. I'm hoping that the actual photo will be clear enough to see the title of the track they're playing - I'm sure it will be.It makes me wonder if MGM has an archive of behind the scenes photos from the movie that I've never seen. Obviously, this is one... This just keeps getting better and better... This is so cool!!! I am glad your brother saw the auction and won it.Congratulations on the interviews for the book too. That is really exciting. I assume they will send you a copy?~ Lydia

[onoffon]

Apr 16, 2009, 9:15pm, crystallions wrote:This is so cool!!! I am glad your brother saw the auction and won it.Congratulations on the interviews for the book too. That is really exciting. I assume they will send you a copy?~ LydiaThanks Lydia! I was really happy my brother bought the photo. I can't tell you how many items I've purchased off ebay putting together my father's discography. I'm currently trying to win another auction - it's a live recording from 1952 that I've never heard. My father used to host a jam session at a club called the Tradewinds and I have two live recordings in the 'series' already - one is Chet Baker's first ever recording in his career and the second is with Charlie Parker. This latest one features Art Pepper and Jack Sheldon. I hope I don't have to spend too much to get it but it would be extremely cool to have in the archives...I'm hoping to get a couple of copies of 'The Thing' book. I want autographed first editions... Cheers!

[onoffon]

Apr 16, 2009, 9:36pm, onoffon wrote:I'm currently trying to win another auction - it's a live recording from 1952 that I've never heard. This latest one features Art Pepper and Jack Sheldon.Alas, I lost this auction. It sold for more than $200.00!!!Funny, if my father's recordings sold for $200.00 each when he was still alive, he wouldn't have died virtually penniless in Pacoima...

[onoffon]

This week, I've been focusing on some serious research on a couple of events in my father's career that would enhance the documentary. Since he offered his assistance, I decided to call Denny Tedesco, son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco and producer of the documentary, The Wrecking Crew. In our conversation, he thought it would be a good idea to put me in touch with a music historian who helped him in his research, so Denny sent him an email to introduce me to see if this gentleman would be amenable to having me contact him. He often helps the AFM with locating information for re-use payments to musicians on songs used in movies, commercials, etc. This was his response to Denny -"Den,Excellent timing. I was about to email you that I'd be in LA for a week starting May 2nd. Harry Babasin was a first call bassist on a lot of jazz dates during the 50's. I think he also had his own record company, Nocturne after that. I'd be very interested in talking to his son.See you soon,Russ"Since this response, I've directly contacted Russ and he will be calling me when he's in town to set up a time we could meet. He may even be a person I might consider interviewing for the movie...I like that "first call bassist"...

[onoffon]

I happened to be channel surfing the other night and I landed on a PBS channel. They were airing a documentary about the jazz/pop singer, Louis Prima. It seemed interesting enough so I continued watching.There came a reference to a song Mr. Prima wrote that became very famous during its day called "Sing, Sing, Sing". The narrator mentioned that the song really gained notoriety when it was done by Benny Goodman. When the narrator said "Benny Goodman" they cut to about five to ten seconds of a film clip of Benny Goodman, ending a song, and directly behind him were drummer, Louis Bellson, and my dad on bass!!!!I had never seen this clip before and now I'm doing intense research to find out what, where, and when this film was made and how I can license it for my documentary.Of course, I'll be using a bit more than these filmmakers did and it will be a great lead-in to the clips of A Song Is Born that I will be using.It just keeps getting better and better...

[davewalton]

May 11, 2009, 3:27pm, onoffon wrote:I happened to be channel surfing the other night and I landed on a PBS channel. They were airing a documentary about the jazz/pop singer, Louis Prima. It seemed interesting enough so I continued watching.There came a reference to a song Mr. Prima wrote that became very famous during its day called "Sing, Sing, Sing". The narrator mentioned that the song really gained notoriety when it was done by Benny Goodman. When the narrator said "Benny Goodman" they cut to about five to ten seconds of a film clip of Benny Goodman, ending a song, and directly behind him were drummer, Louis Bellson, and my dad on bass!!!!I had never seen this clip before and now I'm doing intense research to find out what, where, and when this film was made and how I can license it for my documentary.Of course, I'll be using a bit more than these filmmakers did and it will be a great lead-in to the clips of A Song Is Born that I will be using.It just keeps getting better and better... What's the chances in just a "random coincidence" situation? Surely it was meant to be that you found that new clip. Good luck with the continued venture/adventure... it's been wonderful following all this.