New book galleys, casting calls, and hip baby music

The galleys for my new book, Masterpieces of Beat Literature , showed up today. The publication date has been posted as Dec 30, 2006. So much for my short respite from deadlines...

My brother and his wife had a baby last week. As a gift, I'm thinking Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Cure or Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Tool











There's a second casting call for local film Schism:
Films are rarely made about the residents of an assisted living community or the elderly in general. Sadly, these people are sometimes treated like second class citizens, a burden to their families, and oftentimes forgotten entirely. Our film will center on these wonderful and colorful characters, often full of life and energy, but held back only by circumstances beyond their control. The intent of the film is not to show the staff or facility in a bad light, but to realistically portray the hard work that the staff does on a daily basis and to show the struggles that the residents [sic] experience
Show up Saturday September 9th, 12-5PM, at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall, 919 State St. Erie, PA

All Access Passes for the 2006 Eerie Horror Film Festival are now available

Naguib Mahfouz, author of Leading Arab Writer, Dies

Thousands of depressed, artistic colege freshman breathe a little easier today. Edvard Munch's The Scream has been recovered.

Google Inc. plans to begin letting consumers download and print free of charge classic novels and many other, more obscure books that are in the public domain.

I've started a logabottle account, so if you're a wino too, feel free to add me as a friend. The name is dittman pal, don't forget it.

Historical Markers, band finances, and a televangalist saint.

The Derrick is running one of the strangest stories I've seen in a while. The gist of the article is that there are historical markers in Northwestern PA. That's it. Really; there's no mention of how one gets a marker put up, or if there's any new ones on the way, or even a question of should tax dollars go to a program of sometimes dubious quality. It's like the writer picked up George Beyer's fine text, Guide to the State Historical Markers of Pennsylvania , highlighted a few passages and submitted it. Weird - I mean, the book should have at least been acknowledged as existing as source...

The Silver Cornet Band needs donations to finance a trip The all-volunteer band has been selected to represent Venango County at the centennial celebration for the state capitol building in Harrisburg. They're looking for donations within the next three weeks to help finance the trip, so unless you want to see the band members in flip flops and Speedos washing cars in the parking lot of First National Bank, or going door to door selling band candy, send them a little something in care of Franklin City Hall, 430 13th St., Franklin, PA 16323. Tell them you saw it at venangago-go.

Pete Greene takes a ride on the local buses at Venangoland:

The drivers were uniformly pleasant and helpful. One maintained a steady friendly banter with the passengers (sample: "Hey, Ron, where you been all my life?" "Shut up and drive!").

A Catholic Archbishop with Pittsburgh ties could become the first saint to have won an Emmy.

Proof that the Erie Times News is actually written by a computer spitting out random words? This morning's Health feature includes the headlines "Do shiny legs indicate brain disorder?" and "Should rectal bleeding worry me?". Depends whose it is, I guess...

The San Franscico Gate previews Fall books.

Franklin's annual Rock in Riverfest is Saturday.

On a bright day in May, a middle-aged visitor from Scotland, dressed in a blue anorak, stood with tears flowing down his cheeks at his first sight of [Fallingwater]. The guide assured him this was normal. Really? Because, ummm...I was there too and...I'm not seeing it....

If you use technology to clean up a classic photograph, is it still classic?

Pittsburgh born playwright August Wilson's Seven Guitars is reviewd in the NY Times.

More and more artists are saying, go ahead and take the music, just make sure you buy the tshirt

Back to school

The fall semester has started at my school, which means less frequent posts....

Venangoland has been updated with a essay on labor saving devices.

Oil City Arts Champ Joann Wheeler gets some love in this morning's Derrick.

BP may use the local CD, recored by Franklin High School Black Knight Band, in a documentary dealing in part with US oil.

Steve Miller only sold ~2,000 out of a possible 10,000 tickets for the Crawford County Fair. Perhaps an act under the age of 65 is in order? Two of my (new) students, went last night and said thatthe show was great though....

Nick Nolte will be playing the role of the father in the Mysteries of Pittsburgh movie.

Anyone know anything about this book? It's called On the Way by Gerald Fisher - but nothing on Amazon... The ebay description claimes that he's a Venango County author


via erieblogs:
John C Lyons of Lyons Den Productions will he holding an open audition for his new feature film "Schism", to be filmed in the Erie, PA area. The audition date is Saturday August 26 from 12-4 pm at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall, 919 State St, Erie. The audition will consist of a screen test, photos, and a basic reading of provided lines from the film's script. Specific roles and brief descriptions are listed here.


Grove City College was #4 on in an annual Princeton Review survey the Stone Cold Sober School List

Butler's mayor, Maggie Stock, is really remaking that town. She has no money to work with, a city of only 14,500 residents, but endless drive and vision. Now, they're re-opening Pullman Park,:


a historic ballpark in the town and bringing a minor league team to town. Nice.

The Elk County Council on the Arts has a monthly, “Artist Meet-up”. This month Johnsonburg native Steven Jacobs presented trailers and film sequences from both films he is currently promoting. Elk County doesn't have a whole lot of resources either, but the continue to step up to the plate when it comes to arts. Kudos.

R.O.C.K. in the Park in Franklin

Pete Greene has updated Venangoland with his article that appeared in the News-Herald on August 17, "Race In Franklin".

Pittsburgh City Theatre is promoting the remainder of its 2007 season. Standouts look like A Picasso running for the month of November.

Franklin's R.O.C.K. in the Park will be held from noon to 8 p.m. today in Bandstand Park.

The event will feature performances by Kick Old Man, Killed In Action, Leprosy 76, Nervous Existence, Phyrexia, Remora Deign,Romance Theory, Shadows of the Son, Sorry About Tomorrow and The RickDan Band.

Books, a new studio, and people what help folks like us'n

The story of Coal Oil Johnny, described as "the prodigal prince of Petrolia," has been republished by the Oil Region Alliance . . . [the book] can be purchased at the Oil Region Alliance office in the National Transit Building, the Transit Fine Arts Gallery, the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, the Venango Museum, the Venango County Historical Society and Drake Well Museum. The real bummer is, it's not available on Amazon. Assuming they sprang for the ISBN, it's foolish not to put it on the marketplace. There are a lot of people looking to take advantage of that niche, why not make it easier it for them?

A nice movement in Titusville with "[t]he establishment of a community studio for artists . . . at 114 W. Spring St.
They're having an open house tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m.
In total there are currently 15 artists whose works are on display at the gallery in the mediums of painting, ceramic works, photography, soft art, sculpture and drawings.

God's Day Off is Meadville-based band that list their influences as David Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Nick Drake, The Cure, Mars Volta, among others. They're profiled in the Meadville Tribune.

Finally, someone to blame for Snakes on a Plane, The associate vice chancellor of university development at the University of Pittsburgh

Speaking of Pittsburgh, thank goodness they're able to explain to us ignorant hillbillies what we ought to do what to take care of our land. I grew up about a mile away from this tract, spent my childhood there, and I'd rather see it burnt to the ground and then plowed with salt than to see it continue to become a weekend cottage town of drunken suburbanites.

Local Artist's New Podcast Airs

Summer is winding down. If you haven't been to a concert in Franklin's Bandstand Park yet, now is the time. The Wild Cat Regiment Band will be in Bandstand Park at 7:30pm on Thursday.

The Oil City Library-themed print "Bibliotheque" Is Thomas Shreve's August print of the month. It's a pretty damn fine deal. For $25, paid through PayPal, Shreve will print, sign, emboss, frame, and ship the print. My only complaint is that the download isn't working right now. You can, however download his new podcast here


According to the NY Times, The South Side Slopes in Pittsburgh is a trendy neighborhood. Nah, I don't buy it either...

Speaking of Pittsburgh, the Mountain Goats will be playing The Warhol on the 20th of Sept.
You can download thier song, "Going to Cleveland" here

And in other tour goodness, The Drive By Truckers will be in State College on Sept 26th with Bobby Bare Jr nad in Pittsburgh in October.

It's the 100th anniversary of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.

Rufus Harley, who was billed as “the world’s first jazz bagpiper” and emitted his haunting sounds alongside some of the greats of jazz, died on Aug. 1. Download Marlika here.

What's cooler than a gym uniform? Threadless' back to school tee shirt sale. My daughter is excited and I have my eye on either Smooth Criminal:


or
Fossil Fuel

Open Casting Call for Mysteries of Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that filmmakers for Mysteries of Pittsburgh, based on the best-selling novel by Michael Chabon. . . are holding an open casting call on Friday

Slow tickets sales may mean no more rock acts at the Crawford County Fair. I blame ticket prices. $45 to see Steve Miller at a county fair?

Not local, but a guide to the art in the New York City subway is pretty cool, all the same.

I need bar photos!

Pete Greene checks in on the 100th anniversery of the Silver Cornet Band in his blog Venangoland.

I'm not even sure what to say about this, but the guy who lives behind the C. Wolf costume (Mascot of the Erie Seawolves) has self-published a book of poetry, Growing Beneath a Waning Sun . I'm not making fun, it's just so...hard for me to process...that C. Wolf has a life outside the stadium...

Steve Miller tickets are selling slowly for Meadville for the Crawford County Fair.

Was it something I said? No sooner had I promoted the Brewfest in Titusville than I hear it was canceled.

Tshirt of the week Ambition Killed the Cat

The Pittsburgh Cultural trust is taking some risks this fall and bringing two avant-garde productions to the city (among others):
Charles Ross' One Man Star Wars Trilogy and surreal cabaretists The Tiger Lillies (who were in the one theatre show I watned to see last year, Shockheaded Peter).

St Louis Today reviews new graphic noivels.

Comic Book resources reviews the new noir graphic novel Kickback.

A Happy Booker reader is trying to come up with a list of every book ever set in Washington DC.

The Boston Phoenix reviews Sam Admas new Brewer Patriot collection of beers.

Wow. Gunter Grass has admitted that he was part of the Waffen SS during WWII.


Finally, I need your help. for a new writing project I'm working on, I need interior photos of the following Franklin area bars:
The Corner Pocket
The Sunshine Saloon
The Office
After Hours

There's no money involed in helping me, but I'll give you credit if you like, or never tell a soul that you sent it, if you'd prefer. No real names or recogniizable faces will be used in the actual text. Color or black and white photos, from any era are fine. Send them hard copy to the address in the sidebar and I'll mail them back to you (I'll even pay you for postage), or email them as attachments to simpub@hotmail.com

If you help me out, you'll also get a free copy of the project, more details of which I'll release later. Thanks in advance.

Free Music, Weekend in Titusville and concert in Franklin!

Headed out of town again, so just a quick post.

Thursday is the 150-year Silver Cornet Band anniversary concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Franklin's South Park. A gala party hosted by the Franklin Fine Arts Council will precede the concert at 6:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the Barrow-Civic Theatre. Those snazzy pins we talked about earlier will be available for $3.00 at the show.

Pete Greene has updated Venangoland with a piece about Moon Over Milford. Former Venango County resident, now Wired editor, responds to Pete's column about local talent here.

Titusville Council on the Arts 13th Annual Juried Art Exhibit will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Main Street School.
For additional information, call 827-2381. This weekend sounds like a good one to spend in Titusville. In addition to the art show, Big Jack Earl will be playing at Drake's Follie Brew Fest in Titusville the same day. (a belated congrats to Jerome the bassist from Big Jack Earl and his wife, Erin, on the birth of their second child, Jasper Eugene Toman Wincek.)

Palermo Realty & Development is selling an Erie neighborhood (18 buildings containing 139 apartments, 11 garages and five storefronts) on eBay.

Russ Hoenig has written One Hundred Years of Glass Blowing in Clarion, Pa. 1906-2006 Volume One, The Pearl Glass Company. To contact Hoenig to order a copy of the book at 13441 Olean Trail, Summerville , Pa. , 15864 , by emailing him at bofaus@alltel.net or by calling 379-3266.

Tango Magazine has a summer mix available for download

In the cramped back room of a dive in Brooklyn, a crowd of sweaty patrons are drinking and listening to live music. At the end of each song they explode in rowdy applause. Aside from the lack of cigarette smoke, which still seems odd even three years after the citywide ban in bars, it's an average evening for a music fan. Except that tonight is opera night. Would I be pleased to see a similar show in the Barrow Civic's Little Theatre? Yes. Yes I would.

Worries about Clarion's Theatre Festival

Erie area blog, The Film Chair, has an open casting call for a feature film to be completed in Erie.

The Erie Times News profiles the head of the Erie Art Museum.

Marilouise Michel is concerned about the future of Clarion University's summer theatre festival. Perhaps some new, more interesting, show choices would help - Guys and Dolls? C'mon! That's the Shawshank of community theatre - always playing somwhere. . .

Spent yesterday afternoon making devil sticks with my daughter and learned the important lesson that non-camo fabric tape is hard to find here in Western PA.

The City of Franklin is promising a new website. Thank God. The old CIN was one of the ugliest most unweildy interfaces ever created. Let's hope the arts listings will be easier to access. Poor timing though - no on line listing to be found of the Taste Of Franklin festival this weekend.

I'll be in Ohio this weekend - Saturday is the last planned promotional appearance I'll be making for Small Brutal Incidents. I'll be in Youngstown at the Barnes and Noble. Make a day of it and stop at the Butler Museum and check out their Close and Cornell before heading over to see me. If you want to. No big whoop....

Free Music, Silver Cornet Band, and Conneaut Lake

Pete Greene has some kind words for me (among other locally raised artists) in this morning's Derrick/News Herald column. It's not available on-line yet, but will most likely turn up on Pete's blog, Venangoland, which was recently updated. Check it out.
Speaking of Pete - he's an important part (as well as historian) of our own Silver Cornet Band which this year celebrates 150 years of musical service to the community. They'll be having a gala grand concert next week, August 10 at 7:30 in South Park. It will be preceded by a reception at 6:30. Including, rumor has it, cake. For those not into cake (freaks.) the concert will also include the world premiere of "Franklin Heritage," a new work written for the band by composer Robert Wall who will be directing the piece.

I also forgot to mention that the band chose a winner in their "design a pin" contest:

Congratulations to winning designer Paul Witttreich - now - where can I buy one? A pin that is, not an award winning designer...

Oil City's Transit Concert series started yesterday:

I was planning on going, but oy! The heat!

The City of Meadvile is investing in beer(thus disproving the rental only theory)


It's a bit of a drive, but extras are needed for "Fine Tune," a movie being filmed in Youngstown. Shooting will continue through mid-October. Applications are being taken Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lemodeln Model and Talent Agency, 7536 Market St., Boardman; (330) 758-4417 or (330) 726-8578. Extras will be needed this Sunday for a shoot in downtown Youngstown. You must wear clothes from the early '70s.

"I wished we lived in the America of yesteryear that only exists in the minds of us Republicans" -Ned Flanders.

On Friday, a Classic Car Cruise-In will take place on the lakefront festival lawn of Conneaut Lake Park to kick off the Back in Time Festival.

On Saturday, the Crawford County Dairy Maids will make and serve homemade butter and bread from 1 to 4 p.m. Carrie Pavlik, author of "The Ghosts of Hotel Conneaut and Conneaut Lake Park," will tell ghost stories from 1 to 6 p.m. at Hotel Conneaut.

Outside the hotel, an ice cream social will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. for a small fee. Free lemonade will be served on the veranda.

In a place more real to me, Pittsburgh's Anti-Flag will be playing "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Aug. 22. Before you decided to stay up, download two sample MP3s here:
Die For Your Government
This Machine Kills Fascists

Turns out a lot of stuff never gets catalogued in the Library of Congress.

A Poets laureate proposal

Where have I been? Celebrating my birthday, 'natch. Sadly, I ended up eating birthday lunch on Monday at Petra in Erie. An astoundingly rude waitress, tiny portions, greasy gristly lamb, and falafel fried in grease looong since rancid. Avoid this one at all costs

JoAnn Wheeler has passed on the fact that there's a new author in Venango County:

Musician, painter, singer and composer Jill Mattson has just finished her latest quest into researching the healing qualities of sound and light, culling her findings into a concise, easy-to-read tome titled Transformative Power in Sound: Intelligence, Health and Energy Through the Magic of Music.

as soon as I get the publication information, I'll add her to the bibliography.


Erie Art Museum's 14th Annual Blues & Jazz Festival starts this weekend.

The Arts Alliance Conference 2006 is coming to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, Aug. 24-25. There will be more than 14 workshops looking at careers in the arts, arts policy, arts in higher education and how to develop talent.


There are poets laureate in Pennsylvania counties? Why didn't anyone tell me? I think a laureate would be a great marketing tool for Venango County. What would a Venango County Poet Laureate do?

* They would have year long appointments running (a la the National Poet laureate) from October to May.
* Along with occasional poems (think Applefest, Oil Heritage Days, elections, and the tranditional New Year's poems) the Poet Laureate, would make presentations at schools, libraries, and other educational facilities
* He would provide advice on how to promote poetry and writing to regional organizations.
* Finally, each Poet Laureate would undertake a special project.

Funding? None available, I know although maybe one (or a combination) of the local arts organization might pony forth a little, or money, because of the educational aspect, might be available grant-wise. And, since as Poet Laureate, Ben Jonson first received a pension of 100 marks, and an annual "terse of Canary wine", it seems like maybe Wilhelm Winery or Foxburg might kick in a bottle of wine.

In all seriousness, I'd like to see this one discussed - it should be competitive. Better not to appoint anyone than to choose an amateur.

In the meantime, you should check out the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate blog. You may also want to check out the Butterfly Poetry Festival on the Hazleton campus of Penn State University. This year's theme focuses on the various poet laureates in the Keystone State, who will be invited to participate. The gathering is set for 2 p.m.


Where are the great short story writers of our age? CBS news says in Graphic Novels.


The Erie Playhouse is throwing one of the strangest garagesaless in awhile. David and Judy Matthews, over 34 years in Erie, have amassed quite a collection of designer plates, New York lithos, and theatrical postersThe sale is to be held at the Playhouse rehearsal hall, 919 State Street, second floor on three days:Saturday, August 26 at 2:00-5:00; Sunday, August 27 at 2:00-5:00; and Monday, August 28 6:00 to 9:00.
Some of the items up for sale include:
Designer Disney plate collections
Collector Broadway cookie jars.
A huge collection of Broadway Cast Albums on cassette tapes
Beautiful black and white framed lithographs of New York City scenes
Many framed Broadway show posters
A gigantic and extremely rare framed subway poster size logo of the silent movie epic NAPOLEON
Framed CATS and LES MISERABLES costume sketches
For further info contact David or Judy at 814-825-9275

I'd say something smarmy, but fish meet barrels...