November 11 – November 17 (2013)

RANDOM PIC OF THE WEEK

What is it about cats and boxes? Every time I get something in the mail and leave the box on the floor, my cat Spooky has to take up residence in it.

Here’s the original Curtis Mayfield tune “Move On Up” that The Tonight Show Band perform so magnificently! What a song! It makes me want to get in my 1974 Gran Torino and drive REALLY fast!

Monday the 11th – HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY! – The folks at “The Tonight Show” rang my hotline at noon and got me out of bed to record a comedy bit for the show. When I finished it and sent it in, I walked Roxy over to my neighborhood groomers so she could get a much-needed bath. I had planned on going to the bike shop to get my bike, and then riding it into work, but “TTS” called with another bit. So that ate up all my extra time. So on a pleasant Veteran’s Day afternoon I drove over to NBC and we taped the show. During the taping I worked on-line typing up my next installment of Wally’s Week, and when we wrapped I stopped at my box to pick up my mail on the way home. Though it was a holiday UPS still delivers, and I had 5 packages! When I got home my pal Scott Sebring and his wife Vickie stopped by to return my video camera. I loaned it to Scott the previous Saturday so he could videotape the live concert he performed in Upland. My pal Jason Marsden dropped by with his young son so they could tour Planet Wallywood. He had a lot of fun playing with Roxy, and running around looking at all of the toys. He seemed puzzled when Jason told him the toys behind the glass doors were not “playing with” toys, but rather “looking at” toys. If I were his age, I would be puzzled too. I’d want to get them all out and play with them! My assistant Sara came over and Scott, Vickie, Sara and I all went to the Coral Café for dinner. I got back home and did some work, then grabbed a nap on the couch for a bit. I got up just in time to record some bits I did on “TTS” off the air. During the final few months of the show I’m going to record as much stuff as possible off the air so I can compile a really neat demo of just “TS” stuff. I finished up Wally’s Week, did an audition, then fed and walked Roxy. I settled in to watch another episode of “Magnum P.I.” from the Season One DVD set, and I enjoyed some leftover Chef Boyardee pizza. YUM!

Tuesday the 12th – ACCOMPLISHMENT DAY! – My agent Sumeet called my hotline at 9:30 to let me know that a session for Toyota later that day was a go. Almost immediately afterward I got a call from one of my other agents about a bit that needed to be recorded for “TTS.” So I sprang from the bed and recorded it and sent it in. The previous day, the cord on my blackout blinds in my room had finally snapped. (It was a long time coming!) So I wasn’t able to lower the blinds in my room. Even though I have some additional light-blocking properties in my room, there was still a considerable amount of light leakage. So attempting to get more sleep would be futile. I figured since I was up and feeling energetic I would get some things done. I called a local blinds place and they said to bring them over, and they could replace the cord. Since I had another session (and another possible bit for “TTS”) coming up I called Sara to have her take them in instead. I removed the blinds from the metal clips that held them securely in my bedroom window, and took them downstairs to wait for Sara. I also included the broken cord so they could ascertain the total length needed. I called a glass place to inquire about having a large piece of glass on my Andy Kaufman display removed. When I first put the Kaufman display in, I had two large glass doors that opened in the center of the cabinet. But over the years the heavy glass doors started to fatigue the hinges and they started to sag. Figuring that someday the metal would give way, and the glass doors would come crashing down, I had them removed permanently. My contractor Terry instead installed a groove on the top and bottom of the front of the cabinet, so a large piece of glass could be placed on the front of the display and held firmly in place. It was no easy task getting it in there, but he did it. But now I had fallen out of love with the glass covering, since no other display in my house is encased in glass. It looks odd to have all the other displays out in the open, but the Kaufman figure behind glass. Plus, the glass picks up light from all kinds of different sources and glares, making viewing the Kaufman display a bit difficult depending on the time of day. So I decided to have the glass removed permanently. I called a local glass place and inquired about having the glass removed. They couldn’t do it today, but they said they would get back with me when they had an opportunity. I continued to do work around the house. I went upstairs to my bedroom and looked at the filthy windows. I figured that while the blinds were out, I would take the opportunity and completely cleanse the windows and screen so I could see the world through clear glass. I removed the screen first and took it into my shower. I hosed it off with the high pressure setting on my shower head. The water that came off the screen was almost pure black! The screen was filthy! I let it dry in the tub while I attacked the windows. My sliding double paned window was removed from the track (that bugger was HEAVY!) and cleaned front and back. Then came the fun part. I cleaned the inside of the stationary window. But to clean the outside of the window meant that I had to climb out on to a part of my slanted roof and clean the outside. With my left hand firmly gripping the window frame, I sprayed the cleaner on the outside of the glass and let it set for a bit. Then I took the paper towels and wiped down the glass until it shined like new. It was a tad dangerous, but it worked out very well. I replaced the screen and the sliding window and marveled at how beautiful the view from my bedroom window was now! I dreaded the next rainstorm which would make it all spotty again. Sara returned with the blinds and a new cord installed. The blinds place did the work for FREE! What a great bunch of guys! I no sooner got them reinstalled than “TTS” called with another bit to record. I recorded it, e-mailed it in, and then got ready for my Toyota session in my home studio. They wanted to do a session for this spot down in Torrance, but since I had so much work to do for “TTS” it was impossible to travel that far. So they let me record it at home in my studio. The producers called in on my home phone, and I hooked up my headset I could talk to them hands-free. Then I pulled up my microphone and started recording into my computer. Though they weren’t able to hear what I was recording directly into my computer, they were able to hear what I was doing over the headset. It’s called a “phone patch” session. Then when we finished, I compiled all the tracks into one folder on my server, and e-mailed them the link. I drove over to NBC to tape the show and had a blast. I had been trying for days to find time to get a ride over to the bike shop to get my bike. But I finally got sick of waiting. I stopped at the bike shop on my way home from “TTS,” put the top down in my Mustang, and put the bike in the back. Luckily I didn’t have far to go until I was home. When I arrived my effects guy Jim Ojala stopped over to pick up the “Wizard of Oz” Scarecrow head so he could begin work on it. I think I mentioned that I bought four “Oz” character heads created by the same sculptor who did the Laurel & Hardy and Sean Connery heads I have. Though I’m not making the “Oz” characters into full figures, they busts will be VERY nice! Sara dropped by, as did my pal Edi and her daughter Ems. We all were craving Denny’s, so we went over to our local Denny’s for dinner. GOOD STUFF! But when I got home I was beat. I had been going strong since 9:30 in the morning, so I grabbed a short nap on the couch. When I awoke, I had several auditions to do in my home studio. Then I spent some time doing more work in my bedroom organizing and replacing things that had been displaced during my morning cleanfest. I settled in to watch another episode of “Magnum P.I.,” as show that, so far, I was enjoying immensely!

Wednesday the 13th – THE HOT LINE WAS SO HOT IT WAS ON FIRE! – Wow! Today the hotline really paid for itself. Since I like to sleep late in the day (I’m a natural nocturnal) I installed a special phone in my bedroom many years ago to be used as a hotline. Only a few of my agents have the number and are under instructions to only call it when I need to be up immediately for a job. When I had regular gigs with Hyundai and Old Navy it became invaluable. Because occasionally it’s necessary to record things last-minute, and sometimes a lot of advance notice for a session isn’t possible. When I got the job with “TTS” it really became a worthwhile entity. The urgent vibe of a daily TV show lent itself nicely to my hotline. Well, I got to sleep at 7 that morning, and I received my first hotline call at 10 (three hours later) to record a bit for “TTS.” Then I got another call, and another one. I tried going back to bed to sleep some more before my 1pm session, but I couldn’t sleep. The hotline rang AGAIN for another bit. I hit the shower to get ready for my US Airways session at 1, and while I was in the shower the hotline rang again! Luckily I was able to record another bit and send it in to NBC just before I left for US Airways! I’ve been the voice of the US Airways phone system for almost two years now, and since news was released last week that the government was no longer going to contest the merger between US Airways and American Airlines, there were all sorts of new things to record for the phone system. Many concerned customers would be calling the phone line with questions about the merger and what it meant to current ticketholders. So I recorded about 50 “prompts” that answered many of the questions people would have about the future of this new, improved airline. I hear that they’ll eventually be taking the name American Airlines and dropping US Airways, which means there will be tons of work to do in the near future. I’ll no doubt have to replace everything I’ve already recorded that mentions US Airways, and replace it with American Airlines. That could potentially be hundreds of prompts! After the US Airways session at Voice Trax West I got some spaghetti at Café Aldente for lunch. I high-tailed it over to a vintage toy store on Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank to pick up a Fat Albert metal lunchbox for Mr. Bill Cosby. When I interviewed Mr. Cosby for the “Fat Albert” DVD boxed set a year or so ago, he had mentioned how much he always wanted one of those Fat Albert lunchboxes. I made a mental note to find one and give it to him the next time he was on “TTS.” I bought one shortly thereafter on eBay but it didn’t have the Thermos. I figured it was no big deal. But later I found one containing the Thermos at this vintage toy store in Burbank. I had fully intended to give him the one I had in my collection, but at the last minute changed my mind. I wanted to keep it. So I bought a second one for Mr. Cosby (with the Thermos!). He was going to be a guest on the show today and I arranged with Ross the segment producer to give it to him backstage. I also brought along my “Fat Albert” DVD set to see if Mr. Cosby would sign it for me. But before I headed into work I stopped at another great store in Burbank to look around at some of the unique items they had. The owner of the shop was friends with the propmaster of the TV show “Scrubs.” He had several props and scripts from the show for sale. I remember the first time I visited with Dr. Hopfinger, a Chiropractor in Aberdeen, South Dakota. His office is in the same space that used to contain KABR, the first commercial radio station I ever worked at. He was kind enough to let me into the office and look around to reminisce. He said if I ever came across anything from “Scrubs” (his favorite show) he’d like to have it. It took me awhile, but I finally found the perfect items…a script from an episode, and a prop ID badge! He’s gonna love ‘em! I sped over to NBC and took the Fat Albert lunchbox and DVD box up to Ross’ office and dropped them off. While we taped the show I played around on the internet, and enjoyed watching Bill Cosby’s segment on the show. We wrapped up and I headed out. I grabbed my mail at my box and went home. I worked on my computer for an hour or so, until it was time to meet with the head of my Voice-Over agency at Jerry’s Famous Deli in Studio City. I cleaned up and got to Jerry’s on time. I waited, and waited and waited. After a half hour of waiting, I figured something was up. Perhaps he had forgotten. So I called one of my agents to see if they could check on him. Sure enough he had gotten busy with big deals at the office and lost track of time. I told him not to worry, that we would meet up the next time it’s convenient for him. I hit the Taco Bell drive-thru and headed home. I was beat, so I grabbed a short nap on the most comfortable couch in the universe. When I got up I recorded some more “TS” audio off the air for my demo, did my auditions, worked on my movie night invites, fed and walked Roxy, and made some chili to enjoy while watching another episode of “Magnum P.I.” in bed!

Thursday the 14th – HEY HEY HEY! – I slept until 10, and then got up to walk Roxy. As I was prepping for my 11am session for “Naruto,” I got a call for a last-minute “TS” bit. I just barely had time to record it and send it in before I had to scoot to the session. I grabbed a footlong tuna on white at Subway and headed into the studio to record lines for a “Naruto” character named Aoba. When we finished up I dashed back home, changed clothes and headed over to NBC. I found out that Mr. Cosby LOVED the Fat Albert lunchbox! He also signed my “Fat Albert” DVD boxed set! TOO COOL! We taped the show and I headed back home to meet up with David Elkouby, the producer of the Hollywood Collector Show. He stopped by to look at some items I was thinking of sending with his representative for an exclusive Roger Moore autograph signing in Switzerland. Some of the items I would like Mr. Moore to sign are fairly large, so I wanted David to eyeball them first to see how it could be done. I’m going to have to keep it down to my five or six favorite items, but since Roger Moore won’t ever be singing at a show, this would be my only chance to have him sign some of my prized possessions. I have the original movie poster one-sheets for “Live and Let Die” and “The Man With the Golden Gun,” two of my all-time favorite James Bond films. Both posters have been signed by other castmembers, so I really need 007 himself! Unfortunately the posters have already been mounted on to foam core board, so they can’t be rolled and mailed easily. I would have to have them packed up securely like large works of art, and shipped back and forth to Switzerland for the signing. I have a few other cumbersome items I wanted him to look at before I decide whether or not to incur the added expense of shipping them. But it sure would be worth it to have Roger Moore’s signature on these collectibles! When David left I grabbed a shower and went to bed for a nap. I got up at 11pm and did my auditions, did some work around the house, and started scheming about adding a few new exhibits to Planet Wallywood. I measured spaces that would be appropriate for what I was envisioning and made some notes. I fed Roxy and then we went on our late-night stroll through the neighborhood. It was DEAFENINGLY quiet! Absolutely gorgeous! An almost-full moon shone overhead with wispy clouds floating in front of it. What a sight! It was so quiet you almost didn’t want to move because any little sound of movement would ruin the silence. I went inside and made a salad and watched “Magnum P.I.” and got into my end-of-the-week mindset.

Friday the 15th – MOVE ON UP! – 11am rolled around and I sprang forth from my crypt. I cleaned up and got ready to head to Kalmenson and Kalmenson for an audition. But first I had to churn out two auditions from my home studio, and then I was on my way to Burbank. It’s always fun to see Harv Kalmenson and chat with him. I hit the Burger King drive-thru for lunch, and on the way home I stopped at the grocery store to get some supplies. I unloaded the groceries at home, did a quick bit for “TTS,” walked Roxy again, and then got back into the Mustang to head over to NBC for the early Friday taping. During the taping I heard the amazing “TS” band tear into Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up,” one of my favorite songs. I sprang from my chair in the audio booth and ran to the stage. I stood off to the side listening to the band play and I thought, “I’m really going to miss this!” So I’m enjoying every moment as much as I can. They absolutely kill this song every time they do it! The brass is tight, rhythm section is on fire, and Dorian’s vocals are top notch! We wrapped up for the week and I headed home. I called my folks to see how things were on their end. I got home and fed Spooky, walked Roxy and answered e-mails. I took a brief snooze on the couch, then got up to meet Edi and Brittney for dinner at Miceli’s, something we like to do every so often on a Friday night. We were joined by our pal Genta as well. After dinner I came home and tore through my collectibles to get them organized for Saturday’s “Halloween” convention; a con built around the “Halloween” movie franchise. I made some beef stew and watched another “Magnum P.I.” episode. I’m LOVING this show!

Saturday the 16th – HE’S GONNA GET YOU, HE’S GONNA GET YOU, HE’S GONNA GET YOU! – My pal Chris Malmin came over at 11:30 so we could drive to Pasadena for the “Halloween: 35 Years of Terror” convention. I’ve known Chris for close to 30 years from the old South Dakota days, and in many ways I consider him to be my little brother. He was Robin to my Batman when we would run around Sioux Falls as the Dynamic Duo attempting to do good deeds by visiting sick kids in the hospital. He moved out here to L.A. about five years after I did to be an actor. But we both have always loved the “Halloween” movies. So we planned to have some fun meeting many of the actors from those films. We got our tickets and headed in. I decided to keep the collectibles down to a minimum, so I only brought a few things. In the Chaney Room I have a full size Michael Myers figure based on how he looked in the original “Halloween” film (now referred to by fans as “H1.”) Instead of bringing the huge figure all the way to the convention, I created little matching plaques in hopes that Nick Castle would sign them to display next to the figure. I also brought my original “H1” and “H2” movie posters to have signed. I originally bought them from a movie theater in South Dakota for $1 each! One of the fans at the convention saw that they were originals and flipped out! He wanted to see them and touch them. He said posters like that were going for $2000 on eBay! $2000???!! (I looked on eBay later and found no evidence to support such a claim. $250 was about the going rate.) Nick signed my movie poster and a photo for Chris. I asked him to sign the plaque “Nick Castle: The Shape.” He asked what those were for and I showed him my lifesize Michael Myers figure on my i-Pad. Then I met Dick Warlock, Michael Myers from “H2.” If you’ve ever noticed how different Michael looks from “H1” to “H2,” it’s because it was played by two vastly different actors. “H1’s” Nick Castle was very thin, so the mask hung on his face loosely. But when robust stuntman/actor Dick Warlock donned the costume in “H2” the mask fit his face more tightly, because Dick’s face is wider. But both incarnations of Michael Myers have their own unique appeal. Dick told stories about working on “Blazing Saddles” with Harvey Korman. I ended up getting about a dozen new autographs on my movie posters, and by 3pm Chris and I had accomplished our mission. What a great convention! We stopped at Bob’s Big Boy in Toluca Lake and enjoyed some hamburgers. I got home and wanted to grab a quick nap before movie night, but I was so jazzed from the fun afternoon it was difficult to relax. I finally slept for about a half hour before Sara came over to clean up a bit. It was a fun movie night, but I was still fairly exhausted from the intense afternoon of autograph seeking. When everyone left I nodded off on the couch for about an hour, then got up to feed and walk Roxy, and log my newly acquired autographs in my database. During our late-night walk Roxy and I heard a hoot owl in the distance, warning any stray rodents that he was on the prowl for a midnight snack. The clouds were drifting over the full moon again…a sight I never get sick of seeing! Since it was Saturday night it meant it was my traditional “Saturday Night Saint and Salad” night. I made myself a killer salad and settled in for another episode of some of Roger Moore’s finest work. The episode “Luella” was an absolute delight for 007 fans like me. First off, the guest star was David Hedison, who would go on to play Felix Leiter to Moore’s Bond some 12 years in the future! Seeing Moore and Hedison together a decade pre-Bond was really fun! But another stellar 007 moment occurred when Simon Templar whispered something in the ear of a landlord in an attempt to obtain information about her tenants. She lit up and said, “Well, I always try to help the folks in MI-5!” At the end of the episode the woman appears again and asks Moore’s Templar, “Are you REALLY James Bond?” I about fell out of bed laughing! Moore shakes his head “no.” Then she says,” Well who are you then?” Moore looks up and the halo appears over his head. What a great moment! Even back then, the seed was being planted that someday Moore would take the 007 mantle! What fun! But the third odd thing about this episode were the names of the two female leads. One role was played by an actress named Susan Lloyd, and the other was played by an actress named Suzanne Lloyd! That must’ve been really confusing on the set!

Sunday the 17th – CLIFTON THREADS! – Around 2pm I woke up and headed over to see my seamstress Karyn in Cypress Park. She had made some great progress on my replica Tony Clifton tuxedo jacket using the newly printed cotton twill fabric I had created at Spoonflower. I tried it on and it was a bit snug in the shoulders, but it looked great! She’s going to cut another one a bit larger for me so it has more room in the shoulder and arm areas. But I think we’ll be able to make several of these to supreme satisfaction! I hit the Rally’s drive-thru on the way home for some lunch, but I was still feeling a little tired. Remember, the hours I feel most alive are the overnight hours, and sometimes having to operate during daylight hours is a bit of a drag. Especially on a Sunday when I don’t really have anything in particular to do. I got home and walked Roxy, fed Spook, and fell back into bed. I ended up sleeping until 10:30 that night! I was really tired for SOME reason! Feeling energized, I set about working on my autograph books, printing pages for my autograph albums. I had a TON of auditions to do, so I cranked those out. Then I fed and walked Roxy, made some spaghetti and watched “Magnum P.I.” and hit the hay around 6am.
And how was YOUR week??!!

PIX FROM THE WEEK

In progress! The Tony Clifton replica tuxedo jacket is coming along nicely. Soon the trim will be added, along with buttons, and the lining!