So when I am looking to kill some time here at work and my Google reader isn't making me happy, I will sit and read the blog roll on Westword. For some reason, I am clicking out all these memories. So here you are...
Today, or at least today when I looked, they are running down the previous winners of the Best of Denver. This edition goes back to 1991. It was a simpler time in Denver for sure and a much simpler time for me. And one of my favoritest people ever, Dick Bateman was honored. I was in the throws of film school then. But I had known Dick when my friend MMM worked as an usher at the Continental a few years before that, like probably four years before that. I would go and hang out in the projectionists booth pretty much every night from like 7 until the last reel spooled off the platters and then I would help MMM clean. It was a great year. We would talk about "The Flick" which was the movie theater on Larimer Square (it is now Lime), Stanley Kubrick (long before Eyes Wide Shut came out), Star Wars (he ran that movie when it first came out there and I thought it was a Barbara Streisand film and didn't want to see it and was pissed when my parents made me go), the fire that destroyed the theater, the kiddie movies that ran every tuesday in the summers, and every other contempary movie that was out at the time.
It was just the most amazing film appreciation education that I could have ever recieved. We rued the day everything would go digital and there was no human hand involved. He knew it was coming. He showed me how to thread that 70mm projector, how to splice at the buttons and I was fortunate enough to be invited by him and MMM to see and hear Sony reset the audio in the theater once. Dick Bateman cared about every frame of film that went through that gate and honestly if you saw any movie at the Continental Theater when he was operating the systems you could tell. It was amazing and I am fortunate to have been able to spend time with him back then.
The manager, I can't tell you what his name was, I though do remember EXACTLY what he looked like though, telling me I should just apply for a job and that would justify my being there back in 1988 or 89 after MMM had gone Cali. Welp, no, that didn't happen, I was in school, I had a non-paying but credited PA gig with Viacom and didn't want to be tied down with a McJob, then I did get the McJob waiting tables at The Harv...anyways. The manager didn't like anyone up in the projectionist booth, ever, even Dick to be there... to be honest. They were not pals. But I got clearance from the Projectionist Local Union and he was left out in the cold. It was a treasured time and I learned the difference between someone caring and not when showing a movie. To this day I can tell when they are trying to save bulb life.
Ohter highlights from the list - Anyone else remember The Nixons? I think I have a flyer buried somewhere for a show they had at The Garage opening for Nirvana . I remember to this day Alan (but not his last name, but some guy I was in BBYO with) who booked The Garage calling everyone he knew because they had a guarantee and no tickets had been bought by mid afternoon but then when we showed up it was madness and great. Ah 23 Parrish I miss you. But here is a video from the show...and another one (damn you tube and google are awesome). And that is definately the Garage because the Gothic is a full height stage and no one would be that close unless they were giants. After the show Aeric and Petey and I in the mens bathroom. Probably not the best thing to brag about but PUNK ROCK. It was the 80s and it was 23 Parrish. Sorry Mom.
Funny too, I was just thinking about the Skyline Cafe too the other night. Progress did catch up with it. I was the property manager of a building that my boss and his partner had just bought across the lot after the Skyline burned down early one Sunday morning. Kingpin and I went for a site tour before Hypoxia moved in and ran their raves there...I totally knew what was going on and said they shouldn't have a "party company" in the building,but they wanted the rent, and didn't think it was a big deal, two weekends later they were shut down and had to be evicted. I had to go in and access damage. Not bad, those ravers partied clean.
We talked about Alan (different Alan) being hit by "Jewish Lightning". I think Kingpin was shocked that I was the one that suspected that is what happened to the place and said it. And to this day that is what I think. Its condos now. I had lots of fun in the parking lots and patio there. I don't miss it as much as 23 Parrish though. And who knew Rock Island was closed... huh, I figured it would be open for eternity. Ah the fake ID, a trip, cage dancing, my grandma P's fur coat and the House of Toast... good times (we will forget the Club No No days).
Lots and lots of the things on that list are gone...long gone... The Ticket Bus? Alfalphas on University? Doug Moe? There are plenty others on the list see if you remember any of them.
thank you Westword, for allowing me the joy of time suckage this afternoon... you rule.
I am listening to a co-werker talking about her stuffed animal frogs, telling a another co-werker their names, what they do when we aren't here ... its ludacris. Another is talking about "dallah chickun". The next month is going to be insane. We are grinding to a slow down and the conversations are going to be memorable. The frog lady is now talking about how people wear their hair in newsboys caps. I love my job.
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