1.

On 4/25, the American Cinematheque is screening “A Day at the Races” and “A Night at the Opera” at the Egyptian in Hollywood. There are reasons I’m planning to go.

The first reason: Enormous fondness for the Marx Brothers. I can’t hear someone say the word “taxes” without thinking of this exchange from “Duck Soup.” Channel the voice of Chico Marx as Chicolini, and then read this:

Prosecutor: Something must be done. War would meant a prohibitive increase in our taxes.
Chicolini: Hey, I’ve got an uncle that lives in Taxes.
Prosecutor: No, I’m talking about taxes. Money. Dollars.
Chicolini: Dollas! There’s-a where my uncle lives! Dollas, Taxes!

The second reason: The screenwriter (and, later, director) Robert Pirosh wrote for both “Day” and “Night” — and he was my writing professor and friend during grad school. One time we all went to his house in Beverly Hills and I thought, “Wow, I’m here in Beverly Hills — in the house of someone I knew, who wrote for the Marx Brothers!” Bob was a great guy. I look forward to seeing these great films with a live audience in a nice big theatre.

Here’s the link.

2.

If you think this discussion of intersex and gender fluidity has little or no basis in fact, check out this story in the New York Times. It turns out that an essential hero of the American Revolution was probably intersex. Here’s the link.

3.

Donald Trump has been saying that the United States is “full.” I’m shocked, shocked I tell you, to discover that he’s wrong, as can be seen by anyone who has visited the middle of the country and areas outside major metropolises, or who has even watched “American Pickers,” as the two junk haulers traverse the highways and byways of mostly empty roads in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kansas and elsewhere. In the past two years, I’ve been in most of those places, and between the aging population and the declining birthrate, they’re not exactly crowded, as the New York Times (again) reports.

Here’s the link.

4.

This may not interest you, but it sure grabs me. The generally press-shy Robert Fripp devoted an unprecedented four hours to answering press questions about the 50-year history of King Crimson, its dynamics, and its future. In the process, he recounts a story or two about David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and others. Yes, I already have my tickets for their September appearance here in Los Angeles at the Greek.

Here’s the link to the story in Rolling Stone.

5.

Speaking of the historic Egyptian Theatre: File this under “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” I sincerely mean no sarcasm when I offer a big hat’s off to Netflix, which is in talks to buy the Egyptian. Netflix wants to compete for Oscars; buying a theatre of its own will no doubt help it qualify (by ensuring that its own films can have a “theatrical release”), and saving a historic venue may endear them to award voters. I have to think that someone at Netflix read the qualifying rules and thought, Hm, why not buy our own venue? (And do some good in the meantime.)

Here’s the link to the story in the Los Angeles Times.

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