Brian Jay Jones's Blog, page 15

Look! It’s Jim Henson in Polish!

Late next week, I’ll be meeting with a Polish reporter to talk Jim Henson over at the University of Maryland. As you can imagine, he really wanted to see the Jim Henson statue, and I was so pleased that the University was able to take good care of us, even getting us a room at the Stamp Union Building to record a radio interview.

Oh, and wanna see what Jim Henson looks like in Polish? Here ya go:

Apparently “Tata Muppetow” translates roughly as “Father of the Muppets”–and just to make sure book browsers knew exactly who we were talking about, I love that they bumped out Kermit with a splash of green.  Really nice work all around.

At Last, Hurrah!

I had a great time with the Maryland Ensemble Theatre doing their Last Hurrah podcast this past weekend — and host Kevin Cole informs me that you can now download it for total free on iTunes, right here.  I’m on Show 12 — but I had so much fun doing this one that I think you’ll probably enjoy any of the shows you might download. I joined Kevin and his pals Hannah Gutman and Andrew Michaels for more than an hour as we discussed Jim Henson, of course, but also whether biographers know everyone else’s projects, what it’s like to major in unemployment, and the whole Paul Is Dead thing.

The rest of my week is seat time, working my way through chapter two. Just for fun, go watch this:

Geeks Assemble!

Didja remember I told you earlier this week that I’d be doing a podcast with the fine folks over at Assembly of Geeks? Huh, didja? Well, I did — and I have.  I had a lot of fun talking with supergeek Scott Murray, both on and off microphone. He’s a geek who knows his stuff. And as promised, you can listen to the entire thing if you just follow this link on over to their website.

And one more reminder that I’ll be with the Maryland Ensemble Theater for The Last Hurrah on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. in Frederick, Maryland. Bring everyone you know.  And throw stuff.

There Is Another.

A reviewer for The Washington Post once remarked that when it comes to choosing biographical subjects, I seemed to have a fondness for “slightly off-center American geniuses.” I liked that a lot, and I have to say that’s actually very true. And if I had to get even more specific, I’d say my particular proclivity — at least at the moment — would seem to be for Enigmatic American Pop Culture Icons. Once you’ve done Washington Irving and Jim Henson, then, I think the next one should be obvious.

With that in mind, then, I’m thrilled to finally Officially Announce The Subject of My Next Book:

C’mon, I don’t really have to tell you who that is, do I?

It’s George Lucas. And if I hit all my marks, you should have it in your hands in the Spring of 2016.

Hurrah!

Two announcements that need a slight hurrah — or, at least, a Kermit arm flail.

First: for those of you in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area, I’ll be appearing live on stage with the Maryland Ensemble Theatre to take part in their LAST HURRAH comedy show. The fun starts this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre,  in the historic Francis Scott Key Hotel in downtown Frederick. I have no idea what I’m in for with this one — it’s a live show and podcast populated by stand up comedians and other masters of improv — but I’m looking forward to it.  And believe me, I’m not even going to try to joke and make mit thuh funny, Lebowski — I’ll leave that to the seasoned professionals. But if you’re in the area on Sunday night and looking for some fun, come on in.  And bring everybody you know.  And even some people you don’t.

Here’s their press release with all the information you’ll need.

Second: tomorrow, as promised, I’ll Officially Announce My Next Project. I think you’re gonna like it–at least, I hope you do. I know I’m pretty excited about it.

Happy Birthday, Jim Henson!

It’s the 78th birthday of the guy who just wanted to “make the world a little bit better for my having been here.” Go do something worthwhile today — even if it’s just being silly simply because you can — and think of Jim Henson.

What’s Up This Week

Happy Jim Henson’s Birthday Week!

Jim Henson would’ve turned 78 years old this coming Wednesday, September 24–and as always, there’ll be plenty of people commemorating his life and work all over the web and other media. Heck, I’ll be one of them. Here’s a bit of what’s in store for this week:

Today, I’m thrilled to be over on This Happy Place blog, talking Jim and Muppets with Estelle Hallick, one of the biggest Muppets/Jim Henson/Disney fans anywhere. You can see our conversation right here. As an added bonus, we’re also giving away an e-book, as well as a complete and unabridged copy of the audiobook — all 21 1/2 hours on 17 CDs — signed by Yers Truly.

On Wednesday, I’m taping a podcast with the crew at The Assembly of Geek, which should be available for you to listen to and download the next day.

And on Thursday, I think it’s high time I officially announced what my next project is — and on which I actually just completed the first chapter this past week. Stay tuned.

Love the Turtle!

I had a fantastic time at the University of Maryland last night: an enthusiastic crowd who laughed (and cried) in all the right places, great questions, and one of the best setups I’ve seen for a smaller setting, with the podium set up between two huge hi-def TV screens so there wasn’t a bad seat in the house.  Well done. UMD, and well done all who came. You were a lot of fun.

Incidentally, I had two people raise their hands at the same time to ask, “When will they be releasing The Muppet Show seasons 4 and 5 on DVD?”  Good question, and one I’d love for Disney to answer. The rumor I’ve heard (and keep in mind I don’t actually know anything) is that the biggest obstacle to their release is the tracking down and clearing of all the rights to the music used in the last two seasons. I’d think this would be a drop in the bucket for the Disney conglomerate– but, again, what the heck do I know? Discuss amongst yuhselves.

And much, I’m certain, to my father’s disappointment (he reads this blog, then texts me Statler and Waldorf-like comments), I did not get a picture of me with the statue of Jim and Kermit. I arrived with only enough time to run through the A/V check before things started . . . and then afterwards it was dark.

Ya wanna see something else, though? All over the university, you’ll find statues of their mascot, the turtle Testudo, which get painted and repainted to look like this . . .

or this . . .

or this.

Just inside the Stamp Student Union Building, however, there’s a turtle who’s been painted — and slightly modified — to look like this:

Have a good weekend!

Fear the Turtle! (But Come Anyway!)

Just a quick reminder: I’ll be speaking at the University of Maryland–Jim Henson’s alma mater–this Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the Stamp Student Union Bookstore. It’s all part of the University’s parents’ weekend events, but whether you’re a UMD parent or UMD student or not, you’re welcome to come join the fun.  And did I tell you it’s free? Well, it is.

Which building is Stamp Student Union, you ask? It’s the one with this statue in front:

More Comings and Goings

Urgh, I continue to be the worst. Blogger. Ever.

Hi, everyone.  How ya doin’?

Since I last saw you, I’ve come back from a wonderful trip to Kinderhook, New York, where I had been invited to come talk on Washington Irving.  Kinderhook is particularly important in Irving’s story, because it’s where he wrote his first book, A History of New York, in the summer of 1809, while recovering from the death of his 17-year-old fiancee. While I was there, I toured Martin Van Buren’s home, Lindenwald (which is THE ACTUAL HOUSE where Irving wrote his History of New York, though it was still owned by the Van Ness family at that time), and had the great pleasure of staying in this house right here:

This is a local landmark, the Burgoyne House, where British general John Burgoyne was held after his capture by Benedict Arnold.  Arnold, however, had to stay at a very nice, but much smaller, house just down the street.  Which probably explains a lot about what happened later.

I spoke that afternoon at the Reformed Dutch Church, where I talked about Irving’s version of the Dutch history of New York. Afterwards, I was asked several really good questions, and only slightly disappointed the home town crowd when I informed them that Kinderhook was probably not the Sleepy Hollow of Irving’s famous tale (Had I been a bit faster on my feet, I’d have said that every place is Sleepy Hollow.  But it was hot.) Afterwards, we retreated to a reception at the old Jesse Merwin house, which at one time belonged to the historic figure who actually was the inspiration for Ichabod Crane. All in all, a lovely weekend — and I even got to bring Barb with me.

I’ve got several events coming up in the next few months, which I’ll post under the News tab as well.  

First, I’ll be speaking at the University of Maryland — Jim Henson’s alma mater, for those of you playing at home — on Friday, September 12, as part of the university’s parent’s weekend.  I’ll be at the University Book Center at Stamp Union, starting at 6:30 p.m.

In October, I’ll be attending the James River Writers Conference down in Richmond, Virginia, for three days (October 17-19), and I’ll be giving my hour long Jim Henson show on Friday night, October 17, as part of the many kick-off events. If you’re anywhere near Richmond that weekend and love books . . . well, it’s something you’d probably wanna do.

In November, I’ll be back at the University of Maryland (in association with the Prince George’s County Historical Society) to talk Jim Henson on Sunday, November 2, from 2:30 to 4, at the Hornbake Library.

Finally, on Wednesday, November 5, I’ll be making my long-overdue appearance at the New York Public Library’s Mid-Manhattan Library, at 6:30 p.m. I’m very excited about this one, especially as the library and I went back and forth for a long time trying to find a date that worked.