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- 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: The Merry Wives of Windsor
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- 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Henry IV, Part 2
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Tag Archives: Elvis Presley
Elvis: “It’s a duty I’ve got to fill and I’m going to do it.”
On December 20, 1957, Elvis received his draft notice. He was given a deferment so he could finish the movie King Creole This picture went out onto the wires. It was international news. He would be “gone” for … TWO … Continue reading
Happy birthday KEEF
It’s Keith Richards’ birthday. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: If you are feeling introverted, if you are feeling lonely for conversation and human contact, read Keith Richards’ spectacular autobiography in public. People will come up to … Continue reading
Dynamic Duo #44
Hayley Mills and Elvis Presley
“Given as much to the gutter as to the gods” — Nick Tosches
“He was born alone. He would die alone. These truths, he, like every punk, took to heart. But in him they framed another truth, another solitary, stubborn stone in the eye of nothing. There was something, a knowing, in him … Continue reading
Posted in Books, On This Day, writers
Tagged Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, essays, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Lewis, Nick Tosches, nonfiction
8 Comments
“The other girls weren’t singing quite like I was.” — Wanda Jackson
It’s her birthday today. She was a pioneer. One of the few women in that original “class”. Rockabilly was a boys’ game. She changed that game. She looked around in 1954/55, and thought, “Hey. All these songs are written by … Continue reading
Today, the Sheila Variations turns 23.
I don’t even know what to say. And now I will proceed to say some shit. The above pic of me – taken by Michael – graced the top of my original blog, when I set it up 23 years … Continue reading
Posted in On This Day, Personal
Tagged Block Island, Cary Grant, Croatia, Dean Stockwell, Elvis Presley, family, friends, Hope, Humphrey Bogart, Iran, Ireland, Jafar Panahi, Joanna Hogg, July and Half of August, Martin Scorsese, Memphis, politics, Raging Bull, September 11, Supernatural, Tilda Swinton, war
127 Comments
“Quite frankly. I was all talent and no looks.” — Angela Lansbury
It’s her birthday today. Even if you came to Gaslight clean, without knowing a thing, which is hard to believe, but let’s just pretend: Even if you knew nothing about it, it would be instantly obvious that the teenage girl … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies, Music, On This Day, Television, Theatre
Tagged Angela Lansbury, Elvis Presley
10 Comments
September 2025 Snapshots
Attended some of the press screenings at the New York Film Festival. I haven’t been in a couple of years, for various reasons, and it’s been so sad for me. I loved getting up in the morning and heading to … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Elvis Presley, family, Frankenstein, friends, Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Memphis, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sam Shaw, snapshots
2 Comments
“When I’m performing, that’s the real me.” — Billy Lee Riley
“Memphis 1955 on Union Avenue Carl and Jerry and Charlie and Roy And Billy Riley too…” – Johnny Cash, “I Will Rock’n’Roll With You” “and Billy Riley too” …. Billy Lee Riley was always a little irritated to be an … Continue reading
Posted in Music, On This Day
Tagged Billy Lee Riley, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Phillips, Sun Records
5 Comments
“That cat was royalty, man.” — Mick Jagger on Eddie Cochran
It’s his birthday today. Eddie Cochran’s songs still get play everywhere, all the time, on the radio no less! 1950s hits still in rotation. Elvis’ 1950s hits aren’t still in rotation. The only ones you hear on the radio for … Continue reading
Posted in Music, On This Day
Tagged Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Sonny Burgess
7 Comments