'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' was just, well, horrible! (Part 2 of 2)

After waking up to my neighbor’s loud rock music, reminiscent of that tacky, big-hair rock band music from the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” some kind of fear started bubbling somewhere inside me.

Fear for my neighbor. Fear for the youth. Fear for the community. Fear for my city.

Where were my next-door neighbors getting the idea to play these songs? Could it be that some new trend was rolling into town?

Oh, no… Could it be… Because of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”????!?

San Pedro: Don't be fooled; this is not a party.

The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is in its last run tonight at the Warner Grand Theatre, a movie palace imagined by the original Warner Brothers to bring great film into this great little town by the port, San Pedro. But, really, the theatre’s not for brining something as low-class, raunchy “Rocky Horror Picture Show” paired with live performances by the amateur Midnight Insanity.

When I picked up the Midnight Insanity’s news release a month ago about them being kicked out of the Long Beach Queen Mary, I could sense in their words how set they were with showing at the Warner Grand, where they were booked to continue for at least three weeks. They were calling it “opulent” and an “even more spectacular home” than the Royal Theatre abroad the Queen Mary. Clearly, the performance troupe was swept off its feet with the Warner Grand. And who wouldn’t be? The theatre’s like a sparkly refined turquoise stone found in the pale, run-down downtown area where it is its home.

I found clues behind the departure of Midnight Insanity from the Warner Grand in this week’s The District. They were announcing the Warner Grand show. But I liked the darker side better—the part about why the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" should not be showing at all in San Pedro. I’m happy to share the details here:

“Certain members of the San Pedro City Council are apparently concerned that the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' crowd is too rowdy, and could cause rioting in the streets. ... So, as of now, the show's run is scheduled to end Saturday, and there's not much the fans can do about it but cross their fingers and hope Midnight Insanity troupe can find a new place to do the Time Warp again.”

I can give more insight. While I’m not convinced that the “Rocky” crowd would cause a riot anywhere, I do think that their wardrobes scream mistake, and that they collectively smell like a porn shop video room, and that they shout at the movie screen yelling “Slut!,” “Whore!,” “Jerk!” at the most inappropriate moments, which is so annoying when all you want to do is watch the movie. The troupe itself manages to stroll in with glittery props, like their costumes and other giant, gleaming objects they bring out on the stage (though, not that giant pillow penis). But I’m not sure they take their mimicking jobs so serious—if you had to watch their bellies flap all over the stage for two hours long, you’d think the same.

This is how things die.

I didn’t get it, Midnight Insanity. I didn’t get your dozen “rule number twos.” You adulterated my Saturday night when I first visited you back at the Royal Theater for your last show there. And I hope that your last show at the Warner Grand is tonight.

No more Time Warp!

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

***To read part 1, please click here.

Student Gallery Show to NOT Miss

A talented group of 14 students camped out at the deserted Salton Sea recently. (The story behind that city is: basically, it flooded some time in the 50s and the people of the town just picked up and left.) They snaped photos, roasted marshmellows over the campfire, sang songs and even contructed a tin man out of cardboard, if that makes sense. Anyway, they had a lot of fun doing it and in the process created art. Their show "Desert Escapade" is on view for its final day at the Gatov Gallery close to the Fine Art Buildings.

Left: Gaby Roth's fish sculpture is the prettiest piece in the collection. I loved it. I Right: Rebecca Kosturko's high-gloss photography captured her artist-mates in a good light.

Left: Photographer Tori Puente stands next to her b&w portraits of the Salton Sea. I Right: Paul Sargeant's Box Man guards Paul Sargeant's photos of the Box Man.

Left: Paul Sargeant's Polaroid up close with the Box Man's legs. I Center: Michelle Bongirno combined earth, color and technology in this subtle collection of photos. I Right: Vishal Goklani's installation made me want to crawl in for a nap. I wanted to, and there is a sign that welcomes you to do that, too. But... I wasn't too sure of where those blankets came from or what all that mess was on the side of the bed or even if there was a mattress underneath.

Photos and videos by Barbara Navarro.

The Artists Showing their Work in "Desert Escapade":

Michelle Bongirno I Vishal Goklani I Kat Halsey I Spencer Harding I Eric Herbranson I Rebecca Kosturko I Alba Lucas I Tori Puente I Leanne Roberson I Gaby Roth I Marco Sanchez I Paul Sargeant I Chris Smith I John Takahashi

CSULB Votes Right for the Oscar 'Best Film'

Pictures from the Internet.

UPDATE: A part-time professor at CSULB and full-time feature writer for the OC Register, Peter Larsen was absorbed in the Oscar event last night. Read his article by clicking here.

The question, simply, was: Who will take the Oscar statue for Best Picture?

Poll results said:
"Atonement": 11% or 1 vote
"Juno": 33% or 3 votes
"Michael Clayton": 0% or no votes
"No Country for Old Men": 44% or 4 votes
"There Will Be Blood": 11% or 1 vote

Cal State Long Beach voted right. Exciting!

"No Country for Old Men" picked up the award for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) and Best Director, the brother duo Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

To view the list of winners of tonight's extravagant 80th annual Academy Awards, visit the Los Angeles Times.

Below is my favorite femme of the night, Marion Cotillard, who won Best Actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose." My second favorite femme, Diablo Cody, won the Oscar award for Best Original Screenplay for her work on "Juno."



Video by Barbara Navarro.

Did you watch the Oscars? What was your favorite win?

The Oscar Gold Gleams at Sprinkles

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

After a full year of watching (or not watching) great movies and living through the hurly-burly of the writers' strike, we've finally made it to the day before the Oscars. With all this, I was especially delighted to hear about Sprinkles Cupcakes' Red Carpet flavor and hurried over to the Bevely Hills hotspot for my sweetest, non-celebrity way to celebrate the Oscars. I'll be looking forward to seeing James McAvoy and Keiry Knightley, the stars of "Atonement;" Jason Reitman, Diablo Cody and Ellen Page, the director, fierce screenwriter and star of "Juno;" and Marion Cotillard, the great actress from "La Vie En Rose."

For a full list of the categories and nominees, please visit the offical Oscars website.

Also, you can vote for your favorite movie in my first ever poll (find it on the right). The question is: Who will take the Oscar statue for Best Picture? *Update: Polling is over. Read about the results.*

(To get your own batch of cupcakes, and perhaps somewhere way more local, read my previous post on Frosted Cupcakery by clicking here.)

Who are you mostly looking forward to seeing at tomorrow's 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony?

I Am What I Read

Whenever I return to Book Soup on Sunset, the rejuvenation process for me pushes fast forward. I love this place, inside and out (literally!). There's an outside area that houses a wealth of magazines that I constantly return to. They're stocked with anything from local tastemakers to rare international rags. Inside is just as pleasing, with tall, black bookshelves filled with all the newest, glossiest books. And, as funny as this may sound, I really dig their bathroom. The floor squeaks in there and it sounds just right; the lighting, bright and perfect; and the walls are decorated with blue, bubbly graffiti. I love the filth. Just love it.

To further celebrate my admiration of those ubiquitous magazine stands I love so much, I've chronicled a picture collection of all of my favorite magazines (and other reads). These are the publications that I love, and I strongly recommend you pick them up and read them, too!

1 - Anthem Magazine

I've been obsessed with Anthem Magazine for about a year or two (their aesthetic is so clean and modern), and more recently I've been even more obsessed with their editor-in-chief, Dustin Beatty (who is so cute and actually a CSULB grad). I definitely recommend checking out their newly re-launched website, where the mag's featuring Comme des Garçons and the Liars as an online exclusive. (Dustin blogs quite frequently on there, too!)

2 - My high-fashion amassment of girly mags.

Hot to hottest: Michelle Williams on the cover of Interview; Mandy "Candy" Moore on TeenVogue; Natalie Portman, Allure; La Lohan on Elle; and some fabulous Katie Holmes-looking supermodel on Harper's Bazaar.

3 - The everyday stuff.
a. b. c.

a. Oooh... I only buy the LA Times when I know an Image section is included. I'm into their Calendar, Arts & Music and Travel sections, too. But something about Image clicks with me on an entirely different level. b. Metromix is a new raggy weekly that I found in LA just yesterday. I was very pleased with the abbreviated bits of articles in there, mostly because they were short enough for me to read while in traffic. c. Celine, Kerouac and Plath. Currently, bedside. There's always a space for Bukowski and Fante, Levertov, Neruda and Octavio Paz, too.

My infatuation with book stores and books themselves is true. Click here to visit my story on Long Beach's Acres of Books, which appeared in the Daily Forty-Niner on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008.

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

So, what do you read?

Retired Material

Considered Connoisseur: From Feb. 4 to Feb. 21
Many of us say we’re passionate about music, fashion, film and art. But how many of us can truly call ourselves compassionate admirers? At least one CSULB student cares… It’s Melissa Tanney, the newly named arts commissioner for the Associated Student, Inc. Tanney says that her main objective is to raise the attendance of the various art events on campus this semester. This school has one of the most diverse student bodies in the US and that, says Tanney, should make things interesting. Tanney currently lives in Riverside, is an English major with a concentration in creative writing, recalls Thomas Woodruff’s show at the University Art Museum her favorite of the fall season, and she belly dances.
Photo by Barbara Navarro.

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' was just, well, horrible! (Part 1 of 2)

Attending the last performance of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Queen Mary two weeks ago was such a dreadful process! The initial appeal was irresistible as Kristen, the diversions editor, and I debated back and forth for days why this would be the show to attend out of the rest and whether it would be her or I to report on this last-show hurrah.

The reasons to attend suddenly became more obvious, and I (unfortunately) ended up going.

For one, I thought, this would be the last show put on at the Queen Mary, since, according to press releases, the Queen Mary’s management suddenly and “without cause” terminated all rights for the performance troupe, Midnight Insanity, to continue its residence at the Royal Theater. The logic there was simple.

And, secondly, my interest to seeing this show peeked when I read that the troupe would be heading next to the Warner Grand across the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, my hometown.

But since attending the show, I can’t help but question Kristen’s, or anybody’s entertainment tastes when they tell me they’re into this “Rocky Horror” cult phenomenon. Kristen, I should point out, added extra sentiment to the bizarre performance by telling me a romantic story about her parents’ fantastical moments of dancing and singing with kooky cast members, all while her parents fell in love and eventually married. She, too, has a sweet spot for these shows.

The evening at the Queen Mary for this 1,127th performance show started off, well, rocky. As my friends noted, it all started going downhill the moment I asked for the coat-check closet.

Things like that just didn’t exist in places like this. And in fact, my friends and I were obviously overdressed for a night that had temperatures dipping into the 40s. We wore dark slacks and long-sleeved shirts while every other girl (the great majority the unattractive size of Beth Ditto) wore fishnet stockings and bustiers four sizes too small.

Story to be continued...

As bad as it looks! The video and photo above shows Riff Raff directing "Rocky" virgins in their inaugural dance.

Dr. Frank-N-Furter plays with his own special "boy toy" Rocky in these pictures. In the picture on the left, you can see Janet ("Slut!") stranded awkwardly to the side.


Only certain people were clued in as to what happened during the Time Warp.

All photos and video by Barbara Navarro.

My Songs for Valentine's

All photos taken from the Internet.

I rehearse in the shower and train in front of the mirror. But if I had a honey bunny for Valentine's I would keep those lyrics nearer.

Here are just a few of the songs that always inspire romance for me...

1 - Bjork, "Venus as a Boy"
2 - French Kicks, "Oh Fine" or "Close to Modern"
3 - Interpol, "The Specialist" or "Song Seven"
4 - Prince, "Pink Cashmere"
5 - Sigur Rós, "Glósóli"
6 - Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, "On the Low"
7 - Bebel Gilberto, "Samba da Benção"

Valentine's is almost everyday for us romantic types. ;)

Valentine's Song List by the Daily Forty-Niner Editors

It's been known that art and eros have been flirting for a long time. In fact, some studies have observed this phenomenon, how increased music experiences reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. The equation is then simple: more good music equals better health equals greater chances of enjoying life, being positive and finding romances.

Here at the Daily Forty-Niner, I went on a search to discover what puts my fellow editors into that romantic mood. And I discovered that most of the editors won't be singing the blues for Valentine's, even if, like Abbey Mastracco admitted, romance isn't exactly a part of their vocabulary. Even editor-in-chief Bradley Zint was stumped on what to pick for a romantic evening, but he was sure that he liked Beethoven anytime.

Chay Chhuon surprised me the most when he answered back with lyrics of his favorite Vanessa Williams track, "The Way That You Love." "It's more than emotion/ Lets keep this fire going/ Now we are lost inside our love/ Sweet surrender so tender." Woo! That's the spirit!

Here is a list of some of the other editors' favorite songs for Valentine's Day...

Kristen Crawford's picks: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye; "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders; "Love Song" by The Cure.

Stephanie Minasian's pick: "Helplessly, Hopelessly" by Jessica Andrews.

Ann Austria's picks: "You and Me" by Lifehouse; "This I Promise You" by N'Sync.

Duke Rescola's pick: "I Love You, Baby" by Frankie Valli.

Erin McKenzie's pick: "Shelter" by Ray LaMontagne.

Niki Payne's pick: "More than Words" by Extreme.

Now, what's your favorite Valentine tunes? My picks will be posted on here tomorrow, so come back for some more inspiration. ;)

And the Grammy goes to...

Amy Winehouse has just won the Grammy for best record. You can see her in the video below. (No sound, sorry!)


Video by Barbara Navarro.

Any thoughts?

This Week with Barbara

1. 2. 3.
Photos taken from the Internet.

My revised budget philosophy: go for what's free, but of course looks good.

1. We Barbarians will be performing a string of Monday nights at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa for free. I've just discovered these men, but I really like what I hear. I recommend listening to their grungy/edgy "Yesmen and Bumsukers." Whatever that title means, I'm not sure. The lyrics are equally ambiguous. Still like it.

2. Anaïs Nin, ooh! Erotic, poetic and woman. The Hammer Museum will be celebrating this writer on Tuesday. It's a free event with Nin's friends as the speakers, actually.

3. "Atonement" is the most beautiful movie in theaters right now. I am going to indulge replaying my favorite YouTube clip and you should, too. James McAvoy is the most beautiful man in England.

What's your budget philosophy when it comes to going out?

New Details on Jewish Film Festival

For those of you who plan to attend the Jewish Film Festival on campus this weekend, I've got new details about Sunday's line-up. The program’s continuation on Sunday will include one special 18-minute short by Tiffany Shlain called “The Tribe.” This insightful short gained her a "Women Shaping the 21st Century" honor by Newsweek. "The Tribe," a movie that studies the historical relation between Barbie and Jewish people, was the most-downloaded film on iTunes at one point. See her on YouTube: She discusses her filmmaking on a Sundance program; here's the trailer for "The Tribe" (a lot of Barbie dolls); and Shlain found the Webby Award, so watch her here.

Celebrating Film and Culture

A two-day Jewish Film Festival will go underway this weekend at the University Theater. The event, which is co-sponsored by a number of Jewish cultural groups in the Long Beach community along with the school’s Jewish Studies Program, does not have a theme, but will focus on films of intimate personal dramas.

The line-up includes a range of independent films that are otherwise hard to miss, commented the festival organizer Jeffrey Blutinger, who is also the co-director of Cal State Long Beach’s Jewish Studies Program. The films have more to do with dynamic family relationships and have “very little engagement with politics,” he said.



This is the third year the Jewish Film Festival returns to CSULB by popular demand, Blutinger said. “These are terrific films. This is a chance for community, faculty and students to see modern Jewish life in vibrant and exciting ways.”

The first film, “Three Mothers,” will show Saturday evening at 7. The film is about Egyptian-Jewish triplet sisters who are in the midst of beginning their new lives in a modern Israel society.

“Souvenirs,” “Sweet Mud,” and Paul Verhoeven’s “Black Book” will conclude the festival on Sunday; the films will screen at 10a.m., 2p.m. and 6p.m., respectively.

Admission is $10 to attend an individual film or $36 for a festival pass to all the films.

The Considered Connoisseur of the moment said...
“Exploring the world through the eyes of another, especially in this medium, is invaluable. This film festival will offer me a cinematic look into part of my own heritage.” (Said Melissa Tanney, the Arts Commissioner for ASI, of the festival.)

Flyer images courtesy of Jeffrey Blutinger, from the CSULB Jewish Studies Program.

Coming Attraction: Collecting Collections

While I realize that none of the art pieces from MOCA's upcoming "Collecting Collections" exhibit come from one of my favorite exhibits in recent years ("WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution"), I know they'll have plenty of great pieces to show off, especially with the competing BCAM $56-million gallery opening across town at LACMA.

Here's a photomontage from "Wack!":

Photomontage by Martha Rosler, Nature Girls (Jumping Janes), from the series Body Beautiful or Body Knows No Pain, 1966-72. Courtesy of the artist via MOCA.

Please be sure to read today's review in the Daily Forty-Niner on the retiring exhibit at MOCA Contemporary, © MURAKAMI, by clicking here. (It's writer Steven Sabetti's observation on Takashi Murakami's wearable, and rather ostentatious, art.)

What's been your favorite exhibit at MOCA?

47O6: Year of the Rat

The Year of the Rat has come! In places all over the world today people are celebrating the Lunar New Year (better known as the Chinese New Year) in several exciting ways. From Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing, to London and Los Angeles, there will be red envelopes passed out, dumplings served and tangerines at the table.


Image taken from the Internet.

Locally...

One vibrant Vietnamese community, Westminster's Little Saigon, is known for its elaborate celebrations during this time—dragon parades and all.

• Go to their Tet Parade 2008 on Saturday.
• Capture their culinary spirit here anytime.

One Art

Bigger picture: Installation view of Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas at MOCA Pacific Design Center, 2007, photo by Brian Forrest . Small Picture: Please click on pictures for credits.

Some people thwart the election process altogether. Their excuse is that politics are boring or whatever. But once upon a time there were everyday people who included style into everything they did, including their participation with politics, and they were, consequently, certainly getting noticed. That trend followed an ideal of being “one with the rest of them.” But it also gave people something to stand for and a way to have a voice. It wasn’t about whether they were doing it all wrong or doing it all right. It was a matter of whether they were doing it at all.

One man put his focus on the art and the messages he was sending out. It was his one main tool for communicating then, and today it’s the center of appreciation at the MOCA Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

It was during the 60s and 70s when Emory Douglas came to the forefront of dramatic, revolutionary politics with the Black Panther Party. Douglas was appointed the minister of culture and prolifically strung together collection after collection of collages that were equally explosive in their verbal arguments as in their visual themes.

Douglas was, to put it simply, a sort of Bertrand Langeron of his crew. Employing image-recycling, cartooning and his colorfully distinct illustration style, he contributed to a bigger vision.

I find this kind of artwork conveniently inspiring for this Super Tuesday. Douglas’s work, more specifically, provokes some kind of dialogue within me that I’m not sure I’ve experienced before.
We’re living in a generation that’s perpetually stimulated by what the eye sees, but I’ve concluded that there isn’t so much of an awareness or interest to details.

There is no emotion or spirit or excitement in the major political campaigns running for office today. “Image” or identity is not anything more than just a name; they are brands.

When will there be another Emory Douglas in our world of politics today?

Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas is showing through Feb. 24 at the MOCA Pacific Design Center.