As some of you know, I like Don Knotts quite a bit, and I’ve been trying to interview him for years. Once, about five years ago, I was introduced to someone in his family (I wrote about it in one of the California-era issues of Crimewave), but that’s as close as I’ve ever gotten. Over the past few years, I’ve almost given up, thinking that once he got into his 80’s he probably had better things to do than reminisce with the likes of me. I’d also heard rumors that his health was failing. Yesterday, however, I happened across a small mention of the fact that his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia would be holding a film festival in his honor. While there wasn’t any evidence that he was planning to be involved, it gave me a bit of hope and I began doing some research… Which led me to funny little trailer for a non-existent film in which Mr. Knotts plays our president. It’s pretty good…. As for Don, I have a few leads and I’m following them up now. The last time I can find any evidence of him speaking to the press was right after John Ritter’s death, and it seemed he was at least in fair health at that time… Wish me luck.
Oh, if you happen to work for a magazine that has a budget for such things (unlike Crimewave), I can clear my schedule to be in Morgantown for the festival. Just get me a plane ticket, a room and a few hundred dollars and I’ll give you the best fucking article you’ve ever seen.
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No comments on Don Knots? Typical!
I was in Seattle two summers ago, while on tour, and we came across a killer silk screened Don Knots film Festival poster. Our drummer, who is a huge Don Knotts fan, asked to buy it. The record store hipster said he wanted it. Ryan left very sad. So I went back and stole it for him. The high light was jumping into the getaway car only to get stopped at a red light 10 feet away. We took a picture of Ryan with it in Portland, OR and sent it to the record store. It’s now framed and hanging in his house. Every time we unloaded our equipment some one would always yell “watch out for Don Knotts!”
Mark- tell me you are setting me up. That is just too fucking weird of a coincidence.
Andrew- there was a poster designed and printed by my friend Brandon out here for a Don Knotts film festival that his buddy put together called ” 3 sides of a square.” I told Mark a month or so about it and just got around to picking it up from Brandon yesterday about 4 hours before Mark made the Don Knotts post.
Just out of curiosity, check my site and let me know if this is the same poster.
http://home.earthlink.net/~dmorrisdesign/images/DonKnotts.JPG
clarification- “here” is Seattle.
That’s it. Fantastic poster, wish we could have stayed a few days later to see the films.
Don Knotts is programed into my TiVo.
Andy, what’s the name of the record store? Do you remember? If so, I’d like to see if I can get a scan of the kidnapping photo, if they still have it… Also, what’s this Black Metal site all about? Is this a new project of yours?
I don’t remember the record store. It was a pretty good one.
Black Metal radio is a Flash driven radio station. It’s really well done. One step closer to killing the FCC! I was listening to it at the time so I put it in there. Every one should check it out, preferably when at work.