The radio show just got an interesting iTunes review from a fellow who, in the 1970s, apparently worked at one of Ypsi’s downtown porn stores, and he’s offered to come into the studio and tell stories the next time he’s in Michigan. [He’s now an industrial designer in Colorado.]
Here, in case you can’t read the above review, is what it says.
I lived in Ypsilanti 40 years ago, have lived in Colorado for 35+ years, but still visit Ypsi as often as I can when in MI. I really like Mark Maynard’s Saturday Six Pack, look forward to every week’s show, and appreciate how Mark keeps it real. Next time I’m in town I’ll stop by and recount my experiences as manager of the old Michigan Avenue (adult) book store, the (adult/art) theater around the corner, and meeting John Holmes (Johnny Wadd) in person on a movie promotional tour in Ypsi. The Saturday Six Pack is one of the best things on the air and is what radio should be.
I knew when we started this show that weird opportunities would present themselves, but it never crossed my mind that I might have an opportunity to meet a man who could tell me how John Holmes spent his afternoon while visiting Ypsilanti 40 years ago.
[If you listen to The Saturday Six Pack, and would like to leave a review on iTunes, either with or without reference to John Holmes, you can do so here.]
10 Comments
You need to start a Kickstarter for a feature length documentary on the day John Holmes came to Ypsilanti.
Apparently General Tom Thumb wasn’t the only celebrity to pass through Ypsilanti.
There are many men named John Holmes in Ypsilanti (http://www.intelius.com/Find-Phone-Address/Ypsilanti-MI/John-Holmes.html). How do we know he had the right one? Did he check for distinguishing characteristics?
“Tom Thumb to Johnny Wadd” has potential to displace “soup to nuts” as a phrase.
It was during this same visit to the Ypsilanti that our city fathers honored Mr. Holmes with a key to the city during a ceremony naming Holmes Road in his honor.
My mother listens to your show.
That’s a very unkind thing to say, Joe.
As for Holmes, were others aware that he had passed through town? It’s not that I’m a fan of his work, but I find it kind of fascinating that he walked these same streets that we walk today. And I’d be really interested to know if photos exist, or even little anecdotes about the time he spent here. My sense is that there’s something here to be explored, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I can feel my OCD powers beginning to tingle. It’s like that time I went nuts trying to figure out what happened to the school bell in that film made by a 19 year old Orson Welles.
Johnny Holmes was in Ypsi right before he went to Mexico. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIgu1RvxspY
We get our share of celebs. Remember this story in 2003?
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/ron-jeremy-busted-not-charged?hc_location=ufi
“Citing a lack of evidence, Michigan prosecutors this morning declined to pursue a felony sex charge lodged yesterday against porn star Ron Jeremy, The Smoking Gun has learned.
The 50-year-old Jeremy (real name: Ronald Jeremy Hyatt) was arrested Friday by Ypsilanti police and held on a criminal sexual conduct charge. Jeremy’s arrest was precipitated by a complaint lodged by a 20-year-old Ann Arbor woman, who told cops that Jeremy had assaulted her early Friday morning at a local strip club, Déjà Vu. Jeremy made a personal appearance Thursday night at the club, whose web site breathlessly advertises “totally nude couch dances and topless tableside dances!”
Cops arrested Jeremy at an Ann Arbor hotel Friday morning and booked him into the Washtenaw County jail. After spending the evening in the lockup, Jeremy appeared this morning for a hearing to determine whether bond would be set for his release. It was at that presentment, held at the jail, when prosecutors announced that they were dropping the felony charge because there “wasn’t enough evidence to prove that the sexual acts were nonconsensual,” said Sgt. John Minzey of the Ypsilanti P.D..
Jeremy was then released from custody at about 11 AM. His brief imprisonment surely came as a disappointment to Hedgehog fans in Ohio, where he was scheduled to appear last night at Toledo’s Déjà Vu club.”