Tag Archives: Charlie Chaplin

The etymology of “beazel”

I’d wanted to write last night about Donald Trump’s ever-changing position on mandatory background checks for gun sales, and the pathetic way in which he publicly grovels at the feet of the NRA, but, when I saw that one of my favorite films, Preston Sturges’s delightfully thoughtful 1941 screwball comedy Sullivan’s Travels, was going to […]

Posted in Art and Culture, Mark's Life, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Facing sexual assault allegations, Al Franken forces Democrats to confront the fact that sexual abuse isn’t a partisan issue

A lot of my male heroes have been assholes. Dr. Seuss, they say, was a philandering bigot. John Lennon, by all accounts, was abusive. J. D. Salinger and Charlie Chaplin preyed on young women. And, as we know, Thomas Jefferson actually bought and sold human beings, at least one of whom he had sexual relations […]

Posted in Civil Liberties, Politics, Rants, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 89 Comments

Ypsilanti Immigration Interview: Donald Harrison

Michigan filmmaker Donald Harrison, who, up until recently, ran the Ann Arbor Film Festival, just recently purchased a home in Ypsilanti, and made the move east from Ann Arbor. Here’s our official immigration interview. MARK: Remind me when we first met… It’s been well over a decade ago now, right? DONALD: Indeed, I remember first […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Awesome Foundation, Crimewave USA, Mark's Life, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Bob Zmuda on securing Andy Kaufman’s penis with gaffer’s tape prior to his wrestling matches, the origins of Tony Clifton, Andy’s plans to fake his death, and a million other things

Last night, I listened to Marc Maron’s interview with Andy Kaufman’s old writing partner, Bob Zmuda. My sense is that Maron… who has a brilliant podcast, by the way… found the experience somewhat frustrating, as Zmuda insisted on being evasive about a few things, like the circumstances surrounding Andy’s death, and the question as to […]

Posted in Art and Culture, Crimewave USA, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Chaplin’s The Great Dictator

I may have posted this once before. It’s a brilliant piece, and well worth repeating, though… Enjoy.

Posted in Art and Culture, Politics | Also tagged , | 11 Comments

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