Continuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 18 Read the rest of this entry »
Posts Tagged ‘hollywood’
The Deaf Seekers
In B-Movie on 2 December 2010 at 5:13 pmContinuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 17
Century of Sensuality
In B-Movie on 11 October 2010 at 1:14 pmContinuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 15
Beyond Gomorrah
In B-Movie on 30 August 2010 at 12:47 pmContinuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 14 Read the rest of this entry »
Beast of Rage
In B-Movie on 29 July 2010 at 5:00 pmContinuing adventures in the gutter of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Episode 13 Read the rest of this entry »
The Impossible Legend of Ken
In B-Movie on 10 July 2010 at 12:32 pmB-Movie #12
Hollywood 1953:
Sergei is going for a different approach. Eleven scripts in four years. Eleven rejected scripts. Maybe two hundred rejections. It’s getting hard to take. The boss at Harvey’s Wash-a-teria wants Sergei to concentrate on his career in laundry. He’s had the Schwinn company bicycle serviced. He’s bought new uniforms and staff badges. He wants Sergei to prepare himself for a promotion. He says: You gotta hunker down, boy. He says: Don’t get hung up on the wrong track. He says: Put in a good shift, and then put in another good shift. Laundromat is made for you. You are made for laundromat.
The Heart Snatchers
In B-Movie on 2 July 2010 at 12:38 pmB-Movie #11
Hollywood, 1953:
“Sir I’ve got this script here I think you’ll love. It’s called: [Sergei glances nervously up at the badly repaired ceiling] The Heart Snatchers.”
“O.K. Medical theme. I picture a grimy hospital. Sounds promising. You’re on fire today, Matrossov.” Mel sniffs deeply.
It’s good to be back. “Sir it’s as grimy as it gets. Set in Chicago, about ten years ago.” Mel is nodding enthusiastically, and humming faintly. “About a twisted surgeon conducting evil organ experiments for a shady devil-worshipping corporation. A young heroine named –”
Mel is sweating, and nodding, and humming. He comes around the desk and slaps Sergei on the back encouragingly, guiding him gently but firmly out of the office. He sniffs and mumbles, and wipes his nose with a handkerchief. Sniffs again. “Fantastic. Fantastic stuff, kid. Not for us, but keep them coming. You’re a genius. Good to see you. Always good. Come back soon, make sure we get first refusal.” He sniffs again.
On the way back to Fairfax, Sergei reflects on the comfort to be gained from the routine of inevitability. Already his next idea is forming.
The Chemical Man
In B-Movie on 27 June 2010 at 11:34 amB-Movie #10
Hollywood, 1953:
Harvey’s Wash-a-teria in Fairfax is no bad place to work. You get a bicycle for delivery: a Schwinn, no less. The boss is a good man – tough but fair. Prospects are good too – there is talk of expansion, maybe a supervisor’s position. Sergei Matrossov can see the positives in a career in the laundromat business. He doesn’t need much. A cheap apartment, work, one or two friends. The community is close-knit and supportive. A young immigrant could do worse. At the next-door pharmacy there is a typewriting machine whenever he needs it. Belongs to the pharmacist’s nephew, a poet doing some self-discovery trip and his own kind of pharmacy in Tangier for an indefinite period of time.
