It's been many a moon since the once-familiar name Marc Huestis has graced these gossipy pages. So we were thrilled when the Castro Theatre impresario himself contacted us last week with some very exciting news. "I've been happily retired, stargazing in the Sierras and finishing my memoir. Suddenly from out of the blue I got a call from a Hollywood legend's manager asking if I would like to host her at the Castro," confided Huestis.
Who could that living legend possibly be? None other than the immortal movie star Kim Novak! "When Kim calls, you need to drop everything. Ms. Novak is notoriously hard to get, and I had been trying for years." Wowsa, that is quite a "get!" And if Cher can come out of retirement, so can Marc. OT can now report that on Sunday, May 20, Huestis will present "A Tribute to Kim Novak, Live and In-Person!" at the Castro Theatre. TCM's "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller will be querying the screen goddess onstage. There will be a 60th Anniversary screening of Alfred Hitchcock's seminal masterpiece "Vertigo," shot largely on the 1950s streets of San Francisco. There will be tribute performances, clip reels, an unveiling of Novak's latest art, and other flourishes that will make this classy affair a singular Marc Huestis event. The evening benefits SF Suicide Prevention, an issue near and dear to the hearts of both Novak and Huestis. Yessiree Bob, this event should be one for the books. As you know, early birds get the tastiest worms, and tickets are already on sale at ticketfly.com. This should sell out quickly, so act now! Operators (well, at least Marc) are standing by!
Ginsberg in vinyl
A new deluxe vinyl box-set celebrating Allen Ginsberg's iconic chapbook "Howl and Other Poems" releases on Feb. 23 from Craft Recordings. Here are the tantalizing deets from the producing parties:
"This new collection offers Ginsberg's recording of the poems pressed on translucent red vinyl, reproducing the original 1959 LP release, as well as a replica of the synonymous book of poetry, published in 1956 by City Lights for their Pocket Poets series. Also included in the box set is a photo of Ginsberg from the 1950s, a reproduction of the original City Lights reading invite from 1956, and a booklet with new liner notes by Beat scholar Ann Charters, as well as notes by poet Anne Waldman.
"To celebrate, City Lights Booksellers will host a reception on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. The event, which will be open to the public, will feature readings and statements by Ann Charters, San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck, poet and author Neeli Cherkovski, City Lights Poetry Editor Garrett Caples and box set producer Bill Belmont."
Ginsberg's masterpiece is "a poetic rage against society's conformism and capitalism that rocked the literary world upon its publication, and has gone on to be one of the most widely performed poems of the 20th Century." "Howl" was also "at the center of a high-profile 1957 obscenity trial resulting in the arrest of City Lights publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti and bookstore manager Shigeyoshi Murao. The trial stands today as a prominent case for First Amendment rights, having set a legal precedent for the publication of controversial works." Howl on, and save the First Amendment!
Kim Novak visits the Golden Gate in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo." Photo: Courtesy Marc Huestis