Prog Digest – An Xperience Column – by Klyde Kadiddlehumper.
Gather ‘round, chillens, it’s Christmas Story time with your Old Unkle Klyde. Nope, not Prog related (although my super deluxe remastered “War of the Worlds” shipped today) – but fun.
After last year’s incident – it really was an honest mistake … really – there will be no sitting on kind ol’ Unk’s knee …
Anyway – at heart, at RadioRadioX and Xperience Monthly, we are storytellers. Whether interviews, or profiles, or articles – we like to tell stories. While not perfect, our goal is to get it right, or kinda right, or at least let you know when it’s what we think, not what we know. While Constant Companion spent years killing off Rob Schneider, likely ‘cause he played a Bob Fosse-like character and Fosse died in ‘87 – I don’t believe we have killed off anyone (of consequence at least) in these pages. Told a tall tale or two – sure. But homicide – nope.
Perpetrating a good-natured hoax is, however, in our wheelhouse. Sometimes, take what Klyde says with a grain of salt. Unless he is telling a story – not a tale.
I was reminded of a time when CC and I were first dating and having dinner with a couple who are amongst my best friends. Klyde’s friend knows a bunch of trivia and will tell you so. Let’s call him Not Silent Bob. Well, the tall tale goes like this.
During dinner, CC had listened attentively to a number of stories. And decided to get in on the fun.
“Well, you know, the Little Rascals was filmed in Troy,” she starts.
Having no idea where this is going, and not wanting to kill the vibe, Klyde nods in agreement.
And it continued. About the fact that there was a pretty thriving film business, way back when, well north of Battery Park City.
Not Silent Bob is enthralled. All that was needed was setting the hook.
Going on, CC goes all in. “You know that famous scene, on the ladder truck … the one going down the steep hill – no idea how they didn’t get killed. You know the street, Klyde.” I am implored to back this up.
Not missing a beat, I go, “Yeah – that’s Hoosick Street.”
Hook, line, and sinker.
CC can’t contain herself.
“You know, Not Silent Bob, I’m lying.” NSB’s wife did a spit take and began laughing uncontrollably.
Just enough truth to be plausible. Just stupid enough to be true. And a (mostly) complete fabrication.
The fact is that there was a thriving movie industry in Upstate – just not in Troy. High above Cayuga’s waters in Ithaca, N.Y. The Little Rascals were, indeed, filmed there. And that scene is memorable.
Don’t try to find the films – a certain disgraced star bought them up, never to be seen again, as he deemed them insensitive. Oh, and don’t try to find the WW2 Warner Brothers cartoon either.
A couple things brought all this to mind. Yet another case of a famous person being killed off in print, and a question a friend posted on LinkedIn.
To all his contacts, Steve asked that we provide one or two examples of things we *know* to be “true.” Define as you wish – physical or existential – truth.
Given the state of the many things – a much tougher task than one might imagine.
Perhaps there are some things we need to believe that simply cannot be true. The Tooth Fairy. The Easter Bunny. Krampus.
And then, we look at a house for sale with a young non-believer. He’s just a nice old man.
And there, leaning against the fireplace, is a well-worn, recognizable cane, and a swing set in the backyard.
A Merry, Happy, Peaceful holiday season, all. Do something nice, be someone nice. Be the person you always wanted to be when you still believed.
Until next time.
Klyde