I am taking a blogging break to work on a project.
I’ll be back at the end of September.
In the meantime, enjoy some forgotten greatness.
The Firesign Theater is best known for its biting and complex social commentary.
The group mixed the conventions of radio drama with the recording and writing techniques of The Beatles.
The result was rich multilayered surrealist satire.
“Animals without backbones hid from each other or fell down. Clamasaurs and Oysterettes appeared as appetizers. Then came the sponges which sucked up about ten percent of all life. Hundreds of years later, in the Late Devouring Period, fish became obnoxious.
Trailerbites, chiggerbites, and mosquitoes collided aimlessly in the dense gas. Finally, tiny edible plants sprang up in rows giving birth to generations of insecticides and other small dying creatures. “
Released in 1970, “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers,” is the story of George Leroy Tirebiter who lives in a world under martial law. Tirebiter is a former child actor who spends his time watching himself on late-night movies, a staple of broadcast television in the 1960’s.
Rolling Stone calls it the greatest comedy record ever made.
‘The Death of Marion Crane’ (c) Rob Goldstein 2014
The little shadow boy cocked his head and thought.
“Her name is Felicity.”
“That sounds right.” Trina replied; then she stuffed Felicity
into her bag and said, “Let’s go!”
Trina and the Shadow Boy find the Android
The Shadow boy led Trina to the robot department at Macy’s.
The android saw them and clicked happily into gear.
The three of them stared at each other in silence.
Finally, Trina opened her bag and said, “Hop in and I’ll make you a skin.”
The android peered at Trina’s bag and hopped in.
Trina hugged the shadow boy and told him to close his eyes; when he opened them, he was in Trina’s workshop.
The shadow boy watched from the shadows as Trina went to work at her sewing machine. It took hours, but when she was done, the android had a new skin and new clothes.
Trina Takes the Android to Her Workshop
As Trina dressed the android, the shadow boy stepped out of the shadows.
“He’s very handsome.” The shadow boy said, “but why are his clothes so weird.”
“He lives in the past.” Trina replied.
Trina brought the android a mirror; the android silently studied his face.
“Not bad” he said. His voice was deep and resonant.
“I think it’s quite excellent.” Trina’s statement was an irritable command.
The android clicked with dismay, “Oh yes!” He stammered, “It’s quite excellent;quite excellent indeed.”
Trina Makes the Android a New Skin and Outfit
Trina was happy again.
“Let’s go to the park and write a story.” She said.
“That’s an excellent idea,” the android relied, “quite excellent indeed.”
Art by Rob Goldstein 