Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Day We've Been Waiting For!

The day for what? The day for Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection.


More highlights can be found here. This collection is supposed to have all of The Boys' surviving talkies (shorts and features) produced by the Hal Roach studios -- except for The Devil's Brother, Bonnie Scotland, and Babes in Toyland (which are available in other collections. Here's the producers' press release from last summer:
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. – Celebrating the genius of the most beloved comedy team of all time, "Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection" debuts in a stunning 10-disc set on October 25, 2011 from RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment. With a comedic style that defined an era and created a legacy that is still celebrated today, 58 of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy´s talking shorts and feature films, produced under legendary movie mogul Hal Roach from 1929 through 1940, are now available for the first time in the U.S. all together in one magnificent collection.

Transferred in high definition for the first time and digitally enhanced for home viewing in the finest quality available to date, the set contains favorites that have been enjoyed for generations including "Helpmates," "Hog Wild," "Another Fine Mess," "Sons of the Desert," "Way Out West," and the Academy Award winning film "The Music Box."

"Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection" comes housed in collectible, book-style packaging with an extensive, detailed film guide. The set also boasts over two hours of special features including exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with comedy legends Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis, Tim Conway and more, who discuss the enduring impact and influence of Laurel and Hardy.

Additional features include commentaries by Laurel and Hardy aficionados, along with a virtual location map that allows viewers to take an interactive tour of the iconic places in and around Los Angeles where Laurel and Hardy filmed. Available for the suggested retail price of $99.98, "Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection" showcases some of the most cherished and hilarious films in cinema history and is a must-have for comedy fans and collectors everywhere. Run time is 1,941 minutes; SRP is $99.98.

Having grown up on Laurel & Hardy, this is going to be fun!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Smiling Airliner Strikes Again!


Yes, you've seen this smiling airliner before, the last time six months ago. For still in my mind PSA stands first for Pacific Southwest Airlines, secondly for Public Service Announcement, and only thirdly for prostate-specific antigen.

But however you want to think of it, our PSA L-1011 is still smiling, not because it was the best jumbo jet, but because yesterday afternoon I received the results of my latest blood test: my PSA is less that 0.1. That is, 3 1/2 years after my surgery for prostate cancer, it is still immeasurable. Praise the Lord!