Earth, Wind & a washup
So, about last week’s poured on, rained out, hurricane-drenched outdoor Central Park music festival.
We know de Blasio announced all 60,000 attendees take cover for a barely few fleeting moments because, he said, the drowning deluge was nothing but a temp affair. He also said a big major Earth, Wind & Fire song had been sung at his wedding. Plus, someone thought they heard Mrs. Chirlane begin singing with them. Plus, also the crowd booed our mayor.
But not rained out is theater.
Great Scott, as they say: If Scott Rudin isn’t returning to Broadway’s yellow brick road soon, one of his “Hello, Dolly!” partners is. Another Scott, Scott M. Delman, no lead producer exactly, looks to present two musicals based on TV’s “Nashville” and film’s “Thelma & Louise.” Playwright Chelsea Marcantel is writing the former, director Trip Cullman directing the latter. Movies being a magnet for legit producers, next comes the Shuberts mounting life-upon-the-wicked-stage for “Some Like It Hot.”
Happening sooner: The excellent NY Film Festival is back. It’s A-1 selections usually grace the Oscars, which many of us usually sleep through.
Opening night, Sept. 24, premieres Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” starring Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington; the centerpiece: Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” with Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch; and closing night: Pedro Almodóvar’s “Parallel Mothers” starring Penélope Cruz.
In the way back machine
The following is from the Everything Old Is Still Old department:
A 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL500. Until 2018 Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker’s silver-over-black coupe. A 5.0-liter V8, five-speed automatic transmission, power sunroof, dual-zone climate control, infotainment with CD changer, heated front seats so your behind stays warm. The car has 27,000 miles. It’s offered with manufacturer’s literature, two key fobs, a Carfax report, New York title and clean ashtray. Current bid: $6,000.
Plus: “The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows — The First 100 Years” is Robert S. Anderson’s book. The original owner’s great-grandson, with exclusive access to documents, unseen photos, anecdotes, images of VIP guests, he’s selling it via the hotel’s Web site and if you stay there a copy might get shoved under your pillow . . . Listen, with America not going forward, businesses are going backward. Bulova, a 150-year-old company with a history of “firsts,” has a fabulous new line. Sinatra retro watches.
Plus, back in the Ice Age Lucille Ball had a radio talk show. Stuff with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé, who said The Beatles would never make it. Lucille once said: “A horse threw me in the mud, birds landed in my hair, and a chimpanzee grabbed two of my fingers which he nearly broke. The animals were more temperamental than the actors.” SiriusXM bought up all this on its “Let’s Talk To Lucy” podcast.
Now hear’s this
Thanks to “Town & Country’s” Adam Rathe for his current article “The Secrets of Being Cindy Adams” . . . A nod to Good Day New York’s Jim Ryan who said at Primola restaurant: “Everyone I covered during my time on the air has either a bridge, a tunnel, or a highway named after them.” . . . An intake of breath for a coming documentary, which will be titled “Sex.” It’s all about getting it, buying it, seeking it, doing it, paying for it and tweeting for it. Possibility is spinsters can get a hard copy.
Salesman: You’ll save enough on food bills to pay for this fridge.” She answered: “I’m paying for a bike on the carfare I save. I’m paying for a washing machine on the laundry bills I save. I’m paying for a TV on the cost of movies I don’t go to anymore. I just can’t afford to save any more money.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.