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gwylliondream November 23 2010, 20:44:16 UTC
Like all of your chapters, this was a rich and fulfilling experience. Oh, how did we ever survive without a digital camera? You did an amazing job of describing the developing film.

I am really concerned about the "Day of Rampage."

XO
Donna

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soulan November 24 2010, 23:27:26 UTC
Professional photographers survived quite nicely, back then. Now they barely survive.

Ennis won't witness the actual rampage, just the aftermath. Don't worry, there won't be blood!

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How wonderful joetheone November 23 2010, 22:07:08 UTC
Oh I loved how they went about developing the film I was in photography in high school and loved the smell of the dark room. Yes, it is something lost by not having it anymore but a few die hards still use film. I never knew about Diane Arbus and the funny thing is when I read about her and Russeck's I went to my collection of hat boxes and I have a Russeck's hat box with the original hat in it that belonged to my grandmother. I heard the name and thought I knew it my sister actually has the fur coat my grandmother purchased at it I called her when I read this. I just loved her photos and I am going to have to find that book it I went through the photos 3 times just staring at them. You do such a wonderful job with all of this and hit so many points that hit home with me. I just could not believe when I have an actual box from the store. Of course I collect everything under the sun sort of like our friend Andy and someday it will all go to sale like his stuff I'm sure but I have had fun owning it while I have. So many ( ... )

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Re: How wonderful soulan November 24 2010, 23:28:05 UTC
My parents had Diane Arbus' book and as an adolescent I spent hours looking the pictures. This summer I had to clear out their house to sell it and if I lived in the US I would have kept all the photography and art books. But it would've cost a fortune to ship them to Europe so I had to sell them all. I found her book, though and brought it back. I'd been imagining the elevator photo for a year and when I saw the Arbus book I realized it could have been one of hers.

Your story about Russeck's made me think of Rachel Menken of Mad Men and I wonder if Menken's department store was inspired by DA's family's store.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Joe.

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Re: How wonderful joetheone November 24 2010, 23:51:08 UTC
Sad but it happens. I understand why you had to sell all of your parents possessions but I'm glad you kept this book. My sister lives in London and I have other relatives in Spain, Switzerland, Germany and we are always upset at how much it cost to ship the tiniest things over. Jif peanut butter for one. Oh my sister loves everything in Europe but she must have her Jif. I do not remember Russeck's I think it closed in the early 70's my grandmother was a grand lady and growing up a lot of Saturday's she made me get in a suit and tie from Brooks Brothers and she would go shopping we would have lunch at one of the Department stores usually at B Altmann's in their grand dining room it was beautiful and I remember thinking this is wonderful. My grandmother would get her hair and nails done and let me go to toyworld to pick out something for me as long as it was under 5 dollars. Then some boys hated but I loved we would sit in these rooms while beautiful ladies came out in dresses for my grandmother to pick out. She would take them ( ... )

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Re: How wonderful soulan November 25 2010, 00:13:49 UTC
No, people don't dress to shop now. Depending where you are, they don't dress for much of anything. Except for elderly French woman (unless they live on farms), who still seem to dress carefully when out in public.

I love your stories, Joe. I can just picture you as a little boy sitting in the department store watching ladies model dresses for your grandmother.

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sjmarv November 23 2010, 22:52:35 UTC
Well, you've done it again. Filled a (half!!!) chapter with so much imagery and subtle references to vital aspects of Ennis' unfolding story that I can't absorb it in one reading. Like the "Day of Rampage." WTF!! Does this happen when Jay & Ennis finally understand A Dyke and 2 Queers was an accurate description of the Andy Warhol photo? Or does it happen after her friend dies? Or does it happen to something related to her professional life? Could be any one of those but it probably happens to something I can't even imagine. I'm sure you will reveal this in your own good time!

And Ennis taking Kaj to the Mapparium when he hadn't been there since this time with Jay? My head is spinning. Thanks for the link back to that chapter.

Also, the contrast between the 1981 video and the 2010 one - that could take an entire article to analyze!! Reganomics era vs. Obama Ize Me era - whew!

In case you can't tell AWWW is one of my favorite BBM stories. Thank you for all the work that you put into this tale.

Susan

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soulan November 24 2010, 23:31:16 UTC
I won't give you any spoilers about the Day of Rampage, but I can assure you that there will be no blood.

That first video is so goofy! And what a contrast between the band and the audience. That was from an 80s British comedy TV show called OTT and judging from this performance I can see why it stands for Over The Top. The audience seemed really dull in comparison. I found a video of another band on that show and one of the YouTube comments was "The studio audience look like they're waiting for a bus."

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mariez65 November 24 2010, 12:39:32 UTC
"Uh huh. Call it A Dyke and Two Queers and she'll win first prize."
Suddenly the closet felt as cramped as a coffin...

was disoriented, forgetting which way I’d turned when I'd entered.

Oh, man irony upon irony upon irony. Poor Ennis. You have an excellent ear for dialogue; it's not easy to impart a lot of information without making the words stilted or contrived, but you always do. I really enjoyed how Jay described the film development.

I'm amazed at how well you're able to structure this story with all the layers and time frames. I always read each chapter a few times, and I pick up something new upon each reading. I like that! Thanks :)

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soulan November 24 2010, 23:32:02 UTC
I'm amazed at how well you're able to structure this story with all the layers and time frames.

I feel like I'm walking on a tightrope sometimes, especially as I get closer to the conversion point, which actually seems like it's receding into the distance.

I'm pleased and relieved you find the dialogue natural. It takes a surprising amount of work to achieve that effect, which doesn't seem logical somehow.

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gilli_ann November 25 2010, 23:06:39 UTC
I truly feel as if I'm being allowed to read the next Big American Novel here, one chapter at a time. It's a fantastic read. These people and places and situations and conversations and significant objects are so vivid and so unique, yet also representative of their time and society and the decades the fic covers. Strange how so many things already seem dated even if it was such a short while ago... developing photos one of those things. You know a lot about photography and famous photographers - it's interesting and very rewarding to look at the links you provide. I can picture the photo of Ennis and Jay and Warhol so very clearly, the way you describe it.

Worried about the rampage now... but it's no surprise that Jay's discovery is going to be tough on the both of them...

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soulan November 27 2010, 17:39:34 UTC
LOL about the BAN! Mainly because I haven't lived in America since 1990 so 80s USA is the only decade I can write confidently about. And my how things have changed, for better and for worse.

I grew up around photography, esp. b&w, and I suppose I know more about photographers than the average person. Somehow, though, I've become less interested in it since photographs have come to saturate daily life.

Jay will discover the truth about Ennis through photography. :'-{

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