More Acting Adventures
First Marco Perella told us about the apparently very funny experience of being a nobody in his Adventures of a No Name Actor; now Bruce Campbell wants us to know what it’s like to be both a B-movie king and a regular Joe. If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor (L.A. Weekly Books, $23.95) is another funny — and sardonic — addition to the literature of … well, the literature of memoirs by people you may never have heard of (better those than memoirs by people you have heard of written by people you haven’t). Campbell has starred in the Evil Dead movies, Army of Darkness, Assault on Dome 4, Tornado!, and — since quoting B-movie titles is such a worthwhile activity, and something we don’t get to do too often in “Postscripts” — you can also find Campbell in Lunatics: A Love Story, Maniac Cop, Maniac Cop 2, Thou Shalt Not Kill … Except, The Dead Next Door, Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, Easy Wheels, and Moontrap. Of course, he’s also been in Fargo and Disney’s Gold Rush. Campbell will be at BookPeople tonight, Thursday, June 28, at 7pm.
Texas’ Oldest Library Restored
After five years of planning, construction, and restoration, the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart will celebrate its re-opening and expansion next weekend, July 5-7. On Thursday, July 5, 6:30-9pm, Liz Carpenter, Kinky Friedman, Mary Willis Walker, Dyanne Fry Cortez (Hot Jams & Cold Showers: Scenes From the Kerrville Folk Festival), Susie Flatau (Counter Culture Texas), Jim Gramon (Famous Texas Folklorists and Their Stories), and Betsy Nozick (Texas Tuxedos to Tacos: The Mystique of Entertaining) will give readings and sign their books. $25; Lockhart chefs will be providing dinner and there’s a chance to have an early look at the restored library. Call 512/398-3223 for more information. On Friday, July 6, noon-1pm, the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library have organized a “human book chain” that they say will be a mile long with over 500 people in it. Books will be passed from the library’s temporary location (901 Bois D’Arc) to the restored library complex (217 S. Main). Call the number above to sign up.
HRC Acquires Lowell Papers
The HRC has acquired two major additions of Robert Lowell material, adding to what is already a comprehensive Lowell archive there. New are a compilation of Blair Clark’s letters to Lowell — Clark was a journalist, activist, and close friend of the poet. Joanna Clark, Blair’s second wife, gave the collection of letters to the HRC after Elizabeth Hardwick, Lowell’s former wife, recommended that she do so. “Sorry about the shaggy appearance of the black box,” Joanna Clark wrote the HRC, “but that’s how it came to me, and I’m sending it off to you with a great deal of sadness.” There’s also a new collection of drafts by Lowell of nearly final versions of poems published in History, a reworking of the three editions of Notebook, and The Dolphin. Lowell fans should get their hands on McSweeney’s 6, the recently released journal that features a fascinating essay about Lowell’s childhood letters.
This article appears in June 29 • 2001.