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Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform drum solo movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) dances solo to militaristic snare drum intro than segues into jazzy drum solo rife with timbres & skin-pushing. Great key-effect of The Pusherman glowering malevolently on screen left while two male dancers perform balletic tug of war on screen right; other male ensemble dancers-- including the Pusher-- join in. The Pusher lays claim to a dancer, chokes him to the ground & sucks at the crook of his arm (alluding to mainlining heroin).
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "lovers" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Male & female ballet dance number that begins with bickering couple. Horn-and-strings-heavy soul instrumental music. A second couple enters fray as first couple exunts. First couple returns in reprise, only in solo form. Two women fight-dance over man from second couple. The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) enters. Lonely female dancer spurned by male lover pretends to sample The Pusherman's palm of cocaine, then dances with him; she succumbs easily to the Pusherman.
POP Goes the Country Promo
POP Goes the Country Promo Nashville, Tennessee
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "awakening" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Male & female solo dancers cavort on blue & white stage with red background; initially wearing cellophane, the couple shed the material to reveal brown bodysuits. Sexy, at times erotic dance to flute-driven jazz instrumental. At outset, the couple collapse to the floor & into the arms of one another.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "Ice Queen" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." High energy organ-driven dance routine during which The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) introduces the Ice Queen-- love her blue Afro wig & sequin dress. At the outset, the Ice Queen commands nonverbally for a couple to remove their colorful hats & clothes to writhe on the floor with her opiated minions. The Ice Queen falls onto the outstretched arms of her minions, who pass her about (akin to crowd surfing, I reckon).
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Creepy reverse key negative effect of the Pusherman (Al Perryman?) dancing solo to anonymous soul cover version of "The Thrill is Gone." Negative effect reverts to positive midway through movement. At the outset, The Pusherman wrestles with The Ice Queen while the opiated minions scream. With The Ice Queen down, The Pusherman stalks to the camera, hollers, "So you want it? You got it!" and streaks his black & white makeup down his cheeks. The Pusherman laughs, the minions at his feet; background lights dim to black & the Pusherman thrusts in place. Fade out.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Soul! Producer Ellis Haizlip thanks the George Faison Universal Dance Experience & Imamu Amiri Baraka. Mr. Haizlip says blacks are being "busted and ripped off" in schools, prisons, and at home, then mentions the senseless murder of George Jackson-- "We will continue in this vulnerable position until we organize ourselves. We need someone to come to the comfort & aid of black people. Are you the one?"
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Ellis Haizlip introduces poet Mae Jackson. Mae Jackson reads original poem about struggle for black independence: "Is there anyone here today that feels he does not want to use his arms, legs, hearts, hands & mind? If so, please donate them to our struggle. Is there a doctor in the house?" Mae Jackson reads original poem about oppression, freedom, Black Panthers George Jackson, Bobby Hutton, Fred Hampton, Ralph Featherstone, etc: "In America, black men do not live long." At outset, Ellis Haizlip thanks Mae Jackson, the George Faison Universal Dance Experience (lists the dancers by name), closes program.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience finish final movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." "I'm the One, You're One" reprise plays while the Pusherman throbs & gesticulates & undulates in a quasi-disco fashion with poppy minions at his feet. Credits roll.
The Great Depression & Economic Recovery
Master 1495 - Tape 1 TLS/MSs unemployed white men loitering in public park, chatting, sitting or outright sleeping on park benches. MS U.S. President HERBERT HOOVER wearing gray business suit, standing against backdrop, talking to someone off-screen. CU U.S. President FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (FDR, Franklin Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt) delivering radio address. MS white man wearing Gatsby hat sitting on park bench & sewing pants (mending, stitching). MS jobless white man sleeping on front stoop. MS unemployed white man sitting hunched on park bench, head buried in his lap in sad, tired anguish. MS white man wearing Gatsby hat rummaging through garbage can on street. Low angle TLS NRA flag flying over sidewalk. TLS queue of white & some black men collecting slips from pass window. TLS white & some black men exiting building, congregating on stoop. MS white male factory workers walking to work with metal lunch pails (lunchpail, lunchbox, pails); MS legs of workers walking to work (all the leather shoes); MS factory workers punching into work (time clock, punch card, clocking in, timeclock, punchcard). TLS/MSs bustling laborers on production floor of factory-- machinery, production, equipment, manual labor... alas, a labor union's dream!
Bow of Boat Pounded by Waves
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Great TLS bow of sailing freighter (boat, ship) being pounded by choppy ocean waves, day; cam mounted on boat, pointed forward.
Security Checkpoint
Master 1495 - Tape 1 TLS white male security guard chewing on smoking pipe, standing guard at fortified checkpoint gate outside gated entrance to hydroelectric dam; note the barbed wire atop fence; guard enters shed. Brief TLS concrete facade of dam.
U.S. Capitol Building
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Great 3/4 view LS east front of U.S. Capitol Building, Grant Sightseeing tour bus driving & passing in FG; pan right with tour bus.
Gray Fox
Master 2123, Tape 1 MS young Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) sniffing the carcass of a dead woodchuck (Marmota monax) that an adult caught. The gray fox climbs over and around the woodchuck. The fox continues to sniff the woodchuck. The fox rolls the woodchuck over several times.
Space Travel By Saturn
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Cheap-o special effect of illustration of planet Saturn hurtling toward camera... actually, more like an in-camera effect produced by a zoom in. I said it was cheap, after all.
Plane Crash (Miniature)
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Brief special effect (miniatures) of model airplane (biplane) spiraling to ground (miniature set), crashing & exploding.
Old Sail Plane in Flight
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Great panning TLS old sail plane -- quite literally a flimsy airplane outfitted with sail on monoplane-- flying low over ground.
Great Depression
Master 1495 - Tape 1 LS white people standing, talking outside row of wood houses on Sunday afternoon. MS sign: "We accept food tickets and cash relief checks." Great DOF MS old white men sitting on curb with fellow unemployed men, talking. Sideview MS businessman J.P. MORGAN raising right hand to testify before investigative committee (might be congressional, and if so, this was shot in 1933). TLS Budget Director LEW DOUGLAS -- wearing wool business suit, fedora hat, carrying leather briefcase-- descending stairs of nice walkup home. CU member of FDR brain trust RAYMOND MOLEY posing for cam; note the shifty eyes. LS/MSs U.S. President FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (FDR, Franklin Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt) working with aides in office at Hyde Park home. MSs grim-faced President Roosevelt attending funeral of confidante Louis McHenry Howe in 1936; FDR stands beside wife ELEANOR ROOSEVELT & holds onto arm of young white man for support; MSs U.S. Navy sailors carrying casket to gravesite. MS unemployed white man wearing snap brim hat walking w/ body placard on street: "Unemployed." H/a TLS crowd (behold the plethora of overcoats & fedoras) standing outside employment agency office; MS job postings for waitstaff, dishwashers; TLS crowd outside Geneva Employment Agency. TLS white men filing into missionary soup kitchen; MS sign stating as much; MS soup being ladled onto plate; MS down-on-their-luck men filing past cam as they enter soup kitchen. MS President Roosevelt sitting at desk, delivering address (low audio): "You people must have faith. You must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system, and it is up to you to support & make it work. It is your problem, my friends, no less than it is mine. Together, we cannot fail." MS NRA (National Recovery Administration) flag hanging over sidewalk. MS NRA poster in window of Chase Safe Deposit Company. Panning LS long line of men standing in line in city, queue snaking around corner. MS young white male CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) recruits handing papers to U.S. Army officers, boarding bus; TLS/MSs Rialto buses pulling away, eager boys waving & smiling. TLS CCC recruits setting up camp, making beds. Great head-on TLS crowd of white adults waving, cheering on street. Excellent extreme high angle TLS stockbrokers in pit; MS middle-aged white male stockbroker working frantically on floor of stock exchange. MS young white man wearing spiffy suit & fedora hat buying apple from down on his luck apple seller on city corner. MS artist drawing NRA poster. LSs large NRA parade in New York City.
Golden Gloves Boxing
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Nice CU ring bell being rung vigorously. MS banner: "Los Angeles Times Golden Gloves." TLS/MSs young white men fighting in boxing ring, Hollywood Legion Stadium-- circles, jabs, locks. TLS Golden Gloves boxing champions-- all wear ring robes-- shaking hands in ring; one African-American man, the rest Caucasian. MCU placard at box office window-- "Golden Gloves, Reserved Seats $3.60-2.40, General Admission $1.20"-- pan right to money being slid across to teller, event tickets being slid back. TLS two boxers duking it out, backs of audience in FG (smoky). LSs crowd at boxing match. LS boxing ring during pre-fight introductions. MS two white male boxers fighting-- note the rabbit punch to the back of the head during a hold. Great TLS young black man absolutely pummeling young white man in ring; mouthguard flies out, white fighter gets clocked with two stiff hooks & a brutal jab, falls to canvas.
Girls Being Picked for Revue by Rose & Anderson
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Revue preparation for Texas centennial, 1936. TLS young white women ("Ft. Worth's dazzling debutantes" ) marching in circle with hands on hips while Broadway producer BILLY ROSE and director JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON pull out the ones that they like from sashaying pool of potential showgirls. TLS producer Billy Rose showing leggy girls how to walk in sultry, theatrical manner.
Model Bursts Into 1951
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Great MS large paper calendar of January, 1951, young white model (Charlene Veth of Brooklyn, aka Miss Stardust 1951) wearing two-piece bikini bathing suit w/ diaper pins (?!) tearing through calendar. What a way to break into the new year... quite literally. MSs beauty contest winner & model Charlene posing, waving, smiling, donning Miss Stardust beauty queen tiara & sash beside ripped & torn calendar.
US Marines on the March, WWII
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Great head-on MS United States Marine Corps (USMC) unit marching toward camera in herringbone-twill combat fatigues inc M1 steel helmets, webbing, M1 Garand rifles. 3/4 view MS U.S. Marines on the march. Rear view TLS U.S. Marines marching along dusty rural road.
Bombing Raid
Master 1495 - Tape 1 Aerial shots of bombing raid, bomb damages, explosions, smoke, WWII.
Operation Killer, 1951
Master 1495 - Tape 1 TLS South Korean (Republic of Korea or ROK) & U.S. Army soldiers of the 8th Army dressed in heavy winter fatigues marching through snow, headed toward banks of Han River. MS RoK soldier wearing arctic hat, parka, marching past cam w/ shouldered rifle outfitted w/ bayonet. MSs U.S. soldiers carrying disassembled muzzle of light machine gun & mortar over shoulders. TLS RoK & U.S. infantry setting temp point on wintry hill. TLSs UN forces engaged in hilltop combat with Chinese guerillas-- soldiers man machine gun, fire M-1 carbine rifles from crouched positions. Rear view shot soldiers watching smoke rising from mountain in BG while jet fighter swoops across screen. MS U.S. soldier squatting in snow with bayonet-affixed rifle. TLSs U.S. Army M46 Patton tanks driving through snow in armored column. TLS M-26 Pershing tank motoring slowly past burning village hut. TLS/MSs U.S. Army infantry unit marching along snowy path, then jumping for cover in snow banks following sniper fire. TLS small explosion by tree in snow. MS U.S. soldiers marching through deep snow with M1 carbine rifles. TLS/MSs soldiers hitting snow, returning fire, then advancing. TLS dead body & loose military boot on snowy hill. MSs snow-covered bodies of dead North Korean (KPA) soldiers or Red Chinese guerillas.