Bob Dylan as Filmmaker: No Time to Think

 

In February 2021, in this journal, I questioned how many Bob Dylan books are enough.  What does Dylan think of all the books that have been written him or his works over the years?  He probably doesn't care since he didn't visit the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa the last time he performed in that city.  The Dylan archives at the center have certainly encouraged more research.  A book about Dylan is valuable if it provides new insights into his works.

Of course, Bob Dylan is best known as a songwriter and musician.  Michael Glover Smith is a Chicago-based filmmaker, author, and teacher.  His most recent film, Helka, was released in early 2026.  Please understand that this journal entry is not meant as a critical review of the book, but just an attempt to bring it to the attention of Dylan fans who regularly read my journal.  I don't know who they are since internet surfers are mostly anonymous.

In the introduction, the author states the book examines an authorial voice in moving image works directed by others, including:

• Eat the Document
• Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorcese
• Shadow Kingdom: The Early Songs of Bob Dylan
• A Complete Unknown directed by James Mangold

It does not examine in depth the better-known Dylan films, including:

• Don't Look Back
• Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
• I'm Not There

I was impressed by the information included in the book's appendices, which are useful to Dylan fans and scholars.  This includes lists of:

• Documentaries about Dylan
• Narrative films in which Bob Dylan appears as an actor
• Music videos where  Dylan appears
• Films for which Dylan wrote new music

Here are a few detailed reviews by Dylan scholars (I am a fan, not a scholar)

• Matthew Ingate
• Simon Warner
• Bradley Morgan

Michael Glover Smith has been interviewed on various podcasts, including:

• Definitely Dylan with Laura Tenschert
• Erin Callahan - Infinity Goes Up on Trial
• Kait Flower

There will be an open discussion through a Zoom Meeting with the Bob Dylan Book Club on March 22nd at 2 PM Eastern Time

Enough said.

Remembering Jack Spector of WMCA

 

It was 32 years ago today when Jack Spector suffered a fatal heart attack while on the air at WHLI.  He is best known for his time as a disc jockey on WMCA when his shift was 1 PM - 4 PM.  When WMCA started a talk format, he did a sports talk show.  Later, he did a similar show on WNBC.  He also worked at WHN and WCBS-FM.

Out of Sight Out of Mind by the Five Keys

 

I discussed the concept of "Out of Sight Out of Mind"  several times in this journal.  I discovered a song by that title that reached #23 on the Billboard chart in 1956.  Sadly, I was confronted by this notion again over the last week.  I won't discuss the specifics of this situation here. Briefly, I sent a friendly email to 3 people, but they didn't respond. I hadn't seen them in about 15 years and was trying to stay connected.  I guess I am Out of Sight Out of Mind to Them.  There is just nothing I can do.

64-12 Wetherole Street in Rego Park - Yesterday and Today

 In January 1980, I moved out of my parents' apartment on Saunders Street and moved to a small one-bedroom apartment a few blocks away at 64-12 Wetherole Street, across the street from P.S. 139. It was a small building with just 12 apartments.  I lived there until Fall 1983 when I married Karen and moved to 62-60 99th Street.  I remember the landlady was a cheap bitch and gave very little heat.  On a few occasions, it was so cold in the apartment that I could see my breath.

64-12 Wetherole Street in 2009

Today, as I perused Facebook, I found a post in the Rego-Forest Preservation Council Folder by Jim Orens and learned that 64-12 Wetherole Street is being demolished and will be replaced by a much larger building.  I haven't visited Rego Park in a while. I am aware that many small buildings were demolished and replaced by high rises.  For example, the Shalimar on 63rd Drive and the Trylon on Queens Blvd. are gone, replaced by high-rises.  Everyone is out for the almighty buck.

2026 64-12 is on the right side and is being deconstructed

The building on the left replaced a low-rise

Random Thoughts of the Day - Tuesday March 3

 

• I saw the documentary Man on the Run about Paul McCartney on Amazon Prime Video.  It was very good, but it stopped in the early 1980s.  Perhaps there will be another film about Paul's later years
• Out of Sight, Out of Mind also applies to families.  I sent a kind email to Karen's nephews and niece in California, but they didn't respond.  This is disappointing, but there is nothing I can do.
• This year, I will watch some of the World Baseball Classic.  Opening Day at Citi Field is on March 26.  Hopefully, it won't be cold that day.

EPIC - Elvis Presley in Concert at AMC Fresh Meadows

 

My son Lee, the Elvis Presley fan in the family, insisted we see EPIC Elvis Presley in Concert, which opened in traditional movie theaters this weekend.  It was not a traditional concert film that showed one concert, but provided clips from different concerts from Elvis's later years.  There were also flashbacks from his earlier years.  Interviews were also featured.

• There were several seconds of Elvis singing Dylan's "I Shall Be Released".  I was not aware of this recording
• Elvis never did a concert outside North America
• Some of the footage was never shown before.
• There were only about 10 people in the audience.  I guess people would rather stay home to watch movies.

On the way home, I turned the SiriusXM radio to Elvis Radio, where we heard director Baz Luhrmann interviewed.

Review in the New York Times

Solitaire - Elvis Presley Covers a Neil Sedaka Song

 Last night we heard the terrible news that Neil Sedaka passed away at age 86.  He was certainly an icon in popular music for over 60 years.  It was a shame that he was not elected to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Obituary in the New York Times.  He also wrote songs for other artists.  Solitaire did not chart for either Elvis Presley or Neil