Aw, I love this. My Grandmother once angrily called TV Guide to complain that her TV was broken. The movie that they had listed for Tuesday at 6 pm (on TCM perhaps? Maybe? Probably?) wasn't on and her immediate assumption was not that there was a misprint or a programming change, but that her actual television set was malfunctioning. What she thought TV Guide could do about it, I do not know. But the TV Guide version of Millie on the other end of the line very kindly let her know that it was not Tuesday, but only Monday and that the movie she wanted to see would be on in 24 hours. I miss the old ways of the world.
Millie, I fucking loved everything about this newsletter’s content! Once upon a time, I worked in Guest Relations for Disneyland in Anaheim….so many stories that mirror your own. We actually answered handset phones when people called with all manner of questions about the park!!!! We were the internet before the internet😂 Which leads me to note what is so striking about this edition: we Gen X’ers are the bridge between the analogue world and, well, the crazy world we now exist in. It makes me feel really old and alternately very cool on any given day. But that’s probably true of every generation I guess. Also, of course women blame men for all their problems BECAUSE IT’S THEIR FAULT. Anyway, I should probably stop drinking and typing. Love the newsletter!
I teared up a few times reading this! What a unique experience you had! I'm imagining Robert Osborne introducing "And now, a very special night at TCM, our Prisoner Request evening". Im so glad that even though that never happened you were the one to receive the gratitude and suggestions from the incarcerated folks with such care.
Am I wrong in suspecting that you were actually able to help many of the callers remember the movie they were wracking their brains for, even with such little info? I just have a feeling your encyclopedic film knowledge came in handy there.
I definitely tried! Some guesses were easier than others for sure. I know it seems like a joke that some of these folks had zero information about the movies they were asking about but it happened more than you’d think! I did always try to ask questions though!
Unfortunately, I usually didn't, just because I know sending mail to jails is kind of complicated because of all the searches and stuff. I would send them Now Playing guides if they asked for it!
I worked in the audiovisual media department at a large midwestern public library during their switchover from VHS to DVD. You and I were working with similar demographics and I was scarily good at the "what's the film with that guy from the thing..." questions. One day an elderly man walked in and said, "You have a lot of my son's films." It took me a while to realize he was not talking about his son's personal home DVD collection but movies his son was IN. Not a lot of his daughter's though. I told him I'd fix that and made some purchase requests for more Virginia Madsen films. I still have the signed photo of Michael Madsen he brought in for me. What a lovely tender time that was! I weirdly miss it, even with all of the incredibly gross experiences you get at a public library. The smells fade but the feelings live on.
There's a podcast called Stache Rules Everything Around Me (a spin-off of Jordan Jesse Go) where they recap classic Burt Reynolds movies. Every episode ends with the reading of a horny letter that Burt allegedly received, as collected in the 1972 book “HOT LINE: The Letters I Get…and Write!” (3.5/4 on Goodreads)
I guess what I'm asking is 1) do you still have a literary agent and 1A) do you have enough horny Robert Osborne fan mail to fill 128 pages?
Holy shit! That Ormond Family/McDonough event is the Thursday before my and Melissa's anniversary. Wish it started earlier than 8:30. Most people would probably follow that comment with a joke about getting/being old, but I've had multiple friends tell me I was already an old man when I was in my 20s.
I also wish I'd been smart enough to reach out to TCM back in the day and see if I could've gotten some free swag out of it. I was always thrilled to get that kinda stuff in the mail! Does that play into my "already an old man" image?
Reminds me of the fan letter/autograph request phase I went through in my late elementary school years. I received autographed photos from Jimmy Stewart and Dick Van Dyke, although I now know there's a strong chance they were actually signed by their personal assistants. Sadly, the address I had for Anson Williams was outdated and my letter to him came back marked return to sender.
I have never heard of Countess Dracula, which was on a prisoner's list, but I think I need to look it up and see it. Written letters and cards were the best. What a fun part of your job! Maledonna forever!
Loved reading this. My wife worked as a clerk for the local judges in a smallish Georgia county and one of her duties was reading through the weekly “jail mail” from locked up people. The theme was often the same, “get me outta here!” but she can corroborate that people who have a lot of time on their hands are on a whole nother level when it comes to written correspondence.
Thank you for another great post, reading PS is a highlight of my week.
You should write a memoir, this is terrific stuff.
Aw, very kind words, Yacov!
That jail list with Showgirls and The Whip and the Body etc is the HORNIEST movie list I have ever seen. Amazing.
Aw, I love this. My Grandmother once angrily called TV Guide to complain that her TV was broken. The movie that they had listed for Tuesday at 6 pm (on TCM perhaps? Maybe? Probably?) wasn't on and her immediate assumption was not that there was a misprint or a programming change, but that her actual television set was malfunctioning. What she thought TV Guide could do about it, I do not know. But the TV Guide version of Millie on the other end of the line very kindly let her know that it was not Tuesday, but only Monday and that the movie she wanted to see would be on in 24 hours. I miss the old ways of the world.
Millie, I fucking loved everything about this newsletter’s content! Once upon a time, I worked in Guest Relations for Disneyland in Anaheim….so many stories that mirror your own. We actually answered handset phones when people called with all manner of questions about the park!!!! We were the internet before the internet😂 Which leads me to note what is so striking about this edition: we Gen X’ers are the bridge between the analogue world and, well, the crazy world we now exist in. It makes me feel really old and alternately very cool on any given day. But that’s probably true of every generation I guess. Also, of course women blame men for all their problems BECAUSE IT’S THEIR FAULT. Anyway, I should probably stop drinking and typing. Love the newsletter!
xx
Love that!! I want a book of Disneyland Guest Relations stories
I teared up a few times reading this! What a unique experience you had! I'm imagining Robert Osborne introducing "And now, a very special night at TCM, our Prisoner Request evening". Im so glad that even though that never happened you were the one to receive the gratitude and suggestions from the incarcerated folks with such care.
Am I wrong in suspecting that you were actually able to help many of the callers remember the movie they were wracking their brains for, even with such little info? I just have a feeling your encyclopedic film knowledge came in handy there.
I definitely tried! Some guesses were easier than others for sure. I know it seems like a joke that some of these folks had zero information about the movies they were asking about but it happened more than you’d think! I did always try to ask questions though!
I love that you went to visit that couple in their retirement home--that choked me up. Did you ever write back to any of the prisoners?
Unfortunately, I usually didn't, just because I know sending mail to jails is kind of complicated because of all the searches and stuff. I would send them Now Playing guides if they asked for it!
I worked in the audiovisual media department at a large midwestern public library during their switchover from VHS to DVD. You and I were working with similar demographics and I was scarily good at the "what's the film with that guy from the thing..." questions. One day an elderly man walked in and said, "You have a lot of my son's films." It took me a while to realize he was not talking about his son's personal home DVD collection but movies his son was IN. Not a lot of his daughter's though. I told him I'd fix that and made some purchase requests for more Virginia Madsen films. I still have the signed photo of Michael Madsen he brought in for me. What a lovely tender time that was! I weirdly miss it, even with all of the incredibly gross experiences you get at a public library. The smells fade but the feelings live on.
AMAZING story!!
This is COMEDY GOLD and behind-the-scenes TCM TREASURE!
Thank you Mimi!!
Maledonna!!!!!!!
There's a podcast called Stache Rules Everything Around Me (a spin-off of Jordan Jesse Go) where they recap classic Burt Reynolds movies. Every episode ends with the reading of a horny letter that Burt allegedly received, as collected in the 1972 book “HOT LINE: The Letters I Get…and Write!” (3.5/4 on Goodreads)
I guess what I'm asking is 1) do you still have a literary agent and 1A) do you have enough horny Robert Osborne fan mail to fill 128 pages?
love that a newsletter dropped on my birfday! thanks millie.
OMG Happy Birthday Caryn!!
Holy shit! That Ormond Family/McDonough event is the Thursday before my and Melissa's anniversary. Wish it started earlier than 8:30. Most people would probably follow that comment with a joke about getting/being old, but I've had multiple friends tell me I was already an old man when I was in my 20s.
I also wish I'd been smart enough to reach out to TCM back in the day and see if I could've gotten some free swag out of it. I was always thrilled to get that kinda stuff in the mail! Does that play into my "already an old man" image?
Reminds me of the fan letter/autograph request phase I went through in my late elementary school years. I received autographed photos from Jimmy Stewart and Dick Van Dyke, although I now know there's a strong chance they were actually signed by their personal assistants. Sadly, the address I had for Anson Williams was outdated and my letter to him came back marked return to sender.
I actually thought of y’all when I saw them post it! I wondered if you would go, but hey, I understand 8:30 PM getting close to TOO LATE!
Especially when I'd have to work the next day, but I know I'll likely regret it if I don't go. And I do still have a handful of paid vacation days.
I have never heard of Countess Dracula, which was on a prisoner's list, but I think I need to look it up and see it. Written letters and cards were the best. What a fun part of your job! Maledonna forever!
Looks like Countess Dracula is streaming for free on Plex, if you have the app and don't mind ads.
Loved reading this. My wife worked as a clerk for the local judges in a smallish Georgia county and one of her duties was reading through the weekly “jail mail” from locked up people. The theme was often the same, “get me outta here!” but she can corroborate that people who have a lot of time on their hands are on a whole nother level when it comes to written correspondence.
Thank you for another great post, reading PS is a highlight of my week.
Thanks, Ben! I appreciate hearing that!