Cheryl Ladd Rude to Bookstore Owner; Years Later Owner Wins Award
Nestled in the edge of the University District, just below the Seven Gables Theater and a block south of Scarecrow Video, sits one of Seattle's quietest treasures: Cinema Books, a store devoted exclusively to books, magazines, posters, and postcards related to our culture's dominant form of worship, the movies. Stephanie Ogle has been running Cinema Books since 1977; in recognition of her contribution to Seattle's film scene, the Northwest Film Forum is giving her its annual George Bailey Memorial Award.
Congratulations. Is there any money involved?
"No, I don't think so. I have no idea what is involved, to be honest with you."
What's the most peculiar purchase anyone's ever made?
"Jean-Paul Belmondo, the French film actor, came in one time, looking at Japanese picture books of movie stars, and he saw one of himself. He showed it to his daughter. He then saw one about Alain Delon, and he said, 'Oh! I don't think he knows about this, I'll buy one for him.' And he did. The pictures are wonderful, but the text is in Japanese."
Was he adorably French?
"Well, he had some of the most expensive clothes on earth, so he was very impressive. Cheryl Ladd did a made-for-TV movie on the life of Princess Grace; she called me up looking for the Japanese picture book of Grace Kelly. I said, 'Do you know the Japanese put out a picture book on you?' 'Oh,' she said, and hung up. Then she called back in 10 minutes and said, 'I'd like that one too.'"
Are these picture books your most popular items?
"I can't sell them anymore. This Japanese company used to make them without permission of the photographers, so they got sued in the 1980s. They're not supposed to export them overseas. They still make them in Japan."
Are movies just getting worse and worse?
"Things are just getting different and different. I'm not one to compare one generation to another."
Interview conducted by Bret Fetzer
Like Logan's Run, but with Singing
On Thursday December 6, the Bravo! Club, a special club founded by the Seattle Opera to woo young opera lovers (no one over 40 allowed!), held its Christmas party at the Last Supper Club in Pioneer Square. Joining the society costs 50 bucks a year in exchange for discounts on season tickets and a slew of special events, including a few dinner/cocktail parties like this one.
While the bar ran out of free wine too fast and the caterers shut down the "dinner" (more like hors d'oeuvres) buffet table too soon, things did get a bit kooky, including some spontaneous tap dancing. However, here's the tip to all you single straight men out there: The Bravo! Club is the place to be. Not only are the majority of women single and sexy, but--thanks to the opera theme--they're dressed up in elegant finery, and most of the men are gay. JOSH FEIT
Last-Minute Shopping?
For crying out loud, go to Vital 5 Productions (2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475) on December 15, 5-10 pm, for another grand reopening of Shopping. Here is what is absolutely not to be missed: Jennifer McNeely's Nubs, Toobs, Squinches, and Mannions. In a cosmetics-counter-like display, she has so perfectly re-created the atmosphere of desire that, though you have no idea what these products are, you want them so bad. And they're perfect for everyone on your list. EMILY HALL
