Memoirs of a Geezer
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Just Say Yes: Memoirs of a Geezer
A remembrance of a fascinating life soon to be published.
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By
A. John Graves
The “Yes” part is the philosophy of life which took him from three shows a night as comedian “Deadpan Digger Graves” in a traveling comedy band to a Nixon White House conference; from playing for dances in the Porterville Elks Club to parties for Judy Garland and John Wayne; from a college radio major to a TV network executive, producer, and executive producer of Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock; and from 35 years in music, broadcasting, and film to Professor Emeritus of Mass Communication at the University of Central Missouri.
The “Memoirs” part is all the people and events which made the trip so amazing, from Errol Flynn in a shower to Bertrand Russell in his hilltop home in Wales; from tea with Katharine Hepburn in her Beverly Hills home to Carol Channing on his bicycle handlebars; from accompanying Jimmie Durante and Rosemary Clooney to drifting for two weeks through the Grand Canyon in a raft. (Most of this colorful cast of characters are listed on the back cover.)
Mixed up in all this is an assortment of philosophical observations, humorous perceptions, and often audacious suggestions.
| Click to view John's work in feature film |
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Some other things I've done:
Spent a morning with Bertrand Russell at his home in Wales (through an introduction from Linus Pauling).
Appeared in a jazz concert with Erroll Garner.
Ran eight miles down a mountain to get help for a heart-attack victim.
Made the first recording of a Dave Brubeck Jazz concert.
Lived in Chelsea, England, with J. Paul Getty II and Mick Jagger as neighbors.
Spent a depression summer working with migrant children in the San Joaquin Valley.
Introduced Rudolph Nureyev to Gulpilil and Aboriginal dancing over Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Taught Carol Channing how to do a bump on television for a George Burns TV show.
Won a Faculty Achievement Award at Central Missouri State University.
Struggled in arm-pit mud on a geophysical survey crew.
Ad-libbed for ten minutes before a thousand people at the Century Plaza Hotel while waiting for singer Gloria Loring to appear on stage.
Had tea with an Austrian duchess (in her bedroom) while actor Cameron Mitchell read poetry.
Had tea with Katherine Hepburn (at her home) while no one read poetry.
Accompanied an Irish tenor in an Italian restaurant.
Played a keyboard in drag for a costume party at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Met Erroll Flynn in a shower.
Just Say Yes: Memoirs of a Geezer by A. John Graves
Table of Contents
Prelude
1. Call of the Open Road.
2. The Face of Fear.
3. That's Tough. . . Or is It?
4. All That Jazz.
5. Wondering . . .
6. "No One's Here . . . Play Louder."
7. Memoirs of a Bluenose.
8. What Do You Say to a Lord . . . ?
9. Observations From a Piano Bench.
10. Talk About Connections . . .
11. Some of the President's Men.
12. Just What Does a Producer Do?
13. Nureyev, Sanders, and Hepburn.
14. Attitude/Schmattitude.
15. Where Have All the Pianos Gone?
16. Paradox and Pigmentation.
17. The Triangle and the Tiger Lady.
18. Lose the Toga.
19. Of Pride and Pratfalls.
20. Weasel Wording.
21. When Uncle Sam Saw Red.
22. Bring, Brang, Brung . . .
23. What Hath Rock Wrought?
24. Toothpicks and Terror.
25. Ultimate Violence.
26. Life as an Ad Lib Solo.
27. Celebrity Snippets.
28. And Then They Said . . .
