American Splendor

[Big Daddy Audio]

First, this is a great bio-pic.  It involves anti-hero Harvey Pekar, straight from the streets of Cleveland.  I'm putting this story in the movie section because there was a movie, but most of the choice material was from the book anthology that followed.

In the movie, we don't see much in the way of thrifting, but we do see Harvey meet Bob Crumb (later to be known to all undergrounders as "R. Crumb") at a garage sale while looking for records.

More to the point, this film was conceived from the comics written by Harvey, which centered on his life, his trials and tribulations.  The anthology of his stuff, which was put together after the film, has a number of stories which concern buying things in thrift stores.  Mainly, Harvey would buy pop records at thrift stores for .25 and resell them at his "flunky file clerk" job for $.50 - $2.00, in order to support his habit for buying jazz sides.

My favorite story concerns Harvey needing new shoes (or actually, just shoes without holes in the soles) on a cold and rainy spring day.  He remembers that they have men's shoes at a local thrift where he routinely gets records for resale.  He makes his way over there, and makes a great find - classic vintage shoes in great shape in his size - it really makes his day.

I like to read this story when I'm feeling down.  It really has a way of picking me up.

That is all.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Reading what you wrote about this movie picked me up!!!  Thanks, Big Daddy!  I'll have to watch it again when it's on.

It's funny how we all have movies that we watch when we're down.

One of mine is "Pecker" by John Waters.  Pecker's mom runs a thrift store in Beautiful down-town  Baltimore.  I think I'll watch it now. Somebody was mean to me today. Geeshhhhhhh.

SeSo 

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Aw, sorry to hear it, SeSo. Try not to let it totally ruin your day.

There are more good apples than rotten ones. :-) Just the rotten ones are more noticeable.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Bless you, TSR.  I really appreciate your response It's always shocking to me when I get blindsided. You'd think I'd be prepared for it at my age  

Well, on a brighter note, to assuage my hurt feelings, I went shopping, of course--to a thrift store.  I found a wonderful leopard print long-sleeved 100% cotton Jones New York leopard-print tee-shirt for $2 and a minty vintage Tonala Mexican pottery Christmas angel/candle holder for 2.50. See, retail therapy does help    

I remember the kindness of the volunteer cashier who admired the candleholder and said--"Now you have a beautiful angel to light your way"  Which speaks to your comment, TSR.  Merci!

Peace and Blessings,
SeSo

[Big Daddy Audio]

I've actually been looking for Pecker for years.  John Waters makes great movies.  (I kind of look at it as blasphemy that they remade Hairspray.)  What drew me to this one (I've never seen it) is the aspect that Edward Furlong gets a used 35mm camera and takes great photos (I've done that - my avatar was taken with a thrifted Konica TC Autoreflex and B/W film) and Christina Ricci is dishy.

That is all.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

I LOVE John Waters...and yes, I agree with you entirely about the remake of Hairspray (like the remake of Ocean's 11--scandalous!) 

Very cool about the 35 mm camera, Big Daddy. Is photography one of your hobbies? 

I like the photos in Pecker because they are in black and white and they are so immediate, you know, of the moment. And the whole thrift-store creativity really rocks me.

I bit the bullet and got the Pecker DVD at Amazon. However, my hubby did me the find me the soundtrack CD at the SalArm for $2.

Yes, I like Christinan Ricci, too