KURT INGHAM (a.k.a. Mr. Twister) May 21, 1947 -- June 6, 2023

   

Anyone still left reading my blog justly has surmised that something has gone terribly wrong of late. And it has. The unimaginable happened. My husband/soulmate of 50 years Kurt Ingham (a.k.a. Mr. Twister) passed away three years ago (along with my beloved brother Randall, my horse Indy and my dog Gia all within a short span around then as well.) Every second since feels as awful as the night he died. Not coping well, I have been lax herein.  But here at least is what i scratched out on June 6, 2023 for Facebook social media:

  

"Kurt Ingham, my better half since shortly after we met in 1970, passed away peacefully in his sleep from the travails of advanced cancer. His wish to return home from the hospital to be with the dogs and me was at least granted: the photo below right shows him four days ago when he could still converse and smile.

The hospice staff was super, but this final downward spiral starting two weeks ago caught us all somewhat by complacent surprise, since he had attained such successful remissions with the treatments and surgeries for the last three years. I want to write about his amazing adventures as influential punk rock singer The Dreaded Mr. Twister, as a world class marksman (seeded #1 Senior in his division in California shortly before) who competed internationally, and as a public school educator battling to do right by the kids against vainglorious bureaucrats, and I want to answer all his many friends...BUT... I have miles to go before I sleep and think it's going to be a long, long while."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAR MORE INCISIVE AND ACCURATE is this obituary written by one of his best friends, the celebrated educator/author Rafe Esquith, public school teacher of 25 years of amazing, vastly achieving kids from low-income families. (Rafe also received an O.B.E. from the late Queen Elizabeth II for being the foremost teacher in the world of Shakespeare to children.) It first appeared in the website for his former classes and their scholarships after his retirement, The Hobart Shakespeareans Foundation:

 

"Kurt Ingham died on June 6th, a historic date and now a day which will always mean even more to me. During this time when we remember heroes, Kurt was a particular hero of mine.

We taught together for many years in the dysfunctional Los Angeles Unified School District. I’ve lost count of the endless moments when ignorance, pettiness, incompetence, and downright stupidity came dangerously close to defeating my passion to help young people see the light. On those days, Kurt would stop by my classroom with his sardonic wit and quote one of his favorite films, The Outlaw Josey Wales. “Endeavor to persevere” Kurt would encourage me. And because of his wisdom and vision, I was able to go on.

Kurt was so different from me. Smarter. More talented. A world class marksman, lead singer of the punk band Chainsaw, pilot, photographer, lover of cars and dogs, and so many interests and memories it made me realize how little I had accomplished.

We had HILARIOUS arguments about politics and history. I almost choked over lunch one day when Kurt refused to call the nation’s catastrophic moment The Civil War. “Rafe,” he scolded me, “the event you mention was the War of Northern Aggression.”

We laughed often, and enjoyed the type of friendship that seems to have disappeared from our workplaces and family dinner tables. We could discuss and disagree with complete respect and love for one another. It’s rare, but so was Kurt.

Above all, Kurt was an invisible hero to hundreds of students who do not realize his enormous contribution to their lives. There are young people who currently walk the halls of outstanding universities and go on to earn large paychecks from admirable professions because of Kurt’s quiet work behind the scenes of what many countries have called “The Miracle of Room 56.”

So a little history lesson is in order for all the kids who posed for pictures when Kurt and his brilliant wife Heather made them look good. At every Shakespeare performance for decades, Kurt quietly helped when no one was looking. And his friends came and generously contributed funds to help deserving youngsters.

If you were a student in Room 56, please take a moment to reflect on the time you spent there. Did you ever receive a bottle of cold water on a hot day, or read brand new copies of literature that you were allowed to keep? Do you still own an expensive instrument you were given having received music lessons from top instructors? Did you ever walk the streets of Ashland, Oregon? Perhaps you spent time in South Dakota, New York, London, or Paris. Do you remember experiencing breathtaking scenery as you hiked through dozens of National Parks? Think of the times you took your seat on an airplane. And in reminiscing about such wonderful times, your dazzling smile lights up a room because of the orthodontia you were provided.

Kurt Ingham made such things possible. And in today’s world of branding and self-promotion, you probably never noticed or took the time to recognize him. And that is exactly why Kurt was and always will be my hero."

--Rafe Esquith

 

 

Below is the last fun thing we did together, attending the annual British Car Show in the San Fernando Valley where he was showcasing his classic Bentley in April, 2023, two months before he died. (photo by Carolyn Carradine.)(All other photos except his black and white 1971 rock performance pic,* his black and white 1970 4 x 5 large format [!] selfie, and his portrait at the shooting range are by me.) Kurt's other close friend Mitch Feingersch also wrote a poignant obituary for him, but that's for another blog. Given my emotional procrastination, that it took me three years to the day to even write this, don't hold your breath...

 

 

*Those wishing to investigate Kurt's extensive music career as 

the Dreaded Mr. Twister, go to this link or 

https://fastfilm1.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-history-of-mr-twisters-rockpunk.html

REST IN PEACE BRIAN WILSON

In our lifetimes, following the career of music genius Brian Wilson, who died today at age 82, was like our getting to watch the life of Van Gogh in person. This was someone clearly superior to all others in his creative field, yet often profoundly and seriously troubled. Thank goodness he was as prolific as he was.

Presumably most of my friends and readers here have his major works, Beach Boys and solo, at their avail. So i'm going to suggest you obtain a late release of his from 2021, "Brian Wilson At My Piano: his classic hits reimagined for solo piano." This is, as indicated, Brian at the piano pretty much opening his brain in this simple form to reveal how he created these songs, what themes in them were important. Enjoy when you find it.

 

Here's something I wrote about observing his state of mind, and honoring him, in 2010. Click link    

(https://fastfilm1.blogspot.com/2010/05/should-one-take-photograph-of-brian.html)

 

My above photos were taken of Brian Wilson winning an award at a gala in the 1990s; auditioning Darian Sahanaja and the Wondermints at Spaceland to complete his long delayed "Smile" masterpiece and perform it for the first time in London; and at the house of musician/Satellite radio DJ Chris Carter, posing with his birthday present with its giver Rodney Bingenheimer, Mayor of the Sunset Strip, Satellite radio DJ and longtime friend of Wilson's.

RARE NOSTALGIC MOMENT

In 1970 Nashville, a local singer whose full name escapes my memory, "Casper, the vocalist boyfriend of Suzanne Donner" praised the vocal artistry of this then unknown singer to me, noting effortless full octave jumps in the very first line of the verses. He hoped this would spur emphasis on better, emotional singing. 51 years later in this age of auto-tune, I am still hoping so too.

Though never an ardent fan, I find that the very earliest works of Elton have a strange nostalgic effect on me that my much preferred artists contemporary to him don't. I think it's because he was considered such a real oddball at the beginning (in his music, not look nor lifestyle) at first, before mutating into a hyper commercial version of himself. I hear his first works and instantly I am transported back to being a teen just starting out in my photojournalism career, and absolutely everything is possible! (Not. Like. Now.) 

There is also a bizarre personal connection to that earliest work of his. My beloved late husband was one of the only two photographers shooting Elton on that very first night he played the Troubadour in West Hollywood on August 25th, 1970, the very gig that really broke him in the United States and then the world. So indeed, anything was possible then...

click: link 

 

REST IN PEACE JOHN MAYALL

Rest in peace John Mayall, a man who made a difference in his art form, music, evangelizing and popularizing American blues first for his native Britain and then the entire world. Also known for the longevity of his career (1963 - 2020) and for cherry picking amazing talent early, as with his Bluesbreakers band guitarists' Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel and Carolyn Wonderland. 

FRANK ZAPPA DAY 2024, and WHISKY A GO GO 1968

 

Here's original Mothers of Invention bandmember Ian Underwood in the red shirt, sitting in on keyboards with the Mothers' canon-covering band One Shot Deal, playing "Peaches On Parade" for the Frank Zappa Day celebration at the Whisky A Go Go on 6.10.24. One Shot Deal chose their name from one of Zappa's sixty record album releases.

 

Zappa associate Pamela Des Barres of THE GTOs was seen dancing near the stage throughout One Shot Deal's set (although depicted below herein at one of her book signings), and various Zappa offspring made appearances at earlier in the day ceremonies in West Hollywood.

This invitation only event projected rare vintage film footage of the Mothers, and was a good, fun occasion overall, reminding one and all of Zappa's contributions to 60s/70s/80s music, and his own activism against censorship (he took on the U.S. Congress against organizations seeking to censor and ban music of vaunted non-conformity.) Universal will release the original live Mothers' sets recorded on July 23, 1968 at the venue as "Whisky A GoGo, 1968" on June 21st of this year, all three hours of it!  Reproduced below is its original invitation artwork. 

                      Pamela Des Barres

REST IN PEACE GIA

Rest in peace Bereton Tanager Gia, Aug. 1, 2014 - May 20, 2024, my beloved Scottish Deerhound who did not survive an episode of cardiac and other systems failures. She was loved by all who ever encountered her, and she loved them back profusely. Gia is shown above smiling, because as a photographer, I want you to see what I saw, a totally sweet dog, a pillar of goodness.

If one ascribes to the philosophy, Mr. Twister, Gia and Annabelle are basking in one another's love all together again, along with their Deerhound pals Eroica, Callahan and Norris from our dog playdates. (All Deerhounds depicted here though are Gia.) (Later blogs will tackle the recent deaths of my soulmate/husband of the last 50 years Mr. Twister, and of my beloved brother Randall; my horse Indiana Jones has already been eulogized. Dedicated readers may have noticed the slowdown of content in the Fastfilm blog. There has been an inordinately gigantic amount of loss, grief and heartbreak within the last couple of years, not to mention countless medical emergencies, caretaking, and difficult treatments that ultimately did not work; there's only so much emotion my heart can untangle at a time...)

Gia always knew how loved she was but... much of her life proved less fun than those of my previous dogs. There were 3 years of lockdowns (California's unique exceptionally long ones unlike every other state, and further restrictions because we humans were ~ gasp ~ over 65 years of age!) meant no outside the home activities like dog shows or coursing (running) events to interact with new canines. These were the same 3 years of her pack co-leader Mr. Twister being frequently disabled with his severe illness, then his leaving the pack forever. So much sorrow for Gia. At least the two younger pups Livia and Bella, seen below with Twister and Gia, always respected her hierarchy position as "first dog." (I reinforced this as well.)

It's appropriate here to mention that thanks to my friends Sherry, Ian and Paul (and occasionally Katrina) Gia enjoyed doggie playdates with other Deerhounds and Borzois every Sunday that we could manage it, and that Livia, Bella and I look forward to a continuation of this, (avoiding the new, permanent nighttime incursion of a baby boom of dog-aggressive skunks.) Gia's rarer visits with Waddy and Annie obviously were treasured as well.

Boy, do I ever miss Gia's constant kisses, from her now vacant place on the couch. One of the above photos is my selfie of same, which I'm glad I have to commemorate her unflagging love. 

As with all mammalian species, the giant-sized sighthounds do not live as long as little dogs. These giant sighthounds' winning ways of total devotion, outstanding beauty and everything good and pure that dogs can be continually keep us in their sway. We who love them (and, dare I add, soulmates) always know the eternal gamble going in: no matter strong that love or how worthy those to whom it is given, the house always wins.

 Below, Gia, having gotten in the mood by dressing the part, watching the film "Oppenheimer." This photo of her appeared in the "The Claymore," the house organ of the Scottish Deerhound Club of America.

Addenda: 1) Over 578 friends on Facebook expressed their condolences of Gia's passing. 2) Gia died on the day before what would have been Mr. Twister's 76th birthday.

 

2024 FAIRGROUND ATTRACTIONS. ONE COMES TO ME ; ONE WAS LOST FOR 33 YEARS AND FOUND IN SHIPPING CONTAINERS

For once, an hour of happy came to me. A carnival fairground sprang up 2 blocks from my house, with genuine diversity in its themes like a German/Austrian Beer Haus, little green folks from outer space, New Orleans Mardi Gras, Chinese dragons, etc. It also was gratifying to see denizens of my neighborhood having fun instead of their usual resentful desperation.

I was impressed with the high caliber of the graphic art of the attractions. Behind the beer maiden are the Katzenjammer Kids, a very popular 1920s comic strip, Arnold Schwarzenegger and some cool draft horses hauling the beer. The analogy of the elephant in Leiderhosen escapes me (perhaps reference to German milita
ria, as in the elephant in the room?)   

 

 

Carnival fairs are important entertainment to smaller, rural communities, while they remain an urban rarity. Usually the art is over the top kitsch, which is why this vivid, well-maintained batch surprised me. I no longer can ride the rides because of vertigo, but I liked everything else about these: they succeed in their manufactured fun. There was even a full-sized Ferris Wheel, like in Luna Luna.

 NOW FOR LUNA LUNA

 

 

  

 

Luna Luna, the world's first fine art amusement park once graced a Hamburg, Germany park in 1987 and was supposed to tour, then was lost in litigation of its investors, then genuinely lost until it turned up 35 years later in 44 shipping containers in Texas of all places.  

MAJOR, MAJOR fine artists of the day designed these fairground attractions, half of which have been restored to viewability, and two of which have been restored to proactive participation. You can step inside the Salvador Dali hall of mirrors in a geodesic dome, and you can get genuinely lost in the Roy Lichtenstein hot pink maze. Otherwise one can admire the Jean-Michel Basquiat (full-sized) Ferris Wheel, the Keith Haring merry go round, and the David Hockney spinning ride where the floors drop away as the colors change the artwork walls, plus plenty more.

It was set up for a paying public in April and May 2024 in the "fashion district" of downtown L.A., right next to Skid Row. It needed an airplane hangar-sized space within which to put a full amusement park, hence was found in this commercial warehouse area with no retail, no restaurants, no nothin' per se around it. It should be mentioned that hip hop artist Drake spearheaded the foundation that restored and ultimately displays Luna Luna once again to art and fairground fans.