Eric Lutes Life is a Roaring Success By Ronald Sklar Eric Lutes has never chased the easy version of a creative life. That instinct – toward challenge rather than comfort – runs straight through his new film project, The Roaring Game. It’s a rare collaboration that pulled him back into the particular alchemy of independent … Continue reading
Tag Archives: ronald sklar
Ronald Lee Oliver on Chip Oliver – Those Were the Days
Ronald Lee Oliver on Chip Oliver Those Were the Days By Ronald Sklar The late Chip Oliver’s life reads like a parable of late-1960s America: discipline and rebellion, muscle and mysticism, Hollywood lights and San Francisco communes. Told here through the voice of his younger brother, Ronald Lee Oliver, it’s also a story about family … Continue reading
Blaine Lotz – Answering the Cattle Call
Blaine Lotz Answering the Cattle Call By Ronald Sklar Blaine Lotz doesn’t just sell cattle – he conducts them. Listening to him talk about auctioneering is like hearing a jazz musician explain improvisation: part discipline, part instinct, part invisible rhythm that lives in the body. A Kansas native born into a multigenerational auction family, Blaine … Continue reading
Alexa Ray Joel Finds Her “Wall of Sound” Moment – and Her Own Voice, Fearlessly
Alexa Ray Joel Finds Her “Wall of Sound” Moment – and Her Own Voice, Fearlessly by Ron Sklar Alexa Ray Joel is back in rehearsal – back in the room, back in the band setup, back in the thick of sound. After years of performing in the intimate, candlelit world of Café Carlyle with a … Continue reading
John Davidson – From Prime-Time to Club Sandwich: The Reinvention of a Variety Icon
John Davidson From Prime-Time to Club Sandwich – The Reinvention of a Variety Icon By Ronald Sklar For decades, John Davidson was all that and a jar of Miracle Whip – a Broadway lead, a smiling television host, and one of Johnny Carson’s most trusted guest substitutes. Today, at 84, he has reinvented his career … Continue reading
Tim Daly – Dust in the Wind
Tim Daly Dust in the Wind By Ronald Sklar “It’s essentially a family story — specifically about a father,” says actor Tim Daly of his latest film Dust to Malibu. “It’s an interesting, meandering, sometimes funny, sometimes very moving journey about rebuilding a relationship.” In the film, a father (Daly) and his daughter (Alex Sgambati) drive … Continue reading
Donny Osmond – Starting Again
Donny Osmond Starting Again by Ronald Sklar “Usually, when you take a big show on the road, you kind of scale it down, to save a little money and make a little money,” says legendary performer Donny Osmond. “Well, I’ve done the opposite. I’ve embellished it. I’m taking the entire production from Las Vegas and I’m bringing … Continue reading
Burton Cummings – These Eyes Have Seen a Lot of Life
Burton Cummings These Eyes Have Seen a Lot of Life by Ronald Sklar “I realized very early that records are forever,” says forever-certified record-maker Burton Cummings. As the frontman (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar) for The Guess Who, he created more than thirteen knockout punches of Top 10 singles between 1969 and 1975. Included in … Continue reading
Dermot Mulroney – Look Out, Old Mack is Back
Dermot Mulroney Look Out, Old Mack is Back By Ronald Sklar Once again, busy actor Dermot Mulroney is stepping – or in this case, singing and dancing – outside his comfort zone. “I’m always comfortable when I’m having fun,” he insists, however. This time, the fun presents itself not in another movie (there are lots … Continue reading
Tom Berenger – Serving a Black Warrant
Tom Berenger Serving a Black Warrant by Ronald Sklar What do Tom Berenger and William Shakespeare have in common? They both insist that the play’s the thing. Tom says, “the whole play is the most important thing, and your part is secondary to that. You should be supportive of the playwright.” This rule of Tom’s … Continue reading