Star Trek, early convention at Northglenn Mall 1976 by Sam Klemke ultimessence 2013-02-10 | one of the earliest Star Trek conventions occurred in 1976 at the Northgenn Mall in Denver Colorado in Fall of 1976. Only 7 years after the series ended, Star Trek already had a very strong cult following in the US and even abroad. There were small fan clubs popping up all over the world, so after a while it had such momentum that someone began organizing these gatherings into conventions... At homes, schools, malls, they eventually had to rent large convention halls to accommodate the throngs of devoted 'trekkies'. This one had Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and James Doohan (Scotty), so I had to bring my super 8 movie camera to the Mall to film it. I brought my old pal Terry McCoy as the on-camera reporter to interview the cults and play with the toys. The Northglenn Mall (The Mall of my adolescence) was only 8 years old at this point so it is fun to have this record of the old Mall before it got torn down 21 years later.Enjoy, Sam Klemkeuploaded 2013
Sam Klemke off to mall Hilo 2008 ultimessence 2025-05-27 | "the busiest little mall in Paradise!" ...(Not!)SKFM talk Cinema Verite' techniques while filming in HILO, HAWAII, in 2008 We discover that it's not really a great place to draw Caricatures/ even during the allegedly lucrativeChristmas Holidays at the Prince Kuhio Plaza ..."Get that camera outta my face!!", say the subjects of Michael Moore's documentaries...'One must be ruthless to get that shot. It's worth it in the long run..
Kharisma Promotional Film 2 1977 ultimessence 2025-05-18 | it's essentially about Time Travel and delicious notion about talking with your younger self...-this is a project I was working on in the 1970s...very ambitious then or now..made in the city and suburbs of Denver, Northglenn, Thornton and the Colorado Rocky mountains... Will add more detail soon.
Roger and Tyrone stop by for a visit, early 2007 ultimessence 2025-03-04 | It's validating to have friends who are comfortable enough to just drop in at 9:30pm...fortunately we're both night owls and we have a lot to share.Sadly his dog Tyrone just died 2 weeks ago (2025) @15 &1/2 years, robust for a canine. I regaled him with art and film and he regaled me about all things Eugene OR, where we were both living.Roger Fountaine is: a Raconteur, an Adventurer,a humorist,an Entertainer,a Cineast,A gamesman,a Sportsmanand a Fuggling Jool!I've known him for 25 years now and He immurses himself deeply in where ever he finds himself, currently Canada, from where he hails...Troma Films, Tarentino, 'There will be blood', Dr. Paul C Bragg, Diva Eugene, phallus snowmen, Michelle Crisanti, Mandalafly, Canuck, Hockey, Oregon Country Fair, Port Townsend, Payton Manning, Superbowl
Driving to Minatare, Nebraska 1993 ultimessence 2025-01-12 | When I was 36 i took one of my last trips to My parents home town of Minatare, NEBRASKA to visit my then 97 year old Grandmother, Hazel Klemke and my own father, Don Klemke, who would drive up to his home town from Denver and he would change her storm windows, and add some flowers to decorate the old homestead. Now they're all gone, including Grandma, who lived to bee 100 !It was humorous and frustrating when we would Look At Slides, were always backward, upside down and aways blurry...you can hear our comments as we went through this universal experience...Now we are 1/4 through the 21st century, and I'm now in my late 60s and how I long for those simple times... ya cant go back (unless you watch "Sam Klemke's Time Machine")--Sam Klemke January 11th, 2025
Bob Johnsen on Homemovies TV show 1989 ultimessence 2025-01-08 | Yes, it's the Captain of Pleasure himself, Lou Rhumba, as he promotes his new film, "Drab Days in Suburbia", written & directed by Sam Klemke, the star of the Australian Documentary "Sam Klemke's Time Machine", the big surprise hit at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival! This early dark Comedy was produced in 1989 in Northglenn and Broomfield, Colorado and shown on KBDI, channel 12, one of two public television stations in the Denver metro area. Bill Hammell and Nick Frazier the hosts and producers of the local irreverent comedy Saturday program 'Home Movies'.Lou Rhumba (Real name Bob Johnsen) played the bombastic hedonistic character "The Captain of Pleasure", who is always looking for a good time...(A true 7 on the enneagram scale)This 3 part "Mocutraumedy" is available on YOUTUBE: youtube.com/watch?v=TmqqmJ7PDioEnjoy, all you couch potatoes Out there!
....some of the big deaths this year: 2012-1980 ultimessence 2025-01-06 | as a regular part of my annual Year end summary's I would list some of the big celebrity deaths, and after a few decades I'd have pretty big list....How many of these names do you recognize?(and no, I never knew Sammy Davis Jr)
Curt Hitch at home Coos Bay 2003 ultimessence 2024-12-30 | My old pal Curt Hitch was about 70 at the time of this visit in 2003... Curt was an artist who led a quiet life , creating his 3D "Found" Art projects while supporting himself with regular jobs, like selling clothing at a department store, where he had to he had to wear a tie (not his style) Never married and with no children, perhaps he was truer to himself than most men today. He starts reading my Book, : "Party of 1" about my life on the road as a retail caricaturist, by Sam Klemke. Sadly, Mr. Hitch Passed away about 5 years later, as we all must some fine day.
Sams Jimmy Durante for Sarahs answering machine 1999 ultimessence 2024-12-28 | "You gotta start off each day with a Song- Even when things go wrong" Schtop da Music! Schtop da Music! What a revoltin' development dis is!
Nebraska Family Documentary by Sam Klemke 1973 ultimessence 2018-08-20 | Filmed when I was 16 on a barebones super 8 movie camera, this little documentary was inspired by "An American Family", a PBS film chronicling 2 years of The Loud Family of Santa Barbara, CA, I wanted to capture a record of my family and its roots in western Nebraska; Scottsbluff, Gering, Bayard and Minatare in the panhandle of that state. This was the first time I consciously put super 8 film with reel to reel sound and put the camera on a tripod, and gave my cast instructions to talk extemporaneously while being succinct (I had to be judicious; each roll of film only contained 3 and a half minutes of running time, and I only had 4 rolls of film)
Jeff Goldblum on Tonight show with host Garry Shandling 1987 ultimessence 2018-08-19 | Jeff was always an interesting guests on talk shows, but this appearance in the 80s was a bit subdued
Sam Klemke on Aussie Today Show 2015 ultimessence 2018-04-26 | while promoting "Sam Klemke's Time Machine" in Australia, Sam and director Matt appear on the Australian "Today Show" in Melbourne, being interviewed about the motives for collecting a lifetime of footage...
Buddy, Gil & Sam near reunion 2013 ultimessence 2016-05-24 | Almost a reunion, I'd been trying to get Buddy Rose and Gilad Heifetz together for a long time, and with the miracle of Skype, it nearly happened, Gil living in Israel and Buddy in Las Vegas. They didn't connect with each other but i got to share my conversation with each of them. 2 strong personalities, Gil and Buddy were old friends and caricature artist colleagues since the 80s. (I also got to imitate their distinctive voices to each other as well…next best thing to being there)
Christmas 1974, Denver to Nebraska, by Sam Klemke ultimessence 2016-01-01 | Growing up in the suburbs of Denver in the 1970s, I liked to contrast the big city with small town America. And what better way to do that than for my parents, brother and sister to leave the Mile high City for a couple of days? So off we drove to the tiny town of Minatare Nebraska to spend Christmas day with Grandma and various relatives;Aunt Frances Rama, Cousin Bob Rama, Cousins Dave & Judy Rama,cousin Cindy Rama, cousins Matt & Dan Rama, cousins Mark, Susan and Chris Schafer,Uncle Ron & Margy Schafer of Scottsbluff Nebr.Uncle and Aunt Herbert & Ora Klemke of Bayard Nebr,Uncles and Aunts Earl & Agnes Vanatta of Bayard, Nebr. all converge on Grandma's (Hazel Klemke) small house in Minatare Nebr for one last joyous holiday together before we all grew up.Sentimental Hogwash? Maybe, but when my 17 year old self threw a long pass to my 58 year old self, afar 41 years, I was more than ready to connect with my younger, more idealized me. -enjoy the nostalgia, my fellow 20th century denizens!
the Douthit Legacy -2012 ultimessence 2015-01-11 | A visit with Chas, Alice, George the IV, and George the III, in their country estate in Florence Colorado.
1991 0ld Elitch Gardens, Denvers oldest Amusement park ultimessence 2014-10-20 | Elitch Gardens was over 100 years old when this clip was taped in '91. One of the most prestigious parks in the country, there were theatrical plays, live concerts and world class amusements for its day, including an old fashioned Fun House. I worked as a caricature artist here for 5 years during the last days of the original park's run. Then in '96 it was closed down and a newer, slicker shinier version opened up near downtown Denver, leaving the old location at 38th and Tennyson completely abandoned on Denver's west side. Here is a slice of a moment coming into work on a slow weekday at the caricature Booth, run by Mark Hall and his co-star, Paul Zanderholm. Here, Sam chats with the cynical face painter Jenny Ginsberg at her stand, "Lost in Face". We knew this was the end of an era, and we embraced it.
The Quintessential LP collection 1960s-1982 ultimessence 2014-10-18 | Any serious record collector coming of age in this pivotal time in Rock and Roll should've had at least some of this essential stack of Albums covering the mid 1960s until 1982. By then, Rock & Roll was beginning to fragment, but still the integrity of this batch always comes back to the important transformative music that defined its generation. As Bowie said, "Look out all you Rock and Rollers"!
Garland Center Safeway Northglenn CO 1975 ultimessence 2014-01-16 | Shot in Sept of '75, who knew that nearly 40 years ago we'd be pining for this grand old neighborhood grocery store. Now it's a (Choke, sputter) Wal-Mart. I was 18 then, and already a chronic chronicler. That is my hairy mug in the opening frames. The Safeway Jingles cover the early 60s, to the late 70s. Camelot in America, indeed...
Joes First Date 1974 ultimessence 2013-12-07 | a shy 9th grader deals with the angst of asking a girl out to the school dance at Northglenn Junior High, 1974
A Day with Peter Katz 1976 ultimessence 2013-11-17 | Peter H. Katz was the founder of the "Parnassus Academy of the Arts" in Northglenn Colorado from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s. Peter was a real Renaissance man; he single handedly taught Piano, singing, Music Theory, composition, fencing, painting, drawing, chess and writing. He hailed from Austria and still spoke with an accent and was intellectually adroit and highly philosophical... This movie charts his sudden move from his studio at Hillcrest plaza on 104th ave in Suburban Northglenn.. (One wonders why he wound up in Northglenn from Austria??) I was a piano student of his back in 1976 and he allowed me to film the process of his move, of which he was very philosophical. Sadly, it took my 37 years to get around to editing this film, which filled me with emotion, much of which stems from my awareness that i am getting close to the age now that he was in the film (60), but mainly the sadness that I never saw him again and was never able to give him the completed film as a gift, or a promotional tool. I think about him often... He would be 97 now, if by some miracle he was still alive. A toast to Peter Katz, a man decades ahead of his time. -Sam Klemke, November 15th, 2013
Record Bar at Northglenn Mall 1984 ultimessence 2013-10-03 | Remember record stores? People used to buy their music in a store with LPs (albums) and they would build collections of albums based on their tastes... such simple times. Bill Faust takes us on a tour of the mail record store in Northglenn, Colorado at the local mall. This was a couple of years before CDs hit the scene and digitize everything onto a small disc. sigh... Goodbye vinyl...
Thornton High School 1975-1977, ultimessence 2013-08-19 | American High Schools in the 1970s. Was there anything more progressive, more garish, more transformative? Thornton High School in Thornton Colorado in the late 70s was such a place. Built in '74, the state-of-the-art structure was closer to a college than a high school, with its open campus, its huge commons, its many grand new buildings, Theaters, Vo-tech and Physical education were all the maximum technological advantage. I was an odd duck, because I had 2 senior years at 2 separate schools, 1st at Northglenn High, the next suburb over in the northern Denver area...(i didn't have enough credits to graduate at Northglenn, so I had to take more classes, but I had the sweet option of going to another school, Thornton, so as to avoid the shame of failure at NG.)My brother Joe was already going to Thornton, so it was a natural fit. I started filming all the events and people I met at this brand spanking new facility with my new super 8 camera, and even used a cassette recorder for sounds and interviews. One of the fun things I filmed was getting the seniors to talk about their plans for their future in their young, idealistic minds, as you see here in the 2nd half of this film.. And then 10 years later I was able to follow up their progress and see how close they got to fulfilling their dreams. A lot of wonderful teachers taught at THS, many of them straight out of the counter cutler themselves. Some of the teachers featured here are Mr Ford, Mr. Jordan, Brenda Majors (one of my very favorites- I had her for filmmaking!) Mr. WIlson Snow, Jackie Swenson, Jerry Kemper, Dave Bolman, and the Capitol of Thornton himself, Choir director and musical wizard Ray Sheehan. All presided over by the benign but effective, yet, always game THS principal, the aptly named Sam Thornam.Those of us who came of age in the 1970s took the times for granted, but the 70s were really the spoils of the 60s. All the struggles the counterculture endured were manifesting themselves in the most lenient decade in human history, indeed, a high water mark for excess.And us youngsters flaunted it, especially in our hair and dress. The lines between the genders got blurrier and the clothes, especially men's were as outrageous as ever, with our platform shoes, our polyester bell bottom trousers, our bell sleeve shirts and wide collars and lapels and lots of gold and silver chains for everyone, and sideburns, bangs and buoyant afros adorned our heads. We were Wild and Crazy Guys! So, enjoy this time capsule from a bygone era. We winced at the 70s in the 80s and 90s, but now they're starting to look compelling again. Far out!
Redhead Gal in Denver -Wolcott apts 1982 ultimessence 2013-06-29 | Big Red gives us a demonstration of her bountiful do, standing in front of the Wolcott Arms apartments at 14th and Marion, (one block south of East Colfax st.) "You may be color blind too", she says daring you not to notice her bright color coordinated outfit.
Garland Shopping Center, Halloween 1973 ultimessence 2013-05-02 | Looking through my old super 8 films, I found some footage I shot at Halloween of 1973 at our local Mall-ette. Just a short walk away, Garland was a lot easier to access than the New-ish Northglenn Mall, and I loved the small town feel of the place. You might recognize 2 of the gals who worked in Owl Drugs reluctantly appearing on camera. Anyone remember them? Wish I could've got a shot of Fred the Pharmacist.
A walk in the Park with Charles Edmunds 2012 ultimessence 2013-02-14 | A stimulating conversation can always be had with my dear old pal Charles Edmonds, of Charleston OR. Thank you for your camaraderie, Charles! Take a look at http://charlesofcharleston.com , one of the finest Marine painters on the west coast
Northglenn Mall, the Last Day of the 1980s ultimessence 2013-01-08 | I grew up in the Denver suburb of Northglenn, so looking back at this footage I shot here with my old friend Bill Faust is bittersweet. I went through puberty in this mall in the mid 1970s, but by Dec. 31st 1989 the old mall was counting its final days. I was working the holiday season of 1989 at the mall drawing caricatures, and by then my perception of it had changed radically. I did see and draw many old familiar faces from my youth, fellow Northglenn and Thornton High alumni, and lifelong (AND former) suburbanites like me. On this final day of my tenure there, Bill and I reminisced about the Mall's former glory and lamented at what it had become as the 1990's began. Wallow with us down memory lane, won't you? Nostalgia tastes better with age. Sam Klemke
What ever happened to Paul Baca? 1977 ultimessence 2012-12-06 | Paul Baca was one of the most interesting students to graduate from Thornton High School , Thornton Colorado back in 1977. He was funny, creative, charismatic, smart and very original. He was known for hosting (Master of Ceremonies) the annual Talent show at that school.. Did he ever become a filmmaker? A teacher? A clown? A writer? All of us who were big fans of this charming character want to know. Paul helped me with some of my early film projects and was a delight to work with. Get in touch with me, Paul... We have so much to talk about. --Sam Klemke
Chirstmas at Northglenn Mall 1977 ultimessence 2012-11-28 | Here is a bit of footage I shot back in 1977 at the long gone Northglenn Mall in Northglenn Colorado. It was Christmas and I followed Paul Baca and His Gal Kelly Kline from his job at J. C. Penney's over to Swensen's Ice Cream for a break. The Mall of my Youth... I went through puberty in that suburban icon It's hard to believe the mall is gone after a lifespan of 30 years, but it was indeed demolished in 1997 and replaced with some corporate big box stores and The Denver area lost one of it's oldest Shopping centers. Enjoy the memories. I got a million of 'em...!
SAMS FOOD OBSESSIONS ultimessence 2012-07-14 | we all have our peccadillos, and I have to admit that I grew up following the path of Crunchy, Sweet, Salty, Spicy, Goopy, Slimy, Fizzy; all the joys of flavor and textural dichotomies. Especially when wet, mushy and crunchy are mixed together, all vying for dominance in my mouth at once. mmmMMMmmmm! Exquisite! Bon Apitite, mon ami!
Northglenn High School faculty, 1975 schoolyear ultimessence 2012-01-27 | In the mid 1970's, Northglenn, Colorado was nondescript suburb of Denver Colorado with a large, one might say, overflowing high school of mostly white, middle class students. On the last day of his senior year at NGHS, Sam Klemke took his super 8 movie camera and reel to reel tape recorder to school and filmed sound bites of the teachers as they came and went from the faculty lounge. The lighting was largely overexposed, the sound was problematic at times, but you can still get a feel for the giddiness that the whole school was feeling as summer vacation erupted on the class of '75, as well as the entire student body of 2700, and certainly even the faculty were ready to vamos from the "Open Campus" of those loose days near the end of the counter culture. Some of my favorites of the day were Walt Parker, Jim Studholme, Marty Gorce, Clarence Kruger, Roger Harding, and Larry Smith. They were the real individuals, the distinct personalities that stood out on that massive campus. Where are they now? 35 years later, Most are gone. Speak up if you knew any of these seminal characters in the lives of a sprawling suburban High School. What is your story?
Sam savors the Brighton Pavillion ultimessence 2011-02-19 | Sam is looking for the Brighton Pavilion in Brighton by the Sea in Jolly olde England. After discovering this glorious park, they enjoy some lovely sitar music by a local master.
Sam Rides the Tube in London ultimessence 2011-02-11 | Sam takes a quick trip on London's famed Underground railway, from Picadilly circus over to Hyde Park October of 2009.
Skip Banks says howdy to Amazing Joe Larmay ultimessence 2010-04-20 | While working the Pinal County fair, whom should I happen upon but the psuedo famous physical comedian, Skip Banks, also known as the Guy who crawls inside a giant balloon. Having had some national exposure, Skip has entertained on the David Letterman show back in the old NBC days. Here, he says a quick hello to his old Oregon colleague, Joe Larmay, the Magician. Can you imagine them both in one room at the same time? All the air would be quickly displaced! But we'd all asphixiate in tears of laughter!
Sam lands a job as Santa Claus at Aurora Mall ultimessence 2010-02-13 | Back in 1982, Sam Klemke was out of work, and although his caricature career was still fairly new, this opportunity to play Kris Kringle in a suburban shopping palace was too golden to pass, even for a youngster of 25! (Today the beard color and the belly are a lot more, ahem, uh..."natural".) Originally created as a vignette for "Homemovies" a live TV show Sam was starring on at KBDI, channel 12, in Denver Colorado, in Broomfield, this piece still stands as a piece of contrived cinema verite. Many of these shops and areas of Aurora Mall are gone now, so this is also an historical record of the day. Fairly new in '82, now Aurora Mall is one of the dumpy old malls that is considered low end. Today Sam still works in Malls during the holidays drawing his Caricatures for fun and profit. You can take the boy outta the mall, but...... Just another jolly fat man, indeed! Ho, Ho, HO!!
A visit to Reid Delahunts Dorm Room in Manhattan ultimessence 2010-01-27 | Come take a tour of the dormitory room of one Reid Pierre Delahunt at Manhattan School of Music on the upper west side. Vocal major Reid is a superb singer and has an astonishing range from high tenor to basso profundo. And like all American youth, he enjoys a wide range of influences. The internet age has shaped his world class sensibility, (along with his sophisticated parents, of course!) Here, Sam and Kathlynne are given a verbal tour of the room and it's proud contents so thriftily acquired.
Darrell and Sam philosophize across the years ultimessence 2010-01-26 | Darrell Thompson, a very thoughtful and savvy young man shares his youthful wisdom with Sam as they find common ground across the great chasm of time. A quote from Bob Dylan; "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now...", seems relevant from this new paradigm here.
Bursting into song at the Mall ultimessence 2010-01-15 | After a rather dismal holiday season of drawing caricatures at the mall, I get reflective about life in retail paradise and the end of the year in all it's wistfulness. Forgive my maudlin attempt at summing it up in song...This song harkens back to 1977, a year on film, as Sam Klemke ponders the big questions with an incredulousity and oblivion of epic proportions. "All together now-- "Oh, I can't believe I made it through the year------rrr!"Thanks to the musical wizardry of my pal Jeff Gutman for making my voice bearable as impulsively I burst into song!
Good parenting in Oregon- talking about death to child ultimessence 2010-01-06 | Darrell, Jennifer are fine, progressive parents, which is noteworthy in this era of lazy parenting. They give their daughter Amory love, security, physical and intellectual stimulation, patience and most importantly, respect. After getting their caricature drawn by Sam Klemke, they get philosophical with her about the notion of mortality on the Merry Go Round in the park. No cell phones, no microwaves, no video games and no high fructose corn syrup for this 4 year old. Would that ALL modern parents in the western world would be as intelligent about child rearing as these.
End Credits for Christmas at the Mall, 2007 ultimessence 2010-01-02 | Reid Delahunt lends his sweet pipes to the cause, singing Sam Klemke's 33 year old ditty, "I Can't believe I Made it through the Year". Also on hand are Jeff Gutman's striking musical wizardry as he adds chords, tempo and whimsical flourish to Sam's offkey, and rushed vocals. Shot in Ashland Oregon during the holidays, this will be the closing segment in part 2, of "The Synthesized times of Sam Klemke, an ongoing series for Youtube.
Kim Brown pontificates about the year 1977 ultimessence 2009-12-31 | Kim D. Brown, when asked about what the year 1977 meant to him had some words of wisdom for everyone.
Big Tim Regales with Tales of Cajun Cuisine ultimessence 2009-12-05 | Big Tim Hosler expounds on his days living on the Tex-ass coast where he used to indulge in all things Creole, especially the food! Long before he went completely vegan, Tim used to imbibe in the likes of Jambalaya, Crawfish Ettoufee, Boudin Sausage, Seafood Gumbo, Chitlins, Black eyed peas, Deep fried Catfish and Gator balls! Now Tim is living a more modest life up in Northeastern Ohio, where an exciting bit of dining would be Worthington Wheat Germ Hot dogs. Ahhh, the good life.
The Amazing Larmay at Deschutes County Fair ultimessence 2009-07-25 | IF you live in Oregon, Joe Larmay is who you call for state of the art Magicianship hijinx. His brand of Kid Confusion and balloon shenanigans are renoun all over the Beaver State. Here in Redmond, At the Deschutes County Fair, Joe-Joe engages some youngsters in his favorite activity; Confounding children. He gets right down with them on their level and out-literals them with his maddening live persona. Watch and see him confuse and confound your offspring. Now living in Guatamala, He will still gets the job done in your county fair or private party. Give him a shout at: http://www.imentertainment.biz/Booking.html Don't leave him hanging there by his entrails in remote Guatamala! Give him some purpose and meaning in his lonely existence. Mr. Balloon Man, Cowboy Joe and the Moo-gician are all waiting to entertain you and yours at your event!
JWK & SK at Pont du Gard; Roman Aquaduct in rural France ultimessence 2009-07-21 | This timeless artifact of "Pont du gard", just outside the village of Avignon in southern France
The Tiny movie career of Robert C. Johnsen ultimessence 2009-06-10 | Here are some short clips from 3 movies featuring cameos by Denver character actor Robert C. Johnsen. I was a neighbor of Bob Johnsen and as a kid in the early 1970's I was fascinated by the fact that whenever a Hollywood movie was being filmed in Denver or the Colorado rockies during that time, Bob seemed to get a small part, sometimes a speaking part. These 3 short parts featured "Tiny", as he was known by his friends, with a few lines of dialogue. The first one was the Pilot for the pseudo famous TV series, "Then Came Bronson", starring Michael Parks in 1969. Here, Tiny plays the local gas station attendant in a small town (Kremling, Colorado) The second clip is from a dreadful 'Made for Television' movie called "in the Company of Killers", 1970, starring John Saxon. Bob's role as the abused, rotund chef is hampered either by a midget dubbing his voice over, or a shot of helium before the director yelled Action. (probably to give more testosterone to the diminutive Saxon). ...As Leonard Pinth Garnell used to say, "That wasn't too good, was it?" And lastly, a low budget Hollywood Comedy Western called "The Brothers O'Toole",1972, starring John Astin in his post Addams Family period. Bob has one line atop his massive horse and he delivers it in his best Buddy Hacket imitation. His cameos in the movies turned Bob Johnsen into a local legend, and as I grew up I befriend him more and we started hanging out, eating pizza and taking small trips in his plethora of cool autos. As a budding young filmmaker, I was determined to give him the starring role he deserved and in 1987, I wrote "Drab Days in Suburbia" with him in mind, playing my alter ego, the Captain of Pleasure. Here is a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IYBmdchnEQ Here is Tiny in his more natural state, doing what he loved, driving thru Denver in 1988 in his new '79 Fiat sports car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HXwIwdBUlQ Be sure to watch these in HQ A man of many appetites, Robert Johnsen was a large man, nearly 6' foot 4", and weighing over 400 lbs. Having passed away in January of 1995, He was a robust character who lived large and I miss him. --Sam Klemke, June 2009
Whatever Happened to Eric Bien? ultimessence 2009-03-24 | Smart as a whip, talented, compasionate and infinitely curious, Eric Bein was one sharp Cookie! In his youth his future direction seemed unlimited, as he dabled in Art, Music, Social Science and Politics. This footage was shot at the Dukakis for President rally in Westminster Colorado in October of 1988 by one Bill Faust, who clearly didn't remember meeting Eric at KBDI, Channel 12 in Broomfield, Colorado. Quite a coincidence, really because this was a mere 6 years after I knew Eric as the boyfriend of Mary Kate Patterson, the sister of my then girlfriend, Jessica Hayward Patterson. The 4 of us would often hang out in Capitol hill in Denver, going out to Films, Dinners and many inner journeys of the mind, (if you know what I mean!) Eric Bien was into lots of progressive stuff, like punk, new wave and techno long before it was called that. We used to rave about the early days of Emerson, Lake and Palmer in their heyday, not to mention David Bowie, Frank Zappa, the Sex Pistols and the Talking Heads and even went to a Peter Tosh Concert together shortly before his death. Also I knew Eric for his foray into Filmmaking while still in High School. I was the Co-host of a TV show on KBDI called "HomeMovies", an local show for burgeoning filmmakers, and Eric and some pals did a pretty hip parody of the Twilight Zone back in 1981. He made verbal mince meat of my co-cost Hill Hammell and we became instant allies. One wonders what became of this intelligent young man after he finished up at the University of Denver and beyond. This "randomly captured" video would indicate that he became involved with politics. His activist spirit is evident as he trys to argue some sense with a staunch republican. Either way, Eric was extremely articulate and persuasive at whatever he persued. Are you still out there, Eric Bein? Rise up and make some noise, sir! Your voice is desperately needed in these numb and spooky times we're in now. --Sam Klemke
