About the Flyer‘s 25th Anniversary issue …
It took me the entire week to read the 25th Anniversary issue because it was so chock full of interesting historical tidbits and people. I’ve been a fan of the Flyer since the first issue and still have fond memories of the party thrown to celebrate its first year. One question about the cover photograph: Can you give me a guide to who everyone is?
Corey Mesler
Editor’s note: Clockwise from top: Murry Keith, an unidentified model from the issue’s swimsuit shoot, Susan Alexander, Rhonda Jones, John Finch, Linda Lockwood, Jo Wagoner Bracey
About Jackson Baker’s Politics column on judicial elections …
Jackson Baker’s column about the judicial candidates and their sad but necessary attempts to “campaign” for election brought back painful memories. I was in the same position in 1982, one of the scores of candidates given five minutes to convince an indifferent audience (made up mostly of other candidates) that I stood out from the crowd, without promising anything they cared about. We were happy to find any group, including Alcoholics Anonymous, willing to listen to us.
It would certainly be helpful if the Flyer and The Commercial Appeal would print a profile of each candidate, both the good and the bad. After all, as Baker pointed out, the winners will have power over our lives and property.
Robert A. Lanier
Editor’s Note: As a public service, the Flyer will be publishing the Memphis Bar Association’s recommendations in a July issue.
A solution for the country’s gun problems …
Here goes my gun solution: I used to say put all the Tea Party people in Alabama, like a reservation. After more consideration, I’ve decided we need to put all the NRA people, all the Tea Party people, and all the people who need guns at their sides at all times in Texas. Just give them their own little part of the universe, like a reservation. They can have all their guns and shoot everybody they want. Take their guns into the bathroom while they take a dump.
The rest of the country would have gun clubs. People who like to shoot could keep their guns at a gun club and go there to socialize and shoot at targets. It could be fun — no one getting killed but still enjoying their guns. One would still need to pass a background check and guns could only be purchased at the clubs, so a gun store would have to be a gun club. No guns leave the club.
Dagmar Bergen
About Addison Engelking’s survey of the best Southern films since 1989 …
Well you missed the most Southern of Southern films, and the best. I never tire of watching Fried Green Tomatoes.
Brunetto Latini
Haven’t seen all these, but I laughed out loud at the horrible cliches of Craig Brewer’s Black Snake Moan. Loved what one critic called it “Chaining Miss Daisy to the Radiator.” Not on my list, unless it’s on the 25 Worst.
Mayfield
Mayfield, I think you may have had the response the director wanted you to have in those moments. BSM was calculated drive-in bad. Not anybody’s fault for missing that; it had identity issues. It was shot so lovingly, it makes you forget what the poster tells you: Don’t analyze too much, it’s pulp for pulp’s sake. I have lots of problems with it too, but the Eggleston homages are really nice, and the one post-party ultra-low-angle shot captures all-night party wasted better than any other depiction of alcoholism I’ve ever seen on film. Those moments smooth over some of the rest for me.
Chris Davis
About Stacey Greenberg’s article, “Some of the Best Nachos in Memphis” …
I think I had different expectations for this article. Thanks for sharing some places I would have never thought to try the nachos.
Caz