The Life of Riley

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OLIVE’S FORTY THIRD POST

Mike

I’ve been running around all Sunday morning, looking for Vicks 44.

Ollie has a gurgling chest cough, and the only thing she believes in is Vicks.

The stuff must be on the way out. Three chemists didn’t have it (even finding a Chemist open on Sunday, was hard enough)

In desperation, I bought Bonnington’s Iris Moss, surely a syrop of her era.

Then, I found the Vicks. She was grateful. “Thanks, Luv,” she said, “But you should’nta gone to all that trouble.”

“What do I owe you?” she rasped as she lay back on the pillow.

“Dont worry about it,” I said. “No, I gotta pay you,” she insisted . “I’m not having you get me things and not pay for them.”

T changed the subject. “Would the Bonningtons have done the trick, Ollie? ” I showed her the bottle with the old fashoned label.

“That’s real good stuff,” she agreed, “but not a patch on Vics.” And she sipped the bright pink liquid from the tiny plastc cup which came with the mixture.

This cough has drained her. The chirpy Olive, out eating oysters with Eric just a couple of weeks ago, was very absent.
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“lt’s almost time for another oyster party,” I said hopefully.. “Young Eric’s keen and at the YouTube launch, I met someone who’d like to join us.”

It was this fella called Juan Mann. (That’s not his real name but a stage name) He’s famous for giving people hugs in the street.

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He says he’s given 5 million hugs and has had 16 million visits to his YouTube clip.

Juan Mann’s probably Australia’s most succesful youtuber.”

“Fancy that!” said Ollie,

“I thought we might get him up to Woy Woy. He could give some hugs in the street near the pub where we go for the oysters and then join us.”

“He’ll give you a a hug too, Ollie! He’s very keen to do that!” “I hope she’s gentle” said our Ollie.

The day of Ollie’s birthday was exceptional. No doubt you’ve heard the concert we had. Christina was superb, getting us all singing. In case you missed it, here’ s one of the songs.

By the way, for those not used to these YouTube clips, if you click twice on the arrow in the middle of the picture, on the second click the arrow should disappear and the clip start to play after a few seconds.

Too many clicks and you’ll have the song playing double and out of synch.

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Mike

Then, Olive composed a message to all of you who’d sent her such lovely greetings

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Mike

Next, Katya showed Ollie a book of Russian nursery rhymes she’s translated and is illustrating.

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Mike

And here’s my dear wife explaining what it’s all about

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Mike

Do you remember folks about our search for actors I’d auditioned in Canada long ago? .

The idea is to use Ollie’s blog (she agrees because she loves play acting and young people) as a people search engine.

Olive

Yes, that’ll be alright as long as it’s not for money.

Mike

. Not for money indeed! ……Here’s the story….. I recently found a box of old videos.

They were audtion tapes from when I was directing kids’ movies in Canada in the late eighties and early nineties.

I tried playing the old Hi8 tapes. At first they broke and I was ready to throw them away.

But then I found how, with great care, I could get them to run once.

I’m now tranferring them onto DVD, making them give up their secrets.

I’ve found hundreds of forgotten performances by these Canadian children, wonderful improvizations.

These kids who tried out for me are all grown up now.

I thought, ‘I should make an effort to find these people and give them a copy of the audition they never saw!

Surely they’d love me to track them down. What a surprise it’ll be, eh?’

Olive

Will they want them?

Mike

Wouldn’t you want a video of yourself from 20 years ago, Ollie, if someone found it?.

Here’s a boy who actually made it into Tommy Tricker and the Stamp traveller. That was the name of the movie, by the way.

His name was/is Paul Popowich and he went on to become a well known Canadian actor with lots of action roles to his credit

I found him in Toronto and asked him to pretend to be Tommy Tricker’s very dumb sidekick,

As you’ll see, he was brilliant. Nobody played dumb better than Paul, and I saw thousands of hopefuls.

This is Paul Popowich 1989, then an unknown talent

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I’ve just found out that the boy in the white shirt, playing the ruthless Tommy character, was Paul’s younger brother.

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The story was all about stamps, swapping them and cheating the gullible, and Paul just doesn’t get it.

Look how good he is, Ollie.
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. Two days ago, Paul wrote to me.

“Michael! It’s Paul Popowich, how exciting to hear from you! How are you?
I have often wondered how you were and what you were up to –as well as
Albert, Jill and Anthony.

I am very glad that you were able to get in
touch.

I also wanted you to know that the movie Tommy Tricker has always
been very dear to my heart, and I wanted to thank you for giving me the
opportunity to be a part of it, as well as giving me a start in film.”

Olive

That’s nice of him to write that.

Mike

Here’s Paul today, or more recently.

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I reckon I auditioned over 1000 kids for those four movies I made with Rock Demers, my Producer.

. The stars like Paul and Antony Rogers (Tommy Tricker) who we’ve tracked down in British Columbia, are easy to find, or easier.

But it’s all the unknowns who never made it into the movie, I’d really like to find

Like this girl there, such a great look. Who is she? Where is she now, in her late 20’s? with ikds of her own maybe.

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Olive

She’s lovely. It’s a good idea to try and find them, Mike

Mike

Anyway, well try, and maybe you’ll make some Canadian friends at the same time.

Since, the people I audtioned all grown up, I can’t see any ethical problems in putting their photos on the internet.

And if they get in touch, we’ll give them a DVD of their audition.

My friend, Lois Siegel, who assisted at the time, is standing by in Ottawa, ready to help with the search.
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We’ll only charge what it costs to make the DVDs since your blob is non profit.

Olive

Yes, and so it must remain!

Mike

Here’s the titles of the films they auditioned for. They need to know that to remember.

1.Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller, 2. Vincent and Me, and 3. The return of Tommy Tricker.

Anyway, you Canadians if you recognize yourselves below, take down the number above the photo and let us know via our comments section, that is if you’d like a copy of your audition.

We’ll work out a system so you don’t have to give out any details publicly.

40 photos below. Maybe one of them is yours. If not , and if we get a good response, we’ll post more .

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If we hear from you, Lois Siegel will privately contact you about getting you a DVD. Be patient this is all voluntary and more than a bit crazy!

In return, tell us some stories about the important old folks in your lives.

Here are the fist lot we’re looking for.

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No. 1

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No. 2.

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No. 3

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No 4.

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No. 5. Cleverly, this boy has brought along a stamp as a prop.The movie was about stamps

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No.6

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No.7

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No. 8

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No. 9. The girl on the left is the same kid as in photo No.4.
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No. 9 again. I really liked this unknown boy, but alas, no part for him either.
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No.9 Yet again. Something about his open look, is excellent. He could have been Ralph, I’m sure.

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No. 10. This girl with the big hair, did a funny improv. about someone trampling her worm patch.
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But, sadly, she fitted no part I had to offer.
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No. 11. I was intrigued by this expressive face.
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No. 12. And heaped him with praise.
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No. 13. Another unforgettable face. This boy knew The Lion and Albert by heart.
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We’ve found out this one’s name is Lance Castles. I’m waiting for a recent photo and address. .
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No. 14

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No. 16.

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No 17

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No. 18

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No 18 again.

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No 19. Sometimes you come across a face so fascinating, that you spend much more time with the person, always being careful not to make the others feel bad.

I don’t know why this boy did not make the short list for Tommy since he seems to have just the combination of street smarts and sensitivity that the part required.

No 19

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No. 19.

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No 19

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No. 19.

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No. 19.

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I guess I was always looking for that mobility of expression and something touching. Look at Jill who was chosen.
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No. 20

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She has a pretty face but that’s nothing if it does not light up and change through many moods.
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No. 20

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No. 25

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No. 27

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No. 34.

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No.34

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No 35.

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No 35.

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No 35

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No. 36

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No. 37

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Mike

Do you remmebr about the plans to find yojng actors i audtioned oong agon in Canada

Olive

You, not me, boy.

Mike

Maybe WhizTecks sounds better, do you think?

First there were the Azteks and then came the WhizTecks.

Olive

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Mike

I’m talking about just lifting (legally) the AP story about your birthday, showing how you made the TV screens in the US.