The Rudy Panucci Show
Rudy Panucci, one of WV’s most creative multi-media artists/promoters, finally got to present a program at The South Charleston Film Series on Saturday night, Dec. 8th. From 7 PM-9:30 PM he screened clips of his program hosted on The Gazz, “Radio Free Charleston,” and after a short break, some live bands took to the stage.
Since I had my pooch in the car and a senior friend over 80 who had to go home after a frantic Christmas season Saturday, I had to leave around 9:30 PM. So I got to see most of the specially edited programs which were great. The ones I enjoyed the most, after Rudy’s own hilarious introductions, include the Filipino “Batman” preview with lots of locals dressed as superheroes including one that looks just like Jesse Johnson, singing and dancing, Eduardo Canelon, the Spanish six-string guitar player, and two animations by the Panucci Brothers -Rudy’s tribute to Pepperland with music by the Go Van Goghs and the new, Frank Panucci “No Running,” a 2007, gumby-style falling film. Ouch!!!!
About 30 people showed up. Rudy said that “about 50 people told me they had other commitments….” Melanie Larch, his partner in many of his artistic crimes, had to leave Hubbard House herself, visiting a dying uncle. Earlier there was a great art opening at The Unitarian Universalist Church which I wished I could have made myself.
My co-worker at WVLC, Mark Lanham, was setting up on stage when I showed up at 6:30 PM with his band, “Under the Radar.” ( I did get to see them play at least twice during the RFC show which was nice. Sorry I had to leave, Mark! He is the head of Video Services. I hope to have a similar program to this RFC one sometime for Library Television - they have been producing zillions of programs for more than 25 years, including my own cable show, “Film Festival,” from 1980-1997.)
I missed seeing Doug Imbrogno in person but he was on screen for one song with another musician. Daniel and Robin Boyd made it. Boyd was in one hilarious short about a midget with blind parents. Jesse Johnson was somewhere in the cool, comforting dark along with several other people I recognized from shots on screen. Mike Sublette and his new bride Tammy finally made it after working at Frog Creek Books.
Ever since both my wife and I had our ear drums literally blown out of our heads resulting in tinnitus for both of us around 1990 while listening on New Year’s Eve to Michael Lipton while playing on Capitol Street, we have HAD to avoid watching live music in bars in Charleston. So it was nice to see so many local bands on screen - even then, the sound level got a bit painful to me in the La Belle.
Thanks to Rudy for editing all of his shows together. I will pick up my copy soon….and in the meanwhile - check out the on-going program that shows just a bit of some of the local talent around the Charleston scene. He wrote me on Tuesday -
The music part went fine. I’ll be posting video clips in PopCult all week. It was a blast, and I’ve talked to Chuck about possibly showing the compilation again in a couple of months, when there’s less competition.One other historical note - I once did something like this to celebrate the 50th anniverary of WVLC. I spliced together 50 short films, starting with “A” and going to “Z.” I screened them at The Cultural Center, taking almost 8 hours. I had to use 16 mm splicing equipment. Not a lot of people attended but it did make the news…and as I recall, it was the ONLY event to mark the celebration. My assistant then, Frani, and her daughter Rosemary, were the only WVLC staff that helped me…..for which I am eternally grateful. It must have been 1979.
Rudy on stage
Rare picture of Rudy and Melanie together
SCM director/curator Teresa Whitt with SCMF board member Lura Watkins, taking care of business at RFC Night
