Jay Allen Sanford

Jay Allen Sanford is a Reader contributor. See staff page for stories and blog entries.

Comments by jayallen

Ugly at 30

The Rosalyns will debut with an all-star all-girl lineup including Anja Stax from the Loons, Lety from the Schitzophonics, Diana Death from Chinese Rocks, Birdy from the New Kinetics, Amy from the Gore Gore Girls, and a guest player from Detroit -
— May 19, 2013 11:47 a.m.

Ilan Rubin: exhibitionist

Outtakes: WORST GIG? “One of the first shows the New Regime played was at House of Blues, but was moved from the main stage to the small stage upstairs. Suffice to say there were way too many people in that room. Loading in and setting up was a mess, which lead to gear not working. I don’t think our bass player at the time played for half the set, which was 25 minutes long.” YOU’RE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF A NEW REGIME IN AMERICA: WHAT’S YOUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS? “I would round up all the ignorant and stupid people and give them one chance at reeducation. After that, who knows?”
— May 15, 2013 12:52 p.m.

Ugly at 30

Outtake: So in the age of the internet and Wikipedia, with once-massive music magazines like Spin ceasing print publication, does Stax see *Ugly Things* being around for another thirty years? “Blogs are transitory, print is forever,” he says. “The printed word carries more weight because it brings with it a sense of permanence. Online opinions are dished up and digested in the moment then they disappear into the ether. But when you set your words down on paper and send them out into the world, you are making a tangible statement that you will have to stand behind.”
— May 15, 2013 9:37 a.m.

The Big Screen turns 2 today!

Happy (belated) BS Day! Always interested in -- and entertained by -- this blog!
— May 14, 2013 8:40 p.m.

Band singer arrested for trying to hire out a murder, Sheriff said

Now that Eva's excellent reporting on this case has been repeated by hundreds of other news services, I'm amazed at the lack of shock over what I find to be one of the most startling reveals - a San Diego musician fronting a Christian metal band can earn "$25,000 per month with his various business interests"?!?! Hard to believe Tim told his wife he no longer believes in God. Notwithstanding his current legal woes, he sounds like he was (up until now) about the most blessed and divinely-approved musico in San Diego ----
— May 11, 2013 1:23 p.m.

How did San Diego go from two dozen drive-in theaters to only two?

I wonder if any other city ever had a drive-in where migrant workers formed impromptu brothels in the bushes and fields around the theater? Prostitutes would come in, a few mattresses were laid on the ground, and men lined up for their turns with the working women. Police raids occasionally resulted in a burst of men and women, in various stages of dress, leaping over and through the drive-in fence to run through the lot, seeking escape from whichever authorities were pursuing them...
— May 9, 2013 5:48 a.m.

As I Lay Dying singer arrested for alleged murder plot

For a more detailed *Reader* report on the case, including Lambesis' divorce proceedings apparently leading up to the current allegation, see Eva Knott's post in today's News Ticker blog: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-tick...
— May 8, 2013 2:57 p.m.

We spend every dime on our costumes

Great profiles of these local entertainers. I was amused by the quote that "Burlesque is blowing up in San Diego," though - for years, our city was home to one of the most famous burlesque theaters in the nation, the Hollywood Burlesque, which was featured in motion pictures and whose various incarnations (including a run as a legit Broadway-style theater) long anchored a sold block of downtown pre-Gasplamp acreage. Built in 1913, the venue was originally known as the Lyceum, and then the Liberty, before becoming the Hollywood Burlesque in 1936. The 1948 film *Hollywood Burlesque* was shot in the bawdy hall -- once dubbed "San Diego's most famous dirty little secret" -- featuring well-known striptease dancers (including the iconic Lili St. Cyr) and various vaudeville acts. Owner Bob Johnson had started at the Liberty as a concession clerk; he ended up with a house on Fort Stockton Drive, a Cadillac, a box at the Del Mar racetrack, and his own thoroughbred Hollywood Theatre Stables, plus he ran the popular downtown hangout Bob Johnson's Sports Palace. Business at the Burlesque died down as porn became more prolific, and the theater closed in February 1970. Then, Pussycat Theater co-owner Vincent Miranda (who also owned, and lived part-time, at the Hotel San Diego on Broadway) negotiated a $3 million deal to purchase around two square blocks downtown, including two hotel spaces, several retail shops, and the old Hollywood Burlesque. He refurbished the theater exterior and interior, spending around $250,000 to remodel and install red carpeting and wallpaper. The resultant 417-seat playhouse was renamed the Off Broadway Theatre and reopened March 16, 1971, a day officially declared by the City "Off Broadway Day." The debut production was *Anything Goes*, featuring movie star Dorothy Lamour and Sterling Holloway (best known as the voice of Winnie the Pooh). From there, Miranda hired various producers to stage ambitious musicals like *Guys and Dolls*, as well as hosting touring productions of shows like *You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown*. More in the Reader cover feature *Before It Was the Gaslamp* - http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/200...
— May 8, 2013 1:25 p.m.

What 4th&B will be

I'd quibble with the assertion that there's plenty of room for more EDM at local venues, but it's Lyons' OTHER plans for the old 4th & B building that I find promising. That "big box" interior and its vista-like line of sight will be perfect for multimedia and filmed events. Lyons was one of the guys behind the original Minneapolis club Uncle Sam's, which (after becoming First Avenue) was the local used for much of Prince's *Purple Rain* movie. Plain old rock concerts would be welcome as well, especially with the promised new sound and lighting system and -- finally -- breathable air. Remember, there was a time when downtown was running concerts several times each week, at multiple venues like the California Theater, the Fox Theater, Spreckels, the Civic Theatre, Golden Hall, in Balboa Park, and at smaller niche clubs south of Broadway that brought in big acts like the original Soma, the Skeleton Club, etc.
— May 8, 2013 9:42 a.m.

Thank you, Johnny Depp

The Reader's feature length overview of San Diego's surprisingly large kid(die) rock scene covers adult ensembles such as Hullabaloo, Kathryn Cloward, Astra Kelly, Cowboy Jack Johnson, David Rees, and Larry Keough, as well as actual local kids with bands like the Garcia Three, Pink Army, and many more - http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/jam-sessi...
— May 8, 2013 9:20 a.m.