Here’s an artifact. Too bad it’s not a letter. The envelope contained a handful of cash receipts from Divvy for reimbursement from “Polyester,” which had just wrapped. Since I was the line producer and had to approve all expenses, John handed them to me. A brief note from Divine’s agent/manager, Bernard Jay, requested a…
Category: John Waters & Underground Films
Underground Films Blog
Business Card from John Waters’ Hairspray 1987
Rummaging around old files today, I spotted this gem. These cards, made for just a few of the pre-production staff (casting director, Pat Moran, art director, Vince Peranio, line producer, Robert Maier, and John) were designed by Waters’ wardrobe designer, Van Smith. They were rushed into print in February, 1987 after months of waiting for…
Divine Mauled by Press in Violent Scene Cut from Polyester
Many scenes from John Waters’ early films were left on the cutting room floor. They were great scenes, but Waters was fanatical that his films not exceed 90 minutes. He thought that comedy could not hold an audience longer than that. So many of his scenes are lost to movie-goers of today, but maybe a…
John Waters Backstage Photo During Polyester Filming, August 1980
This photo of John Waters (middle), Robert Maier, line producer (front), and George Stover, actor (rear) was taken in the basement of the Heavitree Hill home in suburban Baltimore that was Divine’s “home” in the movie “Polyester.” The basement served as the low…
Mugshot of Stover’s Shooter and Baltimore Sun Story
The Baltimore Sun yesterday ran a long article about George Stover being shot in the neck by a home intruder including many photos and even a video interview with a neighbor in the upscale Towson neighborhood (Waters’ hometown). It’s funny that none of the Baltimore media mentioned the fact that George is an international movie…
John Waters’ Bit Player Survives Gun Shot in the Neck by Home Intruder
George Stover, who had regular speaking parts in early John Waters films was shot in the neck yesterday in his home after arriving from a late party. It was a minor neck wound and he is expected to have a full recovery. George played memorable, if small roles including the minister who reads Divine his…
Robert Maier Discusses John Waters with’60s Icon Bob Hieronimus on Baltimore Radio
Baltimore artist, Robert Hieronimus on his psychedelic bus at Woodstock in 1969. It became an icon of the hippie movement. He is now Dr. Bob, an author and radio producer in Baltimore. Robert Maier was interviewed about his work with John Waters, as described in Low Budget Hell, on the Baltimore talk radio station, WCBM…
Collection of Edith Massey Photos on flicker
I hadn’t seen many of the photos in this collection, some from her last years. Friend and collaborator, George Stover, who had bit parts in many Waters movies (Bosley Gravel in Desperate Living) is featured in several. Others are from her shop in California where she hoped to fare better than Baltimore. http://www.flickr.com/photos/harald-haefker/galleries/72157628622685413/
Beautiful Mink Stole c. 1976
Mink Stole was an early friend in the Dreamland bunch, and we kind of moved in sync between Baltimore and NYC. She was a fixture in Fells Point when I moved down there. She and Delores Deluxe had just opened a collectable/antique clothing store (called Dreamland, I’m pretty sure) on Broadway right next to Edith’s…
John Waters’ 8th Grade Yearbook Page and Photo
John Waters’ 8th grade graduation photo was published in his first book Shock Value, but not much outside. I thought this shot was especially interesting because it shows him in context with his classmates from the late 1950s (this photo was taken in…