tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89778532011-09-26T09:42:03.841-07:00The Fog Also Liftsby George SpinkGeorge Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099600169582606292006-12-31T14:15:00.000-08:002011-09-24T00:02:46.868-07:00Table of Contents
Edward Hopper's Nighthawks (1942)
Photo courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago
Contents
1... Nighthawks
2... Landscapes
3... Babaloo
4... Mackay's
5... YogaWorks
6... Seven Comes Eleven
7... Sweet Lorraine
8... Matteo's
9... Witchcraft
10... In The Night
11... Rodeo Drive
12... Stardreams
13... Gaullimaufry
14... Cousins
15... George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1101953581231745902004-12-01T18:12:00.000-08:002008-10-21T07:32:09.180-07:00Back In Your Own BackyardGerry and Carmen became inseparable. Her little boy, Carlos, and Gerry hit it off very well. Gerry and Carmen were married nine months later, on June 25, 1994, at St. Monica's Church in Santa Monica. They had a small wedding reception at Sabina's in Shangri-La, inviting Carmen's and Gerry's relatives and friends. Some of his musician buddies formed a combo and provided the music.To everyone's George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1101834562308570362004-11-30T09:08:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:07:38.375-07:00Shangri-LaGerry awoke about six o'clock Wednesday morning. He showered and shaved, put on clean sweat pants and a sweat shirt, and strapped on his wrist wallet. He left for the beach a few minutes before seven.This week, he was working only three days at Sony Pictures: today, Thursday and Friday. Elmer Bernstein was making final touches to the movie soundtrack they had been working on for several weeks. George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1101749410020208902004-11-29T09:10:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:06:50.853-07:00VeniceGerry left Carmen's about six o'clock so she could get ready for work. He walked along the boardwalk to Washington Boulevard, turned east to Pacific Avenue, then walked north to Rose Avenue, and finally headed home. In 25 minutes, he was there.As he walked, he thought about the wonderful day he had spent with Carmen. She came on to him as sexy as she could be, but, in fact, she was restrained. George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1101699093028355862004-11-28T18:41:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:05:19.692-07:00AmapolaGerry and Lorii spent a quiet, romantic afternoon and evening together. Before she left to teach her yoga class on Tuesday morning, she told Gerry she needed to do some errands and then she planned to have dinner with her father and Renata. She said she would call Gerry on Wednesday.Gerry rose about seven o'clock and took his daily walk along the beach. On his way back, he saw Carmen Castillo George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1101231943977008762004-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:03:39.561-07:00PragueMonday morning. Lorii was in the shower. Gerry was sound asleep. Lorii dressed, kissed Gerry softly and whispered, "See you later, Gerry." He didn't hear her.Gerry slept until almost noon. When he awoke, he realized it was Monday, the one day of the week when he didn't work. "So I slept in," he thought. "Big deal! I'm entitled. I worked until one o’clock this morning."Lorii didn't come back to George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100983059722993302004-11-22T20:31:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:02:57.398-07:00Volga BoatmenThe second number was Glenn Miller's extended arrangement of Song of the Volga Boatmen.Gerry and the other musicians enjoyed playing these arrangements because they were crafted so well in the first place. Bill Finegan, for example, had arranged Volga Boatmen for Glenn Miller. He was a young man then; in fact, Miller's musicians were all in their early or mid-20s in 1939-1942, when Miller's George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100711487185162442004-11-17T09:06:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:02:09.851-07:00The Hollywood CanteenGerry arrived home about 1:30 early Sunday morning. He poured himself a Coke, sat in his easy chair in the living room, and turned on his TV set. He flipped through the channels, looking for a movie about to begin.The Hollywood Canteen was just beginning, featuring a large cast of Warner Brothers contract players. Gerry liked old movies. This one was made in 1944 and featured Joan Leslie, one of George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100628100007729452004-11-16T09:56:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:01:04.117-07:00CarmenThe Nighthawks were in their third set at Mackay's. The club was packed. Dancers jammed the floor. The band was swingin'.A crew from KCOP (Ch. 13) was videotaping the dancers and the band. Their sound engineer plugged into the band's state-of-the-art audio system. "This sounds great," he said. "Wait until you hear it on your own TV!"From time to time, other TV crews and people in the media did George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100568624267419312004-11-15T16:50:00.000-08:002008-07-06T16:00:22.048-07:00CousinsIt took Renata about 30 minutes to walk home from Louise's on Melrose Avenue. She cried all the way. Gerry had hurt her deeply. She really liked him, and she thought she could trust him.As she walked, she realized that she only had one real date with Gerry, when they went to Matteo's on Tuesday night. "I don't have any claim on him," she thought. Her cousin, Lorii, had known him for a couple of George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100534636186110232004-11-15T07:14:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:58:30.290-07:00GallimaufryGerry pulled into Renata's driveway just before eleven on Saturday morning. He looked forward to seeing her, but the new intensity of his relationship with Lorii was troubling him to no end.He got out of his car. Renata's landlady said "Good Morning" to him when he entered the house. "She's waiting for you," she said. "Thank you," Gerry replied. He pressed Renata's doorbell. "C'mon up, Gerry," George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100456494431843592004-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:57:48.725-07:00StardreamsLorii returned to her own apartment early Saturday morning after spending most of the week at Gerry's place. She really loved him, and she really loved making love with him. Now her cousin, Renata, was in the picture. Lorii simply didn't think her bookish cousin was any match for her. It wasn't the first time Lorii underestimated Renata; it wouldn't be the last.When she arrived home, the first George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100324270604813382004-11-12T21:16:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:56:37.414-07:00Rodeo DriveMondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were Renata's busiest days at UCLA. She taught one undergraduate class at nine and another at eleven. At three o'clock on Mondays and Wednesdays, she taught a graduate seminar. She also served as an adviser to six master's candidates and two doctoral candidates, meeting with each of them at least once every two weeks on Tuesday mornings. Renata kept them busy.Her George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100199167967988722004-11-11T10:29:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:55:51.442-07:00In The NightWhen they returned home from Mackay's, it was about 1:30 in the morning. Both Gerry and Lorii were really tired and went to bed right away, Lorii in the guestroom and Gerry in his own bedroom.About 4:30 in the morning, Gerry felt Lorii crawling into bed with him. She wasn't wearing one of his T-shirts this time--or anything else. Neither was Gerry. Lorii snuggled close to him and then began George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100122308643590682004-11-10T13:31:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:55:00.576-07:00WitchcraftLorii was disappointed with Gerry when he called to say he wouldn't be home until morning. "OK," Lorii said, "I'll be fine. See you in the morning.""How did she take it?" Renata asked as they walked around to the parking lot. "I guess OK, but she sounded unhappy."She'll get over it," Renata said as she gently latched onto Gerry's arm.When they arrived at Renata's apartment, she turned on her George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1100041974029876902004-11-09T14:30:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:53:34.326-07:00Matteo'sGerry arrived at Renata's about a quarter to seven. He parked in her driveway and waited.Gerry wore his "new" blue suit that he picked up from his tailor a week earlier. Gerry couldn't remember the last time he actually bought a brand new suit. His tailor, Tony Grazia, had a small shop on Los Angeles Street near Eighth Street in the heart of L.A.'s fashion district. Tony called Gerry a few times George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099869973686147832004-11-07T14:23:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:49:21.877-07:00Sweet LorraineGerry's phone rang at 5:45 on Tuesday morning. He was sound asleep and, at first, thought a phone was ringing in his dream. He answered it, but he still heard a phone ringing. Then he slowly woke up."Hello," he said."Gerry? Did I wake you up? I'm sorry. But I want to see you right away.""Who is this?" Gerry asked."It's Lorii!" she said. "I have to see you. Can I stop by in a few minutes?""OK," George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099845483240610752004-11-07T08:29:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:47:18.281-07:00Seven Comes ElevenThe recording session at Sony ran over about an hour, lasting until seven o’clock. Elmer Bernstein caused the delay by adding some last-minute Benny Goodman septet sides to the soundtrack. Gerry enjoyed these small groups sides because they gave him a chance to play clarinet, something he didn’t do every day. His musician buddies encouraged him to play clarinet more often, but Gerry preferred hisGeorge Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099767102848565602004-11-06T09:59:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:38:01.851-07:00YogaWorksRenata stayed for the band's first two sets, then told Gerry she had an early morning at UCLA and had to leave. She gave Gerry her home phone number and address. "I live near the Beverly Center on the north side of Blackburn, a few doors east of La Cienega," Renata said. "Upstairs." Gerry said he'd call her Monday evening.Gerry lived in a house he had built in 1970 on Rose Avenue near Fourth George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099535920915882042004-11-03T17:58:00.001-08:002008-07-06T15:37:15.076-07:00Mackay'sRenata walked into Mackay's shortly after 8:30. Gerry was on the bandstand talking over the song lineup with Marty West, who led the Nighthawks. Renata sat at a table next to the dance floor, giving her a good view of Gerry and the bandstand.Gerry walked over. "I'm glad you came," he said to Renata. "I hope you like what you hear tonight." Then he sat and talked with her for a few minutes, buyingGeorge Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099463837021233332004-11-02T22:15:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:35:40.180-07:00BabalooGerry met Renata by accident in 1993. He had just finished a Sunday afternoon yoga class at YogaWorks on Montana Street in Santa Monica and walked a few blocks west to Babaloo, one of his favorite restaurants. He gave the hostess his name. She told him there would be a 15-20 minute wait. Gerry sat down on the bench across the aisle, outside the restroom.A young woman ran into the restaurant, George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099445379483173822004-11-02T17:27:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:34:43.488-07:00LandscapesRenata Thomas was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana. Music filled her home when she was growing up because her parents owned a music store, the kind that had listening booths where customers could play records before buying them. Whenever Hoagy Carmichael returned to Bloomington, where he was born and raised, he always stopped by Thomas Records.Her parents encouraged Renata to be her own George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977853.post-1099445257957676222004-11-02T17:24:00.000-08:002008-07-06T15:34:23.706-07:00The NighthawksWhen Gerry Pollack finished his tenor solo, a few dancers applauded, but most just kept on dancing. Gerry bowed slightly, then sat down.He plays with the Nighthawks every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Mackay's on San Vicente Boulevard and Barrington in Brentwood. The band hits at nine and plays until one. Gerry plays tenor, alto and clarinet, something he began doing in grammar George Spinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350784213953506381noreply@blogger.com