A Quick History of Solly's Diner

In 1980, my desire to watch Jones walk around on a screen coincided with me getting my first big paycheck ever as an actor - as Charlie Butz in "Escape From Alcatraz". I took some of the money and paid off some of my major debts and used the rest for an experiment: I was going to make a 10 minute, live-action, comedy film short about Sometimes Jones - the experiment being that I was also going to write & direct, plus play Sometimes Jones. I called in favors & blackmailed friends. We shot it in 16mm in 4 days, 10 pm to sunrise on a 3 day schedule & budget - because one days rushes had to be shot over because of a 1 in a million glitch in the lens seating (sic). Some of the crew had day gigs, too.

It was called, Solly's Diner. The cinematographer - Harry Mathias - wanted to submit it to film festivals immediately as his rent was due and he needed work badly. One of Harry's festival demanded the film to have been shown in a ligitimate Movie House before submission.

We sneak previewed it in the only movie theater - at the time (1980) - that had a 16mm projector and would rent us 10 minutes on their schedule that also coincided with Harry's film festival schedule & what was left of the money: the Fox Movie Theater, a sleazy, old, cavernous, run-down, porno movie house on Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, California came thru. We were shown with no announcement of any kind or type. Nada. "Blow Job Bitches" ended & "Solly's Diner", a modest, subtle, character-driven comedy experiment, began. Back in the last row, there was just me, Harry, and my girlfriend: the Solly's Diner Party.

As it began to unreel, the 25 other, scattered gentleman who were already randomly there sat and stared and waited for nipples, nudity, fucking, & a come shot. They waited. Nada. My funny sweat, blood, money & tears quietly ended, loud music blared, a Title: "Hot Rod Vagina's" came on, & a couple starting fucking on the movie screen. The 25 random males seemed to know instinctively that this next film had a come shot in it: their body language became palpably interested in the screen again. My modest character study was a disaster. I hated it. We had missed completely & the uncorrected color print was too green. The experiment was a failure. Three months later Solly's Diner got nominated for an Academy Award, I went to the ceremony with Harry & my girlfriend in a stretch limo, & Solly's Diner's been shown all over the world. I think it's fine. I like it a lot. & Harry's a cool guy.

Click here to go back to where you were before this Side Trip.

Click here to look at colored pictures & drawings.

Anyway, all I'm trying to say is, at this website Sometimes Jones is certifyably affiliated and can be found at this website in all his mediums, incarnations, manifestations, &/or permutations. I hope you find him funny & cool. Read, watch, & enjoy.

LH

Click here to go buy Sometimes Jones' stuff.

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