Date:         Sun, 16 May 2004 18:31:20 -0500
Reply-To:     Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      LVC: Andy Kaufman & Vanagon Sighting
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

On this 20th anniversary of the death of the late (?), great Andy Kaufman, I
must mention a recent Vanagon sighting.

I am a HUGE Andy Kaufman fan. Recently on netflix.com I discovered a
somewhat obscure film titled, "My Breakfast With Blassie." It is patterned
after the more well known, but probably much more boring (I don't know I
didn't see it) film, "My Dinner With Andre." (the Kaufman DVD is packaged
with another Kaufman film titled, "Andy Kaufman: I'm From Hollywood" - a
decent film if you know anything about Kaufman's life).

At the VERY beginning (like in the first 10 seconds), Andy Kaufman is
sitting on a bus bench in Los Angeles. As he sits, a tan over brown Vanagon
pulls up to a traffic light. It is there only a few moments before the light
changes and it moves on. That was it - the full sighting.

I couldn't tell what year model it was, but the movie was filed in 1982. You
do the math.

If you know nothing about Andy Kaufman, are a glutton for punishment, and
you want to see a few seconds of the lower portion of a Vanagon on film,
rent this DVD and watch it. If you don't know anything about Andy and his
life you just won't get it. In short, the film is a pseudo-documentary about
Andy having breakfast with the famous wrestler, and self-proclaimed King Of
Men, Fred Blassie. If you are a fan of Kaufman and know a lot about him
personally and his life, you just might enjoy this DVD. If you do rent it,
watch the film and then listen (just audio, no video) to the director's
notes. They are a hoot, and they really make you understand the film.

By the way, there is some question as to whether Kaufman is actually dead.
At one point he declared that if he were to fake his death, he would return,
20 years to the day, and be back in public life. If you know and understand
the true humor of Andy Kaufman you can't be sure that he is dead. He just
might reappear today. His long time friend, and co-worker, Bob Zmuda is even
throwing a party for him tonight. Let's all hope that he shows up. I'm
keeping my fingers crossed.

Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce