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David Elliott interviewed in San Diego Magazine

July 24th, 2008 by Scott Marks

I’d like to say good evening, and how do you do, ladies and gentlemen. Kup’s world ends tonight with a bunch of bon mots from the lovely Ginette Vicot. (I’d like to point out that long before Jesse Jackson’s corresponding verse, this rhymin’ Hyman had such a funny meter to the roar of his repeater, if you catch my drift.)

It’s been pointed out to yours truly, that not unlike legendary prankster Red ” Aaron Chwatt” Buttons, my friend Donald, err, uhh, David, I should say, Elliott never got a dinner.

You can’t blame a guy for wanting to throw back a few farewell stingers with Burl Stiff and his fellow penman at the Tickled Trout. More than sedi…cough…sentiment and supper, I mean, Dave wanted a chance to bid farewell to his loyal readers who couldn’t wait to rip open the Night and Day section to peruse his latest cinematic missives.

I gotta’ tell you that David was always a good man when we worked together at the Chicago Sun-Times, and according to Essee a very capable wordsmith. I preferred schmoozing with the stars to watching their dreck pictures where I frequently caught some shuteye. If only Elliott had written more about Bears great Sid Luckman, because I never was big on movie reviews. Besides, who am I to critique someone else’s writing? Truth be told, Essee writes most of this crap…Anyway, I’d like to go on record as personally thanking Dave for never letting it be known that I once let loose a trouser fillip in his presence while ascending the Chicago Theatre in their cramped elevator. Yes sir, two rode together and one blew! Heh! Heh!

Since I already ran a photo of Dave and his lovely daughter Samantha, I found it only fitting to publish a shot of his son Tarvis. That Elliott is one loyal foot soldier. I don’t care how much Marshall Field paid me, you’ wouldn’t catch me dead wearing a chazarai Sun-Times t-shirt. Only Manny’s in Elmhurst for this reporter!

Now Ivan Bunny, there’s one for movies! I tell ya’ he sees everything. He was the one that saw Meet Dave. You know, just recently, Bunny’s bald spot finally filled in. I’ll never forget the day he performed a self-inflicted Larry Fine in my office. It was right after he read where Elliott proclaimed The Road to Perdition “the greatest gangster film since The Godfather.” Now I going to stick up for the man because for this reporter’s money Perdition far outclassed Marty Scorceske’s Goodfellows or Casino. I think it was even better than Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot and Feds. (By the way, Mary Gross is a Chicago gal, I might add.)

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Roger Ebert to reoccupy film critic’s seat at Chicago Sun-Times

April 1st, 2008 by Scott Marks

roger-ebert.jpg

Roger Ebert used the occasion of his 41st anniversary as film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times to write an open letter to his readers announcing his return to the paper early next month.

In January of 2002, Ebert was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. One month later surgeons successfully removed the cancer, but in 2003 he once again went under the knife when cancer was found in his salivary gland.

Roger was a guest at the 2005 San Diego County Fair and over dinner spoke of a misdiagnosed infection he endured as a child that he blamed as the source of his current health problems.

Roger has been absent from the movie beat since June of 2006 when he underwent further surgery to remove a section of his jaw bone. While recuperating, Roger continued to contribute occasional reviews to the paper and today announced that he will return as full-time critic shortly after his 10th annual Ebertfest at the University of Illinois. The celebration of overlooked films runs from April 23 to the 27th.

Roger will not return to his syndicated review show Ebert and Roeper At the Movies any time soon. He writes, “I am sorry to say that my ability to speak was not restored. That would require another surgery. But I still have all my other abilities, including the love of viewing movies and writing about them. And at my side I have my angelic wife, Chaz.”

Welcome back, Roger. Can’t wait to start shaking my fist at some of your reviews again!

Roger Ebert photos

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