Without wishing to sound like the Grinch I am, my interest in going to the movies (new movies) dwindled in the mid-80s, shriveled down to next-to-nothing in the '90s, and rolled over, died and was buried about two years ago -- it's now a point of pride for me never to go any more. My interest in new prime-time TV shows died in the '70s -- the last series I watched regularly was ELLERY QUEEN with Jim Hutton. I put all that saved time into watching the oldies. I had a great 1929-1937 THIRTEENTH CHAIR double-bill the other night -- add Holmes Herbert to the list of actors who played the same role in a movie and in its remake.

I tell myself, "Well, now I guess I SHOULD see the movie" after I interview an actor/actress about it -- for instance, I talked to Eva Marie Saint right after she did her part in SUPERMAN RETURNS. But then the movie came out, the reviews were not the best, none of my friends who saw it seemed glad to have seen it. So ... the heck with it. I'm gonna put on my shoes, go to the theater, spend 10 or 12 bucks on the ticket (and more at the snack bar) ... to see a movie I really don't care about, when I've got an unwatched DVD of KING OF THE JUNGLE (1933) with Buster Crabbe, Frances Dee and Sidney Toler right here? Pfffffffffft!