Manalive, The Movie

The filming of G.K. Chesterton's Manalive is almost complete. We look forward to viewing it. Maybe we'll get a sneak preview at the Chesterton Conference in Seattle, in August of this year.

Lunacy and Letters

On the ACS blog, Nancy Brown asked a trivia question which I tried to answer. While I did not discover the answer she was looking for, I did come across an interesting bit of Chestertonian trivia. The trivia question involved the art work associated with the Lunacy and Letters Column in the current issue of Gilbert. The art work consists of a couple of U.S. postage stamps with GKC's picture on them (fictional, by the way, as there are no U.S. stamps with GKC on them). I did discover that Czechoslovakia (1969) did issue a stamp with a caricature of Chesterton on it. And here it is.

Humor from Kevin O'Brien

Here are a couple of interviews with Stanford Nutting that I find quite enjoyable. Stanford is an author and adjunct at a local community college. I hope you enjoy them too.

"Authors Today" Kirkwood Derby interviews popular guest Stanford Nutting, editor of "A Compendium of the Best of Post-Modern Theology."

"Religion Matters" Again Kirkwood Derby interviews Professor Nutting on the Professor's views on religion.

March Issue of Gilbert Arrives

I received my March issue of Gilbert, the magazine of the American Chesterton Society (ACS), on Thursday, March 19. Another great cover by Ted Schluenderfritz. I've only read a couple of articles, so I'm not sure which will turn out to be my favorite. I'll post my choice in a week or so. I was pleased to see that Dale Ahlquist's (ACS president) upcoming speaking engagements were listed in the magazine. I've not noticed that before, but I think it's a first. I sent a note to the ACS suggesting that that add that feature to the Society's web site. That way any fanatics like me can decide if they want to drive to something that might be within a couple of hours and listen to Mr. Ahlquist. And if you do get to hear Dale, be sure your cell phone is off. (There is a hefty fine if your cell phone goes off during one of his presentations. Just kidding, I think!) I'm beginning to look forward to August 6-8, the dates of the upcoming 2009 Chesterton Conference in Seattle, WA. I'm also looking forward to receiving a book I recently ordered from the Society, "Paradox in Chesterton" by Hugh Kenner.

Notice I have not mentioned the last Meeting. There was a notice for it in the Chillicothe Gazette. But to no avail. I, however, was there and had a nice conversation with Erin, one of Schlegel's friendly barista's. I also enjoyed my decaf latte and a few pages of the "Flying Inn." Finally, as I departed thru the rear door, I viewed the beautiful art work of Gretchen Tippie. You folks don't know what you're missing!

Kevin O'Brien and Theater of The Word

I had the opportunity to see Kevin O'Brien live last night at St. Colman's in Washington CH. His theater company, The Theater of The Word Incorporated, presented The Journey of St. Paul. In the words of Kevin's web site:

This thrilling show will make you feel as if you've met the man himself - the most thrilling, outspoken, and courageous of the apostles. It's an encounter you won't want to miss!

I'm not sure how much advertising was done for the presentation, but it was pretty well attended.

After the presentation, I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin and I asked him about his dramatic reading of Father Brown. Specifically whose voice he meant Valentin, "the head of the Paris police and the most famous investigator of the world" to be. He confirmed, "Why inspector Clouseau, of course." I then asked him to autograph my CD box, and he graciously did so. Kevin also mentioned that he would be attending the upcoming Chesterton Conference in Seattle, WA. I told him I hoped to see him there.

March 18th Meeting to Introduce G.K. Chesterton to Interested Chillicotheans

The next meeting of the Chillicothe Chesterton Society will provide an introduction of G.K.C. to anyone interested in learning a bit about this British author. We'll look at the latest issue of Gilbert Magazine, a selection of past Gilbert issues, and a few of Chesterton's books. I'll also have a framed copy of the artist's cover artwork to display. The image will be on canvas. The canvas does not display the Gilbert Magazine Masthead. Hopefully Schlegel's will allow me to hang the art on one of their walls.

Incidentally, there are no local society dues, you don't have to join the American Chesterton Society, you just need to have a bit of curiosity about the man who wrote: "Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."

"If a Thing is Worth Doing, it is Worth Doing Badly"

The quotation above is from GKC's What's Wrong with the World, which was written in 1910. Part Four of the book is entitled, "Education: Or the Mistake about the Child." The famous, and much abused, line comes up at the end of Chapter 14 of that section.

Here's what Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society has to say about the quotation:

The line, "if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly," is not an excuse for poor efforts. It is perhaps and excuse for poor results. But or society is plagued by wanting good results with no efforts (or rather, with someone else's efforts). We hire someone else to work for us, to play for us (that is, to entertain us), to think for us, and to raise our children for us. We have left "the things worth doing" to others, on the poor excuse that others might be able
to do them better.

So what's that all about. Simply that I plan to continue the Society's meetings at Schlegel's Coffee House for at least the next six months. To date, none of the other Chillicothe Chestertonians have joined me for a meeting. I have been there, however, enjoying the atmosphere, reading The Flying Inn, and sipping decaf lattes. I'm taking the Chillicothe's First Capital Barbershop Chorus as my model. I know that the folks who formed that (3 people) met for at least six months before they were joined by other men interested in barbershop singing. Now they have about 10 guys who show up regularly and sing together. We even recently performed for Gallery Stroll.