Harry Partch

The original plot of Harry & the Hendersons did not involve a sasquatch at all but was more of a didactic piece (original script from the same team that did Mindwalk) about an average American family suddenly being forced to host maverick musical genius Harry Partch. Partch explains his tonal systems, his theories of theater & wows the suburbanites with tales of riding the rails with musky hobos. The film didn't test well & the studio replaced Partch with the 15-foot tall Dabney Coleman look-a-like that has become such a potent symbol of environmental anti-authoritarian struggle.

Today is his birthday. Harry Partch's. June 24th, 1901. Somehow, despite that fact that I've been interested in him & his music since about 95 thanks to Forrest Norman's old roommate Chris Landers, it took me until this year to find out that we share a birthday. I'm not a musical genius, nor much of a maverick, but it does give me some satisfaction to think that Harry Partch & I are now (at least in the eyes of the law) married. So check out some Harry Partch. Don't let Hollywood rewrite history yet again.