Movie Memories

'Blazing Saddles' rides again!

Mel Brooks as the governor and Robyn Hilton as his, uh, secretary in "Blazing Saddles." (Courtesy: Warner Bros.)

Genius is not a word I toss around freely.

Oh, I use it to describe myself three or four times a day, of course.  But that's usually about it.

Not today, though.  Today I want to send as many accolades as possible out to creative genius Melvin James Kaminsky of Brooklyn, New York.

We all know Mr. Kaminsky better as Mel Brooks, whose "Young Frankenstein" of 1974 still holds almost 40 years later as my favorite comedy of all time.

It is Brooks' other 1974 comedy, "Blazing Saddles," that takes center stage on this occasion, however because you can enjoy a digitally restored print of the raucous Western on the big screen as part of Cinemark Theaters' Classic Series one day and night only, Wednesday (May 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.), at select Cinemark Theaters across the U.S. 

And yes, you read correctly.  Two of the most outrageous, entertaining comedies of all time debuted the same year.  From the same filmmaker.  With a little help from Count Basie (whose full orchestra appears from nowhere among the sagebrush in "Blazing Saddles"), some magnificent acting talent (Madeline Kahn as the Oscar nominated saloon singer in "Blazing Saddles" who's "so tired" and the monster's semi-reluctant, shall we say, romantic partner in "Young Frankenstein"), the beans-fueled flatulance campfire scene of "Blazing Saddles" and many others.

I could go on.  In fact, I would if I didn't have better evidence than words can describe to point out what I mean when I call Brooks the cinema's Crown Prince of Irreverence.  Some of you may think that cutting edge, down-and-dirty comedy -- dangerously chancy, even -- began with the "The Hangover" franchise in 2009.

Nope.  Mentally roll back the clock to Feb. 7, 1974 and click on the "Blazing Saddles" trailer below.

 

 

Hip-hop in the Roaring Twenties?

Baz Luhrmann puts Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio through their paces in "The Great Gatsby." (Photo courtesy: Warner Bros.)

From the Hey, Don't You Think It's A Little Late For That Department:

Now that Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" is in theaters with a boffo $51 million and change opening weekend in the books, the Australian filmmaker with a flair for, shall we say, mass-appeal-of-the-day revisionist film-making, is feigning worry that "Gatsby" novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald might not approve of a flashy mix of hip hop and period music.

“I don’t know if he would say, ‘I was really upset you didn’t put the old-fashioned music in.’ He might have,” Luhrmann tells The Hollywood Reporter.  “He might have said, ‘Why did you put that immediate, now music? Why did you use this new thing called 3-D?’… I don’t really know what he would think,” an article posted on the Hollywood Reporter website said.

From this aisle seat, Luhrmann and (if you watch the video below) hip-hop artist Jay-Z, who draws an executive producer credit as Shawn "Jay Z" Carter, stars Leonardo DiCaprio (Gatsby), Carey Mulligan (Daisy) and former "Spider-Man" Tobey Maguire (Nick) all agree that fusing modern-day hip-hop into Roaring Twenties jazz is -- to split the difference decade-wise -- a groovy idea.

I'm not going to give a full explanation of how I think it worked today, since -- NEWSFLASH! -- Breaking News -- there's a good chance I may be reopening my Movie Review Jalapeño Jar soon.  That might just begin with my "Great Gatsby" review.

More to come on that news soon.  For now, check out the video below and see what those involved have to say about hip-hopping through F. Scott Fitzgerald territory.

 

 

Those other Cannes Cannes girls

It's oh-so ordinary for flashy starlets and would-be ingenue hopefuls to flock to the South of France to share the limelight of the Cannes Film Festival, which cranks up the projectors May 15 and unspools celluloid through May 26.

But, according to a Hollywood Reporter article by Dana Kennedy, call girls flock to Cannes during the festival in hopes of making what the article predicts may be as high as $40,000 a night.  (Quick, how many euros is that?)

"'We all look forward to it,' says a local prostitute in Cannes who goes by the name of Daisy on her website but declined to give her surname. Daisy is one of many independent escorts who have their own websites and usually avoid going to hotels and bars -- except during the festival. 'There's a lot of competition because there are so many girls, but the local ones have an advantage. We know the hotel concierges.'

"The local prostitutes, says Daisy, routinely drop cash off with concierges at the town's top hotels. In return, if they are lucky, concierges sometimes steer clients their way. During the 10-day festival, an estimated 100 to 200 hookers stroll in and out of the big hotels every day, according to hotel sources," states the Hollywood Reporter article.

That's not the Cannes Film Festival I remember from 2005.  I recall working almost around the clock to attend screenings and world premieres and attending press conferences where filmmakers and stars converged to talk about their latest project.

That included extraordinary actor Tommy Lee Jones that year.  Jones, who took the top acting award during his visit, enjoyed what might have been a career humbling highlight when his gritty Texas-set crime-drama "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" (starring Jones, Barry Pepper and January Jones) earned a 7-minute standing ovation following its world premiere.

Maybe because working film critic slugs like me didn't have the time, money or inkling to hang out in the palatial top-dollar (top-euro?) hotels, I didn't notice a swarm of girls with, let's say, monetary aspirations in mind.

Here's what I do remember.  Once I felt confident enough with my broken French to order food, I stopped off at a sidewalk bistro for lunch.  I was feeling pretty proud of myself for ordering in French as I gazed out at the busy, frenzied even, people strolling the streets of Cannes.

My pepperoni pizza arrived with one slight language barrier problem:

There was a fried egg nesting right in the middle of it.

On well, c'est la vie.

I think that means "that's life," but you might not want to take my word for it.

(Image courtesy:  nbcdfw.com)

'G.I. Joe' writers up in arms

I am shocked, shocked to hear that two of the writers from "G.I. Joe:  The Rise of Cobra" (2009) have filed a lack-of-payment lawsuit against not only major players in Hollywood, but a toymaker as well.

Why am I so shocked?  It has nothing to do with the lawsuit, really.  It's this:

The "G.I. Joe" flick actually had writers?

Yeah, huh.  Hard to believe, I know.  But, according to the Hollywood Reporter piece written by Eriq Gardner:

"The two writers (David Elliot and Paul Lovett) say that shortly after the premiere of the 2009 film, the defendant film companies asked them to present plot-lines, themes, characters and more for a potential sequel "with the stated intent that the PDH Defendants would hire Plaintiffs to write the screenplay if they liked Plaintiffs' proposed Sequel.

"Elliot and Lovett said that they did just that, and now after seeing their work allegedly taken without credit, they are seeking more than $23 million in damages for copyright infringement and breach of implied contract."

("G.I. Joe" poster courtesy:  Paramount Pictures)

George 'What-a-Show' Jones

You know, George Jones is coming back to the Opry for the last time.

Aw, we all wondered if he would.

You know, it keeps runnin' through my mind ...

This time, he's over his troubles for good.

George Jones, the conflicted superstar country music troubadour with a pure voice of the gods and a devil's grip on whiskey bottles, will play the Grand Ole Opry one more time.

According to an article published in The Hollywood Reporter, a public funeral for Jones, who died Friday at 81, will be held Thursday (May 2) at 10 a.m. at Nashville's country music shrine.

"George would have wanted his fans and friends everywhere to be able to come and pay their respects along with his family," said publicist Kirt Webster in a press release quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

As much as I'd like to be in Nashville to pay my respects, I can't.  So two unforgettable meetings, regrettably from afar, with the greatest country music crooner of all time (in my humble opinion) will have to do.

I worked my way up to San Antonio from a small-but-proud newspaper (The Valley Morning Star) in Harlingen in 1983.  It didn't take long to become aware that The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo was a big deal for my new city and for my new newspaper, The San Antonio Light. 

The rodeo became a big deal for me as well when I learned that George Jones would be appearing the night our group from the newspaper planned to go.  The rodeo itself was fun enough, though distinct with odor-de-livestock.

I moved to the edge of my seat, though, when Jones and his band was introduced.  The country superstar came out and sang his opening number just fine.  Jones was well into doing a great job on Tune No. 2 as well when some stupid jerk in the audience flung a cowboy hat like a frisbee that somehow -- and I still don't understand quite how -- sailed far enough to hit Mr. Jones right in the kisser.

"Well, good night y'all," Jones said calmly.  He turned around and left the stage after performing for a total of about four minutes and never looked back.

About a decade later, I had another chance at Jones, who was dubbed "No Show Jones" by many back then.  The Possum and his band booked a gig at a festival at Austin's Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake).

I was dating future wife Suellen then, and I couldn't wait to impress her with decent seats to see George Jones.  Suellen's daughter Lisa, about 10 or 11 at the time, was with us.  It was a great day.  The festival, face-painting for Lisa and then, if he showed up, George Jones.

The good news is that Mr. Jones did show up, and he seemed to be (relatively) sober.  Jones' entourage even sold T-shirts flaunting the obvious:  "I saw No Show Jones."

George Jones took the stage with a friendly grin shortly after the sun went down over the lake that night.  His voice, clear and full of nuance (and perhaps Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon), echoed through the speakers like vocal nectar. 

Jones was in fine voice that night.  And so was the drunk seated directly behind me who -- leaning forever forward spewing breath that reeked of the devil's outhouse -- matched Jones word for word, nuance for nuance ... only louder and directly into my ears!

We didn't even care.  We were there and so was George Jones.  What a memorable night.

Thanks for showing up, George.  We'll miss you.

As George himself would say, and will if you click on the video below:

"Yaba daba do, the king is gone."

(George Jones photos courtesy:  tmz.com (top) and accessshowbiz.com.)

Debriefing: Bonnie and Clyde posse

April 20 was hardly a typical Saturday.  That was the day the Richland College Emeritus plus 50/Movie Memories posse was formed for the semi-sole purpose of determining that Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow remain a non-threat to law-abiding citizens.

We all watched "Bonnie and Clyde," the Oscar-nominated 1967 classic starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, the night before, so we felt obligated to take action.  (Click here to hear Merle Haggard sing "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde.")

Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow vintage photo courtesy: fbi.com.

While it's true that a 79-year-old notorious crime spree might be considered the ultimate cold case by some, the Richland Emeritus plus 50 group is a determined bunch, especially if we can stop at Braum's for a refreshment break from time to time.

After returning from a rather cushy day on the trail -- not on horseback but in a comfortable Lone Star Coaches bus -- your scribe can report that both former West Dallas desperadoes of the 1930s remain buried and quite secure in separate Dallas graves.

The other purpose of the day trip was to have lunch at Bonnie & Clyde's Hideout.  Not the gun-brandishing bank robber's actual hideout, you understand, but a comfortable, swanky bar and grill at the Hilton DFW Lakes Hotel in Grapevine.

Although we weren't officially deputized by Richland Emeritus plus 50 director Mitzi Werther, when the bus pulled off from under the big tree in Richland's Parking Lot D, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who felt like we were off on an important mission with snacks.

Our journey began in the direction of Irving.  Destination:  The CRM Studios, formerly known as The Studios at Las Colinas.  Tim Eaton, senior account executive/producer, gave up his Saturday morning to show us around the star-themed dressing rooms and high-tech studios.

Tim Eaton takes us behind the scenes at the CRM Studios in Irving.

Eaton, of course, is a great friend of the Richland Emeritus plus 50 program.  During last year's April movie-themed bus tour, Eaton showed us around Waxahachie, 45 minutes South of Dallas.  That's where Oscar-winning movies "Places in the Heart," "Tender Mercies" and "The Trip to Bountiful" were filmed in the mid-1980s.

Tim wowed our crowd once again this year with his friendly, funny banter and knowledgeable tour of the soundstages where movies like "Silkwood," "JFK" and others were lensed and where various TV shows, the Glenn Beck radio show and corporate productions are the focus today.

From there it was off to the Barrow Gang trail.  Mike, our driver, stopped the bus at the historical marker that signifies the somber site (on East Dove just off Hwy. 114 in Southlake) where Bonnie and Clyde's gang gunned down two Texas Highway Patrolmen on Easter Sunday, 1934.

Then it was off to the Bonnie and Clyde Hideout, which is -- shall we say -- in plain sight right smack dab in the center of the Hilton DFW Lakes Hotel. 

A side note:  I doubt very seriously that the outlaws-on-the-run ever dined at their hideout-themed bar and grill.  If you do, though, I highly recommend the tomato basil soup.  It's yummy.

Our tour guides: Author, memorabilia collector and Richland Emeritus plus 50 advisory board member Charles Heard, left, and author, Bonnie and Clyde historian Jonathan Davis at the historical marker in Southlake.

From there our Bonnie and Clyde tour guides, Charles Heard and Jonathan Davis, directed Mike the driver and our group to West Dallas, where stops included a site where Clyde Barrow killed a police officer in a shootout on the porch of a West Dallas home, the Barrow family plot at the Western Heights Cemetery on Fort Worth Avenue and the now-shuttered Star Service Station on Singleton Blvd., which once served as the Barrow family home.

We then journeyed north for a quick ice cream and convenience respite at Braum's before visiting Bonnie Parker's grave (see photo above), where she's buried next to her mama at Crown Hill Memorial Park on Webb Chapel Road.

As the day's shadows grew longer, Mike steered the bus back toward the big tree in Parking Lot D.  We had accomplished our goal.  As we suspected but felt compelled to confirm, Bonnie and Clyde remain no threat to bankers, car owners or grocery store owners.

Besides, the candy we packed for the trip had run out by then. 

The Richland College Emeritus Bonnie and Clyde posse: That's Emeritus plus 50 director Mitzi Werther on the far right. (All photos courtesy Michael Pasierb, except for the shot of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.)

The trip to bountiful, too

As the brakes on the bus that isn't really a bus whoosh, the driver -- a calming soul with a Chicago Bulls cap pulled down low over his ears -- says, "OK, folks, just one more pick up."

The doors open and Jonathan Winters, looking to be in his mid-30s and grinning from ear to ear, bounds up the steps.  "Man, this is the best I've felt my entire life," Winters blurts.

"Your entire what," a serious, but polite and slightly giddy British woman replies.

"Hey, you look like ... you are Margaret Thatcher," Winters almost shouts.  "And isn't that Annette Funicello across the aisle?  I remember her.  She looks great, in fact young and energetic enough to put those Mickey Mouse Club ears back on.  Say, what's going on here?"

"You'll understand soon, Mr. Winters.  Just relax and rest assured that we're off to someplace wonderful and without prejudices of any kind.  There will be no such thing as liberals or conservatives, racial tension or even pain and suffering."

(Thatcher, with a knowing smile, nods in the direction of a woman a few seats away.)  "Isn't that right?"

"Right you are, ma'am."

"Please forgive me," Winters says to the other woman, "but I don't recognize you."

"Call me Casino Sue, Mr. Winters.  I've been a fan of yours since I saw you do that Maude Frickert routine on 'The Tonight Show' way back when Johnny Carson was host.  You were one funny lady.  I mean ... well, you know what I mean."

"Of course, Sue.  Thanks," Winters responds.

"Hey, Maggie.  May I call you Maggie, Mrs. Thatcher?"

"If you don't mind, Mr. Winters, Margaret will do."

"Sorry, ma'am.  Of course.  I meant no disrespect.  Hey, Maggie ... just kidding, loosen up a little, who's that guy hunched over that iPhone up in front of us?"

"That's Roger Ebert," Thatcher replies.  "He's been trying to send a text message to his wife and Tweets to his thousands of followers the whole trip."

Ebert scratches out a quick note and hands it to Thatcher:  "I have 600,000 online friends and fans who count on me.  I can't reach them."

"You've already reached them, Roger, and you'll always be in their hearts.  Don't worry, you won't be forgotten.  As for Chaz, your loving wife and helpmate will join you sooner than you can imagine," Thatcher says.

"Excuse me, Roger, but why are you writing notes anyway," Winters asks.

"I lost my voice years ago in a horrible bout with cancer," Ebert says.  "I can't speak."

"Well, you just did, bub," Winters replies with his impeccable comic timing.

"I did, didn't I," Ebert beams, looking like he did in his heyday.

"You sure did, Roger," the bus driver says calmly as he turns around and removes his Bulls cap.

"Gene ... Gene Siskel!  You old son-of-a-gun," Roger shouts.  "Great to see you!  But don't you need to keep your hands on the wheel?"

"I'm not really driving this bus, Roger.  I just like to keep two thumbs up there on the wheel for old times sake."

"Say, are we there yet?  How long will this trip take, anyway," Winters asks.

"Do you want to tell him or should I," Siskel asks his passengers.

In unison, Margaret Thatcher, Roger Ebert, Annette Funicello, Jack Pardee, Bonnie Franklin and Casino Sue (Taylor) say, "A blink of an eye."

(Bus image courtesy:  John Mattos/oneearth.org)

I'm not taking comedy sitting down

Making an announcement like this on April Fools' Day probably says more about my comic t-t-timing, or semi-lack of same, than a sane man would normally care to share.  But here goes.

I'm adding stand-up comedy -- a lifelong love of mine -- to my repertoire of Movie Memories presentations. 

You should know I've made a fool of myself as a stand-up comedian before.  So this decision does not come without precedent.  It just arrives without the benefit of clear thinking.    

Welcome to "We Might As Well Laugh," an hour-long comic look at the world around us.  I'll talk about things that bug me, like tiny print on medicine bottles, hearing aids that whisper in our ears when we least expect it and a world divided equally but uneasily between the two titans, mayo and Miracle Whip.

It is now officially OK to laugh at me, laugh with me and, perhaps, chuckle a little at yourselves as well.  After all, many of us are navigating uncharted life beyond 50 or 60, which is the new 50 and the old ... What?  I've lost my train of thought again.

Oh yeah.  Seniors deserve fun, too.  After all, these are trying times.  Meteors and asteroids are buzzing Mother Earth.  Sinkholes are swallowing up houses and golfers (If you're keeping score, that's a sinkhole in one or one in sinkhole) and now giant monster mosquitoes are buzzing around Florida like Mothra.  Yeah, huh.

Thus the title:  "We Might As Well Laugh." 

So, join the comedy-for-seniors rebellion with me, won't you?  Book your group, club or facility today for some real fun that we can all identify with.

We'll laugh 'til it hurts, which won't take long for those of us with joint ailments.  Let's have some fun with comedy only those 45 or 50 or with even more life experience can truly appreciate (and guffaw at).

And let's not forget that some of us remain plenty rebellious.  Young people think it's hip to wear their pants way down low, for instance.  That's way south of hip (or hips), if you ask me.

Perhaps in an effort to balance the universe, some senior men appear to be raising the waistline to mid-chest.  Have you seen Clint Eastwood lately?

And speaking of seniors, do we really have to refer to ourselves in high school terms?  As far as I can tell, there's no big homecoming game and dance looming and no senior prom coming up.

We've got something better:  Memories; movie and otherwise.

You know what?  I'm not taking stand-up comedy sitting down.  Give me a second to get up.  O-o-o-kay, I'm up.

We might as well laugh.

Big thanks, giant mosquitoes, oh my!

I want to take a moment to thank everyone in the enthusiastic crowd that came from near and semi-far (Little Elm, I know of) to attend Richland College's Emeritus plus 50 gala "Music, Magic & Movies" extravaganza at the Fannin Performance Hall Thursday.

My highest praise goes out to The Levee Singers and magician David Hira, who drew respective standing ovations for -- What is the notch just above outstanding?  OK, got it ... -- stellar, crowd-pleasing performances.

And thanks to Mitzi Werther, who heads up Richland's Emeritus plus 50 program, for inviting me to emcee and perform in the program, Nick McMinn up in the Fannin Performance Hall booth and to my new partners-in-entertainment (for one day, at least), Ed Bernet, Dick Bernet and the two Ralphs, Sanford and Lindsey, and, of course the mysteriously engaging David Hira.

Also, if you couldn't join us for "Music, Magic & Movies," keep reading down the page for the next exciting Emeritus plus 50 event, the Bonnie and Clyde Bus Tour.

One more thing.  You missed the update on those giant mosquitoes that are 20 times the normal size in Florida.  As you will discover by clicking the link below, however, the mucho-plus-sized mosquitoes appear to be no real threat at all.

  

'Bonnie and Clyde' still wanted dead, thank you

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in a photo found by police at their Joplin, Mo. hideout in 1933.  (Courtesy:  http://en.wikipedia.org)

Both members of the notorious crime duo Bonnie and Clyde are quite dead.  Still, they can't get away.

Movie Memories and the Richland College Emeritus plus 50 program has a dandy day bus trip planned for April 20. We're forming a posse to retrace the famous outlaw's steps.

Once again, it is my goal to make Richland Emeritus plus 50 leader Mitzi Werther order a bigger bus.  But I need your help to do that.

It's time to sign up for the "Bonnie and Clyde Bus Tour."  It all kicks off with a screening of the 1967 Oscar-nominated crime-spree classic "Bonnie and Clyde" Friday evening, April 19.  The next morning, we'll get on a comfortable bus and begin our tour at the CRM Studios in Las Colinas.  Tim Eaton, who so eloquently guided us around Waxahachie last year, is back to show us around celebrity-themed dressing rooms at the CRM studios.

After lunch, we'll tour Dallas-area locales where notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde gunned down two law enforcement officers, other related sites of interest and finally visit the couple's grave sites, which are not together in case you are wondering.

Charles Heard, author, cinephile and collector of movie memorabilia, will guide us along the Bonnie and Clyde part of the tour.  Sign up early, please.  Once the bus is full, it's full.  You can call 972-238-6147 to register for the bus tour.  Here's a link with all the info:  http://www.richlandcollege.edu/emeritus/trips.php

Hurry, it's spring break fun for us

There is no denying it.  We've had some potentially tragic near-misses lately.  We survived the meteor that ravaged Russia.  You know, the one no scientist saw coming.

We even made it through the recent too-close-for-comfort asteroid fly-by on Feb. 15.

And, so far at least, it appears we've even passed the crisis stage in Dennis Rodman's recent visit to North Korea, where the multipierced, multitattooed former NBA elbow-slinging rebounder hammed it up with munchkin leader Kim Jong Un.

Who says spring break is only for the kids?  I say it's time to party Baby Boomer style!

I'd like to personally invite you and as many friends and loved ones you can round up to join us at Richland College's Fannin Performance Hall tomorrow (Thursday, March 14) for "Music, Magic & Movies."

The gala celebration begins at 10:20 a.m. and includes The Levee Singers, Dallas's own legendary folkies, celebrated magician David Hira and yours truly as master of ceremonies.  In addition to serving up some heart-pumping movie memories to set the entertainment mood, I'll also have a few tricks up my sleeve.

And who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?

Remember, that's four hours of music, magic and movie fun for the small fee of only $15.  And a box lunch is provided.  Also, we plan to have you out of there by 2, so don't worry about fighting rush-hour traffic.  Call 972-238-6147 to register for the event (Course No. 814388) or click on this link for more info.

And, by the way, if you have difficulty registering today because of the late date, send me an email at lrratliff@verizon.net and I'll see if I can help.  See you tomorrow!

'Bonnie and Clyde' still wanted dead, thank you

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in a photo found by police at their Joplin, Mo. hideout in 1933.  (Courtesy:  http://en.wikipedia.org)

Both members of the notorious crime duo Bonnie and Clyde are quite dead.  Still, they can't get away.

Movie Memories and the Richland College Emeritus plus 50 program has a dandy day bus trip planned for April 20. We're forming a posse to retrace the famous outlaw's steps.

Once again, it is my goal to make Richland Emeritus plus 50 leader Mitzi Werther order a bigger bus.  But I need your help to do that.

It's time to sign up for the "Bonnie and Clyde Bus Tour."  It all kicks off with a screening of the 1967 Oscar-nominated crime-spree classic "Bonnie and Clyde" Friday evening, April 19.  The next morning, we'll get on a comfortable bus and begin our tour at the CRM Studios in Las Colinas.  Tim Eaton, who so eloquently guided us around Waxahachie last year, is back to show us around celebrity-themed dressing rooms at the CRM studios.

After lunch, we'll tour Dallas-area locales where notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde gunned down two law enforcement officers, other related sites of interest and finally visit the couple's grave sites, which are not together in case you are wondering.

Charles Heard, author, cinephile and collector of movie memorabilia, will guide us along the Bonnie and Clyde part of the tour.  Sign up early, please.  Once the bus is full, it's full.  You can call 972-238-6147 to register for the bus tour.  Here's a link with all the info:  http://www.richlandcollege.edu/emeritus/trips.php