Video interview: Guys from Dallas Producers Association talk about Curse of It Came From Dallas

by John P. Meyer

It's been two years since I first interviewed Bob Dauber and Gordon K. Smith of the Dallas Producers Association (DPA), and since their annual fundraising variety show is coming up next Thursday (Oct. 15), I thought it would be fun to have them back in the office for another talk.

Besides, they were here anyway to get their shot at playing the theremin. So why the Hell not?

For those who've never attended one, let me tell you that sitting in on an It Came From Dallas event can be dangerously entertaining. Over the course of the evening you'll laugh your butt off watching the show reel (prepared by Smith) containing vintage footage from productions of all ilks made in Dallas. We're talking movies, TV shows and commercials -- and whatever other curiosities Gordon can come up with (and he's got the knack, let me tell you).

Did you know that Jerry Haynes, a.k.a. Mr. Peppermint, played a role in Robocop? Me neither, but it's absolutely true. (So did Leeza Gibbons, but that's rather beside the point.) I mention Haynes because of two things: 1) there's likely to be a segment of the show featuring a DPA member in the kid audience performing on kazoo; and 2) there's an outside chance that Haynes himself might attend The Curse of It Came From Dallas: Taking the Fifth. Which would delight all attendees.

I split up the video into two segments, because Bob and Gordon have a tendency to wax poetic (i.e., talk a lot).

Listen up to hear:

* How Yvonne Craig hooked up with Warren Beatty while they were in town working on two very different film projects

* Who will receive the coveted DPA Film Pioneer Award this year

* Why film guy was once again passed over for emcee duties in favor of Gary Cogill (DAMN YOU, COGILL!)

* What ribosomes get up to when nobody's watching them with a microscope (think: Schrödinger's cat's litter box)

O.K., I made that last one up, but nevertheless you're bound (if determined) to find something interesting in the interview videos, so carry on watching.

And direct your browser here for more information about the show. It's gonna be a doozy.