Wonders in the Dark One-Year Anniversary: Dedication, Chemistry, Luck, Countdowns, and a Superstar Named ‘Dee Dee’

by Sam Juliano

    Note:  The above picture is of Allan Fish and the five Juliano kids on the Empire State Building during Allan’s three-week Christmas visit of December 2008, which we’ll never forget.

     As we approach the one-year anniversary of Wonders in the Dark, we ask ourselves how we made it.  What started out as a whim has blossomed into a glorious community of film and music bloggers, who have given the site some of the most spectacular threads recorded on-line.  The site has attracted the comments of some worldwide artists and scholars, and it’s become a home for a number of bloggers desiring regular interaction.  From the beginning I was determined to start anew with my own blogsite after a short stint at a fine site named Movie Zeal.  Within a week of September 4th, with the help of Living in Cinema’s Craig Kennedy and my favorite Australian and long-time colleague Tony d’Ambra, the bare essentials were in place to proceed.  As I am technologically useless, I immediately enlisted the help of my dear friend from the U.K., Allan Fish, and within a few more days the collaboration that has defined the site for twelve months was in place.  With Allan’s extraordinary backlog of film reviews, posted piece meal from his unpublished book, we had the backbone of fresh daily material ready to post along with my own reviews of recently-seen films.  The combination in those early weeks was read by only a few bloggers, mostly my personal friends and school colleagues, who posted as they still do from the work PCs.  A few loyal supporters from Mr. Kennedy’s site were the only ‘outsiders’ placing occasional comments, so the site moved forward at a snail’s pace.

     Then came an ‘event’ that was to forever alter the dynamics of the site, one that fueled the drive to reach a wider audience and to turn the site into a gathering place for ongoing dialogue, much in the tradition of Living in Cinema.  An eternally effervescent blogger with a trademark syntax visited the site for the first time in late October, and singlehandedly transformed the psychology of the writers as well as providing an impetus for others to dive in and engage in discussion.  The blogger’s name is “Dee Dee” and she manages three blogsites, including the one most familiar to most, Darkness to Light, formerly known as Noirish City.  A graphic designer, who is a private person (I know her name of course, but won’t reveal it) she resides in the midwest, and is a tireless blogger with a disarming personality and a sense of goodness that stands apart from anyone and everything she comes in contact with.  Her astonishing generosity, concern for her fellow bloggers, and good-humored approach to blogging have enriched not only the blogging community but those who were fortunate to get daily visits from her.  ‘Dee Dee’ is an ever-astute film noir fan, who has spent the last few years gathering together and watching noir titles, interviewing writers in the field, and following DVD releases and festivals nationwide.  She immediately infused the site with a sense of enthusiasm and excitement, which was frankly infectious.  Her extreme kindness  is legendary, and just recently she read where someone was looking for a film on one of our threads, and promptly bought the film for the person whom she didn’t even know.  She acquired other titles for site regulars, who e mailed me to say what an unbelievable person she is.  Dee Dee’s presence at Wonders in the Dark has been more than invaluable, it’s frankly been the heart and soul of the site.  She doesn’t write reviews, but she is actually part of the staff here, as she has done more than just support Allan and I with perky comments, but she is a personal friend, and meeting her can’t be matched by any other favorable development over the past year. Even Allan, who keeps his emotions in check, has admitted to me that she is a ‘very lovely’ person, by telephone.  Her trademark ‘smileys’ and quirky demeanor have become part of WitD’s fabric.  But going deeper, she is a bright, articulate and crafty blogger who knows what is neded to enrich the subjects, whether it be providing links, overview, biographical embelishment, or even colorful asides like the broaching of birthdays, passings or relevant tie-ins.

     After Dee Dee’s prolific presence at the site had taken hold, others began to surface.  My good friend, the stupendously-talented Kaleem Hasan of Scarsdale, N.Y., became a scholarly force at the site, and in addition to his thesis-length comments, he authored several superlative essays.  At that time, our close affiliate, Tony d’Ambra began to help the site in all sorts of ways, while still maintaining his stewardship of his own two blogs, both of which are still minimally retained in the blogosphere. D’Ambra rehauled the site, and for a long time managed the sidebar graphics, special features and upcoming events, while simultaneously logging comments an dwriting some impressive reviews and posts, including some striking poems that  were critically-praised by the entire blogging community.  Tony is still a fiercely-loyal friend, who will always be a close affiliate on both a professional and personal level. 

      Then the ‘heavy-hitters’ started to arrive.  Ultra-talented site writers like our resident Joel Bocko, Professional “Jon Lanthier”, “Extraordinary”Ed Howard, tenacious John Greco, Divine Dave Hicks, eloquent R. D. Finch, New Jersey author David Schleicher, Bombastically Brilliant Bob Clark, “Mr. Personality” Kevin J. Olson, Kevin’s formidable blogging bother Troy, brilliant Bobby J. of the UK, scholar Qalandar, Guy Buzniak, fecund T.S., “Sage” Samuel Wilson, sweet Judy, and the original crew from LIC: effervescent Alexander Coleman, lovely Dorothy Porker, popular and talented Daniel Getahun, my close friend, brilliant Pierre la Plume, New Zealand’s brightest star, “sartre” and wonderful Jenny Bee Boulden.  Jenny wrote several pieces for the site as well.  This nucleus, along with the steadfast school friends (Joe, Frank G., Frank A., Maria Frederic, David N., Karen, Bill Riley, John R., Bill H. etc) has transformed the site into a comment factory, with so many threads going over 100, and most reaching between 40 and 80.  This has maximized the potential of the original posts.  in the early days it should be mentioned that young loyalist Nick Plowman of South Africa was amazingly supportive.  Bloggers Phillip Johnston, a great friend who I met, Joseph Demme, another gem whom I also saw in person, lovely Pat, gifted Marilyn Ferdinand, Anukabist, gifted Film Dr., tireless Ibetolis, Margaret, Jeopardy Girl, Evan Derrick, Ari, Joel, Tony D., Alison, K, Chuck, Matthew Lucas, James of Out 1, and close friends relentless Dennis Polifroni, Voting Tabulator Angelo D’Arminio, Broadway Bob, Opera Maven Peter Danish, cousin Bobby McCartney and good friend Jason Giampietro have all made significant contributions.

 

      The site was named to the IMDB ‘hit list’ in early summer, and the result was a surge that never really abated.  One of our current writers and most fecund contributors, Jamie Uhler, was perhaps the biggest gain from that unexpected windfall in hits, comments and recognition.  The thread that was cited was The Best Films of the 1950’s poll results, and the decade countdowns with Allan’s prepared reviews in tow have brought many people over to the site to follow the daily drama.  With a little under a month to go for the 80’s poll, plans are in place to cover the silent era up to 1929, 90’s, and oo’s, as well as a film score poll, and one on the greatest albums and songs of the rock era.  The IMDB mentioning brought the site attention from all over, and there was a sharp increase in hits from that point onwards.

      World famous film composer Donald Sosin, J.W.W. Turner expert Shelby Whittington, the costume designer of Irena’s Vow, Topeka Opera Society President Robert Webb, and a number of other important figures in the theatre and music world left favorable comments at the site before and after the IMDB acknowledgement.  Film lovers around the world have cast many ballots for our decade pollings.

      It’s been quite a ride for all of us, but my friendship with Allan Fish, with whom I’ve maintained a contentious relationship on-line, has oddly resulted in a chemistry that has amused site visitors exceedingly.  My ‘happy’ approach is countered by Allan’s probing cynicism, replete with his famous caustic wit, that has been the lynchpin for many heated discussions and arguments, where dirty laundry is often aired.  No blogsite out there is as ‘open’ and adverse to ‘proper comportment’ as WitD, and this may well be its prime ‘selling point.’  The man with the steel-plated hide, the tireless and fecund contrarian  Bob Clark has been in the middle of rows with Allan, but has always handled himself magnificently.  After sustaining two three week visits from the UK from Allan, over the past two years, I can readily admit he is one of my very best friends.  There isn’t a day over the last five years that I haven’t spoken to him on the phone or by e mail.  Many days it’s dozens of exchanged e mails in fact.  I understand Allan.  I know his faults, much as he knows mine, and the chemistry has largely been a success story.  Who would have thought that a testy Limey from England would be one of the closest persons in my life!  And then there’s incomparable and beloved Lucille and my five adored kids, who’ve had to deal with this latest obsession.

      From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all who have made this venture such a surprising delight.  As Tony D’Ambra astutely noted to me in an email:  “Once you get there, you must work twice as hard to stay there, always acknowledging the blogging community that enabled the success.”  We will do our utmost to honor the trust we’ve been given. 

     The 80’s countdown will be postponed for one day (continuing on Saturday morning) so this vital post can top-line an extra day.  The above picture is of Sam, Kaleem Hasan and Allan during Allan’s first visit to the states.

      

    

 

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