Thursday, September 9, 1982
Page 12
Daily Nebraskan
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"Quasi's Cabaret"
Old cartoons influence
Cruikshank 's fantasies
Photo courtesy of Sheldon Theatre
Sally Cruikshank
By David Thompson
"I'm trying to create an upbeat vision of
things," Sally Cruikshank has said, "trying
to create images that would delight me."
Cruikshank finds this delight by creat
ing cartoons, technicolor dreamworlds
where one can bring any number of
oddities to life through the combination of
motion, character and time.
Cruikshank's dreamworld is an interest
ing one, and it will come alive tonight and
Friday night at the Sheldon Film Theatre
in a retrospective of her films. Movie
goers will have the opportunity not only to
examine her animated wonderland but also
to ask her about its creation, as Cruikshank
will attend both screenings.
Her cartoons are born of a fascination
with those 1930s "Merrie Melodies" that
everyone used to enjoy in the old days
before "Tarzan" and "The Super Seven."
Cruikshank loves all those dancing animals.
She loves to watch Popeye beating up
Brutus and Betty Boop wiggling her car
toon hips. These little snippets have
psychological significance, different from
Wile E. Coyote's antics with gadgets like
rocket- powered roller skates, and it is
from these cartoons of the past that
Cruikshank draws her inspiration.
A few oldies are included in the retro
spective to serve as a reference point.
Cruikshank claims she was not addicted to
these cartoons as a child, but when she
saw them again as an adult they "really
struck some memory chord from long
ago."
The influence is clear, especially in
Cruikshank's later films. Her first film,
"Ducky," was made in 1971 while she was
studying art at Smith College in Massa
chusetts. With its primitive watercolor
drawings and its choppy motion, "Ducky"
is more an adventure for the eye than any
sort of story. An odd parade of images
bursts forth from Cruikshank's imagina
tion, mostly centered on a baby whose face
is constantly changing from one bizarre
form to another.
Another of her early films, "Fun on
Mars," also made in 1971, was the result
of Cruikshank's move to San Francisco.
"At first, I was bowled over by the
differences between New England and
California," she has said in previous inter
views. The film is full of highways, roller
coasters, tourists and condos, all dancing
about in the Disneyland atmosphere to a
song that extolls the California philo
sophy: "If you want happiness, just help
yourself to some."
From these earlier films, Cruikshank
moved into a more advanced technique
known as "eel" animation in which pic
tures are painted on layers of celluloid with
bright vinyl colors.
"Quasi at the Quackadero," made in
1975, and "Make Me Psychic," made in
1978, concern an odd little duck-like
creature named Quasi and his sidekick
Anita.
Continued on Page 13
Flash.
Gonzo, Jimin-i, Animals
By Terry Field and Kris Saalfeld
"Everyone should go once. It's just like trying mari
juana. You gotta get loose. This may be taboo, but it's
harmless."
These were the words of UNL business student Janice
York as she watched Thursday night's show of male
strippers at the Downstairs Lounge in the Clayton House,
10th and 0 streets.
According to John MacDonald, lounge manager, the
Nightlife
male strip shows have been performed at the Downstairs
every Tuesday and Thursday since June.
"We planned these shows for the college market," he
said. Business has increased, too, in the past couple of
weeks. Our largest crowd was 95 people."
How did MacDonald find his dancers?
"I was looking for guys to do my show and through
word of mouth, Flash, Gonzo, Jimin-i and Animal (the
dancers' stage names) showed up, willing to work."
Jimin-i described the stripper routine as a show with
four stages and four songs. Each dancer returns to the
floor four to five times during the evening.
In the first stage, the dancer starts his act by tanti
lizing the audience with body movements. During the
second stage, he removes his shirt and unzips his pants.
Each article of clothing is removed as his dance continues
until finally, in the fourth stage, he removes his A-string
(a Speedo-type suit) to entertain the audience with his
G-string.
"I love it," said Jimin-i, a former disk jockey. "I
consider it an art, a real sport. Not everyone can do it."
"It's fun " Gonzo agreed. "I feel good that the audi
ence likes what I'm doing and appreciates me for it."
Another dancer, Flash, who described himself as
"thirty-ish," sees the show differently.
"Our dancing is therapeutic for society. Women have
been deprived for a long time. This lets them be them
selves. And it's good for men, too. They see that there's
not much to it. Sometimes they get jealous, but in the end
they appreciate what we're doing."
Flash continued, "It's good for me too. It's an outlet
after a hard day of work."
Animal, 22, said he enjoys the dancing but cited in
stances when women, expecially older ones, have been
too aggressive.
"We have a clean show. We haven't been busted or
closed down. One of the stringent rules we are bound to is
that the women must not have any physical contact with
the dancers. And the dancers cannot go anywhere past the
lower part of the stage when dancing."
The stage is a small, raised wboden platform in the
center of the dimly lit basement room. Tables with chairs
jut out from the edge of the stage like the legs of a spider.
Onlookers can reach out to the rhythmic dancers from
the closest chairs. But often, as they reach holding a dollar
to "tip" the dancer, he will taunt them by backing up just
out of the tipper's grasp.
What does the audience think of the dancers? Asking
to remain anonymous, one woman from California ex
plained that Californian shows have more male applicants,
which causes more competition for the jobs and produces
better dancers.
"Compared to Nebraskan dancers, Californian strippers
usually do not hold a second job. This is their only source
of income." "But," she said, "the male dancers here
pamper the audience and circulate to focus on all the
tables. They make an effort to know their audience on a
friendly basis."
Another viewer in her early 60s said she enjoyed the
dancers.
"I'm not offended by their gestures," she said. "But,
I'm waiting for the gray-haired stippers myself."
The UNL students in attendance seemed to thoroughly
enjoy the show.
"There's nothing wrong with a good male body,"
York said. "They must display talent though, not just
sexual gestures. As for some of the dancers' movements,
they can really offend our tastes."
Gonzo defended the dancers, saying, "Suggestive move
ments are the main reason people come to see us. But we
won't take it all off. It we did, nothing would be left to
the imagination."
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Staff photo b Oavt Benti
Male strippers entertain at the Downstairs.