News

Post Mortem Postmortem

Letters from the issue of Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Post Mortem Postmortem

It all comes back to Kiel -- but not only Kiel: The Pulitzers' Post-Dispatch leaves an interesting legacy since 1990: the destruction of Kiel Auditorium, Kiel Opera House, Ambassador Theatre, the Arena, Waring School [Malcolm Gay, "Pulitzer's Gain," March 9]. Next, Busch Stadium, the Muny and a slew of schools and churches.

Collaborating in a decade and a half of destruction on behalf of the owners of the Fox Theatre, the Blues and Civic Progress, the owners of the Post set a plunging course for St. Louis at a time most other cities rebounded from economic hard times. And no one would course-correct. Their parting "gift" will be to vigorously urge a merger of St. Louis and St. Louis County, without a vote if possible, before Lee takes over.
Ed L. Golterman
Kirkwood

What are friends for? Chad Garrison's article about Joseph Pulitzer IV is impassioned reporting ["Pulitzer's Pain," March 2]. But to my thinking, no one identified as a "friend" who contributed information for the story is truly a friend of the man.
Jeff Dunlap
Maryland Heights

Here You Are

So Rich: I have been a major Rich McDonough fan for years and am so glad to see that Timothy Lane -- and now perhaps many more people, thanks to his piece -- feel the way that I do about this phenomenal bluesman [You Are Here, February 16].

Thanks for the great write-up!
Faith Williams
St. Louis

Steel Pulse

More on metal: I ran the metal section at the Crestwood Streetside for years. After reading Jordan Harper's Radar Station [January 26] on said metal section, I had no choice but to write in and clarify a few things.

Streetside's metal section was initially created in the early '90s by my longtime friend Carl Schultz. Carl did an amazing job creating and running the section. When Carl left Streetside, the section was in a bit of a slump for a couple of years until I stepped in. I streamlined the section and removed all bands whom I felt had no business being there.

In 2000, when the metal-only record store in St. Charles, Missing Link, closed, the amount of metal heads shopping Streetside doubled. Then the first buyout happened and things went downhill immediately. Soon all the Satyricon and Steve Walsh imports were replaced with board games and Don King bobbleheads. After the second (Trans World) buyout, things became even worse. My ability to order titles was taken away, leaving the section in the hands of an out-of-town buyer who thought the Dave Matthews Band was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I quit.

While I feel a great sense of accomplishment when Jordan Harper calls Streetside Records on Watson Road "the record store for local metal heads," I have to disagree with Chris Hines when he says he "knows the scene well enough" to run the section. The last straw came when I saw Christian hardcore bands being stocked in the section. The strict, anti-Christian stance was one of the reasons the section was so well-respected. My point being, Mr. Hines, that the section you claim to have been "taking care of" since my departure is not the same as it was. And the one you are going to "rebuild" down on Hampton will never, ever compete with the legendary section that Carl Schultz and I ran.

To all of my dedicated regulars from Streetside: Words cannot describe how much I appreciated your support. Come visit me at Now Hear This in Kirkwood to get the titles you need.

By the way, for all of those who always wondered what all of that dried-up brown stuff smeared over the death-metal sign in the section was, it was my blood. Seriously.

Top that, Trans World.
Mark Zilliken
Affton

Erratum

In the March 2 Unreal item "Boink Till You Oink," we erroneously stated that Missouri lawmakers haven't made bestiality a crime. They did, in 2002. First offense is a Class A misdemeanor (up to a year in prison). Do it again and you're talking Class D felony (up to four years). Read Chapter 566, Section 111, of the Missouri Revised Statutes and sheep -- er, weep.