I don't know why but for whatever reason, (God, Satan, or sheer dum luck), this movie has been very important to my show. Let me give you a brief (as much as I can be really) history of this movie and how it entered my life.
Wild guitar was one of the handful of films made by Fairway International. Fairway was created by Arch Hall, Sr, who was an actor himself and starred in several movies in the 30's and 40'. (The film, The Last Time I Saw Archie directed by Jack Webb was about Arch Hall Sr's actions in the military. Sr later sued the producers and made some cash off of it)
Although it's not too clear why he created Fairway exactly, he ended up producing films starring his son Arch Hall, Jr. Jr was a good lookin' California kid with blond hair and a passion for music. He admitted he didn't know how to act. (And proved this in his films), but he went on to make 6 films for Fairway. The Choppers, Eegah, Wild Guitar, The Sadist, The Nasty Rabbit (AKA Spies-A-Go-Go) and Deadwood '76. I don't know how well these films did in theaters but they have since maintained a strong cult following. (Just because a film is in the public domain doesn't mean that it was a bomb. Look at Rescue From Gilligan's Island)
At one point, due to financial troubles, Arch Hall Sr sold the films of Fairway. The person who bought it, (can't find any record of them) didn't take care of them too well it seems because Wild Guitar slipped into the public domain on January 1, 1990.
I discovered Wild Guitar in 2008. I found it at Wal-Mart at thier $1 movie bin on a double feature disc with The Beatniks from Digiview. I was still debating on starting my show so I was getting an idea of what was out there in the public domain. Plus, it WAS a dollar. What the hell?
I took it home, waited for Cameron to fall asleep and popped it in. After five mins, I was thinking "Wow. This is crap. But I like crap so I can handle this.) About 15 mins in was the first time I saw Miss Vicki Wells dance. I actually let it pass before I thought, "Wow. That would be a great opener for my show." I rewound it and watched it over and over again. Thinking of what I can do with it.
And sure enough, she was on the very first show and every episode (except 2) since.
Let me tell you a bit about public domain. When something falls into public domain, it's there. Can't be taken out (Except for extreme cases), can't be sued over it, (Well, you CAN be sued for everything can't you?) and you can use it however you want. You can start your own DVD company and release the film without having to pay the original copyright holder. And it's not just movies. Books, pictures, and just about everything is in there.
So when Wild Guitar went into the public domain on January 1, 1990, so did the soundtrack of the film. Not the movie soundtrack you'd buy on CD at the record store. But the sounds that accompany the visuals. Example: When you see Arch Hall Jr talking in the film. When you hear him talk, that's the soundtrack I'm referring to. So everything you hear in that movie is public domain as well. Including the songs. Because back then, music written specifically for the screen wasn't givin a special copyright. So as long as the movie was copyrighted, so were the songs. When the movie's copyright lapsed, so did the songs.
Anywho, what does all this babbling have to do with me suing someone? Here you go.
Baqck in 2005, a company named Norton Records released a cd called Wild Guitar. It's a collection of songs recored by Arch Hall Jr recorded in the 60's. Using the original master recordings, It includes most of the songs from his movies, a gig he did at a drive-in theater in Florida and a couple of songs from the various gentlemen clubs he played at. And yes, I have this cd.
Norton Records is owned by a company called The Orchard. Orchard has been putting ads on my videos claiming that I stole thier music. (Which as clearly (?) stated above, I haven't)
I've fought these charges on youtube, but youtube isn't removing them so i'm going to the next step.
I'm suing Orchard.
Wish me luck!
