*Naydean

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In 1977 Mike produced his very first video ever in Seattle. Now before I tell you about it you have to know a few things about Mike's predilections. Mike had an eclectic pile of subjects and people that fascinated him. When he first arrived in LA he became taken with Jim Morrison because the young Mike Copner resembled him a bit. He collected memorabilia from Bella Lugosi. Manly P Hall, Alan Watts and Delilah of course. He had a huge collection of plastic Godzillas. That's the kind of guy he was.

One of his favorites was Korla Pandit [link] the Indian Liberace. During the 40s-50s Korla was on TV regularly and even I remember seeing him a few times. He was a young kid with huge eyes and a be-jeweled turban. Later on during his shows he would pause and spiel gossamer flights of Hindu new age woo woo visions of the universe with his organ in the background. I think Mike was particularly taken by that bit.

His other idol was Delilah [link] who was and still is an incredible belly dancer. She worked regularly at George's, a Greek place on Madison across the street from the hospital where she was born.

To Mike, what could be better than putting his two idols together in a show. So he rented the Seattle Concert Theatre, hired two professional camera men, sold tickets and hired the two for a show.

First of all Korla was a STAR for cristsakes and why he should have to share the stage with some belly dancer? He snubbed her every chance he got but in the end he had to do the show because Korla's best years were behind him. Delilah didn't need the money but stuck with it because Mike was her friend.

Mike had to referee during live rehearsals, which was not what he envisioned. A long way from selling out, the blue hair set came to see Korla but declined buying the soon to be released video of which Mike had ordered, some 1000 in anticipation of hot sales. I don't think they understood about Delilah either. She did two sets to Korla's lackluster rendition of Miserlou and something else. Delilah's followers didn't buy videos, obviously not getting what Korla was doing there any more than the blue hairs got Delilah.

Korla, thrilled to be in the spotlight once again, wouldn't stop playing. The cameras kept rolling as the audience trickled out and the fees continued mount. It was past midnight by the time Mike coaxed Korla from behind his organ.

Such a great idea to end in tears. Mike gave his two favorite idols the best possible gift really. At the end he still had some 950 videos to get rid of some how and a whopping bill of $10,000 in 1977 dollars. Mike never missed a chance to try and sell the videos, I think he started Cult Movies in part so he had a platform from which to sell the remaining videos.