Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

I've enjoyed reading the posts on this forum for several years. I finally registered for the forum today.

In case there hasn't already been a post on this topic . . .

Two recent video interviews of GL by Rudy Blair can be viewed on the website of Toronto's 680 News (www.680news.com) via News > Video Galleries.

(One of the interviews consists of a guided tour of part of Lightfoot's home (with GL as the tour guide).)

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

thanks for the headsup! one link didn't work - here's one to the interview but the house tour video doesn't seem to work fo rme. wish they'd interviewed him somewhere other than in front of a window..he's just a silhouette for the most part..radio guys don't know about those tech details of video shoots i guess..lol

http://www.680news.com/2009/11/19/68...don-lightfoot/

http://www.680news.com/2009/11/19/68...ghtfoots-home/


CBC Q radio is supposed to have an interview with him close to the Nanaimo/Vancouver dates..

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

i managed to see the house tour... great stuff! it asked me to download a player and then it went perfectly

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

send the link along..

i can't even get it to open to tell me to download a player. the interview opens just fine tho..

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

i followed this link:

http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radi...tfoot_home.wmv

you might have to downalod a plug-in.... hope it works!

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

I finally got it to work - it was just being fussy!
lol
He used to have all those awards and framed certificates etc. at the office on Yonge St.
12,000 sq.ft. is a lot of house for one person..

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Wow, what a find!! I'm surprised that Gordon would offer such an interview complete with an in-home tour, considering what a private man he is.

There is something extraordinary in the every-day life shown here. And for all he has accomplished, could he be more humble? I think that's a big part of his charm. It's good to see him looking good and sounding upbeat as well. A very nice treat indeed for the corfid community :)


And welcome, Off Yonge Street!

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Thanks so much for finding the link. For those of us, who have had the good fortune of meeting him. The interview shows the Gordon all of us have met. Quiet, humble and unassuming.

Kevin

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

What a wonderful experience. Gordon's gracious tour of his home was fantastic. I really like the kitty-cat part. It reminded me of Gordon's reference to "the cat" on the tune "It's Worth Believin." It also shows that he is down-to-earth and unassuming. Thanks much for sharing it!

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Jomo - funny name. The only problem I had watching the videos is the camera bouncing all over, especially going from picture to picture on the wall in his study. I suffer (and that's the word for it) from acute motion sickness and had to listen more than look. Even then I got distinctly queasy.

12000 sq ft! We could fit our house in a corner of his, lol. Nice to see it's fairly plain (no crazy architecture, wild colors.) The Fitz "hat" was a hoot!

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Great video! I liked the cat part too, especially how he picked him up and introduced him. Thanks for posting, Off Yonge Street.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Unfortunately, my dial-up connection chokes and experiences near-death when I try to watch it. From the 3 minutes I was able to view, I was taken by the fact that the place doesn't look lived in. That reminded me of a line from "On The High Seas"..........

"I don't want to own the key
To some ghostly mansion where souls are set free"

Great stuff. I add my thanks to Off Yonge Street.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Interesting how he threw in the "I was outvoted to buy this place and move from Rosedale"..and "I didn't want a pool" stuff.
He did say he doesn't spend much time there - he's at the office, at the club or on the road...he lives two lives.
It really seems like a ghostly mansion..but in a really nice part of town!

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Was interesting to take the tour. I had a similar reaction to Char. A lot of the space seemed big and empty and so, to me, it seemed sort of sad. To be blunt.....lots of folks might think they want a 12000 sq ft. home but better to have a small place and share it with the people you love and who love you.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

egadz now every Lighthead is going to want an SS Edmund Fitzgerald head :biggrin: That was too funny!!! Wonder how much...;) n'mind!

Nice decor...Early Funeral Parlor :p. Myself - I used to go for the big, dark pieces but I'm now reformed, light oak. Except I couldn't help myself and bought a HUGE Baroque-style chaise :roll eyes:. And I think I spotted a parquet floor in his house there and started drooling :p.

12,000 sq ft is not enough room for a Siamese cat!!! Wow oh Gordon is a brave man to take that cat in!! I took in a Siamese cat...tried to find the owner, but nobody would claim him. I found out why!! My son was a toddler and I didn't have to worry about him getting into things or breaking anything...but Chowder...OMG. He even knocked down a framed sketch that was hanging 4' or so on the wall...and tore it right out of the frame! I spent soooo much time on that drawing! I guess Chow really didn't like Neil Young!!!!

Nice to see these videos...thanks Off Younge!

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

There is a certain spartan decorating quality to the home that shouts bachelor. I was surprised that the interview was conducted with the light source (window) behind Gordon. That darkens the image of your subject and is just basic taboo photography. A TV station would know better but, overall, I thought that the radio station did a decent interview. As always, Gord embraces his legacy with humility and a genuine appreciation for his success.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

I dunno.......JoMo looked a little tired from it's trek to the litter box to me.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

I said the same thing aobut the window/lighting/backlight problem, but then remembered it was a radio show that was doing the interview..lol
Better lighting would have shown off his shirt with the cards and dice embroidery.. ;)
It was nice to see how he has his 'stuff' set out and pictures/certificates hung..very sweet..

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

try this - http://www.filesend.net/download.php...275d5cea40fbba.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Charlene here put it best - a "ghostly mansion" (from "On The High Seas"). I found this probably the most intimate interview I've seen in quite a while, but I was definite struck by the sparse appointments of such an elegant house - especially the huge rec room with the pool table and Tiffany lamp above it. Pretty stark. But if I was a person who lived a life on the road so much, or was in the office promoting my business, or visiting family, my place would likely be just as spare.

Twenty-eight guitars that will eventually "be disposed of" - and mention of his estate - I guess it does come to that...I found the photos and awards interesting - an entire career on the wall.

Very eye-opening interview, to say the least.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

here's the interview link if you can't open the other:
and you may download it here: http://www.filesend.net/download.php...40b0cb68a8c638 .
>

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Wasn't that the same shirt he wore during the George Stroumboulopolous (sp?) interview?

By the way, having had 24 hours to think about these interviews since viewing them last night, I've decided I like Gordon even more for what he doesn't have. There is absolutely no false pretense. What you see is exactly what you get.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

You're right about the shirt. I'm sure that's the one from the TV interview you mentioned. And you raise a valid point about false pretense - just took me off guard a bit as to how empty it all looked. I hate those atrocious shows about how the rich and famous live, so Gord's place definitely was in stark contrast to that.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

yep - same shirt he wore on The Hour.
and it looks like same pool table (maybe a new one) and light from the house in Rosedale. Same set up at least..one room for the table.
He mentioned having a few places around town so maybe some 'stuff' made it's way to those other places..where the kids live etc.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Worked like a champ.

That was very thoughtful.....thank you.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Great interviews,I just wish it wasn't quite so dark!I especially liked the part about the cat.Jomo-what a great name! Such a pretty cat,too
Thanks for posting this.
patybear

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Hi there,
just watched the home video a third time; I´ve read all your comments and I must say I
largely share your insights and comments about the `ghostly mansion´and the not-lived-in impression. I think he left everything the way it was when his wife and children moved out.Considering his illness and the time he spends on the road - maybe he just never found the time and energy to create a new home for himself. I was always wondering whether the aquisition of the new house was a last attempt at saving the marriage. So, with his family living in a different house it didn´t matter to him any more.What Char said about him being outvoted by his family on the subject of moving house seems to endorse that theory..
Anyway, it sure is unlike anything you might see on `Cribs´; so , I regard the house as what it probably is- the remnant of a broken home. Made me very sad indeed.
The only time I had to chuckle was when he made the remark/joke about `Queen Street and the siamese cat `or am I getting anything wrong there? I didn´t get the Mojo/Jomo - thing - what´s the cat´s name after all ? Please help me out . It was nice to post after quite a while (don´t get me wrong- I check in every day after work, that´s a ritual. i just had a hard time logging in -as always. ) My serious apologies to everyone who contacted me on my account . I never got to see those private messages. I´ll write to you all in person when I have some time on my hands in short.
Love Vera

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

The Rosedale house was sold in 1999 (put up for sale in 1998) (he bought it in 1975) and he and Elizabeth and their two children moved to the home in the Bridle Path area.
I believe she moved out in 2004.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Interesting piece on the house. When he says "I just sleep and eat here" it's a bit like a teenager.

I did not know that his second marraige had broken up, I thought he was still with his wife. Pity.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

I couldn't get the web page to work, but here are the direct links to the windows media files:

Gordon Lightfoot interview
http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radi...tfoot_main.wmv

Home tour
http://qml.quiettouch.com/files/radi...tfoot_home.wmv

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Thank you, imported Next Saturday, that´s the fist link that worked for me to both watch and hear !!! the first interwiew. Shadow man ! I hope they send the cameraman to some retraining. But very nice just the same. Vera

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

To Germany76:
The cats name is Jomo.Its Mojo,spelled backwards.
Hope that clears up your confusion.Patybear

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Backwards??? 8 semesters of linguistics at Heidelberg University- all in vain! No, seriously, I think my problem is that I have no clue whether Mojo stands for something; only then would the Jomo/Mojo - thing make sense to me. If you have any idea, please let me know.
Thanks so much, Patybear Vera

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Saving the two video files to your hard drive is the best option for those like Ron still battling a dial up connection, I can now say that smugly having at long last upgraded to the 21st century and graduated to broadband.
Actually whoever uploaded the single video to filesend.net was really wasting his/her time. because in fact the two links that INS gave may be utilised as either "play now" (in Internet Exploder simply left clicking on them), or for the really adventurous use the right click then "Save Target As" and both files albeit large will download to wherever you dictate.
Here they are on my main "master" desktop (now moved to my GL desktop)
(I created some 15 users on my Windoze XP PC
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfo...my_desktop.jpg
I also tried it with Firefox and found that that ultra clever alternative browser upon a simple left click popped up this most helpful menu
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfo...fox_option.jpg
I have no doubt that those of you running MACs will intrinsically know what to do

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

well the Filesend link worked for a few folks here and in e-mails I sent around so it wasn't a waste of anybody's time..If they choose to save it that's up to them.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Err Umm I never said that you were wasting your time. I was referring only to whoever took the trouble to upload one of the files to filesend.
It was only after I had used the filkesend link that I realised that it only covered the one file and after I had fruitlessly tried to locate the other video file on filesend the penny dropped and I tried and was able to use the two direct links that INS had posted. I thought that others should know that both video files could be grabbed that way.
Now I must see if I can quickly use the two wmv format video files to burn a DVD for posterity.
I suspect the quickest way will be to use SUPER © Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer.
http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html
and firstly convert them to the DVD compliant mpeg-2 format

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

hi John, actually I had no idea what to do other than to shut off the G5 and fire up my Windows laptop

i didn't know Mac could play a wmv file

rudy sounds a lot different on the radio...i would have liked to see more of a close up of the NewsWeek article...thanks for the links and upload shares:)

rm, good one 'ghostly mansion'...is there anybody home in this house, etc?

btw, isn't Mojo spelled backwards = Ojom? ...it's got such a better ring to it;) ...Vera, have you not seen any Austin Powers flicks? ...mr mojo risin'

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

Well Sir John - considering that my name is beside the post you obviously read that had the FILESEND link, I thinks it's safe to say that you were referencing me.

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

I assumed that the reference is to the music magazine:

http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/

However, the term has various other meanings, at least one of which I'm pretty sure is not the one Gord or his son had in mind when naming the cat!

Of course, by "backwards", he really meant "with the syllables reversed".

Re: Two Recent Video Interviews of GL by Rudy Blair (680 News)
 

And actually the only reason I included the links to the files themselves is because I just wanted to watch it "live" instead of downloading it to my hard drive. So I guess there was an option for everyone who wanted to see it.