Burt Reynolds: the man behind the mustache

So dreamy.

You might have heard about the recent news about mustaches. You know, how they enhance your power and prestige. And in a recent interview with Hella Bus, mustachioed sex symbol Burt Reynolds credited his magnificent facial hair for the vast majority of his considerable achievements, such as Deliverance, Boogie Nights and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3.

When we sat down at Bus HQ, Reynolds was wearing the sort of classy attire you could find him showing off in the late 70s: jeans, jean shirt, jean jacket, jean tie(?). The man knows how to wear a (Canadian) tuxedo.

Here’s a few selections from the interview:

Thanks for sitting down with us, Burt.

No problem.

So you’re an eminently successful movie star.

I am. I also am notably handsome.

And you’ve been in the biz for a few years, so you must have a few ideas about why you’ve made it so big.

Yeah, it’s true. I think it’s my mustache.

Really? Facial hair has that sort of effect?

Sure does. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been propositioned by men and women who were intrigued by my mustache.

Uh… cool. I really wanted to know that. But the mustache has an affect on your business dealings too?

Yeah. If my representatives are having trouble getting my quote from a producer, they take me along to a face-to-face.

So you can show off your mustache?

Yeah. I just stroke it lovingly and glare at the producer. They usually exceed my quote at that point.

You’d think they’d just give you the quote up front then.

That’s what it’d seem like, but they gave me the quote no questions asked for the version of The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler and we all know how that went.

Oof. That’s a good point.

Yep. It’d have gone a lot better if the kid had grown a mustache like I’d said he should.

You think Adam Sandler in a mustache would have made The Longest Yard a good movie?

Ask it again.

You think Adam Sandler in a mustache… oh, man, that’s hilarious

Right?

Great talking to you, Burt.

You too. This is a great organization you got going here.

A real class act. I should mention that even though Reynolds is like the general population of mustache-wearers mentioned above in that he earns more money and gets more respect than the barefaced, he also blames it for the “painful” handsomeness he has had to endure for more than fifty years as a movie star. You feel for the guy.

Later y’all

So this is my last day writing on Hella Bus- thanks for reading.

I’ve been writing a fair bit of posts this summer, which is what y’all have seen. But the part of my work this summer I’m more excited about is the style guide we’ve developed here at Hella Bus Labs. We think that the style guide will be the foundation of a bigger, better Hella Bus. Eventually we want to be statewide, with several writers in different cities and towns and all kids of posting goodness every single day of the week. I guess the real point of this post (besides self-indulgence) is to tell readers that we have a brite (sic) future at Hella Bus.

Same thing with the Bus itself. I can’t mention what the big, exciting stuff that’s in the works, but the Bus’s fall election program is going to be HUGE. Books will be written, folks. Well, blog posts anyway. Even though I’ll be back at school on the least coast, it’ll be fun to read all the recaps and summaries of Bus voter reg shenanigans and know I played some small part in the writing.

I’m sure the same is true for everyone whom I want to shout out: Toby, for his vision of Hella Bus; Gabe and Helena, for writing rad stuff each time out; the Summer Fellows, for turning out voters and goofy Saturday morning cartoon dialogues; the Bus community for being just oh so totally rad all the time, and the Bus staff for being good at everything.

More than anything, though, I’d like to thank you, readers, for reading. Make sure you continue doing it. Hella Bus going to get crazy good.

Peace.

The Magic Vote Bus, Episode 3: Exploring the elusive cupcake

Dorothy Ann: Ms. Frizzle, Did you know that some group called The Washington Bus will be giving  away free cupcakes and cupcake gift certificates from Cupcake Royale this Saturday?

Frizzle: Why of course Dorothy Ann, the Bus will be hosting a Doorbelling for Democracy extravaganza on August 14th in one of my favorite neighborhoods, West Seattle.

Ralphie: They are going to give away sooo many cupcakes!

Frizzle: Yes Ralphie, I can’t think of a better way to turn out young voters and eager volunteers.

Carlos: What’s so great about cupcakes anyway?

Dorothy Ann: According to my research, cupcakes are a delicious treat that inspires joy and happiness.

Frizzle: That’s correct Dorothy Ann, and a great way to get excited about this Saturday, is to go on a field trip to the best Cupcake factory in town, Cupcake Royale!

It was the 70s…

…and horrific things happened as the West German charts were conquered by the ghost of Ghengis Khan.

Wait, what?

The Magic Vote Bus explores Delridge

Why drive when you can fly?

Arnold – Hey Phoebe, why the long face?

Pheobe- I’m sad because all the young people I know moved to West Seattle in time for Saturday, August 14 so they can be at Delridge Park. I’ll never see them again. Siiiiigh.

Arnold – Hold on, isn’t there something going on in West Seattle this Saturday?
Something democracy related?

Frizzle: Good find, Arnold! We have a solution for Phoebe’s friendless woes – a trip to wild West Seattle. To the MAGIC VOTE BUS!

Phoebe – Wow – look at all those young people! Why is everyone so excited?

EVEN MORE SUPER KIRK EXCITEMENT!

Frizzle – Because the Bus is all about making sure young people vote, and that means we go where the action is! West Seattle is embroiled in the hottest (practically only) primary battle in Seattle, and we want to make sure young people make their voices heard!

Phoebe – Are those my friends down there knocking doors?

Frizzle – Indeed they are! We’ll be joining them on Saturday, August 14 at Delridge Playfield to talk to young voters, and make sure they send their ballots in. Could it be that easy? It could! . Friends! Cupcakes! Vote Bus!

Philanthropy for sale

Thinking about saving a war-torned developing nation?

It all started with that yellow rubber wristband. Remember that? The Livestrong wristband we purchased at check-out counters for what…three dollars…(now you can purchase 100 for only $100-what a deal). It was the hippest thing to do.

Ever since then, stores and brands alike have been marketing the idea of not only selling a product, but selling a charitable cause.

More pictures of Bono after the jump!!

The Magic Vote Bus explores the body politic

wink wink

Pheobe: Ms. Frizzle, did you know it’s election season???

Ms. Frizzle: Why yes, Pheobe, it’s my favorite time of year! How did you know elections were going on right now?

Pheobe: I was helping my 62-year-old grandma vote just last night.

Frizzle: What a coincidence, Pheobe – your grandma is exactly the age of the average Washington primary voter! Class, this looks like the perfect opportunity for a field trip. But today, we’re not taking our normal school bus, we’re taking the Magic Vote Bus on Saturday, August 14 at Delridge Playfield and exploring the Body Politic!

Doorbelling for Democracy: How you got over Shark Week getting over

Come on ride the train to ride it. Wait, what, a Bus? Ahhh.

Shark Week is over. Harsh, we know.  Sorry to get real like that right off the bat.

But never fear! Hella Bus knows how to bring a little magic back into your life and escape the depths of Shark Week withdrawal. How, you ask? Enter the Magic Vote Bus and all that entails:  lighting crashes, babies laughing, and magical  unicorn-mermaid friendships.

Wait a second. Doesn’t the Magic Vote Bus have something to do with the August primary? Maybe. Could it be theme of the August 14^th Doorbelling for Democracy event? Maybe.

Could this hypothetical Doorbelling for Democracy involve dancing? Or cupcakes? Like, lots of cupcakes? Perhaps it includes knocking on doors? Or ringing doorbells? Perhaps it’s mobilizing the neglected young voters of West Seattle? Could it involve Mz. Frizzle?

Maybe. Stay tuned for the premiere.

The Joe Fitzgibbon photoshoot

Your highly competent and rational volunteer friends

The Stranger may have a monopoly on compromising Joe + stapler photos… but we here at Hella Bus have a monopoly of Joe + You (You being the metaphorical, metaphysical You that makes up the Bus) photos that are not compromising to anybody, because this past Saturday Bus volunteers were over in West Seattle knocking on more doors so we can have more Joe in our Legislature.

Saturday was the final day of the Week of Joe and, overall, volunteers knocked on 2,000+ doors and walked many miles in their Air Force Ones.

Success! And the Bus owes it all to You- a.k.a. Bus People. High five!

The Bus: helping you do the right thing

Higher Education

The old school

Sometimes major events line up just so. Just think of the crazy/awesome coincidence that involved experiencing Shark Week and the Week of Joe at the same time.

A tribute to the timeless preppy style, Take Ivy, is being released in a new printing this month. The photobook, amazing showcase of Ivy League style, was produced during the 1960′s by a Japanese team of fashion writers and a photographer. It’s just in time to hit for back-to-school season.

The book was out of print until a few years back, but just a quick glance at Take Ivy proves that the preppy style transcends time and trends. The book has been scanned and blogged about a bunch on the Internet and lots of fashion watchers are really excited to see it published.

Check out breathtaking photos from the shoot in the video preview below and make sure you pick up the book when it drops on August 31- if you can. The first printing has already sold out.