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I have watched this every time I show it. The most dramatic was watching it August 16 after running the 1968 ELVIS PRESLEY COMEBACK SPECIAL. The much reviled in Toronto Steven Leckie was an artist, a performer and a singer on a par with Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and the King himself, Elvis Presley. What Steven lacked, what every Canadian artist lacks was a promoter who like Colonel Tom Parker,, knew how to promote. I know how to promote. However I promote my own work. Prior to this concert I had never seen one of Steven’s shows. To document this show properly I had to spiritually fuse with the artists, to become one with them, to be on the beat.
When I showed the result to Steven he said, “I did not know it would be this great!”
Each of us has a gift. The mistake almost everyone makes is going to film, music, writing school.
The first time he heard Ethel Merman sing Irving Berlin said to her, “For Christ’s sake don’t take lessons.”
I say the same to every young artist I meet.
Most refuse to listen.
That’s not my problem.
One of my favourite reviews comes from a former film writer current film teacher named Rob Salem who was quoted in a piece on myself in THE TELEGRAPH JOURNAL saying., “Reg Hartt is batshit crazy.”
Here is the review I post, mainly because I believe he’s embarrassed by it, “Reg Hartt has had an amazing impact given the size of the venue and the esoteric nature of the programming. He’s had an incredible impact on the city. No one else is doing it. No one else has ever done it.”
Why embarrassed?
Because the conventional wisdom is that I am batshit crazy.
Well, not only am I crazy, I was told by an extremely high ranking Tibetan Lama who accompanied The Dalai Lama on his first journey across Canada I am a Crazy-Wisdom-Yogin.
When I said to him, “I hear crazy often enough, what does the rest of that mean?” he said, “That is the highest compliment I, as a Buddhist can pay.” I then said, “Would you care for a beer.”
Speaking of beer there is a BEER STORE across the Street which will be closed when you get here. Nonetheless, THE CINEFORUM is private. It’s in my home. It is also world famous not for the movies but for myself. I am personally recognized as one of the top fifty male orators of all time. https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-orators/reference https://reghartt.ca/cineforum/ ,
“The best part of what Reg Hartt offers is what he has to say.” -Jane Jacobs whose books THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES and DARK AGE AHEAD are must reading.
According to Gary Topp and Eric Veillette I not only am delusional I am evil.
Fine, let them say what they say.
So the point is, as  THE BEER STORE is closed,  bring a couple of beers when you come. Why? To drink a toast to the second most hated artist in Toronto in the home of according to Toronto Life, “Canada’s most loved and loathed film connoisseur.”
It is time to take these shows on the road.
The last time Canada had a Crazy-Wisdom Yogin, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, he burned himself out early.
I’m still burning.
I am the fire this time.
Join me in celebrating Steven Leckie.
Us madmen must stick together. –Reg Hartt

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