Not that anybody but me gives a rat's patootie, but to set the record straight somewhere, for once: Annie Fisher was the Village Voice's Riffs column lead writer for about a year after I conceived that column in 1968, named it, and concocted a logo using a photocopied image of myself that was at the same time an image of Annie Fisher. A fragment of that image survives in my Substack avatar. Annie was the name I—Diane Fisher—used when I wrote about music while moonlighting from my fulltime job as Voice associate editor, my sole title; my job description was back of the book editor. Voice arts sections in toto or individually had no designated editors. Among other tasks, I edited each and all except theater and books. Writing Riffs was Annie Fisher's sole function. After an ownership change in mid-'74, when I was fired in a #metoo situation before nice people talked about those things, 11 people—at last count—were hired to replace me. —Diane Fisher
Annie, Diane, I meant only to praise you and thank you. I knew you were The Woman who mattered in the Voice arts section. You discovered me when I was a college kid in Colorado, never thinking anyone would even open the envelopes I sent, much less read and publish. I regret any discomfort I caused. I meant to rewrite a mediocre debut as a “regular” in 1974, not rewrite history. You’ll always be honored by me.
Oh, Wayne, Wayne. I'm so sorry if that read as criticism. Not what I intended at all.. Tricia Romano doesn't get arcane details quite right either in this new book—no harm done, and I'm sure none intended there either. I really was just stating some facts for the record, not berating you! I take some small pride in the career you cut, and thank you for your thanks. —diane
Hi Diane: I intentionally didn’t mention the Romano book, mostly because i was long departed for Newsday after 1975. And the Voice meant so much to so many people, and everything was so full of personal intrigue: I couldn’t have handled working on staff there. I realized you were venting, which is why you have comment privileges here: You are always welcome to speak your mind here!
Thanks, Wayne. Maybe if I live another lifetime I'll learn to be circumspect. Too late this time. Actually, I haven't seen the Romano book. That little error crept into a wapo review of it. Yep, for sure the Voice was achurn then—lots of egos in conflicting orbits. Lucky for me I was in a different universe.
Not that anybody but me gives a rat's patootie, but to set the record straight somewhere, for once: Annie Fisher was the Village Voice's Riffs column lead writer for about a year after I conceived that column in 1968, named it, and concocted a logo using a photocopied image of myself that was at the same time an image of Annie Fisher. A fragment of that image survives in my Substack avatar. Annie was the name I—Diane Fisher—used when I wrote about music while moonlighting from my fulltime job as Voice associate editor, my sole title; my job description was back of the book editor. Voice arts sections in toto or individually had no designated editors. Among other tasks, I edited each and all except theater and books. Writing Riffs was Annie Fisher's sole function. After an ownership change in mid-'74, when I was fired in a #metoo situation before nice people talked about those things, 11 people—at last count—were hired to replace me. —Diane Fisher
Annie, Diane, I meant only to praise you and thank you. I knew you were The Woman who mattered in the Voice arts section. You discovered me when I was a college kid in Colorado, never thinking anyone would even open the envelopes I sent, much less read and publish. I regret any discomfort I caused. I meant to rewrite a mediocre debut as a “regular” in 1974, not rewrite history. You’ll always be honored by me.
Oh, Wayne, Wayne. I'm so sorry if that read as criticism. Not what I intended at all.. Tricia Romano doesn't get arcane details quite right either in this new book—no harm done, and I'm sure none intended there either. I really was just stating some facts for the record, not berating you! I take some small pride in the career you cut, and thank you for your thanks. —diane
Hi Diane: I intentionally didn’t mention the Romano book, mostly because i was long departed for Newsday after 1975. And the Voice meant so much to so many people, and everything was so full of personal intrigue: I couldn’t have handled working on staff there. I realized you were venting, which is why you have comment privileges here: You are always welcome to speak your mind here!
Thanks, Wayne. Maybe if I live another lifetime I'll learn to be circumspect. Too late this time. Actually, I haven't seen the Romano book. That little error crept into a wapo review of it. Yep, for sure the Voice was achurn then—lots of egos in conflicting orbits. Lucky for me I was in a different universe.
Those who received the original email version should know that Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye left Motown in 1981. Talk about "dopey critics."
Those were indeed the days.