speed of sound tour big lebowski

• Speed of Sound Tour

About The Big Lebowski

• Released in 1998
• Directed by Joel Cohen, Ethan Cohen
• Produced by Polygram Filmed Entertainment

The Big Lebowski Scenes

• There Was This Fellah
• Ever Thus to Deadbeats
• That's Your Name, Dude
• Not Literally His Children
• I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowksi
• Blow On Them
• Over the Line
• Calmer Than You Are
• Tomorrow's Already the Tenth
• That's a Bummer, Man
• Dios Mio, Man
• Her Life is In Your Hands
• Let's Take That Hill
• Shomer Fucking Shabbas
• Separate Incidents?
• The Story is Ludicrous
• I Got a Rash
• The Royal We
• Forget About the Fucking Toe
• Nice Marmot
• They Got Us Working in Shifts
• I Need My Fucking Johnson
• A Lot of Ins, a Lot of Outs
• She Hit Me Right Here
• Bulk of the Series
• Is This Your Homework?
• You're Not Dealing With Morons
• Did the Pope Shit in the Woods
• Fucking Fascist
• I Hate the Fucking Eagles
• Erev Shabbas
• Like an Irish Monk?
• Lingonberry Pancakes
• From Moses to Sandy Koufax
• I'm a Fucking Veteran
• Bush League Psycheout Stuff
• They Killed My Fucking Car
• Goodnight, Sweet Prince
• The Dude Abides

Characters in This Scene

Jeffrey Lebowski

Maude Lebowski

You Haven’t Seen The Big Lebowski Until You’ve Seen It On 35mm.

The cult classic returns to the clinton street theater on 35mm for the holiday season. catch a million little details you missed the first fifteen times you watched it..

Among stoner cousins, ponytailed uncles and second-wave coffee-shop enthusiasts, Ethan and Joel Cohen 's 1998 comedy The Big Lebowski is an infinitely rewatchable tale about a heroic everyman who embodies a live-and-let-live ethos in a hostile world. This week, the Clinton Street Theater is playing the cult classic on 35 mm for achievers and squares alike.

Last week, we watched the test run of the print. Here are the things we noticed for the first time.

They Call Los Angeles the City of Angels…

• The Compton-based Ralphs is the Dude's supermarket of choice. It's where we're introduced to him, and later the Dude's rewards card is his only form of ID.

• Bunny Lebowski ( Tara Reid ), real name Fawn Knudson, is from Moorhead, Minn ., a city that abuts Fargo, N.D . The Coens' film prior to The Big Lebowski ? Fargo .

• Bunny offers to fellate the Dude for $1,000—that's $1,772.05 in today's money. If the Dude had found a cash machine, and if Brandt ( Philip Seymour Hoffman ) wanted to watch, it would have cost him $177.20 in today's money.

• When you see the Dude, Walter and Donny   ( Steve Buscemi ) enjoying their burgers from the In-N-Out on Camrose, the colorful paper cup Walter drinks soda from is definitely not an In-N-Out cup, which are white with a distinctive red palm tree pattern.

• On Maude Lebowski’s ( Julianne Moore ) coffee table, there’s what appears to be a copy of LA Weekly . We asked two people at LA Weekly to identify the issue, without success. LA Weekly did a Lebowski -themed issue in 2013 but didn’t mention it.

Fuck It, Let's Go Bowling

• All of Donny’s embroidered bowling shirts are named—Austin, Art and a few more—but not a single one of them with “Donny.”

See, Let Me Tell You a Little Something About the Dude…

• In the film's first scene, Lebowski pays for his 69-cent carton of milk with a whale-themed personal check. The date is 9/11/91. That's exactly 10 years before 9/11 and the day that George H.W. Bush gave his famous "New World Order" speech following the Gulf War.

• The Dude might look like a bum, but he has upper-class taste. His Pendleton sweater retails for $240 and his Vuarnet 1307 sunglasses go for $200.

• He was also a co-author of the "original" 1962 Port Huron Statement , issued by Students for a Democratic Society , "not the compromised second draft." There was both an original Port Huron Statement and a second draft with a disclamatory introduction.

• The Dude mentions that he was a roadie for Metallica on the Speed of Sound tour. There was no such tour, but the band is, in fact, a "bunch of assholes."

• When rich Lebowski pulls the Dude into his limo for an interrogation, he's wearing a shawl-collared sweater very similar to the Pendleton sweater the Dude wears.

• The Dude bathes with Mr. Bubble .

SEE IT: The Big Lebowski screens in 35 mm at Clinton Street Theater . 7:30 pm Thursday-Tuesday, Dec. 22-26.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.

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The Big Lebowski Soundtrack [ 1998 ]

List of songs.

Tumbling Tumbleweeds

Sons of the Pioneers

Movie opens, camera follows a tumbleweed. The narrator is talking about 'The Dude' and Las Angeles. And play on the Jukebox again at 0:59 when the Stranger appears with wisdom for The Dude.

The Man In Me

Title appears. At the bowling alley. Shots of different people bowling.

Mucha Muchacha

'The Dude' finds Bunny painting her toes by the pool.

Playing at the bowling alley during a league game. Smokey steps over the line, Walter tells him to mark it zero and pulls out his gun.

Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles

Captain Beefheart

The Dude mixes a drink and does Tai Chi on the rug while listening to messages on his answering machine.

Requiem in D Minor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The 'Dude' Lebowski arrives at The rich Lebowski's house. He is waiting by the fire. He informs the 'Dude' that Bunny was kidnapped.

Hotel California

The Gipsy Kings

Jesus bowls in his purple suit. He licks the bowling ball first.

Gluck Das Mir Verblieb From The Opera Die Tote Stadt

Ilona Steingruber, Anton Dermota and The Austrian State Radio Orchestra

Brandt gives The Dude instructions about the drop-off.

Run Through The Jungle

Creedence Clearwater Revival

The Dude and Walter make the drop off. This song plays in the car. Walter jumps out of the car.

Behave Yourself

Booker T. & The M.G.'s

The Dude and Walter bowling after the botched hand-off. Dude's phone is ringing.

Walking Song

Meredith Monk

The Dude walks in to Maude's studio where she is creating a painting suspended by ropes and being pulled along the hall.

Traffic Boom

Piero Piccioni

The theme from the porno Maude shows The Dude

Standing On The Corner

Dean Martin

Dude's limo ride home from Maude's.

Debbie Reynolds

In the "family restaurant", during the Dude and Walter's profanity-laced dialogue about kidnapping and toes cut off, Debbie Reynolds' song "Tammy" plays in the background.

We Venerate Thy Cross

The Rustavi Choir

The Dude visits Maude's and meets Knox Harrington.

My Mood Swings

Elvis Costello

The Dude is listening to this song through headphones while being examined by Maude's Doctor.

Looking Out My Back Door

Playing in the Dude's car after he gets it back, after leaving the Doctor's office.

Pictures At An Exhibition

Modest Mussorgsky

Dude's neighbor does his dance cycle rehearsal.

Henry Mancini

The dude is talking with Jacky Treehorn. Jacky takes a call.

Oye Como Va

They drive home with fast food burgers, after Walter destroys the strangers car.

They are throwing up a topless woman at Jackie Treehorns house.

Piacere Sequence

Teo Usuelli

As Jacky Treehorn comes back in to talk with The Dude mixes a second caucasian and The Dude passes out.

Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

Kenny Rogers and The First Edition

The Dude has a surreal dream about bowling and Maude, after Jacky Treehorn drugs him.

Peaceful Easy Feeling

Playing in the Taxi cab, when the dude says he hates the Eagles. The driver kicks him out.

Viva Las Vegas

Richard Johnson

Bunny is singing to this song in her car.

I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good

Nina Simone

Maude and the Dude lie in bed together. They talk about Maude's father while The Dude makes himself a drink

Stamping Ground

Moondog with Orchestra

The Dude and Walter driving and figuring out the whole scheme.

Wie Glauben

Carter Burwell

The Dude, Donnie and Walter are confronted by the nillhists outside the bowling alley while The Dude's car burns in the background.

Dead Flowers

Townes van Zandt

After they scatter Donnies ashes. Shots of the bowling alley. The cowboy narrates and the song plays into the credits.

Shawn Colvin

Closing credits after Dead Flowers.

Branded Theme Song

Alan Alch and Dominic Frontiere

This song is only mentioned in the movie and sung by Walter and The Dude at different times.

Trailer Songs

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Daniel (GUEST)

10 months ago

What song is it that plays Just before the dude being picked up by the police after Jackie Treehorn’s party? When the Germans are chasing him in the red suits with scissors.

5 years ago

There's this nice instrumental jazzy music playing just before "Stamping Grounds" by Moon Dog (and later on at some point), which seems to not be included in soundtrack listings. Anyone know who played it, and what it's called?

conanthelibrarian

8 years ago

So in The Big Lebowski, there is another song that plays after Lujon while the Dude is at Jackie Treehorn's house. Any idea what it is?

theuglytuna

Piacere Sequence is played just before the Dude blacks out.

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Exclusive: Q&A With Will Russell, Founding Dude of Lebowski Fest

Now in its fifth year in New York, Lebowski Fest is a celebration of all things related to the Coen Brothers 1998 cult classic, The Big Lebowski . It involves tunes, White Russians, and the flick, followed by more tunes, some more White Russians, and bowling. Costumed Dudes, Walters, and Maudes mix and mingle. Last year there was a re-enactment of the Landlord’s dance cycle. This year’s festival, which hits NYC September 22-24 as part of the “Speed of Sound” tour, features a movie party/performance by the Black Diamond Heavies at Terminal 5 , and two nights of bowling (the first at Lucky Strike in Manhattan and the next at Brooklyn Bowl ). After the jump Flavorpill catches up with Will Russell, Founding Dude of Lebowski Fest, for the inside scoop on what to expect.

Flavorpill: Achievers are everywhere. Is there a connecting thread between fans of Lebowski Fest?

Will Russell: You’re not dealing with morons here. The Achievers are smart cookies.

FP: You see a lot of bowling alleys. Which one is your favorite in the US, and why?

WR: Vernon Lanes in Louisville. It’s the third oldest functioning bowling alley in the country, and has the old school lenticular starbursts above the lanes. There is now a music venue below the lanes and you can watch the balls on the ball return from below. The decor is old and grimy, the way a bowling alley should be. They keeps it real.

FP: You’ve been in touch with Jeff Dowd since 2003, but the Fest launched back in 2002. Was there a certain point where you grew large enough that you felt like you needed The Dude’s blessing?

WR: Having Jeff dig what we are doing is an unbelievable thrill. The Dude Abides!

Lebowski Fest “Speed of Sound” Tour video from Lebowski Fest on Vimeo .

FP: The Big Lebowski is often quoted. Do you have a favorite line to toss into conversation, or is that not really your style?

WR: Are you kidding me? All I do is work lines into conversations. It can be a natural zesty enterprise.

FP: We read that you guys got the idea to start the festival when a spontaneous crowd gathered to swap quotes during a tattoo convention in 2002. Do you have any Lebowski-inspired tattoos?

WR: I only have one tattoo and it is of The Pixies logo. It’s on my forearm but it could be worse. I could have tattooed it on my forehead.

FP: Was it more exciting to have Jeff Bridges or the Dude show up at Lebowski Fest?

WR: Both were exciting but I almost passed out when I first met Jeff Bridges. Talk about star struck.

FP: What do you have planned for your 5th Annual NYC edition of the Fest? Why two nights of bowling?

WR: One night of bowling in Manhattan and one night in Brooklyn. Can’t wait to check out the Brooklyn Bowl! I hear it’s the bees knees.

Tickets for Lebowski Fest are on sale now; click here to grab yours now. Sign up for the mailing list for the latest.

The Untold Truth Of The Big Lebowski

"The Big Lebowski" is a quirky, charming cult film that dances a fine line between being completely random yet somehow still grounded. There are so many odd details about the 1998 Coen brothers comedy to obsess over that people are still discussing new theories, making new connections, and swapping trivia. Did you know, for instance, that the Dude's sweater is called a Westerly Cardigan and is based on a style created by indigenous Canadians ? Did you know the "The Dude abides" quote is actually a butchered Bible verse ? With this article, we're gonna dig a bit deeper, but try not to get too far out of our element.

The Dude never actually bowls at any point in the movie

One of the most grounding elements of an otherwise spiraling film of dream sequences, kidnapping, porn, and morose German philosophy are the scenes inside the bowling alley. They bring an earthy, working-class realness to the core protagonists. Oddly enough, however, at no point in the film is the "hero" (of sorts), the Dude, actually shown bowling. The closest we get is the dream sequence when he does a sort of "bowling dance" with a Viking costume-clad Maude, but even then, she is the one that rolls the ball.

Maybe it's a stylistic thing — a reflection of the Dude's passive nature. Even in the course of engaging with something he is passionate about, the events still simply happen around him, rather than being shaped at all by his will or action. Maybe Jeff Bridges doesn't actually know how bowling works ?

The Dude is actually based on a real person

Jeff Bridges' performance of the Dude character has a sort of general "Hey, I know a guy just like that!" resonance, but believe it or not, he was based on a real person. They're not even subtle about it in the film, listing actual autobiographical details of Jeff Dowd, the man the character was based on , in an afterglow scene where Lebowski and Maude talk post-coitus .

Jeff Dowd really was one of the "Seattle Seven," an actual anti-war activist group during the '60s, and The Port Huron Statement was a real document authored by the group. The Metallica "Speed Of Sound" tour is fictional, however, and Dowd had no connection to that group at the time of the film. In a strange twist of fate, however, he did end up working on Metallica's documentary film Monster, and we'll leave it up to you to decide whether that plot twist was fortunate or not.

In real life, after his protest activism slowed down, Dowd was very active in the film industry as a producer and filmmaker, very unlike the slacker image presented in the film. Among his other work, he was the co-producer of FernGully: The Last Rainforest and... wait, what? FernGully ? Really? Wild.

The homework found in the back seat of a stolen car plotline is a true story, as well

The "homework" scene, also known as the " Find a Stranger In The Alps " scene, thanks to the absurd censorship the film receives on basic cable, is one of the most iconic in the film. Once his stolen car is recovered, the Dude finds homework he believes belongs to the car thief in the back seat. This sends the Dude and Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) on a wild goose chase that winds up with two cars destroyed and the protagonists gaining nothing in their search for the truth behind the kidnapping/ransom. As bizarre as it sounds, it's also loosely based on a true story , and points to the real life person (or at least one of them) Sobchak was based on.

Walter Sobchak is an amalgamation of a few people the Coen brothers have known, but many traits were generously borrowed from the life of Paul Exline, the man who greenlit the 1987 Coen brothers film Raising Arizona . He did have a car stolen that he had to track down to the impound lot. He did find a kid's homework in the car, and he brought along his friend to interrogate the kid. He even put the homework in an evidence-like bag and wore a suit to more fully play the detective role. The house was even owned by an elderly man in an iron lung.

However, there's no mention by Exline of crowbars or his opinion of Alpine strangers, which is probably for the best. Some things are best left a mystery.

There is a legally recognized religion based on The Big Lebowski

In these trying times, if you are having a bit of a spiritual crisis, you could do a lot worse than converting to Dudeism . Founded by Oliver Benjamin, The Church Of The Latter Day Dude is a bit more complex than you may immediately suspect. Followers find as much solace in its blend of Taoist and Epicurean philosophy as they do in obsessively reciting lines from the film while ordering White Russians until you find someone else to sit next to at the bar.

As a legally recognized religion, ordained priests of Dudeism are able to perform legally recognized rites like marriages , and seem pretty progressive about who they will give their blessing to. So maybe even if you are not interested in converting, you could still keep them in mind for taking on any number of normally stuffy, traditional events you have coming up in a more casual, laid-back manner.

The word dude is used 260 times throughout the movie

This may be a bit of a cheat, because technically this is the chosen name of the protagonist, but when shown back-to-back in a viral supercut, the amount of times "dude" is said in the film seems absurdly excessive. The f-word is even more prominent in the film, rating the movie about halfway between Eddie Murphy: Raw and Goodfellas in frequency. Seriously . If you count variations of the f-word, like mother-etcetera, it actually outdoes Goodfellas . There's a supercut of that too, but it's a bit spicy for this site.

The film structure is that of a Raymond Chandler-style detective noir

The Big Lebowski has a very unusual narrative structure from first glance. It's not quite a buddy movie, it's not quite a comedy of errors, and there's all this very strange espionage going on by increasingly shady and bizarre characters double-crossing each other. It makes a lot more sense when you realize the film is essentially a classic detective film , except the protagonists are under-qualified, accidental detectives. This lends a lot of the humor to the movie, as the protagonists are completely over their head and have no idea how to navigate the machinations going on around them.

It has all the tropes. For instance, like detective movie protagonists, the Dude appears in literally every scene of the movie, just occasionally shoved so far in the background that he only "appears" as the van he is in through the window at the diner where the nihilists are ordering pancakes. The whole movie takes place in the vicinity of wherever he happens to be. There's even a scene where the Dude is accosted by a detective that acts as if he is playing some sort of 4-D chess spy game, rather than just constantly blundering into wherever the action happens to be. It's an incredibly clever reversal of expectations that even devoted fans of the film may miss.

The television show Veronica Mars was wall-to-wall Big Lebowski quotes

Rob Thomas — creator of the cult hit television show Veronica Mars not the singer of the Carlos Santana song "Smooth" — is a huge fan of The Big Lebowski . The show was chock-full of references to the show, and for good reason . The show featured an accidental, amateur detective and also took place in Lebowski 's Southern California. Speaking to Vulture, Thomas insists that they would have snuck the entire movie into the show line-by-line if they could, but at least got their favorite lines in before the show was canceled after three seasons.

Steve Buscemi almost turned down his role for the exact reason the Coen brothers wanted him in it

On his first read of the Coen brothers script, Steve Buscemi was dismayed at the treatment his character Donny received. He just could not wrap his head around the abuse Donny's friend Walter constantly barraged him with, to the point where he became uncomfortable with the idea of performing in the film. Out of respect for the Coen's work, he went ahead and read the script through to the end. In the final act of the film, the way Walter attempted to protect and then later eulogized the fallen Donny moved him, and he was sold. Seeing the whole character arc play out, he realized a brotherly connection between the two characters that sealed the deal for him.

Incidentally, all that abuse that initially turned off Buscemi was absolutely intentional by the directors as an in-joke. Buscemi had previously played Carl Showalter in Fargo , and in that film his character was constantly talking. Just would not stop. The idea of having a character constantly screaming at Buscemi to shut up in their next film was deliciously funny to the Coens, who included it in the script.

The I hate the Eagles, man line was a blessing and a curse for the film

Despite being a fairly passive, laid-back character, there are a few things one definitely knows about the Dude. He loves bowling and White Russians, and he hates the Eagles. Jeff Bridges himself is much more apathetic, or at least much less apoplectic, about the band than his character, but that didn't stop him from getting chewed the heck out by Eagles singer/guitarist Glenn Frey several times at parties the two attended. Apparently Bridges and Eagles drummer Don Henley are on much friendlier terms, and the supposed slight hasn't affected how the two interact.

The line worked out well for the film itself, however. Music producer T Bone Burnett was really interested in ending the movie with Townes Van Zandt's cover of the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers," a song that was incredibly tricky to secure, since Van Zandt had died the year before. Turns out the rights to the song were owned by former Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein, who initially demanded $150,000.

The Coens invited him to watch an early cut of the film, and at the Eagles-disparaging line, Klein stood up in the middle of the showing and insisted they could just have the song for free. That's a way deeper burn against the Eagles than the line itself.

The exact car used in the film was in an X-Files episode

Throughout the film, it's not like the 1973 Gran Torino the Dude drives is in particularly great shape, and it gets worse as the movie progresses. The final indignity the car suffers, however, was reserved for years later. It made a brief appearance in the 1999 buddy-cop film Blue Streak , and then was wrecked while filming the 2001 X-Files episode "Salvage."

However, the car lives on in a 1/43 scale diecast model , so this isn't entirely a sad ending for the poor, beleaguered vehicle.

There was a short-lived store that sold exclusively Big Lebowski merchandise

Little Lebowski was a Greenwich Village store that sold nothing but The Big Lebowski -related merchandise, and it stayed open for a surprisingly long time doing exclusively that. Owner Roy Preston started out running a children's bookstore in the same location starting in 2007, but just could not get the level of business he needed to keep the bills paid. Realizing he was close to closing down, he went out on a limb and started stocking t-shirts for his favorite film. This brought in some new business, but he still struggled.

Jeff Bridges' 2010 Oscar win, and the resulting boost in interest in his films, was a godsend to Preston. His store finally in the black, it became a wall-to-wall shrine to the then more than twenty-year-old film. The film played on loop on a television inside, the store had a mini-bowling alley in back, and, as well as t-shirts, they also sold bobble-heads, cardboard cutouts of the characters and even rugs. You know, to tie the room together. Preston would even sell White Russians to customers stumbling in from nearby bars to help boost interest.

From 2011-2014, the store did really well, but eventually Preston had to close shop. He now sells Lebowski-related trinkets online, but it's not the same, man.

• History & Society

Retail California: Ralphs, the Big Lebowski, and Shaping the American Shopping Experience

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This is Part Two of a three-part look at the history and influence of the Southern California retail landscape. Read Part One here .

Eighteen years ago, the Coen Brothers' oddly refracted tale of Los Angeles noir, "The Big Lebowski," premiered to mild applause. Over time, the film inspired a rabid cult following that has since manifested itself in countless Lebowski festivals across the U.S.

In the film, the Coen brothers depicted a low-slung 1990s Los Angeles populated by artists, gold diggers, paper millionaires, German porn stars, and bowlers galore -- truly the diverse idiosyncratic metropolis admirers gush over and detractors rip. Perhaps then, the fact that our first glimpse of the notorious "Dude" -- ne'er-do-well Jeffrey Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) -- occurs in another Los Angeles institution, Ralphs, merits our attention.

Indeed, the former political radical (co-author of the original Port Huron Statement, not the "compromised" second version), roadie (the Metallica Speed of Sound Tour), and hippie meanders freely through the expansive supermarket, searching for the elusive $.69 carton of milk (to be paid for by check), as Sam Elliot ("The Stranger" in the credits) intones: "Sometimes there's a man, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there, and that's The Dude, in Los Angeles." One could make a similar argument, far more convincingly mind you, for Ralphs.

With its first store in 1873, Ralphs established its first SoCal foothold in downtown Los Angeles. If "The Big Lebowski" reimagined noir films in ways rarely seen, Ralphs redefined grocery shopping and food distribution while innovating the supermarket scheme for a national audience. Ralphs' innovations in retail, and by extension supermarkets in general, rippled through the industry and eventually became a catalyst for suburban expansion.

The initial downtown store differed greatly from the egalitarian commerce enjoyed by late twentieth century Jeff Lebowski. In the period between 1873 and 1910, it focused on "carriage trade" (a.k.a. wealthy people), delivering groceries to residences citywide. Its evolution from elite trade to more popular self-service sundries and foodstuffs encapsulates the nation's own transformation regarding food distribution and consumerism. Like drive-in markets , new technologies -- the automobile and refrigerator -- served as a central impetus in this transformation, shrinking distances and providing a means to transport and store food for longer periods.

If nineteenth century Americans bought food on a daily basis from a variety of small shops and producers, the twentieth century supermarket consolidated these services under one roof, razing previous beliefs regarding the volume of food consumers would purchase. Now patrons could buy supplies for a week -- this proved nothing short of revolutionary. 1

Though its downtown location continued to produce healthy returns, Ralphs opened its first branch store in 1911; its success led to eight others over the next decade. Even in this simple act, Ralphs owners demonstrated forward thinking. In the early decades of the twentieth century, many business observers viewed branches as detrimental to their parent stores business. 2 However, by the 1930s, a noticeable shift had occurred -- branches were now seen as reinforcing the brand, connecting with loyal customers, and increasing downtown patronage. With the ever-expanding metropolitan region providing demand, more and more branch stores appeared in outlying areas. Chain stores, which invested more heavily in branch expansion, grew exponentially.

Between 1920 and 1930, "the number of grocery outlets owned by chains with twenty or more units in Los Angles proper rose from 63 to 418," according to retail and Los Angeles historian Richard Longstreth. Chains like Ralphs retained greater purchasing power and could advertise in large newspapers; smaller independent business charged higher prices because they could not buy in large volume, and probative costs prevented them from placing ads in city papers. 3

Equally important, Ralphs took the growth of their branch stores as a chance to experiment with business structures and design layouts. By consolidating the various services supplied by traditional grocery stores under single ownership, they secured a stronger grasp over those offered and encouraged self service, which individual providers had previously resisted. Management cut costs and increased volume, ended delivery services, imposed a cash and carry policy, and provided ample space for parking. 4 This kind of operating efficiencies employed by Ralphs were implemented simultaneously in retail counterparts like Sears, contributing to the further development of chain stores.

Some of the supermarket's most important innovations tended to be internal. At drive-in markets, purchases had to be made department by department. Besides being less convenient, this dictated movement, a characteristic that Ralphs, and later others, eliminated. Inside the new stores, particularly its 1928 Wilshire Boulevard location, Ralphs carved out a new kind of consumer space: "lofty, imposing, yet non-hierarchical and conducive to perambulation," notes Longstreth. Customers could traverse the store according to their own preferred path and have direct access to the goods they desired. For middle class Southern Californians, the supermarket symbolized efficiency and economy while providing consumers with a unique destination. Ralphs had created the model for the modern supermarket.

The explosion of chain stores in the 1920s also carried with it the potential to increase property values. By the end of the decade, the presence of Ralphs, Sears, and others in an outlying community meant that area was ripe for retail. The tendency of chain store companies to locate near competitors only increased such perceptions, and made chain stores an important piece in the economic development of recognized communities and emerging new ones.

A great deal of research went into selecting new sites for business. Supermarket developers studied streetcar patronage and automobile traffic, while gathering information regarding building permits, utilities, and local newspaper circulation. First-person accounts of local residential development also proved important in gathering data for new store locations.

In the retail industry, the supermarket's influence spread far and wide. It demonstrated the soundness of selling in volume at lower prices, and creating expansive fluid spaces that encouraged customers to circulate throughout stores. Opening in 1947, the Broadway Crenshaw Center based its entire existence on the high volume sales upon which supermarkets like Ralphs and chain stores like Sears thrived.

Furthermore, department stores began establishing branches to keep up with the chain store expansion, and shifted not only to self service but also "self selection" -- an approach thought "unthinkable" in earlier periods. After adopting the mass merchandising techniques of Ralphs and others, new Los Angeles department branches emerged in outlying areas in the late 1920s and 1930s. This development made Los Angeles a national leader in retail ambition and innovation.

Unfortunately, the success of Ralphs' branches undermined that of its original store. In 1937, Ralphs closed its original downtown location. Consumers no longer demanded the decadence of full service; rather they had come to prefer the self service, automobile influenced, decentralized branches that Ralphs played an integral role in creating. This too signaled larger economic shifts, for more than just Southern California's most important supermarket chain -- the closing of Ralphs first store symbolized downtown L.A.'s existential retail crisis.

In a 1933 New Years editorial, the Los Angeles Times assured downtown retailers that new expansive days lay ahead. "The history of real estate here through seven depressions is that from every low level it climbs to new peaks," the editors noted. "Just as prices were once absurdly inflated, they are now absurdly deflated. Hold On!" 5

Yet, downtown never would fully recover. From 1930 to 1950, very little new construction occurred. The Depression did not help, as it accelerated processes that had begun a decade earlier when downtown L.A. had a vice grip over metropolitan retail. "'Hold on' became a watchword not for promise ahead but for preventing further deterioration," reflects Longstreth.

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Retail California: Cars, Drive-In Markets, and Consumers

Indeed, looking at regional development highlights the impossibility of downtown L.A.'s struggle. As Long Beach and Orange County expanded, the population density changed. In 1930, Los Angeles' population growth exceeded that of the county by 300,000; in 1950 this ratio reversed itself. By the 1960s, Los Angeles residents accounted for only one third of the entire county. 6 With new regional demographics and the popularity of chain stores, downtown L.A.'s future looked grim.

Obviously in recent years, with the addition of L.A. Live and the Staples Center, not to mention the return of Ralphs to city center (its opening in 2007 marked the first new supermarket in the area in 50 years), downtown has experienced a bit of a renaissance; but this came decades after its fall from retail grace.

Some historians have described the supermarket as the "penultimate" expression of commercial architecture before the rise of the shopping center and regional mall. Likewise, Ralphs emerges again in the Big Lebowski's penultimate scene. When confronted with what Lebowski and Vietnam obsessed sidekick Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) deem an excessive fee for the urn containing the ashes of their recently deceased bowling partner Donnie (Steve Buscemi), the two men haggle unsuccessfully with the funeral home for a more economical solution. Stymied, Sobchack asks simply, "Is there a Ralph's around here?" Yes, yes there is.

Indeed, the coffee can purchased from said proprietor enabled the two men to spread the ashes, semi successfully, over the beaches of Southern California. If Donny surfed the beaches from La Jolla to Leo Carrillo up to Pismo, Ralphs plied its wares along the same corridor. Without Ralphs, perhaps Donnie never would never find eternal peace spiritually surfing along the SoCal coast.

"Donny, who loved, bowling," may have left us, but Ralphs remains.

*This story has been updated since it's original publish date in 2015

____________

1 Richard Longstreth, The Drive-In, the Supermarket, and the Transformation of Commercial Space in Los Angeles, 1914-1941, (Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 2000), pgs. 77-128. 2 Ibid. 3 Richard Longstreth, City Center to Regional Mall: Architecture, the Automobile, and Retailing in Los Angeles, 1920-1950, (Cambridge: M.I.T. Press, 1997), pgs 72 - 74. 4 Richard Longstreth, The Drive-In, the Supermarket, and the Transformation of Commercial Space in Los Angeles, pgs. 77-128. 5 Richard Longstreth, City Center to Regional Mall, 199. 6 Ibid, 225.

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Uh, and then, uh, the music business, briefly. Oh? Yeah. Roadie for Metallica Oh. Speed of...

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Clip duration: 15 seconds Views: 561 Timestamp in movie: 01h 28m 38s Uploaded: 16 March, 2022 Genres: comedy , crime Summary: Ultimate L.A. slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for a rug ruined by debt collectors, enlisting his bowling buddies for help while trying to find the millionaire's miss...

THE BIG LEBOWSKI What does The Dude do for a living?

The Dude abides, but how does he subsist in order to perpetually “take it easy for all us sinners”?

For over 75% of the movie, we know nothing about how The Dude pays for his endless supply of White Russians (or Caucasians as he often calls them,) but we have a number of clues that he’s unemployed and low on cash, but not destitute.

From the opening scene, we learn that he’s definitely not the millionaire Lebowski that he’s being confused with by the thugs who break into his house. Soon after, we learn that he’s almost two weeks late on rent, a situation that would cause many to panic, but The Dude responds to the stress by pouring another drink and doing Thai Chi.

He gets roped into a huge mystery plot because of another man who shares his name (this other man is the movie’s “Big” Lebowski,) but the majority of his time seems to be taken up with “self-care” activities like bubble baths, meditation, listening to ocean sounds, yoga, and bowling. He is always in a comfortable state of dress that’s socially unacceptable for most jobs. (Although with the COVID-19 pandemic, The Dude’s attire has never been more relatable.)

His life wasn’t always this chill. After Maude Lebowski seduces him in order to have a baby (even though they share the same last name, Maude is the other Lebowski’s daughter, and presumably is no direct relation to The Dude) The Dude finally opens up a little bit. Even in this seeming moment of intimacy, however, he still remains a mystery.

“I was, uh, one of the authors of the Port Huron Statement. The original Port Huron Statement. 
Not the compromised second draft. And then I, uh… ever hear of the ‘Seattle Seven?’ That was me, and six other guys” The Dude tells Maude while lighting up a joint post-coitus.

“And then, the music business, briefly . . . A roadie for Metallica. The ‘Speed of Sound’ tour, a bunch of assholes. And then, you know, a little of this, a little of that, my career has slowed down a little lately,” he says.

“What do you do for recreation?” Maude asks.

“Ah, the usual: bowl, drive around, and the occasional acid flashback,” The Dude says before he has a coughing fit from the weed he’s smoking.

What is the Port Huron Statement?

The Port Huron Statement is a real thing, and you can read it in full here . It was written in 1962, in Port Huron, Michigan.

This was written 30 years before the events of The Big Lebowski , which was set in 1991, and is the founding document of The Students for a Democratic Society. It’s a lengthy document that seeks to find solutions to the myriad of the world’s ills at the time, most of which we still face in some form.

“We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit,” the statement begins.

Although The Dude helped write this ambitious plan for a better world, he now is more focused on just making his here-and-now peaceful and tolerable to him. He did not seem to spend the next 30 years after contributing to the Statement trying to change the world. He also doesn’t seem to be outwardly suffering over all these things that he cannot change.

Who are the Seattle Seven?

The Seattle Seven were prominent members of the Seattle Liberation Front, anti-Vietnam War movement. This detail is from the inspiration for The Dude character: Jeff Dowd.

Jeff Dowd was one of the “Seattle Seven” and even spent time in jail for protesting the Vietnam War. He later became a movie producer, which is how he met The Big Lebowski’s creators Joel and Ethan Coen.

Again, this background suggests that The Dude was a very involved political activist in his youth, but has settled into a laid-back existence as time marched on.

Does The Dude have any employment history?

Neither the Seattle Seven or The Port Huron Statement are past jobs, but they are defining parts of an early period of The Dude’s life that give him meaning. He then moves on to list the only real “employment” that can be found in the movie: being a roadie for Metallica’s “Speed of Sound” tour. Metallica never had a Speed of Sound tour IRL, and The Dude’s inspiration Jeff Dowd has no connection to Metallica.

The details of The Dude’s life then dissipate into vagueness: “a little of this, a little of that.” He says his “career” has been slow lately, but even with the information, he’s given Maude there is not much of an indication that there was ever much of a career, to begin with. How the Dude pays his rent and supplies his White Russian addiction is still unknown.

Money is such a huge part of the plot, and at first, the ransom seems straightforward. It looks like The Big Lebowski is the successful, millionaire, counterpart to The Dude Lebowski. We think he has given The Dude a million dollars to deliver in exchange for his kidnapped wife, and we think this million is stolen from The Dude. By the end of the film we find out all of this is an illusion.

The Big Lebowski didn’t actually have access to a lot of money. He was given an allowance from his dead wife’s estate and was able to live in the mansion that maintained the image that he was more rich and powerful than he actually was.

The money wasn’t ever in the stolen briefcase either, so the “loss” of the million dollars was never a loss anyway for The Dude. (The theory is that The Big Lebowski withdrew the money from his wife’s foundation to keep for himself because he didn’t have a lot of access to money on his own, essentially stealing it.)

While initially, we may wonder how The Dude makes money to survive, the theme of money in The Big Lebowski becomes far more abstract and philosophical as the movie unravels and turns everything on its head. In the end, there aren’t a lot of answers given. The only thing that remains is that The Dude is still out there bowling, drinking White Russians, and taking bubble baths for “all us sinners.” The biggest lesson The Dude has to teach us is to try to enjoy our lives and let ourselves relax even though we find ourselves in an incredibly stressful and confusing world full of injustice, power plays, endless controlling systems, and mind-numbing rabbit holes. The “sin” the narrator suggests we’re “all” committing may be worrying and suffering so much. By the end of the movie The Dude isn’t a specific guy who exists in the world, but a beatific iconic figure who models a path of peace and relaxation rather than one of suffering.

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The Big Lebowski: Nihilism, Masculinity, and Abiding Virtue

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This chapter argues that in addition to being a hilarious stoner comedy, one of the most beloved cult films of all time, and a trenchant genre critique of film noir detective cinema, as well as American Westerns, Ethan and Joel Coen’s film, The Big Lebowski (1998, TBL ), also presents reflections on several important philosophical themes. First, as a matter of feminist and gender philosophy, TBL examines and criticizes prominent ideals of masculinity, especially as they appear in US cinema, exploring the question of what a better kind of man might be. Second, that project is woven together with an investigation of virtue as exemplified by the film’s protagonist, Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski. TBL portrays in The Dude a man whose virtues include Epicurean-like excellences related to contented poverty, equality, community, and friendship. Friendship is also a virtue among Aristotelians, and The Dude’s culture of friendship, from an Aristotelian perspective, bears significant political import. By positioning The Dude at a mean between the extremes of his friend Walter Sobchak’s excess and the nihilists’ deficiencies, TBL explores the way rules and rule-following properly fit into virtuous moral life. In The Dude, the film shows how moral virtue not only requires intellectual excellences but also the right kind of character. And third, perhaps most centrally, TBL engages the problem of modern European nihilism and the effect it has had upon US culture. By means of the “abiding” virtues it valorizes, existential repetition, comedy itself, and the way its characters inhabit time, TBL confronts the death, despair, and disillusionment nihilism yields.

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Allen, D. 2009. Logjammin’ and Gutterballs : Masculinities in the big Lebowski . In The year’s work in Lebowski studies , ed. A. Jaffe, 386–409. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

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Jollimore, T., and Robert C. Jones. 2012. ‘That ain’t legal either’: Rules, virtue, and authenticity in the big Lebowski . In The Big Lebowski and philosophy: Keeping your mind limber with abiding wisdom , 106–120. Hoboken: Wiley.

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Michaud, N. 2012. ‘Well I do work, sir’: The Dude and the value of sloth. In The big Lebowski and philosophy: Keeping your mind limber with abiding wisdom , ed. P.S. Fosl, 207–220. Hoboken: Wiley.

Nicholas, J. 2012. Bowling our way out of nihilism. In The big Lebowski and philosophy: Keeping your mind limber with abiding wisdom , ed. P.S. Fosl. Hoboken: Wiley.

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Fosl, P.S. (2023). The Big Lebowski: Nihilism, Masculinity, and Abiding Virtue. In: Kowalski, D.A., Lay, C., S. Engels, K. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97134-6_35-2

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18 Things You Didn't Know About 'The Big Lebowski'

The Big Lebowski is a special kind of cult classic. First off: The Dude. Jeff Bridges drinking White Russians will forever have a place in our special box of '90s nostalgia, man. Second, how many films do you know that have their very own festival? How about their very own store in Greenwich? Better yet, how many movies have inspired an entire religion?!

Needless to say, there's nothing quite like  The Big Lebowski . Trying to summarize or describe the film is like trying to get The Dude to like The Eagles... it's futile. Instead of trying to put this cinematic experience into words, we've decided to dig up some facts you may not know about the film masterpiece. So kick back, relax, pour yourself a White Russian, and enjoy.

The Dude's Wardrobe Came From Jeff Bridges's Closet

A lot of The Dude's clothes in the movie were Jeff Bridge s's own clothes , including his Jellies sandals.

T Bone Burnett Is The Reason The Dude Hates The Eagles

T Bone Burnett acted as music consultant on the movie and helped Joel and  Ethan Coen  establish The Dude's taste in music. Burnett selected many of the songs on the film's soundtrack, and also suggested The Dude's hatred towards The Eagles ( Burnett himself is not a fan ). One of the band's members, Glenn Frey , was reportedly so dismayed about this that he once angrily confronted Jeff Bridges about it  when they ran into each other. 

Can The Dude Actually Bowl? We'll Never Know

Metallica Was Flattered By Their Scripted Cameo

The Dude tells Maude he was a roadie for Metallica  on their (fictional) "Speed of Sound" tour and refers to the band members as a "bunch of a**holes." Metallica themselves were flattered to be referred to in a Coen Brothers movie, with guitarist Kirk Hammett  once noting in an interview that they'd tried to think of a way to incorporate that scene into their live shows.

The Dude's Car Later Starred In 'The X-Files'

The Dude's car is a four door 1973 Ford Gran Torino , which was also used during the filming of  The X Files .

In the original script, The Dude drove a Chrysler LeBaron , as Jeff Dowd (film producer and real life inspiration for The Dude) once owned one, but that car wasn't big enough to fit John Goodman.

The Film Received A Proud Endorsement In Norway

Norwegian posters and video cassettes featured the text , "anbefales av norsk bowling forbund," which translates to, "recommended by the Norwegian Bowling Association."

The Dude Is In Every Scene Of The Movie

That's right ! He's even in the scene where the Nihilists are ordering pancakes - through the window, you can see the van the Dude and Walter are driving. This is in keeping with the traditional film-noir style, in which the protagonist is the narrator and acts as the audience's guide throughout the film.

The Coens' Sneaky Details Reveal A Lot About The Dude

A s The Dude writes the 69 cent check at Ralph's, he watches George H.W. Bush give the "This aggression will not stand" press interview live on TV. President Bush gave the interview on the White House lawn on Sunday, August 5, 1990, three days after the Iraqi Army invaded Kuwait. The Dude's check, however, is dated September 11, 1991, indicating that The Dude is so broke, that he had to post-date a 69 cent check by over one year.

The Film Is Littered With Clever Callbacks

The Dude has a habit of repeating phrases he hears from other characters. For example, the George H.W. Bush  "This aggression will not stand" speech is repeated by the Dude.

Maude Lebowski uses the phrase, "parlance of our times," and The Dude repeats this one in the limo. The Big Lebowski says he "will not abide another toe!" at the end of the movie and threatens Larry with castration, like the nihilists did in his bathroom.

The Rug Really Tied The Movie Together

People mention peeing on the Dude's rug 17 times . They also say the rug "really tied the room together" five times.

The Main Tagline Is A Bible Reference

The line, "The Dude abides," is a reference to Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides forever." This is a reference to how The Dude, much like the Earth, can weather change and chaos around him, but still remain the same.

Two Particular Words Pop Up A Lot

The Dude says "man" 147 times in the movie, and "Dude" is said 160 times. 

Walter Shutting Up Donnie Is A Sly Nod To 'Fargo'

The reason Walter (John Goodman) is constantly telling Steve Buscemi 's character, Donny, to  "shut the f*ck up!"  could be that Buscemi's character in the Coen Brothers' film Fargo   was such a mouthy chatterbox .

All The F-Bombs Earned The Movie Its R-Rating

The F-word, or a variation of it, is used 292 times in the film. That's more times than in Scarface !

The Dude Enjoys Nine White Russians Throughout The Film

The Dude drinks nine White Russians during the course of the movie (though he drops one of them at Jackie Treehorn's mansion).

What's the recipe for making a proper White Russian ? Two parts vodka, one part coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa) and one part cream, served with ice in a low ball glass.

Creative Editing For TV Created An Iconic Line

In a version of The Big Lebowski that was edited for television broadcasts, the famous line "This is what happens when you f*ck a stranger in the a**!" was changed to "This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps!" The line is regularly cited as one of the most "creative" edits made to a film for a TV broadcast .

Virtually Every 'Man' And 'Dude' Was Scripted, Not Improvised

Although the characters speak so easily that much of the film feels improvised, John Goodman has explained that the actors largely played by the script. Their natural performances come from several weeks of rehearsal. 

There Was A 'Big Lebowski' Store In Greenwich Village

The Little Lebowski Shop , located in New York City's Greenwich Village, was devoted exclusively to the film. The store sold merchandise related to the film, including memorabilia and t-shirts, before closing in 2015.

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• Tumbling Tumbleweeds Written by Bob Nolan Performed by Sons of the Pioneers Published by Williamson Music Company / Music of the West c/o The Songwriters Guild of America (ASCAP) Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment
• The Man In Me Written and Performed by Bob Dylan Published by Big Sky Music (SESAC) Courtesy of Columbia Records By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
• Mucha Muchacha Written by Juan García Esquivel (as Juan Garcia Esquivel) Performed by Juan García Esquivel (as Esquivel) Published by MCA-Duchess Music Corporation (BMI) Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment
• I Hate You Written by Gary Burger , Dave Day (as David Havlicek), Roger Johnston , Eddie Shaw (as Thomas E. Shaw) and Larry Clark (as Larry Spangler) Performed by The Monks (as Monks) Published by Monktime Publishing (EMI) / Administered by Bug Courtesy of Polydor GmbH, Hamburg By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Music
• Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles Written by Don Van Vliet (as Don Vliet) Performed by Don Van Vliet (as Captain Beefheart) Published by EMI Unart Catalog Inc. (BMI) Courtesy of Reprise Records By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
• Requiem in D Minor: Lacrimosa Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W.A. Mozart) Performed by Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (as The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra) and Slovak Philharmonic Chorus (as the Slovak Philharmonic Choir) Published by Cezame Argile (ASCAP) Courtesy of Audio Action
• Hotel California Written by Don Henley , Glenn Frey and Don Felder Performed by Gipsy Kings (as The Gipsy Kings) Published by Cass County Music (BMI) / Red Cloud Music (BMI) / Fingers Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group By Arrangement with Warner Special Products and PEM/SINE (Sony Music Independent Network Europe)
• Glück das mir verblieb from the Opera "Die tote Stadt" Written and Conducted by Erich Wolfgang Korngold Performed by Ilona Steingruber, Anton Dermota and Österreichischer Rundfunk (as the Austrian State Radio Orchestra) Used by permission of European American Music Distributors Corporation, Agent for Schott Musik International Courtesy of Cambria Master Recordings
• Run through the Jungle Written by John Fogerty Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival Published by Jondora Music (BMI) Courtesy of Fantasy Inc.
• Behave Yourself Written by Booker T. Jones , Steve Cropper , Al Jackson Jr. and Lewie Steinberg Performed by Booker T. & the M.G.s (as Booker T. & The MG's) Published by Irving Music, Inc. (BMI) Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
• Walking Song Written and Performed by Meredith Monk Published by Meredith Monk Music (ASCAP) Courtesy of ECM Records
• Traffic Boom Written and Performed by Piero Piccioni Published by Edizioni Musicali Beat Records Co. (SIAE) Courtesy of Beat Records Co.
• Standing on the Corner Written by Frank Loesser Performed by Dean Martin Published by Frank Music Corp. (ASCAP) Courtesy of Capitol Records Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets
• Tammy Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston Performed by Debbie Reynolds Published by St. Angelo Music, Administered by MCA Music Publishing, A division of Universal Studios, Inc. (ASCAP) / Jay Livingston Music, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of MCA Records Under license from Universal Music Special Markets
• We Venerate Thy Cross Performed by The Rustavi Choir
• My Mood Swings Written by Elvis Costello and Cait O'Riordan Performed by Elvis Costello Published by Sideways Music, Administered by Plangent Visions Music (ASCAP)
• Lookin' Out My Back Door Written by John Fogerty Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival Published by Jondora Music (BMI) Courtesy of Fantasy Inc.
• Pictures at an Exhibition: Gnomus Written by Modest Mussorgsky Performed by Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (as The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) Conducted by Colin Davis (as Sir Colin Davis) Used by permission of Bodsey & Hawkes, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of Philips Classics By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Music
• Oye Como Va Written by Tito Puente Performed by Santana Published by Full Keel Music Co. (ASCAP) Courtesy of Columbia Records By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
• Ataypura Written by Moises Vivanco Performed by Yma Sumac Published by Beechwood Music Corp. (BMI) Courtesy of Capitol Records Under License from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets
• Lujon Written and Performed by Henry Mancini Published by Northridge Music, Administered by MCA Music Publishing, A division of Universal Studios, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment
• Piacere Sequence Written and Performed by Teo Usuelli Published by West Edizioni Musicali (SIAE) Courtesy of West Edizioni Musicali
• Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) Written by Mickey Newbury Performed by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition Published by Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. (BMI) Courtesy of MCA Records Under license from Universal Music Special Markets
• 'Branded' Theme Song Written by Alan Alch and Dominic Frontiere Published by EMI Unart Catalog Inc. (BMI)
• Peaceful Easy Feeling Written by Jack Tempchin Performed by Eagles (as The Eagles) Published by Jazz Bird Music / WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment group By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
• Viva Las Vegas Also Performed by Richard Johnson (as Big Johnson), featuring Carter Burwell (uncredited) and T Bone Burnett (uncredited)
• I Got It Bad & That Ain't Good Written by Duke Ellington and Paul Francis Webster Performed by Nina Simone Published by Webster Music Co. / EMI Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of Rhino Records By Arrangement with Warner Special Products Nina Simone appears by special arrangement with Nina Simone and Steven Ames Brown
• Stamping Ground Written by Louis Hardin (a.k.a. Moondog ) Performed by Moondog with Orchestra Published by Archimedes Music, Administered for the world by Don Williams Music Group, Inc. (ASCAP) Courtesy of Sony Classical By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
• Dick on a Case (uncredited) Written by Carter Burwell
• Technopop (Wie Glauben) (uncredited) Written by Carter Burwell
• Dead Flowers Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Published by ABKCO Music, Inc. Performed by Townes van Zandt Courtesy of Sugar Hill Records
• Viva Las Vegas Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman Performed by Shawn Colvin Published by Pomus Songs, Inc. / Mort Shuman Songs Administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Elvis Presley Music (BMI) Courtesy of Columbia Records By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

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Lebowski Fest

‘Seriously, what’s better than two days of wannabe Dudes and Nihilists facing off to party, bowl and watch the movie of all movies together? Nothing, that’s what.’ - LA Weekly.com

After a legendary 2-night run in Los Angeles, that included re-enactments by stars from the film, a video greeting from Jeff Bridges, a performance by 9-year-old guitar prodigy Yuto, and roughly 2,500 Los Angeles Achievers, Lebowski Fest is loading up the ‘Speed of Sound’ tour bus and hitting the road.

“What do you do for recreation?” Julianne Moore’s character Maude Lebowski asks The Dude in the film. “Oh, the usual,” The Dude responds. “I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback.” Lebowski Fest organizers have not strayed very far from that formula – much to the delight of Festival attendees. ‘Achievers’ are regaled with two nights of events: live music and a screening of the movie on the first night, followed by an evening of bowling, replete with wild costumes, trivia contests, unlimited bowling, White Russians, and what-have-you.

More info at www.LebowskiFest.com

Amelia Moore

With julia cooper, the lemon twigs, with becca mancari, lakeview and austin meade.

mikeladano.com

Record store tales, grab a stack of rock & music reviews, speed of sound tour.

The Big Lebowski radio, tonight!

I will be LIVE at 12:30 AM (ET) Saturday morning with Robert Daniels on VISIONS IN SOUND . Tune in on your dial to 98.5 or internet to  CKWR !  You folks in the UK can tune in as you enjoy some morning java!  Join Us THIS Saturday 12:30-2:30am (ET).

This Week On Visions In Sound – The 20th Anniversary Of The Big Lebowski – Drop in to see what condition your condition is in this week as this week we celebrate the 20th of the Coen Brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski . We will also be live on Facebook!

I’m a bit of a fan of both the movie and its excellent soundtrack.  My movie review can be found here .  Check out my cool Lebowski ID and swag!

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Big Lebowski (1998)

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998, directed by Joel & Ethan Coen)

10th Anniversary Limited “Bowling Ball” Edition

Way out west there was this fella… fella I wanna tell ya about. Fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski.

Okay sir, you’re a Lebowski, I’m a Lebowski, that’s terrific, I’m very busy so what can I do for you?  Well, I’m gonna tell you about this movie.  First of all, for the rockers who read LeBrain’s blog, rest assured, there is a music connection.  And that’s the killer soundtrack.  From Captain Beefheart, to Bob Dylan (the incredible “The Man In Me”), Elvis Costello, CCR, the Gipsy Kings (“Hotel California”), Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, and even the fuckin’ Eagles, this movie is loaded with solid tunes.  There are even appearances by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Aimee Mann, and Flea!  (Yes, that Flea.)

Ahh, who am I kidding? If you’re a fan, you don’t need me to sell you on this movie. Hence, I shall review this movie in two parts: For fans, and for non-fans. Dudes and Un-dudes.

The new “bowling ball” edition of Lebowski is awesome. Finally we’re given the special features that we’ve been asking for, for years! No audio commentary track, but the Coens and the Dude himself will give you some insight to the film and its characters. After two disappointing editions, this is so overdue. Two discs, featurettes, that weird intro, Lebowskifest, an interactive map of Los Angeles, it’s all here. Most of your questions will be answered, but of course not all…some mystery must always remain. Plus the bowling ball just looks cool. I have mine on my entertainment centre, and it’s a conversation starter. “What is that bowling ball doing there?” It’s sturdy and it houses the DVDs in two slip cases. Life does not stop and start at your convenience, so be sure to pick this up and enjoy while you can, it’s limited edition.

FOR UN-DUDES:

One important thing about this film that I must stress is, don’t try to understand the plot on first viewing. It’s every bit as stupifying to the first time viewer as it is to Jeffrey Lebowski. Just enjoy. My feeling (and this is just my feeling) is that The Dude himself (Jeff Bridges) doesn’t know what the heck is going on, so neither should you. The plot is not complicated, but your thinking about it might be very uptight. I don’t necessarily recommend that you stick to a strict drug regimen to keep you mind limber, but having a few white Russians might help.

The Dude (the laziest man in Los Angeles) is unemployed (or “a bum” to some) and spends most of his time having acid flashbacks and bowling with Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi). One day his home is broken into by two thugs looking for money. They have mistaken The Dude for a millionaire with the same given name: Jeff Lebowski. During this break-in, Wu micturates on The Dude’s rug. That rug really tied the room together. Walter tells The Dude to try to take up the rug issue with the other Jeff Lebowski, the millionaire (David Huddleston). And this is where our adventure begins.

An amazing soundtrack backs a hilariously confusing movie about a guy in way over his head. There are a lot of facets, a lot of ins and outs, a lot of interested parties and strands to keep in Duder’s head. Along the way you will meet The Stranger (Sam Elliot), Brant (Philip Seymore Hoffman), Bunny Lebowski (Tara Reid) and a group of nihilists lead by Peter Stormare. Things are complicated by the appearance of Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore), a kidnapping, and a ransom note. Can The Dude recover the million dollars? All he wants is a finder’s fee. Perferably in cash. He has to check with his accountant on this, but he’s worried about being put in a higher tax, uhh, you know. All this with next round-robin of the bowling tournament starting. And The Jesus (John Turturro) is ready to take them down next Wednesday, baby.

Brilliantly written, brilliantly directed, brilliantly performed. Yes, you should be confused the first time you view it. By second, third, and fourth watch, those stands in Duder’s head come together, supported by musical cues (listen for CCR), odd bits of dialogue (“Johnson”) and other clues.

I can’t recommend this movie enough. You too will become a Little Lebowski Urban Achiever, and perhaps even an obsessive fan, dressing up and going to Lebowskifests. You never know. At the very least you might just find a new enjoyment of white Russians. Just don’t run out of non-dairy creamer. Is there a Ralph’s around?

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And then the music business, briefly. Roadie for Metallica. Speed of Sound tour. Bunch of assholes.

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Description: 15 seconds sound clip from the The Big Lebowski movie soundboard.

You can hear this line at 01:28:35 in the Blu-ray version of the movie.

Quote context

- Tell me about yourself, Jeffrey.

- Well, not much to tell.

- I was one of the authors of the Port Huron Statement. The original Port Huron Statement.

- Not the compromised second draft.

- Then I... You ever hear of the Seattle Seven? That was me. And there were six other guys.

- And then the music business, briefly. Roadie for Metallica. Speed of Sound tour. Bunch of assholes.

- And then, you know, little of this, little of that.

- My career's slowed down a little lately.

- What do you do for recreation?

- Well, the usual. Bowl, drive around, the occasional acid flashback.

- What happened to your house?

- Oh, Jackie Treehorn trashed the place.

Top rated lines from this movie

Actors : Jeff Bridges ( Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski ), John Goodman ( Walter Sobchak ), Julianne Moore ( Maude Lebowski )

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Roll ’em, Dudes: Lebowski Fest hits Denver for…

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Breaking News

Ceo announces saturday, september 17, 2022 is colorado daily’s final issue, roll ’em, dudes: lebowski fest hits denver for first time.

What: Lebowski Fest: The Speed of Sound Tour

Tuesday: 7:30 p.m., movie screening and music by Black Diamond Heavies

Where: Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Cost: $20.50

Wednesday: 8 p.m., bowling party

Where: Bowl-ero, 5480 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood

Cost: $25-$30

“That rug really tied the room together,” The Dude said of his infamous, urine-soiled centerpiece in the Coen brothers’ film “The Big Lebowski.”

The 1998 comedy — which follows an aging hippie bowler caught up in a kidnapping scheme — was not a commercial success, but has morphed into a cult classic.

“Who doesn’t love The Dude?” asked Boulder resident William Meyer. “He smokes pot and is lazy. He’s a funny guy.”

It’s the fans of the movie, or “achievers,” who tie this whole crazy phenomenon together.

“Achievers” regularly converge at local theater screenings, spewing memorable movie quotes. They dress in bathrobes and sip White Russians, the movie’s signature drink.

They have been compared to the rabid fans of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

This week, fans can congregate in Denver for the annual Lebowski Fest, which rolls into the Mile High City for the first time ever as part of an eight-city tour.

The Ogden Theatre will host a movie party and live music by Nashville blues band Black Diamond Heavies on Tuesday. Wednesday night, Bowl-ero in Lakewood will have a bowling party with costume contests, trivia and more.

Scott Shuffitt, a co-founding dude of Lebowski Fest, said he doesn’t bowl very well, but has been known to sport a “ridiculous” bowling pin costume on occasion.

He began the Fest in 2002 with buddy Will Russell, the other co-founding dude, in Louisville, Ky., with what started as a party for good friends. Eight festivals later, the dudes have hosted dozens more, nationwide.

“We thought it sounded like a kooky idea,” Shuffitt said. “We didn’t have any idea it would be at the level it is at now. We still get e-mails from people saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t know there was a Lebowski Fest — I thought I was the only person who liked this movie.’

“And that’s exactly where we were when we started this whole thing.”

Over the years, Lebowski Fest has been documented in two films, and the latest, “The Achievers: The Story of the Lebowski Fans,” was just released on DVD in August.

Even the renowned roller himself — The Dude, aka Jeff Bridges — made an appearance at one of the Los Angeles fests.

Shuffitt said many of the “achievers” pour imagination into their costumes.

“Costumes are not required, but it sure does help you get into the spirit,” he said. “I will be bringing along my bathrobe, which I plan on sporting.”

A whole mess of Dudes, Walters, Maudes, Bunnys and nihilists usually make appearances at the fest, but Shuffitt said there are also some fans who go for the gold.

“I’m not one who usually labels people crazy, but we’ve had a lot of really great costumes come out,” Shuffitt said.

Fans have come dressed as Bunny’s severed toe, an iron lung, even Saddam Hussein — and Shuffitt has seen fans dress up as characters only fleetingly mentioned in the movie, like “the man in the black pajamas” (a Walter quote in reference to the Vietnam War).

Sarah Coffield, publicist for the Boulder Theater, said “The Big Lebowski” phenomenon has prompted the theater to screen the movie three to four times a year.

“We usually get a turnout of 300 to 500 people,” said Coffield, who is most likely attending Lebowski Fest. “Of all the films we show, the snowboard and ski screenings, ‘The Big Lebowski’ is the biggest.

“It always draws in tons of people.”

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