Termite TV - Life Stories

Hi, I’m Larry R. and I’m the head of the inter library loan department at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Uh, let’s see life story. Well, I can say I went to Drexel- well first I’m an artist. I have a fine arts degree from Tyler School of Art, Temple University. But I had to get a job. Can’t be an artist, unfortunately they don’t make a lot of money unless your dead and famous. Let’s see, at the time I was at Tyler I guess I was a freshman- I’ll start my life there. I got married, had 3 daughters, worked full time, went to Temple full time, finished in 4 years, uh let’s see, worked for a library’s assistant for a couple years and went to Drexel to get a masters in science because I had to get a job and still worked. Did that in a year and now I’ve been with the Free Library of Philadelphia for 30 years. I have old kids, I’m still young. At the present time, I also have a book out on African American films, a reference book. I lecture on early African American film history. It’s a passion of mine besides being an artist and painting and all that other stuff. I spread the gospel according to African American film history because most people have no idea of its existence. They think Spike Lee or Melvin Van Peebles or Shaft was the first and unfortunately- or fortunately it goes all the way back to the 1890’s. And that’s a passion. I also paint, that’s a passion, I love painting. I also do landscape design. I’ve won several awards for landscaping. I guess I’m passionate about everything that I do. I don’t do it. I think that you should like what you do and if you don’t like what you do you shouldn’t do it cause life is too short and I just have fun. And I’m almost 30 now. I’m looking forward to a long fun life…I have to keep going? I condensed it as much as I could except I ran 2 minutes short. Let’s see what else can I do. I’ve made several documentaries. According to my- let’s see, I’ve made some cable television shows, I’ve hosted a few shows and I trying to think of what else I do in my life. My life is- I’m hedonist. I have a house down the shore, house here, gardens here; I have a boat down the shore, hot tubs and all that kind of stuff. So when I’m not here I’m having fun. I’m having fun when I’m here too. Like I said, I don’t do anything unless I have fun. And when I die I will leave my kids absolutely nothing. I’m in debt beyond belief, which is ok because my insurance will take care of it when I’m gone. And, uh, in fact I should write a book on how to be rich and poor at the same time (laughs). But yet have fun. Let’s see, I guess. Ooh, I am married. God, if my wife saw this and I didn’t mention that, I’d be trouble. I am married to a wonderful doctor, a psycho therapist who is already retired. She beat me and she’s having more fun than me because I still have to work. Other than that I have 3 daughters; 27 Heather, Malika 30, and Hope, who works for the library, is 32. And that’s it for me.