Archive | News

Jan 12, 2025

I live close to the perimeter of the Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles. As you can imagine, this week has been harrowing and stressful. My friends and I each know at least one person who lost their house along with everything they own. This is devastating. I was in an evacuation warning zone for a few days, but thankfully, that was lifted today by the LA Fire Department. However, things can change dramatically – as it did last Friday night when the winds changed direction and headed in my way. I didn’t wait for the mandatory evacuation alert, packed important items and stayed in a hotel Friday and Saturday night north of where I live. I returned late last night and grateful conditions have improved in terms of my small area.

As a result, I have not been able to adequately respond to JoeFrank.com needs. And, in fact, the air quality is so bad, I’ve decided to leave town this week (Jan 16) and will return on Jan 21st. Logan is also very busy with his day job but will be responding to urgent needs. And of course, he and I will be in touch daily.

Thank you for your patience,
Michal

Everything is 20% off except for Memberships. Free upgraded shipping to USPS Priority from 12/15 through 12/25.

Plus, we’re packing a free show CD with each physical order. (These are CDs that have been mislabeled or unlabeled; but the show is good!) And, we have a few cassettes still available.

We hope your holidays are happy.

Michal and Logan

Attn: Members – be sure to check out the new content online on 12/15!

It’s been a while! We are excited to report many long-term projects are coming to fruition! But first:

Help Wanted
As most of you know, Logan is the one person here ensuring the site is secure and kept up to date. I have been digitizing new shows, short films and more. And that means we’ll need to upgrade our server in January. Because Logan has a full-time day job, we are looking for an assistant for him with any or all of the following skillsets:

Linux web and e-mail servers
Understand and program in PHP, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Experience with WordPress and WooCommerce
PCI compliance requirements, and
General Troubleshooting

If you are interested and available for this paid, part-time position, please email Logan at support[at]JoeFrank.com

For Members
Beginning December 1st, enjoy new content every month! We have enough to add to the site monthly for a year! If you are not a Member now, sign up today.

In the Shop
In addition to digitizing media for Members, there is a lot that will be coming online for sale in the shop. There are a lot of pledge drives we haven’t uncovered in the past, along with found original shows and some surprises along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Listen to the classic “Pilgrim” now live on Joe’s SoundCloud page.

(Be sure to check it in December for added Christmas shows!)

Needed
I could use help identifying a used mini-DV deck to purchase. (I do not trust eBay.) A good friend of Joe’s collaborated with him years ago resulting in hours of footage no one has seen. It includes interviews with Joe, plus Joe improvising on the streets of Los Angeles. Send an email to michal[at]joefrank.com. Thank you.

Christmas
This year, I will be home through December – that means shipping for your gifts is extended. As usual, all Christmas purchases after December 10th will be expedited using USPS Priority.

Have a wonderful holiday and New Year.

Thank you so much for your support!

Take care,

Michal and Logan

We’ve added new pages for the musicians, dancers, and singers who performed live with Joe onstage over the years. Each of them talented and driven by the same high standard to produce quality work as Joe did. It is a testament to their good work that Joe was friends with them for decades. Get to know a little more about them

Also, you can purchase some of their individual music CDs in the shop.

Note: All proceeds to be paid to the musician. Thanks for supporting them!

August 19, 2024

Today would have been Joe’s 86th birthday. For me, it seems strange to say “Happy Birthday” to the departed, but today, I’m thinking: “I’m happy Joe was born.” So, it is a happy day to remember Joe’s birth!

Joe had a profound effect on my life and in my growth. And I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as often and as deeply with anyone as I did with him. My only regret is that I did not record him and our conversations more often so that I could share more of him with you. I’m humbled by your expressions of Joe’s impact on your lives. With that, I assure you that I continue to assemble the extent of Joe Frank material that I do have in order to bring it to you in the future.

I still receive email from people who’ve only just recently discovered Joe. I’m a little envious of their fresh exploration of Joe’s incredible work. He is unparalleled and inimitable to this day.

What is your personal favorite Joe Frank program?

The following article by Andrew Leland for the New York Review of Books, written shortly after Joe passed, is an excellent read – especially for those newly-introduced to Joe.

And, for a short time, enjoy the classic show “Eye in the Sky” on SoundCloud. After you’ve heard that, enjoy all of the other shows and selections there.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones,

Michal

Thinking of you and missing you even more today, my man.

June 15th, 2024

Greetings!

As most of you known by now, we rarely send out newsletters and only when we have a new product … or news to share. Here’s what is happening now:

“My Joe Frank”
Some of you know that I’ve been working on a book about the relationship Joe and I had together. I recall with vivid detail the time I asked Joe if I could write this book about him – should he pass before me.

We were on our way out of town with no work agenda, to enjoy probably the only vacation we ever had. Driving from Los Angeles to San Diego, with a luxury hotel discount at-the-ready, Joe was telling me a story. One that revealed Joe, the man. The human being behind that raspy, deep-throated, sexy guy on the radio.

I declared to him that people should be able to see him behind the curtain in the way I have. Could I write a book about him? I would call it “My Joe Frank.” He thought for a moment and simply said, “Yes.” Honestly, I was surprised, knowing Joe, that he assented. It was later, after he read the medical crowdfunding updates I was writing on his behalf in 2015-2016, that he expressed his confidence that I could, in fact, write it. Of course, with that, he bestowed a heavy responsibility, indeed.

I have long used journaling as a mechanism to disentangle life’s confusing moments. But I had no idea how much I have actually written over the years. I’ve been unearthing old diaries and journals – tucked away in boxes, on bookshelves, even one in a sock drawer – that I had forgotten about entirely. Organizing those, along with Joe’s personal notes, letters, observations and rants, has kept me busy when I had extra time. And now, I’m taking a bloc of time to focus entirely on this project.

From June 17 – July 24, I will be ensconced in a beautiful, distraction-free environment, well away from my own. I’m very excited about the opportunity, and definitely feel Joe’s hand in helping to move the book forward.

Please make a note that no physical orders will be filled during that time.

New products

Pledge Drives!

I’m excited to bring you two newly-uncovered Pledge Drives featuring Joe LIVE on air. Each one is an original monologue created specifically for the fund drives. I don’t think anything is repeated from the radio programs. (Although some portions I recognize from incorporation in to Joe’s live show scripts.)  Available now for Members and in the shop:

April 9, 1994: 43 min

July 1996: 1 hr 3 min

New Animation! For Members Only!

I’m so thrilled to present an animation* entitled “Hugging” by the very talented Adam Wells. You can also find him on Instagram

Created to accompany a selection from “Old Man,” this animation short is for Premium Members only. Not a Member? Sign up!

Thank you all for support!

Michal and Logan

*Created by permission.

Hello!

It’s been a while. But that does not mean I haven’t been focused and hard at work with the Joe Frank projects I’ve mentioned in the past.* I realize these projects are taking years – but I believe the wait will be well worth it.

I had no idea how much material Joe accumulated which will yield such great content. (When I heard Barbra Streisand’s book took 10 years, I did not feel quite so bad!)

Today, we start the annual month-long sale. Enjoy everything in the shop at a 15% discount taken off during checkout. Note: Discount does not include Memberships.

Meanwhile, for a limited time, I’ve posted the Joe Frank classic Thanksgiving show “Pilgrim” for you to enjoy. I also will be uploading a few Christmas related stories. Bookmark Joe on Soundcloud!

I hope you have a peaceful and loving holiday season during these difficult times.

Michal
(the wife)

* If you would like a list of the works in progress, send an email with your request to: michal@joefrank.com – or request it through our Contact page.

August is always bittersweet. Wishing Joe were here on his birthday, but also grateful for August being the time I visit my daughter and her family. Joe’s birthday is on the 19th. He will have been 85 years old.

I’ll be out of town, but I wanted to share this photo of the last birthday he and close friends celebrated.

August 19, 2017. One month after his last cancer diagnosis. (My “helping” him blow out candles is completely unconscious.)

For anyone who does not know, it wasn’t the cancer that got him those 5-1/2 years ago. Joe was on
immunosuppressants for over a decade in order to protect his kidney transplant. As a result, Joe’s immune system just couldn’t stave off sepsis in the end. He did overcome it at one point, but ultimately there were too many other factors that paved the way for its return. His will to live was astonishing – memories of it still inspire me.

To celebrate Joe and his work, we’ll have a 15% discount for everything in the shop (*Does not apply for memberships). (Discount is in checkout)

Please do not mistake my absence on Joe’s Facebook page for not forging ahead with the projects I have shared with you in the past. These projects are ambitious endeavors! I am making progress, but cannot give an estimated launch date of, well, anything. (The book, the film, new programs, scans and digitizing.) But I am still working and ever grateful to be able to.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Michal
(The Wife)

Wishing you and yours a magical holiday season.

As the year comes to a close, may we each be reminded of our humanity and to be kind to one another. Connection is what endures.

I thank you for continuing to support Joe and his legacy which includes my efforts to honor his life and work.

Tomorrow, I will be offline through and including January 2nd. I am looking forward to enjoying the company of family as well as quiet times to reflect on the many blessings I have in life. My heart is filled with gratitude.

May you and yours feel the warmth of love, hope and possibility through the holidays and throughout the coming year.

Remember that there will be new content coming online for Members on January 1st. Sign up today to enjoy what was added this month as well!

Thank you and be safe and well,

The Wife