Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

THIS IS A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! 

The headquarters of The Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, CA

    Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has been accepted at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!  This prestigious organization purchased the book, and it now can be read at The Margaret Herrick Library, which is located in Beverly Hills.

   Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History was reviewed by their librarians for acceptance.   Since submissions don’t automatically get included, this is huge.

   According to their charter: “The Academy is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures. ”

   In late 1926, the head of MGM Studios, Louis B. Mayer created this professional honorary organization as a means to improve the industry’s image. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. was elected as its first president. Fairbanks’ decided in one of his initial acts to have an annual award ceremony for the movie industry to acknowledge “merit for distinctive achievement.” In 1927, the Academy Awards were born. Wings was the recipient of the first Best Picture award. The awards would later be nicknamed “Oscar” in the mid-thirties by none other than Margaret Herrick.

   I am extremely proud of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History’s addition to The Margaret Herrick Library within The Academy!

Until next time>                              ”never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Bruce Leonard of Malibu, California sent me a note about a special e-newsletter review of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. Let me share it with you:

Good Reads
 

   Experiencing history through movies has always been a favorite pastime for folks of a “certain age,” and now through a carefully researched and crafted book, “Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History“, avid moviegoers can enjoy, remember and relive many of their memorable events and performances. Author Manny Pacheco offers a colorful review of the stars of yesterday, those performers whose faces are familiar but whose names often escape us. Through these character actors and their roles in special Hollywood films, Pacheco presents a patchwork of the performers’ lives, the eras in which they lived,  the movies in which they acted, and how they all intertwined.

   Each of the 13 chapters highlights one character actor such as Claude Rains, Arthur Kennedy, Ward Bond and Walter Brennan. Chapter 10 features Van Heflin, who made numerous films in the 1940s, and also served as a commissioned naval officer — during which time he narrated several military documentaries. Other actors featured in the black-and-white, 126-page softcover book include Thomas Mitchell, John Carradine, Donald Crisp and Basil Rathbone.

   The author is a graduate of UCLA and has had a long career in both radio and television. “Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History“, published by Book Publishers Network of Bothell, Washington, is available in most bookstores for $18.95.   One dollar from the sale of each book will be donated to Chicago’s Mooseheart Child City & School, a residential childcare facility dedicated to children in need.  

For more information, go to www.bookpublishersnetwork.com.

 Until next time>                       ”never forget” 

Manny P. here…

   Halloween is a great holiday to enjoy some of the actors I feature in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. Gary Lycan of The Orange County Register reminded me in a chat we had the other day that my book signing at Mr. B’s is close to the holiday date (Tuesday, October 27th), and it got me thinking about some of the movies made by the stars in my book. So I decided to provide a guide of films to watch on October 31st!

Walter Brennan - Bride of Frankenstein        (yes, he has a bit part in this movie)

John Carradine – Bride of Frankenstein, The Black Cat, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, The Mummy’s Ghost, The Invisible Man’s Revenge, The Howling (among others).

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson – Topper Returns

Donald Crisp – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)

Basil Rathbone – The Black Cat, Tower of London, The Mad Doctor, Son of Frankenstein, Tales of Terror, Comedy of Terror

  I personally think the best three films to watch on a Halloween evening is Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Mighty Joe Young (with Terry Moore and Ben Johnson), and Them! (with James Whitmore, James Arness and Edmund Gwenn

   Back in the early seventies, a teen neighbor of ours took my sister and me to a “Fright Fest” at Universal Studios for an evening of scary movies. The lineup was Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and Dr. Cyclops. Everyone at the outdoor venue had a ball. 

   A good horror film is really a “black comedy”, and the performances in many of these (mostly Universal) motion pictures are hilarious and over the top. With today’s emphasis on blood and gore in cinema, I recommend these pictures as an attractive alternative for the whole family to watch and enjoy.  Here is another reason to love black and white movies.

Until next time>                               “never forget“

Manny P. here…  

November 22nd, 1963 - Dallas, Texas

   JFK:  3 Shots That Changed America is a minute by minute capsule of what happened from Novemeber 22nd -24th, 1963 in Dallas. The History Channel’s new documentary is spellbinding in its use of footage. For those old enough will actually remember the accounts.  

   One of the still photos in the program confirms the arrest location of President Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. I address his capture in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. This well-traveled moment in time is mentioned in my book because of actor Van Heflin’s inadvertent  cinema connection with Oswald’s discovery.

   I’m sad to say the footage never gets old…

Until next time>                         “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   I am happy to say that you can purchase Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History in a variety of ways online. All links are friendly from this site. Most of these links can be found at the Book Purchase Locations section from the navigation bar (to your left).

   As always, you can buy a copy of the paperback from the top of the navigation bar through a paypal location I have set up on this web site.

   You can NOW purchase the book on amazon.com and borders.com if you have an online account with these stores. I have provided a direct link for each store at the Book Purchases Locations section of this site. If you go to the sites directly, type in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, and voila!      You will find a page to buy the book.

     And if you live in Southern California, you can also go to this specific link:

http://losangeles.kijiji.com:80/c-ViewAd?AdId=160180536&Guid=12428c63-2af0-a20b-26a2-4142ffffe3af

   You will not be able to buy the book online with this specific link, but you will be able to contact me on how to purchase Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History directly through my email address.

   I urge you to purchase the book online if you aren’t in the Southern California area, and you are unable to attend my book signings scheduled over the next month. The book signing locations are also listed on a page from the navigation bar if you would like to meet and have me autograph your personal copy of the book.

Until next time>                             “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History’s second chapter is devoted to the enduring struggle to change how America perceives individuals with disabilities. Actor Lionel Barrymore was a pioneer, sitting in a wheelchair during many of his performances.

Helen Keller in 1920

   Washington D.C. is finally showing their appreciation to those who rose to the occasion despite physical limitations. The U.S. Capitol unveiled a statue of Helen Keller today as part of their National Statuary Hall collection. Keller overcame the fact that she was deaf and blind to become a successful author and educator. A bronze depiction of this gifted advocate will be placed in The Capitol Visitor Center. 35 members of her family were in attendance. Alabama is footing the bill for the honor, since Keller was a native of the state.                           

   Patty Duke portrayed the amazing Keller in her Oscar winning role in The Miracle Worker in 1962. Helen Keller died in 1968 after a lifetime of accomplishments.

   I display several photos of Keller in my book.

Until next time>                        “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   I am proud to announce an added appearance for the debut of my book: an autograph party at Chester Washington Golf Course in Los Angeles. The event is scheduled on Monday, October 26th beginning at 6:30pm. I invite all my friends in L.A. for this first autograph party to kick off Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   There will be a short presentation, followed by a book signing for those that have their paperback in hand.  The entertainment for the evening will be Karaoke hosted by “C.J.” – Karaoke “KJ” of the Year 2009 in Los Angeles (south). Books will be available for purchase at the event.

   Remember, the Orange County debut of my book will take place the very next day on Tuesday, October 2th (7pm) at Mr. B’s Sports Lounge in Los Alamitos. The evening will replicate much of the previous event at Chester Washington, down to the Karaoke entertainment, this time hosted by Candice Worl.

   Orange County Register radio columnist Gary Lycan (who wrote the eloquent Forward to my book) is scheduled to join me, along with other O.C. dignitaries. We will also have classic movie DVD’s and film poster framed prints available to anyone that wants to purchase Hollywood memorabilia along with their copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   Chester Washington Golf Course is at 1930 W. 120th St. in L.A., CA.  Mr. B’s Sports Lounge is at 11272 Los Alamitos Blvd. in Los Alamitos, CA.

   Books will be also on sale on Saturday and Sunday, October 24th & 25th at the Seattle Book Festival in the Columbia City Event Center, 3526 S. Edmunds, Seattle WA.

   Mark your calendars and do your holiday shopping early by visiting these wonderful events. Refer to the navigation bar on your left for additional reminders (in the Forgotten Hollywood {book} section).

Until next time>                           “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   I am still marveling at the wonderful job Ken Burns has accomplished in National Parks, America’s Best Idea. He is the best in the business when it comes to original documentaries.  In his 5th day of the program, I was impressed at how he tied together the Depression and World War II with the subject of the series.

Marian Anderson

   At the end of the segment, Burns tells a story that is referenced in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. He chronicles the moment when Marian Anderson was able to sing before the thousands at an outdoor ceremony before the Lincoln Memorial (part of the Washington D.C. – National Park) in 1939. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes supported the idea of the concert to thumb his nose at the targeted racism that had kept Anderson from performing at a previous ceremony hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution. He sided with Eleanor Roosevelt in her fight against the D.A.R.

   To watch Anderson sing Ave Maria while the marble Lincoln looks on gave me goosebumps. What a great way to end this particular installment of the program. I invite you to buy my book and read Chapter 11. I have some wonderful photos that help me put in my “two cents” about this compelling story.

Untl next time>                               “ never forget” 

Manny P. here…

   Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History offers many historical references to compliment the subjects of each chapter. I believe the book says a lot about our collective past from around the world.

     For example…

Anne Frank Memorial, Bergen-Belsen, Germany. Photograph by Arne List, October 2003

One thing that should never be forgotten is The Holocaust during Hitler’s campaign of terror. There are some folks that would like to tell the world that the extermination of a people never existed during World War II. This horrible fact of the human race should always be remembered if only not to ever be repeated in the future.

   My wife and I visited the Anne Frank House on a trip to Europe about 6 years ago. I am proud of the information they provide that was generated from a simple diary from a young Jewish girl. I reference this fact in my new book in Chapter Seven.

   Anne Frank died of typhus at the tender age of 15 in the Bergen-Belsen camp in March, 1945. She was one of six million who fell victim to a vicious agenda.

 Until next time (please)>             ”never forget”

Manny P. here…

     Famed documetary producer Ken Burns has debuted a wonderful six-part series called:  The National Parks: U.S.’s Best Idea. One of its ambitious segments called “The Dream” features historic photos of the Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  ———————————–———–>

   The Teton range is well known for their splendor, and is showcased in the movie Spencer’s Mountain. The film offers the final screen appearance by Donald Crisp. This fine character actor is one of the featured subjects in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   One of the photos in the documentary segment also appears in my book. It is a Public Domain picture for all to enjoy.  WOW!!

   The series, as expected, is well written and beautifully filmed. I admire Ken Burns, and I am proud to acknowledge his work as inspiration for my book in the Preface.

Until next time>                           ”never forget”