Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   A couple of acting legends are in the news today.

   * Katharine Hepburn’s longtime home in Connecticut is officially on the market. Overlooking the lovely Long Island Sound, her private estate (over three lots) is available for only $28 million or $18 million separately. The four-time Oscar winner spent her later years in retirement at this gated location until her death in 2003.

   Seven years ago, this property sold for $7 million. The living area was recently remodeled to its current condition of 15 rooms and 7 1/2 baths.

   * Sissy Spacek will receive a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Monday. Winner of an Academy Award for her perfromance in Coal Miner’s Daughter in 1981, the five time nominee will receive her Star in front of the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. The ceremony will come nine days before the release of Spacek’s latest film The Help.

   Speaking on her behalf will be actor Bill Paxton and director David Lynch (among others). The event will take place at 11:30am. This will officially be the 2443 Star presented.

Until next time>                           “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Editor-in-Chief of the Midwest Book Review just sent me an inspiring letter of congratulations. James A. Cox has submitted their 5-Star Review of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to AMAZON. The review will also be posted in the July, 2011 of their online book review magazine, Internet Bookwatch; and it will be archived on their website for the next five years. 

   Here’s the link to this prestigious review:

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/ibw/jul_11.htm#Theatre/Cinema 

   The review has also been given to the Cengage Learning, Gale interactive CD-ROM series, Book Review Index. It’s published four times yearly for academic, corporate, and public library systems. According to their website:

Cengage Learning is providing integrated learning solutions that bridge from the library to the classroom. We are leading the transition from print to value-added digital and custom solutions.

At Cengage Learning, our strategy is to provide the right solution for each instructor; to develop hybrid, customized, integrated teaching and learning systems that deepen student engagement and improve learning outcomes.

   I’m proud to have the Midwest Book Review of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History submitted to a top educational site for the potential opportunity of future students worldwide to enjoy.

Until next time>                            “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Linda Christian was a modestly popular starlet during Hollywood’s Golden Age. With help from Errol Flynn and Louis B. Mayer’s secretary, she was pursuaded to travel to Los Angeles, which led to a 1943 screen test.

   Christian made her film debut in Up in Arms, starring Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore. She also appeared in Holiday in Mexico, Green Dolphin Street, and Tarzan and the Mermaids. She’s best known on television for co-starring as James Bond’s first love interest in the teleplay adaptation of Casino Royale in 1954. She would also work regularly in Mexican cinema.

   In 1949, Christian married Tyrone Power. During their eight-year relationship, the couple had a few opportunities to appear together in movies. Most notably, they turned down roles in From Here to Eternity. Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed eventually accepted the parts, and Reed won an Oscar for her performance. Linda and  Ty divorced in 1956.   LINDA CHRISTIAN & TYRONE POWER —->

   The actress spent her later years in Palm Desert. Linda Christian was 87.

Until next time>                             ”never forget”

Manny P. here…

   I’m thrilled to discover that WIKIPEDIA has actually cited Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History as a matter of Reference for one of their pages. This action further validates the info I provide in my book. I can additionally surmise that an employee of this online organization may have actually read my words.

   The subject of the web page is Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, the fine comedian who was featured on the Jack Benny Program on radio, and later, on television. The African-American actor also appeared in over sixty films in his career (including Gone with the Wind), which is the exact quote cited by WIKIPEDIA. The article also shares Eddie Anderson’s tearful reaction to Jack Benny’s death as I described in Chapter Eleven of my paperback.

   The site is the most comprehensive source for most information on your personal computer. Using Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History twice as a reference is a truly unique honor.

   Here is the link to the web page (my work is cited as #23 in the Reference section):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Anderson_(comedian)#cite_ref-Forgotten_19-0

 JACK BENNY & EDDIE ANDERSON

Until next time>                            “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   I’m thrilled to be attending my 3rd Rotary Club meeting in 2011. On the heels of speaking to members of the Los Alamitos and Van Nuys Chapters, I’ve been invited to an upcoming La Habra meeting on September 29th. I intend to share many wonderful stories from my paperback, Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

    Rotary International is committed to serving their individual communities, and specifically, to promote world peace. Its members include many local businessmen and professionals. This prestigious organization was created in 1905.

   I’d like to personally thank Garry Hobday and Jason E. Cecil for this special opportunity to share tales from Hollywood’s Golden Age to their local membership.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   MSNBC.com is reporting that remaining BORDERS stores will close by September. Some of their locations will shut their doors as early as the end of this week. This means there will be 399 less places to purchase your favorite paperback or hard cover book throughout the U.S. Approximately 10,700 employess are expected to lose their jobs.

   Currently, 10 BORDERS carry copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. The Southern California locations include Arcadia, Brea, El Segundo, Mission Viejo, Northridge, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Santa Margarita, Riverside, Simi Valley, and Torrance.

   A corporate spokesperson cited the turbulent economy, and the current electronic book revolution as the reasons for the company to fold. Owners of KOBO eReaders will still continue to purchase product on their website (including my paperback).

   Here’s a link to their site:

http://kobobooks.com/ebook/Forgotten-Hollywood-Forgotten-History/book-otxOyxeLW0CK7FKe9H0SEw/page1.html

   Malls currently housing BORDERS bookstores are expected to take a hit in foot traffic, which could tangentially further negatively effect our economy. Savvy business experts saw this news coming back in February. The courts will act on the liquidation process on Thursday.

Until next time>                              “never forget” 

Manny P. here…

   A big thanks to Moe BellaGloria, a nightclub entertainer from Las Vegas for a sincerely positive review of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   He writes:

The book is amazing. The facts and all the history of all the richness behind the Silver Screen as told in your book, makes me want Hollywood glamorous and lush once again forever.

Thank You Manny for giving a rich gift such as this book for everyone to take to heart.

Sincerely, Moe BellaGloria… 

The Italian Singer/ King of the 1 hour Big Band Shows

   You’re welcome, my friend.

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Mitra Celebrities

   If you’re interested in looking for Hollywood information on the web, check out the Mitra Celebrities site. This online center uses Google to help you find the most visited pages on the internet. Here’s a link to this site:

http://celebrities.mitrasites.com/imgs/hollywood.html

Until next time>                           “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The iconic creator of Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch has died today. His television writing credits include The Joan Davis Show, My Favorite Martian, The Red Skelton Hour, It’s About Time, and  Harper Valley P.T.A. In 1961, he received an Emmy for his work with Red Skelton.

   Schwartz began his career as a gag writer on Bob Hope’s radio show in 1939. During World War II, he added his humor skills to a series of Armed Forces Radio programs. After the war, he was hired to write for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He remained close friends with Hope until his death in 2003.

   Though panned by critics, his comedic creations were beloved by the growing television audience. His sense of humor also carried an edge for Hollywood insiders. The S.S. Minnow piloted by the Skipper and Gilligan was named for Newton Minow, the FCC chief in the early 1960′s, famous for calling television:  a vast wasteland.

   The writer is credited for penning the familiar openings to his shows. Most baby boomers can recite the exact words from the themes to Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch.

   Here’s a story of a man named… Sherwood Schawrtz. His three hour tour lasted a lifetime.

   Sherwood Schwartz was 94.

Until next time>                             “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Turner Classic Movies is temporarily losing their venerable host, Robert Osborne. For the next three months, upcoming movie-intro segments will be conducted by a revolving door of guest stars including Robert Wagner, Jane Powell, and Tippi Hedren. Other names will be soon be announced by the cable channel.

   The reason for Osborne’s brief departure is to give him an opportunity to recover from minor surgery. He plans on attending the TCM Cruise set for December. All recorded segments featuring the longtime face of TCM will continue to air, such as the Guest Programmer series, and The Essentials.

   Robert Osborne has been the primetime host of the television network  since TCM made its on-air debut in April, 1994. He recently signed a multi-year deal with the cable network. He’s expected to return to his anchor chair in November. We wish Robert Osborne the best on his slight setback, and we hope to enjoy his work again real soon on Turner Classic Movies.

Until next time>                           “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   I’ll be kicking off the 2012 literary tour in Las Vegas. I just confirmed an autograph party at BARNES & NOBLE at 2191 Rainbow Rd. on January 8th from 2p-4p. Of course, I’ll be signing copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   This event will be right around the Oscar season. If you live in the area, come by and lets chat about classic films, Hollywood’s Golden Age, and we can make some predictions about the upcoming Academy Awards.

* * *

   The B&N appearance will complement my participation in the 2012 MOOSE INTERNATIONAL Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament, which begins on Monday (the next day). The four day event will take place in the downtown area at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. It will be my chance to visit with folks from around the country, and raise money through the sale of my books for MOOSEHEART, my official charity.

* * *

   I’ll conclude my trip with a Rotary Club Breakfast event in Boulder City, just outside of Las Vegas on January 12th at 7a. I’ve been invited to be their guest speaker, and it’s going to be held at Boulder Creek Golf Club in their meeting room. Thanks to Donna Taylor, a dear high school friend, for setting up the opportunity to visit with these fine folks of the Vegas local chapter of Rotary International.

   I’m really looking forward to these fun events…

Until next time>                            “never forget”