Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   NBC says it’s planning to air a live production of The Music Man. The network has acquired rights for a television version of the 1957 Meredith Willson musical.

   The network had success with a live production of The Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood, and is following that with a live version of Peter Pan in December. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers for the most recent versions of The Sound of Music and Peter Pan, did the 2003 small screen version of The Music Man with Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth. NBC has not commented if they will produce the latest version of the production. And, there is no word on a future air date.

   The 1962 film adaptation starred Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Paul Ford, Buddy Hackett, and Ronnie Howard. The score included Till There was You, Ya Got Trouble, Lida Rose, 76 Trombones, and Goodnight My Someone.

   By the way, I’m available to play Professor Harold Hill… just sayin’!

———————————————————————

   Herve Chigioni and his graphic designer Gilles Frappier have based the poster design for the 67th Festival de Cannes on a photogram from Fedirico Fellini’s 8 1/2, which was presented in their Official Selection in 1963. In Marcello Mastroianni and Fellini, they celebrate a cinema that is free and open to the world, acknowledging once again the artistic importance of Italian and European cinema through their most stellar collaborations. The actor encapsulate everything that was most innovative, nonconformist, and poetic about cinema.

   The Festival de Cannes thanks Gaumont, which owns the rights to the movie. The 2014 Festival poster was designed by Lagency / Taste, Paris.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Summer KCET Cinema Series begins on June 3rd and runs through July 29th at the historic Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and is sponsored by the James and Paula Coburn Foundation.  Eight evenings of independent and Hollywood motion pictures shown prior to their theatrical release in Los Angeles theatres, plus a classic James Coburn film night.

   After working in television, Coburn made his cinematic debut in Ride Lonesome, which launched his appearance in a number of well-known movies, including The Magnificent Seven, Charade, The Great Escape, The Americanization of Emily, The President’s Analyst, and the spy spoof, Our Man Flint. Coburn also starred as Pat Garrett in director Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. In 1998, he took home an Academy Award for his supporting role in Affliction.  JAMES COBURN –>

   Each movie is followed by a lively Q&A with the talent or filmmaker moderated by series’ host Pete Hammond. He’s a Deadline Awards columnist. Hammond also writes and speaks on Oscars, Emmys, and film festivals; and hosts KCET and UCLA screenings

   Films screen on Tuesday evenings at 7p. To purchases series passes, call 747.201.5800… or go to www.kcet.org.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   PBS is raising funds with a party that celebrates the elegance of classic Hollywood. Here are the details:

An evening hosted by Antiques Roadshow’s Mark L. Walberg celebrating Southern California’s largest Stage for the Arts. Honoring leaders from the Arts and Entertainment industry in Southern California, including music industry icon Peter Asher and the GRAMMY Museum with a special recognition of the PBS SoCaL’s 2013 Community Champions. Partake in an evening of Old Hollywood glamour with a craft cocktail reception, an elegant dinner, and live entertainment compliments of JT & Friends. Opportunities to support PBS SoCaL’s mission throughout the evening include a live auction for priceless experiences with PBS’ iconic figures and an exciting Fund-The-Need drive.

Join us on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Hangar Building at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa dressed in Hollywood glamour or cocktail attire. Reception: 5:30p – Dinner: 6p.

   For registration and sponsorship tickets, click on the link below:

https://pbssocal.ejoinme.org/?tabid=515078

   For information on Live Auction items:

https://pbssocal.ejoinme.org/?tabid=515082

———————————————————

   Nancy Malone (right) was an actress, principally guest roles from the 1950s – 1970s, who moved into producing and directing in the 1980s and 1990s. She’s best remembered for her recurring roles on the television series Naked City from 1960 to 1963, and daytime drama, Guiding Light. She also appeared in The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and The Andy Griffith Show. Malone directed episodes of The Fugitive, Melrose Place, Star Trek: Voyager, Knots Landing, Touched by an Angel, Beverly Hills 90210, Diagnosis: Murder, Hotel, Dynasty, and The Bionic Woman.

   In 1976, she became the first female vice-president of television at 20th Century Fox. In 1977, she was awarded one of the first Crystal Awards by Women in Film “for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.” She won an Emmy for producing Bob Hope: The First 90 Years. Malone received Emmy nods for directing episodes of Sisters, and The Trials of Rosie O’Neill.

   Nancy was a board member for the Alliance Of Women Directors, female directors who are alumnae of AFI Directing Workshop for Women. She was also a lifetime member of the Actors Studio.

   Nancy Malone was 79.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Memories of Charlie Chaplin will be remembered above the shores of Lake Geneva, where generations of film lovers will get a chance to be introduced to one of the silver screen’s greatest comic geniuses. Now, after 14 years of planning, Chaplin’s family, investors, and supporters are ready to convert the run-down Manoir de Ban and its property into a museum complex. Three of his children — Michael, Eugene and Victoria — and their business partners in the nearly $69 million project are on track to open the museum early in 2016.

   Chaplin spent his last 25 years on his 35-acre estate along the Swiss Riviera, where he could surround himself with his family (below right), and walk into town, or drive in the countryside, without drawing unwanted attention. He died at the 18th-century Swiss mansion on Christmas Day in 1977. Chaplin and his last wife, Oona Chaplin, the daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill, lived most of their married life at the Swiss mansion. She also died there, at age 66, in 1991. Eugene Chaplin, who was born at the mansion, lived there until 2008.

   The mansion (above), with its verdant lawn and serene view of the lake and the Alps, is stripped bare, and will be refurbished as it was when Chaplin lived there. It has gardens, service buildings, and a pool, and plans call for a large new building with recreated sets from Chaplin’s movies. Nearby Montreux has a huge archive of Chaplin photographs, manuscripts, and other documents from the Victorian-era London of his youth, and from pre-World War II Hollywood, where he found success with his Tramp character.

   A Luxembourg investment firm, Genii Capital, purchased the property in 2008 with the aim of creating the Chaplin museum. The Swiss state of Vaud offered a ten million-franc loan for the repository, which is being developed with corporate help, including French ski resort developer Compagnie des Alpes and Vevey-based food giant Nestle.

   Chaplin came to Switzerland when he was in his 60s, fleeing accusations of being a communist sympathizer during the McCarthy-era witch hunt in the US. In his peaceful new setting, he raised eight children from his last marriage, wrote an autobiography, made films, composed music, and entertained other artists and celebrities.

   This pastoral setting will provide a peaceful legacy for the screen giant.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Jackie Lynn Taylor, who played one of the Little Rascals in five Our Gang comedic shorts that were released in 1934, died in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights. She debuted as Jane, the girlfriend of Wally, in Hi-Neighbor. When she grew too tall, she was famously replaced by Darla Hood.

   The group of suburban youngsters was an idea of producer Hal Roach to appear in the two-reelers, which began in the 1920s and continued into the 1940s. The enduring series has been acclaimed by critics for child actors who behaved naturally on screen. In an era of racial and gender prejudice, the flicks also gave equal status among blacks and whites; and boys and girls. I chronicle this story in Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.                                         Our Gang (JACKIE LYNN TAYLOR in center)

   Born in Compton, CA, Taylor also appeared in Laurel & Hardy films, The Devil’s Brother and Babes in Toyland. As an adult, she interviewed big names in politics and entertainment for KTTV in Los Angeles as one of the first female television news hosts in Southern California. The San Francisco Examiner named her TV Woman of the Year in 1955. Three years later, NBC tried to hire her after a one-week appearance as a guest host on Today, but the station where she was working refused to let her out of her contract. Taylor spent the remainder of her career in San Diego, Salinas, and Sacramento. She was inducted into National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences Silver Circle, and was honored by the San Diego Press Club for her pioneering work in broadcasting.

   She wrote a book about the Little Rascals, and began hosting the Little Rascals Family Theater in San Diego and Los Angeles with her husband. Her final years were spent as a minister in the nondenominational Unity Church, counseled girls in  local juvenile halls, and acted as a chaplain in retirement communities.

   A victim of Alzheimer’s disease, Jackie Lynn Taylor Fries was 88.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Since yesterday was Orson Welles birthday, I thought I pass this on from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Welcome to The Essential Orson Welles, running over the next month each Saturday at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This week’s screening is Citizen Kane. Prior to the screening, Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and Oscar-winning sound designer Ben Burtt will share some of the secrets behind the making of Citizen Kane. Last week, Orson’s lost classic, Too Much Johnson, was the bill o’ faire.

Citizen Kane – Sat. May 10 at 7:30 pm

The Magnificent Ambersons – Sat. May 17 at 7:30 pm

The Stranger – Sat. May 17 at 9:10 pm

The Lady From Shanghai – Sat. May 24 at 7:30 pm

Mr. Arkadin – Sat. May 24 at 9:10 pm

The Trial – Sat. May 31 at 5:00 pm

Touch of Evil – Sat. May 31 at 7:30 pm

Chimes at Midnight – Sat. June 7 at 5:00 pm

F For Fake – Sat. June 7 at 7:30 pm

   This fine series presented by the Academy will focus on Welles as a trailblazing director, presenting nine of the 11 films completed in his lifetime (several of them screening in brand-new restorations). As a body of work, these movies – from the serene epic grandeur of The Magnificent Ambersons to the noir intrigue of The Lady from Shanghai and Touch of Evil – reveal the inventiveness of Welles’ craftsmanship. The series will offer examples of his dazzling technical expertise, such as overlapping dialogue, potent bursts of montage, and bravura cinematography. Each week, it explores the themes that fascinated him, from anti-heroes corrupted by power to the dangers of pursuing uncomfortable truths.

   The Essential Orson Welles runs through June 7th. General admission is $5; Academy members, LACMA Film Club members, and students with a valid ID is $3.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   This summer, experience the sheer thrill of The Beatles’ deliriously entertaining cinematic breakthrough all over again. Courtesy of Janus Films, the landmark comedy-musical A Hard Day’s Night, directed by Richard Lester, is opening on July 4th in theaters across the country in a pristine 4K restoration from the original camera negative, and with a new 5.1 soundtrack remixed and re-mastered by record producer Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios.

   Just about a month after they exploded onto the US scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo (above) began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen, and cement the social concept of Beatle-mania. Inspired by the comedy of Peter Sellers, A Hard Day’s Night feature the Fab Four playing slapstick versions of themselves, and capture the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their and future generations; in the process, changing music forever. It features a slew of iconic pop anthems, including the title track, Can’t Buy Me Love, I Should Have Known Better, and If I Fell.

   A Hard Day’s Night, which re-conceived the movie musical, influenced numerous spy films, helped define The Monkees’ television show, and exerted an incalculable footprint on the creation of the music video, is one of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all time.

—————————————————

   Thank you to Smashwords for coordinating a new eBook page on a cutting-edge site devoted to providing Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History (and other literary works) to generations of readers. Downloading the book is easy on your Kindle Fire, NOOK, IOS, and Android (for your smartphone or tablet). The site is Scribd, and here’s the link:

http://www.scribd.com/book/206626704/Forgotten-Hollywood-Forgotten-History

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Lone Pine Museum of Film History is dedicated to preserving the diverse movie history of California’s Eastern Sierras, including Lone Pine, points North, and the Death Valley region. Located on Highway 395 on the south end of town, the museum’s 10,000 square feet of exhibits, an 85-seat movie theatre, and Western gift shop offer visitors a unique experience helping to document and interpret the cultural heritage of America’s cinematic history through film programs, artifact preservation, and other fascinating exhibits.

   The museum’s largest showcase is its Back Lot – The Alabama Hills, just west of town. Since the early 1920s, these rugged, rounded rock formations and meandering gullies have as Hollywood’s Western backdrop for cowboy action featuring Gene Autry, Tim Holt, Hopalong Cassidy, Randolph Scott, and Roy Rogers.

   Each Columbus Day weekend is the annual Lone Pine Film Festival, honoring the heroes of the silver screen. Mingle with celebrity guests, visit the movie sites with back lot tours, and enjoy classic film screenings. Unique to this annual event is a Saturday night concert featuring the best local Western talent, a Sunday cowboy-style church service, and a closing weekend old fashioned Main Street Parade and Sunday evening campfire roundup in the park.

   Since this is the Silver Anniversary of the Film Festival, expect special guests to visit. In 2013, visitors included the grandson of Joel McCrae, to discuss a film biography of his grandfather. Wyatt McCrae chatted about Joel McCrea – A Film History, a biographical essay and comprehensive filmography by film historian Tony Thomas. Clu Gulager and Andrew Prine joined Western film historian Ed Hulse to talk about their 50-plus year careers. And, following a screening of Ride the High Country, Leonard Maltin moderated a panel with Mariette Hartley and L.Q. Jones.

   All of this on location in Lone Pine… Where the Real West becomes the Reel West! Festival tickets will be available in July.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   If you are looking for something on Google today, the search engine offers a neat surprise. A comic strip photograph of Audrey Hepburn will emerge. It’s in honor of her 85th birthday. Google likes to do these little tidbits to brighten one’s day. This one is special for folks who adore Hollywood’s Golden Age.

———————————————————–

   Sally Field is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a special event along Hollywood Blvd. The 67-year old actress and two-time Oscar-winner will receive a Star along the Walk of Fame. Emcee Leron Gubler, President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will be on hand to help Ms. Field unveil the 2,524th Star in the category of Motion Pictures at 6767 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Hollywood Wax Museum.

   Field is very involved with philanthropic work and has served on the Board of Directors of Vital Voices since 2002. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Sundance Institute, from 1994 to 2010.

   The Star ceremony will be streamed live exclusively on www.walkoffame.com.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   There were two kinds of households in the US during the 1960s; families who watched the Ed Sullivan Show, and folks who turned to The F.B.I. as a television alternative. My dad never missed the weekly crime drama. The star of the iconic cop show was Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (right), who played Lewis Erskine.

   He was the son of violin virtuoso Efrem Zimbalist and Alma Gluck, an acclaimed opera singer. Young Efrem studied the violin too, but, he developed more interest in acting. He spent the majority of his career in television, starring in 77 Sunset Strip, and guest starred on Maverick. Other small screen roles were on the Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Murder She Wrote, and Hotel. In motion pictures, Zimbalist appeared in Harlow, Wait Until Dark, and Airport ’75. His daughter Stephanie also took up acting — and small-screen detective work, in the 1980s series Remington Steele. Her father had a recurring part as a con man.

   Zimbalist joined fellow actors William Lundigan, Chill Wills, and Walter Brennan, in making appearances on behalf of US Senator Barry M. Goldwater, the Republican nominee in the campaign against President Lyndon B. Johnson. Zimbalist also maintained a strong personal relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, who requested technical accuracy for The F.B.I., and that agents be portrayed in the best possible light. Actors who played FBI employees were required by Hoover to undergo a background check. The Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation honored the character of Lewis Erskine in 1985 with a set of retired credentials. On June 8, 2009, FBI Director Robert Mueller presented Zimbalist with a plaque of an honorary special agent for his work on the television series.

   Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was 95.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   If anyone gives you a Barnes & Noble gift card, be sure to cash it in by the end of the year. The bookstore chain may disappear by 2015.

   It’s bad news for people who love books. It’s worse news for the next generation of readers, who may never experience buying a book in person. B&N has been closing about 20 stores per year since 2012, and has said it will continue to do so for the next several years. But its financial position is bleak.

   So, why is B&N on the ropes if it has virtually no competition today from chains or privately owned bookstores? Five reasons…

1. Amazon makes it so easy to buy books.

2. Publishers thrashed B&N by selling best-sellers at deep discounts in non-traditional outlets such as supermarkets, Wal-Mart, and Costco, thus removing a key source of revenue for the chain.

3. The woefully underfunded Nook is competing with Amazon’s Kindle, which is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

4. The antiquated model of printing books on spec, putting them on trucks, and crossing your fingers that they’ll sell doesn’t work in the internet print-on-demand era.

5. Book buyers want decent customer service. At B&N, the only way to find a sales clerk is to attempt to shoplift.

   In many B&N stores, it’s actually hard to find books. You have got to wade through toys, umbrellas, Nook displays, chocolate bars, notebooks, birthday cards, and other stuff that has stolen shelf space from books.

   Barnes & Noble killed privately owned bookstores, and Amazon and technology are killing B&N. The publishers have to be running scared.  If B&N suddenly shutters its doors, then billions of dollars of books, which the bookstores take on consignment, go into the limbo of bankruptcy court.

   Can B&N hang on through the holidays? Most likely. But, sad to say, once Black Friday gives way to Christmas, a once-proud book chain may well have reached its final chapter. And that would be chapter 11, of the Bankruptcy Code.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Bob Hoskins was a short, rotund, bespectacled Brit with an immense amount of talent. He is best known for portraying a variety of cockneys and gangsters. In between, he effortlessly worked as a private investigator with an animated rabbit named Roger. He left us a treasure trove of great performances.

   Hoskins’ acting career began in 1969 at the Unity Theatre. His first major television role was in On the Move, an educational series intended to tackle adult illiteracy.  In the same year, he came to wider attention in the original BBC version of Dennis Potter’s drama Pennies from Heaven.

   Hoskins had a small role as a rock band’s manager in the Pink Floyd film The Wall. He was slated to be a last-minute replacement in the film The Untouchables if star Robert De Niro had not decided to play Al Capone. When De Niro took the part, director Brian De Palma mailed Hoskins a check for £20,000 with a Thank You note, which prompted Hoskins to call up De Palma and ask him if there were any more movies he didn’t want him to be in.

   Hoskins’ performances in British films such as The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa won him the wider approval of the critics and, in the case of the latter, a Cannes Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Hoskins appeared in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, for which he received a second Golden Globe nod. Other roles included performances in Mermaids, Hook, Nixon, A Christmas Carol, Neverland, a remake of The Lost World, and finally, in Snow White and the Huntsman.

   Hoskins announced his retirement from acting in 2012, due to his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease. The pugnacious Bob Hoskins was 71.

Until next time>                               “never forget”