“Forgotten Hollywood”- CSI: Ed Sullivan…

September 30th, 2014

Manny P. here…

ed-sullivan-stat-900x600   The valuable bronze statue of television icon Ed Sullivan from the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame Plaza is missing. This life size tribute of iconic television variety show host is one of several works of art on display in North Hollywood, California. The plaza where the statue stood honors significant personalities and pioneers. This kind of prank has  been common at Venice High School over the years when their statue (of actress Myrna Loy) that adorns the entrance has disappeared various time over the years.

   Sullivan was a Sunday night staple on CBS. He is known for bringing Elvis Presley and The Beatles to American small-screen audiences. Prior to his two decade stint, he hosted a program called Toast of the Town.

   Police said the 18-inch, 20-pound sculpture was reported missing from atop an outdoor pedestal on Sunday morning. Due to the ongoing police investigation, no Television Academy officials were available for further comment.

   The Los Angeles Police Department asks that anyone with related information about this theft, please contact the North Hollywood burglary detectives at 818) 623-5081.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Frankly My Dear, I Do Give a…

September 27th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment are coming together to present Gone With the Wind: The 75th Anniversary Celebration in select movie theaters nationwide on Sunday, September 28th and Wednesday, October 1st. Celebrate 75 years of this quintessential Hollywood classic by experiencing the story behind the story, and understanding how this 10-time Academy Award-winning masterpiece came to be (and its historical significance).

   Take a good look my dear. It’s a historic moment. You can tell your grandchildren about how you watched the Old South fall one night.

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   This fully re-mastered presentation will include a specially produced introduction TCM host Robert Osborne. Screenings will be each day at 2p and 7p, local time. You can find theaters, and purchase tickets for this event from the Fathom Events website (cut and paste the link below), or check with your local theater about screenings.

http://www.fathomevents.com/event/gone-with-the-wind-75th-anniversary

   This is one event you will not want to miss! Tomorrow is another day…

   Cue Tara’s Theme

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- WWII Tribute Sculpture Now in France

September 24th, 2014

Manny P. here… sculpture   A sculpture honoring a famous snapshot of a kiss in Times Square, which brought to life New York’s impromptu celebration as World War II ended, has gone up in Normandy for a one-year visit. Cranes and construction crews in the French hamlet of Caen, this week, hoisted and locked pieces of Unconditional Surrender, a 25-foot cast-bronze statue of a sailor and nurse in a lip-locked embrace.

   This grand tribute by Seward Johnson is based on a Navy photographer’s black-and-white picture taken August 15th, 1945, according to the Sculpture Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization that owns the work. It also resembles a famous photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt of Life Magazine on that day.

   The sculpture is to spend an entire year outside the Caen Memorial, a museum focusing on the global event of the 1940s. This somber repository could use this moment in time, which was so uplifting and positive. And socially, it’s quite a cute moment in history.

   It remains a symbol and hope for a free people.

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The LA Word: Exploded Guns

They put the verse in controversy

The LA Word is back for a second year at the LitCrawl in North Hollywood on Wednesday, October 22nd. Join four terrific LA writers as they read stories and poetry about guns. It all happens at 9p in the lobby of the Laemmle NoHo 7.

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This year’s LitCrawl features 170 local writers at 30 events across the NoHo Arts District from 7p to 11p.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Dynamo Polly Bergen Has Died…

September 20th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   Polly Bergen was an actress, singer, television host, and entrepreneur. She won an Emmy Award in 1958 for her lead performance in The Helen Morgan Story. For her stage work, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical as Carlotta Campion in Follies in 2001. Her film work included the original Cape Fear and 1963’s The Caretakers, for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. And, she played a fictional president opposite Fred MacMurray in Kisses for My President.

479px-Polly_Bergen_1953   Alternating between television and motion pictures for much of her career, Bergen had roles in three Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy films: At War with the Army, That’s My Boy, and The Stooge. She was a regular panelist on the CBS game show, To Tell the Truth, during its original run. She also hosted her own variety show for one season, The Polly Bergen ShowShe co-starred with Doris Day and James Garner in the film comedy, Move Over Darling. And, Polly earned an Emmy nomination for her role as the wife of Capt. “Pug” Henry (played by Robert Mitchum), in two ABC miniseries, The Winds of War, and its sequel, War and Remembrance.                POLLY BERGEN ————>

   Other guest stints on the small screen included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a panelist on What’s My Line, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Murder She Wrote, Jake and the Fatman, and Touched by an Angel. More recently, Bergen appeared as on HBO’s The Sopranos, the former fictional mistress of Tony Soprano’s father, and John F. Kennedy. She had a guest role in Desperate Housewives, which earned her another Emmy nomination.

   Other endeavors kept her busy. Signed to Columbia Records, she enjoyed a successful recording career in the 1950s. Bergen also was known as The Pepsi Cola Girl, having done a series of commercials for that product. She walked out of early contracts with Paramount and MGM because she thought her film roles were inadequate. As a celebrated author, she wrote three books on beauty, fashion, and charm.

   A little dynamo, Polly Bergen was 84.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Author Sponsorship at Lit Crawl…

September 19th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   I’m thrilled to be an Author Sponsor at this year’s 2nd Annual Lit Crawl LA: NoHo. My enthusiastic endorsement of one of largest literary confabs of the year displays my confidence in this major event to be held on the evening of Wednesday, October 22nd.

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   According to their website:

Los Angeles’ debut Lit Crawl LA: NoHo in 2013 was an amazing success with 2,000 people attending and a score of NoHo Arts District business hosting amazing readings and literary performances. This international phenomenon returns this fall with the 2nd Annual Lit Crawl LA: NoHo on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 7p to 11:00p. Mark your calendars now! Restaurants, hair salons, bars, galleries, and other hip NoHo venues will host an evening of innovative presentations with the best of L.A.’s literary scene sampling from throughout Los Angeles County. 2014′s Lit Crawl LA: NoHo will be greater Los Angeles’ grassroots literary event and promises to be another magical, vibrant night for all!

The lit crawl concept was birthed as the closing night of San Francisco’s annual Litquake festival in 2006, which is tremendously popular and to this day attracts thousands of guests, annually. San Francisco’s Litquake literary festival runs October 11th-19th, 2014 with other annual Lit Crawls in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Seattle, Iowa City, Austin, London, and Miami.

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest and most diverse literary scenes in the world. An incredible array of local reading series and literary organizations are expected to participate in 2014′s Lit Crawl LA: NoHo for a uniquely Los Angeles literary night.

Lit Crawl LA: NoHo is a project of the Pasadena Arts Council EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship program, and is also a project of the Litquake Foundation. And, Lit Crawl LA: NoHo is presented in cooperation with the NoHo Arts District  of the Business Improvement District.

   For a complete schedule of the 2014 version of Lit Crawl LA: NoHo, copy and paste the following links below:

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http://litcrawl.org/la/schedule/

http://litcrawl.org/la/supporters/author-sponsors/

   You can pick up your personal copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History and Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History on Amazon.

   Spend a splendid evening that is sure to become Southern California’s major Autumn social gathering!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Ava Gardner Film Fest is Back…

September 15th, 2014

Manny P. here…

The Ava Gardner Film Festival is growing to become the go-to event in North Carolina each Fall. Here are the details…

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Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- PBS Presents The Roosevelts…

September 14th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   TONIGHT the journey begins!

   THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY chronicles the lives of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of the most prominent and influential family in American politics. It’s the initial time in a major documentary television series their individual stories have been interwoven into a single narrative  This seven-part, fourteen hour film follows this political dynasty for over a century, from Theodore’s birth in 1858 to Eleanor’s death in 1962.

The Roosevelts

   It’s produced by Ken Burns for PBS. Actors such as Meryl Streep, Edward Hermann, Paul Giamatti, Eli Wallach, and John Lithgow are vocally featured. Also interviewed — George Will, Doris Kearns Goodwin, H.W. Brands, and David McCullough. Peter Coyote narrates the piece. The program runs all week until next Saturday.

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   Denny Miller (below) was best known for his regular role as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train, his guest-starring appearances on Gilligan’s Island, and the 1959 film version of Tarzan. For fourteen years, he also played the Gorton’s Fisherman in television commercials.

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   A product of UCLA basketball, under the tutelage of John Wooden, he opted for an acting career, instead. Miller was discovered on Sunset Boulevard by a Hollywood agent who signed him with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His screen test was directed by George Cukor. Though his favorite assignment was in The Party, starring Peter Sellers, the majority or work came from the small screen, appearing in The Rifleman, Have Gun Will Travel, The High Chaparral, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, Alice, Magnum P.I., Hawaii 5-0Quincy M.E., and Battlestar Galactica.

   Denny Miller was 80.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Projector Fund…

September 13th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   The Old Town Music Hall now has a new and improved projection system that replaces their old projector which had an untimely meltdown. The picture quality of the new projector is truly spectacular. Now, they need to raise $5,000 to help cover the cost of this unexpected snafu.

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   If you’re able to pitch in, please CONTRIBUTE at: oldtownmusichall.org/contribute or mail a check to 140 Richmond Street, El Segundo CA 90245. You can earmark your generous offer for the projector fundand as always, the donation is fully tax-deductible.

   Their operations are not supported by ticket prices alone. They rely on the generosity of friends like you to support our weekly programming and concerts, and to maintain the Mighty Wurlitzer and the Bösendorfer concert grand piano.

   They THANK YOU for your ongoing support in keeping this non-profit theater alive. Old Town Music Hall is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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220px-An_Evening_with____DS_(large)   Theatre, film, and television actor, Sir Donald Sinden, has died at his home following a long illness. He made his name on stage as a Shakespearean and West End actor, and he appeared in more than seventy cinematic and small screen productions. Although renowned for his live work, he was arguably best known for his roles in the sitcom Never the Twain and the BBC legal drama Judge John Deed.

   Sir Donald trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He was the last person living to have known Oscar Wilde’s lover Lord Alfred Douglas, and was one of only two people to attend his funeral. In 1949, Sinden appeared in The Heiress at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket opposite Ralph Richardson and Peggy Ashcroft, and directed by John Gielgud. Achieving early fame as a Rank Organisation motion picture star in the 1950s, he was notably cast in Mogambo (the remake of Red Dust) and The Day of the Jackal.

   Sinden was appointed a CBE in 1979, and then knighted in 1997 for his services to drama. He celebrated his 89th birthday, and his retirement after thirty years as the longest-standing President of the Royal Theatrical Fund (founded by Charles Dickens in 1839) with a celebration lunch for 350 guests at the Park Lane Hotel. Leading the tributes was film star Jean Kent, letters from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Albert of Monaco, and a speech from Julian Fellowes.

   The Society of London Theatre has announced that the West End will dim its lights in the actor’s memory. Sir Donald Sinden was 90.

 Until next time>                              “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Passing of Jaws…

September 11th, 2014

Manny P. here…6903R

   Richard Kiel was a tall thespian, best remembered for his roles in Wild Wild West, and as Jaws (below) in the James Bond series of motion pictures, including The Spy Who Loved Me, and Moonraker. He was also well known as Mr. Larson in the 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore.

   The 7+ foot actor made his acting debut in television Westerns, such as Laramie and The Rifleman. His first familiar performance was as the extraterrestrial Kanamit (right) in the To Serve Man episode of The Twilight Zone. Other small screen appearances included Honey WestMy Mother the Car, The MonkeesI Dream of Jeannie, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., I Spy, Gilligan’s IslandDaniel Boone, Starsky and Hutch, The Greatest American Hero, Simon & Simon, and The Incredible Hulk.

7722   He was comfortable in motion pictures — in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, House of the Damned, The Nutty Professor, The Longest Yard, Silver Streak, Force 10 From Navarone, Cannonball Run II, and Pale Rider. But, Richard was so popular as a villain in James Bond flicks, he reprised his role in Inspector Gadget two decade later. His voice and likeness were also captured for the 007-related video games. His last assignment was in the animated Disney feature, Tangled.

   Kiel co-authored a biography of the abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay called Kentucky Lion. He was also a born-again Christian. His religious conversion helped him to overcome alcoholism.

   Richard Kiel was 74.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Bacall Tributes Keep Pouring In…

September 10th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   The passing of Lauren Bacall has sparked tributes in her honor. Here are the details:

logoMain   Film Society of Lincoln Center   TCM_website_logo

~ September 10thThe Landmark will honor the actress with a couple of motion pictures:  To Have and Have Not and Murder on the Orient Express. The double feature will screen beginning at 7p. The Landmark is located at 10850 West Pico Blvd., in West Los Angeles.

~ September 15th – The Film Society Lincoln Center in New York will air two cinematic classics — To Have and Have Not and The Cobweb. They write:

Sultry, chic, and alluring, the late Lauren Bacall epitomized movie-star glamour and film noir backbone. While her most iconic roles paired her with first husband Humphrey Bogart, after his death she found that being a widow is not a profession and forged a career rich with comebacks, including her first Oscar nomination at age 72. With her seductive voice and signature look, chin held low and eyes cast upward, Lauren Bacall was among the last of the true Hollywood sirens.

A tribute to Lauren Bacall

HUMPHREY BOGART   LAUREN BACALL

~ September 15th and 16th – The following listing is a complete schedule for the upcoming TCM tribute to Lauren Bacall.

Monday

8pPrivate Screenings: Lauren Bacall (2005)
9pTo Have and Have Not (1944)
11pThe Big Sleep (1946)
1aHow to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
2:45aPrivate Screenings: Lauren Bacall (2005)
3:45aHarper (1966)

Tuesday

6aBright Leaf (1950)
8aYoung Man with a Horn (1950)
10aDark Passage (1947)
12pKey Largo (1948)
2pBlood Alley (1955)
4pSex and the Single Girl (1964)
6pDesigning Woman (1953)

   Let’s all celebrate the life and career of the remarkable Lauren Bacall!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Mel Brooks Sticks It to Hollywood…

September 9th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   In true comedic fashion… Mel Brooks fashioned a fake finger as he sank his hands and feet into cement in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Monday — the ritual followed by decades of movie legends. His reasoned that he was having a little fun with future tourists, who might notice and wonder if the iconic writer, producer, and actor had an extra appendage. What a prankster!

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   This event was held to honor Brooks for his creation of the classic movie comedies — The Producers, Blazing SaddlesHigh Anxiety, Silent Movie, Spaceballs, My Favorite Year, as well as the television comedy classics, Your Show of Shows and Get Smart. At age 88, Brooks still has a childlike way of making the most of an opportunity to entertain a crowd.

   The ceremony was held in conjunction with yesterday’s release of Young Frankenstein on Blu-ray to mark the motion picture’s 40th anniversary. A screening of the film will take place tonight at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at 7:30p. The attendees include Brooks, Teri Garr, and Cloris Leachman. It is a sold out event hosted by Leonard Maltin.

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   There is no word on what happened to the sixth finger. I’m sure Mel Brooks flipped it to the crowd! (Can I say that?)

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Famous Actor’s Son Has Died…

September 7th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   Andrew Victor McLaglen was a film and television director, known for his rugged location shooting, and often starring John Wayne or James Stewart. He was the son of character actor Victor McLaglen. He is widely considered to be among the last of the American film directors to specialize in the Western genre.

   Since he was from a cinematic family that included eight uncles and an aunt, he grew up on movie sets with his parents, as well as with Wayne and John Ford. After working as an assistant director on a few smaller films, Ford gave him an assistant director job on the The Quiet Man in 1952. He went on to work for The Duke’s production company. McGlaglen’s directorial assignments included Shenandoah and The Rare Breed, both with Stewart; The Devil’s Brigade and The Wild Geese, starring Richard Burton; and war or action films, his last being Return from the River Kwai. He also worked many times with Wayne in such films as McLintock!, Hellfighters, The Undefeated, Chisum, and Cahill U.S. Marshal.

   He went on to work extensively in television, prolifically directing episodes of Perry Mason, Rawhide, and 116 episodes of Have Gun – Will Travel, and 96 episodes of Gunsmoke. He even teamed with Walt Disney to direct several episodes of the Wonderful World of Color.

   Andrew Victor McLaglen was 94.

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   I’d like to thank Glory Grace for a bona fide 5-Star Review on Amazon. Here is what she had to say about Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, my first work:

Forgotten Hollywood Documentary Logo - newManny Pacheco has created a real gem. This book is full of delightful stories, not dry facts. Manny has a true affection for preserving the history of Hollywood with all its stars, moods and feelings. If you want to know the story behind the story or “the rest of the story,” you want to read this book.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Bryn Mawr to Honor Sotomayor…

September 2nd, 2014

Manny P. here…

   Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will be honored by Bryn Mawr College for her trailblazing legal career. The women’s liberal arts school near Philadelphia announced that Sotomayor will receive the 2015 Katharine Hepburn Medal, given to women who embody the intelligence, drive and independence of the Oscar-winning actress. Hepburn was a 1928 graduate of Bryn Mawr.

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   KATHARINE HEPBURN      JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR

   School officials say Sotomayor shows unflinching commitment to justice and a fundamental dedication to real equality in our diverse society. Sotomayor is the first Latino on the nation’s highest court. She’ll receive the Hepburn Medal on April 17th.

   The medal is also named for the actress’ mother, Katharine Houghton Hepburn. She was an early women’s rights activist and 1900 Bryn Mawr graduate. Previous recipients include actress Lauren Bacall.

   This event embodies what I call Hollywood-and-Vine moments, when American history intersects with Hollywood.

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oyster1-300x220   smashwords logo

Forgotten Hollywood Documentary Logo - new   Oyster offers unlimited access to over 500,000 books, with new titles added all the time. One of those eBooks is now Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, distributed primarily through SmashwordsOyster is available for Apple iOS 7+, Android 4+, Nook HD, and Kindle Fire.

   Here is the link to purchase your eBook copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History:

https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/byfS2o7ffdXK5W8wcGz5uV/forgotten-hollywood-forgotten-history

Until next time>                               “never forget”