“Forgotten Hollywood”- Goodbye To Gomer…

November 30th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`Jim Nabors was a comedian and singer, who is best remembered for his portrayal of a lovable rube on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. Later in life, he also sang Back Home Again in Indiana to start the Indianapolis 500, every year from 1972 until his final live appearance in 2014.

“`Nabors was far more than just an actor.  As a crooner, he recorded over twenty albums, several of which went Gold, including 1966’s Jim Nabors Sings Love Me With All Your Heart.  His record, The Heart Touching Magic of Jim Nabors, went Platinum in 1980.            JIM NABORS —>

“`He began his career has a film cutter at NBC. Many evenings, Nabors sang at a local Santa Monica club, and he was discovered by Steve Allen and Bill Dana.  His Alabama alter-ego was in stark contrast to a rich baritone singing style that were on display in the popular Mayberry sitcom; and variety programs, such as The Danny Kaye Showand beginning each season of The Carol Burnett Show. He guest-starred on The Smothers Brothers Comedy HourI’m Dickens He’s FensterThe RookiesThe Lucy Show, The Dean Martin ShowThe Sonny and Cher Comedy HourThe Love Boat,  Knight RiderThe Flip Wilson Show; and for three seasons, Nabors also hosted his own variety program.

“`Forging a friendship with Burt Reynolds, he co-starred in three of his films: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Stroker Ace, and Cannonball Run II. Jim also made his theatrical debut as  Harold Hill in The Music Man, opposite Florence Henderson, at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre.  He continued earning high salaries in Las Vegas showrooms and in concert theaters across the country. He also sang with the Dallas and St. Louis symphony orchestras.

“`He received honors from his home state of Alabama,  from his current residence in Hawaii, and a Star along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. The Marine Corps awarded Jim several honorary promotions within their ranks at various times in his career.

“`Jim Nabors was 87.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Rat-a-Tat-Tat…

November 29th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Police at Bridgwater Station in Somerset, England held a weapons amnesty, and were quite stunned after a fellow handed in Clint Eastwood’s MP40 machine gun that he used in the flick  Where Eagles Dare.  Officers say the German prop was dropped off at the police station by an unnamed male who worked in the film industry.

CLINT EASTWOOD

“`He told cops the MP40 sub-machine gun was used by the actor in the movie while dressed as a Nazi.  More interesting items of value including Eastwood’s weapon will go to the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.  Also collected:  A dozen World War II handguns, including a Colt .45; a Walther P38; and a Russian semi-automatic Tokarev were also collected by Avon and Somerset police.

“`The force received 220 weapons during an amnesty, which started on November 13th and ended on November 26th. In the United Kingdom, guns are highly regulated. Amnesties are regularly held by law enforcement as citizens can turn in illegal hardware without facing any penalties. The majority of the weapons collected will be destroyed.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- It’s a Wonderful Honky-Tonk…

November 28th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Dateline:  The outskirts of Chicago…

“`Once you’ve revisited the cinematic depiction of Bedford Falls in It’s A Wonderful Life, you will be able to have a cocktail in a pop-up bar that recreates the movie’s post-World War II-era charm. Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn (off the Oak Park Blue Line exit) is turning their side bar into a recreation of Nick’s; the rough-and-tumble pub that exists in the alternate universe of Bedford Falls where George Bailey was never born.

                     SHELDON LEONARD    JAMES STEWART    HENRY TRAVERS

“`They will feature an antique cash register, complete with a bell awarding angels with their wings; impromptu sing-alongs to Auld Lang Syne; and a raffle at the end of each evening, with tickets drawn from a giant wicker basket.

“`Bartenders serve a menu of cocktails inspired by It’s A Wonderful Life that are available in the tavern. These creations include the Flaming Rum Punch ordered by the guardian angel Clarence Odbody, and a drink called Zu-Zu’s Petals.  Just like Nick’s depicted in the flick, the bar will also serve hard drinks for men who want to get drunk fast.

“`The It’s A Wonderful Lifethemed pop-up bar takes over Fitzgerald’s every Wednesday in December beginning at 5p.  Show up early to listen to a jazz ensemble performing holiday standards; and perhaps a version of Buffalo Gals. Stick around to watch It’s A Wonderful Life in all of its black-and-white glory at 8p; with no commercial interruptions, of course.

“`Another banner day at the Bailey Building-and-Loan so to speak.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- An Unassuming Classic…

November 26th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Warner Brothers churned out hundreds of motion pictures in the 1940s; many of which, became bona fide cinematic classics.  Filmmakers, actors, and crew with formidable credentials often predicted the success or failure of an individual movie for which they were involved.

“`One particular production was immersed with delays, rewrites and casting issues. The leads were to include Dennis Morgan and Ann Sheridan. Another actor demanded more screen time despite his third billing; and the fact, he gets the girl at the conclusion of the story. The villain received the largest salary despite his lower billing.  Plus, the screenplay stubbornly remained unfinished until the very last moment.

“`The female star hated her involvement with the movie; opting instead to spend her waking hours working at home on another script. That effort on For Whom the Bell Tolls led to an Oscar nomination.

“`The only members of the International cast that enjoyed the experience were those recently escaping a Nazism engulfing their own European homelands.  A sort of camaraderie emerged, and pleasant tales of the Old Country were swapped.  The supporting players were singular in their foresight over the success of this particular production. They were convinced these were the roles of a lifetime. And, their uniform analysis proved correct.

“`The screenplay was based on a play never produced called Everybody Comes to Rick’s by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison. Their script fortuitously landed on the desk of a story analyst at Warner Brothers on December 8th, 1941; the day after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.

“`Although an initial release date was anticipated for early 1943, the film premiered at the Hollywood Theater in New York City on November 26th, 1942, to coincide with the Allied invasion of North Africa.  It proceeded into general release on January 23rd, 1943, to take advantage of a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Morocco.

“`Here’s looking at Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henried, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre, S. Z. Sakall,  Sydney Greenstreet, Conrad Veidt, and John Qualen. A Happy 75th Anniversary to the three-time Oscar-winner (my all-time favorite motion picture)… Casablanca.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Howard’s End…

November 25th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`Rance Howard was an actor, and the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard. He guided his children’s career while in their youth. After Ron co-starred in  The Music Man and The Andy Griffith Show in the early 1960s, Rance had guest parts in a few episodes of the show.  The elder Howard was best known for his recurring role in the 1960s show Gentle Ben. The program starred his son Clint; plus, a large bear.    RANCE HOWARD with sons —>

“`His professional acting career began in 1948 when he traveled to New York City. The stage play role that got him noticed for television and movie, while he was in a touring company of Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda in 1950 portraying the character Lindstrom for 18 months in major cities across the United States.

“`Both Rance and oldest son Ron, who was two at the time, made their feature film debuts in the 1956 western Frontier Woman. His cinematic career included roles in Cool Hand Luke, Chinatown, A Beautiful MindParenthoodApollo 13Independence DayThe Paper, Frost / Nixon, Splash, CocoonCinderella Man,  How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Ed Woodand Nebraska.

“`On television, he guest-starred on  Kraft TheatreThe F.B.I., That Girl, The Virginian, Bat Masterson, Seinfeld, Melrose Place, CoachThe Waltons, DynastyHappy Days, Little House on the Prairie, Gunsmoke, Murder She Wrote, ERLaverne and Shirley, Battlestar Galactica, Mork and Mindy, Baywatch, Quantum Leap, Diagnosis Murder, Married…With Children, Kung Fu, Night Gallery, Bonanza, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Thornbirds.

“`Rance Howard was 89.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- It’s a Wonderful Jalopy…

November 24th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`The car famously crashed by Jimmy Stewart in the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life is to be featured on New Year’s Day. The black 1919 Dodge Brothers Touring Car will be driven five miles through the streets of Pasadena, CA, during this year’s Rose Parade on January 1st. The automobile was memorably run into a tree by George Bailey in the 1946 flick.

                                        JAMES STEWART     DONNA REED

“`The owner, Keith Smith of Johnstown, CO, who restored it two decades ago before buying the vehicle in 2010, will drive the classic auto down the parade route. Smith’s bride will ride along as a passenger.

“`This week, Rudy Castro, a representative for the parade, traveled to Colorado to check the condition of the vehicle, which will be one of five at the parade. The car will be collected next week; and the Smiths are to be flown to California on December 26th.

“`A Christmas favorite,  It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the most loved movies in American cinema. Nominated for five Academy Awards, Frank Capra’s production was ranked #11 in the American Film Institute’s list of of the 100 Best American Films; and named the most inspirational provincial motion pictures of all time.

“`Every penny raised by the recent use of the car through photo shoots and fundraisers has gone to veteran’s charities; a truly noble jalopy.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- JFK’s Centennial Legacy…

November 23rd, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`A year of events marking the 100th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s birth drew to a close, 54 years after his assassination by  Lee Harvey Oswald, during that fateful day in Dallas on November. 22nd, 1963. It was the end of what Jackie Kennedy labeled Camelot.

“`National park rangers laid wreaths outside Kennedy’s childhood home in Brookline, Massachusetts; plus a 21-gun salute by an honor guard. These observances were held at  John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site; and administered by the National Park Service. Folks of all ages attended the somber event.

“`The nation’s 35th President was born in the Boston suburb on May 29th, 1917. Over the past year, numerous conferences and other events have been held, worldwide, to examine JFK’s legacy, and imagine his impact had he survived.

“`As we reflect… The Jack Kennedy legacy lives on; a martyr brandishing an eternal flame at Arlington National Cemetery. You can almost imagine Jon Jon saluting his fallen father.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Bon Appetit!

November 22nd, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`A new photo exhibition at California’s Napa Valley Museum Yountville documents Julia Child’s life in France in the years before she hosted one of America’s most popular television cooking shows. Mention her name and the image that comes to mind is a tall woman with a spoon in one hand, saying in a high voice… Bon appetit!

“`Child, a graduate of Smith College, worked during World War II for the agency that was a predecessor of the CIA. In 1946, she married Paul Child, who worked as a cultural attache at the United States embassy in France, while his wife learned to cook at the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, subsequently studying with several famous chefs.

“`This time of her life was documented by Paul Child. France is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child is an exhibit inspired and will be shown in conjunction with the release of a new book France is a Feast by Paul’s great-nephew, Alex Prud’homme; and Katie Pratt, a longtime friend, who also curated the exhibit.

“`The exhibit features 60 rarely seen black-and-white photographs taken between 1948 and 1954, along with notes, logs, letters, and a Rolleiflex camera Paul Child used, because it allowed him to capture folks in candid poses.

“`France is a Feast – Julia Child photo exhibition through February 18th at Napa Valley Museum Yountville, 55 President Circle, Yountville, CA; http://www.napavalleymuseum.org, or 707-944-0500. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11a – 4p. Adults: $10. Plans are under way to take the exhibit to 10 other cities.

==================================

<— DAVID CASSIDY was an actor, singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and teen idol, who is best remembered for his co-starring role in The Partridge Family. The clan had a #1 hit song, I Think I Love You. His father was actor Jack Cassidy; and step-brother is Shaun Cassidy. David’s step-mother is Oscar-winning actress Shirley Jones.

“`He also guest-starred on The Mod SquadAdam-12, IronsideBonanza, Marcus Welby M.D., Medical Center, The F.B.I., The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island. Cassidy’s performance on Police Story earned him an Emmy nomination.

“`Cassidy’s other hit was The Partridge Family theme, Come On Get Happy. The program aired from 1970 – 1974, and was fictionally based on the 1960s performers, The Cowsills. He musically collaborated with The Beach Boys and George Michael.  Later, he also starred in the original 1982 Broadway production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

“`He final years were spent suffering with legal and health problems. David Cassidy was 67.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Oldest Obsession…

November 21st, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`A fast-talkin’ scoundrel conveys his wry message with confident revivalist overtones. His recitation on morality is embraced as he traverses small town America, where religion is celebrated in every-day life.  He achieves the pinnacle of his chosen profession only to be taken down in a scandalous collapse by his sordid past. Yet, he shall survive to fight another day. I’m not referring to today’s cultural and political climate that is fittingly condemning indiscretions based on a good-ole boys nature of power. I instead reference the 1960 classic, Elmer Gantry.

“`The film is based on a satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of religious activity in middle-America in fundamentalist and evangelist circles, and the nature of the 1920s public at-large. The yarn’s anti-hero is initially attracted by liquor, easy bankrolls, and libertine women. After various forays into evangelism, he becomes a successful Methodist minister despite his behavioral hypocrisy and serial sexual escapades.

“`On publication in 1927, Elmer Gantry created a public furor. The book was banned in Boston, and other towns, and denounced from pulpits across the United States.  A cleric suggested that Lewis should be imprisoned for five years, and there were also threats of physical violence against the writer. Evangelist Billy Sunday called Lewis: Satan’s cohort.

“`This explosive movie earned Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones well-deserved Academy Awards. The film also co-starred Jean Simmons, Arthur Kennedy, Dean Jagger, and Patti Page.  The character of Sharon Falconer was based on the career of Canadian-born, radio evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, who formed the Pentecostal Christian denomination known as International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1927.

“`The female characters in this tale are clearly victimized, and react at the pleasure of the male protagonist. The fire-and-brimstone overtones add to Elmer’s ferocity in his quest for providing wholesale deliverance for an exacting price; his sordid behavior, notwithstanding.

The movie ends in an ironic twist, with the sudden, if convenient, repentance of Gantry. Quoting 1 Corinthians 13:11 in an impromptu revival, he is circumspect as he moves on. Incidentally, this production begs for a screenplay sequel that was never penned.

“`Today’s toxic nationalism is rooted from analysis in the cinema of the 1960s; and candid writings of insightful scribes of the 1920s, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, H.G. Wells, and of course, Sinclair Lewis. Remember this, as 2017 professional careers are suddenly destroyed; women are magnificently empowered; and as you vote for candidates campaigning for entrance into the nation’s body-politic. Vetting is recommended.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Remembering Della Reese…

November 20th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`Della Reese was a nightclub,  jazz, gospel, and pop singer; film and television actress; and one-time talk-show host. Her career spanned six decades. She also appeared as a guest on several talk shows,  and as a panelist on numerous game shows. She’s best known for her starring role in Touched By an Angel, which lasted a decade.

“`As a youngster, Della was influenced by the films of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Lena Horne. Her first brush with entertainment was when she established a gospel group in 1947.

“`Reese was discovered by the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, and her big break came when she won a contest, which gave her a week to sing at Detroit’s well-known Flame Show Bar. Reese remained there for eight weeks. Although her roots were in gospel music, she became influenced by such famous crooners as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan.  In 1953, she signed a contract with Jubilee Records and recorded I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Time After Time and the chart-topping And That Reminds Me. Martha Reeves named her group The Vandellas, in honor of her favorite singer, Della Reese.

“`Though a promising singer, her biggest splash was in television.  After hosting her own talk show, Della was the first Black woman to guest-host The Tonight Show, filling in for Johnny Carson. She guest-starred on many programs, including  Medical CenterThe Mod Squad, Police Woman, Sanford and Son, Night Court, Vega$MacGyverChico and the Man, Welcome Back Kotter,  The Love Boat, L. A. Law,  Designing Women, Picket Fences, and  McCloud. Della starred in television movies, and had a role on the daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless. Reese also had a small cinematic career.

“`She became an ordained minister in 1980. In 2005, Reese was honored by Oprah Winfrey at her Legends Ball ceremony along with 25 other black women. Della never won a major award. However, she did accomplish something in her career that was the envy of many performers — longevity.

“`Della Reese was 86.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Demise of Helter Skelter…

November 19th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`Charles Manson was a  wannabe-entertainer, who directed a most horrific murder spree in American history during the raucous 1960s. His lasting infamy rivaled any career launched in show business. His brush with Hollywood painted a nightmare etched in blood; a hippie cult leader with the wide-eyed face of evil.  CHARLES MANSON –>

“`Manson was born to a woman with dubious credentials, and he was in reform school by the time he was eight. He served a 10-year sentence for check forgery in the mid-1960s. He was released in San Francisco in the  Haight-Ashbury district during the sexy heyday of the hippie movement. He was in his mid-30s by then, and began collecting his family —  mostly women — who likened him to Jesus Christ. Many were teens, and came from good homes; but, were at odds with their parents.

“`A petty criminal,  the charismatic, guru-like Manson surrounded himself with runaways and other lost souls. He then sent his disciples to butcher some of Hollywood’s rich and famous in what prosecutors said was a bid to trigger a race war;  an idea he got from a twisted reading of The Beatles song, Helter Skelter.

“`His victims included actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant bride of director Roman Polanski,  coffee heiress Abigail Folger, celebrity hairdresser Jay Sebring, Polish film director Voityck Frykowski, Steven Parent, the friend of the estate’s caretaker;  and the next evening,  a wealthy grocer and his wife, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.  Other intended victims were Hollywood power brokers that earlier dismissed Manson’s talent, such as Steve McQueen,  Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys and music producer Terry Melcher, the son of Doris Day.

“`Roman and Sharon rented the Hollywood Hills estate Terry Melcher had previously owned. The night of the multiple killing, Polanski was out the country. Manson was later convicted of slaying musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald Shorty Shea. This marked the symbolic ending of what was known as the Summer of Love.

“`After a trial that lasted nearly a year, Manson and three followers — Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten —  were found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death. Another defendant, Charles Tex Watson, was convicted later. All were spared execution, and given life sentences when the California Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in 1972. Another Manson devotee, Lynette Squeaky Fromme, was unsuccessful in her attempt when she tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. She served 34 years in prison.

“`Vincent Bugliosi (right) was the Los Angeles prosecutor who put Manson behind bars. The state’s star witness Linda Kasabian, who was granted immunity, testified that Manson tied up the LaBianca couple, and then, he ordered his followers to kill and leave grizzly messages in blood.

“`The trial spawned movies, television programs, and documentaries. Bugliosi wrote a best-selling book about the killings,  Helter Skelter. The macabre shock rocker Marilyn Manson borrowed part of his stage name from Charlie. The Manson case remains one of the most chilling in crime history.

“`Over the decades, Manson’s followers appeared sporadically at parole hearings, where their bids for freedom were repeatedly rejected. The women suggest they have been rehabilitated. Manson, however, stopped attending, saying prison had become his home.  One may assume that Dante’s Inferno will be his new digs for eternity, a most appropriate curtain call.

“`The utterly monstrous Charles Manson was 83.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- CBS Radio Legacy…

November 17th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator, until today. The entire radio network was sold to Entercom Communications, making the national family of CBS stations is now part of the second-largest radio company in the United States. They own  235 radio stations across 48 media markets.

“`CBS Radio leaves a 90-year legacy of broadcasting excellence that should continue after the merger. The network debuted on September 27th, 1927 with a live orchestra broadcast, and later provided 10 hours of programming per week; mostly symphonic music and opera.

   

“`When William Paley took over the network, its name became the Columbia Broadcasting System. He changed the programming from high-brow music to a mainstream taste; signing Paul Whiteman’s Band, and a young crooner named Bing Crosby.  Vaudeville entertainers and comedians were added to the programming block, including Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, and Fred Allen. Announcer Ted Husing was utilized to broadcast sporting events.

“`The March of Time was an innovative CBS radio program that dramatized and recreated the important weekly news events, and sponsored by Time Magazine. As war loomed over Europe, the reports of H.V. Kaltenborn, Edward R. Murrow, William Shirer, Robert Trout, Eric Sevareid, and many others, were heard daily in America’s living rooms. These were also the years CBS acquired many of its flagship owned & operated stations, such as KMOX, WBBM, KCBS, and KNX.

   

“`Arthur Godfrey was a morning disc jockey at CBS station WSJV in Washington in 1945, when tapped to cover the network broadcast of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s funeral procession. Arthur’s eyewitness account garnered national attention; CBS awarded Godfrey a morning network program. His show of unscripted interviews and music was a network radio staple until 1972.

“`When the television age dawned, its network and stations catapulted it into a giant multi-media corporation. But, CBS’s roots and heritage have always been in radio.

“`I’m proud to have been hired by CBS affiliate  KNX 10-70 News Radio. And, I’m ready to embark on a new journey with Entercom. Plus, my radio career continues to shine bright.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Goodbye To the Dame of Dish…

November 13th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Liz Smith was a syndicated gossip columnist for over a quarter-century. It was one of the most widely read in the world. Her own celebrity status gave her an insider’s access, rather than relying largely on tips, press releases, or publicists. Whether reporting on entertainers, politicians, or power brokers, the Dame of Dish never bothered with rumors.

“`Born Mary Elizabeth Smith in Fort Worth, Texas, she was the daughter of devout Baptist mother and an eccentric father. As a young girl, Liz fell in love with the silver screen, since movies were one of the few things her mother did not consider a sin.

“`Smith earned her journalism degree from Hardin-Simmons University, and headed off for New York. For nearly 30 years, she bounced from job to job:  Publicist for singer Kaye Ballard; assistant to Mike Wallace, and Candid Camera’s creator Allen Funt; and ghostwriter for Igor Cassini’s gossip column.

“`Smith wrote for nine New York newspapers,  and dozens of magazines, including  Sports Illustrated. But, it was a stint writing for Cosmopolitan that proved felicitous. Establishing herself as the authority on Liz Taylor and Richard Burton,  Liz Smith attracted the attention of the New York Daily News, which led to penning a daily column in 1976. LIZ SMITH ->

“`The Texas native endeared herself to many celebrities, and she scored major scoops: Donald and Ivana Trump’s divorce; the first child of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow;  the pregnancy of Madonna; and the death of Nora Ephron. Her scoops were always upbeat and on-point.

“`Smith helped usher in the era of celebrity journalism on television by joining WNBC-TV for three nights a week commentary. A decade later, she jumped to Foxand she then appeared for the cable channel, E! Entertainment Television. During that time, Smith migrated from the Daily News to the rival New York Post, and finally, to Newsday; and ultimately earning a salary well into six figures. Meanwhile, her column was syndicated, nationwide, and it drew millions of readers.

“`Smith also hosted endless charity fund-raisers. She raised millions of dollars for Literacy Volunteers; and for Women’s Action Alliance, promoting full equality for women.

“`The vivacious Liz Smith was 94.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- What A Character Blogathon…

November 12th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`In mid-December, I’m thrilled to be participating in the What a Character Blogathon.  This is the sixth year since its inception; but, my initial involvement. It’s a superb opportunity to showcase memorable supporting players, who co-starred in motion pictures during Hollywood’s Golden Age.  Expect talented bloggers to chat about the character actors I am thrilled to have highlighted in my  Forgotten Hollywood Book Series.

“`I don’t want give up too much information at this point. But, I can tell you… My assignment is the fabulous Woody Strode. Look for an insightful blog on his career and life. He was rich in talent, and an actor of the highest caliber.

“`I look forward to this fine undertaking, and I shall take the utmost care in what I offer to the readers of www.forgottenhollywood.com, and beyond. The administrators of the Blogathon include Outspoken and Freckled, Once Upon a Screen, and Paula’s Cinema Club.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Go Lightly on Breakfast…

November 10th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`The New York-based Tiffany & Co. jewelry chain has opened a restaurant at its flagship Fifth Avenue locale in Manhattan, and the menu includes breakfast. The retail outlet is the setting for Audrey Hepburn’s classic 1961 motion picture  Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It only took 56 years to build.

                      AUDREY HEPBURN

“`Tiffany’s Blue Box Café has opened its doors. The $29 breakfast pastiche includes avocado toast and a buttermilk waffle. Lunch meals are available for $39; and shoppers can be seated for tea and finger sandwiches for $49. The Blue Box Café is tucked on the fourth floor, part of a renovated space that showcases luxury home living and accessories collections.

“`The cafe chairs and dishes display the company’s signature blue hue. Having breakfast at Tiffany’s isn’t just a big screen fantasy. Perhaps, overhead on speakers:  Moon River?

Until next time>                               “never forget”