Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`Rondo Hatton had a face for horror cinema. Beginning in the 1930s, this former journalist went from film extra to horror movie star. He played a monster in Universal Studios flicks,  House of Horrors and The Brute Man. Over the decade, Hatton earned cult status. Rondo was known for his facial disfigurement, a result of acromegaly; the syndrome caused from a disorder of the pituitary gland. He died in 1946 from the disease.

“`The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards are named in his honor. The trophy is a little gray bust of his head. The Rondos recently gave out this year’s statuettes.  The Shape of Water  was voted Best Movie of 2017, beating Wonder Woman, Blade Runner 2049, It, and Get Out. Stranger Things, Suspiria Blu-ray and Rue Morgue Magazine also received awards.

           RONDO HATTON   SVENGOOLIE

“`MeTV’s Svengoolie took home the trophy for Favorite Horror Host. It was his seventh time winning the award. Sven beat out runners-up Elvira and Joe Bob Briggs. Honorable mentions in this category included  Dr. Gangrene, Penny Dreadful, Count Gore De Vol, Lord Blood-Rah,  Karlos Borloff, Bone Jangler and Son of Ghoul. Svengoolie received a record number of votes in the category.

“`Over 3,700 ballots were cast via email by the Classic Horror Film Board, the largest survey in the organization’s history.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Mitzi Shore was the pioneering owner of the Los Angeles-based club The Comedy Store, and one of the most influential persons in stand-up for more than four decades. She arrived at a moment as a huge stand-up boom was erupting with arguably more power to make or break a career of an up-and-coming comedian. Mitzi’s influence matched the impact Johnny Carson had on the genre.

“`A Wisconsin native, Mitzi Saidel took over as owner of the two-year-old club on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip in 1974 after divorcing its co-founder, comedian Sammy Shore. Just about every major comic, including Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Arsenio Hall, Roseanne Barr, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Kathy Griffin, and Jerry Seinfeld, used the club as a stepping-stone and returned to hone their act after gaining fame. Others include Tim Allen, Louie Anderson, Sam Kinison, Bill Maher,  John Belushi, Richard Belzer, Elaine Boosler, Dennis Miller, David Brenner,  Ray Romano, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Chevy Chase, Louis CK,  Al Franken, Howie Mandel, Sinbad, Rodney Dangerfield, Rosie O’Donnell, Redd Foxx, Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Keaton, Sarah Silverman, Paul Rodriguez, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Margaret Cho, and The Unknown Comic. Shore provided gigs, advice, guidance, and an onsite clubhouse.

“`Mitzi essentially lived at the club through the 1970s and 1980s, and her four children were regulars, including future MTV sensation and film star, Pauly Shore. She has been in hospice, and legal documents filed acknowledged Mitzi’s affliction with Parkinson’s disease and related neurological problems. Recently, Pauly brought his mother to the club to say so long to many legion of friends and fans.

“`The Comedy Store, which takes pride in being open 365 nights a year, will be closed this evening in her honor.

“`Mitzi Shore (above) was 87

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Ralph Woolsey was an accomplished cinematographer. He’s best known for the iconic look he developed on Batman’s initial season in 1966. The bright colors, camp costumes, and sharp camera angles were like a combination of Dr. Seuss and German Expressionism films. Batman was comic books come to life. Perhaps, it remains the only superhero television show to capture the look and feel of vintage D.C. Comics.                      RALPH WOOLSEY –>

“`He began his career as a student at the  University of Minnesota, making conservation films for the state and industrials for Bell Aircraft that were used to train United States Air Force personnel during World War II. By 1950, he was teaching cinematography at USC.

“`Woolsey worked on television Westerns, such as Cheyenne and Maverick, for which he received a first Emmy nomination. Other work included 77 Sunset Strip (another Emmy nod), The Name Of The Game and the pilot of It Takes a Thief, in which he garnered a coveted Emmy Award.

         FRANK GORSHIN              ADAM WEST          BURT WARD

“`Working with creator-producer William Dozier and director Robert Butler on  Batman, many of the distinctive scenes from the first season of the pioneering program came from Woolsey’s approach. Ralph played with perspective, shooting Frank Gorshin (as The Riddler) close to the lens. The episode also featured a nifty outdoor building climb with Batman and Robin. Though not a fan of crooked camera angles to film the villains, he came to embrace the technique.

“`Woolsey switched to feature cinema in the 1970s, including work on Little Fauss and Big Halsy, The New Centurions, The Iceman Cometh, Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins, Mother Jugs and Speed, The Great Santini, and Oh God! Book II in 1980.

“`Ralph Woolsey was 104.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`New England Confectionary Co., the candy maker behind classic treats as Necco Wafers, Sweethearts and Candy Buttons, will close its operations in May if it does not find a buyer. Necco is the oldest candy maker in the United States. Its origination dates back to 1847, when Oliver Chase created the first American candy machine. Chase’s invention gave birth to the Necco Wafer, which became the company’s signature treat.

“`Public opinion on Necco Wafers has been divided. Few liken the taste to chalk or drywall, while others consider them a nostalgic treat. That nostalgia runs deep. Necco product sales spiked by 50% after this news broke that these candies may disappear forever.

“`Consumers and sellers are stockpiling all the Necco candy they can obtain. One customer even offered to trade a 2003 Honda Accord for an online store’s entire stock of wafers. The barter was naturally rejected.

“`If the company cannot find a buyer, hundreds of jobs will be lost. The company is the largest employer in its hometown of Revere, Massachusetts. CEO Michael McGee notified the state and the mayor of Revere in March that this company may have to lay off 395 workers — a majority of its workforce — if the company is not sold to a new owner.

“`Candy fans are using the hashtag SaveNecco on social media to attempt to save the beloved treats. A campaign has previously worked for the return of the Twinkie. Not bad for the chalky drywall-like confection.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`A third-generation entertainer, Chuck McCann was the beloved comedian and voice-over actor. He recorded the famous line:  I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. McCann, along with Soupy Sales, Bob Keeshan, and Paul Winchell, were comedy pioneers whose early programming were geared to children. He worked on various kid’s shows, including  Captain Kangaroo. He also was a cinematic enthusiast and made sure the film library of Laurel and Hardy were offered to generations of viewers.  CHUCK McCANN ->

“`The comedian started his career on local New York television, before eventually branching out into television and film parts. His father also worked for CBS radio. The director noticed young McCann, and offered him a voice-over job at the age of seven. Chuck worked on New York kid programs, including The Puppet Hotel, Let’s Have Fun and The Chuck McCann Show.

“`He appeared on a popular CBS variety program The Garry Moore Show, and began to transition to network television. After moving to Los Angeles, Chuck guest-starred on The Rockford Files, The Bob Newhart Show, Kojak, Bonanza, St. Elsewhere, Columbo, One Day At a Time, Little House On the Prairie, Diff’rent Strokes, Mad About You,  Starsky and Hutch, Boston Legal and the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara. McCann also appeared in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Herbie Rides Again, Foul Play; and a  few of Mel Brooks films, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.

“`His persona was used in the hugely popular best-selling record, The First Family, created by Vaughn Meader, which lampooned President Kennedy’s administration. Chuck also lent his voice to animated shows like The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, DuckTales, The Garfield Show, and  Animaniacs, among others.  The comedian was also well known for a number of ads that aired in the 1970s and 1980s. He was best remembered for his part in a series of Right Guard commercials.

“`His finest legacy may be as a founding member of the Sons of the Desert. According to its constitution:  The Sons of the Desert is an organization with scholarly overtones and heavily social undertones devoted to the loving study of the persons and cinema of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Chuck was also an avid supporter of the Hollywood Heritage Museum, and the film preservation established by Hugh M. Hefner.

“`Chuck McCann was 83.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Oxford University Press announced that Christopher Marlowe will be credited as a co-author on a number of  William Shakespeare’s works in the latest edition of the master’s complete works. It’s been a much-debated topic among many researchers, professors, and literary connoisseurs.                                   CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE –>

“`Marlowe was another playwright who penned during the Elizabethan period. Some think his reputation would have trumped Shakespeare if he had lived long enough. He was only 29 when he died. For a time, it was thought that Marlowe was Shakespeare, although the premise has long been dismissed.

“`Now, Marlowe is being credited as a co-author on the first three parts of Henry VI. Since the 18th century, these particular works have been thought to have a different scribe, or at least, a co-author working with Shakespeare. Some have suggested George Peele or Robert Greene; but, Marlowe now seems to be the best fit.

“`This announcement was based on years of research done in a couple of different studies, including an essay written by Gary Taylor of Florida State University, a contributor to the latest Oxford edition of Shakespeare’s works. New tools for analyzing text have added to a confidence in the decision to credit Marlowe.  Many experts believe up to 17 of the master’s plays contain work by other authors.

“`Nobody actually knows whether Marlowe and Shakespeare worked together in person. He may have been hired to write certain scenes, based on his strengths after William wrote the outline. Or, he may have met with Shakespeare to work out the details of the play.

“`Just because Oxford publishes it does not mean there are not any critics of the analysis. Marlowe’s involvement in writing Henry VI remains an assumption; an educated one. And, the  Oxford University Press has previously made other bold statements about unknown authorship. There are plenty of scholars who disagree. The conspiracy continues…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Beatles Yellow Submarine is returning to movie theaters this summer to mark its 50th anniversary. The film is set to screen on July 8th.

“`For the anniversary screening, Yellow Submarine was restored in 4K digital resolution, though no automated software was used in order to preserve the original, hand-drawn artwork. Instead, photo chemical elements of each frame were restored by hand.  Plus, the famous soundtrack and score were remixed in 5.1 stereo surround sound at Abbey Road Studios.

“`While this story featured The Beatles embarking on a psychedelic Pop-Art odyssey to save the undersea paradise of Pepperlandia, the band did not actually voice themselves. Instead, a quartet of actors played the Fab Four, and The Beatles only appeared in a live-action sequence that closed the film (and, of course, in the soundtrack).

“`Last summer, The Beatles Apple Corporation formed a partnership with Titan Comics to produce a comic book adaptation of Yellow Submarine. Mad Magazine editor Bill Morrison was tapped to helm the project, which is expected to arrive later this year.

“`After the production was released in 1968,  it was recognized as a landmark achievement, and revolutionized the genre by integrating the freestyle approach with innovative animation techniques that defined a generation.

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“`Susan Anspach was an stage and film actress. She was best known for her roles in movies during the 1970s, such as  Five Easy Pieces, Play It Again Sam, and Blume in Love. Anspach starred in several Broadway muscals, including as the female lead in Hair, and Actor’s Studio play with Al Pacino. She has starred off-Broadway in  A View from the Bridge with Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, and Dustin Hoffman.

“`Susan Anspach (right) was 75.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Producer Roger Corman is being sued by his sons over plans to sell his 270-title  New Horizon Pictures film library. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, also names Corman’s spouse of 48 years and longtime producing partner, plus Shout! Factory and Ace Film, the library’s intended buyers. The transaction was announced on March 15th for an undisclosed price.

“`Roger Martin and Brian Corman claim that their parents have no rights to unload the catalog — which includes The Little Shop of Horrors — because it is property of The Pacific Trust, established in 1978 for the benefit of their four children. The sons learned that the library had a prospective new home through the media.

“`According to the complaint, they are more upset with their mom’s action than their dad’s. As Roger neared his 80th birthday, he decided to give a larger portion of the assets to his children before his death.  Their mother responded by making forceful demands to her husband that he not share personal finances with the kids. The issue was a source of conflict within the family.

“`Corman’s New World Pictures, founded in 1970, was once America’s largest independent motion picture distribution company.  Roger, who turns 92 on Thursday, received an honorary Oscar in 2009.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`On Easter Sunday, I celebrated my one-year anniversary at KNX 10-70 News Radio as a weekend traffic anchor. The afternoon turned out to be quite special.

“`With 30 minutes left in my shift, I received a telephone call from a traffic tipster. He relayed info about a major incident along the 134 West freeway. Drivers were getting out of their cars to look over the right shoulder wall onto the Los Angeles River. What they saw was a massive first-response presence in what turned out to be a missing-person situation. It affected traffic flow, so I reported the details about this lost boy on-the-air.

“`With the aid of the next traffic reporter (Will Slater), we were able to ascertain that a huge news story was unfolding. I passed the information on to our KNX News Desk. With my shift over, after twice reporting the incident, I went home. It became our lead story for the rest of the night, and during our Morning Drive cast. This story was reported over the CBS network, and it also ran over the Associated Press national wire.

“`The incident reminded me of two movies that had similar themes in the 1950s. Ace in the Hole was directed by Billy Wilder, and starred Kirk Douglas. It told the tale of a male trapped by a cave-in, and it became a fictionally huge news story, making the reporter famous across the nation. This was Wilder’s next production after Sunset Boulevard. Though not a popular motion picture when released, it has garnered critical acclaim over the years.

MANNY PACHECO

“`The climax of Them!, a science fiction thriller involving large radioactive ants, and starring James Arness, James Whitmore and Edmund Gwenn, was more to the point. A couple of kids are lost in a maze of tunnels, adjacent to the L.A. River, and saved from an unspeakable fate at the last minute by our stars. Learning about a labyrinth of man-made caves from the flick,  I surmised the real effort might prove problematic for numbers of volunteers who spent their Easter looking for the missing youth.

“`The fortunate news:  The kid was found Monday morning; alive and in stable condition. He was transported to the hospital, and eventually, he was reunited with his parents. The victim was discovered in a sewage drain pipe, with a search-and-rescue team taking twelve hours.

“`As part of KNX 10-70 team-coverage, I felt incredibly blessed to contribute in the positive outcome of the saved teen. Working for such a fabled community resource makes me proud. Kudos to Jan Stevens, Bob Brill, Peter Demetriou, Cooper Rummell, and the rest of the KNX crew for a combined effort in this worthwhile assignment.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`The winner of ten Emmy Awards — six for Hill Street Blues, three for L.A. Law, and one for NYPD Blue — writer / producer Steven Bochco left his distinctive mark on the television industry. Under a banner of the production company he launched in 1988, Steven Bochco Productions, he also co-created and executive produced Doogie Howser, M.D.             STEVEN BOCHCO —>

“`Born in Manhattan, NY, Bochco began his work in 1965, parlaying an MCA fellowship into a writing career at Universal Studios during his schooling at Pittsburgh Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University). He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in theater.

“`In 1967, Bochco earned his initial writing credit, collaborating with Rod Serling, expanding a one-hour Chrysler Showcase presentation A Slow Fade to Black into a two-hour movie for international distribution. Four years later, he became the story editor for NBC’s Name of the Game, and later, for  McMillan and Wife and Columbo. He wrote several segments for each series, and received nominations for two Emmys and two Writers Guild Awards for his work on a Columbo episode directed by Steven Spielberg.

“`Among his numerous awards, he earned the Writers Guild 1994 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television, four Peabody Awards and four NAACP Image Awards. Bochco was inducted into Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Television Hall of Fame in 1996. He was the first teleplay scribe to receive a Writer’s Guild Career Achievement Award, and  British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship Award.

“`Steven Bochco was 74.

Until next time>                               “never forget”