Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   A new Barnes & Noble location has been added.  You can pick up a copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History in Thousand Oaks at The Westlake Promenade.

   If you live in the Ventura County area, this is the perfect venue to find my paperback. The address is 160 S. Westlake Blvd.

   You can also find my book at the Barnes & Noble at:

•  Hollywood / Farmers Market Grove
•  Aliso Viejo / Town Center
•  Puente Hills / Rowland Heights

Until next time>                         “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   The Latino Book and Family Festival has invited me to be part of two discussions. I’ll be moderating a panel and participating in another over the two days the Fest is taking place. In between, I’ll be signing copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History at designated author-tables.

   Here are the details:

Moderating Panel -  FADE IN:  LATINOS IN TINSELTOWN

Room E-184

Saturday, October 9th (4pm)

Panel -  BOOT CAMP:  THE PROS & CONS OF SELF-PUBLISHING

Room C

Sunday, October 10th (4pm)

Manny P. here…

   Many of my friends in the entertainment business have very interesting and exciting jobs. One of my oldest and dearest friends is Mary Rogers. We belonged to the college radio station together at UCLA back in the late 1970’s. She always dreamed of being a correspondent for television news.

   I remember when she was invited to join CNN. When she worked for the Atlanta affilliate in the mid-1980’s, I visited her while I was on vacation, and she gave me a complete tour of the facilities. What we didn’t realize is that her dream of being in front of a news camera would take a dramatic detour.

   She has been with CNN for three decades, now stationed in the Cairo Bureau… and Mary has become one of their top journalists behind the camera. She has handled many stories in the Middle East looking through a lens. I can’t tell you how many female camera operators there are in news, but I’m quite confident she has become one of the best! And, her four-part blog series in March about her recent travels in Afghanistan with the troops was a well-written piece of journalism. She needs to do more writing for CNN!

   Recently, she sent me a few photographs with her as the subject. One was taken in Madagascar; the other in Afghanistan. Mary has given me permission to share these pictures with my readers, so you may see a unique brand of history that ties in with “Hollywood.” According to Ms. Rogers:

I was embedded with a marine unit on the largest NATO operation in Afghanistan since 2001. It was called OPERATION MOSHTARAK. CNN correspondent Atia Abawi and I air assaulted into Marjah, with the ALPHA Company 1-6 USMC. The ALPHA Company was what the marines call “the main effort of the operation.”  So, CNN got one of the prime embeds (there were other journalists with other units).

   I’m proud of Mary Rogers; and still feel that even though we haven’t seen each other in almost 15 years, she remains one of my best pals. She’ll be in Southern California in August, and we are committed to hanging out so we may catch up on old times. And, I remain a loyal and constant viewer of CNN, the news agency supporting my friend for all these years.

Until next time>                        “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   As you start grilling your burgers and hot dogs, and enjoy fireworks at your favorite park… remember this is a day celebrating America’s Independence.

   Our Founding Fathers offered a declaration to its citizenry in order to establish a fledgling country. A revolution ensued. All of this was initiated 234 years ago (1776) in secrecy, for it was treason against the British Crown to take such a stand. Eventually, a nation was born and evolved. Today, we enjoy Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness… because of these brave patriots. 

James Monroe

   Surprisingly, 50 years later to the day in 1826, two original signers of the Declaration of Independence (and former presidents) offered their final breath: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson; each sure the other still lived. Five years later on this day, former President James Monroe also passed on to the ages in 1831. The only Chief Executive born on this day in 1872 - Calvin Coolidge.

   A happy 4th of July!

Until next time>                        “never forget“

Manny P. here…

  Really exciting news! I’ve been invited to this year’s CINECON Classic Film Festival during the Labor Day holiday. This five-day event takes place at two memorable Hollywood landmarks ~ The Egyptian Theatre and Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

    I’m joining their Movie Memorabilia Show taking place on the third floor of the Renaissance. I’ll be signing my book Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History for your reading pleasure. Gary Lycan and I are penciled in during the Film Book Fair on Friday, September 3rd, 11:30a-2p.

   Expected activities are to include rarely seen classic cinema from the Silent Era and the Golden Age, legendary actor Q&A appearances, a star-studded celebrity banquet, and vintage Hollywood memorabilia. The corner of Hollywood and Highland will be buzzing for five days beginning September 2nd!

   According to their website: 

We’ll be showing nearly thirty rare silent and early sound feature films and as many short subjects from the nation’s leading film archives and Hollywood studio vaults.  CINECON is dedicated to showcasing unusual films that are rarely given public screenings. If you love movies, CINECON is the place to be over Labor Day weekend.

   Here is a link to their website:  http://www.cinecon.org/

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   I have a new library in the fold. Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is now available in Ventura County at the Oxnard Public Libary. The city of Oxnard is nestled between Thousand Oaks and Ventura. If you would like to check out my paperback, please visit 251 South “A” St. This ups the total of libraries carrying my book to 21!

Until next time>                          ”never forget“

Manny P. here…

   Incentive Books is an online brochure which brings high quality books in bulk to the corporate world and non-profit organizations. As the middle-man in negotiating opportunistic deals between publishers and business, Incentive Books could potentially secure the success of one’s literary work.

   Because I’m self-published, I have made the personal decision to allow Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to join the Incentive Books family. Of course, it was made clear to me by CEO Terry Roberts that not all books can qualify to be part of this enterprise. However, Roberts was confident my paperback exceeded quality expectations, and should do well in the gift-baskets of the corporate world, and as a throw-in on television infomercials.

   According to their website:

Books comprise upwards of $1 billion of the $46 billion incentives marketplace. In a presentation at The Book Standard Summit in 2005, Nielson BookScan reported that 93% of the books sold via retail in 2004 actually sold less than 1000 copies! On the other hand, 55% of all books are sold outside of bookstores to what are called special markets. That includes book clubs, catalogs, gift stores, and corporations. Few authors and independent publisher understand the corporate incentives market. Even if they do, they can’t afford the overhead to dedicate resources to the idea.

For authors, our intention is to provide additional income and personal exposure by helping them put their books into the hands of more readers. Selling to the incentives market is totally compatible with any other marketing or distribution program (including bookstores). By building a track record of book sales, you open the door to other opportunities – traditional publishers, literary agents, etc.

   Here is a link to their website:

 http://www.incentivebooks.com/book_details.php?book_id=338

   In total sobriety, this could be the deal that brings Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to hundreds of thousand of readers around the world. At the end of the day, this might be the finest decision I have ever made in my career as an author.

Until next time>                       “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   Universal Studios in Southern California is set to unleash the beast! King Kong will be presented in 3-D as part of the famous tour of their back lots. The idea to revamp this part of the attraction came after a fire nearly decimated the animitronics character a few years back. Public relations officials have confirmed that the tram ride during the tour will be part of the action as the large ape battles a dinosaur on Skull Island.

   The original movie debuted in 1933, with remakes in 1976 and 2005. The first half of the film has its roots based in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1912 novel The Lost World. Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong starred in this cinema classic. However, the real star of this ground-breaking motion picture is the stop-action special effects created by Willis O’Brien. Armstrong would be forever associated with large monkeys, after his appearance in Son of Kong in 1934, and Mighty Joe Young in 1949. 

   Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History salutes one of the greatest screen monsters in movie history: King Kong!

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   My paperback can now be found in its 20th library. I’m proud to welcome the most famous zip code in the nation: 90210. It’s true…The Beverly Hills Library has just added Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. My work can now be found at two locations in this iconic city (the other being the historic Paley Center for Media).

Until next time>                          ”never forget”

Manny P. here…

   My Sunday with the Los Angeles Visionaries Association (LAVA) was quite special at Clifton’s Cafe in the heart of Downtown, Los Angeles. I was able to share Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History with this creatively eclectic group.

   To my surprise, one of their Visionaries is Richard Carradine, grandson of legendary actor John Carradine. The elder Carradine is a featured subject of Chapter Seven in my paperback. His career was prolific, and he appeared in close to 500 movies that transcended Hollywood’s Golden Age (and beyond).

   Of course, the Carradine’s are part of a noted film and television dynasty, with three of John’s children having enjoyed storied careers. His son Keith won an Oscar for writing the song I’m Easy, which appeared in the Robert Altman movie Nashville. Richard, the son of Chris and Carolyn Carradine, is a noted ghost-hunter.

   According to the LAVA website:

In over a decade of hunting, Richard Carradine has investigated ghosts from all over the world, (Canada, Scotland, England, Wales, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovenia) and throughout the U.S. (Florida, California, New York, Louisiana, Virginia, and Montana). In California alone, he has investigated over 200 haunted locations (including all 23 missions). But, his favorite haunted hunting grounds is the City of Angels.

His approach to each case is academic. Proving or disproving the spiritual activity of a certain spot isn’t what motivates this ghost hunter. Instead, he’s more interested in collecting the stories and eyewitness accounts (and archiving them) as a means of recording them for future studies into these unusual phenomena that clearly affect so many unconnected people.  

In 2006, he co-founded a social club for local ghost enthusiasts that is dedicated to the preservation of greater L.A.’s rich haunted history, and the promotion and celebration of this local lore. The GHOST HUNTERS of URBAN LOS ANGELES (GHOULA) meets every 13th of the month at a different haunted bar/restuarant for an event orginized by Mr. Carradine entitled Spirits with Spirits… where attendees share their ghost stories over a drink in an infamous location.

Here is a link to their website:  http://www.ghoula.org

    Richard Carradine is now a proud owner of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

Until next time>                          “never forget“

Manny P. here…

   On the last Sunday of each month, The L.A. Visionaries Association (LAVA) put on a meet-and-greet with local notables to discuss a variety of topics, usually pertaining to Hollywood. What a perfect opportunity for me to present Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History (beginning at 1:15p this Sunday). As they put it, this conversational “Salon” is a casual day to chat and network with like-minded folks. It’s held on the 3rd floor at the historic – Clifton’s Cafeteria.

   I’ll be joining this group for an imformal day of fun and food on June 27th. The entire session begins at noon. Other Visionaries have previously discussed creative topics such as - vintage cosmetics.  This month’s 12:30pm presentation is a lively one - creating custom draped costumes from fabric scraps.

   LAVA is dedicated to the idea that Los Angeles is filled with fascinating stories and people. LAVA brings together the most intriguing creative promoters, artists, writers and thinkers in L.A., sharing their visions for making a better city.

   They conduct a variety of activities throughout the month including bus tours and historic walks around scenic parts of the city. For more information about their monthly Sunday Salon event or about the organization, please visit their website by following the link below:

http://lavatransforms.org/salon610

   Clifton’s Cafeteria is a historic landmark, which has served millions of customers over the past 66 years. This is a perfect location for this type of meeting, and everyone is welcome to attend. Clifton’s Cafeteria is located at 648 S. Broadway, in the heart of Downtown, Los Angeles.

   If you would like to pick up a copy of my paperback, I’ll personally have them available to autograph for you at this weekend’s LAVA Sunday Salon.

Until next time>                              “never forget“