“Forgotten Hollywood”- Silent Films Discovery…

March 30th, 2014

Manny P. here… blog_mickey-mcguire1

   According to the Los Angeles Times, long-missing comedy shorts such as 1927’s Mickey’s Circus, featuring a 6-year-old Mickey Rooney in his first starring role are among the American silent films recently found at the EYE Filmmusem in Amsterdam. The film series was noted for essentially establishing the careers of Rooney and Billy Barty. Not only does the EYE collection features two-reelers, animation, dramas, serials, and Westerns, there is also a cache of nonfiction films.            MICKEY ROONEY ———->

   These shorts, thought to be the best surviving source material on titles reported anywhere, have been shipped for preservation at the Colorlab in Rockville, Md., under guidance of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Library of Congress.

   EYE and San Francisco-based National Film Preservation Foundation have partnered to repatriate and preserve these films — the majority either don’t exist in the United States or only in inferior prints. When the restoration process is done, the American archives will have custody of new digital scans, 35mm masters, prints, and access copies. EYE will receive new prints and digital copies. And the NFPF plans to post copies of the film for streaming on their website. There are more titles that the NFPF wants to repatriate, including two feature films, 1924’s The Reckless Age, a comedy with Reginald Denny; and the 1922 melodrama For the Defense, with ZaSu Pitts.

logo_nl   An announcement was made today in Amsterdam at EYE Museum with a public screening of the first film saved. The first 26 films are already in the laboratory queue; more will follow in the months ahead.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Shirley Jones Freefalls to 80!

March 29th, 2014

Manny P. here… 491px-Shirley_Jones_-_agency_photo_1970s

   Inspired by a former president, Shirley Jones can’t wait to jump into her birthday plans. The Oscar-winning actress and singer says she’ll take her very first skydive on Monday;  her 80th birthday. Inspiration to try comes from former President George H.W. Bush’s parachuting on several birthdays, including when he turned 85 in 2009. It was either skydiving or the other top item on her to-do list, an African safari to satisfy the animal lover in her.     SHIRLEY JONES —>

   She will be jumping in tandem with an instructor in Perris, a popular Southern California skydiving spot, according to her husband, comedian Marty Ingels. He was taken aback when she suggested the idea, but, Marty has since come around. Her children… not so much. Her biggest opponent is Shaun Cassidy. She understands her sons’ concerns, especially since she has arthritis.

   Family members, including twelve grandchildren, are planning a big party on Sunday. She’s also welcoming a friend she’s known since they were in third grade back in a small town in Pennsylvania. The clan plan on staying for the jump, which scares her less than turning 80.

   Jones, who starred in television’s The Partridge Family in the 1970s, gained fame with the motion picture versions of Broadway musicals, The Music ManOklahoma!, and Carousel. She won an Academy Award for the 1960 drama Elmer Gantry.

   For a lifetime of memories, it’s one way to get a drop on age. And, so it goes…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- TCM Cruise Has Early Port O’ Call…

March 28th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   Join TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz for the fourth TCM Classic Cruise from October 21st – 26th, 2014. They will set sail aboard the majestic Disney Magic for five nights—watching films, speaking with the actors and talent who made them, hearing stories from behind-the-scenes, enjoying special presentations, and sharing it with other passionate movie fans. With multiple TCM-themed daily events and activities, you’re bound to make new friends as you savor this unique vacation experience. It’s classic movie paradise at sea.

   Voted the #1 Cruise Ship in the 2013 Condé Nast Traveler Readers Poll, the Disney Magic offers world-class dining, a luxurious spa & salon, and concierge service to make your trip unforgettable. The newly reimagined ship offers spectacular style and state-of-the-art theaters with excellent site lines, surround sound, and theater seating.

   And, the ports-of-call are just as magical. Feel the sand in your toes and sun on your face as they sail from Port Canaveral with stops in Castaway Cay and Key West. Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island paradise, offering beautiful beaches and a wide array of tropical leisure activities. Key West provides historic sites and architecture — from a Civil War-era fort to the Ernest Hemingway House — as well as a host of modern comforts.

Cruise Itinerarytcm-cruise-poster

(Subject to change)

  • Tuesday, October 21st, 2014 – Depart Port Canaveral, FL  (approximately 4pm ET)
  • Wednesday, October 22nd – Castaway Cay Island (8:30am – 4:45pm)
  • Thursday, October 23rd – Day at Sea
  • Friday, October 24th – Key West, FL  (8:45am – 5:45pm)
  • Saturday, October 25th – Day at Sea
  • Sunday, October 26th – Arrive Port Canaveral, FL  (approximately @ 7:30am ET)

Guest ashore and onboard times are subject to change without notice.

They recommend that you book your flight home to depart no earlier than noon to ensure ample travel time.

   Signing up for TCM Classic Cruise 2014 pre-sale gets you a chance to book before the April 8th general public on-sale, with a better selection of cabins! Take advantage of this unique opportunity. If you haven’t signed up for the pre-sale yet, you can do so below. Register now and you’ll be emailed pre-booking information by end of day April 4th. This email will contain the day and time you will be allowed to book your pre-sale cabin; pre-sale booking will begin April 7th.

https://www.sixthman.net/account/presale/tcmclassiccruise

   TCM Classic Cruise alumni will be automatically included in the pre-sale. Alumni can expect to receive their detailed pre-sale information via email the week of March 24th, and will book as early as the week of April 1st.

 TCM-2014-690-cruise-banner

   They are thrilled to bring you this classic film vacation, and can’t wait to see you on board!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The 4000 Club…

March 27th, 2014

Manny P. here…

pic1027529_md   Just two weeks ago, I wrote a blog celebrating 3000 in sales of my initial work, Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.  Now, I’m thrilled the combined acquisition of the Forgotten Holllywood Series has eclipsed the golden number of 4000 books purchased.  HIP HIP HOORAY!

   The Rotary Clubs of Paramount, Simi Valley, Hollywood, and Redondo Beach, plus additions to the store shelves at the Hollywoodland Experience souvenir shop (across the street from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre) are recent reasons I’ve climbed the latest summit with modest efficiency. Procurement by readers of my first paperback, already in its Second Edition, make it especially gratifying. And, Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is just under 1000 copies sold.

rotary3wheels   Forgotten Hollywood cover    FINALfrontcover-sonofforgottenhol

   March, 2014 has been a most productive month in my literary venture!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- TCM Special Screening…

March 26th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   If you live in the Southern California area, you don’t want to miss the Turner Classic Movies special screening of a documentary that tells the story of Oscar. It’s filled with interviews, insight, and the majesty of the annual presentation of the Academy Awards, from its humble roots to the regal ritual of this affair.

oscar

   This is a must-see presentation for the classic film buff!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Directors at War…

March 25th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   A new book chronicles studio era directors and their participation during World War II. Five Came Back was written by Mark Harris, and tells the stories of John Ford, George Stevens, Frank Capra, John Huston, and William Wyler, and their attempts to bring the war back to the home front. Ironically, a 1939 flick was produced called Five Came Back, and it starred Chester Morris, Allen Jenkins, John Carradine, C. Aubrey Smith, and a very young Lucille Ball.

   Films during this era were developed to boost public morale, educate millions of troops, and stoke anti-German and anti-Japanese sentiment. The studios cooperated with the government to ensure that cinematic propaganda carried the right message. Besides churning out training pieces, filmmakers in uniform also sought to tell inspiring stories through documentaries.

Frank_Capra   Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Meet John Doe) joined up shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. His major contribution was the Why We Fight series, designed to explain to recruits why they were going to war. Frank Capra ——————> and his colleagues were challenged to come up with persuasive arguments aimed at black recruits given segregation. Depictions of the Japanese were so racist, even the US government balked at approval, knowing it would complicate postwar relations with Japan.

John_Ford_in_admiral's_uniform<—– John Ford (How Green was My Valley and The Quiet Man) was under fire at the battle of Midway Island, getting a memorable documentary out of his color footage; and again at Omaha Beach when the Allies invaded Europe on D-Day. He turned to Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell to interpret compelling narration. President Roosevelt openly wept after a screening of one of his movies.

484px-John_Huston_-_publicity   John Huston (The African Queen and Treasure of the Sierra Madre) embellished his own personal war stories. Huston went beyond the accepted practices of the documentarian when he passed off re-enactments for The Battle of San Pietro as actual battle footage. John Huston —————-> was on more stable ground with his piece on shell-shocked troops and their treatments. Let There Be Light proved so unsettling that the government kept it under wraps for decades.

220px-William_Wyler<— William Wyler (The Best Years of Our Lives) learned he had received an Oscar for the wartime drama Mrs. Miniver while serving overseas. His film crew flew on B-17 missions over Europe for one of the best-received documentaries, The Memphis Belle. Wyler used footage from multiple bombing runs, and he assembled the plane’s crew in Hollywood to record dialogue for the film because their words couldn’t be heard over the roar of the bomber’s engines. Wyler lost much of his hearing while trying to film aboard a B-25 flight.

george stevens   George Stevens (A Place in the Sun and Shane) was less interested in making documentaries than in filming events as they happened to create a record of battler. He was in Normandy for D-Day, and in Paris during the celebration of liberation. Significantly, George Stevens —–> and his cameras passed through the gates of the concentration camp at Dachau two days after its liberation. He spent weeks there filming life and death among the tens of thousands still at the camp; footage later used in documentaries that served as evidence during the Nuremberg trials.

   Of the five, only Frank Capra failed to find his footing when he returned to Tinsel Town. His colleagues, however, achieved their greatest work after the war. Their movies turned more realistic, serious, and profound. Like Hollywood, and a world once at war, they were never the same.

   Five Came Back is published through Penguin Books.

(Associated Press contributed to the story)

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- March Madness Hits ME-TV!

March 24th, 2014

Manny P. here…

200px-MeTV_svg   ME-TV has got a case of March Madness. They have listed 64 memorable television programs, and it’s up to viewers to pick an overall winner. It will be done in rounds, just like the NCAA tourney. To celebrate an eventual victory, they will air a marathon of specially selected episodes from the winner.

mmheader

   buttonBracket

   To register and vote, click on the link below:

http://wciu.upickem.net/upickem/registration/login.asp?contestid=122849

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280px-The_Big_Trees_(1952)_5 <— Patricia Wymore Flynn, the widow of Errol Flynn, has died. She was also a film, television, and stage actress of the 1950s and 1960s.

   Her career began on Broadway, which led to a contract from Warner Brothers. Wymore’s first film role was in the 1950 film Tea for Two, starring Doris Day and Gordon MacRae. That same year, she starred in Rocky Mountain opposite Hollywood legend Errol Flynn, with whom she would become romantically involved. The two married in October. Other movie credits include Ocean’s 11, playing Frank Sinatra’s wife. On television, she appeared in Lux Video Theatre, 77 Sunset Strip, Cheyenne, Perry Mason, F-Troop, and The Monkees.

   She continued to be active in Flynn’s estate, and often appeared at dedications in his honor up to the time of her passing.

   Patricia Wymore Flynn was 87.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Canada Ballet Honors the Musical…

March 20th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   The Alberta Ballet of Canada is presenting Class Acts – A Tribute to Hollywood Musicals.  It pays tribute to the magical era of movie musicals from the 1930s and 1940s, featuring legendary recordings from some of the greatest artists of all time, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Nat ‘King’ Cole, and Chet Baker.

ClassActs_Banner_946x303_eProof7

   Travel back to the Golden Age pf Hollywood and be dazzled by the fantastic world of iconic musicals as they follow a maverick movie director while he films a series of breathtaking and glamorous dance sequences. These dynamic and upbeat choreographed creations will feature large inspired ensemble numbers, powerful solos, and romantic duets, all reminiscent of the great triumphs of the silver screen.

alberta-ballet-logo   The tour begins in Calgary from April 30th-May 3rd; and it concludes in Edmonton on May 9th and 10th. The show takes place at each locale in the plush surroundings of the Jubilee Auditorium. To purchase tickets, visit: http://ticket.albertaballet.com/.

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LB Public Library logo   The Long Beach Public Library has added Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. This is the 87th branch carrying my original paperback. I’m thrilled the repository is sharing my entire Book Series.

phoenix library logo_new   Meanwhile, Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is being added to the Desert Sage branch of the Phoenix Public Library. This is my latest work’s 45th branch.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Classic Movie Screenings in So Cal…

March 17th, 2014

Manny P. here…toto

   A great new site gives you a month of classic film screenings around the Hollywood area. It really offers an up-to-date schedule of upcoming classic cinema for the avid film buff. Here are the participating motion picture theaters:

KANSAS ANYMORE

YOUR LOS ANGELES GUIDE TO SCREENINGS OF CLASSIC MOVIES

ACADEMY SCREENINGS

AERO THEATER

ARCLIGHT

BILLY WILDER THEATER

CINEFAMILY

CSUN CINEMATHEQUE

EGYPTIAN THEATER

EL SEGUNDO MUSIC HALL

HWD FOREVER CEMETERY

LACMA SCREENINGS

NEW BEVERLY CINEMA

USC SCREENINGS

   Here’s a link to this informative website:

http://www.kansasanymore.com/#

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Dean of Hollywood Writers Has Died…

March 14th, 2014

Manny P. here… bob_thomas

   Bob Thomas was a film industry biographer and reporter who worked for the Associated Press since 1944. Acclaimed as the dean of all Hollywood reporters, Thomas has been writing about the movie business for the AP since the days when Hollywood was run by men who founded it: Harry Cohn, Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, and Louis B. Mayer.    BOB THOMAS —>

   During his long history, Thomas authored at least thirty books. Many in the motion picture industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, William Holden, Bing Crosby, and a children’s book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. Several of his work were adapted into movies for television.

   Thomas worked well into his 80s, covering a record 66 consecutive Academy Awards shows. Bob interviewed most of the iconic screen actors of the 20th century; among them, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Kate Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, and Jack Nicholson.

   Helping out during the 1968 presidential election, the reporter had been assigned to cover Senator Robert F. Kennedy on the evening the New York Democrat won the California primary. Minutes after declaring victory, Kennedy was gunned down in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel. Bob then ran to a phone and delivered the bulletin to the Associated Press.

   For his contributions to cinema, Thomas was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In recognition of over sixty years of covering the entertainment business for the Associated Press, the Publicists Guild awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

   Bob Thomas was 92.

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352px-thumbnail   A man who became known as the sailor kissing a woman in Times Square in a famous World War II-era photo taken by a Life Magazine photographer has died. The picture was taken August 14th, 1945 by Alfred Eisenstaedt. It became a cultural phenomenon, After garnering a copyright, Alfred carefully controlled the rights, allowing a limit on the number of reproductions, which determined how it could be printed.

   The service man was Glenn McDuffie. On August 3rd, 2008, he was recognized for his 81st birthday as the Kissing Sailor during the seventh-inning stretch of the Houston Astros and New York Mets game.

   McDuffie was 86.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Doris Day Celebrates with Animals!

March 13th, 2014

Manny P. here…doris

   Screen legend Doris Day is celebrating a landmark birthday with an auction to benefit her favorite cause: ANIMALS. The nonprofit Doris Day Animal Foundation will mark her 90th birthday in April with a bash in Carmel, CA.  She has devoted herself to animal welfare since stepping out of show business.

   A sold-out fundraising celebration at Day’s Cypress Inn and the Quail Lodge will include a doggie fashion show, adoption event, and an April 4th tribute dinner for fans and friends. Items autographed by Day and celebrity pals, including Paul McCartney and Tony Bennett, will be auctioned off online and at the dinner. All items are accompanied by a personalized thank you note, commemorating the birthday weekend, signed by Doris. Online bidding ends April 1st. Please click on the link below to make a bid:

http://bluetreemarketing.com/site/include/public/newnpo/npo_productlist.php?npoid=635&auctioneventid=288

   Day starred in more than three dozen films from the 1940s to the 1960s, such as Pillow Talk and Calamity Jane; and recorded dozens of hit songs. Her biggest sellers were Secret Love and Que Sera, Sera. She released the compilation album My Heart in 2011.

   In a statement, Doris says she doesn’t care much for celebrating birthdays with cards or gifts, inviting fans to help animals instead. Her devotion to this cause has lasted for decades.

635_banner   DDAF is a non-profit, grant-giving charity that identifies and funds worthy animal welfare organizations across the country. DDAF grants help rescue not just dogs and cats — but all animals! DDAF grantees provide veterinary care, including spay and neuter surgeries; feed and house rescued animals; promote and grow local adoption programs; provide pet food pantries; and very importantly, Doris believes, aid senior pets with both urgent and ongoing medical costs. Learn more and donate at www.DDAF.org.

200px-MeTV_svg   And, on April 6th, ME-TV will celebrate Doris Day’s birthday with programming featuring the actress, star references, and celebrity greetings.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- First Book Reaches 3000 in Sales…

March 12th, 2014

Manny P. here… logo

   Thank you to the fine folks at the Rotary Club of Simi Valley (among others), I’ve reached an extraordinary milestone in sales. Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is now in the homes of 3000 readers. Allan C. Mann (below) of Troop Real Estate / Time Realty Property Management bought the magic copy.

Manny at Rotary Club   rotary3wheels-150x150   Allan Mann

   Obviously, it takes a village to sell as many copies as I have over the last couple of years. And, I want to personally want to offer my warmest appreciation to anyone who has a deep love of Hollywood’s Golden Age; and in particular, individuals who have found their way to my literary work.

Forgotten Hollywood cover   FINALfrontcover-sonofforgottenhol

   My next goals include 1000 in purchases of Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History; and ultimately, 4000 in combined sales of the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series. These milestones are assuredly expected later this year. Of course, I’ll keep you posted!

   Meanwhile, I’m basking in the afterglow of a wonderful moment in the Forgotten Hollywood journey over the last half-decade. My work is available on Amazon, selected Barnes & Noble bookstores, and independent book shops all over this country. Click on the Premium Stores link on the Navigation Bar on your left to make the Forgotten Hollywood series part of your collection.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Stage Production of I Love Lucy…

March 11th, 2014

Manny P. here… i love lucy

   I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is the new hit stage production adapted from the most beloved program in television history. America’s favorite foursome – Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel – is live on stage and in color. The Segerstrom Hall in Orange County, CA is the latest locale for this uproarious comedy.

ILoveLucy_400x300   It’s 1952, and you’re a member of the studio audience awaiting the live taping of two hilarious and familiar I LOVE LUCY episodes. Step back into the past onto the Desilu Playhouse soundstage where a charming host entertains and enlightens you to the behind-the-scenes filming process, the 1950s hi-fidelity technology, and this new thing called television. The episodes begin, and you witness the side-splitting antics of that crazy red head in the Ricardo’s New York flat. Thrill to the Cuban strains of Ricky Ricardo’s Orchestra at the popular Tropicana Nightclub. In-between, the Crystaltone Singers perform live ad jingles of the show’s newest sponsors in perfect 1950s style harmony.

Logo_Main   As Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization, Segerstrom Center for the Arts owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall. Its name was changed from Orange County Performing Arts Center in recognition of unparalleled generosity from the Segerstrom family in 2011.

   I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE is scheduled from March 18th -23rd. To order tickets, click on the link below:

http://www.scfta.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1420

   The truth is in the title – whether you’re young or old, everybody really does LOVE LUCY!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Mixing Chills With Slapstick…

March 9th, 2014

Manny P. here…

   Svengoolie is a hosted movie show in the tradition of such faire as Vampira and Elvira. It’s a long-running local program in the Chicago area, and recently, expanded nationally, airing each Saturday night on Me-TV. The show airs low-budget science-fiction and horror movies with host Svengoolie, currently played by Rich Koz.

channelheader_svengoolie

   Koz got his start in broadcasting at WMTH-FM, a high school radio station in Park Ridge, Illinois. While at Northwestern University, he sent the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop, material for the horror-movie program. Impressed by his sense of humor, Bishop invited Koz to the show. In 1979, he carried on the tradition of Svengoolie. Out of costume, Rich also presents the syndicated Three Stooges Stooge-a-Palooza program.

   Between 1979 and 1986, the Son of Svengoolie program won three Chicago Emmys. For its 25th anniversary, Svengoolie was given a Silver Circle Award by Chicago / Midwest Chapter of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for their outstanding contributions to Chicago television.

200px-MeTV_svg   Definitely an acquired taste (much like Harry Carey at Cub’s games), I prefer my classic movies presented uninterrupted and commercial free. Just sayin’…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Sheila MacRae Dies / NY Times Fix…

March 8th, 2014

Manny P. here…

The actress best known as one of the many who played Alice Kramden on a later incarnation of The Honeymooners has died. Sheila MacRae also appeared in such films as Pretty Baby, Caged, and Sex and the Single Girl. She was born in London, but evacuated to Long Island, New York in 1939, shortly before the onset of World War II.

   A singer and a dancer, She was married to Oklahoma! and Carousel star Gordon MacRae for 26 years. They were on the Ed Sullivan Show when The Beatles made a splash in 1964. The couple appeared together in musicals, including Guys and Dolls, with Sheila taking her performance as Miss Adelaide to Broadway in 1965. Additionally, she was in a production of Bells are Ringing. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters (actresses Heather and the late Meredith MacRae).

sheila macrae   On television, MacRae played herself in an episode of I Love Lucy. She portrayed Madelyn Richmond on the daytime soap opera General Hospital; and was a host of the Sheila MacRae Show. After her divorce from Gordon, she married Ronald Wayne, who had produced Jackie Gleason’s show. They later divorced.

   She died Thursday at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey. A devout Christian Scientist, Sheila MacRae (right) was 92.

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449px-Solomon_Northup_engraving_c1853   The New York Times has printed a correction for misspelling the name of a black man who was sold into slavery over 160 years ago, and whose memoirs were turned into 12 Years a Slave. The epic movie won the Oscar for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards program. It featured Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup (left). In the January 20th, 1853 article, the Times misspelled Solomon’s surname as Northrop and as Northrup in the article and in the headline.

   The newspaper corrected Northup’s name this week, after the errors were pointed out by someone looking through its archives. Spoiler alert… Northup was born in New York and was kidnapped and sold as a slave in 1841. He spent the next dozen years in Louisiana before regaining his freedom. Hence, the title of the film… And congrats to the New York Times for fixing this cold case error.

Until next time>                               “never forget”