“Forgotten Hollywood”- Cue the Italian Music…

March 9th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`The 16th Tribeca Film Festival will close their event with a Godfather cast reunion and the back-to-back screening of the first two motion pictures of Francis Ford Coppola’s classic saga. The 45th anniversary screening will be followed by the spirited and frank conversation with Coppola, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan,  Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire.  Robert De Niro is the co-founder of the fest,  and will join the April 29th chat, to be held at Radio City Music Hall.

“`The New York festival also plans several other anniversary celebrations. A 25th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs will be followed by a conversation with Quentin Tarantino and the cast. A sing-along will be held for the 25th anniversary of Disney’s Aladdin. And, Michael Moore will be at the festival for the 15th anniversary of his Bowling for Columbine.

“`The Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 19th-30th.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- La La Land Concert on Memorial Day..

March 8th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Lionsgate has announced that La La Land In Concert:  A Live-to-Film Celebration will come to the Hollywood Bowl on May 26th-27th.  The shows will be conducted by composer Justin Hurwitz, who won two Oscars for his compositions and  score.

“`The program will feature a 100-piece symphony orchestra, choir, and jazz ensemble, along with the film’s original vocals  from Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and John Legend. And, you get to visually enjoy the musical during the performance.

“`Tickets go on sale the Friday. For the live shows, Hurwitz will use the same orchestra contractor from the movie.

“`Following the Memorial Day dates in Los Angeles, the live production will visit San Antonio; Atlanta; San Diego; Nashville, Tennessee; Washington, D.C.;  and other nationwide cities. It will also travel internationally to the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, and Canada. Those dates, along with more cities, will be announced later.

“`No word yet if and when La La Land will reach Broadway.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Remembering Mr. TCM…

March 7th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Anyone who is a fan of classic cinema has lost their most intimate  friend. So has Hollywood historians and others in the motion picture industry. Robert Osborne (right) put Turner Classic Movies on the map, and he helped make it a real global phenomenon. Eulogies are pouring in from luminaries, including Leonard Maltin and TCM’s Ben Mankiewitz. I wrote my Forgotten Hollywood book series partially because of the influence Osborne had on my personal career.

“`He began his career working as a contract actor for Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s Desilu Studios. There, Robert became part of Ball’s Desilu Workshop. One of his early television appearances was in a 1959 episode of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, starring Hugh O’Brian; a personal friend of mine, who recently passed away. Osborne was featured in a Christmas Day installment of The Desilu Revue in December, 1959. Ball would eventually suggest that Osborne focus his energies on becoming a journalist.

“`Bob also had small roles in television shows, such as the 1962 pilot episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. After this acting opportunity, Osborne would focus more on writing and journalism. In 1965, Osborne had his initial book published — Academy Awards Illustrated. He penned 50 Golden Years of Oscar, which won the 1979 National Film Book Award. Robert began his relationship with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, when he hosted a tribute to Shirley Temple at their Academy Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills.  A.M.P.A.S. commissioned him to write 60 Years of the Oscar.

“`Having joined the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Bob was elected its president in 1981;  the position he earned re-election over the next two years. In 1977, Robert began his long-standing stint as a columnist for The Hollywood Reporter. Osborne began a five-year stint as the entertainment critic on KTTV Channel 11 in Southern California in 1982.

“`In 1984, Osborne began hosting at The Movie Channel. The next decade, Ted Turner produced Turner Classic Movies; the competition to American Movie Classics  (today called AMC). Osborne was selected as the singular host of nightly prime-time broadcasts. His first introduction was Gone with the Wind. He additionally conducted  Private Screenings conversations with a number of legendary actors and directors.

“`Beginning in 2006, Robert co-hosted TCM’s  The Essentials. He introduced cinematic classics with Alec Baldwin, Drew Barrymore, and Sally Field. In 2010, Osborne (left) was an official host at the initial TCM Classic Film Festival.

“`In 2014, as part of an exclusive programming deal with Disney, TCM agreed to become the sponsor of The Great Movie Ride. Recently, the attraction underwent a refurbishment adding a new pre-show and post-show hosted by Osborne – who also provided on-board narration.

“`Osborne won the Publicists Guild of America 1984 Press Award.  Robert also received an honorary doctorate from the  Academy of Art University in 2005;  and was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. The following year, he received the National Board of Review’s William K. Everson Award.

“`A little known fact: Osborne had small roles in Spartacus and Psycho. His affection for Hollywood’s Golden Age remained undimmed throughout his career. Bob’s friends included Olivia de Havilland and Robert Wagner.

“`Turner Classic Movies will dedicate two full days to honor the legacy of Robert Osborne. Airing on Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th,  the 48-hour tribute will feature an extensive collection of interviews Osborne conducted during his 23 year tenure at TCM.

“`While film fans mourn everywhere, let me remind you that Robert Osborne was 84.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Great Latina Actress…

March 6th, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Miriam Colón appeared in films alongside Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. She founded the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York, where she helped cultivate aspiring Latino actors and writers, and staged work that went into production across the Americas.

“`Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico,  Colón participated in the theater during her school years, and was allowed to audit classes in the drama department at University of Puerto Rico before she graduated from high school. She came to New York in the 1950s to study at the Actors Studio. She eventually moved to Los Angeles,  where she earned roles in over 90 films and 250 television episodes.

“`On the big screen, she co-starred in  One-Eyed Jacks, Thunder Island, The Appaloosa, and the remake of Scarface. Her signature performance came late in her career was the title role in Bless Me Ultima. Colón earned global acclaim as a New Mexico Hispanic healer in the movie based on the novel by Rudolfo Anaya.

“`She was prolific  on the small screen,  guest-starring in episodes of  Gunsmoke,  LaramieThe Virginian, Ben CaseyDr. Kildare,  Bonanza,  Sanford & Son, Alfred Hitchcock Presents,  Have Gun Will Travel, Death Valley Days, L.A. Law, Highway to Heaven, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Murder She WroteThe Fugitive, N.Y.P.D. Blue, and Cosby. Miriam also had parts in Daytime Soaps, including on All My Children, One Life to Live, The Guiding Light, and The Edge of Night.

“`In 1993, Miriam Colón was given the Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater. Colón received the Raul Julia Founder’s Award,  presented by the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. She was presented the National Medal of Arts by President Obama for her work as an actress and theater founder.

“`Considered la gran madre in cinema, Miriam Colón –> was 80.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Read and eBook Week 2017…

March 5th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`It is a most wonderful time of the year for folks who own a Kindle, Nook, Kobo eReader, Android Tablets, Apple iPad, Diesel iPad, Sony eBook, etc.

“`The online locale of my eBook – Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History – is offering for a week: 50% off the purchase of my literary work. Smashwords is promoting Read an eBook Week, and their website is the origin for a week-long discount.  Over the last decade, Smashwords  Read an eBook Week has become the epi-center of this grand bargain.

“`Visit the sites below, and purchase a copy of my eBook by typing in PROMO CODE: RAE50. You will get a 50% savings. This is a great week-long deal!

“`Here are the website links:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/53041

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/forgottenhollywood

“`March is a perfect time to add Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to your eReader!

*** This sale is going on NOW through March 11th.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- For Future Storytellers…

March 4th, 2017

Manny P. here… 

“`Richard Schickel helped engage the conversation about American film. As Time Magazine film critic from 1972 to 2010, author of 38 books on cinema, and creator of documentaries that celebrate great  filmmakers, Schickel served as a beacon for global audiences, striving to better understand the magic of cinema. His extraordinary insights and ability to articulate them with passion, made him one of the art form’s trusted voice — and enduring champion.

“`Mr. Schickel’s influence on the American Film Institute was just as profound.  He was one of the architects of AFI’s iconic movie lists;  serving as an executive producer and a writer, as well as an on screen expert. He inspired new generations to rediscover the classics. When AFI established its annual AFI Awards program, chronicling the best in motion picture storytelling for future generations to cherish, Mr. Schickel was a pioneering voice, serving on AFI’s annual juries — including a year as Chair. In 2003, Mr. Schickel was awarded an AFI Honorary Degree for his commitment to recognizing and celebrating excellence in the moving image arts.

“`In the movie critic’s memory,  his family has established a Richard Schickel Scholarship Fund to support aspiring filmmakers who will carry on his indelible commitment to storytelling at the AFI Conservatory, and beyond. His passing in February had a profound effect on all who love the art of filmmaking.

“`Donations may be made to the Richard Schickel Scholarship Fund.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Hunk of Burnin’ Love…

March 3rd, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`About 200 people streamed into Elvis Presley’s Memphis after the late singer’s wife cut a ribbon and allowed fans to see the $45 million complex for the first time. An outdoor mall, the 200,000-square-foot campus sits across the street from Graceland,  Presley’s longtime home-turned-museum. The complex features a comprehensive Presley exhibit with clothing he wore on stage and guitars he played;  a showcase of the cars he owned and used; a soundstage; a theater; two restaurants, and retail stores. The opening comes before the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ death on August 16th, 1977, at age 42.

PRISCILLA PRESLEY at GRACELAND

“`It’s part of a $140 million expansion, which also includes a $90 million, 450-room hotel that opened last year.  This complex replaces the aging buildings that have housed Presley-related exhibits for years.  A strip-mall style visitor center is expected to be torn down to landscape a garden along Elvis Presley Boulevard, the street that runs in front of the house.

“`Graceland has been updating its tourist experience. Visitors use iPads for self-guided tours of the museum. The new Guest House at Graceland with modern amenities has replaced the crumbling Heartbreak Hotel, which is scheduled for demolition.

   

“`Gladys’ Diner — named after the singer’s mother — has the feel of a 1950s eatery, complete with photos of Elvis and aqua-colored chairs. Folks can order hot dogs, burgers and ice cream. Across a wide walkway lies the automobile museum, filled with some of Presley’s favorite toys. Several retail stores line the complex. A barbecue joint called Vernon’s Smokehouse — named after Presley’s father — will also open. So will an exhibit about Sam Phillips, the Sun Records producer and rock ‘n’ roll pioneer who recorded Presley for the first time.

“`The complex is still being finished. Priscilla Presley says there is a warehouse full of artifacts, ready for display. This weekend, the area should draw thousands of fans.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Laurel and Hardy at The Barn…

March 2nd, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are starring in the upcoming biopic about silent film’s first great comedic pair: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Until then, people can attend the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Hollywood Heritage’s Evening at the Barn – Laurel & Hardy:  A 90th Anniversary Celebration; The Birth of a Team, which commemorates  the year our guys initially starred together on screen.  LAUREL & HARDY ->

“`The schedule features screenings of 1927 archival prints of Putting Pants on Phillip, With Love and Hisses, Call of the Cuckoo, and The Battle of the Century, accompanied by live music by Scott Lasky; in addition to author Randy Skretvedt discussing his 1987 book, Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies. This event will also include the unveiling of new wax statues of the comic duo.

“`The gala at the Hollywood Heritage Museum is on March 8th at 7:30p. The museum is at 2100 N. Highland Ave., opposite the Hollywood Bowl.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Taking Flight with an Angel…

March 1st, 2017

Manny P. here…

“`Angels Flight, the beloved little railroad in Los Angeles, had a cameo in La La Land, and now, it’s almost ready to re-open. It originally debuted on New Year’s Eve in 1901, hauling residents from Bunker Hill’s stately Victorian mansions to one of downtown’s best shopping districts. Rides cost a penny.

“`The narrow-gauge railroad that for more than a century hauled folks 298 feet up-and-down the city’s steep Bunker Hill was shut down in 2013 after a series of mishaps, including a crash that killed a rider.

“`At a news conference,  Mayor Eric Garcetti said issues are being resolved, and the railroad’s antique wooden cars, named Sinai and Olivet, should be back in service by Labor Day.  They’ll be operated by a public-private partnership between the nonprofit Angels Flight Foundation and the private company, ACS Infrastructure Development. Meanwhile, work still needs to be done before the cars can move again, under an agreement reached with the state’s Public Utilities Commission.

                EMMA STONE   RYAN GOSLING

“`The railroad’s resurrection has been planned for months. But, it has gotten an unexpected boost when movie-goers saw Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling happily riding in one of its cars  in La La Land. People took to social media to ask why they couldn’t ride. In spite of recent woes, Angels Flight, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, holds a special place in the hearts of local residents of all ages, thrilled to share countless childhood stories.  It was prominent in the movies, Criss Cross, The Glenn Miller Story, The Indestructible Man, and a television episode of Perry Mason.

“`It operated until 1969,  shut down as the neighborhood underwent redevelopment, after the area fell on hard times.  It reopened in 1996, just as the area went through a renaissance. For the next few years, the railway carried tourists and office workers from skyscrapers, museums and hotels that sprung up on Bunker Hill to the Grand Central Market, below. It was shut down after a catastrophic system failure that sent one car crashing into the other in 2001. Reopened in 2010, it was closed three years later after a derailment stranded riders.

“`It looks like we are once again close for our Angel to take Flight.

Until next time>                               “never forget”