“Forgotten Hollywood”- Twas Beauty Killed the Beast…

November 9th, 2018

Manny P. here…

“`King Kong – The epic modern myth comes alive on Broadway through an innovative mix of animatronics, puppetry, music, and stagecraft.  This stage show premiered on Thursday at the Broadway Theatre. It is based on Merian C. Cooper’s 1932 adventure novel that inspired the 1933 Hollywood classic, and a subsequent film franchise.

“`Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie, King Kong features an electrifying music score by Marius de Vries (La La Land) and Eddie Perfect (Beetlejuice the Musical), and a book by Jack Thorne, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

“`This oft-told story has appeared in a number of movies, with the original a ground-breaking production making stars of producer/director/scribe Merian C Cooper, actors Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, and special effects animator Willis O’Brien.  Composer Max Steiner’s score for King Kong modeled the method of adding background music into a motion picture.

“`King Kong is a gripping and spectacular tale of unlikely friendships, unshakable courage, and breaking free from cages others put us in. Do not miss this exhilarating, emotional LIVE encounter with a legend that has always been too big to contain.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- One Little Foy…

November 8th, 2018

Manny P. here… 

“`Eddie Foy III was a casting director who helped deliver Sally Field to Gidget, Barbara Eden to I Dream of Jeannie, Robin Williams to Mork and Mindy, and Henry Winkler to Happy Days. He also help put together the group (Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones) for The Monkees. Foy spent over four decades in casting, starting out at Screen Gems and 20th Century Fox. Foy was named director of casting at ABC in 1976 and served as a vice president at NBC.

“`Foy III was born in showbiz. His father, Foy, Jr., appeared in dozens of Broadway shows and Hollywood films, from The Pajama Game on stage to Yankee Doodle Dandy on screen. His grandfather was Eddie Foy Sr. of the famed vaudeville act — The Seven Little Foys.

“`Eddie Foy III began his career in front of the camera on television in Highway Patrol and Father Knows Best; and in cinema in Run Silent Run Deep. His connections led him to a career in the casting office.

“`Foy’s credits included Naked CityDennis the MenaceThe Donna Reed ShowRoute 66Room 222That GirlSoapHill Street BluesCharlie’s Angelsand Barney Miller. Foy also helped cast such films as Planet of the Apes and The Great White Hope.

“`He later worked for Dick Clark Productions and was a long-standing independent casting director and talent executive for the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. In 1959, he served as the cut man for featherweight boxing champion Davey Moore. Foy was on the board of the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was honored by the Television Academy for contributions to the advancement of television casting.

“`Eddie Foy III (above) was 83.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Dame Emma Thompson…

November 7th, 2018

Manny P. here…

“`Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has received one of Britain’s highest awards from Prince William — and thought about giving him a kiss at the Buckingham Palace ceremony. Dame Emma was honored in recognition for her splendid career, and it was presented to her by William, a longtime friend. And she wore sneakers to the event.

“`Emma was named for the female equivalent of a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List in June. The citation calls her one of Britain’s most versatile and celebrated actresses. She plans to use the honor to focus attention on the plight of poor children who don’t get adequate food during school holidays.

“`Her long list of film roles includes favorites like The Remains of the Day. She received the Academy Award for Best Actress for Howard’s End, and an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sense and Sensibility.

“`On a personal note, my new literary work, Road to Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, has a chapter that features notable Hollywood actresses named as Dames during the Studio Era — Wendy Hiller and Judith Anderson. My latest paperback is available on Amazon.

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“`By the way, you can find my new book in its second repository:  New York Public Library. Historian has often cited the location — One of the four finest libraries in the nation. Also in Margaret Herrick Library at the  Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesRoad to Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History  resides at two prestigious resource centers.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Star for Michael Douglas…

November 6th, 2018

Manny P. here…

“`Michael Douglas has finally received his star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The actor is honored in time for his 50th year in show business. The seventy four-year-old industry veteran was joined by his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, 101-year-old father Kirk Douglas, as well as Jane Fonda, who co-starred in 1979′s The China Syndrome.

                                           MICHAEL DOUGLAS

“`Michael has enjoyed a memorable career in show business.  He received an Oscar for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street in 1987. He also starred in Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. More recently, he appeared in Ant Man. On the small screen, he co-starred with Karl Malden in The Streets of San Francisco. Douglas is also a film producer, winning an Academy Award for the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and producing dozens of independent movies.

“`Michael became emotional as he praised dad. The iconic actor waved at cheering fans as his son paid tribute.

“`Michael’s star was number 2,648 on the Walk of Fame.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The American Way…

November 5th, 2018

Manny P. here…

“`As we are prepared to nationally exercise our franchise, I am reminded of something quite patriotic that was created at the dawn of the second half of the twentieth century. And it was referenced by the man of steel.

“`In an updated circulated image of a 1950s-era color poster, Superman is seen speaking to school children about the importance of respecting diversity. Only a small number of posters are thought to still exist, and little information remains about how the poster came to be.

“`In 1949, DC Comics produced a similar illustration and text originally for a 12 x 18 brown paper book cover. It was distributed to schools by the Institute for American Democracy, an offshoot of the Anti-Defamation League.

“`1949 was also the year that DC started publishing, in conjunction with the National Social Welfare Assembly, a long running series of public service messages using their characters in the pages of its comic books.  As a result, Superman became the voice of reason in relation to the subject of racial diversity. Meanwhile, President Harry Truman was eliminating segregation in the military. These decisive intentions sent a clear signal that society was starting to evolve for the good in a steady effort to improve race-relations.

“` A principled and tolerant brand of truth, justice and the American way! This is something to sincerely consider on election day…

Until next time>                               “never forget”