“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Good Fight…

August 30th, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`Valerie Harper became a breakout star on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, then the lead of her own series, Rhoda. More recently, her courageous struggle against cancer, and defying medical predictions of a quick demise,  was an inspiration for anyone with the disease.

“`In high school, Harper was taking dance lessons in Manhattan several times a week. By age fifteen, she was dancing at Radio City Music Hall. Three years later, she was in the chorus of the Broadway musical Li’l Abner. She followed by appearing in the film adaptation. Valerie also danced in the musicals — Take Me Along starring Jackie Gleason and Wildcat starring Lucille Ball. She began working with a group of Chicago Second City players when they moved to Greenwich Village. VALERIE HARPER –>

“`In 1970, Valerie auditioned for the part of a Bronx-born Jewish girl who would be a neighbor and pal of Minneapolis news gal Mary Richards on a new sitcom for CBS. It was a long shot for the unknown thespian. She eventually won three consecutive Emmys as a Supporting Actress on The Mary Tyler Moore Showand another one for Outstanding Lead Actress for Rhoda, which ran from 1974-78.

“`On the big screen, Valerie co-starred in  Freebie and the Bean, Blame It on Rio, and an adaptation of Neil Simon’s Chapter Two. On television, she guest-starred on Melrose Place, Sex and the City, and Desperate Housewives. She continued working despite her illness.

“`On a personal note, I met Valerie Harper in 1989 while traveling on a plane with A-List stars to Washington D. C. for a walk in support of eradicating the homeless crises in the nation. She was committed to providing accurate information regarding the protest march. And I offered a report on FM 92 The Beat where I worked in Los Angeles. Val and I developed a bond due to our candid conversation.

“`Valerie Harper was eighty.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The MGM Songbook…

August 26th, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`There is absolutely no debate. MGM provided decades of movie music that was memorable. Its cinema soundtrack is their lasting legacy.

“`Michael Feinstein will open the vault of MGM film magic for a Pasadena POPS symphony season finale. This live concert takes place at the Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia on September 14th. Your invited to attend at 5:30p for picnicking. The event starts at 7:30p.

“`Celebrate the eightieth anniversary of The Wizard Of Oz with the original arrangements from the classic soundtrack, including If I Only Had a Brain, Over the Rainbow and The Cyclone. Plus, enjoy classic scores, such as That’s Entertainment, Singing in the Rain, The Trolley Song, and so much more!

“`In 2007, Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Foundation, which celebrates and preserves the art form through educational programs and their annual High School Songbook Academy.  Michael also serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board, an organization dedicated to ensuring the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America’s sound recording heritage.

The POPS season finale provides the quintessential Feinstein experience with Broadway’s best singers, dancers, vintage costumes from Hollywood Revisited, and rare original arrangements from the golden age of the silver screen, as only Michael Feinstein can deliver.

“`What a great way to celebrate the end of summer.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Cinecon Returns Labor Day Weekend

August 23rd, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`It is back!! The 55th annual Cinecon Classic Film Festival and memorabilia show in Hollywood over Labor Day weekend, August 29th through September 2nd. This is the oldest and the grandest of all movie related fan festivals, and Cinecon 55 promises to offer an outstanding five day package of program of obscure movies, celebrity guests, and one of the premiere movie memorabilia marts in the nation.

“`This year, it will be held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, 1755 N. Highland Ave., next to the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex. As in recent years, all movies will be presented in the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the restored Grauman’s Egyptian on Hollywood Blvd.

“`This will be sixth visit to Cinecon, and I will offer my Forgotten Hollywood Book Series, autographed for readers who love Hollywood’s Golden Age. You can visit with me on Friday, August 30th from 10:30p to 2:30p.

“`Come by and say hi!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- An Essential Review…

August 18th, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`The prestigious Midwest Book Review has offered its critique on my latest work, Road To Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. I am pleased by their worthy analysis. Here is an excerpt of what they wrote:

In Road to Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, Pacheco has compiled and presents a wealth of fascinating and often obscure facts and history-making moments about a roster of character actors that were key to establishing the Golden Era of American studio movie making. 

Focusing on the men and women who made their film careers as character actors, Road to Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is an impressively informative and exceptionally well organized presentation — and one that will prove to be a core and essential addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library American Film History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

“`The Midwest Book Review previously offered their praiseworthy rundown of my Forgotten Hollywood Book Series on July 2011 and May 2012.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Easy Rider…

August 16th, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`Peter Fonda was part of a solid Hollywood dynasty; his father was Henry Fonda; his sister, Jane Fonda. His children are also actors. He carved a rebellious career creatively different from his father during a tumultuous time in society.                            PETER FONDA –>

“`Peter acted while attending the  University of Nebraska, Omaha, and like his dad and Marlon Brando, he joined the local community playhouse in Omaha.  He started his career on Broadway in 1961. Fonda then moved to television and movies, and found success.

“`On the small screen, he guest-starred in Naked City, Wagon Train, The Defenders, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In cinema, Peter co-starred in Tammy and the Doctor, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, The Cannonball Run and Ulee’s Gold (the latter earning him a number of accolades including a Best Actor nod). He is best remembered in his starring turn, and co-writing the screenplay for Easy Rider. This is the movie that solidified his rebel image.

“`By the mid-1960s, Fonda was not considered a conventional leading man in Hollywood. He had become outwardly nonconformist, grew his hair longer, and took LSD regularly. In 1966, Fonda was arrested in the Sunset Strip Riot, which the police had ended forcefully. The band Buffalo Springfield protested the department’s handling of the incident in their protest song, For What Its Worth.  Other friends included Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, Dennis Hopper, and Warren Oates. He also hung out with the rock groups, The Byrds and The Beatles.

“`His passing comes as we reflect on the fiftieth anniversary of Woodstock, a celebration of the counter-culture movement. A free spirit, Peter Fonda was seventy-nine.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Grimm Fairy Tale…

August 11th, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`Once upon a time

“`There was a beautifully photogenic and talented actress. She was married to an acclaimed director, and she was about to have a baby. Her future in Hollywood was insanely bright. Her name was Sharon Tate.

“`On August 8, 1969, several members of the Charles Manson Family (including Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, and Patricia Krenwinkel) snuck into 10050 Cielo Drive, the Los Angeles rental property where Sharon and her husband, Roman Polanski, were living. Roman was in Europe working on a motion picture. Sharon tragically was home.

“`Along with Tate, hairstylist Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, and Steven Parent, were slain. It was brutal and horrific.

“`These heinous murders were likely perpetuated by Manson  as he became insanely mad that producer Terry Melcher (the previous occupant at 10050 Cielo Drive) had not shown interest in making a record with him. Manson was fixated on Melcher’s rejection and sent his Family in for payback. Plus, the killings were apparently part of Manson’s grand plan to ignite an apocalyptic race war that he called Helter Skelter, which he mistakenly thought was conceptualized on The Beatles White Album.

“`The latest Quentin Tarantino production, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is not a Sharon Tate biography. Instead, it is a cinematic fable that concludes with a typical tinsel town ending. I will leave it there, since I am not in the habit of providing a spoiler alert.

“`In truth, Sharon Tate died fifty years ago. She was twenty-six, and her story remains part of the disturbing underbelly of the tumultuous 1960s.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- One Heck of a Drive…

August 10th, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`Elizabeth Taylor’s marriage to Eddie Fisher did not last, but she kept the Rolls-Royce that she bought soon after they wed. As of last week, it has a new owner; an anonymous buyer paid $520,000 for the car at a Guernsey’s Auction at The Pierre in New York City.

                  EDDIE FISHER    ELIZABETH TAYLOR

“`The 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II H. J. Mulliner Drophead Coupe became known as the Green Goddess because of its custom green color, which matched the dress that Taylor wore for her wedding to Fisher in Las Vegas in 1959. Only twenty were built.

“`When Fisher and Taylor traveled to Rome in 1962 for the filming of Cleopatra, they took the convertible along. While on location, Liz began an affair with her co-star, Richard Burton. Upon hearing the gossip, Fisher damaged the car’s fender while he was rushing to the set.

“`The Green Goddess returned to the United States in 1963. The following year, Liz divorced Fisher and married Burton. Liz kept the Rolls-Royce until the late 1970s, when she offered it for sale in the Wall Street Journal after owning the car for nearly two decades.

“`Today, the Rolls-Royce belongs to an anonymous buyer.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Best Sounds in Town…

August 1st, 2019

Manny P. here…

“`Roger Carroll was a television announcer and Southern California radio personality for over five decades. He was one of the best in broadcasting. And, like many in the business, he was my friend.  ROGER CARROLL –>

“`Roger was born in Baltimore, a son of immigrants from Eastern Europe. At fifteen, he began his career as an announcer on radio station WFMD in Frederick, Maryland. He served in the Army (stationed in Hollywood), where he was an announcer for  Armed Forces Radio. He creating radio shows for troops overseas through the 1980s.

“`After World War II, he remained in Los Angeles. At eighteen, Roger became the youngest announcer on the ABC radio network. He was the host of a program on KMPC. He called it: The R.C. Get-Together. A cherished assignment was to do a live remote before all Anaheim Angels home games from the stadium booth on the weekends during the season.

“`Roger was also the backstage announcer for many television shows such as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and Bonanza.  Rog worked on variety programs that featured Danny Thomas, Bobby Darin, and Tony Orlando and Dawn. He was considered the absolute gold-standard in the business.

“`He had many close friends in broadcasting.  I can personally say that he mentored my early career prior to being hired by Art Laboe at KRLA. Roger invited me to visit KMPC (introducing me to the legendary Gary Owens), he helped me prepare for job interviews, and he kept track of my four-decade career. On a memorable Tuesday in 1992, Rog visited my initial live remote at Angels Stadium, during a Freeway Series game against the Dodgers. Many memories of his time at KMPC were shared that day. He also introduced me to Vin Scully. Needless to say, that was a special afternoon!

“`My father was also one of his close friends. Roger had his house furnished with inner decor created by my dad. Before I met him, he convinced my family that UCLA should be a college destination… and it was! I spoke with my dad today, and we reminisced about our friendship with Rog.

“`Let me echo colleagues in the industry; we lost a fine and decent man. Roger Carroll was ninety.

Until next time>                               “never forget”