“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Teachable Moment…

March 29th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Elmo and Cookie Monster are doing their bit to help keep children safe as the Coronavirus pandemic spreads. The beloved Sesame Street Muppets are featured in four new animated public service spots reminding young fans to take care while doing simple things as washing hands and sneezing.

   ELMO                        COOKIE MONSTER

“`The content on SesameStreet.org/caring builds on last week’s launch of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative to help families stay physically and mentally healthy during the health crisis.  This project ranges from messages of comfort to classroom activities in reading, math and science. One of Elmo’s signature numbers, the toothbrush classic Brushy Brush, has been updated to Washy Wash.  The workshop will continue to roll out resources for caregivers and parents on creating new routines, fostering playful learning, and managing anxiety.

“`The innovative commericals will be distributed globally in nineteen languages through their partners, including HBO, YouTube, and Ad Council. FREE on-demand episodes of Sesame Street are offered on PBS KIDS digital platforms, along with over one hundred free Sesame Street ebooks on all major ebook platforms.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Fresh Coat…

March 27th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`The iconic zebra stripe crosswalk outside London’s Abbey Road Studios, which was made famous by The Beatles’ seminal 1969 album Abbey Road, got a much-needed paint job.

“`While the residents in London remain indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, city officials have asked for the zebra stripes to be repainted as the area gets a lot of foot traffic eight days a week. The crosswalk was quietly given a touch-up on March 24th, a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a nationwide shutdown.

THE BEATLES / ABBEY ROAD (social distance re-imagined)

“`The Beatles made Abbey Road Studios their place of business between 1963 and 1969, recording all of their albums, from Please Please Me to Let It Be. The Fab Four even gave their farewell concert on the venue’s roof in 1969 before splitting up.

“`The iconic album cover was photographed in August, 1969 after the group had a ten-minute break from recording. Photographer Ian Macmillian only had time to snap six photos. The band opted to use the fourth photo in his series for their album cover, and the rest is history.

“`In 2010, the zebra crossing was given protective status from the government and cannot be altered without official approval.

Until next time>                              “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- After the Intermission…

March 26th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2 is a delightful internet podcast that can be found on the YouTube platform. Broadcast industry veterans Art Kirsch and John Coleman are its hosts. I have recently joined the team as their official Hollywood correspondent under the  Forgotten Hollywood brand.

“`In our latest segment, we share a gift of the blarney in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. By the way, a chapter devoted to Irish actors appears in my work, Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollwood”- The Bard of American Theater…

March 25th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Terrence McNally was one of our nation’s great playwrights. His prolific career included winning Tony Awards for Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, and for musicals,  Ragtime and Kiss of the Spider Woman.  His journey spanned sixty years, and his plays, musicals, and operas were routinely staged all over the world.  Terrence explored how people connect. With wit, he tackled the strains within families, war and relationships. He was an openly gay scribe who dealt with homophobia, love, and AIDS. One of his previous interests… novelist Edward Albee.

“`McNally grew up in Corpus Christi listening to radio broadcasts of The Green Hornet and the Metropolitan Opera. While in high school, Terrence was encouraged to write by his gifted English teacher, Maurine McElroy. He would dedicate several of his plays to her. While at the Actors Studio, he was hired by novelist John Steinbeck.  McNally’s earliest theater attempt was writing the musical adaptation of Steinbeck’s East of Eden.

“`Simultaneously busy in regional and off-Broadway theater, as well as, on Broadway, McNally was one of the few playwrights of his generation to successfully pass from the avant-garde to mainstream acclaim. The Ritz was his breakout work. He eventually collaborated three times with legendary composers, John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb.

“`Some of his Broadway musical adaptations: The Full Monty, adapted from the British film; Catch Me if You Can, based on Steven Spielberg’s motion picture; and a lyrical reworking of Anastasia.

“`In addition to his award-winning plays and musicals, McNally also wrote two operas, multiple screenplays, teleplays, and a memoir.  In 2019, he received a number of Lifetime Achievement awards. The accolade he cherished most:  Queerty named him one of their Pride50 dedicated to:

Trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance, and dignity for all queer people

 This honor marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, considered the watershed moment in the modern LGBTQ Civil Rights movement.

“`A tragic victim from complications of Covid-19, Terrence McNally (above) was eighty-one.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Virtual Film Festival…

March 24th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`The TCM Classic Film Festival: Special Home Edition will be an on-air celebration of classic motion pictures and moments from the ten years that fans can enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. As a part of the Special Home Edition, TCM is proud to showcase cinema that has been a part of the TCM Classic Film Festival, both from years past and slated for this year’s event.

“`This special edition of the TCM Fest begins April 16th at 8p, continues until April 19th, and includes TCM hosts, special guests, and events to follow on-air and online.  For the complete list of movies, follow the link below:

http://filmfestival.tcm.com/special-home-edition/

“`This is for the devotees who trek out to Hollywood every year for the festival. And it could not come sooner for these home bound times.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Dealing’s Done…

March 21st, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Kenny Rogers was a singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. He was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and became one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

“`His voice was initially heard while fronting The New Christy Minstrels. Rogers would form The First Edition and scored huge hits with Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) and Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town. Kenny later embarked on a long and successful solo career and several successful collaborations, including duets with Kim Carnes, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Sheena Easton, and written compositions with Lionel Richie and Barry Gibb.

“`Rogers’ discography included The Gambler, Coward of the County, She Believes in Me, Lucille, The GreatestYou Decorated My Life, Don’t Fall In Love with a Dreamer, Love the World Away, We Got TonightLady, Islands in the Stream, and  Buy Me a Rose. He also made a series of television films based on the success of The Gambler. Kenny also guest-starred on Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, Touched By an Angel, and How I Met Your Mother.

“`Rogers owned a successful restaurant chain that served up roasted chicken. The chain was memorably featured in an episode of Seinfeld. He knew how to hold ’em… Knew how to fold ’em… and Kenny knew how to roast ’em.

“`The family is planning a private service out of concern for the national COVID-19 crises. A gentleman to the end.

“`Kenny Rogers was eighty-one.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Cabin Fever…

March 20th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`With stay-at-home orders becoming the national norm, I offer a respite from boredom. It is the gift of literacy.

“`Indie authors want to support the many readers who face anxiety, economic hardship and social isolation as the world community works to end the spread of the Covid-19 virus. More than ever, ebooks offer readers many hours of low-cost entertainment, distraction, comfort, and knowledge during these trying times.

“`Now until April 20th, pick up an ebook copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History at sixty per cent off! You can enjoy my first book for just four dollars, a real bargain.

“`The official website offering the deal is Smashwords. Just click on the widget above. Use the code AGB60 to receive the reduced price.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Turn the Page…

March 19th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Playboy is eliminating its print magazine. The periodical was launched in 1953 by famed founder Hugh Hefner. The economic disruptions from COVID – 19 ended up too much for its already strained print operations to absorb.

“`They went to a quarterly printing schedule after making changes to its editorial output,  including reducing its nudity and moving its content away from targeting male readers. The mag would also no longer select a Playmate of the Year. They also revamped its digital presence and social media channels, which would appeal to diverse audiences.

“`The Playboy business is currently strong, generating three billion dollars in global consumer spending each year. Video subscriptions are up thirty percent, social media engagement is up fifty percent in the last six months, and Playboy has acquired a direct-to-consumer commerce operation. Modern branding techniques have been employed, as well.

“`One added bonus, the magazine will save on the use belly-button staples.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Microcosm of Today…

March 18th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`As we collectively prepare to hunker down for an undetermined period of time (despite assurances suggesting otherwise),  I am reminded of a post-war movie that addressed a similar situation that involved a rapid-moving virus. It was called Isle of the Dead.

“`The 1945 production starred Boris Karloff, and it was produced by Val Lewton. The action takes place on a fictional island in Greece during the 1912 Balkan Wars. The island is quarantined because of the Septicemic Plague.  Visitors start to drop dead after contracting the deadly disease. The eventual eradication of the plague comes when the hot, dry Sirocco winds arrive.

“`Lewton did three Gothic period movies with Karloff for RKO Radio Pictures. The legacy of Val Lewton: He bridged the horror genre between the Universal Pictures era that included Frankenstein, Dracula, The Invisible Man, and The Wolfman, and the Hammer monster flicks that starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and the William Castle productions featuring Vincent Price.  Val’s most famous work was Cat People in 1942. His persona was fictionally characterized by Kirk Douglas in The Bad and the Beautiful.

“`Karloff solidified his ghoulish persona when he collaborated with Lewton. Leonard Maltin and Martin Scorsese have expressed the influence this film had on their careers.

“`A quick reminder to stay healthy during these trying times.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Passing Parade Adds Two…

March 17th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Stuart Whitman was a character actor who appeared in hundreds of motion pictures and television productions, and received an Oscar nomination in the 1961 drama The Mark. He was popular in many Westerns and war films. He placed himself in the tradition of actors who relied less on versatility than on an established persona.

“`Whitman was a San Francisco native who wanted to act since childhood. He started out as a Hollywood extra, appearing without credit in  The Day the Earth Stood Still, When Worlds Collide and Brigadoon. Featured roles included Darby’s Rangers, The Comancheros, The Longest DayMurder Inc., Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, and Ten North Frederick.

“`His passion for acting made him a natural fit on television. Stuart guest-starred in Highway Patrol, Death Valley Days, Have Gun Will Travel, Cimarron Strip, Fantasy Island, The Streets of San Francisco, Knight Rider, Night Gallery, and Murder She Wrote.

“`Stuart Whitman (above) was ninety-one.

================================

“`Lyle Waggoner used his fine looks to comedic effect on The Carol Burnett Show, partnered with a superhero on Wonder Woman and he was the first centerfold for Playgirl Magazine.  In 1976, Waggoner was appointed as the mayor of Encino. Other holders of the title have included Steve Allen, Ronnie Schell, Mike Connors, Fred Travalena, and Cesare Danova. Lyle Waggoner ->

“`Prolific on television, Lyle appeared in Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby M. D.Lost in Space, Happy Days, Maude, Charlie’s Angels, Mork and MindyThe Golden Girls, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island. He was also a finalist to play the lead on Batman, the role that eventually went to Adam West.

“`Lyle Waggoner was eighty-four.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Break in the Action…

March 12th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`In response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to shut down gatherings of two hundred and fifty or more people across the entire state, Turner Classic Movies has chosen to cancel this year’s TCM Film Festival in April. Fans from all over the country will not be able to rub elbows with cinematic stars, such as Bruce Dern, Mel Brooks and Lily Tomlin. This is all due to the CoronaVirus pandemic.

“`Ben Mankiewicz offers an explanation:

“`TCM joins NCAA’s March Madness, Disney Theme Parks, and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention in delaying or canceling their event.

“`Stay Healthy…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Cherished Import…

March 9th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Max von Sydow was an actor known to art house audiences through his work with Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, and later, to moviegoers everywhere when he played the priest in the horror classic The Exorcist. He starred in just about two hundred film and television productions, and remained active well into his eighties.

“`He chose to become an actor and formed a theater group after seeing William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sydow studied at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm and acted in small municipal theaters in Sweden for nine years; an experience he described as crucial for his work. After the war, he changed his actual name from Adolf  to Max Von Sydow (right) for obvious reasons.

“`Swedish cinema came calling in 1949. His most famous import was The Seventh Seal. He made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 production  The Greatest Story Ever Told. Other parts included Three Days of the Condor, Flash Gordon, Never Say Never Again, Needful Things, Hannah and Her Sisters, Awakenings, Shutter Island and Star Wars The Force Awakens. Sydow earned Oscar nods for Pelle the Conqueror and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. He also received an Emmy nomination for his performance as the Three-Eyed Raven in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

“`Max Von Sydow was ninety.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Special Delivery…

March 8th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Screen legend Maureen O’Hara,  whose family roots were in Kells in Ireland, will be featured on a postage stamp series issued by An Post to honor International Women’s Day. Five Pioneering Irish Women are the focus of a new stamp series. The honorees achieved international recognition in film, fashion, aviation, athletics, and art.

“`As the co-star of The Quiet Man and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, O’Hara blazed a trail as Ireland’s initial bona fide Hollywood star. She took on studio bosses, United States legal system, tabloid media, and American presidents during various stages of her life. It was a stellar cinematic career that spanned seven decades, and this led to an honorary lifetime Academy Award in 2014 when she was ninety-four.

“`Designed by Oonagh Young at Irish firm Design HQ, the stamps are available at the GPO, Dublin, selected post offices nationwide, and online at anpost.com/shop, with free delivery.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Sabbath Prayer For the Red Dragon…

March 6th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`The Yiddish production of Fiddler on the Roof was scheduled to tour China this Spring, but has apparently fallen victim to Coronavirus fears. Other stage productions of the classic musical will continue Down Under later in the Fall.

“`Cast members were informed of the three-city tour that would have taken place from April 13th to May 10th. But according to Zalmen Mlotek, artistic director of the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, four days later the tour was cancelled. Mlotek called the cancellation of the China tour a major disappointment for everyone involved.

“`The Australian production of Fiddler in Yiddish is set to debut in early September. It starts with a two-month run at the 1,400-seat Joan Sutherland Theatre, which is part of the iconic Sydney Opera House.  A five-week stay at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne will follow. Joel Grey is directing the Australian company. If the Aussie production is successful, it could spark interest in an Asian and European tour by the American cast.

“`Jumpstart Entertainment, the Manhattan theatrical management firm who was involved in the coordination of the China tour, has not responded to press requests for comment.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Golden Glare…

March 5th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`The Golden Girls may have been off the air since 1992, but the women are as popular as ever. It seems that every day there are new Golden Girls products. The latest is a windshield sun shade sold on Amazon and Target’s website. This is perfect for summer since it is right around the corner!

“`Many younger generations are becoming obsessed with the classic show. Others have been fans since the show’s inception in 1985.

“`The Golden Girls windshield sun shade is made from vinyl. It blocks harmful UV rays from the sun and keeps your car cool while you are out and about. It features the ladies sitting in their car.

“`The standard size fits most cars and trucks. The measurement is 57″ x 28″, and it costs around $30. If you’re interested, purchase it on Amazon! You can also find it on Target’s website.

“`Happy to throw you some shade.

Until next time>                               “never forget”