“Forgotten Hollywood”- BookFest 2011 Educational Program

August 27th, 2011

Manny P. here…

Northwest book fest 2

   In addition to a panel discussion on the merits of being a Multi-Cultural Author and signing copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, the Northwest BookFest 2011 has asked me to be part of a workshop in their Educational Program. I will be conducting an hour-long seminar discussion on Marketing & PR: Selling in Non-Traditional Markets – Catalogs, Book Clubs, Special Sales.

Take time to read   If you are in the Kirkland, Washington area on October 2nd, I invite you to come visit me as I share my tips on how to successfully distribute your self-published literary works. This informal Q&A chat will take place at the Kirkland Senior Center in Room 4 at 1p.

   Immediately after my panel discussion and workshop, I’ll be signing copies of my book at either the Book Publishers Network or Danforth Book Distribution booths on the grounds of Peter Kirk Park.

   Here’s a link for all the info:

http://www.northwestbookfest2011.com/

   Please stop by and visit!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- My Return to Cinecon!

August 18th, 2011

Manny P. here…

cinecon47banner

   Cinecon 47 will take place over Labor Day Weekend. I have again been invited to attend. According to their website:

Cinecon titlecard3   Cinecon is the oldest and the grandest of movie related fan fests, and Cinecon 47 promises to offer an outstanding five day program of unusual films, exciting celebrity guests, and one of the best film memorabilia marts in the nation.

   On Friday, September 2nd from noon till 3p, I’ll be signing copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History in the Movie Memorabilia Show at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

books46_pachecoAs a special added attraction our exciting Film Book Fair event will be back for a repeat performance and is included with the Memorabilia show. Several authors will be on hand at various times throughout the weekend to personally inscribe copies of their latest editions. Here’s your chance to get the best of the new film related books directly from their authors.

Among the authors who attended Cinecon 46 were Manny Pacheco, Bill Cassara, and Donna Hill.

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   Here’s a link to their website:

http://www.cinecon.org/cinecon_memorabilia.html

   Highlights include a 2003 documentary about the making of This is Cinerama. It’s called Cinerama Adventure. The original motion picture sparked interest in the wide screen film technique of the 1950’s. Rennaissance hotel logo

   The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel is conveniently located at 1755 N. Highland Ave. The Film Book Fair will take place around the third floor meeting area.

  I heartily look forward to seeing you over Labor Day Weekend at Cinecon 47!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Directors Honored by Postal Service!

August 17th, 2011

Manny P. here…

   John Huston, Frank Capra, Billy Wilder, and John Ford will be the legendary directors honored in 2012 by the U.S. Postal Service. These fine filmmakers were responsible for the creation of great cinema during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Here is just a sample of their extraordinary work:

* John Huston The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of the Sierra Madre,

* Frank Capra – It Happened One Night, Meet John Doe, It’s a Wonderful Life

* John Ford – How Green was My Valley, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

* Billy Wilder Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, Some Like It Hot, The Apartment

Huston-46     Capra-portrait     John_Ford_1946    Billy_Wilder

 JOHN HUSTON           FRANK CAPRA          JOHN FORD       BILLY WILDER  

   Of course, they made far more motion pictures. But, this representative offering is a compelling reason for their individual honor.

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eventfulblog241x45

   I belong to a new site promoting my Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History book tour schedule. It’s called EventFul. It will replace Book Tour.com. This site has announced its closure on September 1st, which is a shame. I wish the employees who currently work at the latter site all the best.

Here are two links to the new site:

http://eventful.com/users/raideoman1

http://eventful.com/kirkland/events/2011-northwest-bookfest-/E0-001-041002612-9

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Watershed Moment in Sales!

August 16th, 2011

Manny P. here…2000

   I’m happy to share Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has reached 2000 in books sold. If you count the almost 40 eBooks that have been downloaded through AMAZON Kindle, BARNES & NOBLE Nookand APPLE iPad with iBooks, I’m well on my way to 2100 copies in the hands of readers.

kindle-logo-rgb-lg   nook-logo    Apple ibooks_icon_20110302

10 Frank Morgan in Tortilla Flatt   The best part… I’ve accomplished this in less than two years. With brisk sales, I have seriously decided to prepare Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, which should be available no later than January, 2012. My new paperback will tell wonderful American stories through the eyes of fine character actors during Hollywood’s Studio Era including Frank Morgan, Marjorie Main, Alan Hale Sr., Peter Lorre, Jack Carson, and Lon Chaney Jr. (among others).

 FRANK MORGAN

   I hope you embrace my upcoming work in the series with the same zeal as my original paperback.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Dark Shadows (2012) Feature Cameos

August 13th, 2011

Manny P. here…Darkshadows

   An updated screen version of the iconic daytime soap opera Dark Shadows features an array of talent:  Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Julia Hoffman, Jackie Earle Haley as Willie Loomis, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard.

   However, noted personalities will make memorable cameos in this long-awaited motion picture including Christopher Lee, Alice Cooper, and several of the stars from the television show… Jonathan Frid, David Selby, and Kathryn Leigh Scott.

choice3   Those who have played Elizabeth Stoddard in the past include top stars from Hollywood’s Golden Era:  Joan Bennett and Jean Simmons. And, joining Depp as one of it’s co-producers is Richard D. Zanuck, the son of Darryl F. Zanuck. Richard began his illustrious career working at 20th Century Fox, and has co-produced such major movies as The Sound of Music, Jaws, The Sugarland ExpressThe Verdict, and Driving Miss Daisy.

   Fans of the original Dark Shadows are really looking forward to this Tim Burton-directed film. It is set for theatrical release in May, 2012. By the way, my literary  companion to Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History will analyze the lineage of pathos in Horror cinema from Lon Chaney, Jr. (The Wolfman) to Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) with a chapter devoted to the genre during the Studio Era.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Lucy Celebrates a Century…

August 6th, 2011

Manny P. here…Lucy_YankArmy_cropped

   I love Lucy; you love Lucy; we all love Lucy! The television icon would have been 100 years old today. It’s easy to enjoy Lucille Ball’s work on the small screen. Her company Desilu had programs that remain vital today for the home viewing audience. However, let’s take a moment to remember her cinematic career, considered marginal at best. She was a beauty comfortable in character roles.

   After studying in a New York school for the dramatic arts (a fellow student was Bette Davis), she decided Hollywood was the only way to prove her talent. Her first appearance was as an unbilled member of the Goldwyn Girls in Roman Scandals in 1933. After appearing in a two reeler with the Three Stooges, she was hired at RKO.

   Her early credits were small, but Lucy appeared in memorable movies as Follow the Fleet, Top Hat, Roberta, and Room Service. She was given a rare co-starring assignment in Stage Door opposite Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. One of her best performances was in the pioneering disaster classic Five Came Back. The ensemble cast showcased the talents of Chester Morris, John Carradine, Patric Knowles, Joseph Calleia, C. Aubrey Smith, Wendy Barrie, and Allen Jenkins.

461px-Lucille_Ball,_mid-50s   She met her future husband Desi Arnaz in Too Many Girls in 1940, which may have been the most fateful part of her career. Often cast in the lead in small pictures, or as the other woman in major films, her later credits include Du Barry was a Lady, Without Love (starring Tracy and Hepburn), Easy to Wed, The Dark Corner, Sorrowful JonesMiss Grant Takes Richmond, Fancy Pants, and The Fuller Brush Girl.

   Quite frankly, movie studios were perplexed in how to cast the comedic beauty with the wise-cracking personality. Her talents were better suited to radio, and of course, later on television. Even after success on I Love Lucy, her films made money, but didn’t receive critical rave reviews. The Long Long Trailer, Forever Darling, Critic’s Choice, and Yours, Mine, and Ours were all mildly funny. Mame was candidly a flop.

   The value of her collective film career is Lucille Ball honed her comedy to arguably become the most successful television personality of all time. She had the unique ability to translate slapstick into an intimate viewing experience we continue to enjoy in this new century.

   Our love for Lucy continues, and our respect for her talent should never be underestimated…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Dinner and the Film Noir Experience…

August 5th, 2011

Manny P. here…

127

Edith_Piaf   An Orange County eatery is offering a unique way to enjoy supper. La Vie en Rose is located at 240 S. State College Blvd. in Brea, California, and providing a meal with the screening of the 1946 movie Notorious on Friday, August 12th. Dinner can be enjoyed at 6:30p; the motion picture at 7:30p. Reservations are currently being accepted at (714) 529-8333. The restaurant’s name is related to the unofficial anthem of France made popular by Edith Piaf.  Edith Piaf   –>

1Notorious_start   This film noir classic features Cary Crant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains (in arguably the finest performance of his fabulous career). Alfred Hitchcock directed this early Cold War entry. Espionage is at the heart of the script. Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History captures the nuances of this tense story in the first chapter of my paperback.

130   On a personal note, my wife Laurie and I have enjoyed the fine dining offered at La Vie en Rose. This romantic location is a 5-star French restaurant. Its reputation in Orange County is anything but Notorious…

   Bon Appetite!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Lost Early Hitchcock Stamp…

August 4th, 2011

Manny P. here… Hitchock young

   The New Zealand Film Archive and the National Film Preservation Foundation has announced the discovery of the earliest surviving work by Alfred Hitchcock in relation to early cinema. The White Shadow is a 1924 silent movie in the melodrama genre starring Betty Compson. Only three of six reels are known to exist. The motion picture was produced as a British feature and distributed by Lewis J. Selznick Enterprises, the father of David O. Selznick. The younger Selznick  brought the iconic director to America to develop the 1940 Oscar-winning Rebecca.

   Hitchcock began his film career in 1920 as a title-card designer in the London branch of what eventually became Paramount Pictures. He worked on the project as an assistant director, art director, editor, and writer. Hitchcock debuted as a director just two years later. His contributions to this early work showcase his knack for cinematography, making it an important contribution in the development of modern cinema.                                                             Hitchcock in 1920 (L. Bouzereau)

WhiteShadow-280-shp   A screening of the restored print is scheduled on September 22nd at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters in Beverly Hills. A grant from the Andrew J. Mellon Foundation has led to a number of extraordinary finds including a lost 1927 feature-length film directed by John Ford, discovered last year. Almost sixty titles were identified in a subsequent search that led to finding the nitrate reels of The White Shadow in December, 2010.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- James Earl Jones receiving an Oscar!

August 3rd, 2011

Manny P. here… JEJones

   The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to honor James Earl Jones with an Oscar forLifetime Achievement.

   Jones has appeared in a number of memorable roles beginning in 1964. He played a military pilot in Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Other motion pictures include ClaudineThe Bingo Long Traveling All Stars, The Greatest, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, and Patriot Games.

   He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1970 for his performance in The Great White Hope. His voice was also used in several of the Star Wars series of films, and as Mufasa in The Lion King. He excelled on television in Roots: the Next Generation in 1979. He’s also been the official announcer for CNN.

   James Earl Jones will receive his statuette on November 12th at this year’s Governors Awards Dinner. Excerpts from his speech might be included in the Oscar telecast on February, 2012.

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   CelebritySucker is a blog site devoted to readers who enjoy current news about past and present celebrities. This particular website has recently decided to enthusiastically promote Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   According to their page:

CelebritySucker is a community resource for celebrity addicts. If celeb gossip is your thanggg, your in the right place.

CelebritySucker.com is an online gossip blog dedicated to all things celebrity including fashion, videos, media and much more. Our staff is dedicated to bringing you the hottest trends straight from Hollywood and beyond.

    Here’s a link to their site:

http://celebritysucker.com/celeb-store/forgotten-hollywood-forgotten-history/

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- August Review / The Hot Rock (1972)

August 1st, 2011

(#2 in a 12-part series to be printed at the beginning of each month)

Manny P. here…hot rock

THE HOT ROCK – This is a hilarious motion picture starring Robert Redford, George Segal, and Zero Mostel; and very rarely shown on late night television. The key premise of the plot… a group of bumbling thieves are determined to steal a valuable diamond (a number of times) for a price. The jewel will be returned to an undisclosed African country from where it was originally mined. The film is based upon Donald E. Westlake’s novel, which introduced his long-running Dortmunder character. The Jazz score was created by Quincy Jones.

Back Story

   20th Century Fox enjoyed enormous success with the 1969 release of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Redford emerged as a leading man in demand. The studio wanted to keep the actor busy on their own lot, in spite of the fact he was also working on Jeremiah Johnson and The Candidate for Warner Brothers. Despite the robust script and great cast, The Hot Rock was popular only in the United Kingdom when released.

Positives

   The picture was shot on location in New York, and the city really shines. Other films that appropriately showcase the unique qualities of Manhattan include The Out-of-Towners and The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 (which I’ll review in a future month). A particularly funny scene takes place at the site where the World Trade Center was under construction.

Robert_Redford_Barefoot_in_the_park<– Robert Redford plays against type as a quiet crook who suffers from ulcers. His comedic qualities were about to shine in films like The Sting, The Great Waldo Pepper, and later,  Sneakers. This film might have achieved greater success had it been released just a year later, when movie exhibitors voted Redford: Hollywood’s top box-office name.

   Fox was acutely aware of Redford’s career. The opening scene of Dortmunder’s exit from prison was a homage to Butch Cassidy’s real release from a Wyoming jail. A similar scene from his 1969 film had been edited from the script by director George Roy Hill.

   On the other hand, George Segal was at the height of his career. His previous work on The Owl and the Pussycat and Where’s Poppa were well received. His New York accent and manic persona exudes the perfect dichotomy to Redford’s slow burn.

Negatives

   Unfortunately, a bit of the humor is lost by the real life background noise of New York. 1970s filmmakers were in love with a backdrop, location shooting offered. Dialogue could be the loser in this equation.

Supporting Actor Spotlight 

Zero-mostel   Zero Mostel burst onto the screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Unfortunately, his name came up during the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and his subsequent testimony guaranteed an almost decade of being blacklisted. Ironically, this was good news for those who enjoyed his 1950s performances on Broadway.

   Prior to his blacklisting, Mostel appeared in Du Barry was a Lady, The Enforcer, Sirocco, and Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell. He worked with Gene Kelly, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Clifton Webb, and director Elia Kazan.

   Fortunately, the second phase of Zero Mostel’s career allowed the rotund actor to star in Fiddler on the Roof (on stage), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Producers. His legacy was secure as one of the funniest men ever to appear on screen.

Epilogue

   The Hot Rock started the movie life of Dortmunder. The character would be featured in at least five more motion pictures, including a German entry. This particular gem is worth renting. Film buffs will be quite surprised on how really good the episodic script works on every level. And, each of the actors show the incredible depth of their talent.

Until next time>                               “never forget”