Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   Hollywood’s Golden Age is reaping the benefits of the Oscar ceremony in a variety of global ways. Here are a couple of examples:

~ To memorialize the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death, organizers of the Cannes Film Festival will honor the iconic actress by placing photo of her on the official poster at this year’s event. The promotional piece will show Norma Jean  blowing out a candle on a birthday cake.

   The 65th Cannes Film Festival runs May 16th to the 27th. Now, that’s quite a special week with Marilyn!

~ The Hollywood Show in Burbank is reuniting all seven Von Trapp Children from The Sound of Music. The reunion is a rare celebration of the 1965 Oscar winning movie. They last appeared together on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010.

   The cinematic siblings will be autographing a 2012 coffee table hardcover about their lives, The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook by Fred Bronson. A certain amout will be sold and signed on Saturday, April 21st from 10a-12:30p. Each collectible includes a special  certificate of authenticity from Global Authentic.

   The Hollywood Show will be held at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center at 2500 North Hollywood Way during the weekend of April 20th.

   These are definitely a few of my favorite things…

—————————————————————————

   Ventura County’s premier independent literary store in Camarillo is carrying both copies in the Forgotten Hollywood – Book Series. Mrs. Figs’ Book Worm is stocking their shelves with  Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History & Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History  and they have additionally set up an autograph party in May.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   BARNES & NOBLE has added Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. In addition to the first work in the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series (as a paperback and as an eBook on NOOK), my new book will now be available on-line and at individual store locations.

   The first B&N stores to house my new book are at The Grove at Farmers Market in Hollywood, and in Greenwich Village in New York. The good news is a number of other locales will start placing Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History on their shelves.

   The Grove location address is 189 The Grove Drive, Suite K 30. The Greenwich Village location address is 396 Ave of the Americas at 8th St.

   Here’s a direct link to the BARNES & NOBLE page:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/son-of-forgotten-hollywood-forgotten-history-manny-pacheco/1040097290?ean=9781937454142&afsrc=1&r=1&

Until next time>                               “never forget”

   Manny P. here…

   Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History is catching on throughout the world over online literary stores. Exciting news indeed! Here are the details and site links:

*ANGUS & ROBERTSON  *BOOKBYTE TEXTBOOKS  *PRICE GRABBER *DEA STORE  *BOOK DEPOSITORY  *LANGTON INFO SERVICES

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/search/son+of+forgotten+hollywood/mediatype/all/

http://www.bookbyte.com/searchresults.aspx?type=books&kwd=son+of+forgotten+hollywood

http://www.bookdepository.com/Son-Forgotten-Hollywood-Forgotten-History-Manny-Pacheco/9781937454142

http://www.deastore.com/book/son-of-forgotten-hollywood-forgotten-manny-pacheco-book-publishers-network/9781937454142.html

http://www.langtoninfo.com/showitem.aspx?isbn=1937454142

   The web now offers online pages from the United States, England, France, and Australia for you to purchase my latest offering. Be the first one in your neighborhood to order a copy.

———————————————–

   The Orange County Breeze is promoting my visit to the Cypress Chamber of Commerce Breakfast event on April 10th at 7:30a. I’ll be sharing stories and autographing copies of Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. It’s part of the Forgotten Hollywood-Book Series.

   Also appearing at this meeting will be the former Mayor of Cypress, Tim Keenan; and the  Orange County Register radio columnist, and my co-host of the Forgotten Hollywood radio program, Gary Lycan. It takes place at the Marriott Residence Inn, Cypress Meeting Room at 4931 Katella Ave. in Los Alamitos.

   Here’s a link promoting the monthly Breakfast:

http://www.oc-breeze.com/2012/03/31/11191_local-author-manny-pacheco-to-speak-at-cypress-chamber-networking-breakfast/

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   PBS guarantees a special Monday in store for you! American Masters is planning to air back-to-back documentaries about the astonishing lives of authors Margaret Mitchell and Harper Lee. The biographies of these two extraordinary novelists will offer fabulous television programming for lucky viewers to enjoy.

    Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel airs at 9:00 pm; followed by Harper Lee: Hey, Boo at 10:00 pm (EST).

MARGARET MITCHELL    HARPER LEE  

   The first program examines the life of the creator of Rhett Butler, Scarlett O’Hara, and other rich characters that shine in Gone with the Wind. Despite winning a Pulitzer Prize, Mitchell’s life was filled with anxiety and depression. Her untimely death left a nation stunned. A literary sequel would never emerge from the mind of this gifted writer.

   The next offering shares the ongoing story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Southern belle, who also has lived a life steeped in privacy. Her friendship with Truman Capote, and possible reasons why she never published another work after her success with To Kill a Mockingbird, will be the focus of this fine cinematic piece. Tom Brokaw, Rosanne Cash, Oprah Winfrey, among others, reflect on the novel’s influence, popularity, and ways it has shaped our lives.

   Though their success took place nearly thirty years apart, both women were ahead of their time, challenged social order, and made a cultural impact with books that still resonate today.

   Check your local listings to find American Masters on PBS.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Southern California Writers Association newsletter for March contains a Five-Star Review by Charlie Redner of Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History that originally appeared on Amazon. He is the fine host of the Laguna Woods Channel 6 cable show – Write Now.

   He’s read both works in the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series. I’m thrilled my fellow author and cable host comprehends the concept I surmise in both of my paperbacks:

The unique relationship and important storylines about American history and Hollywood made by studio era filmmakers from the Golden Age of cinema.

  The Southern California Writers Association is dedicated to helping writers from all genres hone their skills and advance their careers. The SCWA not-for-profit organization of diverse writers, our members are involved in a wide variety of areas including articles, essays, short stories, web content, children’s writing, novels of all genres, plays, screenwriting, and poetry.

   The review appears on p. 9 of this important West Coast literary newsletter. Below are links to the latest online monthly publication, and the Amazon page promoting Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History:

   By the way, Gary Lycan, the radio columnist for the Orange County Register, has also written a beautiful review of my latest book that now appears on Amazon. It’s another Five Star-assessment!

   Click on the link below for a peak at what Gary has written:

https://www.forgottenhollywood.com/gary-lycan

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Over 30,000 folks were canvassed at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences website in an Oscar Madness bracket of Best Picture winners and nominees. This anecdotal poll was done as a diversion from the NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament.

   When the dust settled, more votes were cast for The Shawshank Redemption, which beat Forrest Gump in the final tally. It’s all in fun, whether you agree or disagree…

   Good luck with your college basketball bracket as it proceeds to The Final Four.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   For two decades, the Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation has hosted a signature fundraising event, called the Greer Garson Gala, to raise support for programs and services for the Dallas-area hospital. The evening features a Hollywood items auction, a charitable casino, dinner by Governor’s Ball chef Wolfgang Puck, as well as, 1940s-style entertainment. You can spend treasured time with actors dressed like the Andrews Sisters and Groucho Marx.

   According to their press release:

In the early 1990s, Greer Garson, the Oscar-winning actress and long-time supporter of the hospital, lent her name to this signature event to help draw community support for the hospital. She had an active interest in health care, particularly Parkinson’s disease research and patient programs. Her husband, Col. E.E. Fogelson, passed away from complications of the incurable, debilitating disease. She dedicated much of the remainder of her life toward raising awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research and other health care initiatives at Texas Health Dallas.

Greer Garson was a legend both on the big screen and off. The Golden Age of Hollywood event will take us back to 1943. The Cocoanut Grove was the setting for the 15th annual Academy Awards ceremony. Greer Garson took home the Best Actress  statuette for her role in Mrs. Miniver. She even set the record for the longest acceptance speech!

The impact of her generosity for health care, education and research initiatives at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is profound. Since 2005, more than $2.8 million has been raised to support hospital programs and services through the Greer Garson Gala.

Proceeds from the 2012 Greer Garson Gala will support critical needs of Women and Infant Services at Texas Health Dallas. The Golden Age of Hollywood is on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Union Station.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Last week, I had a fabulous time at the  KNX On Your Corner interview in Culver City. Anchor’s Chris Sedens and Diane Thompson  let me tell wonderful stories about MGM. Diane and I swapped business cards on the possibility of me joining her next year to discuss Oscar-related predictions and stories. I anticipate a memorable moment!

   I also met a few listeners who grew up with the backlot as their backdrop, while their parents were employed in various capacities during Hollywood’s Golden Age. This personal discussion was quite fun.

   Since the interview, I have received telephone calls, and I also got a neat message from a college friend on LinkedIn sending their good wishes, and telling me how much they enjoyed the conversation.

   All in all, it was a fruitful chat!

—————————————————

   Brevard County Libraries in Central Florida added Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History to a second branch (on Merritt Island). The location is home to the Kennedy Space Center.

   Two branches in Hennepin County (surrounding Minneapolis, Minnesota) have just ordered copies of Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. These neighborhood libraries are in Eden Prarie and Southdale. These compliment local communities of Ridgedale and the Central Branch carrying my first book.

   It’s the 74th prestigious shelf to carry my first work; and 18 branches carrying my latest paperback. There are 82 overall libraries to house some form of my book-series.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Chistopher Plummer is on a roll. After winning an Oscar last month, his next assignment is a two-person show exploring the life of John Barrymore. Plummer’s performance in 1997 on stage earned the acclaimed actor a Tony in 1997.

<– John Barrymore is part of an acting dynasty. Known as The Great Profile, he was the brother to Lionel and Ethel, and a grandfather to Drew. He’s best known for the 1920s Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, the silent version of Sherlock Holmes, Grand Hotel, Dinner at Eight, Romeo and Juliet, Rasputin and the Empress, and Twentieth Century. The personal and professional life of Barrymore had a great influence on the careers of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Errol Flynn. While in a hospital in 1942, John’s last words were… Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.  He then closed his eyes for good.

—————————————–

   Barrymore was filmed over seven days on location, and on the stage at the Elgin Theater in Toronto. Last year, Christopher Plummer recreated his role for high-definition cameras. Producers say Barrymore will be released in Canada in May, and throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries in October.

Manny P. here…

   Turner Classic Movies is pulling out all the stops on Sunday, June 10th to celebrate Judy Garland’s 90th birthday. A 24-hour motion picture marathon is on tap featuring the legendary ingenue. Working with selections made by Emmy-winning Garland documentarian and author John Fricke, TCM has programmed eleven features, a documentary, and a number of short subjects throughout the day.

   Here’s the complete schedule (Eastern standard time):

6am – Everybody Sing
7:45am – Love Finds Andy Hardy
9:30am – Strike Up the Band
12pm – For Me and My Gal
2pm – Girl Crazy
3:45pm – A Star Is Born
7pm – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic (documentary)
8pm – The Wizard of Oz  (ESSENTIALS JR. series)
10pm – Meet Me in St. Louis
12am – Easter Parade
2am – Summer Stock
4:15am – I Could Go On Singing

   Another planned tribute (announced thus far) for Judy Garland’s 90th birthday is an all-day live broadcast by Radio France. The Forgotten Hollywood radio program will re-broadcast its hour-long episode to Judy on Saturday, June 9th at 3p (pst). It’s heard in Southern California on THE SPA Radio Network. Go to the Radio Show link on the Navigation Bar (on the left) to hear the audio retrospective outside the broadcast area.

—————————————————————-

   There is a premier independent literary store in Northern California selling copies of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History (on demand). The Booksmith is conveniently located at 1644 Haight St. in San Francisco. Click on the link below to visit their web site:

http://www.booksmith.com/book/9781935359166

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Robert Temple Ayers, the illustrator who created the burning Ponderosa map for the opening of Bonanza on NBC, has died. The iconic image would shift to the Cartwright family: played by Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Michael Landon, and Dan Blocker.

   Ayres began his studio career on Ben-Hur, and worked as a set illustrator on hundreds of motion pictures, including Blue Hawaii. The Los Angeles Times reports that the artist made a visit to the Autry National Center of the American West just days before he died.

   Robert Temple Ayres was 98.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   If you love The Duke, the Iowa Theatre at Winterset’s Courthouse Square is offering screenings of the iconic film The Quiet Man… read below:

   Join your fellow enthusiasts at a special reception in the garden at John Wayne’s birthplace. You can meet playwright Frank Mahon, who created the stage adaptation of Maurice Walsh’s The Quiet Man on which the film was based. Mahon and former Chicago Tribune columnist Brian Downes will offer their thoughts over the enduring allure of The Quiet Man in a panel discussion.

   On Saturday, May 26th, a Benefit Dinner and auction will take place to raise funds for the new John Wayne Museum and Learning Center.

   According to the John Wayne Birthplace website:

   Plans are in development for construction of an 9,000 square foot Museum and Learning Center adjacent to John Wayne’s birthplace. This new interactive facility will provide an exciting experience for the whole family.

   Character was and is the defining quality of John Wayne. The new John Wayne Learning Center will develop programs and opportunities to teach the values of citizenship, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility and caring. New generations will discover what other generations already know—the character quality of John Wayne.

   I hope former 2012 Presidential candidate, Michelle Bachmann, is taking notes as to the actual birthplace of Marion Robert Morrison… aka John Wayne!

Until next time>                                “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Rick Blaine is getting plenty of attention this month. Bogart’s timeless character in Casablanca wil re-emerge on the big screen for a nationwide salute to the anniversary of the most entertaining piece of celluloid ever produced.

   Turner Classic Movies, in conjunction with NCM Fathom Events, is presenting a digitally re-mastered version of the Warner Brothers film on Wednesday, March 21st at 7p (local time) at selected theatres. It will be introduced by TCM host Robert Osborne, who will chat about the enduring legacy of Casablanca, and reveal fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.

   Tickets for Turner Classic Movies Presents Casablanca 70th Anniversary Event are available at participating box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. The event will be broadcast to nearly 500 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

   Warner Home Video is also set to release Casablanca 70th Anniversary Edition on March 27th, featuring a 3-disc numbered gift set, including the remastered motion picture on both Blu-ray and DVD with more than 14 hours of bonus material. The keepsake additionally provides a compilation of three feature-length documentaries, a reproduction of the original 1942 French theatrical poster, a hard-cover 62-page book with never-before-seen on-set photography, sketches and production history, and a collectible set of coasters.

   The supporting actors in Casablanca get plenty of play in my Forgotten Hollywood Book Series. Claude Rains is in the initial paperback; while S.Z. Sakall, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre have chapters in my new work – Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   Once again… Here’s looking at you, kid !!

——————————————————————

   This weekend, the Pacific Symphony Pops will jump on the Casablanca bandwagon in Orange County at Segerstrom Concert Hall. Led by conductor Richard Kaufman, the Symphony delivers the soundtrack created by one of classic Hollywood’s best-known composer… Max Steiner. He wrote scores for more than 150 motion pictures, including Gone with the Wind, King Kong, and A Summer Place. A highlight will be the iconic tune that was sung in the film by Dooley Wilson – As Time Goes By.

   The Costa Mesa concert hall will be decorated in a Moroccan style, reminiscent of the locale. Casablanca Live takes place Thursday through Saturday, March 15-17, at 8p.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Heritage Auctions in Dallas have obtained over 35 movie posters from the Pre-Code Era of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The theatre one-sheets were found in an attic in Pennsylvania last Fall. Available on March 23rd, these 1930s artifacts are expected to net a quarter-of-a-million dollars.

  The rare original collection have undergone restoration; but these cinematic promotional pieces have not been replicated in many decades, and are considered quite valuable. Among the highlights: The Front Page, Little Caesar, Dracula, The Public Enemy, The Thin Man, Cimarron, Twentieth Century, My Man Godfrey, Holiday, and the 1931 version of The Maltese Falcon.

    This valuable stack of Hollywood history was inside a house whose contents were being liquidated as part of an estate sale. Nationwide collectors are licking their chops to obtain portions of this find.

Until next time.                                 “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   One of the brothers hired by Walt Disney to compose some of the most memorable tunes in Hollywood history has died. Robert B. Sherman was best known for providing songs in the world of movies and film animation, including The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, The Parent Trap,Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Jungle Book,  Mary Poppins, and The Aristocats.

   The Sherman Brothers legacy lives daily at any of the many theme parks carrying the Disney brand. The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room,  There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, and It’s a Small World are all compositions by the prolific songwriting siblings.

   Oscar came calling in 1964 for their efforts: Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar, Feed the Birds, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in Mary Poppins. The Sherman Brothers also scored on the pop charts with You’re Sixteen (#1 twice – 1960 for Johnny Burnette, and 1972 for Ringo Starr), and Tall Paul.

   The brothers were influenced by their father, who wrote popular tunes for Tin Pan Alley. During World War II, Robert helped liberate Dachau Concentration Camp; and eventually, he received a Purple Heart, two Battle Stars, a Combat Infantryman Badge, an American Campaign Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, a World War II Victory Medal, and a medal for Good Conduct.

   In 2005, Robert Sherman established an annual scholarship award in his name through the BMI Foundation. That same year, he was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. In 2008, Robert and Richard Sherman were awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bush. A documentary called The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story was released in 2009. The Sherman Brothers were presented with a window on Mainstreet USA at  Disneyland in 2010.

   Robert Bernard Sherman passed away peacefully in London. He was 88.

Until next time>                                “never forget”