Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`Mel Brooks has created some of the most iconic comedies in film history, including Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Producers. For the first time in his career, he will offer a behind-the-scenes look at his extraordinary career during an exclusive two-night stay at the Encore Theater in Wynn Las Vegas – June 30th and July 1st. An Evening With Mel Brooks features the actor, writer, producer, and director in a rare stage event that combines personal anecdotes with his zany brand of stand-up comedy and clips from his storied work.

`

MEL BROOKS

“`Brooks’ career began in television writing for Your Show of Shows. Together with Buck Henry, he created the television series Get Smart. He teamed up with Carl Reiner to write and perform the 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and books. Brooks won an Oscar in 1964 for writing and narrating an animated short The Critic; and a second in 1968 for the screenplay of his first feature film, The Producers. For three seasons, Brooks won Emmy Awards for his role on the hit sitcom Mad About You; and received three Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards for The Producers Musical, which ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2006. It still holds the record for the most accolades won by a Broadway musical.

“`In 2009,  Mel received the Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary contributions to American culture. He was the subject of an Emmy Award-winning American Masters documentary on PBS called Mel Brooks: Make A Noise; and was the 41st recipient of AFI’s Life Achievement Award.  Last year, Mel went to London where Prince William proudly presented him with the prestigious British Academy Awards Fellowship;  and he was invited by President Obama to the White House to accept the National Medal of Arts;  the finest honor given to artists by the United Stated government.

“`Now, Mel is a headliner in Las Vegas.

Until next time>                               “never forget“

Manny P. here… 

“`There’s an impressive lineage that stretches from DC Comic Book’s Batman and the current incarnation of the Dark Knight. Most culturally significant was the 1966 campy television show with the square-jawed Adam West as the Caped Crusader. The program lasted three seasons. However, from 1966  – 1968, this was a tour-de-force of programming every Wednesday and Thursday evening. And, it spawned a film, lunch pales, bubble gum cards, and other assorted array of tie-in promotion.

“`Batman influenced generations of viewers with bigger-than-life characters, and galvanized future actors starring in television programs immeasurably tied to their roles. In Adam West’s case, it lasted his entire career. He is favorably comparable to William Shatner’s Captain Kirk; Bob Denver’s Gilligan, and Rod Serling’s prologues that began every episode of The Twilight Zone. West shunned the typecasting; he eventually embraced the inevitable. He’s the perfect incarnation of Batman. Only Basil Rathbone as the intrepid Sherlock Holmes was more well suited in the history of celluloid characterizations (in my humble estimation).

“`After serving in the Army, West went to Hollywood, and appeared on television, including The Rifleman, 77 Sunset Strip, The Real McCoys, Maverick, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Petticoat Junction, Gunsmoke, and Bewitched. He additionally guest-starred in Vega$, Alice, Night Gallery, The Big Valley, Alias Smith and Jones, The Love Boat, Mannix, Fantasy Island, Laverne and Shirley, Murder She Wrote,  and Diagnosis: Murder. A modern generation of fans know him as the voice of Mayor Adam West on Family Guy. He had stints on 30 Rock, The Simpsons, The King of Queens and The Big Bang Theory. West received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

“`He appeared in The Young Philadelphians, which starred Paul Newman. He was also cast in such forgettable fare as Tammy and the Doctor, The Outlaws is Coming, Hooper, and regrettably, The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood. Yet important cinematic actors begged to appear on Batman,  including Shelly Winters, Cliff Robertson, Roddy McDowall, Vincent Price, Victor Buono, David Wayne, Van Johnson, George Sanders,  and most notably, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, and Frank Gorshin. Neil Hamilton and Alan Napier were also veteran actors that offered able support on the popular series.

“`The bat-signal will shine one last time. West will be honored Thursday night with a lighting of the iconic signal in Los Angeles with Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck doing the honors.  The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place at 9p at City Hall.

“`West outlived just about everyone connected to Batman, except Burt Ward and Julie Newmar  (Robin and Catwoman, respectively). His legacy will surely last. Flags in Gotham City should be lowered as a citizenry mourns their loss.

“`Adam West was 88.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`After a day when politics dominated the cable news cycle, motion picture quotes capture our imagination. Rather impressive are several pointed references to The Godfather and Becket. With regards to the latter, a meticulous citation was uttered at yesterday’s Senate hearing.

“`Peter O’Toole portrayed Henry II twice in his career; a second time in The Lion in Winter. When his character (who promoted Thomas Becket to Archbishop of Canterbury) accused his cleric of treachery, due to influential relationships with Pope Alexander III and King Louis VII of France, Henry II uttered his stance over the situation and sealed the fate of his chancellor. At heart, lies a bitter dispute between Henry II, who feels betrayed by his former friend; and Becket, who mistrusts the motives of the English king. A scene from the 1964 film re-enacts this tragic moment in time:

“Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest”

`

“`Meanwhile,  news pundits have compared a languid rapport between President and former F.B.I. Director, to Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone and tenuous alliances with Mafia associates. The Godfather is loaded with colorful quotes, and any of those spoken by Don Vito offers a rich parallel discerned during televised analysis. Particularly poignant:

“With respect comes loyalty”

~  ~  ~

“`I’m fascinated how cinema often draws metaphoric comparisons to our collective history.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Goodman Theatre  artistic director Robert Falls says Stacy Keach suffered a heart attack during the opening evening of a play at the venue in Chicago. The May 30th performance of Pamplona,  with Keach starring as Ernest Hemingway, was canceled halfway through when the actor appeared unwell.

“`Pamplona marks the actor’s third collaboration with Falls, and his second exploration of the literary icon:   He earned a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of Hemingway in the eponymous 1988 television mini-series.

“`The entire run of the one-man play has since been canceled. Falls says the Goodman could re-stage Pamplona next year.             STACY KEACH —>

“`Falls says he visited Keach on Tuesday, and found him in good spirits. He says Keach was sitting up and studying the script and asked about rescheduling. Goodman officials say the 76-year-old Keach is set to be released from a Chicago-area hospital.

“`Keach is best known for playing private eye Mike Hammer in several television series. He recently appeared in the Bruce Dern vehicle, Nebraska.

“`Best wishes to my fellow Van Nuys High School alum… Stacy Keach.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`The site of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival is now officially recognized for its place in history.  Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo designated that Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Hudson Valley has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“`The weekend concert attracted 500,000 to Max Yasgur’s farm,  and it was a pivotal moment in New York and American history. It became the subject of a landmark documentary film. This recognition preserves the location for future generations. Plus, it furthers educational and cultural initiatives at the museum and surrounding grounds that will continue to embody the spirit of the 1960s.

“`The 800-acre Bethel Woods campus is 90 miles north of Manhattan.

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“`Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver will be posthumously honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards.  Timothy Shriver, one of her children, and chairman of the Special Olympics, will accept the award on July 12th. The Ashe accolade is given to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.

“`Eunice Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968 to aid individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports;  inspired by her sister Rosemary, who suffered from similar impairments. It will mark its 50th anniversary next year.

“`Shriver died in August 2009.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Conjecture filled nationwide periodicals the day after Abe Lincoln’s assassination on Good Friday, 1865. Among those people at Ford’s Theater who actually witnessed all chaos unfold was Joseph Hazelton; a stage – cinematic actor that  was employed as a program boy. By 1933, Joe was the last living witness of the tragedy. He gave a detailed account at the May Company Exposition Hall, in Los Angeles, of what he observed. The only remaining recording of his speech — rare audio of the eyewitness chronicle of Abraham Lincoln’s murder — is preserved at the Huntington Library. This is singular treasure complimented by a video,  which includes a portion of Hazelton’s dramatic account to bring a tragedy to life. His retelling was transferred onto vinyl at Freeman Lang Studios in Hollywood.

“`Created by the South Pasadena repository’s video producer, Aric Allen, the eight-minute clip compliments the history behind the 16-inch phono record. It’s made of shellac, as were many transcription vinyl from the late 1920s to the early 1930s; and it’s incredibly fragile. It resides in the library’s most secure, atomic bomb–proof vault.  What is fascinating about this account  preserved on the recording, as curator Olga Tsapina explains, is how it relates to the memory and mythology of the assassination.

“`Personal descriptions of that evening survive in the form of correspondence, diary entries, affidavits, and similar documents. However, listening to a witness offers a more vivid scene. Those attending the free 1933 lecture would have heard an oral presentation detailing John Wilkes Booth’s shooting of Lincoln, then leaping over the railing of the presidential box onto the stage, breaking his leg, and making his declarative exit. Booth made a ready escape on horseback.

“`Since Hazelton was a thespian, he delivered his narrative as if reading a theatrical script. During his oration, he surmised:

I shall never forget to my dying day, the look of anguish and despair on that man’s face, as he half dragged and half limped to the center of the stage with a wild maniacal stare, brandished the knife above his head, and cried out…

Sic semper tyrannis!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Jerry Lewis was hospitalized in Las Vegas on Friday. He has been  suffering from a chronic urinary tract infection. Doctors were quick to give him medication for the illness.  The medical center was set  to discharge him as early as tomorrow.

“`The comedian, who first got his start in Hollywood as a child, is determined to keep working, despite ongoing health concerns. He battled prostate cancer,  suffered two heart attacks, has diabetes, and daily deals with chronic lung disease.        JERRY LEWIS –>

“`Despite medical issues, Lewis is scheduled to travel to Toronto, later this week, to shoot a movie. Last year, insiders close to the star revealed that despite a busy schedule, Jerry will be ready to meet his son Joseph, who took his own life in 2009, in heaven.

“`Best wishes to the incomparable Jerry Lewis.

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

“`Roger Smith was a television and movie actor. He co-starred in the detective series, 77 Sunset Strip;  and in a teleplay sitcom, Mister Roberts.  Roger went on to manage the career of Ann-Margaret, his wife of 50 years.

“`After a chance meeting with James Cagney, he was encouraged to try a career in Hollywood.  He signed with Columbia Pictures,  and then moved to Warner Brothers. Smith would play Cagney’s son in Man of a Thousand Faces. His greatest film exposure was a role in Auntie Mame, with Rosiland Russell. Due to several life-threatening illnesses, he retired from acting in 1966.            ROGER SMITH –>

“`After he married Ann-Margaret in 1967,  Roger helped shed her sex kitten stereotype in dramatic fashion in 1971,  when she appeared in Mike Nichols’ Carnal Knowledge as the abused mistress of Jack Nicholson. Critics were universal in their praise, and Margaret was nominated for an Oscar. She received an additional Academy Award nod in 1975 for her performance as Roger Daltrey’s mom in the rock-opera… Tommy.

“`Roger Smith was 84.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`A new museum dedicated to Theodor Geisel — who under the pen name, Dr. Seuss, wrote and illustrated dozens of rhyming children’s books, including The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham — features interactive exhibits, artwork never before displayed publicly, and explains how his childhood experiences in the city about  90 miles west of Boston shaped his work. A grand opening for the public was Saturday, in the author’s hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, and it’s like walking into one of his beloved children’s books.

“`Kids are definitely the focus of the first floor of the museum created in conjunction with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the family company that protects Geisel’s legacy. It features games, and statues of Horton, Thing 1 — Thing 2, characters from Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, plus other figures.  Visitors will wander through Geisel’s childhood bedroom, his grandparent’s bakery and brewery, and different rooms painted in brilliant blue and red  (decorated in detail with scenes from the books).

“`The museum’s second floor has a more intimate feel,  with furnishings and assorted knick-knacks from Geisel’s studio from his La Jolla, California home, where he lived until his death in 1991, at age 87.  His treasured collection of 117 bow-ties is also on display.

“`The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss museum is expected to draw 100,000 visitors annually.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`A statue of actor Frank Sutton was dedicated in Downtown, Clarksville, TN. He’s best known for playing Sgt. Carter on Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.  The City of Clarksville prepared the site and installed the work.

“`A crowd of over 150 people — including a group of third-grade students of Clarksville Academy, and sponsors from Coldwell Banker Realtors — gathered at the event, to watch Mayor Kim McMillan, project leader Mark Holleman, and sculptor Scott Wise pull the shroud from the bronze image.

“`The statue of Sutton emerged glowing in the midday sun, and it evoked a nice reaction from the crowd. Wise’s statue perfectly evokes Sutton’s stance of Sgt. Carter from the CBS sitcom, with his trademark hat, square jaw, and flaring nostrils.

“`Sutton took to the stage as a student at East High School in Nashville, where his family moved when he was eight, and then, he returned to Clarksville after high school.  He toiled as a radio broadcaster. During World War II, Sutton enlisted in the United States Army, and served in the South Pacific. After the war, he began a notable career as an actor,  with a number of television roles. Frank Sutton died in 1974.

“`No word if Jim Nabors attended the unveiling.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Elena Verdugo had a prolific film career, before concentrating on television; garnering two Emmy nominations for her performance  on Marcus Welby M.D.  Her movie roles include supporting work with Lon Chaney Jr.  in House of Frankenstein and The Frozen Ghost;  with Abbott and Costello in Little Giant; and Cyrano de Bergerac and Thief of Damascus.

“`Verdugo landed her first cinematic acting role in 1931. By her mid-teens, she was appearing in multiple films a year, including four in 1949 and a half-dozen in 1952.    ELENA VERDUGO –>

“`Verdugo also was a singer and dancer. She performed in the 1940s with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra, and handled the vocals on his hit, Tico Tico, which was used in the finale of the 1945 film It’s a Pleasure!

“`After guest starring on classics such as  The Bob Cummings Show, Petticoat Junction, 77 Sunset Strip, Rawhide, Route 66, The Red Skelton Hour, Ironside, Daniel Boone, Love American Style, and Mannix, she worked through the 1960s, before landing the role for which she’s best remembered.  Elena also portrayed the title character in Meet Millie on television and radio for four years, beginning in 1954.

“`Starring Father Knows Best alum Robert Young, Marcus Welby, M.D. was an out-of-the-box smash, finishing its 1969-1970 rookie run in the prime time Top 10. The following year, it became the first ABC series to finish #1, moving ahead of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and Gunsmoke. For its seven-season run, Elena was Consuelo Lopez, a nurse and office assistant to Young’s dedicated Santa Monica general practitioner.  The show also featured James Brolin, and ended in 1976, after nearly 170 episodes.

“`Elena Verdugo was 92.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`An airport hangar facade from the opening and ending scenes of Casablanca has found a new home, a decade after being saved from the wrecking ball. The arched facade, dating to the 1920s, has been in a parking lot, since it was removed during renovations at Van Nuys Airport in 2007.

“`The hangar, with 95-foot doors, appeared in movies such as Laurel and Hardy’s The Flying Deuces. And, Major Strasser’s arrival in Casablanca was filmed at Metropolitan Airport in Van Nuys. Most notably, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman stood under the facade during the production’s iconic conclusion (above).

“`For now, it will be moved to Valley Relics Museum, home to many pop culture items. The goal is to restore it as part of a Moroccan-themed restaurant at Van Nuys Airport.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The legacy of John F. Kennedy, who died in 1963, will be celebrated on the day he would turn 100. He served as president from January, 1961, until his assassination on November 22nd in Dallas. JFK was 46.

“`The United States Postal Service plans to commemorate his centennial on Monday with a dedication of a new JFK postage stamp in Brookline, Massachusetts; the Boston suburb where the late president was born on May 29th, 1917. U.S.P.S. Boston Postmaster Nick Francescucci and reps from the  John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site — JFK’s birthplace and childhood home — are expected to attend.

“`The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston will hold a birthday celebration that includes a flyover from the United States Navy,  and a cake creation by the family of the baker  who created the engagement cake for Senator Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier. The museum unveiled a new exhibit on Friday, featuring 100 original photographs, documents, and artifacts from Jack Kennedy’s life and political career.  They will provide an interactive card exhibition for global well-wishers to send birthday messages and then post responses online. Plus, there were events over the weekend to honor JFK’s life.

“`Joe Kennedy III, the great-nephew of JFK,  is expected to deliver the keynote at a ceremony held at the United States National Park on Monday afternoon. Many of his colleagues in  Washington were inspired into public service because of Joe’s celebrated uncle.

“`A wreath-laying ceremony is planned at JFK’s grave site at Arlington National Cemetery. The Eternal Flame will never shine so bright.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`The iconic World War II bomber Memphis Belle is finally going on public display, next Spring at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force; alongside John F. Kennedy’s presidential plane, the Wright Brothers flyer, and other national aviation treasures. The journey from flights over occupied France and Germany, to restoration and display at the Ohio museum, has been troubled for the most celebrated American aircraft to survive the war.

“`The B-17 Flying Fortress, feted as one of the first planes to make it through the required 25 bombing missions, arrived at the museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in pieces, a dozen years ago. It was in rough shape, having been outside on display for years in Memphis, where it deteriorated from weather and vandalism.

“`Restoration work by an army of volunteers has continued;  delayed by major expansion at the museum near Dayton, and other restoration projects vying for attention. An unveiling of the restored war bird is scheduled for May 17th, 2018 —  the 75th anniversary of the crew’s 25th and final mission. The Memphis Belle will be displayed as a centerpiece of an exhibition on the strategic bombing campaign that broke the back of Germany’s wartime production.

“`Since B-17 parts are no longer manufactured,  volunteers have labored painstaking hours fabricating them from scratch, and reassembling the plane inside a cavernous hangar at the museum. The wing tips just went on. But, the fuselage skin still needs riveting. And, it’s still missing the plastic nose cone, a tail section, and an authentic paint job.

“`The four-engine bomber with .50-caliber machine guns was piloted by Lt. Robert Morgan, and was given its famous name before leaving  the mainland. Morgan,  who died in 2004, said its inspiration was his sweetheart, 19-year-old Memphis resident Margaret Polk. The actual moniker came from the riverboat in the John Wayne film Lady for a Night that Morgan and his co-pilot watched, the evening before the crew voted on a name. Prior to flying to Europe, he flew to Memphis where Polk christened the aircraft with a bottle of champagne, amid much fanfare.

“`The Memphis Belle, with a leggy Esquire Magazine pinup girl painted on the nose, survived six total months of combat in 1942-43, during missions to bomb submarine pens and munition factories. In doing so, the airplane and its crew beat the odds.  Two out of three young men — their average age was 20 — who flew on those B-17 missions from airfields in England, did not survive the war. One out of every 18 planes was lost in combat.

“`Because the bomber’s crew flew in other aircraft, they had actually completed their requisite 25th mission two days before the Memphis, which flew its 25th on May 19th, 1943.  It was one of the first B-17’s to do so. After being honored by Army brass and the King and Queen of England, most of the original crew and airplane were reunited in a publicized tour of the United States to help sell war bonds during the summer of 1943, including a trip to the same military base, where it will permanently reside. A 1944 William Wyler documentary added to the lore of the Belle, while younger generations were introduced to it in a 1990 movie; a fictionalized account of its last wartime mission.

“`Despite Memphis Belle’s final assignment at the Air Force museum in Ohio, the Tennessee legislature designated it as the state’s official airplane, earlier this year.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Award-winning actor Frank Ferrante presents his acclaimed one-man comedy that celebrates one of cinema’s greatest comedian — Groucho Marx. You will feel Groucho is on stage as Ferrante sings, dances, tells stories, and performs classic routines and one-liners. Accompanied by his onstage pianist, Ferrante plays a young Groucho of stage and film.

“`Tales of the legendary Marx Brothers:  Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo; Groucho foil, Margaret Dumont; and Groucho’s Hollywood peers — Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, W.C. Fields and MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer — are sprinkled throughout in a family-friendly program. An Evening with Groucho is presented June 12th and 13th at 7:30p.

“`Ferrante recreates his PBS, New York, and London acclaimed portrayal of the legendary comedian in this fast-paced ninety minutes of hilarity. The two-act comedy also includes a rendition of Lydia the Tattooed Lady. The audience becomes part of the show, as Ferrante intentionally ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style.

“`North Coast Rep’s Variety Night Theatre is always a blast, offering a mix of shows, from comedy nights to special one-night-only productions. The venue is located at 987 Lomas Santa Fe, Suite D, in Solana Beach; north of Del Mar, CA.

“`Groucho’s back… Hooray for Captain Spaulding!

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“`Here is something special from the UCLA Television and Film Archive. It’s taking place at the Billy Wilder Theater in Los Angeles.

“`The retrospective includes  The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, The Asphalt Jungle, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The African Queen, The Misfits, We Were Strangers, The Red Badge of Courage, Moulin Rouge, and Heaven Knows Mr. Allison.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Sir Roger Moore spent much of his screen career as  suave spies, such as Simon Templar and James Bond. On television,  Moore starred from 1962-1969 in The Saint; and on the big screen, he assumed the role of 007 from  Sean Connery in seven cinematic features. Named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991, Moore would be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, for services to charity.  In 2008, the French government appointed Moore Commander  (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres).                                  ROGER MOORE —>

“`Moore studied for two terms at  Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was a classmate of future Bond co-star Lois Maxwell, the initial Miss Moneypenny. He was an extra in the Vivien Leigh/Claude Rains 1945 vehicle Caesar and Cleopatra. Stardom did not arrive easily, however.

“`The Brit toiled as a working actor in television and films in the United Kingdom. In the early 1950s, he became a print advertisements model. Finally, Hollywood came calling.

“`Although, Moore signed a seven-year contract with MGM in 1954,  the movies that followed were seldom profitable. Roger co-starred in Interrupted Melody; cast behind Eleanor Parker and Glenn Ford.  He was released from his MGM contract after only two years. Other films he appeared include The Wild Geese, The Cannonball Run, Curse of the Pink Panther, and Shout at the Devil. On television, he starred in Ivanhoe, Maverick, and The Persuaders.

“`Because of commitments to the long-lasting series, The Saint, Moore was not available for the James Bond franchise for a considerable time. As the longest serving James Bond to date, he starred in  Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, and A View To a Kill.

“`Moore’s friend Audrey Hepburn had impressed him with her work for UNICEF, and consequently, he became a Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. He was the voice of Father Christmas in the UNICEF – The Fly Who Loved Me. Recently, Moore was involved with a children’s fairytales app, GivingTales, for UNICEF, together with a number of other British celebrities, including Michael Caine, Stephen Fry, Ewan McGregor, Joan Collins, and Charlotte Rampling.

“`He penned a reader based on his diaries – Roger Moore as James Bond: Roger Moore’s Own Account of Filming Live and Let Die was published in London in 1973 by Pan Books. The book includes an acknowledgment to Connery with whom he remained close for countless years. Bond On Bond was published as a tie-in to the 50th anniversary of James Bond flicks. It’s based on Moore’s own memories, thoughts, and anecdotes about 007.

“`Not thinking of himself as much of an actor; he was a skilled performer, who inspired much adoration from his audience. Roger Moore was 89.

Until next time>                               “never forget”