Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`It has occurred before; notably when actress Grace Kelly became Princess Grace of Monaco. The tradition continues when England’s Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle will wed in an Anglican service with American flavor, mixing prayers, classical music, a gospel choir, and soul sounds. Kensington Palace has released the order of service for this ceremony in 15th-century St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

“`This service is led by the Dean of Windsor, David Conner. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will solemnize the marriage, and head of the United States Episcopal Church, Michael Bruce Curry, will deliver a sermon. Markle, who attended a Roman Catholic school, has been baptized into the Church of England (which Queen Elizabeth II is supreme governor), as she prepares to join the royal family.

“`All are waiting to see what Markle wears, which designer she has chosen for her wedding gown. Prince Charles, Harry’s father, will walk her down the aisle after Markle’s dad became too sick to come. Meghan’s mum will be sitting close by. And in the gallery, some of Harry’s buddies from his 10 years of military service — an experience that included tours of duty in Afghanistan — and from many charities he supports, which focuses on helping veterans, or encouraging a more open discussion of mental health issues.

“`The couple consulted Harry’s father Prince Charles about the orchestral music played before the service.  Selections include works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, and Franz Schubert. The chapel choir will perform a motet by 16th-century composer Thomas Tallis. A London-based gospel ensemble, Kingdom Choir, will sing Ben E. King’s Stand By Me. Jane Fellowes, the sister of Princess Diana, will read from the biblical Song of Solomon.

“`The ceremony is based on Common Worship — a most modern of Church of England service options — and includes prayers and hymns, as well as readings and musical selections chosen by the couple and their family. The Church of England doesn’t allow couples to write their own wedding vows — they have to stick to the script. Meghan and Harry will vow:

To have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.

“`In front of 600 wedding guests, including Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Elton John, Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, sports stars David Beckham and Serena Williams, and actor Idris Elba, Meghan and Harry will exchange rings to:

Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.

“`After guests deliver God Save the Queen,  Britain’s national anthem, the newlyweds will exit the chapel to strains of an allegro from Symphony No. One by 18th-century composer William Boyce, and the gospel sounds of Amen / This Little Light of Mine.

“`After the ceremony, the newlyweds will be in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Windsor flanked by a British military procession with officers on horseback. Then they are off to a couple of gala receptions. The first is hosted in the afternoon by the queen — with finger foods, wine, and champagne.  A second smaller reception is being thrown by Charles. To kick off the festivities, the queen honored her grandson with a new title: Duke of Sussex, making the 36-year-old Markle the Duchess of Sussex.

“`The wedding marks a new chapter in the sovereign history of the monarchy:  The addition of an American woman with biracial roots to its upper ranks. Harry’s status as a English royal and Markle’s entertainment industry presence on the television series Suits  has turned Saturday’s wedding into a global event. This is Hollywood royalty colliding with a storied British monarchy.

“`Plus, even though she is divorced, Meghan Markle is no Wallis Simpson!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Joseph Campanella was a character actor who appeared in over 200 television and movie roles. He had a familiar face to fans of Hollywood. Campanella is best remembered for his recurring part on Mannix and on the rotating series, The Bold Ones:  The Lawyers. He was also a regular on daytime soap operas — The Bold and the Beautiful, The Guiding Light, and Days of Our Lives.  JOSEPH CAMPANELLA ->

“`Joseph attended Columbia University where he studied drama. By 1952, he was being cast in movies. He appeared in Murder Inc., The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre,  The President’s Plane is Missing, Ben, and Meteor.

“`It was on the small screen where Campanella really shined. He guest-starred in Combat,  Naked City, The Untouchables, Medical Center, The Big Valley, Marcus Welby M.D.,  Mission: Impossible, Police Story, The F.B.I., Alias Smith and Jones, The Invaders, McCloud, Ironside, The Fugitive, The Wild Wild West, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Gunsmoke, Fantasy Island, The Rockford Files, One Day at a Time, Mama’s Family, The Colbys, Dallas, Night Gallery, Murder She Wrote, and The Golden Girls. Joe was also the familiar voice for BMW commercials.

“`The durable Joseph Campanella was 93.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`For the first time since 1998, Los Angeles Conservancy will host a Last Remaining Seats screening at downtown’s State Theatre! This film palace has a rich history, and is filled with beautiful features. It recently served as a church, which is common for historic theaters.

“`The scheduled screening is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a 1939 classic that stars James Stewart and Jean Arthur. The central theme of this motion picture is the nature of political corruption and graft that takes place in the senate. Many of the character actors featured in my Forgotten Hollywood book series appear in the ageless classic, such as Claude Rains, Beulah Bondi, Thomas Mitchell, Jack Carson, and in my upcoming release, Edward Arnold.

“`A free Q&A session about the theatre will follow the screening. Learn more about the history and architecture. They will also have an after-party at iconic Cliftons. You can enjoy the event on Saturday, June 2nd at 8p.

“`Los Angeles Conservancy is the nonprofit member organization that works through education and advocacy to recognize, revitalize, and preserve the historic architectural and cultural resources of Los Angeles County. A private, membership nonprofit, the Conservancy began as part of a drive to prevent demolition of the  Los Angeles Public Library in 1978.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`You only had to observe him — in his white suits and two-tone shoes —  or read his books as The Bonfire of the Vanities and The Right Stuff to know Mr. Tom Wolfe (right) was like no other scribe. Inspired by the writings of French novelist Emile Zola and other authors of realistic fiction, the stylishly-attired Wolfe was a maverick who insisted the only way to tell a great tale was to go and report it. His contemporaries were Gay Talese, Nora Ephron, and Truman Capote, and he helped demonstrate that journalism could offer the kinds of literary pleasure found in books.

“`Wolfe had an unsuccessful pitching tryout with the New York Giants before heading to Yale University, where he earned his Ph.D. in American studies. In 1957, Tom joined the Springfield paper and instantly fell in love with journalism. Two years later, he went to The Washington Post, where he earned Washington Newspaper Guild awards in 1960 for his coverage of United States-Cuban affairs, and his account of that year’s Senate Civil Rights filibuster. He eventually worked with Jimmy Breslin at the now-defunct New York Herald Tribune.

“`Wolfe traveled during the 1960s with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters for his book on the psychedelic culture, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. He mingled happily with hippies and published in Rolling Stone;  but, was a supporter of Ronald Reagan. Tom’s legacy was tangible to countless newspaper and magazine writers. However, he had many detractors — including fellow writers, Norman Mailer and John Updike, and critic James Wood. Eventually, Wolfe would define the Me-generation of the 1980s as a response to his adversaries.

“`Wolfe enjoyed the highest commercial and critical rewards.  His literary honors included the American Book Award (now called the National Book Award) for The Right Stuff; and a nomination for the National Book Critics Circle prize for The Bonfire of the Vanities, one of the Top 10 selling books of the 1980s. But, the cinematic version that starred Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis was disastrous.

“`A hyperbolic upstart, with his words jumping off each page, Tom Wolfe was 88.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Margot Kidder was a fiery actress, who starred as Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve in the Superman movie franchise of the 1970s and 1980s. Both remained known almost entirely for their respective roles, struggling to find other opportunities. She and Reeve were considered unknowns when they got their leading parts in the first of four films in 1978, which also starred Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando. The flick, directed by Richard Donner, was a superhero blockbuster two decades before comic book movies became the norm at the box office. It is the inspiration for creators of today’s Marvel and D.C. films.

“`Born in Canada, Kidder was inspired to act while in a Broadway audience enjoying Bye Bye Birdie. Her interest led to television work on Canadian television. During a 1970 interview on The Dick Cavett Show, Margot expressed her ambivalence toward having a film career, and was considering working as a film editor in the future. Hollywood became interested.

“`Movie roles include The Great Waldo Pepper, The Reincarnation of Peter Proud, and 92 in the Shade. After success in Superman, she starred in The Amityville Horror and a cinematic version of Maverick. On television, Kidder appeared in Baretta, The Mod Squad, Banacek, Barnaby Jones, and Murder She Wrote.

“`Kidder dated former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, directors Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg, and comedian Richard Pryor. She was briefly married to actor John Heard. Margot always maintained her friendship with Reeve.

“`Kidder spent the last decade of her life residing in Montana. She also suffered from bipolar disorder, struggling with it for most of her life. After recovering, she became an advocate for mental health awareness. Kidder engaged in political activism with regards to environmental issues, and actively protested against United States military action in Iraq.

“`Margot Kidder (above) was 69.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`To commemorate Saving Private Ryan’s 20th anniversary, The National WWII Museum Institute for the Study of War and Democracy will hold an event retrospective with D-Day scholars, cinematic historians, and production insiders. This all-day symposium takes place on June 7th.

TOM SIZEMORE      TOM HANKS

“`Panel sessions will include conversations about the historical foundation and accuracy of the movie, a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the flick, how D-Day has been portrayed in other films since the war (including The Longest Day), and lasting legacy of Saving Private Ryan beyond its awards and box-office receipts.

“`In 1998, theater audiences collectively experienced the closest thing to the horrors faced on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasions on June 6, 1944. In its opening 30 minutes, Saving Private Ryan brought to life the terror of this campaign, as ramps of countless Higgins boats dropped to launch what proved to be the most important battle of the 20th century, fought by what Tom Brokaw calls our Greatest Generation.

“`The National WWII Museum is located at the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Oscar-winning film editor Anne V. Coates is considered one of the greatest in her field, whose credits include such works as Lawrence of Arabia, The Elephant Man, and Fifty Shades of Grey. Coates edited dozens of movies during a 60-year career, and savored her collaborations with Clint Eastwood, David Lean, and Steven Soderbergh, among others. Her assignments would include historical epics, art-house favorites, and light comedy.

“`Born in Reigate, England, Coates first became a fan of film after a high school field trip to view an adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights that starred Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. While she found the book extremely boring, the film was a thrill. The niece of British film mogul J. Arthur Rank, Coates tried to break into the industry as a director in the 1950s , but soon turned to editing, a line of work much more open for women. Anne quickly learned her craft in assisting Reginald Mills on projects as Michael Powell’s The Red Shoes. For a time, she worked at Pinewood Studios.

“`Coates won a competitive Oscar for 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia, and nominated four other times, for  Becket, The Elephant Man, In the Line of Fire, and Out of Sight. She was also BAFTA-nominated four times. Other movies Coates worked on include Murder on the Orient Express, Ragtime, Chaplin, and  Erin Brockovich. In 2016, Coates was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“`Coates has been compared to iconic women editors:  Dorothy Spencer, Margaret Booth, and Verna Fields. Perhaps her most famous edit is the match cut from Lawrence of Arabia, which juxtaposes a shot of T. E. Lawrence (played by Peter O’Toole) blowing out a match with one of the sun rising on the desert horizon.  It is a scene that reportedly inspired Steven Spielberg to make films. That is quite a claim.

“`Anne V. Coates (above) was 92.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`John Travolta, is expected to attend the Cannes Film Festival. He will receive its inaugural Cinema Icon Award at this month’s festival in France. Travolta will receive the accolade on May 15th, following the premiere at Cannes of his new film, Gotti.

“`Travolta received an Oscar nomination for his star-making turn in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever, and another for 1994’s Pulp Fiction. Grease, released in 1978 and starring Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, was among the biggest movie musical hits ever. His career began in television, co-starring in Welcome Back Kotter.

JOHN TRAVOLTA                                     JOHNNY CASH

“`The Man in Black’s boyhood house has just been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program announced the residence in Dyess where country music icon Johnny Cash lived from age 3 through high school has been added to the register. Dyess is a small Arkansas town close to the Tennessee border.

“`The five-room farmhouse was built in 1934, as part of the Dyess Resettlement Colony by  Federal Emergency Relief Administration. The Arkansas Democrat – Gazette newspaper reports the house is owned by Arkansas State University, which spent $575,000 to buy, restore, furnish, and landscape the property.

“`Cash died in 2003 at age 71 after an incredibly successful musical career. Among his many hit songs were I Walk the Line and Ring of Fire.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`The first-ever Virtual Reality 360° interactive Doodle, created in collaboration with Google Spotlight Stories,  Google Arts and Culture, and  Cinémathèque Française, honors Georges Méliès, the trailblazing French illusionist and movie director, on the release date of one of his iconic masterpieces:  À la conquête du pôle. Méliès pioneered numbers of technical and numerous film techniques in the early days of cinema, primarily in the use of special effects, and creation of the earliest films of the science fiction genre.

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“`Georges Méliès transformed the world of cinema over a century ago. He brought his magic to film through dozens of tricks and illusions. In addition to being a magician, Méliès was an expert storyteller. He saw cameras as more than just a tool to capture forms. Georges imagined them as vehicles to transport and truly immerse people into a tale.

“`An amazingly agile actor and remarkable mime, Méliès also appeared in almost all of his works. He also proved to be a visionary of what was to come; like Jules Verne was to literature.

“`We can thank the pioneering mind of Georges Méliès (right) for the cinematographic wonder and special effects we see today.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Universal Pictures and  The Film Foundation has announced a multi-year partnership to restore a couple of handpicked selections of classic productions, with Oscar-winning directors Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg lending a hand. Universal will fund the restorations, as well as provide research and technical services. Through The Film Foundation, Scorsese and Spielberg will be personally involved in the process, contributing their unique artistic expertise and historical knowledge throughout the restoration process.

MARTIN SCORSESE   STEVEN SPIELBERG

“`The Film Foundation was established in 1990 to protect and preserve celluloid history. By working in partnership with archives and film studios,  this nonprofit foundation has helped to restore more than 800 movies, which are made accessible to the public through programming at festivals, museums and educational institutions around the world.

“`The 2018 restoration slate will include Destry Rides Again, Winchester ’73, My Little Chickadee, and both cinematic versions of Hemingway’s The Killers, with additional titles announced in the coming months.

“`A collaborative partnership marks an added step in Universal’s film restoration initiative announced during the studio’s centennial in 2012.  Over 70 works have been fully restored, including All Quiet on the Western Front, Dracula, Double Indemnity, Frankenstein, Touch of Evil, Schindler’s List, Jaws, Out of Africa, High Plains Drifter, Pillow Talk, Bride of Frankenstein, To Kill a Mockingbird, Spartacus, Duck Soup, The Sting, The Birds, and Holiday Inn.

“`In 2015, Universal launched a silent film initiative. The company has so far restored 15 titles, including Outside the Law, Sensation Seekers, and The Man Who Laughs.

“`The restored versions will be screened at film festivals and archives around the world.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`I am thrilled by my recent nomination at Fullerton College as a 2018 Teacher of the Year nominee. According to the chair of the event, I was the only Adjunct Faculty (out of twelve full-time educators) receiving this annual honor distinction. A part-time professors rarely merits this kind of acknowledgment. So, this is indeed a special moment in my teaching career.

“`I currently teach in Advanced Radio Programming with our students completing the program being awarded certification towards a Broadcast Radio curriculum. Many eventually work professionally in the Broadcast industry.

“`The distinct honor is to witness our students move to a real-world career in the field.

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“`Magazine designer Art Paul was the creator of Playboy’s famous tuxedoed bunny head logo. He was a freelance illustrator when he started working with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner as the magazine’s first employee in the 1950s. Paul crafted the bunny logo in about an hour. Paul also hired artists to create illustrations for  Playboy, including Salvador Dali, Shel Silverstein, and Andy Warhol.

“`Art Paul was 93.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Michael Anderson was the British director who was behind  Around the World in 80 Days, and Logan’s Run. His movie career spanned over 60 years, and he would go on to make dozens of films.

“`Born in London in 1920 to a theatrical family, His great-aunt was silent film and stage actress, Mary Anderson.  He joined the British Army’s Royal Signal Corps, where he met actor Peter Ustinov. They collaborated in cinema after the war.     MICHAEL ANDERSON –>

“`Anderson became well known for his production of The Dam Busters. This real-life story of the invention of the bouncing bomb, they were designed to destroy German dams, and cripple the nation’s industry,  was the most successful British Film of the Year when released in 1955. Next month, it will screen at an event at the  Royal Albert Hall to mark the 75th anniversary of the  Royal Air Force operation. The movie was actually referenced in Star Wars:  A New Hope.

“`Anderson made a series of films set during wartime, including  The Yangtse Incident and  Operation Crossbow. He created the first cinematic adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, in 1956.

“`The same year, his adaptation of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days made with producer Michael Todd, and starring David Niven among an all-star cast, became a spectacle wowing filmgoers, and garnered five of eight Academy Awards. A production on a dynamic scale for the time, it broke records for the most camera set ups, sets, and costumes, as well as for the most people filmed in global locations (140 folks in 13 different countries) and for the largest distance traveled during production. The cast and extras totaled 68,894 persons, and 7,959 animals.

“`In 1976, he released Logan’s Run, a visionary science fiction work, starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, set in a futuristic society. It made $25 million at the box office, plus was credited with turning around the fortunes of MGM,  which was in financial difficulties at the time. His son also appeared in the movie.

“`Over the years, Anderson directed a number of stars, including Alec Guinness, Laurence Olivier, and Gary Cooper in The Wreck of the Mary Deare, and his last film, The Naked Edge. In 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of Canada. He was the oldest living person to receive a Best Director Oscar.

“`Michael Anderson was 98.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Kristin Nelson was a painter, actress, and author. She was married to actor and singer Rick Nelson. Her siblings were Kelly and Mark Harmon, and her parents were football star Tom Harmon and Elyse Knox. Kristin had a recurring roll on Adam-12.   RICK AND KRISTIN NELSON —>

“`She joined the cast of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In April 1980, the couple bought Errol Flynn’s 1941 Mulholland Drive estate. Their extravagant lifestyle forced her husband to tour for long periods,  causing great pressure on the marriage. A long-fought divorce was finally granted before Rick Nelson’s death in an air-crash in 1985.

“`In 1988, she wed television producer Mark Tinker, who encouraged her to paint. Her brightly colored primitives were a favorite with Jacqueline Kennedy, Tyne Daly, Mia Farrow, and Dwight Yoakam, and they formed the outline of her coffee-table autobiography, Out of My Mind. Her work, which is widely acclaimed, was in the primitive genre, and has been likened to Grandma Moses.

“`Kristin Harmon was 72.

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“`2018 TCM Classic Film Festival… Day Two!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`What a great afternoon I had at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival. Mel Brooks was there for the 50th anniversary screening of  The Producers. Martin Scorsese received the inaugural Robert Osborne Award for his work in film preservation, presented by Leonardo DiCaprio.

“`And, there were plenty of classic movies to watch. I chose to be in the audience for Howard Hawk’s production, To Have and Have Not at the historic Egyptian Theatre (the site of the first Hollywood premiere in 1922).

“`My photographs include a visit to a mockup of the TCM set; my good friend, Maureen from Cinecon, who got to meet host, Ben Mankiewicz; treasured time with fans of classic cinema, Lydia and Delfina from San Bernardino, in front of Gloria Swanson and the Creature From the Black Lagoon (I am the one in the hat, the Creature has gills); plus, Bogart and Bacall on the big screen.

“`For sheer enjoyment, nothing matches a day off at the TCM Classic Film Festival!!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival is finally back in Tinsel Town. Dozens of iconic motion pictures from Hollywood’s Golden Age; A-List Stars; and hundreds of movie fans from all over the nation will be in attendance, making this the go-to event of the season.

“`I plan on spending Thursday at the Fest. My plan is to visit the Egyptian Theatre to watch Humphrey Bogart fall in love with Lauren Bacall on the big screen in To Have and Have Not. Co-star Walter Brennan is featured in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. I also plan on stopping by the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel poolside area to see this infestation of large angry ants in Them!. Our genial host for the latter screening is Dennis Miller.

“`And, that is just the opening evening. For the complete schedule, visit the TCM website.

Until next time>                               “never forget”