“Forgotten Hollywood”- Dear Abby…

November 30th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Abby Dalton was an actress best known for her television roles, The Joey Bishop Show and Falcon Crest.  She was also a favorite of producer Roger Corman for his independent films.

“`Dalton was busy on the small screen and guest-starred in programs such as Have Gun Will Travel, Maverick, Barney Miller, Hotel, Murder She Wrote and The Rifleman. She earned an Emmy nomination when she co-starred with Jackie Cooper in Hennesey.  Interestingly, her character wed Hennesey on the final episode,  two days after she appeared on The Joey Bishop Show as the new bride to the title character (the only instance in television history that one actress was married twice in the same week on different programs). Dalton was a panelist on Match Game and appeared in the early years of Hollywood Squares.                ABBY DALTON –>

“`Her six years on Falcon Crest was special as she played the daughter of Jane Wyman and her future real-life son-in-law, Lorenzo Lamas.  Her daughter met Lamas while on the set of the prime time soap opera.

“`Abby Dalton was eighty-eight.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Pigskin Follies…

November 29th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`It is football season. I join Art Kirsch and John Coleman on Celebrating Act 2 as we discuss movies that featured the pigskin. Also, there are a number of actors that have come from the ranks of the NFL.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Loss Times Two…

November 23rd, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`I decided to catch Art Kirsch and John Coleman with a surprise topic during my latest visit on Celebrating Act 2. When we lose celebrity on the same day, it is twice the grief and twice the heartache. Here is the engaging conversation…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- It’s a Wonderful (Virtual) Fest…

November 20th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Many people have come together to create three days of special presentations and events as part of this year’s It’s a Wonderful Life Virtual Festival.  A full program and information on how to register (free admission) will be available on their website soon:

www.wonderfullifemuseum.com

“`On a personal note, you can pick up a copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History at the museum gift shop.  The paperback features chapters that capture personal stories of many of the original cast members in the 1946 production.

“`Plan now to spend the It’s a Wonderful Life weekend, virtually, in Seneca Falls . . . the real Bedford Falls.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Christmastime is Here…

November 18th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`After a deal made with PBS, the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Christmas specials will return to network television. Viewers can be thankful that their efforts made this seasonal tradition once again available for kids of all ages.

     

“`Last month, Apple TV+ became a brand new home to the beloved Peanuts holiday specials. Good grief! That sparked an outcry from viewers accustomed to annually tuning in on network television. Apple offered each special to stream for free for a handful of days, but that did not stop online petitions from gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures.

“`Today, Apple bowed to the backlash, announcing it had teamed up with PBS for ad-free broadcasts of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on November 22nd, and A Charlie Brown Christmas on December 13th.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Mad as Hell…

November 12th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`A team of media brokers are contemplating ways to find a way around a political decision that sinks their future legacy. Losing is too awful to contemplate. Drastic (dare I mention), unlawful decisions are reached to save their collective butts. No, I am not referring to strategy applied to alter a recently decisive election. I am analyzing a visionary screenplay that predicted current ways  we consume news and information. Network was released in 1976.

“`Paddy Chayefsky used his written words to draw lines in the sand about culture.  A scathing look at broadcasting predicted the rise of reality television, live audiences that can embolden questionable behavior in front of a camera and the creation of the partisan twenty-four-hour news cycle.

“`Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, Ned Beatty, and Robert Duvall were pitch-perfect as heathens to media ratings. As the narrative progresses, their decisions become more reprehensible as they develop programming featuring revolutionaries-as-stars, and an unbalanced mad as hell news anchor. An ultimate decision involves a live assassination on television during network sweeps. The moral compass of the film is played by the dependable William Holden.

“`Network is special for accuracy in its prediction that television is a sometimes reckless and even dangerous way to consume information. Plus, 1976 was a special year for movie making with productions, including All the Presidents Men, Bound for Glory, Taxi Driver, Carrie, Marathon Man, Silver Streak, The Shootist, and of course, Rocky. Adaptations of A Star is Born and King Kong were also released.

“`Satire remains a steadfast platform as a way to examine cracks to our democracy. Network is the reliable seed from films such as Citizen Kane, Ace in the Hole, A Face in the Crowd, among others. And this might be the finest of the bunch.  It also served to inspire the creation of My Favorite Year, Broadcast News, Quiz Show, and The Social Network.

“`Well, that is all I have. Now, I am prepared to travel to a press conference in Pennsylvania at the Four Seasons something-or-other.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Everybody Take Two…

November 10th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`If you missed my recent appearance on Everybody with Angela Williamson, a program that airs Wednesdays at 10:30p on KLCS (PBS). Here is a special opportunity to re-visit this fun interview. I am the second guest on the show.

“`Just click on the YouTube link and enjoy!!

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Salute To Our Veterans…

November 9th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Let us honor our veterans on Celebrating Act 2, hosted by Art Kirsch and John Coleman. This is a rundown of some the great celluloid that depicts the nature of war.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Alex Trebek for One Hundred…

November 8th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`The Answer is…

“`For thirty-six years, he was an elegant front man of Jeopardy!, replacing game-show icon, Art Fleming. His commitment was to make the contestant actual stars, leaving all schtick and jokes to other game show hosts. The format of Jeopardy! was created by the spouse of Merv Griffin in the early 1960s.

“`The budding star began his career at the Canadian Broadcasting Co., initially as a staff announcer and eventually becoming a radio and television reporter. He moved to the United States in 1973 and was hired to host  The Wizard of Odds, High Rollers, The $128,000 Question, and Double Dare. In the early 1990s, he simultaneously worked on Jeopardy!, To Tell the Truth and Classic Concentration. He earned seven Emmys along the way. In 2012, the show won a prestigious Peabody Award.

“`He became a hero to people across the nation fighting pancreatic cancer. His candor about his struggle became heroic in video diaries that vividly spoke about his final journey. Former contestants were quite vocal in his praises.

“`His final Jeopardy! program will air on Christmas. He was eighty.

“`The question is… WHO IS ALEX TREBEK?

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“`And now a word from our sponsors…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Malapropisms…

November 7th, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Norm Crosby was a comedian from the  Borscht Belt who often appeared on television in the 1970s. He was known for his use of malapropisms and often called The Master of Malaprop.

“`Crosby became a standup comedian, adopting a friendly, guy-next-door persona in the 1950s. He first appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in December 1964. In 1968, he co-starred on The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show, an NBC twelve-week series. From 1974-1984, Norm was on several Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, including programs celebrating George Burns and Redd Foxx.

“`Crosby became a commercial pitchman for Anheuser-Busch Natural Light beer. He also appeared as a celebrity guest on a number of game shows, such as Celebrity Bowling, Liar’s Club, Tattletales, and Hollywood Squares. From 1983 until the program’s disassociation with Jerry Lewis, Crosby contributed to the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.

“`Norm Crosby was ninety-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Hail to the Chief…

November 2nd, 2020

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2 offers a look at cinema that features folks who have occupied the White House. Art Kirsch and John Colman have asked me to suggest memorable performances by actors who portrayed real and fictional presidents.

“`Enjoy!  And do not forget to vote…

Until next time>                               “never forget”