“Forgotten Hollywood”- Lights Camera ACTION…

January 31st, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`I join Art Kirsch and John Coleman to discuss the concept of adventure and action films, including swashbucklers, war movies, and today’s series of films that feature Matt Damon, Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, and others. Let us keep on Celebrating Act 2!

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Sounding Off For Cicely…

January 28th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Cicely Tyson was a respected actress  whose career spanned seven decades. She is appropriately remembered for her portrayal of strong African-American women and best known for her iconic performances in Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

“`Tyson was discovered by a photographer for Ebony Magazine and she became a popular fashion model. Her first acting role was on the NBC series Frontiers of Faith in 1951. She became the first African American to star in a television drama when appearing in the series, East Side/West Side. Cicely also had a role in the soap opera The Guiding Light.

“`Her variety of parts were vast. In movies, Tyson co-starred in The Last Angry Man, The Comedians,  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, The River Niger, Fried Green Tomatoes, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and The Help. She excelled in television films appearing in Roots, KingA Woman Called Moses, The Marva Collins Story, and The Rosa Parks Story. Cicely also guest-starred in Naked City, I Spy, The F. B. I., Medical Center, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Gunsmoke, Mission:  Impossible, House of Cards, and Madam Secretary.

“`Tyson was the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, one Tony Award, an honorary Academy Award in 2018, and a Peabody Award. She was honored by the Kennedy Center and additionally earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Cicely was also inducted in the American Theatre and Television Academy Halls of Fame.

“`The exquisite Cicely Tyson was ninety-six.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Ovaltine?…

January 27th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Cloris Leachman was an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in The Last Picture Show, a comedic force in Mel Brooks productions, and a signature character on MTM television programs. Her work on the small screen earned her a sitcom, Phyllis. She would garner more Emmy nominations and tied Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most  Emmy triumphs by an actress.

“`A character actor of extraordinary range, Leachman defied typecasting. Although she started out as Miss Chicago in the Miss America Pageant, Cloris willingly accepted unglamorous screen roles.  In her early television career, she appeared as Timmy’s mother on the Lassie series.  She was a call girl in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Frau Blücher in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, with the very mention of her name drawing equine whinnies.  CLORIS LEACHMAN –>

“`She secured a scholarship to study under Elia Kazan at the Actors Studio in New York City, making her professional debut in 1948.  In addition to the above memorable roles, Leachman also co-starred in  Lovers and Other Strangers, Daisy Miller, Crazy Mama, The Muppet Movie, and in two Mel Brooks’ classics: High Anxiety and History of the World Part 1. On television, she guest-starred on Alfred Hitchcock Presents,  77 Sunset Strip, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Route 66The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, That GirlPerry Mason, Adam-12, Mannix, The Big Valley, The Love Boat, and The Nanny.

“`Leachman was a close friend of Marlon Brando, she was a neighbor for a time of Judy Garland, and her former mother-in-law was actress Mabel Albertson. In 2017, she received PETA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to animal-rights issues.

“`By the way, my reference to  Ovaltine as the title of this blog relates to maybe the funniest line Frau Blücher (right) ever uttered. It was during a scene with Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein.

“`The incredibly talented Cloris Leachman was ninety-four.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Celebrating Film Noir…

January 26th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Film noir is back! Or, did it ever really vanish in popularity. On Celebrating Act 2, Art Kirsch, John Coleman, and I discuss the facets of the genre that keeps up coming back for more.

“`Someone cue Dan Duryea and Edmond O’Brien. Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- To Sidney With Love…

January 25th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`The Southwest is now the site of a career milestone for a legendary actor and filmmaker — Arizona State University has named its new film school: The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, which was unveiled at a virtual ceremony.  In 1963, Poitier made a movie in Arizona, Lilies of the Field. His fine performance led to a major milestone. He became the first Black winner of a lead-actor Oscar.

“`The university, which is expanding its existing film program into its own school, says it has invested millions of dollars in technology to develop what is intended to be one of the largest, most accessible and most diverse film schools. The ASU film production programs now enroll seven hundred students,  but that number is expected to double over three to five years. By expanding both its physical resources and flexible learning options like online study, it hopes to enroll thousands more students, teaching skills that go beyond traditional moviemaking.

“`The decision to name the school after Poitier is about much more than his achievements and legacy. Per the actor’s wishes, their cinema school will measure success not by exclusivity, but by their inclusivity. They will move in Fall of 2022 to a new facility in downtown Mesa, Arizona, seven miles from the university’s Tempe Campus. They will also occupy the university’s newest center in Los Angeles.

“`The school naming was revealed during a celebration video, featuring remarks by people in the ASU community, film industry icons and three of Poitier’s six daughters. Appearing with a congratulatory message at the virtual unveiling was Poitier’s longtime friend, Harry Belafonte, who called Poitier a dear human being and a wonderful American citizen.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Once in a Generation…

January 24th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Longtime NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw has announced his retirement from television. For two decades, the triumvirate of Brokaw, ABC’s Peter Jennings and CBS’ Dan Rather were the nation’s most visible broadcasters, anchoring major stories such as the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the disputed 2000 election, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 

                                  TOM BROKAW   DAN RATHER   PETER JENNINGS

“`For fifty-seven years, he reported for affiliates of NBC News, beginning as a reporter in Los Angeles in the 1960s, covering the White House during the Richard Nixon administration, as a host of the Today show in the late 1970s, and spending twenty years as Nightly News anchor. Tom ascended to the national news anchor chair  after the legendary John Chancellor stepped down. Brian Williams took over when Brokaw left his post.

“`Brokaw ended up concentrating on historic programming and commentary during moments like elections.  Tom also penned literary works, including The Greatest Generation, which was about those who fought during World War II. He will continuing writing books and articles.

“`On a personal note, I met Brokaw in 1974 when I was a student at Van Nuys High School. He was on campus covering a story for KNBC. I found him to be a dedicated news reporter.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- You’re On With Larry King…

January 23rd, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Larry King was a longtime nationally syndicated radio host; from 1985 through 2010 he was a nightly fixture on CNN.  The suspenders-sporting everyman broadcast interviews with world leaders, Hollywood actors, and ordinary Joes and helped define the American conversation for a half-century.

“`A fan of such radio stars as Arthur Godfrey and comedians Bob and Ray, King set his sights on a broadcasting career.  He headed to Miami in 1957 and landed a job sweeping floors at a tiny AM station. When a deejay abruptly quit, King was put on the air. By the early 1960s, he went to a larger Miami station, scored a newspaper column, and became a local celebrity. He  was signed in 1978 to host radio’s first nationwide call-in show.

“`On the Mutual NetworkThe Larry King Show was eventually heard on over three hundred stations and it made him a national phenomenon. A few years later, CNN founder Ted Turner offered King a slot on his fledgling network. Larry King Live debuted on June 1, 1985, and it became CNN’s highest-rated program.  It was based in Washington, which gave the show an air of gravitas. He welcomed everyone from the Dalai Lama to Elizabeth Taylor, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama, Bill Gates to Lady Gaga. And he was known for getting guests who were notoriously elusive such as Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando.  He won a slew of honors, including two Peabody awards.

“`After a gala week celebrating his twenty-fifth anniversary in June, 2010,  King abruptly announced he was retiring from his show. Always a workaholic, King would be back doing specials for CNN within a few months.  He found a new sort of celebrity as a plainspoken natural on Twitter  when the platform emerged, garnering over two million followers who enjoyed his esoteric style. He continued to work into his late 80s appearing on online talk shows and infomercials as his appearances on CNN grew fewer.

“`The ubiquitous Larry King (above right) was eighty-seven.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Hammerin’ Hank…

January 22nd, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`With last week’s passing of former Los Angeles Dodger Don Sutton, we have lost another legend of Major League Baseball. Hank Aaron played for the Milwaukee Braves and stayed with the team when they moved to Atlanta. He shattered Babe Ruth’s Home Run record. Aaron was never bitter on the hardship that he faced; from the poverty and segregation of his Alabama youth, to the racism he experienced while chasing baseball’s most hallowed record.              HANK AARON –>

“`Henry Louis Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama and heads a long list of outstanding players who came from that Gulf Coast city — Satchel Paige, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, and Ozzie Smith. Aaron was spotted by the Braves while trying out for the Indianapolis Clowns, a Negro Leagues team. He became National League MVP in 1957, when the Braves beat the New York Yankees in seven games to give Aaron the only World Series title of his career. It also was his lone MVP award.

“`Before a sellout crowd at Atlanta Stadium, and nationwide television audience, Aaron broke Ruth’s home run record with No. 715 off Al Downing of the Dodgers. Vin Scully was one of the announcers that called the historic game.  Aaron’s career total was surpassed by Barry Bonds in 2007. His journey to Ruth’s mark was hardly pleasant. He was the target of extensive hate mail as he closed in on the record. Aaron was shadowed constantly by bodyguards and forced to distance himself from teammates.

 

“`Let us not forget about his lifetime .300 average, or the graceful way he fielded his position, or the speed he showed on the base paths. He finished his career back in Milwaukee, traded to the Brewers after the 1974 season, when he refused to take a front-office job that would have required a big pay cut.

“`After retiring in 1976, Aaron became a revered figure, even though he never pursued the spotlight. He would spend a couple of decades as part of the Atlanta Braves front office. He was elected to Cooperstown in 1982, his first year of eligibility, and just nine votes short of being the first unanimous choice ever to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“`George W. Bush, a one-time owner of the Texas Rangers, presented Aaron in 2002 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor. Just two weeks before his passing, Aaron joined civil rights icons to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. He wanted to spread the word to the Black community that shots were safe in the midst of a devastating pandemic.

“`He was not hesitant about speaking out on issues of the day, whether bemoaning the lack of Blacks in management positions in Major League Baseball,  or lobbying against the addition of Pete Rose in Cooperstown,  or calling for those involved in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal to be tossed from the game for good.

“`Hank Aaron was eighty-six.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Cup of Joe…

January 19th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`In honor of tomorrow’s inauguration of our next president, Turner Classic Movies will be running a slew of movies with Joe in the title. They will begin this tribute at 6a (EST).

“`The lineup begins with Ode to Billy Joe. Other highlights include The Story of G. I. Joe, A Guy Named Joe, Pal Joey, and Mighty Joe Young. One omission…  I wish they would have included the Humphrey Bogart classic, Tokyo Joe.

     

“`Check your cable provider for TCM’s lineup for January 20th. Cinematically, it is a great way to start a new administration!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Wall of Sound…

January 17th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Phil Spector should be remembered as one of the best music producers in pop music history. Unfortunately, he will also be known as a convicted felon for murder and he died as an inmate in prison.

“`Spector attended Fairfax High, located in a Jewish neighborhood on the edge of Hollywood. For decades, the school has been the source of future musical talent.  He was reserved, but his abilities were obvious. Spector had perfect pitch and learned to play several instruments.  He performed in talent shows and formed a group called The Teddy Bears with his pals.  They recorded a tune written and produced by Phil that would become a pop classic. To Know Him is to Love Him was inspired from the inscription on his father’s tombstone.     PHIL SPECTOR –>

“`He began working with composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Ultimately, he found a niche in producing. Spector also co-wrote the hit song Spanish Harlem with Ben E. King, and played lead guitar on The Drifters’ On Broadway.

“`He had his own production company Philles Records with partner Lester Silles, where he developed his signature Wall of Sound. He assembled respected studio musicians:  Arranger Jack Nitzsche, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, pianist Leon Russell, and drummer Hal Blaine.  Phil provided early breaks to Glen Campbell, Sonny Bono, and Cher.

 

“`The Wall of Sound merged vocal harmonies with lavish orchestral arrangements. Spector produced such pop monuments as Da Doo Ron Ron, Be My Baby, and He’s a Rebel. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling became his biggest hit.  The secret to the sound…  An overdubbed onslaught of instruments, vocals and sound effects that changed the way pop records were recorded.  When River Deep-Mountain High, a 1966 release featuring Tina Turner, failed to catch on, Phil shut down his record label and withdrew from the business for three years.

“`In 1969, Spector salvaged The Beatles’ Let It Be album,  the troubled production marked by dissension within the band.  Although John Lennon praised his efforts, partner Paul McCartney was enraged, especially when Spector added strings and a choir to McCartney’s The Long and Winding Road.  Years later, McCartney would oversee a remixed Let it Be, removing Spector’s contributions. By the mid-1970s, Spector had largely retreated from the music business.

“`The fullness of Spector’s productions reflected a dark side he could barely contain even at his peak. He was temperamental, remembered bitterly by Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector (his former wife),  and others collaborating with him.  After The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, Spector sent his congratulations.  But in an acceptance speech by his ex-wife, she never mentioned him while thanking numerous other people.

“`Spector was convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson in 2003 at his castle-like mansion on the edge of Los Angeles. After a trial in 2009, he was sentenced to nineteen years to life. 

“`Phil Spector was eighty-one.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Familiar Names in the News…

January 14th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`We have lost two familiar people tied to the entertainment industry this week.

~ Siegfried Fischbacher – He was the surviving member of the duo Siegfried and Roy.  Roy Horn and Fischbacher met on a cruise ship in 1957. Fischbacher performed the magic tricks while Horn became his assistant. They started using a cheetah in their act. They honed their animal-magic show in small clubs in Germany and Switzerland in the mid-1960s.

“`Their break came in a Monte Carlo casino when an agent in the audience invited them to Las Vegas. The pair made their debut at the Tropicana hotel-casino in the late 1960s. When they signed a lifetime contract with the Mirage Hotel in 2001,  it is estimated they had performed five thousand shows at the casino for ten million fans since 1990, and had grossed more than one billion dollars.

“`The pair gained international recognition for helping to save rare white tigers and white lions from extinction. Their ten million dollar compound was home to dozens of rare felines over the years. The housing of white lions and tigers were a result of a preservation program beginning in the 1980s.

“`Siegfried Fischbacher (above right) was eighty-one.

~ ~ ~

~ Joanne Rogers –  She was an accomplished concert pianist who celebrated and protected the legacy of her husband, the beloved children’s television host Mister Rogers.  Joanne was considered one of Pittsburgh’s greatest neighbors. After her husband’s death,  she helped develop the Fred Rogers Center Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at  St Vincent College, located in his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

“`Joanne Rogers (above right) was ninety-two.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- That Was the Year That Was…

January 10th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Art Kirsch and John Coleman have asked me to unveil and analyze the finest year of cinema on Celebrating Act 2. I heartily comply…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Bleeding Dodger Blue…

January 8th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Tommy Lasorda was the Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles, and later,  he became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his seventy-one years with the franchise. He worked as a player, scout, manager and front office executive with the Dodgers dating to their roots in Brooklyn.

“`His pro career began when he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1945. Tom missed the 1946 and 1947 seasons while serving in the Army. He made his major league debut on August 5, 1954 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Though he did not play in the 1955 World Series, he won a ring as a team member.

“`Lasorda stayed on with the  Dodgers as a scout after his release in 1960. This was the beginning of a steady climb through the Dodgers system and it culminated in a 1973 promotion to the big-league staff under longtime Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston.

“`Tommy became manager of the team after Alston retired in 1976. Lasorda was known for his enthusiasm. He would jump around and pump his arms in the air after team victories, embracing players in the dugout after home runs or other fine plays.

“`He discovered many players he managed in the minors, such as Steve Garvey, Bobby Valentine, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey, Bill Russell, and Bill Buckner. Lasorda managed nine National League Rookie of the Year winners, including Fernando Valenzuela, Steve Sax, Steve Howe, Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, and Hideo Nomo.

“`Lasorda had a longtime friendship with Frank Sinatra and other Hollywood stars. He crooned the national anthem on opening day of the 1977 season to ordain Lasorda’s debut as manager. The paneled walls of his office were lined with black-and-white autographed photos of his celebrity friends, the framed glass stained by pasta sauce from food served in large foil trays after games.

“`In 1998,  Lasorda became interim general manager after Fred Claire was fired in the middle of the season. Tommy resigned after the season and was then appointed senior vice president. After the team was sold in 2004 to Frank McCourt, he became special adviser to the chairman.

“`Lasorda attended the Dodgers’ Game Six victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on October 27th in Texas that clinched the team’s first World Series title since 1988. This was the last game he would ever attend.

“`The fiery Tommy Lasorda was ninety-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Celebrate the Binge…

January 6th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`What is becoming a tradition, you can bring in the New Year by binge-watching your favorite film or television series.  I join Art Kirsch and John Coleman on Celebrating Act 2 for this lively discussion…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Goodbye to Tanya…

January 5th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Tanya Roberts was an actress and producer. She is best remembered as a Bond girl and one of Charlie’s Angels. She began her career as a model in television ads for Excedrin, Ultra Brite, Clairol, and Cool Ray sunglasses.

“`After hitchhiking across the country, Tanya ended up in New York. She studied at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen and also worked as an Arthur Murray dance instructor.     TANYA ROBERTS —>

“`Her big break came when she replaced Shelley Hack during the fifth season of  Charlie’s Angels. Despite plenty of press, including appearing on the cover of People magazine, the show was cancelled the next season.  Roberts was featured in a nude pictorial in Playboy, gracing the October, 1982 cover.

“`She played Velda, the secretary to private detective Mike Hammer, in the television movie Murder Me Murder You. The two-part pilot initiated a syndicated series Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer. She declined to continue the role in the Mike Hammer series to work on her next project, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle. The movie was unfortunately a box office and critical disaster. Tanya secured her career legacy as a Bond girl in A View To a Kill.

“`For several seasons, she was a regular on That ’70s Show. She retired from the program when her screenwriter husband, Barry Roberts, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Tanya guest-starred on Vega$, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island.

“`Tanya Roberts was sixty-five.

Until next time>                               “never forget”