“Forgotten Hollywood”- Thank You For Being a Friend…

December 31st, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Betty White was a pioneer of early television, with a career spanning eight decades. She was among the first women to exert control in front and behind the camera and the first woman to produce a sitcom, which she did in 1955s Life with Elizabeth. She is best known for her trio of performances on television; Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls, and Elka Ostrovsky in Hot in Cleveland. She memorably tackled substantive issues, such as the HIV crises, on episodes of The Golden Girls.               BETTY WHITE —>

“`Inspired by her idols Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, she decided to pursue a career as an actress. White started her entertainment career in radio in the late 1930s and by 1939 had made her small screen debut crooning on an experimental channel in Los Angeles. After serving with the American Women’s Voluntary Service, which helped the Allied effort during World War II, she was a regular on Hollywood on Television, a daily five-hour live variety show, in 1949.

          BETTY WHITE

“`White became a celebrity panelist on several game shows, including Match Game, To Tell the Truth, Tattletales, The Hollywood Squares and The $25,000 Pyramid. She married Password host Allen Ludden in 1963. For almost two decades, she co-hosted coverage of the Tournament of Roses ParadeNBC offered White a chance to co-anchor for the Today show. She turned it down and the work eventually went to Barbara Walters.  White spent ten-years as the hostess of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for CBS.

“`After wonderful success on The Mary Tyler Moore Show,  White guest-starred on  The Bold and the Beautiful, Boston Legal, The Carol Burnett Show and Saturday Night Live. A recurring role on Mama’s Family followed, along with future Golden Girls co-star Rue McClanahan. White reprised her Rose Nylund character in guest roles on the NBC shows, Empty Nest and Nurses, both set in Miami. On an episode of  The John Larroquette Show, she was reunited with Estelle Getty and McClanahan  (right with Bea Arthur). She also had recurring roles in The Bold and the Beautiful and Boston Legal.

“`Over the years, she claimed Lucille Ball, Liberace, Mary Tyler Moore, Grant Tinker and John Steinbeck as personal friends. However, the four-legged furry types were her favorite. White was a pet enthusiast and animal welfare advocate, who worked with organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, The Morris Animal Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, and Actors and Others for Animals. Her interest in animal welfare began in the early 1970s.

  

“`White worked longer in television than anyone else, earning her a Guinness World Record in 2018. She received eight Emmy Awards, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards,and a Grammy Award. She earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and was a 1985 Television Hall of Fame inductee. The Associated Press selected her Entertainer of the Year in 2010. A 2011 Reuters/Ipsos poll named her as the most popular and trusted celebrity in America with an 86% favorability rating.

“`Before White’s passing, it was announced that her milestone birthday would be celebrated on January 17, 2022 at American theatres with a screening of a new documentary-style movie celebrating White’s life and career titled… Betty White: 100 Years Young – A Birthday Celebration. People magazine features her as the cover story in the January 2022 newsstand publication to celebrate the anticipated milestone and it was released days before her death.

“`The eubillient Betty White was seventeen days shy of her 100th birthday. The password is GOLDEN. Let us draw the curtain on 2021…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- What’s In a Name…

December 27th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Crazy colorful monickers are featured in memorable films. Art Kirsch and John Coleman make me take a quiz by handing me a character name and I have to guess the film! All on Celebrating Act 2.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Christmas at Collinsport…

December 19th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`The living members of Dark Shadows performed their version of A Christmas Carol on Zoom. By all accounts, it was a huge success! David Selby shined as Mr. Scrooge. It is now available to watch on YouTube.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- LOC National Film Registry 2021…

December 16th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`It is that time of the year again! The 2021 selections of the Library of Congress National Film Registry have just been announced. Entrants including three silent film and a number of modern fantasy, science fiction, and horror productions, including  Star Wars Episode VI — Return of the Jedi, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, WALL•E, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Even the postmodern subversive exploitation comedy that was a midnight staple at art houses, Pink Flamingos, made the cut. How divine!

“`Let us look at the Hollywood Golden Age selections:

~ FLOWERS AND TREES (1932) – A pioneering animated experiment, Flowers and Trees was the first three-strip Technicolor feature shown to the public. The overwhelmingly positive response convinced Walt Disney to produce all future Silly Symphony shorts in color. It was a commercial and critical success, winning the initial Academy Award for  Best Cartoon Short Subject.

   

~ STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951) –  The final part by tormented actor Robert Walker, this riveting 1951 Hitchcock classic began the director’s string of iconic cinema that would continue over the subsequent twelve years with movies such as The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, and The Birds. This is one of the original identity-inspired mystery thrillers, in which natural human behavior is the driving force behind the true macabre rather than any supernatural elements. Hitch’s favorite device of an ordinary man caught in an ever-tightening web of fear was a common theme for lots of his productions. Farley Granger and Ruth Roman also star in this feature.

~ WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE (1962) – The effort to make this motion picture include the legendary public feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. Directed by Robert Aldrich, this 1962 horror dark comedy delves into the redundant worlds of fading stardom and the grotesque. The flick remains vivid and uncomfortably terrifying.  As in the finest Hitchcock movies, suspense, rather than actual mayhem, drives the piece.

   

~ SOUNDER (1972) – This effort received acclaim, with critics praising it as an alternative to the contemporaneous wave of black movies, most of which were considered of low quality and budget and exploitative. The film’s depiction of a loving sharecropper family in the deep South during the Great Depression was hailed as a banner accomplishment for black filmmakers and audiences.  Supporting parts were offered to local townsfolk and actors from regional theatre. Cicely Tyson cemented her status as a major star with her performance.

“`The Library of Congress National Film Registry annually inducts twenty-five movies that are considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. These films must be at least ten years old.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- …But Not Least…

December 15th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Art Kirsch and John Coleman pose an interesting question on Celebrating Act 2… What were the final films of legendary actors. It is an interesting examination.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Six Blocks Away…

December 8th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`I am thrilled to be returning to the Cypress Chamber of Commerce Monthly Breakfast to be held at the Marriott Residence Inn, literally six blocks from my home!

“`I will be sharing stories from my Forgotten Hollywood book series and offering autographed copies of my book, which make unique holiday gifts.

“`To aid the less fortunate during this time of year, Cypress Chamber has adopted Precious Life Shelter for pregnant homeless mothers. Suggested items listed below…

For Children:
Toys for boy and girl toddlers
Teethers
Plush toys for 3-6 / 6-9 months
boys and girls Infant toys, toy blocks, plush toys,
Wooden puzzles (larger pieces) for childcare
Rubber/plastic play balls for outdoor play

 

For Moms:
Pajamas sizes M, L, XL
Slippers sizes 8 and up
Lotions and/or body wash
Gloves for cold mornings
Bristle hair brushes and hair spray
Lip Gloss

“`Reservations are recommended to secure your spot for the monthly breakfasts. Cost for the breakfast event is $25. If you live in and around Cypress CA, stop by for a morning of fellowship.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- KNX 97.1 FM…

December 7th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`There has been a monumental shift in the Los Angeles radio landscape. As December 6th at 3p, KNX 1070 AM began simulcasting on the FM dial. The platform is now called: KNX News 97.1 FM.

“`For over a century, KNX has been a dependable source for information on your radio dial. The unique opportunity to reach more listeners and the fact that electric cars are now being sold without an AM signal available were factors into this company decision.  The corporate bosses of parent company, Audacy, are confident that all of the success enjoyed by the AM station will translate to its FM counterpart.

“`I am proud to be part of a new chapter in the iconic history of KNX!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Bond on Brand…

December 6th, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`It is about time that Celebrating Act 2 has a converstion on the James Bond series of films. Art Kirsch and John Coleman join in to chat about the Bond franchise.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Celebrating Scribes…

December 1st, 2021

Manny P. here…

“`Hollywood Heritage is hosting its 10th annual Afternoon with the Authors this Saturday, from 11a to 3p at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Avenue. This is my ninth visit to the event, and I am thrilled to have all three of my paperbacks in the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series to autograph.

   

“`Among the noted authors on hand… Leonard Maltin, William Wellman Jr., Cari Beauchamp, Mary Mallory, Rocky Lang, and Marc Wanamaker. Fourteen authors will be there with literary inventory that shall make great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.

“`This year, we are thrilled to have the press at the event. The producers of Celebrating Act 2 will be interviewing the scribes for their nationwide YouTube channel. Hosts Art Kirsch, John Coleman will be there for most of the day covering current and future Hollywood publications.

“`Also covering the day is Pat Pattison, host and executive producer of The Best Of California with Pat Pattison. He will also be profiling the authors for his popular YouTube channel. He is a former Disney executive, and now a longtime television broadcaster with a very successful program. Pat is a great supporter of Hollywood Heritage.

“`Consider this your personal invitation!

Until next time>                               “never forget”