Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`After plenty of soul-searching,  the widow of actor Hugh O’Brian  has decided to put many of his memorabilia items up for auction. Virginia O’Brian is offering personal artifacts for posterity, including the iconic Wyatt Earp outfit he wore on television, a holster, guns (including a famous Buntline), correspondence from Dwight D. Eisenhower,  cufflinks from Ronald Reagan, beautiful outfits designed by noted Western tailor, Nudie, and other specialties.      HUGH O’BRIAN–>

“`O’Brian had a fine career after being discovered by movie stars, Ruth Roman and Linda Christian,  and being cast in a film by storied director, Ida Lupino.  In cinema, O’Brian was memorable in Broken Lance, In Harm’s Way, Ten Little Indians and The Shootist  (John Wayne’s finale).  On the small screen, O’Brian starred for seven seasons in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. The initial “adult Western” on television, it stayed in the Top Ten for its entire run.

“`O’Brian also shined as a philanthropist when he founded the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership organization. His commitment began after he met Albert Schweitzer. He made a pilgrimage to the eighty-three-year-old savant’s settlement and hospital in central Africa. Upon returning, he formed HOBY, which was designed to:

Motivate and empower individuals to make a positive difference within our global society through understanding and action based on effective and compassionate leadership.

“`Each year, it brought together promising high school students at sites around the country for leadership seminars. He received numerous awards for his achievement.

“`On a personal note, Hugh and Virginia remained cherished friends. I met them at Republic Pictures 75th Anniversary celebration.  Later, by co-incidence, O’Brian’s memoirs were made into a literary work through the efforts of the Book Publishers Network, the same organization I used to create the Forgotten Hollywood book series. An interview I had with Hugh before he passed in 2016 will be aired in an upcoming episode of Manny Pacheco’s Forgotten Hollywood podcast.

“`Click on the link below to examine Hugh O’Brian’s one-of-a-kind memorabilia NOW available for auction through Heritage. They are treasured items and all part of Hollywood and television history!

https://entertainment.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=53+793+794+791+792+2088+4294938617+4294967003&type=friend-consignorlive-notice

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Singer-songwriter Irene Cara was a gifted talent,  who was best known for her singing the title tracks to Fame and Flashdance. She earned Grammy consideration for both tunes and won an Oscar for the latter composition. She actually co-starred in the former film. She also had a hit with Out Here On My Own, which was also included in the Fame soundtrack. Her publicist has written…

“`Cara trained in music, dance and acting and appeared on stage and on television, including appearances on The Electric Company on PBS and on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show in the 1970s. Cara has also worked as a backup vocalist for Vicki Sue Robinson, George Duke, Lou Reed, Oleta Adams and Evelyn “Champagne” King.

“`The eubillent Irene Cara was sixty-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum is the place to check out if you are up in Northern California.  I had a chance to catch up with David Kiehn, the curator of the museum and a film historian, while at Cinecon 58 and we had a lovely chat. The Celebrating Act 2 cameras caught the conversation.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Mickey Kuhn started his career as a child actor during Hollywood’s Golden Age. He appeared in some of the most iconic motion pictures until his retirement from cinema after his service in the military.  His face was most welcome in the flicks he made.    MICKEY KUHN –>

“`His initial fame came when he won the role auditioned for by over one hundred kid actors:  Beau Wilkes (the son of Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland’s characters Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton) in Gone with the Wind. Kuhn became the last living actor from this epic film after the passing of de Havilland.

“`His resume included roles in Juarez, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Red River, Dick Tracy, Broken Arrow,  and A Streetcar Named Desire (again paired with Vivien Leigh). He appeared with the top actors of the day such as Claude Rains, Bette Davis, Dick Powell, Irene Dunne, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Fredric March, Clark Gable, Barbara Stanwyck, Montgomery Clift, Kirk Douglas, James Stewart, and Marlon Brando. His final acting appearance was on Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

“`While in the Navy, Kuhn worked as an aircraft electrician. He left the film industry in 1956 and worked for American Airlines and Boston Airport in administrative positions until his retirement.

“`Mickey Kuhn was ninety.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`I had a chance to catch up with Jimmy Hunt at Cinecon 58, The Celebrating Act 2 cameras captured the moment. The child star from Invaders from Mars was on hand to receive the Legacy Award and it is a fitting tribute to honor Hunt for his career.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Robert Clary was the French actor, singer and Holocaust survivor. He was best known for playing Corporal LeBeau in the World War II sitcom Hogan’s Heroes. He also had recurring roles in the soap operas Days of Our Lives, and The Bold and the Beautiful.  ROBERT CLARY ->

“`Born in 1926, Clary was the youngest of fourteen children; ten would die in the Holocaust. At the age of twelve, he began a career singing on a French radio station and also studied art in Paris. In 1942, because he was Jewish,  he was deported to Buchenwald concentration camp. Clary was liberated on April 11, 1945.

“`After the war, Clary returned to entertainment. One of his first American appearances was a French-language comedy skit on The Ed Wynn Show in 1950. He later met Merv Griffin and Eddie Cantor.  This led to Clary meeting Cantor’s daughter, whom he married in 1955. Cantor later got Clary a spot on The Colgate Comedy Hour.

“`His film roles included Ten Tall Men, Thief of Damascus, A New Kind of Love, and The Hindenburg. On television, he guest-starred on The Gisele MacKenzie Show and Fantasy Island. He had a recurring role in The High Chaparral.

“`After Hogan’s Heroes was cancelled in 1971, Clary maintained his close ties to fellow cast members Werner Klemperer, John Banner, and Leon Askin,  whose lives were also affected by the Holocaust. Clary spent subsequent years touring and speaking about the Holocaust. In his memoirs, he wrote:

Sometimes I dream about those days. I wake up in a sweat terrified for fear I’m about to be sent away to a concentration camp, but I don’t hold a grudge because that’s a great waste of time. Yes, there’s something dark in the human soul. For the most part, human beings are not very nice. That’s why when you find those who are, you cherish them.

“`Robert Clary was ninety-six.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`John Coleman, Art Kirsch and I have a nostolgic chat on Celebrating Act 2 about the life and times of Art Laboe. He was a radio legend and my mentor and friend.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`While at Cinecon 58, I interviewed Janine Perreau, one of the child stars from Invaders from Mars. She shares her thoughts over the Celebrating Act 2 airwaves.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Let the critiques begin! I chat with Art Kirsch and John Coleman on Celebrating Act 2 as we rank the six Thin Man films in the celebrated series. Nick and Nora Charles transcends the Pre Code era of cinema and film noir. One thing we can agree… Asta is the best pooch in movies!

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Our series continues as we chat with more luminaries at Cinecon 58. Rob Stone is a curator at the Library of Congress and was a presenter and an author live at Cinecon. Celebrating Act 2 was on hand as we chatted about the VIM Silent Film series.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”