“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Passing of Barbara Walters…

December 30th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Barbara Walters was a trailblazing news veteran.  Known for her dogged interviewing ability, she appeared as a host of numerous television programs. Walters was a working journalist in a male-dominated industry from 1951 until her retirement in 2015.

“`During her childhood, her father managed the Latin Quarter nightclub in Boston. In 1942, her father opened the New York version of the Latin Quarter. He also worked as a Broadway producer where he produced the Ziegfeld Follies of 1943. He was the Entertainment Director for the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he imported the Folies Bergère stage show from Paris to the resort’s main showroom.

“`Walters began working at the NBC affiliate in New York City, WNBT-TV (now WNBC), doing publicity and writing press releases. She began producing a fifteen-minute children’s program, Ask the Camera, directed by Roone Arledge in 1953.

“`Walters began her network career on Today as a writer and segment producer of women’s interest stories. Florence Henderson, Helen O’Connell, Estelle Parsons and Lee Meriwether all had previously held her position.  Walter’s popularity with viewers resulted in receiving more airtime. In 1974, she became co-host of the program, the first woman to hold such a title on an American news program. Two years later, she was hired as the first female co-anchor of a network evening news program alongside Harry Reasoner on the ABC Evening News. By all accounts, it was a contentious union. But it broke a longstanding glass ceiling.

“`In November 1977, she conducted a historic joint interview with Egypt’s president, Anwar Al Sadat, and Israel’s Prime Minister, Menachem Begin. From 1979 to 2004, Walters worked as a producer and co-host on the ABC news magazine 20/20. She also hosted the annual special, Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People. It usually aired after the Oscars ceremony. Among the notables who were her guests…  Katharine Hepburn, Fidel Castro and every sitting United States president and first lady from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama.

“`Walters created, produced and co-hosted the ABC daytime talk show The View, which she appeared from 1997 until her retirement in 2014. She continued to host a number of special reports for 20/20 as well as documentary series for Investigation Discovery. BARBARA WALTERS ->

“`Walters was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989. On June 15, 2007, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Saturday Night Live often lampooned her in skits.  She was close friends with Tom Brokaw, Woody Allen and Joan Rivers.  A longtime confidante was Fox News head Roger Ailes until his death in 2017. Oprah Winfrey sites Walters as her childhood role model (along with Sidney Poitier).

“`A cultural icon, Barbara Walters was ninety-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Musical Chestnuts…

December 28th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2, with Art Kirsch and John Coleman, re-visits forgotten musical classics from Christmas films. Why not reveal rarely heard sounds of the season!

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- An Amazing Cinephile…

December 23rd, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`My good friend Dave Greim joins me on Celebrating Act 2 to chat about the sites and sounds of Cinecon 58. He has seen a lot over the years!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Explaining the National Film Registry

December 20th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Prior to this year’s selections for the 2022  Library of Congress National Film Registry, I had a conversation with Art Kirsch and John Coleman of Celebrating Act 2. I gave the boys a complete rundown on how the process works and notable omissions of great cinema. By the way, anyone can vote and it’s free to participate.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Spencer Tracy at Cinecon 58…

December 15th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2 returns to Cinecon 58 to recap the screening of The Mad Game, a film that starred Spencer Tracy and Claire Trevor.  I join Art Kirsch and John Coleman as we put Tracy’s time at Fox Studios in the appropriate perspective.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- National Film Registry 2022…

December 14th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`It is that time of the year again! The 2022 selections of the Library of Congress National Film Registry have just been announced. This year’s selections are more modern and diverse, including Hairspray (1988),  The Little Mermaid (1989),  When Harry Met Sally (1989), Iron Man (2008), and curiously, home movies from Cab Calloway, taken between 1948 and 1951.

“`Let us look at the Golden Age selections:

~ CYRANO DE BERGERAC (1950) –  Produced by Stanley Kramer and directed by Michael Gordon, this was the first U. S. film version of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 French play. Despite Cyrano’s low budget and it appearing too much like a stage production,  José Ferrer’s star-making performance received much acclaim. For his performance, Ferrer won the Oscar for Best Actor, becoming the initial Hispanic actor to win the statuette.  Preserved from the 35 mm nitrate original camera negative and a 35 mm acetate fine grain master in cooperation with Paramount Pictures.

 

~ CHARADE (1963) – Dubbed the greatest Alfred Hitchcock motion picture NOT made by the iconic director. Instead, Charade was directed by Stanley Donan. It was the only opportunity to enjoy the onscreen chemistry of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, two of Hollywood’s most sophisticated actors. It also boasts support from three actors who would go on to win Oscars: Walter Matthau, George Kennedy and James Coburn. The elegant score was created by Henry Mancini.

~ SUPERFLY (1972) – The film is a classic of the escapist Blaxploitation wave of  the 1970s. The Harlem community backed the flick financially, and a number of black businesses helped with production costs. Curtis Mayfield’s soulful score received lots of acclaim for the dynamic sound and for challenging the drug culture in its lyrics.  Superfly and Freddie’s Dead became pop chart hits.

 

~ CARRIE (1976) – This remains a magical year of cinema, with Network, Rocky and All the President’s Men already in the National Film Registry. Brian De Palma burst onto the national spotlight with Carrie. Adapted from the Stephen King novel, De Palma mixes up a stylish cauldron of horrific scenes coupled with unforgettable performances by Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. It was a film that helped define the slasher genre of movies. King’s works would be revisited after the success of Carrie.

“`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”- The Big Sleep Explained (sort of)…

December 12th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Among cinephiles and fans alike, we all agree… The Big Sleep, with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, is really hard to follow. Bogie plays Phillip Marlowe, a literary character created by author Raymond Chandler.

“`Researchers put together a character relationship chart that might help you while watching the flick. I find it fascinating. Spoiler alert: It does tell you who lives and dies.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- On Board with Cinecon 58…

December 9th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`What is it like to be a board member of Cinecon? We get an inside look with Michael Schlesinger and he shares the information with our Celebrating Act 2 audience…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Hoofers…

December 7th, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2 hosts, John Coleman and Art Kirsch, pin me down to reflect on the not-so-celebrated dancers during Hollywood’s Golden Age. The names are familiar…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- Kinecon at Cinecon…

December 2nd, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`Art Kirsch, John Coleman and I look back at one of the popular times at the Cinecon 58 Film Festival  –  Kinecon at Cinecon! Celebrating Act 2 takes a peak at moments with Jack LaLaine, Lawrence Welk, Danny Thomas, Jack Benny, among others.  Let us celebrate the early days of television during this engaging discussion.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                                “never forget”

“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Return of Author’s Day!

December 1st, 2022

Manny P. here…

“`The annual Afternoon with the Authors is back this Saturday at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. This event is designed to give cinephiles and movie-lovers a chance to do much-needed Christmas shopping in a relaxed Tinseltown setting.

“`This year’s scribes include actresses – Kathy Garver (Family Affair) and Alexis Hunter; film historians – Mary Mallory, Marc Wanamaker and Mark Viera; noted authors – David McGiffert, Steve Bingen, Harlen Lebo, Phillip Dye and Darrell Rooney; and Turner Classic Movies noted commentator, Jeremy Arnold.

“`I will be on hand with all three of my Forgotten Hollywood paperbacks in the book series and I would enjoy meeting up with friends and followers of my podcast that airs weekly on Spotify. If you live in the Southern California area and want to do some fun holiday shopping, the place to be is at the Hollywood Heritage Museum this Saturday, from 11a- 3p.

“`The landmark is across the street from the Hollywood Bowl at 2100 N. Highland Ave. and there is plenty of free parking.

Until next time>                               “never forget”