Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`The historic Hollywood Bowl is canceling its Summer season for the very first time in its nearly one hundred-year history. The Summer 2020 slate was set to include film screenings and singalongs, concerts from Brandi Carlisle, Diana Ross, and Janelle Monáe, and of course performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

“`The LA Phil estimates that revenues lost from these canceled concerts, as well as a portion of the orchestra’s spring season, will result in a roughly eighty million dollar budget shortfall. To mitigate the losses, the LA Phil must take additional steps to address the financial impact caused by the pandemic and is furloughing 25% of its full-time non-union workforce, as well as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra through September 30, 2020,  and they are also laying off seasonal Hollywood Bowl employees.

“`This action was made to protect audiences, musicians, employees, and the community from the spread of COVID-19, consistent with, and in response to, the latest guidance from elected and health officials.  Ticketholders to canceled events can use their credit for a future LA Phil-produced concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, or Ford Theatre; or request a refund.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Jerry Stiller was a funnyman who teamed with wife Anne Meara as part of a beloved comedy duo. They remained married for over sixty years. Later in his career, he appeared as the high-strung Frank Costanza on the classic sitcom, Seinfeld, and the basement-dwelling father-in-law on The King of Queens. Their son is Ben Stiller.

“`Stiller grew up in Depression-era Brooklyn. His desire to enter show business came at eight years of age,  when his father took him to see the Marx Brothers in their comedy classic A Night at the Opera. Years later, Stiller met Groucho Marx and thanked him for his inspiration.                        JERRY STILLER –>

“`Stiller earned a drama degree at Syracuse University after serving in World War II, and then headed to New York City to launch his career. There was a brief involvement in Shakespearean theater. Everything changed after he met Meara in Spring, 1953. They were soon appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and working nightclubs, nationwide.  The couple went on to appear in dozens of film, stage, and television productions. They were also a sensation in commercials.

“`Stiller’s film appearances include Airport 1975, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Lovers and Other Strangers, and the Zoolander series of movies. On television, he guest-starred in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Love American Style, Alice, Rhoda, Phyllis, The Love Boat, Archie Bunker’s Place, Murder She Wrote, Law and Order, L. A. Law, and The Good Wife.

“`Grumpy and eccentric on camera, Jerry Stiller was kind, soft-spoken, and a generous actor, behind-the-scenes. He was ninety-two.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Gerber has announced an adorable new addition to their family with its winner of the tenth annual Photo Search: Magnolia Earl of Ross, California. Baby Magnolia was chosen as its 2020 Gerber Spokesbaby from over three hundred and twenty thousand entries submitted through photosearch.gerber.com where families could upload photos, videos, and share stories.

MAGNOLIA EARL

(courtesy of Gerber)

“`Magnolia, who celebrated her first birthday on Saturday, makes history as the first adopted baby to win the Gerber competition. In addition to being featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year, Magnolia and family were rewarded to $25,000 cash prize, $1,000 in Gerber Childrenswear, $1,000 from Walmart, and phones with a year of free unlimited service from Verizon; all to provide the best possible beginning for the baby.

“`Gerber Products Company was founded in 1928 in Fremont, Michigan. Gerber joined the Nestlé family on September 1, 2007. Gerber is a leader in early childhood nutrition.

“`Magnolia’s photos and additional information about Photo Search 2020 and Gerber can be found by visiting Gerber’s Facebook page or the Gerber Photo Search page.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Little Richard was the self-proclaimed architect of rock ‘n’ roll whose piercing wail, pounding piano, and mascara-lined eyes, pencil-thin mustache and glittery suits altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America. He was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing race music into the mainstream.

“`Richard Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression; one of twelve children. He was ostracized because he was effeminate. The family was religious and he sang in local churches with a group called the Tiny Tots. The tug-of-war between his religious upbringing and rock ‘n’ roll excess would torment Penniman throughout his tumultuous career. It also defined the man.         LITTLE RICHARD –>

“`In 1955, Little Richard recorded Tutti Frutti, with lyrics that were sanitized by a New Orleans songwriter. It went on to sell a million records over the next year. When his hit was banned by a number of white-owned radio stations, performers like Pat Boone and Elvis Presley did cover versions that topped the charts. A string of hits followed, and they provided the foundation of rock music: Lucille, Keep A Knockin, Long Tall Sally, and Good Golly Miss Molly.

“`Richard traveled to Hollywood and made an appearance in Don’t Knock the Rock. In 1986, he co-starred in Down and Out in Beverly Hills. His song from the movie soundtrack, Great Gosh A’Mighty, placed him back onto the charts; his first time in fifteen years. Later that year, Little Richard was inducted as a charter member into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“`Macon, Georgia, named a street after its favorite son. And he influenced the greats of rock music, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Otis Redding, David Bowie, Prince, and Bruce Springsteen.

“`Little Richard was eighty-seven.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy was part of a duo whose over-the-top magic tricks captivated millions until Horn was critically injured in 2003 by one of the act’s famed white tigers. Horn is the latest high-profile victim of the Covid-19 virus.  The darker-haired of this flashy pair, he is credited with the idea of introducing an exotic animal — his pet cheetah — to the magic act.

                       SIEGFRIED FISCHBACHER                ROY HORN

“`Born in Nordenham, Germany, Roy Horn met Siegfried Fischbacher on a cruise ship in 1957. They honed their animal-magic show in small clubs in Germany and Switzerland in the 1960s. Their huge break came in a Monte Carlo casino when an agent in the audience invited them to Las Vegas. The duo made their debut at the Tropicana hotel-casino in the late 1960s.

“`Siegfried and Roy’s show included twenty white tigers and lions. They also had other exotic animals, including an elephant. The illusionists received headliner status at the Stardust Lido de Paris. Their show Beyond Belief at the Frontier and played to thousands over seven years. When the pair signed a lifetime contract with the Mirage in 2001,  it was estimated they had performed five thousand shows at the casino for ten million fans since 1990, and had grossed more than one billion dollars.

“`Horn was attacked in October 2003 when a white tiger named Montecore attacked him on stage at the Mirage. He had severe neck injuries, loss of blood, and later suffered a stroke. He underwent lengthy rehabilitation, but the attack ended the long-running Las Vegas Strip production. An investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture explored a variety of theories, but was unable to reach a conclusion on what caused the tiger to attack. The USDA  also said the show’s producers had failed to protect the audience because there was no barrier separating the exotic animals from the crowd.

“`Horn and Fischbacher became United States citizens in 1988. In October 2006, three years after the attack, Siegfried and Roy attended their induction into the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. Horn’s speech was sluggish at times and he walked a bit slow.

“`Roy Horn was seventy-five.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Many well-known actors were given names that became their identity. Judy Garland, Cary Grant, and Gig Young were among the many fabricated identities made up by movie moguls. There were also a number of thespians that kept their original names or lived their personal lives with preferred nicknames. Here are notable examples:

~ Duke Morrison – As a child, Marion Morrison was called Duke by everyone who knew him, after some local firefighters in Glendale, California, where the family eventually settled. They gave the boy the same nickname as his constant companion, an Airedale dog named Duke.

`“Duke eventually found work at Fox Film Corporation. Director John Ford noticed Morrison. Ford introduced Duke to colleague, Raoul Walsh, who gave Morrison his first starring role, as the cowboy in the 1930 film The Big Trail. During this production, studio executives gave Morrison his new name in the hopes of making him an easier sell to audiences, and he readily accepted the moniker — John Wayne.

~ Babe Hardy – Oliver Norvell Hardy was known as Babe, a nickname given by an Italian barber, who applied talc to Oliver’s cheeks and say, nice-a-baby. In most of his silent films before joining producer Hal Roach, he was billed on screen as Babe Hardy. He only became Oliver Hardy after he was teamed with Stan Laurel.

~ Betty Bacall – When Betty Joan Perske transitioned from model to actress, director Howard Hawks chose to change her name to Lauren Bacall.  After the release of To Have and Have Not,  everyone recognized the ingenue. Family and friends never stopped calling her Betty. Husband Humphrey Bogart called her Slim, her character’s nickname in To Have and Have Not.

“`What’s in a name?

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Sheriff deputies in Florida have arrested Richard McGuire who was found hiding on Disney World’s Discovery Island. He had decided to live out his quarantine on the shuttered island. McGuire was arrested on trespassing charges and taken into custody without incident. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment.

“`A security rep for Disney saw McGuire using a company boat, The area had a number of no trespassing signs and two closed gates. Orange County marine deputies on Bay Lake used the public address system to inform McGuire that he was not allowed to be on the property, but he remained on the island, anyway, according to the arrest report.

“`Previously called Treasure Island, Discovery Island had been the site of a zoological park before the island was closed to the public in 1999.

“`McGuire is now quarantined… in jail.

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Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`ABC will air a two-hour primetime special dedicated to the impact soap operas have had on television. It is called The Story of Soaps, and it will air on Tuesday, May 19th at 8p.

“`The program is also presented by People Magazine and explores the history serialized storytelling through the soap opera. In today’s shifting television landscape, The Story of Soaps traces how creators migrated from radio to television in order to become a dominant force in daytime programming for more than three decades.

“`Today, much of what propels modern television traces its roots back to those first sprawling, steamy storylines. The documentary examines this iconic genre and the cultural phenomenon its massive impact has had on the world at large.

“`On a personal note, I appeared in Santa Barbara in the 1980s. I am thrilled to be part of the lineage of the soap opera genre.

“`Like sand through an hourglass… This should be a great way to spend some time in front of the tube.

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“`Jon Ericson (right) was an actor who made a splash in cinema and television of the 1950s. He is best remembered for his recurring role on the ABC program, Honey West.

“`After training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, Ericson found his way on Broadway appearing in a stage version of Stalag 17.  He followed with a series of film productions, including The Student Prince, Bad Day at Black Rock, Forty Guns, Day of the Badman, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and 7 Faces in Dr. Lao. He guest-starred twice on Bonanza.

“`Jon Ericson was ninety-three.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`For fans of classic cinema, and particularly, Charlie Chaplin… A whole new array of protection masks are now available on the Red Bubble website. Twenty-five selections to choose from…

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Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Films that debuted on a streaming service without a theatrical run will be eligible for this year’s Oscars, but only for 2020.  The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the change for the 93rd Academy Awards as a response to how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the film industry. It is an unprecedented move.

“`Oscar eligibility has been a major issue since stay at home and social distancing orders led to both the cancellation of major film festivals and the closure of movie theaters. Previously, a flick needed a minimum seven-day theatrical run at a Los Angeles County commercial theater in order to be eligible.  Now, productions that had a previously planned theatrical release, but are made available on a home video on demand service, may qualify for all categories.

“`Once theaters re-open, the exemption will end. Many expect cinemas nationwide to reopen by June or July. If that happens, the film academy will expand qualifying theaters beyond Los Angeles County to include venues in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami and Atlanta.

“`Earlier this month, the academy donated six million dollars to help motion picture employees and their families during this crisis. The 93rd Academy Awards are still scheduled to be held in Los Angeles on February 28, 2021.

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Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Josh Groban, Nathan Lane, and Jake Gyllenhaal are among the theater that honored cherished composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim with an online birthday concert. Sondheim actually turned ninety on March 22nd, but plans to celebrate were put online after  Broadway shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.                            STEPHEN SONDHEIM –>

“`The celebration this weekend coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Sondheim’s Broadway show, Company, and served as a fundraiser for Artists Striving to End Poverty. Beginning fashionably late, the tribute opened on YouTube about an hour after the scheduled start time.

“`With an intimate vibe to the event, musicians and singers dressed in t-shirts, wore minimal makeup, and stood in front of simple backdrops. It was hosted and produced by Raúl Esparza, who starred in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company in 2006.

“`Sondheim’s productions include  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, and A Little Night Music. He also worked alongside Leonard Bernstein as the lyricist for West Side Story.

“`Happy birthday to the one-and-only Stephen Sondheim.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Brian Dennehy was a fine character actor; with a tough guy image, he made a perfect police detective on screen. He was busy in cinema and on television.

“`Dennehy earned a football scholarship in high school. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1958, and served on Okinawa until 1963.  After the military, he became a stock broker before the acting bug bit him.

“`He appeared in plenty of notable productions, including Semi Tough, Foul Play, 10, First Blood, Gorky Park, Silverado, Cocoon, The Man from Snowy River, and Legal Eagles. On television, Brian guest-starred in Kojak, Lou Grant, M*A*S*H, Dallas, Knots Landing, Dynasty, Cagney and Lacey, Miami Vice, The West Wing, and The Good Wife. He was a winner of one Golden Globe, two Tony Awards and recipient of six Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

“`The dependable Brian Dennehy (above) was eighty-one.

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“`A quick reminder to watch my latest appearance on Celebrating Act 2 with John Coleman and Art Kirsch. We discuss ways to hunker down with a classic film.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Every once in a while, we watch a motion picture, and someone famous pops up. They are absent in the opening credits. What gives?

“`There are too many times this has happened, but here are a few notable examples…

~ Gene Hackman / Young Frankenstein. Hackman appeared in one of his few comedic roles as Harold (the blind man). In Bride of Frankenstein, Boris Karloff as the Monster encounters an old blind hermit who thanks God for sending him. He teaches the creature words like friend and good and shares his supper with him.  In Young Frankenstein, Harold ravages the fiend with blundering love.

            GENE HACKMAN   PETER BOYLE                        JACK NICHOLSON

~ Jack Nicholson / Broadcast News. Nicholson’s role is no cameo. He is all over the movie playing the veteran news anchor. Though not credited in the opening of the movie, he does appear in the end credits. Jack lends able support to Holly Hunter, William Hurt, and Albert Brooks.

~ Jerry Lewis and Jack Benny / It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. In an epic comedy filled with dozens of the top funnymen of the day, Lewis and Benny chose to just show up. Lewis plays the troublemaker, running over Spencer Tracy’s chapeau;  Benny, the peacemaker, is rebuffed by Ethel Merman.  Truth be told, Bob Hope respectfully turned down the part that went to Benny. The two comedic icons blended in well with the other clowns in the film.

                          JERRY LEWIS                                       JACK BENNY

“`Let me provide credit to these screen giants, who offered pristine work whether or not their names appeared on screen.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Disney Theme Parks remain closed.  And like other companies, they are offering something to families financially struggling. And it happens to be quite yummy.

“`Dole is a co-partner with Disney, and they have a food stand right by The Tiki Room in Adventureland at Disneyland in Anaheim.  The Dole Whip is a popular desert at the theme park. Now you can make one at home. Here is the recipe:

“`Start with a kitchen blender and a star-tipped piping bag. Add the following ingredients:

• one cup of pineapple juice (frozen)
• one banana (peeled and frozen)
• two-and-a-half teaspoons of powdered sugar
• a quarter to half a cup of unsweetened coconut milk

“`Add it all into a blender and blend until smooth. Here is a video that walks you through it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=VRJreFPdLbQ&feature=emb_logo

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Mort Drucker was the Mad Magazine cartoonist who spoofed politicians, celebrities, and popular culture. Besides Mad, Drucker drew for Time Magazine, and DC Comics.

“`Drucker was born in Brooklyn in 1929, and he began working professionally as a cartoonist on Bert Whitman’s newspaper strip Debbie Dean in 1947 thanks to the recommendation from legendary cartoonist, Will Eisner. He assembled his portfolio of comics work over the next ten years.

MORT DRUCKER

“`Mad Magazine was a cultural institution for many baby boomers. Drucker joined Mad in the mid-1950s, and he stayed there well into the twenty-first century.  Few major events or public figures escaped his satire.  Being drawn by Mort became a show business rite of passage, with Michael J. Fox once telling Johnny Carson that he knew he had made it when he appeared in a Drucker cartoon.

“`Some of his illustrations, including a Time cover drawing of Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong playing table tennis, are featured in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D. C.  His admirers included Peanuts creator Charles M Schulz and Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas.  The latter personally asked Drucker to draw the poster for his 1973 flick, American Graffiti. In 2017, Drucker was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

“`Mort Drucker was ninety-one.

Until next time>                               “never forget”