Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here… 

“`The Frankenstein Meme celebrates the two hundred-year anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The digital experiment creates a public, crowd-source, searchable database of literary works  (novels, short stories, plays, and graphic novels) influenced by Mary Shelley’s novel over the last two hundred years.

“`Since 2016, works in the genre of Romanticism, Science Fiction, Horror, and Popular Culture were researched for a search engine,  providing information and context in write ups linked to the database. The site also houses interviews with writers on how their work relate to Shelley, essays on Frankenstein’s influence, creative work, information on key aspects of the database (especially in its relation to Cal State Fullerton), and more.

“`The database is part of a series of events that celebrates Frankenstein during Frankenweek, October 27th-31st on the CSUF campus, such as an Art Show and Special Collections Display in the Atrium Gallery of Pollak Library; and participation in the International Frankenreads event taking place on many campuses around the world.

“`It’s alive… alive!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`A married couple from Tennessee embarked on a twenty-four hour journey to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. Heather and Clark Ensminger stopped by four Disney theme parks in Orlando and two in Anaheim, with a 2,500-mile cross-country flight in between.  Their visits began on Wednesday at 6:15a, and finally concluded at 11:30p.

“`There was media interest in their Disney pilgrimage after an Associated Press story about their plans was published. As they traveled from park to park, they were bombarded with calls and texts from radio stations, television outlets and newspapers.  A camera crew from Disney World’s publicity office tracked them down for an interview, and they received handshakes by Disney guests who recognized them from media reports.  They also updated friends and fans of the Disney parks throughout the day, with posts on a Facebook page for Heather’s travel-agent business.

“`The Ensmingers enjoy all things Disney, and though they live in Tennessee, they are annual passholders to Disney World. At one point, they were visiting the theme park resort six times per year. Clark decided to surprise his bride with a whirlwind vacation.

“`The couple returned to the California Disney parks for a second day on Thursday.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`The Margaret Herrick Library is a well-known, non-circulating reference and research collection devoted to the history and development of the motion picture as an art form and as an industry. Established in 1928 and now located in Beverly Hills, the library is open to the public and used year-round by students, scholars, historians, and industry professionals.

“`Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has been found in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences most prestigious cinematic library since 2010. I am proud to inform: Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History, and my latest work, Road to Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History have been added to the collection of this fine repository.

“`I am honored the Margaret Herrick Library recognizes my literary contributions to the history of Hollywood. FYI, copies of my book series can be found on Amazon.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Ronald Reagan is in the spotlight! A hologram of the nation’s 40th president was unveiled at his presidential library in Southern California. The goal is to allow visitors to see Reagan in the Oval Office, campaigning aboard a rail car, or at his beloved ranch.

“`The Reagan Library collaborated with the Hollywood special effects wizards who helped bring Michael Jackson, Maria Callas, Jackie Wilson, Billie Holiday, and Roy Orbison to life on stage. The audio is edited from remarks made by Reagan during his lifetime.

“`Creators of the exhibit are hopeful to take the presidential hologram on a nationwide tour.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`It was September 2009, when I chose to create the Forgotten Hollywood website to write blogs to compliment my newly written paperback. I was not convinced I could write a number of blogs each week that resembled stories in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. But I took on the challenge…

“`I decided to take on this task after watching Julie and Julia, a film that examines the art of blogging about your passionate interests. The screenplay was a tandem of stories; a biography about an iconic cultural figure,  Julia Child, and a modern chef who uses social media branding to remind the public about the timeless art of creating French cuisine.

“`In November 2012, Los Angeles Press Club 5th Annual Entertainment Journalism Awards recognized my efforts with a third place accolade in their Best Blog by an Individual category. Actor James Franco took second place and Kathy Griffin was an honorable mention; top-notch company indeed!

“`Today, October 6, 2018, I am thrilled this personal chronicle is blog number two-thousand. This is a number I believed was not attainable. What a remarkable milestone by any literary standard. And it took just over nine years.

“`In the meantime, I am on to my next two thousand blogs… Wish me luck!

Manny P. here… 

“`Alan Alda will be honored with a SAG Life Achievement Award at the 2019   Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony. The actors union announced Alda will accept its highest honor on January 27th. The award is awarded annually to an actor fostering the finest ideals of the acting profession. ALAN ALDA->

“`Alda’s credits include eleven seasons as Dr. Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H. He also had roles on The West Wing, 30 Rock, and Ray Donovan. He had guest-starred on The Phil Silvers Show, Naked City, The Twilight Zone, and Route 66. For twelve years, Alda was the host for Scientific American Frontiers on PBS.

“`His big screen career includes parts in  Paper Lion, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Same Time Next Year, The Four Seasons, California Suite, Crimes and Misdemeanors, The Aviator, and Bridge of Spies.  Alda earned an Oscar nomination, six Emmys, six Golden Globes, and three Tony Award nominations.

“`He founded the nonprofit Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Earlier this year, the actor revealed that he was afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease.

“`Past Life Achievement Award recipients include Sidney Poitier, Betty White, Elizabeth Taylor, Dick Van Dyke, Morgan Freeman, Carol Burnett, Charles Durning, and George Burns.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Next week, drivers will be able to pre-order one of the world’s first flying autos. In the not-too-distant future, you will whizz around the skies, Jetsons style, in a vehicle that transforms from a roadster to a flying car in under a minute. Our neighborhoods are about to mirror the cinematic world of Blade Runner.

“`They are made by a company called Terrafugia, which belongs to Volvo, and it is called a Transition.  It can fly for up to four hundred miles, and can reach a top speed of two hundred mph. It can get up to an altitude of around ten thousand feet and weighs under thirteen hundred pounds.

“`It is hybrid electric powered and has all of the normal things you would expect from a car. While it is road legal, the vehicle will include a parachute, fold out wings, and a hyper-space function to allow you zip around.  Plus, you are required to carry a pilot’s license to take off into the wild blue yonder. Air traffic controllers might find the extra congestion a pain in the neck.

“`As of this writing, there is no definite price. However, assume if you have to ask how much, you probably cannot afford the jalopy. This might not be the ideal mode of transportation for you, but expect your boy Elroy to love it.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Peggy Sue Gerron Rackham was the Texas woman who inspired the 1958 Buddy Holly song.  Holly wrote several other iconic tunes, such as That’ll Be the Day and Maybe Baby. He also penned the song-sequel Peggy Sue Got Married. She became a celebrity speaker, radio host and a columnist.

“`Gerron was born in Olton, Texas, but moved to Lubbock where she attended high school and met Holly and his friends. Holly became one of her best friends. The tune, Peggy Sue, initially had a different name. It was originally going to be called Cindy Lou (Buddy’s niece). A member of Holly’s band  (Jerry Allison of The Crickets) intended to impress Peggy Sue, so he convinced Holly to change the title. She later married Allison, and they would eventually divorce.

“`Gerron in 2008 released her autobiography — Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?: A Memoir by Buddy Holly’s Peggy Sue — to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the composition. Material for her memoir came from 150 diary entries. Her life was chronicled in a pair of films: The Buddy Holly Story starring Gary Busey, and Peggy Sue Got Married featuring Kathleen Turner.

“`Holly perished in a February 3, 1959, plane crash in Iowa that also killed Ritchie Valens and J. P. The Big Bopper Richardson.  Gerron toured with The Crickets after the tragedy. She also worked tirelessly to help establish The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock to pay tribute to the singer, musician, and songwriter described as Lubbock’s most famous native son.

“`Peggy Sue Gerron Rackham was 78.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`No producer / director has had less concern for major stars than Irwin Allen. I am actually kidding, of course; but this filmmaker had a way of enticing great actors to his projects, and then, he would summarily kill them off during each production.

“`Allen had a successful career in television with such science fiction fare as Lost in Space,  Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants, and The Time Tunnel. When he turned to the silver screen, Irwin became known as the master of disaster. His filmography:  Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Five Weeks in a Balloon, The Poseidon Adventure  (plus a sequel to the flick), The Towering Inferno, and The Swarm.

“`Allen was particularly cruel to Oscar-winners. Among those who are summarily dispatched:  Joan Fontaine, Shelley Winters, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Jones, Jose Ferrer, Henry Fonda, Ben Johnson, Olivia de Havilland, and Karl Malden. Other casualties include Roddy McDowall, Fred MacMurray, Stella Stevens, Richard Widmark, Arthur O’Connell, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Wagner, Robert Vaughn, Bradford Dillman, Slim Pickens and Telly Savalas. In fact, Richard Chamberlain suffered a tragic fate, twice!

“`For a time, it was thought to be a badge of honor to succumb under the able direction of the deadly Irwin Allen.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`The famed Oregon Shakespeare Festival that attracts folks from around the world has lost two million dollars this summer, because wildfire smoke forced it to cancel more than two dozen outdoor performances. The fest in Ashland, Oregon had to cancel twenty-six outdoor performances beginning in July and running through earlier this month. That is more canceled shows than in five previous seasons combined.

“`The Tony Award-winning  Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the oldest and most iconic professional nonprofit theaters in the nation. It offers outdoor showings of Shakespeare’s plays performed in a venue similar to what his contemporary audiences would have experienced, but it also offers other types of theater in indoor performance halls.

“`The fest has previously dealt with wildfires. Climate change has now extended each wildfire season and makes blazes bigger and more destructive, threatening to make air quality worse. Not included in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s calculations is how much revenue was lost from would-be tourists who simply stayed away, given the smoky conditions.

“`Next season, organizers of the fest plans to open an alternate indoor venue from July 30th to September 8th — peak wildfire season.

===========================

“`Dunkin’ is dropping donuts from its name. Donuts are still on the menu, but this branding change will reflect their increasing emphasis on coffee and other drinks, which make up sixty percent of its sales. The name change will officially take place in January. A new logo will still display Dunkin’ Donuts rounded orange-and-pink color scheme, which they have used since 1973.

“`Dunkin’ joins other companies that have recently altered their brands, including KFC and IHOP (IHOb).

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The Eastbound and Down Burt Reynolds Memorial Convoy will line up September 30th at 12p in the Texarkana Convention Center parking lot. Advanced registration will not be required. Currently, there are over forty-eight big rigs expected.

“`If you wish to make the full run from Texarkana to Atlanta, you need to be available for the ten hour-planned route along I-20.  A map of planned stops will be distributed when the convoy leaves the lot.

“`You may arrive Saturday evening and park in the Convention Center lot. They have a total day of events planned with the Mayors’ Proclamation at noon that is completely free for CDL Drivers. Festivities include a performance by Canadian country group The Road Hammers, a comedy show, and three Burt Reynolds films that were chosen by truckers in a poll.

“`The planned route takes you on I-30 East to I-49 South to I-220 East to I-20 East. The final destination will be a truck stop in Atlanta.  It is a fitting event that is recognized by the city of Texarkana, Burt’s family and manager, the media, and the trucking industry.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Floodwaters have continued to rise on portions of Carolina rivers a full week after the arrival of Hurricane Florence. Wilmington, North Carolina, and other communities near the coast, are bracing for another surge of rising water. Levels along the Cape Fear River at Wilmington may approach record levels.

“`Cape Fear celebrated its name especially after the scope of damage caused from flooding. An earlier reason for infamous attention of the aptly named area is due to a pair of movies, whose backdrop takes place in the coastal North Carolina community.

“`The original thriller was a 1962 motion picture that starred Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, and Martin Balsam. Alfred Hitchcock was slated to direct the film, but quit over a dispute. It retained much of Hitchcock’s style to production, including unusual lighting angles, an eerie music score by Bernard Herrmann, and subtle hints rather than graphic depictions. Much of the violent overtones takes place on a houseboat along Cape Fear.

“`The 1991 remake starred Robert DeNiro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis. This was originally developed by Steven Spielberg, but he gave the assignment to Martin Scorsese. In return, Scorsese gave up the opportunity to direct Schindler’s List. Again, Hitchcock’s techniques were used; plus, Elmer Bernstein updated Herrmann’s score. The opening credits were designed by Hitchcock collaborator Saul Bass.  Peck, Mitchum, and Balsam had brief cameos in the reboot.

“`Meanwhile,  as crests continue to travel downstream along the major rivers in the eastern part of the Carolinas into next week, unprotected areas may remain flooded until the end of September or early October. The horror continues along Cape Fear…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Las Vegas’ newest attraction is a museum celebrating all things cannabis. Nobody is allowed to light up at Cannabition when it opens due to Nevada’s ban on public consumption of pot. It will welcome its initial visitors fifteen months after adults in Nevada began buying recreational marijuana legally, with sales far exceeding state projections.

“`The museum will work to reduce the stigma of marijuana use, and target gambling-resistant young adults to Sin City.  The facility is located in Las Vegas’ downtown entertainment district. While not the Smithsonian of ganja, it has some educational components.

“`Many of the facility’s exhibits are sponsored by cannabis companies, with logos prominently displayed. Expect to see television stars, models and local entertainers in attendance.

“`Only adults twenty-one and older will be allowed at Cannabition. The tour is designed to last up to an hour. A note of caution… Your visit may lead to you getting the munchies.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Bob Morales was twenty-one years old when his famous younger brother, Ritchie Valens, died in a an airplane crash. The rock ‘n’ roll pioneer was an iconic member of the Chicano rock movement with hits, such as La Bamba, Come On Let’s Go, Donna, and We Belong Together.

“`The 1987 movie, La Bamba, referenced the brother’s relationship, with Esai Morales portraying the older sibling with inner demons. Bob had issues viewing the production due to painful memories it ignited, including family loss (his brother and mother).    BOB MORALES –>

“`After his brother’s passing, Bob went on a downward spiral, turning to alcohol. His struggle with alcohol led him to a detox center. He later worked there as a substance abuse counselor. He also successfully beat prostate cancer.

“`Every day, he was asked about personal memories of his brother, and every day he cried from the encounter. Bob Morales was eighty-one.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic is a new exhibition opening Saturday at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibit addresses the fact that Winnie-the-Pooh is a global phenomenon.

“`This exhibit is divided into five themes examining how  A. A. Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard brought Winnie-the-Pooh to life in print. Pooh became a sensation.  The exhibit is compiled of almost two hundred original drawings, letters, photographs, and early editions on loan from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and other lenders. It is is wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

“`While the original Winnie-the-Pooh four-book series were published nearly a century ago, the narrative of a befuddled bear and his adventures with Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Rabbit remains essential with families and youngsters.  The first, When We Were Very Young, was published in November, 1924; the last, House at Pooh Corner, came out in October, 1928.

“`Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic runs through January 6, 2019 at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Until next time>                               “never forget”