Forgotten Hollywood

   In memory of my colleague Gary Lycan, our FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD Pilot Documentary (Development) funding campaign has now reached its 14th week on INDIEGOGO. We have approached 57% of our goal. Click on the link if you are interested in making a contribution:

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

CONTRIBUTIONS

~ GARY LYCAN ($200) – One of the final acts of my companion in this Forgotten Hollywood journey was to make one more contribution to our campaign. Not knowing he was taking a turn for the worse, which he kept private (since he was uniformally upbeat in public), he sent me a typical email that served to help me put my priorities in order. Gary Lycan was a consummate professional, who met his deadline for his Orange County Register radio column, even as recently as last Thursday. He confided to me that our project kept his spirits up, and I believe, helped him fight the good fight against cancer. I continue to work on Forgotten Hollywood to honor his memory. Rest in peace my friend…

   Wonderful media tributes are pouring in for Gary. Here are links from LAObserved, Orange County Breeze, LARadio.com, and the Tom Leykis website:

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2013/04/gary_lycan_radio_columnis.php

http://www.oc-breeze.com/2013/04/11/31024_a-remembrance-of-gary-lycan-rip/

http://www.laradio.com/

http://blowmeuptom.com/rip-gary-lycan-the-radio-columnist-and-friend-who-introduced-our-show-to-orange-county-back-in-1988/

~ JULIO BERGER ($20) – Julio Berger has created a unique business of trading and selling Hollywood collectible cards. The Frank & Sons Collectibles Show in the City of Industry has been a place of business for almost two decades. A fine  dancer, he also sings quite well, and indulges in karaoke at Southern California locations. He recently made the valuable suggestion that I sell my series of books at Frank & Sons. My next visit is on April 20th.

PROMOTIONS / LINKS

   The Media Alliance of Orange County has offered support in our Forgotten Hollywood Documentary production. They have tweeted the information from a recent article that appeared in the Orange County Breeze about our intention to interview legendary film star… Margaret O’Brien.

   And, thank you once again to Phill Cross of Cross Web Tech and Julie Turnbaugh for their continued support by sending social media messages on Facebook to promote my Forgotten Hollywood campaign.

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   During this 2013 campaign, I’m asking friends, family, and supporters to help us achieve our 120+ day (17-week) goal of $5000. 81 contributors want to support quality family-friendly television programs, intelligently presented.

   YOU can contribute ANY AMOUNT. This step ensures Development, and we’ll be able to:

1. Hire a research archivist to track down footage and photos; and secure licensing
2. Hire a consultant / casting director to book actors and behind-the-scenes folks from Hollywood’s Golden Age; plus cinematic historians for original interviews
3. Set up a production shoot to tape these candid moments

   Here’s the INDIEGOGO link for the details (and you’re chance to contribute):

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

   All participants will receive screen credit at the conclusion of the Documentary Pilot.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Suffice to say, this is the most difficult blog story I’ve written…

   My dear, dear friend Gary Lycan has passed on. Part of the fabric of Southern California, he was the award-winning radio columnist of the Orange County Register since his initial assignment in 1968.  Gary was also my cherished co-host on Forgotten Hollywood, a weekly radio program that airs on the Financial News and Radio Network. And, he wrote the Foreword and Introduction, to my Forgotten Hollywood Book Series.            GARY LYCAN ——–>

   Though, we’ve been like brothers working on the Forgotten Hollywood franchise for these past 4 1/2 years, I’m smart enough to know that he had a really keen friendship with every Southern California broadcaster who has cracked a microphone during the Golden Age of Format-Radio. He was inspired by the disc jockeys, radio personalities, and news-related folks who worked at KFWB, KRLA, and KHJ back in the 1960s. He wanted desperately to join this fraternity. But, his unparalleled talent lay in the written, not spoken, word. Through his weekly radio column, he became an elder statesman of this so-called fraternity. Orange County folks  learned about the business of broadcasting in a digestible, easy-to-read, and friendly way, which made his readers feel that we were all part of the inner circle.

   Never to rest on his laurels, Gary Lycan also had longtime allies who fought for animal rights (a particular passion of his), and ultimately, the Golden Age of Hollywood community. During one of our programs, he secured an interview for us with the legendary Debbie Reynolds. This weekend, on 15-10 AM and 14-50 AM, we’ll re-broadcast a poignant early incarnation of our show. I had the foresight to interview my co-host early on, and the network of stations has been gracious enough to re-shuffle its programming this Saturday at 3p (pst) to air this fitting tribute. If you would like to honor Gary’s memory by taking a listen, but you live outside the broadcast area of Orange County and the Inland Empire… here’s a link:

http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v4/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KFSD

   On his birthday in 2012, the Los Angeles Press Club honored Gary Lycan with their National Entertainment Journalist Award in the Print Columnist of the Year category. He was really astounded at the fine outpouring of congratulations by radio broadcasters throughout Southern California on his Facebook page. Of course, I wasn’t surprised at all. I knew what he meant to our community. His words transcended Orange County with the advent of the website dot.com craze and social media.

   Knowing that his time on earth was short, Gary wrote me a wonderful email on October 30th. I’m not known for sharing my most personal correspondence. However, I’m compelled to share this with you:

Manny P. here…

   Annette Funicello was the Disney image of youthful exuberance. The most popular member of the Mickey Mouse Club, she would eventually settle on screen into young adulthood. Her teaming with Frankie Avalon in the Beach Party movies ushered in the early 1960s with a lighthearted spirit that complimented similar characterizations such as Gidget and Tammy. Annette also had a string of pop music hits; and was well known for her strong Catholic faith in her private life. Ultimately, she became a familiar face in the fight against multiple sclerosis.     ANNETTE —->

   In 1955, the 12-year-old was discovered by Walt Disney when she performed as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake at a dance recital at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank. Disney cast her as one of the original Mouseketeers; the last to be selected, and one of the few cast-members personally selected by Walt Disney himself. Annette proved to be very popular, and by the end of the first season of Mickey Mouse Club, she was receiving 6,000 letters a month, according to her Disney Legends biography.

   After the Mickey Mouse Club, she remained under contract with Disney for a time, and had  a noted recurring television role in Zorro. Annette also co-starred in Disney-produced movies such as The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, and The Monkey’s Uncle. Although uncomfortable as a singer, Funicello scored a number of hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and mostly penned by the Sherman Brothers, including: Tall Paul,  O Dio Mio, Train of Love (written by Paul Anka), and Pineapple Princess. They were released by Disney’s Buena Vista label.

   She moved on from Disney to become a teen idol, starring in a series of Beach Party films with Frankie Avalon and Harvey Lembeck for American International Pictures. They included Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Pajama Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini. The wholesome image earned in these films gained her a reference in the Grease song… Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee. As a personal favor to Walt Disney, she was the only co-star to wear a one-piece bathing suit. Annette and Frankie were reunited in 1987 for the Paramount release, Back to the Beach. She became a familiar spokesperson on television for Skippy Peanut Butter.

   Funicello announced in 1992 that she suffered from multiple sclerosis. She opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation. Annette remained lifelong friends with Shelley Fabares, Tommy Kirk, and Frankie Avalon. Her autobiography, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story was written in 1994.

   Despite the loss in her ability to walk, and eventually, to speak, she was vigilant in bringing openess to her disease, which eventually cost the star her life. Annette Funicello was 70.

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<— MILO O’SHEA was a serviceable character actor, whose career transcended the end of the Studio Era of filmmaking to guest-starring roles during television’s golden age. He began acting on the stage, and then moved to motion pictures in the 1960s. He’s best known for playing the tempermental judge in The Verdict, which starred Paul Newman, James Mason, and Jack Warden.

   His film career included roles in Franco Zefferelli’s Romeo and Juliet, Barbarella, Theatre of Blood, and The Purple Rose of Cairo. The affable Irishman also made memorable appearances in The Golden Girls, The West Wing, Cheers, and Frasier.

   Milo O’Shea was 86.

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   This is indeed a sad day in Hollywood and world history. I’m sure, others will note the death of The Iron Lady… former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Her amazing story was chronicled last year in a movie starring Meryl Streep. Her characterization of Thatcher earned the actress a third  Oscar. Maggie’s friendly political relationship with President Reagan was legendary, and it helped end the Cold War.  MARGARET THATCHER —->

   Part of a Hollywood-and-Vine metaphoric moment, Margaret Thatcher was 87.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Margaret O’Brien is set to appear in the Forgotten Hollywood Documentary Pilot about Lionel Barrymore’s story on how he influenced our country’s view about the disabled. Suffering from advanced degenerative arthritis, his decision to carry on with his career motivated the American public to champion the Roosevelt Adminstration March of Dimes campaign; the most successful effort to fight disease in our history. Margaret O’Brien was an initial poster child for The March of Dimes.

   Beginning a prolific career as a child actress in feature films at MGM, O’Brien became one of the most popular  young stars in cinema. She made her first film appearance in Babes on Broadway at the age of four, and she was honored with a Juvenile Oscar as the Outstanding Child Actress of 1944 for her stint in Meet Me in St. Louis.

   Her career included roles in Madame Curie, Jane Eyre, The Canterville Ghost, Three Wise Fools, Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, Little Women, and The Secret Garden. O’Brien co-starred with Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford, June Allyson, James Cagney, Ann Southern, Charles Laughton, Edward G. Robinson, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Orson Welles, Mary Astor, Robert Young, Thomas Mitchell, Joan Fontaine, Marjorie Main, Red Skelton,   C. Aubrey Smith, and of course, Lionel Barrymore.      <–MARGARET O’BRIEN AND LIONEL BARRYMORE

   In 1990, O’Brien was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement” Award recognizing her outstanding achievements within the film industry as a child actress. In her later career, she appeared on television, on stage, and in supporting motion picture roles.

   Our production team is thrilled over the addition of the legendary Margaret O’Brien to our Documentary. It’s not too late to contribute to the Indiegogo campaign to further develop our Forgotten Hollywood project, please click below:

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   One of the most prolific critics of cinema passed away on Thursday. Roger Ebert was also a fine journalist and screenwriter, who was described by Forbes Magazine as the most powerful pundit in America. He was the  initial film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, as well as, the first to be awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

   Ebert began his career at the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967. He first garnered attention by a national public for his 1969 review of Night of the Living Dead that was published in Reader’s Digest. In 1970, he co-wrote the screenplay for the Russ Meyer film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, regarded as a cult classic.  ROGER EBERT ->

   When paired on a local television show with fellow Chicago newspaper critic, Gene Siskel,  they proved to become a sensation. The show was picked up by PBS in 1978 for national distribution. Their trademark thumbs up or thumbs down could decide the fate of any given movie. After the death of Siskel in 1999, Ebert paired with his Sun-Times colleague Richard Roeper. He continued to work tirelessly despite a 2002 diagnosis of thyroid cancer, which eventually left him unable to speak.

   Ebert had compiled best of the year movie lists since the 1960s, which have helped to provide an overview of his critical preferences. His top choices included Bonnie and Clyde, Five Easy Pieces, The Last Picture Show, The Godfather, Sophie’s Choice, The Color Purple, Goodfellas, Schindler’s List, Fargo, Million Dollar Baby, The Hurt Locker, The Social Network, and last year, Argo. Roger’s all-time favorite motion picture was reportedly Citizen Kane. He additionally began profiles of notable actors and directors in addition to his film reviews — celebrating such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum.

   Ebert founded his own film festival, Ebertfest, in his home town of Champaign, Illinois in 1999. His 1975 Pulitzer for distinguished criticism was the first, and one of only three, given to a film reviewer since the categorys creation in 1970. Ebert was made an honorary life member of the Directors Guild of America during the group’s annual awards ceremony on January 31, 2009. He appeared on Turner Classic Movies in 2010  during the network’s The Essentials series. Ebert chose Sweet Smell of Success to be shown.

   Two thumbs up for the life of Roger Ebert. He was 70.

(photos courtesy of the Chicago Sun Times and Art Shirley)

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Our FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD Pilot Documentary (Development) funding campaign is in its 13th week on INDIEGOGO. We have approached 53% of our goal. Click on the link below if you would like to contribute:

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

CONTRIBUTIONS

~ DARRELL NAKAMURA ($20) – Another counselor at the Academy of Radio and Television Broadcasting; and he’s very good friends with Austin Clough. Darrell actually went through the program, and he’s a fine broadcaster. He also plans on joining us for our Bowling event at Westminster Lanes on May 18th.

~ ESSIE FLORES ($20) – Essie is a restaurant proprieter who lives in Long Beach. He often takes time-out from his duties to visit me at the Starting Gate and Mr. B’s in Los Alamitos to enjoy a little karaoke time.

~ L.H. KEITA ($20) – Another karaoke enthusiast, H.K. often visits the Starting Gate in Los Alamitos and Harvey’s Steakhouse in Huntington Beach. He just retired, and makes the trek into Orange County to try a new song… or two.

~ PATRICK AND SUSAN McFARLANE ($15) – Pat and Susan are longtime friends who belong to my bowling league at Westminster Lanes. He’s a major supporter of our military; and one of his favorite movies is It’s a Wonderful Life; the holiday classic that co-stars many actors in my Forgotten Hollywood Book Series. Pat also enjoys reading the Forgotten Hollywood blog, since he loves classic movies.

* * * * *

   During this 2013 campaign, I’m asking friends, family, and supporters to help us achieve our 120+ day (19-week) goal of $5000. 80 contributors want to support quality family-friendly television programs, intelligently presented to homes across this nation.

   YOU can contribute ANY AMOUNT. This step ensures Development, and we’ll be able to:

1. Hire a research archivist to track down footage and photos; and secure licensing
2. Hire a consultant / casting director to book actors and behind-the-scenes folks from Hollywood’s Golden Age; plus cinematic historians for original interviews
3. Set up a production shoot to tape these candid moments

   Here’s the INDIEGOGO link for all the details (and you’re chance to make a contribution):

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

   All contributors will receive screen credit at the conclusion of the Documentary Pilot.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Hollywood’s Golden Age may forever be remembered as a glamorous time simply because of the photographs of George Hurrell. His sumptuous black-and-white portraits of such stars as Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney have become iconic images in American culture, helping define the classic movie star.

                      GARY COOPER                                             MARLENE DIETRICH

   George Hurrell pioneered the creation of the Dream Factory publicity department. At the request of his wife Norma Shearer, MGM production chief Irving Thalberg signed Hurrell to a contract, making him head of the portrait photography department in 1932. Shearer hired the talented craftsmen at the suggestion of her friend, actor Ramon Navarro. During her career, Hurrell became her personal photographer. In the early 1940s, he moved to Warner Brothers. Later in the decade, he worked at Columbia Pictures, where his pictures were used to help the studio build the career of Rita Hayworth.

   An exhibit of his visual magic is currently on display through June 30th at the Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Rd. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Hollywood Portraits of George Hurrell showcases a number of his best-known images. Since his death in 1992, his works have appreciated in value, and are highly sought after as fine art by collectors.

   A Hurrell portrait, wrote Esquire magazine in 1936, is to the ordinary publicity still what a Rolls Royce is to a roller skate. Go online for admission details and schedules at:

http://www.philbrook.org

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

I have found a bevy of beauties to wish you a very happy and joyous Easter!

                         MARY PICKFORD         ANN MILLER        PAULA PRENTISS

      DORIS DAY              SUSAN HAYWARD      DEBBIE REYNOLDS

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

I’m pleased Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has just received a 5-Star review from the site – Readers’ Favorite. A superb reviewer, Rich Follett, read my latest work and writes:

MARVELOUS! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN…

As its title suggests, Manny Pacheco’s “Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History” is a treasure trove second volume of little-known facts about the tireless and ubiquitous cast of character actors who helped establish the Hollywood film industry. Readers may not know these actors’ names but their faces are indelible – uniquely talented unsung heroes who gave color and life to many of our best-loved films. Profiled in these pages are familiar contributors such as Frank Morgan from “The Wizard of Oz;” Lon Chaney Jr., who brought us The Wolf Man; Margaret Dumont, who became an icon by enduring countless ‘pie-in-the-face’ indignities at the hands of the Marx Brothers; and the immortal Charles Coburn. Alongside these luminaries appear many lesser-known stars such as Freddie Bartholomew, Alan Hale Sr., and Marjorie Main. Reading their stories brings back to life the heyday of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Pacheco’s style is straightforward, unflinching, and devoid of romance. This makes “Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History” even more fascinating. In a world obsessed with fame and the bright lights of ‘show business,’ seeing these often troubled creative personalities without the smoke and mirrors of Hollywood glamour opens a new world for lovers of the cinema. It is easy to see why Pacheco’s second volume “Son of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History” was the recipient of the coveted USA Book News ‘Best Books’ award. This ‘Who’s Who’ of Hollywood’s character actors is a must-read for all serious fans of American cinema.

   Here’s a link to the Readers’ Favorite and Amazon websites:

http://readersfavorite.com/review/8669

http://www.amazon.com/Son-Forgotten-Hollywood-History/dp/1937454142/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326436846&sr=1-1

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. is buying the popular book-focused social networking site Goodreads, which was founded in 2007 and now has more than 16 million members. The move is in line with Amazon’s record of acqquiring much of the book world. In the last 15 years, the company has bought AbeBooks.com, Audible.com, Brilliance Audio, The Book Depository, Shelfari, BookFinder.com, BookSurge, CreateSpace, Mobipocket, and (through AbeBooks), 40% of Library Thing.

   As the leading social networking site devoted to books,  GoodReads is considered a vital  element in addressing the discoverability problem that grew with the spread of eBooks and Amazon, and the collapse of Borders: How would readers discover books if fewer of them were visiting the best source for learning about new books… bricks-and-mortar bookstores? The lingering question is how a site that was prized for its independence and non-commercial credibility will fare as a part of the Amazon empire…

   The acquisition is expected to close by July. Goodreads’ headquarters will remain in San Francisco. Its management is expected to stay in place.

   Bulletins as they break!

Until next time…                               “never forget”

   Our FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD Pilot Documentary (Development) funding campaign on INDIEGOGO is marching along. After 12 weeks, our team is at a whopping 51% of our goal. Click on the link below to make a thoughtful contribution:

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

CONTRIBUTIONS

~ REDNER INVESTMENTS LLC ($100) – Redner Investments LLC  is actively involved in publishing. Managing partner Charlie Redner publishes The Hummingbird Review, a literary magazine featuring articles, poetry, song lyrics, and excerpts from novels and paperbacks, twice a year. Based in Laguna Woods (an Orange County community),  Redner also co-hosts Write Now, a close-circuit cable show that airs each week. The interview program features authors and book-related themes. He’s also an active member of his local community book club.

   Charlie recently wrote a kind review on Amazon about the Forgotten Hollywood series of literature. He’s backed his written words with a magnanimous contribution from his business.

~ JOHN DIAZ & ASSOCIATES ($70) – Pico Rivera’s fine accounting firm is the latest place of business that supports the FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD franchise of books and cinematic enterprises. They have been a family-run business for several generations. In addition to making a personal contribution; they recruited monetary funding from E.D. and H.M. Powers of Diamond Bar.

   Located at 8819 Whittier Blvd., Suite 105, it’s never too late to make an appointment if you need to file your taxes. Their number is (562) 692-0983.

~ PHILL CROSS ($50) – The business owner of Cross Web-Tech, Phill is a fine website designer, online web hosting guru, domain name registrar, and search engine optimizer, and his clients include Karaoke Scene Magazine, Way-To-Go Mobile Notary, and the TomKat Lounge.

   The Seal Beach resident is also immersed in the karaoke lifestyle, and  often, Phill can be singing at nightspots throughout Southern California. For complete information on Cross Web-Tech, click on the following link for all of your online needs:

http://crosswebtech.com/

~ JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ ($25) – Johnny has made a unprecedented second contribution. He has provided a full 1% of our team goal. An unabashed fan of Margaret O’Brien, Johnny is monitering our funding journey with anticipated glee. Once again, a huge THANK YOU to one of FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD’s dear friends… Johnny Rodriguez!

~ CATHY ALBERTORIO ($10) – Cathy is one of my cherished patrons at the Starting Gate in Los Alamitos. A popular singer in the area, one of her heroes is John Lennon. She is also a huge lover of classic cinema, which makes our project an obvious choice for her to support.

PROMOTIONS / LINKS

   Phill Cross and broadcaster Ruben Jay are promoting the FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD Documentary Pilot INDIEGOGO campaign on their social network sites. Part of their effort includes our May 18th Bowling and Comedy Fundraiser at Westminster Lanes, which will conclude our drive.

* * * * *

   During this 2013 campaign, I’m asking friends, family, and supporters to help us achieve our 120+ day (17-week) goal of $5000. 75 contributors want to support quality family-friendly television programs, intelligently presented.

   YOU can contribute ANY AMOUNT. This step ensures Development, and we’ll be able to:

1. Hire a research archivist to track down footage and photos; and secure licensing
2. Hire a consultant / casting director to book actors and behind-the-scenes folks from Hollywood’s Golden Age; plus cinematic historians for original interviews
3. Set up a production shoot to tape these candid moments

   Here’s the INDIEGOGO link for all the details (and you’re chance to make a contribution):

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

   All participants will receive screen credit at the conclusion of the Documentary Pilot.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Once again, Festival du Cannes is using classic movie stars to promote it’s upcoming European festival. An iconic couple: Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman in A New Kind of Love (1963) personify the spirit of cinema on the official 66th edition poster.

   Woodward and Newman were married for many decades until his eventual passing in 2008. They both won Oscars for memorable performances, she for The Three Faces of Eve, and he for The Color of Money (the remake of The Hustler). Last year, a Marilyn Monroe photo was used to ring in the largest annual international film fest.

   Bravo to the Festival du Cannes for their homage to classic cinema (the French word for motion picture). The event will be held from May 15th-26th.

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   The Forgotten Hollywood Book Series are available for readers of the Orange County Breeze. All items in this virtual shop have been selected by their staff. Literary works having immediate local interest, or written by local authors, are sold through Amazon, with the Orange County Breeze receiving a small percentage of the profit.

   Here’s a link to make a purchase:

http://www.oc-breeze.com/shop-orange-county-breeze/page/18/?feedsort=comment_count

Manny P. here…

BREAKING NEWS…

   The FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD Documentary Pilot is going into DEVELOPMENT to start 2013. A screenplay is in the works, which tells the seldom-shared story of Lionel Barrymore’s desire to carry on with his career after a diagnosis of advanced arthritis.

   Barrymore’s decision influenced the pioneering government fight to eradicate polio through the March of Dimes campaign. He also motivated President Franklin Roosevelt and Helen Keller to carry on their personal and professional battles against disability. Their paths shaped our nation’s way we see everyday people with crippling disease; and changed Hollywood’s notion of the handicapped. It’s a gripping story that continues to resonate with my readers of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

   VISION4MEDIA interested International distributors in a finished FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD Documentary Pilot with negotiations at the 2011-2012 Festival du Cannes and the 2010 American Film Market. I’ve been assured a completed documentary has a better chance of finding a domestic home on television or cable. However, creating a product can be an arduous process; and quite  expensive.

*  *  *  *  *

   Now, YOU can be part of the process! I have set up an Indiegogo funding campaign to supplement the monies needed to bring this grand story to the screen. YOUR contributions (any amount) will ultimately let Hollywood producers know YOU are tired of mindless Reality Show-drivel, and support intelligent programs in the spirit of the writings of David McCullough (John Adams), Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals, the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln), Stephen E. Ambrose, the documentaries by Ken Burns (Civil War, Baseball, Jazz), and the creators of American Experience on PBS.

   All YOU need to do is CLICK ON THE LINK… and contribute. We have set up a number of incentives to encourage you to show your support. It is our way of personally saying… THANK YOU!

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460 

   Through this initial 2013 campaign, I’m asking my friends, family, and supporters of our FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD franchise to help us reach a goal of $5000. YOU can contribute ANY AMOUNT. This critical step will ensure the DEVELOPMENT phase, and we’ll be able to:

1. Hire a research archivist to compile footage & photos; and secure licensing
2. Hire a consultant / casting director to book actors and behind-the-scenes folks from Hollywood’s Golden Age; plus cinematic historians for original interviews
3. Set up a production shoot to tape these candid moments

   YOU have been wonderful in supporting my Book Series, my weekly Radio Show, and my blog site. Let’s complete this work by advancing  my most ambitious goal: Making FORGOTTEN HOLLYWOOD a real  Documentary Pilot. With Indiegogo, we can all take credit for  developing this classic Hollywood journey into a bonafide production; and potentially, an intelligent series of programs!

   Again, all YOU need to do is to CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW…

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

   Indiegogo is an International crowd funding site officially launched in 2008 at the Sundance  Film Festival. In 2010, MTV New Media partnered with Indiegogo to develop new content from the site’s projects. Recently, President Barack Obama’s Startup America partnered with Indiegogo to offer crowd funding to entrepreneurs in the US. As of 2012, it has hosted over 100,000 funding campaigns in areas such as music, charity, small business, and film. Indiegogo is also used by already-funded projects to create publicity or find distributors. According to the Wall Street Journal: As of October 2011, over 45,000 campaigns have been launched, raising millions each month.

http://www.indiegogo.com/forgottenhollywoodseries/x/1999460

  My heartfelt personal thanks in advance for your generous support.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   According to their Mission Statement, TheLatinoAuthor.com has a strong commitment to excellence, and to bring more enthusiasm and passion to the Latino and Hispanic literary communities.  Their hope is to assist emerging authors realize their dream of writing and to broaden the sphere of author’s literary works. Among their stated goals:

   They have taken a moment to spotlight my work, and they conducted an interview. Here’s the link to this insightful Q&A:

 http://www.thelatinoauthor.com/featuredauthors/Pacheco-Manny/

   The site offers News, Book Reviews, a list of Authors, Articles, Blog links, and a Book Fair listing. You can also subscribe to their Newsletter. Many thank to Corina Martinez Chaudrey, CEO of TheLatinoAuthor.com.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Debbie Reynolds is making her return to Hollywood in style. Join the legendary star for a Double Feature with Debbie. The Egyptian Theatre is working in conjunction with Larry Edmunds Bookshop on Tuesday, April 9th.

   Reynolds literary work, Unsinkable, is the definitive memoir by the film legend and Hollywood icon. The actress, comedienne, singer, and dancer shares the highs and lows of her life during Hollywood’s Golden Age; anecdotes about her lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Taylor; intimate details of her marriages and family life with her children, Carrie and Todd Fisher; and details on how she became the foremost collector of Hollywood memorabilia. Debbie Reynolds picks up where she left off in her first memoir, Debbie: My Life. The book is illustrated with previously unpublished photos from Reynolds’s personal collection. Signed copies will be available in the lobby starting at 6:30 PM.

   Prior to the screening, Debbie will be interviewed. The classic flicks to be shown: Singin’ in the Rain and Unsinkable Molly Brown (featuring her Oscar-nominated performance).

   This lively event is sponsored by American Cinematheque, the only public, alternative screening organization in town that offers such a wide variety of film & video programming from all over the world on a weekly basis. They partnered with the Community Redevelopment Agency to deveop the historic Egyptian Theatre along Hollywood Blvd. as a permanent home. This is a state-of-the-art location steeped in motion picture history.

Until next time>                               “never forget”