Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

Manny P. here…

   The Paley Center for Media is proud to partner with CBS Consumer Products in presenting the Los Angeles premiere gallery exhibition of Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz. Star Trek (1966-69) occupies a rarified place in popular culture, and continues to be a force in all facets of media. Ortiz’s groundbreaking effort to personify each of the series’s 79 episodes, and the original pilot, through a collection of original art posters embodies his passion for the series, the transformational 1960s, and the often visceral reaction generated by each episode.

 You are cordially invited to a

PREVIEW RECEPTION

Star Trek: The Art of  Juan Ortiz 

Manny P. here…

   Theater producers are planning a Broadway revival of the musical Gigi, and will open the sumptuous production at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The engagement announced Wednesday is slated to open in January 2015. They plan to bring Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe’s stage play to Broadway later in 2015 for the first time in more than forty years.

   Eric Schaeffer of Washington’s Signature Theater will be the director. He guided the Kennedy Center’s revival of Follies that went on to garner eight Tony Award nominations last year. Playwright Heidi Thomas is reimagining the new production.

   Gigi, set in Paris, comes from the same composer and lyricist as My Fair Lady. The original novel by Colette began as a play starring Audrey Hepburn, and then became a movie musical that featured Leslie Caron (in the title role), Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, and Hermione Gingold. Gigi won a record-breaking nine Oscars at the 1959 ceremony; but, the record only lasted for a year, as Ben-Hur broke it with eleven Academy Awards.

   Thank heaven for this wonderful story…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   One Hollywood film studio has commanded A-list talent since its inception — Elizabeth Taylor, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock, Michael Douglas, Nicole Kidman — and they all worked for free. What studio head has such pull? It’s Rabbi Marvin Hier, the mini-mogul of Moriah Films, the movie division of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

   Founded by Hier in 1981, Moriah Films has won two Academy Awards for their historical documentaries. He established the movie studio a few years after opening the Wiesenthal Center in 1977. He planned a slide show about the Holocaust, when Fay Kanin, then president of the film academy, suggested he consider making a movie instead. US Senator John Warner was involved with the Wiesenthal Center at the time, and was married to Elizabeth Taylor. She became the narrator for Genocide, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.

   The dozen movies Moriah Films has made attracted such notables as Michael York, Kevin Costner, Whoopi Goldberg, Brooke Shields, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Richard Dreyfuss, Patrick Stewart, Ed Asner, Martin Landau, and Ben Kingsley. Its latest production, The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers, featuring the narration of Sandra Bullock and Christoph Waltz, opens Wednesday in Los Angeles, and travels to more cities next month. Kingsley, Douglas, and Waltz, have offered their talents a couple of times.

   The Wiesenthal Center, a human-rights organization providing Holocaust education and fights anti-Semitism, began its deep ties to Hollywood when Frank Sinatra and Taylor were on the original board of directors and made introductions throughout Hollywood. Today, movie moguls Jeffrey Katzenberg and Ron Meyer link the Wiesenthal Center to the film community. Moriah’s productions have been screened theatrically, and broadcast around the world on Showtime, HBO,Starz/Encore, as well as, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Israeli television outlets.

   Hier has fond memories of watching Roy Rogers’ pictures at New York’s Palestine Theater as a boy, and remains a movie fan today. But Moriah Films aims to do more than entertain. He said it’s important to put Jewish history on film to reach worldwide audiences for years to come.

   We have to agree…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   AFI Fest 2013 is right around the corner! Held from November 7th – 14th, it’s an annual celebration of international cinema from modern masters and emerging filmmakers. AFI FEST 2013 will feature nightly red-carpet galas, special screenings, and celluloid tributes.

   This year, they also have an impressive movie legacy line-up:

~ MARY POPPINS (11/09 – 1p at the TCL Chinese)  On August 27th, 1964, this Walt Disney production debuted at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and it exploded into the national consciousness. Though, Walt had made live-action motion pictures for over a decade, director Robert Stevenson’s sumptuous musical became one of Disney’s finest contributions to American cinema. They received 13 Oscar nods, including Best Picture; and it won five, including a Best Actress statuette for Julie Andrews.

   Initial attempts to adapt the book were met with resistance from author P.L. Travers. This is dramatized in AFI FEST’s Opening Night screening of SAVING MR. BANKS, starring Tom Hanks.

~ THE COURT JESTER (11/10 – 12p at the Chinese 1)  Actor Danny Kaye stars as an ex-circus performer in medieval England who joins a band of forest rebels seeking to overthrow a corrupt king and his dastardly minions, including the scheming Lord Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone). Highlights include Kaye’s musical intro; a thrilling sword duel between Rathbone and Kaye; and passages of classic wordplay, such as The pellet with the poison’s in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!

   The Oscar-winning writing team of Norman Panama and Melvin Frank produced and directed this musical-comedy spoof of Hollywood swashbucklers. Shot in high-resolution VistaVision.

~ THE LAST EMPEROR (11/10 – 3p at the TCL Chinese)  For the 25th anniversary of the international release of this visually sumptuous epic about Pu Yi, China’s final sovereign, the motion picture has been restored with re-mastered sound. This process was supervised by director Bernardo Bertolucci and famed cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. Depth and dimension have been added with 3-D conversion, enriching the on-location footage.

   The resulting tapestry was awarded nine Oscars, including Best Picture. It also featured the acting talents of Peter O’Toole.

~  ~  ~

   FREE tix are available every day through Closing Night at AFI FEST 2013. No pre-assigned time slot is needed to access tickets between November 7th – 14th. Limit of two tickets per screening at the AFI FEST AT&T Box Office – Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 223, Hollywood, CA 90028 (10a – 10p).

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks is again expected to collaborate with noted historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (below). The movie studio has secured the cinematic rights to her upcoming work, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.

Manny P. here…

The Roger Corman Horror Classics Collection from Film Chest Media Group not only gives you three of Corman’s most popular movies, but you get them in high definition. Taken from the original 35mm prints, these digitally restored widescreen versions look and sound better than ever before. You can check out the before-and-after restoration demo included on the bonus features.

Manny P. here…

   Governor Rick Perry formally presented the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor posthumously to Major Audie L. Murphy today in a public ceremony in Farmersville, Texas.  The award was accepted by Murphy’s sister, Mrs. Nadine Murphy-Lockey.

   Murphy was America’s most decorated World War II combat soldier, earning an astounding 33 decorations, medals, and citations, including the US Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and a Purple Heart. Throughout his career in the service, he received every valor decoration the military awarded at that time.

   After the war, Audie Murphy (above) appeared in over 50 films, spanning a 21-year career — most notably playing himself in the 1955 autobiographical war film To Hell and Back (based on his 1949 memoirs), which set a box-office record for Universal Studios. It wasn’t broken until Jaws was released in 1975. In an effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, Murphy spoke out candidly about his own problems with post-traumatic stress disorder. It was known during Murphy’s lifetime as battle fatigue and shell shock, terminology dating back to World War I.

   On May 28th, 1971, Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia in conditions of rain, clouds, fog, and zero visibility. As a result of legislation introduced by the US Congress, five months after his death, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio was dedicated in 1973; and they are currently part of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Stephen Humphrey Bogart, son of movie legends Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, gives his take on movies currently in theaters, as well as on his favorites from the Golden Age of cinema. A jam-packed thirty minute show where Bogart breaks down his pick of movies from different genres, and tops it off by highlighting some of the worst movies of all time. It’s home base is on WXEL – PBS For The Palm Beaches.

   Stephen Bogart’s movie review program, Bogart on Movies, now has its own dedicated web page, where you can see all the episodes that have aired so far. If you are interested, ask your local PBS affiliate to consider carrying the show.

   Here’s a link to check out this new critical take on motion pictures:

http://www.wxel.org/local-programs/bogart-on-movies/

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Director Hal Needham began his career as a stuntman. His initial break came when he was cast as a billboard model for Viceroy Cigarettes while searching for a job in Hollywood. He eventually received an honorary Oscar for his contributions in the technical aspects of cinema.

   In the 1956 biopic, The Spirit of St. Louis, the script called for airplane wing-walking and parachute jumping; skills Needham mastered while serving in the Army and performing in thrill shows. The technician nailed the stunts, and fell in love with the profession. He became the stunt double for Richard Boone on the popular  television western Have Gun, Will Travel. He  was recruited to train under John Wayne’s stunt double, and quickly became one of the top stuntmen of the 1960s on such films as How the West Was Won, McLintock!, The Bridge at Remagen, and Little Big Man. He doubled regularly for Clint Walker and Burt Reynolds.   HAL NEEDHAM —–>

   His most dazzling stunts included jumping a boat a record 138 feet across a swamp in Gator; jumping onto a moving stagecoach from a horse, and then broad-jumping across the coach’s teams of horses as they raced along in Little Big Man; and launching his car 80 feet onto a moving ferry in White Lightning. Needham moved into stunt coordinating and directing second unit action, while designing air bags and other innovative equipment to the industry.

   After Hal co-wrote the screenplay for Smokey and the Bandit, Burt Reynolds offered him the chance to direct the flick. It was a huge hit, and the results led to successful collaborative productions of Hooper, Stroker Ace, and The Cannonball Run series.

   In 2012, Needham was awarded a Governors Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, where he was introduced by director Quentin Tarantino.

   The durable Hal Needham was 82.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Moose Charities just sent by mail a letter of recognition with a special memento to honor our recent contribution of $2400 on behalf of Buena Park Moose #1945. We raised the money from $1 contributed from the sale of each first edition copy sold of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. Executive Director Jan Fregulia wrote:

   At the recent International Convention inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, we had the opportunity to personally thank the members of the League of Guardians in attendance. Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” I extend heartfelt thanks to you for your outstanding generosity and compassion. Please accept this crystal award as a small token of our appreciation…

   My wife Laurie and I were indeed pleasantly surprised by the acknowledgment. We intend to keep searching for creative ways to provide donations to Moose Charities.

JAN FREGULIA   MANNY PACHECO

   Moose Charities Inc., is a registered nonprofit, Illinois-based 501 (c)3 charity, charged with the primary goal of providing the necessary resources for continued support and maintenance of the Mooseheart Child City & School and the Moosehaven retirement community.

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   The nationwide phenomenon known as the LIT CRAWL debuts in the North Hollywood (NoHo) Arts District tonight from 6p to 11p. LIT CRAWL is being held in two rounds – Round One from 6p – 7p; Round Two from 7:30p – 8:30p; After Party from 9p – 11p (twelve locales).

   Restaurants, bars and other hip NoHo venues will host an evening of thrilling readings with the best of LA’s writers in a sampling from throughout Southern California. Multiple genres will be represented, spanning fiction to poetry. It promises to be a vibrant literary evening!

   http://guerrillareads.com/2011/05/17/guerrillareads-no-28/

   Guerrilla Reads will be airing videos of readings from authors they have collected. One of their scribes is ME reading a passage from Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. LIT CRAWL is FREE, and tickets to the After Party are $15.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Legendary actress Tippi Hedren is headed to Richmond for a special screening of The Birds in celebration of the 50th anniversary for the film. The ingenue of Alfred Hitchcock will be at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to help kick-off the museum’s Hollywood Costume exhibit, which opens the same day. The green dress Hedren wore in the film is featured in the exhibition.

   The family-friendly activity is a Film and Talk. Following the screening, Professor Gweneth West, head of costume design at the University of Virginia, will lead a Q&A with Ms. Hedren about her experiences as the trademark cool blonde in Hitchcock’s The Birds and Marnie.

   VMFA is hosting in partnership with the Virginia Film Festival.  It’s on Saturday, November 9th from 3p – 6p. Tickets are $15 ($12 for members).

   This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the classic movie buff living in the Commonwealth of the Old Dominion…

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   Noel Harrison was an English singer, actor, and Olympian. He’s also the son of Rex Harrison. Noel was best known for recording the hit song The Windmills Of Your Mind, which was featured on The Thomas Crown Affair soundtrack. It won Best Song at the 1968 Oscars.

   At an early age, Harrison was a part of the British ski team, becoming its first giant-slalom champion in 1953. He represented Great Britain at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway; and at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

   An early break came when he took part in the BBC Television programme, Tonight. Noel appeared as Mark Slate in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. as the co-star of Stefanie Powers. As Slate, Noel also guest-starred on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullabaloo, and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.

   In 1968, the actor played the male lead in a touring theater group of The Fantasticks. He reprised Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, the part first performed by his famous father in Broadway’s original stage production and film version. Other roles included Baron von Trapp in The Sound of Music, King Arthur in Camelot, and Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. HARRISON & STEFANIE POWERS ->

   Noel Harrison was 79.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The Workshop Theatre is proud to be Calgary’s longest running community theatre (since 1969). They are pleased to announce The War of the Worlds, which opens on October 29th. It’s the 75th anniversary of the Mercury Theatre broadcast.

   Shortly after 8p on Halloween Eve, 1938, the voice of a panicked radio announcer broke in with a news bulletin reporting strange explosions taking place on Mars; followed minutes later by a report Martians had landed in the tiny hamlet of Grovers Mill, New Jersey. Although most listeners understood the program was a radio drama, the next day’s headlines reported that thousands of others plunged into panic, convinced America was under a deadly Martian attack. It was an episode from the drama anthology series – Mercury Theatre on the Air. Aired over the CBS radio network, and directed and narrated by Orson Welles, it was adaptated from H.G. Wells’s novel, War of the Worlds (1898).

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigated the radio  show, but found no laws were broken. Networks agreed to be more cautious in their future programming. The actor feared the controversy generated by The War of the Worlds would ruin his career. However, the publicity helped land him a contract with a Hollywood studio. By 1941, Welles directed, produced, wrote, and starred in the iconic Citizen Kane. In 2003, the Mercury Theatre broadcast of The War of the Worlds was added to the National Recording Registry of Library of Congress.  ORSON WELLES

   The War of the Worlds is brought to life at the Pumphouse Theatres (10/29 – 11/02) in the Joyce Doolittle Theatre at 2140 Pumphouse Ave. SW. Shows start at 7:30 pm.

   Western Canada… Prepare to be frightened… ay!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Wicked has shown the heart, brains, and courage to reign as the highest-grossing show on Broadway for about a decade. The Wizard of Oz-related stage phenomenon continues to set records around the world. From its 1.1 million Facebook followers to its nearly 100 global awards, including three Tonys and a Grammy.

   Ironically, one of the beneficiaries of Wicked’s success is Universal Pictures. They decided not to pursue a related movie project, but did invest in the stage version. It’s the single most lucrative project the movie studio has been involved with. Considering they’ve produced E.T., Jaws, and Jurassic Park… that’s quite an accomplishment.

   The stage show has also become an international success, too. In Finland or Japan, by comparison, audiences don’t know the first thing about Dorothy and Cowardly Lion, let alone the witches, Elphaba and Glinda. Nevertheless, Wicked has been an equally incredible success in these and many other countries.

   Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, there was a question whether this would succeed in New York. After ten record breaking years and nearly 7.5 million tickets sold at the Gershwin Theatre alone, it’s safe to say the question has been answered.

   The merry old land of Oz continues to reign supreme, which is good news for folks of all ages.

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   A stage adaptation based on An American in Paris with music by George and Ira Gershwin is  headed for Broadway in 2015 after a stop in — where else? — Paris next December. The 1951 movie won an Oscar for Best Picture, and starred Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, and Oscar Levant. It was inspired by a 1928 orchestral composition by the Gershwins.

                                             GENE KELLY                 LESLIE CARON

    The score includes the tunes I Got Rhythm, Our Love Is Here To Stay, But Not For Me, S’Wonderful, Stairway to Paradise, and They Can’t Take That Away. It will follow on the heels of other recent Gershwin stage hits, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Porgy and Bess.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   This weekend, I’ll be at a historic cemetery in Orange County, CA, for a major tour event and fundraiser that benefits the iconic Howe Waffle House in Santa Ana. Here are details of my appearance:

SANTA ANA HISTORY – 16th ANNUAL HISTORICAL CEMETERY TOUR

Creative Genius: Artists and Inventors in Orange County History

Fairhaven Memorial Park and Santa Ana Cemetery

1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, CA

October 19th

Saturday 11p – 3p

   This guided historical tour of Fairhaven Memorial Park and Santa Ana Cemetery features costumed actors portraying historic figures who share stories from Orange County’s past. For example, Fender and Rickenbacker are household names to famous folks involved in modern music, and both grew up in Orange County. Performers playing electric guitar pioneers, F.C. Hall and Leo Fender (who was born in Anaheim),  will explain their influence on the music scene of the 1950s and 1960s,  such as the Beach Boys, the Byrds and the Beatles. O.C. has been home to the imaginative, the artistic, and the inspired.   LEO FENDER ——>

   Docents will guide visitors through scenes that played creative roles in the recent history of the county, culminating in a presentation in Fairhaven’s beautiful 1916 mausoleum. A lovely outdoor setting and close access to the actors make this an entertaining outing for the whole family. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the hour-and-a-half long walking tour.

   The event is hosted by the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society. Tix: adults $20; seniors and members $16; and students $14. Children 9 and under are free. If you live in the Southern California area, I’ll be signing copies of my Forgotten Hollywood Book  Series, great gifts for the Holiday season.

   I hope to see you out there.

Until next time>                               “never forget”