“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Fine Character Actor has Died…
June 25th, 2011Manny P. here…
Most folks remember Peter Falk as Columbo, the street smart detective in the rumpled trench coat. However, before his starring role on the revolving NBC Mystery Movie series, the diminuitive actor had a prolific screen career as a talented supporting player.
Falk received two Oscar nominations for swell performances in Murder Inc. and A Pocketful of Miracles, Frank Capra’s very last production. He was also great in It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Robin and the Seven Hoods, The Great Race, Murder by Death, A Woman Under the Influence, and The Princess Bride.
He also had guest spots in Decoy (starring Beverly Garland), Have Gun Will Travel, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, Wagon Train, and Ben Casey. He eventually won an Emmy in 1962 for his work in The Price of Tomatoes, a Dick Powell television drama.
By all accounts, Falk was a total joy to work with. Frank Capra felt he was the one good thing to come out of his swan song. Johnny Cash was also candid about how the star of Columbo took time to coach the singer-turned-actor. And, Falk guided the producer of the first Grammy Awards show in 1971 by offering valued advice.
Ah…One more thing… The detective, Columbo, has a rich history. His character was based on the writings by Dostoyesky in his novel, Crime and Punishment. The part was created on Broadway, and played by Thomas Mitchell. After Bing Crosby turned down the television role, Falk decided to accept it, bringing a trenchcoat from his own closet. Four more Emmy awards followed. And, one of the earliest directors to work on the eventual series… Steven Spielberg.
Peter Falk was 83.
Until next time> “never forget”
I appreciate Rollyson’s honest, unsolicited review. The entire story can be found at:
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Profiles in History is the offical auction house calculating the final tally of sales (estimated at $22.8 million). Nancy Seltzer & Associates handled the publicity, which was immense. Debbie Reynolds has already scheduled a sister auction for December.
A $100,000 plot near the remains of Rudolph Valentino and Jayne Mansfield was provided by the curator of the cemetery. Expected to attend: Carl Spitz, who owned and trained the dog; an offspring of L. Frank Baum, who penned The Wizard of Oz; Mercedes Michalowski, director of the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas; and one of the remaining Munchkins. By the way, the real name of the iconic terrier…Terry.
J.P. Myers started a similar campaign in 2010 for Jack Norworth, the man who wrote Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Because of his efforts, a fan built and donated a 2,000-pound granite monument to Norworth. Another fan covered burial costs. Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers appeared at the July 11th ceremony.
Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History has been added at its first library of higher learning. The University of Michigan will now carry my paperback. It’s the 53rd branch where you can find my book.
Doris Day is set to release a new CD, her first in two decades. The initial distribution will take place in the United Kingdom through Sony Music on September 5th. The project is called My Heart. Fans in the U.S. can pre-order it through 
God bless Doris Day!
Hitler’s obsessive hostility can be directly linked from his unique ability to galvanize troops as a corporal in the German army during World War I. He expressed his success through virulant oratory in a personal letter to his superior officer. Dated September 16, 1919, this four-page note openly espoused his political philosophy: An inner hatred of Jews and his desire to see them exterminated. This correspondence was written six years before the publication of Mein Kampf.
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