Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here… 

   Pat Harrington Jr. was an actor and comedian who in the 1950s received attention as a member of Steve Allen’s fabled television comic troupe, but secured lasting fame decades later as Dwayne Schneider, the handyman on the long-running One Day at a Time. The series from prolific producer Norman Lear was a hit, airing on CBS from 1975 to 1984. The role brought him an Emmy  in its final year of production. He also had a recurring part on the Danny Thomas sitcom, Make Room for Daddy.          PAT HARRINGTON JR.  —->

   Harrington Jr. was the son of a song-and-dance man who made his name in vaudeville and on Broadway. Following in his father’s footsteps, he pursued a career in entertainment. Steve Allen added his talent to the likes of Louis Nye, Don Knotts, and Tom Poston. Once Allen was replaced by Jack Paar on The Tonight Show, Harrington Jr. was included in memorable sketches.

   During the 1960s, Pat guest-starred on The Bing Crosby Show, Mr. Novak, F Troop, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., McHale’s Navy, Love American Style, and The Love Boat. After his success on One Day at a Time, he was invited to appear on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Murder She Wrote, The King of Queens, and Hot in Cleveland. He also had small roles in films, including Easy Come Easy Go starring Elvis Presley, and The Candidate with Robert Redford. Harrington Jr. was additionally a voice actor for various cartoons.

   Pat Harrington Jr. was 85.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Robert Stigwood was a highly successful impresario and entertainment entrepreneur. In the 1960s and 1970s, he became one of the most successful figures in the entertainment world through his management of Cream and The Bee Gees; theatrical productions, such as Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar; and movies, including the hugely successful Saturday Night Fever. Stigwood followed this production with another hugely successful film adaptation of one of his stage productions, the rock’n’roll musical Grease. The tandem secured John Travolta from television staple to major motion picture star.  ROBERT STIGWOOD ->

   Early in his career, he managed Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, and Blind Faith. Later, he successfully managed Yvonne Elliman and Player on his RSO Records label. Other successful Broadway productions included Evita (winner of the 1980 Tony Award for Best Musical) Pippin, Oh! Calcutta!, and Sweeney Todd. He collaborated on cinematic versions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita; sequels, Staying Alive and Grease 2; as soundtrack producer of Fame and The Empire Strikes Back; and Tommy, Bugsy Malone, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Gallipoli. He was also executive producer of the Music for UNICEF Concert. His musical savvy also served him well for the flick, Time Square, as he promoted some of the hottest New Wave artists at the time, such as Patti Smith, The Pretenders, Talking Heads, and Roxy Music.

   Stigwood’s legacy as the father of the modern Rock Opera remains in tact. His influence is entrenched in the productions of The Rocky Horror Show and the musical version of Little Shop of Horrors. Along the way, he revived the careers of The Bee Gees and Olivia Newton John, as they became pop culture superstars.

   Robert Stigwood was 81.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Scholars at UC Berkeley have found pieces written by Mark Twain that are 150 years old. Not unfinished, but published stories. Members of the Mark Twain Project of Berkeley found them in the archives of the San Francisco Chronicle that were so old, the newspaper was called the San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle when they were published.

   When Twain was 29, his job included writing a 2,000-word dispatch every day, and then, sending it off by stagecoach for publication in the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City, Nevada. He wrote six stories a week to communicate the stories of San Francisco to Virginia City, which were both major mining towns at the time.

   Often times, the discovery of unpublished stories from an author occur after they’ve died. An example of a posthumous novel: The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway that was unfinished, but later published by his estate. On the other hand, the new Mark Twain find were completed published works.

   The Mark Twain Project has discovered 110 of these columns, and a collection of these newly uncovered writings is expected to come out around 2017.

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   Another one of the great cinematographers has died. Hungarian-born Vilmos Zsigmond (right) helped define cinema’s American New Wave in the 1970s through iconic collaborations and a preference for natural light. He first gained renown for his collaboration with Robert Altman on classics McCabe & Mrs. Miller and The Long Goodbye.

   In addition to his work on Michael Cimino’s classic The Deer Hunter, for which he earned an Oscar nomination, Zsigmond also worked with Brian De Palma on a number of films, including Blow Out. Zsigmond’s sole Oscar win was for Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Other films of note: Deliverance, Sugarland Express, Heaven’s Gate, Obsession, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Witches of Eastwick.

   In 2003, a survey conducted by the International Cinematographers Guild placed Zsigmond among the ten most influential cinematographers in history. In 2012, along with Yuri Neyman, he co-founded Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles with the mission to educate cinematographers, and to preserve and extend the role of cinematographer as the major expert and contributor in the image building process in all current and future variations of the complex mix of artistry and technology.

   Vilmos Zsigmond was 85.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Natalie Cole was true music royalty. She was the daughter of crooner Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington Orchestra singer Maria Hawkins Ellington (no relation to the bandleader). She carried on her late father’s musical legacy and, through technology, shared a duet with him on Unforgettable. Over the years, she won 9 Grammy Awards. Natalie is also famous for waging a personal war on drugs, and later, a fight against hepatitis.

   Her father was already a recording star in the 1950s and mid-1960s. In 1956, Nat Cole became the first black entertainer to host a national television variety show, though poor ratings and lack of sponsors caused the program to be canceled. He also appeared in a few movies, and spoke out in favor of civil rights. Natalie Cole was inspired by her dad at an early age, and auditioned to sing with him at 11 years of age. She was 15 when he died of lung cancer, in 1965.                                         NAT KING COLE      NATALIE COLE

   Her career took off in the 1970s, with hits including This Will Be, Our Love, and Inseparable. Two decades later, she re-emerged as a torch singer, singing Standards that would have made her dad proud. When she decided to pay tribute to her famous father, the public and her peers gushed at her new vocal maturity. In between, she battled heroin, crack cocaine, and alcohol addiction, and spent six months in rehab in 1983.

   Natalie also dabbled with movies and television. She performed at the 65th Academy Awards performing a medley of two Oscar-nominated songs: Run To You and I Have Nothing, both originally performed by Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard. One memorable appearance was as a performer in the Cole Porter biopic, De-Lovely. On television, she guest starred in I’ll Fly Away, Touched By an Angel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Grey’s Anatomy, and most recently, on American Idol and Real Housewives of New York City. In 2001, she starred as herself in Livin’ for Love: the Natalie Cole Story, for which she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television, Mini-Series of Dramatic Special. Her autobiography was released in conjunction with the small screen presentation. It was called Angel on My Shoulder.

   Natalie Cole was 65.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   2016 will officially start with a last trip to the 1920s. Downton Abbey is beginning its final journey on Sunday as a mini-series. Part of Masterpiece on PBS, Julian Fellowes has not ruled out a future motion picture, or an update to the program in the future. The exploits of the Crawley family and their servants  have captured the imagination of home viewers around the world. Quality television is something to be cherished.

   Needless to say, I have been a loyal fan since Season One, and have enjoyed every episode a number of times. I also love the backstory additions that have been produced over the years, which share intimate tidbits about Highclere Castle (the very real home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and the set for many of the interior and exterior scenes), the manners, the fashion, and the gossip that is Downton Abbey.

   All of England is already having withdrawals from losing its popular program, since it has already aired across the pond to completion during the Fall of 2015. I plan on soaking in the entire season beginning this Sunday. When it crashes to its impending conclusion, I will mourn its loss.

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   Wayne Rogers was Trapper John McIntyre alongside Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce who brought mischief, martinis, and meatball surgery every week on M.A.S.H. in the 1970s. He was a regular in the first three seasons during its 11-year run.              WAYNE ROGERS ——–>

    Rogers appeared on television in various roles, such as Death Valley Days, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., The F.B.I., The Invaders, and Murder She Wrote. He had a small supporting role in the 1967 movie, Cool Hand Luke. He finally was a regular panel member on the Fox News Channel stock program Cashin’ In, as a result of having built a lucrative career as an investor, investment strategist and adviser, and money manager. He was also head of Wayne Rogers & Co., a stock trading investment corporation.

   Wayne Rogers was 82.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Disneyland is making room for a new fourteen-acre Star Wars attraction at its California resort. Disney will use newly acquired land and close existing attractions to make room for the so-called Star Wars Land. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Fantasmic, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island,  Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, and the Frontierland Disneyland Railroad stop are among the attractions that will temporarily close. The temporary resort closures to accommodate the Star Wars Land would last for a year. Starting on January 10th, 2016, many of the Big Thunder Ranch attractions, including Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, Petting Zoo, and Jamboree will permanently close.

   While waiting for the Star Wars Land to be built, Star Wars fans visiting Disneyland will still have plenty to do. Tomorrowland boasts several new galactic attractions, and Star Wars Launch Bay where patrons can meet their favorite film characters, from Darth Vader to Chewbacca. Hyperspace Mountain, formerly known as Space Mountain, also features themes and music from the franchise.

   Eventually, fans of Disney and Star Wars could expect to take an interactive customized mission on the Millennium Falcon, among other film-inspired experiences. Disney’s Orlando resort will also have Star Wars attractions.

   The Force Awakens in the heart of Anaheim beginning in 2016.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   It’s an end of a tradition. Longtime Rose Parade broadcasters Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards will make the 2016 edition their last. Ken Burns is the announced Grand Marshal, while Elizabeth McGovern of Downton Abbey is one of the many stars expected to ride on floats. This year, the annual event is presented by Honda with the theme, Find Your Adventure.

   The pair will anchor KTLA-TV’s coverage Friday morning, describing the flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units moving down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard. The two are familiar to Southern California audiences who refuse to brave the cold of the outdoor festivities. KTLA has been broadcasting the Rose Parade since January 1st, 1948.

BOB EUBANKS    STEPHANIE EDWARDS

   Eubanks, whose career includes hosting The Newlywed Game, worked the parade for several years before he was paired with Edwards in 1982. He moved into television after spending a few decades behind a radio microphone. Edwards began her career as a receptionist for local news legend, Ralph Story. She later co-hosted the morning television program, Good Morning America, which included guests, traffic, and weather reports.

   In 2006, Edwards was replaced as an anchor, but given a position commenting from the grandstands that year. She returned to co-anchoring the parade coverage in 2009. Their chemistry is unique in bringing in the New Year, so it is fitting that they will leave together. The Tournament of Roses Parade is the prelude to the Rose Bowl football game that annually pits the Pac 12 representative against the Big 10 rep.

   Former Entertainment Tonight host Leeza Gibbons and Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family host Mark Steines will take over parade-hosting duties in 2017 for KTLA.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Many P. here…

   Meadowlark Lemon was known as the clown prince of basketball’s barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters, whose blend of hook shots and humor brought joy to millions of fans around the world. He was one of the most popular athletes in the world during the prime of his career, thanks to a unique blend of athleticism and showmanship. He ended up becoming arguably the team’s most popular player, a showman known as much for his confetti-in-the-water-bucket routine and slapstick comedy as his half-court hook shots and no-look, behind-the-back passes.

   Though skilled enough to play professionally, Lemon instead wanted to entertain, his dream of playing for the Globetrotters hatched after watching a newsreel of the all-black team at a cinema house when he was 11. Lemon first contacted the Globetrotters before his high school graduation and joined the team in 1954. What followed was a run, by his calculations, of more than 16,000 straight games that took him to places he never could have imagined. He played during the team’s heyday from the mid-1950s to the late-1970s, delighting fans with his skills with a ball and a joke. Traveling by car, bus, train or plane nearly every night, Lemon covered nearly 4 million miles to play in over 100 countries and in front of popes and presidents, kings and queens. He was also known for his luminous smile.

   Playing against the Globetrotters’ nightly foil, the Washington Generals, Lemon left fans in awe with an array of nifty moves he put on display, while Sweet Georgia Brown played over the loudspeaker. Lemon was a sport’s icon by the 1970s, appearing in television and movies, including appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show and numerous talk shows, joining the sitcom Hello Larry, co-starring in the flick, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh; even a stint in the cartoon Scooby Doo, with Scatman Crothers doing his voice.

   Wilt Chamberlain called him the most sensational player he had ever seen. Meadowlark Lemon (right) spent the last years of his life trying to spread a message of faith through basketball. He became an ordained minister in 1986, and was a motivational speaker, touring the country to meet with children at basketball camps and youth prisons with his Scottsdale-based Meadowlark Lemon Ministries. A sign of his crossover appeal, Lemon was inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Clown Hall of Fame.

   Meadowlark Lemon was 83.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

   Haskell Wexler (right) was a two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer and a prominent social activist who took on projects for their cultural merit. This was rare for behind-the-scenes cinematic types. His innovative approach to film helped him win Oscars for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and the Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory. Frequent collaborators included Hal Ashby, Norman Jewison, and John Sayles.

   Wexler also photographed some of the most politicized and influential films of the 1960s and 1970s, such as The Best Man, The Thomas Crown Affair, the Jane Fonda-Jon Voight anti-war classic Coming Home, and the racial drama In the Heat of the Night, as well as the Oscar-winning adaptation of Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Six of the films he worked on have been preserved by the National Film Registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, including American Graffiti and Days of Heaven.

   Surprisingly, he began his career working on documentaries, and on the television program, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Wexler was judged to be one of film history’s ten most influential in a survey of members of the International Cinematographers Guild,  the first active cameraman to be awarded such an honor. He was the rare cinematographer known enough by the general public to receive a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. His son is Oscar-nominated sound director, Jeff Wexler.

   Haskell Wexler (above) was 93.

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   Jason Wingreen was the actor who provided the familiar voice of Boba Fett in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He was also well known for his role as the bartender Harry Snowden on All in the Family, and its continuation series, Archie Bunker’s Place. Prior to this, Wingreen was a regular during the 1960-1961 season of The Untouchables. He was also memorable in three episodes of The Twilight Zone.

JASON WINGREEN                 BOBA FETT

   He worked regularly on television, guest-starring on Dr. Kildare, The Outer Limits, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Bonanza, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, The Rockford Files, and The Fugitive. Later, he had a recurring role in Matlock. In 1979, Wingreen was a part of the cast in the mini-series Roots: The Next Generation. His last appearances was on an episode of Seinfeld and In the Heat of the Night.

   Jason Wingreen was 95.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   For this year’s most sophisticated holiday evening, Turner Classic Movies has gathered all six entries from a movie series that defined urbane elegance: the Thin Man films. So, ring in the New Year in style with one of the great screen couples– Nick and Nora Charles, as played by William Powell and Myrna Loy. These glamorous Manhattan residents trade quips while sipping martinis and solving murders with the aid of their famous wire-haired terrier, Asta.

                                                                                      MYRNA LOY   ASTA   WILLIAM POWELL   

   The movies are shown in chronological order, ranging from the original The Thin Man to the final entry in the series, Song of the Thin Man. In between are After the Thin Man, in which the delightful duo encounter rising star James Stewart; Another Thin Man, which adds a baby to the mix; Shadow of the Thin Man, the last of the series to be directed by W.S. Van Dyke; and The Thin Man Goes Home, with Nick visiting his family in New England and, of course, becoming embroiled in a murder case.

   Of course, I have the complete series on DVD. But, I lose the added bonus of Robert Osborne on TCM, with his asides and stories. Cesar Romero, C. Aubrey Smith, Marjorie Main, and Gloria Grahame are actors in my Forgotten Hollywood Book Series who appear in the various films. And only, if I decide to spend the last day of 2015 at home.

   What to do… What to do…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Some photos don’t ever need a caption.

   MERRY CHRISTMAS…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   An auction of Sylvester Stallone’s black leather Rocky jacket and other memorabilia has earned more than $3 million. Heritage Auctions President Greg Rohan says Stallone’s leather jacket was the top item sold at the three-day auction, with a top bid of $149,000. A poncho worn by Stallone in the first Rambo film fetched $60,000 in a sale that featured boxing trunks, gloves, and other items from the actor-director’s storied career.

   Stallone attended the auction’s first day and mingled with fans. The 69-year-old Oscar nominee announced the sale in July, but said it didn’t mean he was saying goodbye to the characters who made him famous.

   Stallone reprised his role as Rocky Balboa in the recent film Creed. His performance earned a Golden Globes Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He is the first star since Paul Newman to receive accolades for playing the same character in different motion pictures (Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler and The Color of Money). Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro won Academy Awards for playing Vito Corleone in The Godfather / The Godfather pt. II.                                                                             SYLVESTER STALLONE

   Portions of the auction proceeds will benefit military charities.

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   George Clayton Johnson was a prolific writer of television science fiction; and also had a few screenplays that were quite remarkable. He’s best remembered as sharing teleplay time with Rod Serling, Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson on The Twilight Zone. His other works included film collaboration that earned an Oscar nod on Logan’s Run, and the original draft of Ocean’s 11.

   Although not widely known outside of science-fiction circles, Johnson was revered among fans of the genre for his work. His seven contributions on The Twilight Zone received sensational reviews, and featured up-and-coming stars as Dick York, Robert Redford, Jonathan Winters, Jack Klugman, and Russell Johnson. A Game of Pool, Kick the Can, and Nothing in the Dark are considered three of the finest moments in the initial run of the anthology.

   He also had the distinction of penning the first-aired episode of Star Trek that introduced audiences to the crew of the USS Enterprise, including the now familiar characters, Capt. James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock.

   George Clayton Johnson was 86.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Public Television. The programming is crisp, intelligent, and worldly. One of my favorite weekly shows is Doc Martin. 54 episodes have aired on ITV in the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2015. It’s star, Martin Clunes, is a past winner of a BAFTA for his role in Men Behaving Badly; and earlier this year, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama, charity, and the community.

                               MARTIN CLUNES        IAN McNEICE

   Early in January 2016, I have been graciously invited by KCETLink Media Group to the British Consul General’s residence to celebrate KCET’s new season of Doc Martin, the public television station’s highest rated show among its six million Southern California viewers. Joining the festivities is special guest Ian McNeice (the show’s Bert Large), who will be available for interviews during the event. Also in attendance will be Marion Ross from Happy Days, KCETLink Media Group President & CEO Michael Riley, BAFTA’s Sandro Monetti, and more. The event, thrown in conjunction with BAFTA, Pleasant Holidays, and the Beverly Hilton Hotel, will be a fundraiser for KCET as part of their on-going drive in support of public television. KCET is the nation’s largest independent public television station, and a nonprofit 501(c3) organization.

   In addition to covering the red carpet, I will be attending a cocktail reception. Also on tap, a sneak peak of Season Seven of Doc Martin. I’m very excited to be celebrating the launch with loyal viewers and donors.

   The new season of Doc Martin will premiere on January 14th, 2016 at 8p (pst). Needless to say, Doctor Martin Ellingham’s surly exploits in fictional Portwenn is must-see television for me each Thursday.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   When it came to choosing the grand marshal for the 2016 Rose Parade, it was a natural progression for Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen. First, the organization’s collaboration with the National Park Service, which is celebrating its centennial. Then, the tournament took a page from the NPS program, Find Your Park, when it came up with the theme for the 2016 parade — Find Your Adventure. With that in place, it was an obvious choice for acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns — who won an Emmy Award for his 2009 PBS documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea — to do the honors of leading the New Year’s morning celebration.

   Burns who has produced and directed more than two dozen documentaries, perhaps first gained broad notice for his acclaimed 1990 documentary mini-series, The Civil War. Since then, the subjects of his documentaries have run the gamut from baseball, jazz, and cancer, to World War II and the Roosevelt family. He has won five Emmys, and has been nominated for two Oscars.

   Becoming a documentary filmmaker was a natural progression for Burns. His interest in history started as a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, digesting the family’s encyclopedia. He received his first movie camera, an 8mm, as a child, and began by documenting polluted areas in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a teenager. At age 22, Burns started his own film company, Florentine Films. His signature technique of using archival footage and photos in his documentaries, slowly panning and zooming over them, became known as the Ken Burns Effect.

   Currently, he is working on several projects, including a series for PBS about the Vietnam War, which will air in 2016. PBS is planning to re-broadcast The National Parks: America’s Best Idea in April. Burns’ other projects in the works include films on Pasadena’s own Jackie Robinson, author Ernest Hemingway, and the history of stand-up comedy. His daughter Sarah, and her husband, also worked on the Robinson movie, which is also set to air on PBS in April.

    Burns, a newbie to the parade, said he’s excited to ride down Colorado Boulevard on the first day of 2016.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Animal activist Doris Day has a reasoned suggestion for the Holidays:

Many people think dogs, cats, birds, and bunnies make good Christmas gifts, and they couldn’t be more wrong… The holidays tend to be loud and chaotic — an awful environment into which to bring a new pet. Those cute, rambunctious puppies and kittens given as gifts often prove to be too much for the household to handle and wind up back at the shelters.   

   Her alternative, though less satisfying to youngsters on Christmas, may resonate with some families.

A much better option is a gift certificate from a local shelter or rescue organization, and wait to redeem it until the dust from the holidays settles. When things calm down, take the entire family, other pets included, and carefully choose a pet that you can commit to for its entire life… The best way to honor the memory (of a lost pet) is to save another life from the shelter.

   A hugely popular singer and actress throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Day first became interested in animal issues on the set of the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock film, The Man Who Knew Too Much. In 1978, she founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation, a small grassroots organization. Now 93, Day still takes an active role in the cause and the Foundation. Over the years, many animals have passed through the Day household, and several still call it home. She is down to three dogs and a few cats.

   As for this Christmas, Day says it be typically low-key, and she plans on spending it with her family… and her loving pets.          DORIS DAY —–>

Until next time>                               “never forget”