Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`Nearing the halfway point of the countdown of my favorite fifty films of the last two decades. Intrigue and suspense plays a central role in the next two entries.

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~ #28 – RICHARD JEWELL (2019)

“`Directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood, the production focuses on the Centennial Olympic Park bombing and the aftermath. Security guard Richard Jewell finds a device during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and alerts authorities to evacuate. Later, he was wrongly accused of having placed the device himself. Jewell was one of those pseudo-tragic figures like Tonya Harding (I Tonya) and Mary Mapes (Truth).

“`Paul Walter Hauser is spot-on as Jewell and he was clearly snubbed during awards season in my estimation. This is Sam Rockwell’s second of four appearances on the my list, the previous was in JoJo Rabbit. Kathy Bates earned a Best Supporting Actress nod by the Oscars and the Golden Globes. Rounding out the stellar cast… Jon Hamm and Olivia Wilde.

“`First hailed as a hero, Jewell was soon considered a suspect by local law enforcement and by the F. B. I. based on scientific profiling. Though never charged, he underwent a trial by media, which carried a toll on his personal and professional life.  Jewell was cleared after eighty-eight days of public scrutiny. Eric Rudolph would eventually confess and plead guilty to the bombing and other attacks.  The public circus surrounding the investigation has been widely cited as an example of law enforcement and media excesses. Jewell died in 2007 of severe heart disease, with diabetes and related complications as a contributing factor. He was only forty-four.

“`Eastwood sets out to characterize Jewell as an apathetic hero, while the director excoriates the justice department and broadcast journalism. His approach offers a pinch of snarky satire and his usual impeccable music score.

~ #27 – THE IDES OF MARCH (2011)

“`In 44 BC, the 74th day in the Roman Calendar became the moment in history Julius Caesar was assassinated, which made the Ides of March a turning point in the Roman saga. In 2011, it signified a taut political thriller starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood. Gosling earned a Golden Globe nod for his performance, while Clooney was part of the team that was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

“`A political allegory prior to the Trump-era, this movie experience seems quaint by contrast. At the time, it was a riveting drama that attempted to point out the scheming, lobbying, and manipulation that takes place during any election campaign. And while this may still be true, the candidates at least appear to be civil and focused on given issues of the day.  Amazingly, the talking points seem familiar and relevant by today’s standards.

“`Caesar’s murder was a final chapter in the crisis of the Roman Republic, and triggered a civil war that resulted in the rise to power his adopted heir, Augustus. On the fourth anniversary of Caesar’s assassination in 40 BC,  Augustus executed over three hundred senators and equites to avenge Caesar’s slaying. Centuries later, William Shakespeare dramatized the assassination in his eponymous tragedy.

“`Beware the Ides of March!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Celebrating Act 2 explores female moviemakers during Hollywood’s Golden Age. John Coleman, Art Kirsch and I share iconic names during our chat.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Movies with questionable points of view seem to find their own legion of fans. As I continue the countdown of my fifty favorite flicks of the twenty-first century, let me offer two productions that curtail political correctness in favor of what are charitably called arresting approaches to storytelling. But the scripts are well-defined in their purpose and they should be in the conversation.

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~ #30 – MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN (2019)

“`A private dick with Tourette’s syndrome is out to solve the murder of his mentor. Edward Norton heads a formidable cast and portrays the gumshoe with the disease.  This neo-noir crime film was written, produced, and directed by Norton.  It was a passion project for the actor after reading Jonathan Lethem’s novel of the same name in 1999, but the production took nearly twenty years to get made. Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, and Bobby Cannavale offer able support.

“`Despite an outstanding script, the film was only nominated by the Golden Globes (for Best Original Score). Like Cold War and Whiplash, improvisational themes are used to offer the colorful backdrop. Set in mid-twentieth century, New York, Norton enlisted musician Wynton Marsalis to re-create the cool-jazz sound reminiscent of Miles Davis in the mid-1950s. Daniel Pemberton complimented the effort with a stunning score.

“`Tourette’s syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition that develops in early adolescence. Symptoms remain at the more severe end of the spectrum of tic disorders; sudden repetitive nonrhythmic movements that involve discrete muscle groups. It is characterized by blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing and defined facial expressions. The entertainment industry has been criticized for depicting those with Tourette as social misfits, and whose only tic is to randomly shout obscenities.

“`In my estimation,  Norton straddles the fence of providing an accurate characterization of a person with the disorder. As a method actor, his attention to detail is pristine and he succeeds in the effort.

~ #29 – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR (2007)

“`Male chauvinism is at the heart of this  Mike Nichols comedy-drama based on the story of United States Congressman Charlie Wilson and CIA operative Gust Avrakotos, whose efforts led to Operation Cyclone,  a covert program to organize and support the Mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War. The witty banter is predictably written by Aaron Sorkin.

“`On my list of favs, this is the second of three appearances for Tom Hanks (previously The Post); the first of two appearances by Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams; plus, Julia Roberts and Ned Beatty shine is this offering. Hoffman earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his effort.

“`Some Reagan-era officials criticized elements of this film. In February 2008, it was revealed that the film would not play in Russian theaters (What a surprise!). George Crile III, author of the book on which the production is based, wrote that the Mujahideen’s victory in Afghanistan ultimately delivered the power vacuum for Osama bin Laden. The original ending included the 9/11 attacks, an unintended tragic result most likely caused by Washington politicians leaving the country in ruins. Tom Hanks balked at the notion of the film becoming his generation’s Dr. Strangelove or Fail Safe with such a tragic ending. Instead, the rewrites included Avrakotos offering a cataclysmic warning with regards to American disengagement from Afghanistan and Charlie Wilson winning a clandestine award from the CIA.

“`And so it goes…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`What a pleasure to join Art Kirsch and John Coleman on Celebrating Act 2 to discuss the life and times of Peter Lorre.

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`I have appeared on a number of game shows over the years, including twice on The Dating Game, Rhyme or Reason, The Better Sex, Let’s Make a Deal and Russian Roulette. The most I ever won as a contestant was one hundred dollars and a year’s supply of  Rice-a-Roni (the San Franciscan treat). I lost plenty of opportunities at tens of thousands of dollars in cash and two separate trips to the Bahamas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SvtavKpp6U

“`My appearance on Russian Roulette has surfaced on YouTube. Embarrassingly, I lost on a question about cinema and literally got dropped from the show… ugh!!!

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`With endless delays and global pandemic interference, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has announced that timed advance admission tickets will be available beginning at 9a on August 5th by visiting academymuseum.org and using the museum’s app. Opening on September 30th,  this museum will be the largest institution in the United States devoted to exploring the art and science of movies and moviemaking.

“`General admission tickets for museum exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors 62 and older, and $15 for students. Visitors seventeen and under and California residents with an EBT card, will be admitted free. The Oscars Experience, an immersive simulation giving guests the chance of walking onto the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and accepting an Oscar, will require a separate $15 ticket.

“`Museum members receive complimentary general admission for unlimited visits and priority admission.  Visitors can learn more about membership, which includes a 10% discount in the Academy Museum Store, exclusive advance film screenings, and access to presale tickets, by visiting academymuseum.org.

“`The museum’s public spaces are accessible to visitors without a general admission ticket. They include the Walt Disney Piazza, Academy Museum Grand Lobby and Spielberg Family Gallery, Academy Museum Store, and Fanny’s restaurant and café.

“`The Academy Museum will be open from10a to 6p, Sunday through Thursday, and 10a to 8p, Friday and Saturday. The museum will require visitors to follow all COVID-19 public health guidelines.

“`The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is located at 6067 Wilshire Blvd.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`It is time to continue my personal countdown of favorite films of the last two decades. If you just joined in, here is a recap of the past choices. You can also scroll down my blog to read my reviews of each selection:

#50 Gosford Park – #49 The Reader – #48 I Tonya – #47 Molly’s Game – #46 The Post

#45 Woman In Gold – #44 Midnight In Paris – #43 The Grand Budapest Hotel

#42 Jojo Rabbit – #41 The Green Book – #40 Hidden Figures – #39 Truth

#38 Dark Water – #37 Chicago – #36 Darkest Hour – #35 Cold War

#34 The Producers – #33 Brooklyn

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~ #32 – THE KING’S SPEECH (2010)

“`King George VI learns to cope with his stammer with the help of Lionel Logue, an Australian speech therapist.  After his brother Edward VIII abdicates the throne, the next monarch relies on Logue to help him make his initial wartime radio message upon Britain’s declaration of war on Germany in 1939. The film crams a ten-year relationship into what seems to be scarcely a year. That said, The King’s Speech joins Chicago and The Green Book as the third (of six) Best Pictures to make my list. And the film makes a great companion piece to Darkest Hour as a visual narrative of Great Britain’s political machinations just before World War II.

“`Helena Bonham Carter has made a career of portraying royals of the period. Currently, she plays Princess Margaret on The Crown.  In this production, she was cast as  Elizabeth – The Queen Mother.  Colin Firth earned his Oscar for his portrayal of the stuttering royal. Geoffrey Rush and Guy Pearce round out this stellar cast. With twelve Academy Award nominations, it also received statuettes for Best Director (Tom Hooper), and Best Original Screenplay.

“`One cannot underestimate the importance of managing disabilities in the 1930s.  President Franklin D Roosevelt and King George VI had an essential duty to administer a stable calm to their nations while focusing on strategies to combat growing global fascist threats. Afflictions were naively regarded as weakness by society. Leaders obliged by hiding their maladies from the public.

“`The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists  championed this movie and launched their Giving Voice campaign around the time of its commercial release. Queen Elizabeth II, the daughter and successor of King George VI, was sent copies of the film before Christmas 2010. The Sun newspaper reported she had watched the film in a private screening at Sandringham House. A palace source described her reaction as being moved by the sincere portrayal of her father; high praise, indeed!

~ #31 – NIGHTCRAWLER (2014)

“`A tidy neo-noir thriller, Nightcrawler was a sensation when released. Curiously, the potent piece of celluloid remains absent on streaming services. Expecting to see a horror production, I was spellbound to watch this story about an independent stringer who videotapes late night frantic events in Los Angeles to sell the footage to local television news outlets. Critics lauded the work as a naked indictment of both modern-day media practice and consumer culture.

“`Jake Gyllenhaal anchors the production as the creepy visual news reporter. He is supported by Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed and the late Bill Paxton. It received an Oscar nod for Best Original Screenplay. Gyllenhall was favorably compared to Robert De Niro in his role in  Taxi Driver. Elisha Cook Jr could have played the lead if the movie had been made seven decades earlier.

“`As much as the flick indicts modern journalism, Nightcrawler’s director Dan Gilroy noted that his goal was for audiences to realize that by watching sensationalized news stories, they encourage unethical journalism. The script characterizes Los Angeles as a seedy town, much like Double Indemnity accomplished in the 1940s and Chinatown captured in the 1970s. Nightcrawler remains a cinematic guilty pleasure.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`As we continue the countdown of my favorite fifty films of the previous two decades, I am surely feeling a New York state of mind. The next two entries offers the Big Apple as the definitive backdrop. Historically, great cinematic stories have been enhanced by the New York skyline, including King Kong,  Manhattan Melodrama, On the Town, Guys and Dolls, and Woody Allen’s Manhattan.  My next two choices are standouts that belong on this provincial list…

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~ #34 – THE PRODUCERS (2005)

“`Based on the eccentric 1967 movie that starred Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder and the 2001 Broadway musical, The Producers is the brainchild of arguably the funniest individual on the planet… Mel Brooks. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell, Roger Bart, and Jon Lovitz.

“`The premise…   The Internal Revenue Service seldomly investigate the finances of Broadway flops. Broderick’s character jests that by selling an excess of shares and embezzling the funds, a flop could generate up to two million dollars. Lane’s alter-ego goes on a search for the worst theatrical play in history.  Only Brooks uses Adolf Hitler for laughs, as he does in almost every movie he ever produced. And the score is very hummable.

“`The musical received four Golden Globe nominations despite mixed reviews. Lane compares favorably to Mostel; Broderick is no Gene Wilder. When I attended the West Coast production, Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom were played by Jason Alexander and Martin Short. While Jason is no Nathan Lane, Short would have been a more hilarious on screen selection than Broderick in my estimation.

“`Brooks tramples on all comedy of manners. His pedigree stems from his membership on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows that included Woody Allen, Neil Simon, and Carl Reiner. He also collaborated with Buck Henry on Get Smart. There are reasons to take offense at his material. His work reminds us of bygone days when Don Rickles, Lenny Bruce, Redd Foxx and George Carlin were popular among wide swaths of the population.

~ #33 – BROOKLYN (2015)

“`Set in 1951, Brooklyn is a romantic drama and a co-production from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. Saoirse Ronan solidified her star-status with this production. The movie follows a young Irishwoman who emigrates to Brooklyn to find employment.  She marries an Italian plumber and is forced to choose between her home town of Enniscorthy in Ireland, or her new life in Brooklyn.

“`Here is a coming-of-age film that could have been made during Hollywood’s Golden Age. It moves at a leisurely pace and can honestly be referenced as a chick-flick. I am an unabashed lover of this genre of moviemaking and I cite The Philadelphia Story, Father of the Bride, All about Eve, Cousin Cousine, The Big Chill, and Julie/Julia as a couple of my favorites. Brooklyn earned three Oscar nods: Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

“`The flick is faithfully adapted from Irish writer Colm Tóibín’s novel. The book and the movie have equally been praised for their refreshing perspective on the plight of the Irish immigrant. Brooklyn is set at a time when Irish migration to New York was thriving. By the end of World War II, new arriving citizens were able to discover bustling Irish communities in which women were arguably a more significant presence than men. These women immigrants were active in the workplace, placing marriage ambitions on hold to find practical occupations in places such as supermarkets, eateries, and stores.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Where were you in ’62? Probably going to the movies… I join John Coleman and Art Kirsch to discuss great cinema in 1962 on Celebrating Act 2…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`And we are back to the countdown of my personal fifty favorite films of the twentieth century. Most lists of this kind provided by repositories (such as the Library of Congress or American Film Institute), film historians, and critics almost always include seldom-seen work created by foreign production companies, or deemed avant garde.  I marvel at how selections made by these revered individuals remain unfamiliar to me, and I watch a lot of cinema! That said, one of today’s choices falls into this deep-dish category of indie films that should be experienced.

“`Let the countdown continue…

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~ #36 – DARKEST HOUR (2017)

“`Like Jojo Rabbit (#42), The Grand Budapest Hotel (#43), Woman in Gold (#45), and The Reader (#49), Darkest Hour has themes tied to World War II. It stars Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill.  This account recalls his early days as prime minister during the May 1940 War Cabinet Crisis, while the Nazi Wehrmacht swept through Western Europe and threatened to defeat the United Kingdom. The blitz led to friction at the highest levels of the government between those who would make peace with Adolf Hitler, and Churchill, who refused.

“`Gary Oldman’s electrifying performance brings Churchill to life and he earned a Best Actor Oscar for the effort. Nominated for six statuettes, it also earned an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. This is the first of two productions for which Oldman appears in my countdown.

“`History reflects that Churchill was not alone in wanting to defy Nazi aggression, though he was clearly the leader of the cause. His predecessor, Neville Chamberlain, followed a foreign policy of appeasement. His signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938 conceded the German-speaking Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia to Germany and then hailed peace in our time. It was Churchill’s scoff at the folly of the agreement that is a precursor to this absorbing tale.

~ #35 – COLD WAR (2018)

“`One of two spectacular foreign movies on my countdown, Cold War is an international co-production from Poland, France and the United Kingdom.  The language spoken is Polish; the cinematography is globally dramatic, maybe the most pristine ever presented in the genre of black-and-white films. Had epochal cinematographer Gregg Toland been alive, he might have been mesmerized by the results on screen. Cold War also presents an evocative music score and an impeccable production design. This gorgeous piece of cinema would make my list just for its technical values and I could watch this film with the volume turned down.

“`Set in Poland and France during the Cold War from the late 1940s until the 1960s, the tale follows a musical director who discovers a young singer and explores their fateful love story. This is a well-worn narrative (Dr. Zhivago comes to mind). My only issue: The scenes could have been fleshed out a bit more since the characters are so interesting. The movie clocks in at a brief eighty-eight minutes.

“`If $100 million is the bellwether for a successful run in the United States, Cold War grossed $4.6 million, domestically and an underwhelming twenty million, globally. Yet, it received three Academy Award nods; for Best Director (Paweł Pawlikowski), Best Foreign Language Film, and of course, Best Cinematography.  All three Oscars went to the remarkable Roma. 2018 was a prodigious year for immaculate productions from foreign countries.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The long-anticipated return of film noir is right around the corner. Here are the sinister details…

“`Enjoy!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Let me proceed with the countdown of my favorite fifty movies of the twentieth century.  Many of the quality motion pictures I have selected tackles social and cultural issues. So far, my picks have examined race, British class structure, political malfeasance, propaganda, international reparations of stolen property, workplace equity, and the dark money in presidential elections.

“`Time to present my next offerings…

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~ #38 – DARK WATER (2019)

“`The tale dramatizes Ohio environmental attorney Robert Bilott’s case against the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont after contaminating an area with unregulated chemicals found in their cookware. The film is based on the 2016 New York Times Magazine article The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare by Nathaniel Rich. It detailed a twenty-year legal battle against the corporation

“`The production was inspired from earlier work: Erin Brockovich and A Civil Action. Dark Water stars Mark Ruffalo and features Anne Hathaway, Mare Winningham, Tim Robbins, and Bill Pullman. This quality effort was snubbed during awards season.  Ruffalo has indicated his interest in selecting assignments based on issues that negatively affect society.

“`The DowDuPont breakup spun off a new company that continued to lose value throughout the second half of 2019 as investors grew concerned about the potential liabilities related to the earlier DuPont’s fluoropolymer product. After Dark Waters was released on November 12th, DuPont’s stock price dropped even further by 7.15 points from 72.18 to 65.03. Many executives still work, or recently worked, at the company.

“`DuPont eventually sold their business interests to The Chemours Company. Chemours paid $200 million to address environmental damages in North Carolina. A prior settlement in both West Virginia and Ohio cost $671 million, which was split between the two companies.

~ #37 – CHICAGO (2002)

“`One of three musicals to make the countdown, Chicago won an Oscar for Best Picture, the second of six profiled (the other, Green Book). With an amazing pedigree, it is based on the 1975 stage musical; 1942 William Wellman flick Roxie Hart, starring Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, George Montgomery, Nigel Bruce, Phil Silvers, William Frawley, and Spring Byington; and the 1927 silent film adaptation of the original 1926 play.

“`A screen version of Chicago was slated as the next project for Bob Fosse, who directed and choreographed the original 1975 Broadway show and had earned an Oscar for his direction of the movie version of Cabaret. Although he died before realizing his efforts, Fosse’s distinctive jazz choreography style is evident throughout the 2002 production, and Bob is thanked in the credits. The music score was penned by the legendary John Kander and Fred Ebb. Nominated for twelve Oscars, it won six, including  Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound.

“`Top performances from a cast that features  Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, Taye Diggs, Christine Baranski and Queen Latifah. The most stylish film musical since Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof and Cabaret, it influenced later twenty-first century productions, such as Enchanted, The Greatest Showman, Bohemian Rhapsody, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Rocketman, Into the Woods, and two other productions that I include in my Top 50. I will present them soon.

Until next time>                               “never forget’

Manny P. here…

“`In 1971,  a two-part award-winning documentary aired on network television that was well produced by USC’s Annenberg School. The production’s subject was simply what life was like at an average junior high school. The curious thing… It was MY high school, while I was going there!

“`This peak at Van Nuys Jr. High features teachers who are no longer with us and students who are now in their mid-sixties. While re-watching this documentary, I see old friends who I recognize as they were. I actually returned to my childhood. It was nostalgic to clearly see on screen my colleague at KNX, Pete Demetriou, Sue Finque, Arlene Simsarian, Jeff Dracup, Joe Finci, Cliff Zellman (below left),  and so many others I called classmates. I think the cameras actually caught me for a moment sitting in drama class.

“`As an educator at Fullerton College and Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, I found the content quite riveting. Children in 1971 had just lived through the tumultuous 1960s and they questioned everything that had to do with authority. As Bob Dylan penned, These times, they are a-changing. He was right.

“`These episodes each run roughly under an hour, but they are clearly worth a visit. ENJOY!

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Ned Beatty was one of the finest character actors in the last half of the twentieth century.  He would have found complete success in any generation of cinema. Appearing in over 160 films, he was nominated for an Oscar, two Emmys, and a Golden Globe; he also won a Drama Desk Award (for his performance as Big Daddy in a revival of Cat on A Hot Tin Roof).  He is best remembered for his role as the head of UBS in Network.

“`Beatty began his career singing in gospel and barbershop quartets in Kentucky and at his local church. He received a scholarship to sing in the a cappella choir at  Transylvania University  in Lexington. A member of the newly founded Actors Theater of Louisville, one of his notable performances was as Willy Loman in  Death of a Salesman in 1966.

“`In 1972, Beatty made a stellar motion picture debut in Deliverance, starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight. A climatic scene ensured stardom for the actor. Other memorable roles include The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, All the President’s Men, 1941, Nashville, Back To School, Silver Streak, and Charlie Wilson’s War. He co-starred in three other Reynolds’ vehicles:  White Lightning, Stroker Ace, and Switching Channels. He also had a recurring role in two of the Superman series of movies. On television, he guest-starred in The Waltons, The Rockford Files, Gunsmoke, Hawaii 5-0,  The Streets of San Francisco, M*A*S*H,  Murder She Wrote, Kojak, and Roseanne.

“`Ned Beatty (above) was eighty-three…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`The United States Mint  is pleased to announce the addition of pioneering females to be honored during the first year of the American Women Quarters™ program.  Anna May Wong will join Sally Ride, Maya Angelou and two other female trailblazers as subjects for the 2022 American Women quarter dollars.

“`Wong’s career spanned silent film, sound film, television, stage, and radio, from 1919 until her death at fifty-six in 1961. Frustrated by the stereotypical supporting roles she reluctantly played in Hollywood, Wong left for Europe in the late 1920s, where she appeared in a couple of notable plays and movies, and spent the first half of the 1930s traveling between the United States and Europe for film and stage work. She was often passed over for the lead roles and Wong rejected assignments that featured Asian Americans in a negative light. She paid less attention to her cinematic career during World War II and devoted energy to aid China’s campaign against Japan.  ANNA MAY WONG ->

“`Proposed designs for the Wong coin will be reviewed on June 16th and June 17th by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and June 18th by the Commission of Fine Arts. Mint officials have yet to disclose in what order the five 2022 American Women quarters will be issued.

Until next time>                               “never forget”