Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

“`Playboy Bunnies, with rabbit tails, corsets, and ears, will soon be back in business in New York City. Three decades after the original Playboy Club closed in Manhattan, a victim of changing American tastes and views on women, a new venue will debut later this year, blocks from Times Square.

“`The club on West 42nd St. will be one of the chic spots in the world. It will have a lounge, restaurant, game room, and of course.. Bunnies  with new outfits. Other Playboy clubs are already operating in London, the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi,  and several locations in India.  Plus, another is set to open in Shanghai. It will be in the Cachet Boutique New York Hotel, replacing a gay-themed Out Hotel that closed last year.

“`Playboy founder Hugh Hefner (left)  opened the first club in Chicago in 1960. He quickly expanded the operation to 30 clubs around the world. A chance to leer at Bunnies was not the only attraction. Clubs also featured musicians and other entertainers. New York’s venue opened on E 59th St., between 5th and Madison Ave. in 1962. The following year, feminist Gloria Steinem worked as an undercover Bunny, and wrote an expose for Show Magazine entitled A Bunny’s Tale. Among her revelations: Pay was lousy, male customers propositioned the female staff, and she was told to get a gynecological exam, and take a test for venereal disease, before she was hired.

“`The original clubs remained popular and lucrative for decades, before faltering in the 1980s. Bunnies Go From Risque to Passe, read a Los Angeles Times headline in 1986, the year the SoCal club closed, as did the New York locale. The original clubs were all defunct by 1991.

“`Changing mores have altered Playboy Magazine, too, lately. The magazine, still sold in 23 nations, no longer allows full nudity in the United States edition; favoring instead, articles and related images. Cooper Hefner, 25-year-old son of 90-year-old Hugh, is now its chief officer.

“`Some industry experts say there may also be marketing appeal among millennials, and fans of Mad Men, the television show set in the Manhattan.  The new luxury hotel will provide 107 rooms. This is a partnership between Playboy Enterprises, Cachet Hospitality Group, and Merchants Hospitality.

“` If the club opens as scheduled, it will be in a city that began the year with thousands of women taking to the streets to protest the presidency of Donald Trump; partly, because of remarks he made that were perceived as chauvinistic. It’s expected to open later this year.

“`Hold that thought…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Queen Elizabeth II is poised for a historic milestone, an unprecedented 65 years on the throne. But, Buckingham Palace says Britain’s longest-serving monarch plans on spending Monday’s ceremonies away from the spotlight, in somber contemplation of her late father.

“`Official commemorations of Elizabeth’s Sapphire Jubilee are expected to feature ceremonial cannon fusillades at a central London park, and at the Tower of London; plus a cavalry parade of military horses pulling World War I-era artillery pieces.                            QUEEN ELIZABETH II —>

“`The ninety-year-old monarch is staying 110 miles to the north, at their Sandringham House estate in Norfolk where her father, King George VI, died of lung cancer at age fifty-six in 1952, after a fifteen-year reign. His death is chronicled in the acclaimed Netflix series, The Crown. Recently,  The King’s Speech was the Oscar-winning movie that featured his ascent to the throne.

“`Elizabeth surpassed Queen Victoria as Britain’s longest-serving monarch in 2015.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Val Kilmer will appear in person to introduce the screening of his one-man play about Mark Twain — Citizen Twain, playing to sold-out houses at several performing arts venues in Los Angeles. And now, the writer, actor, and director is on hand to present special film screenings of the play.

“`A master of reinvention, Kilmer transforms himself in a comedic and moving performance that is both contemporary and reflective. This piece is based on the life of Samuel Clemens, and of course, his writings as Mark Twain. From thoughts on politics (including his infamous disdain for the United States Congress),  to his family, and his faith, Twain spins a series of yarns with his timeless satire and incomparable wit.

“`Val’s breakout screen performance was in Top Gun with Tom Cruise. Other roles included as Doc Holliday in Tombstone; Simon Templar in The Saint; the title character in Batman Forever; Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors; and Michael Mann’s Heat, featuring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

“`Mr. Kilmer will introduce the 90-minute movie, and conduct a question and answer period with the audience, following the screening. VIP ticket holders will have the chance to meet, chat, and take photos with Val after the Q&A.

“`Upcoming screenings are scheduled at Landmark Regent in Los Angeles on February 9th; Oxnard Levity Live on February 13th; Pasadena’s Laemmle Playhouse on February 16th; and Long Beach City College / Liberal Arts Auditorium (Bldg J) on February 24th and 25th.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`31 Days of Oscar is a programming franchise airing each Oscar season on Turner Classic Movies cable networks during the month of each Academy Awards. The criteria for cinema  screening on TCM  during the fest is that a motion picture be either a previous Oscar winner or nominee. Films that screen are ones TCM holds the broadcast rights. However, most come from the classic MGM or Warner Bros. vaults.

“`This year, the cable network is presenting celluloid in alphabetical order; from A to Z. It is a fascinating schedule that provides the kind of programming the TCM audience is salivating for.

“`Just on Day 1 (today),  I am enjoying such guilty pleasures as Annie Hall, All About Eve,  The Adventures of Robin Hood, Around the World in 80 Days, An American in Paris, and The Asphalt Jungle. What a lineup!

“`For the complete schedule, cut-and-paste the link below:

http://31days.tcm.com/

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Prince Albert of Monaco has announced that the childhood home of his late mother, Princess Grace Kelly, is re-opening to the public in 2018. The Philadelphia property he bought last year for $754,000 will house regional offices for the Princess Grace Foundation and an extension of Monaco’s Princess Grace Irish Library. It will also be made available for public events, once it’s renovated.

“`Since the home sits in a residential neighborhood, it won’t be exclusively a museum. Prince Albert visited the locale in October.

                                                     GRACE KELLY

“`The home was built in 1935 by Kelly’s father, John B Kelly. He was a three-time Olympics Gold Medal-winning rower in the 1920s. Grace Kelly accepted her proposal of marriage from Prince Rainier III in 1955 at her home. She won an Oscar for her role in The Country Girl.

“`Now, it will be a repository for the legendary actress-turned-princess.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Associated Press is reporting Judy Garland’s remains were moved cross-country to a mausoleum intended as a resting place for daughters Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and other members of her family. The transfer from New York’s Ferncliff Cemetery to Hollywood Forever Cemetery was completed last Friday.

“`This space in the mausoleum, re-named the Judy Garland Pavilion, has room for all of her family, including the daughters, her son Joey Luft, and her grandchildren. The move reflects resolution of an issue involving Garland’s fifth husband, according to a family spokeswoman. Judy’s other spouses include director Vincent Minnelli and producer Sidney Luft. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, next to Paramount Pictures, is a final resting stop of such luminaries as Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, and Douglas Fairbanks.

JUDY GARLAND

“`When Garland died, her affairs were controlled by her husband, Mickey Deans. Her kids had no say in the matter of her burial. So, this is at last their opportunity to do what they feel their mother might have wanted in the first place — to be united with her family in Hollywood. Toto is also buried there.

“`Garland, star of classic movies, such as The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me in St. Louis, died in 1969 at age 47 in London. Deans died in 2003.

“`One last road trip along the Yellow Brick Road for the Diva…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`John Hurt was a prolific character actor, and for his efforts, was   a two-time Academy Award nominee. His work included roles in epic motion pictures, such as A Man For All Seasons, Midnight Express, The Elephant Man, Alien, and Heaven’s Gate. Hurt worked with the great directors, including Fred Zinnemann, John Huston, Sam Peckinpah, and even Mel Brooks.  JOHN HURT –>

“`The Brit import remained busy in movies and on television. He appeared in 100 screen productions, and 50 docudramas on both sides of the pond. Remarkably, Hurt kept working on productions every single year since his initial movie appearance in 1961. John even mocked his own demise in Alien during a disturbingly funny scene in Spaceballs. Blessed with a rich baritone speaking voice, Hurt did narration on Watership Down, The Lord of the Rings, The Tigger Movie and Dogville. He was due to appear with Ben Kingsley in Broken Dream, later this year.

“`More recently, in the Harry Potter films, Hurt played the wand-maker. And, he was perfectly cast in the lead in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Just this year, he portrayed a priest in the bio-pic Jackie, opposite Oscar nominee Natalie Portman, who played the widowed First Lady.

“`Other award-winning performances include BAFTA consideration for 10 Rillington Place, The Field, and the aforementioned, Alien and  The Elephant Man. He received the BAFTA and the Golden Globe for his role in Midnight Express. Ironically, Hurt starred in the Best British Film of the Year in 1984, based on George Orwell’s dystopian novel. It was entitled..  Well, I think you can figure this out!

“`In 2004, Hurt was made a  Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He was knighted in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to Drama.  He attended an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, receiving the accolade from Queen Elizabeth II. Hurt was one of the British cultural icons chosen by artist Peter Blake to appear in his updated version of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover — to celebrate British cultural figures of his life that he most admired. Hurt received the Will Award presented by Shakespeare Theatre Company, along with Stacey Keach and Dame Diana Rigg.

“`Opened in 2016, The John Hurt Centre is an education and exhibition space located in  Cinema City, Norwich. He was a patron of the Proteus Syndrome Foundation in the United Kingdom and the United States. Proteus Syndrome is the condition Joseph Merrick, whom he played (renamed as John Merrick) in  The Elephant Man, is believed to have suffered from. Hurt was also a patron of Project Harar, a UK-based charity in Ethiopia, for children afflicted with facial disfigurements.

“`A stint at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art launched his long stage and screen career. The magnificent John Hurt was 77.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Barbara Hale is forever linked to her role as Della Street on the legal drama Perry Mason. The program ran for a decade, and throughout the 1980s and ’90s, she also co-starred in 30 Perry Mason teleplays. Her son, William Katt, is best known as the star of The Greatest American Hero. Before a prolific television career, Hale was a model. RAYMOND BURR/BARBARA HALE –>

“`Hale moved to Hollywood in 1943,  and made her first screen appearances playing small bit parts. She was under contract to RKO Radio Pictures through the late 1940s, memorable in The Boy with Green Hair, Jolson Sings Again, The Window, and Airport.  Barb excelled on television, and she garnered a Best Actress Emmy Award in 1959 for her performance on Perry Mason. She was a guest-star on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, Lassie, The Loretta Young Show, The Doris Day Show, The Greatest American Hero (with her son), Adam-12, Ironside, and Marcus Welby M.D.

“` Hale’s work in radio was limited. She appeared in 5 episodes of Family Theater; and one episode of Lux Radio Theatre,  Voice of the Army, and Proudly We Hail. She was also a spokesperson for Amana, makers of Radarange microwave ovens.

“`The dependable Barbara Hale was 94.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Mike Connors was the hard-hitting private eye on the long-running television series Mannix. It ran for eight years on CBS. He won a Golden Globe in 1969 for his performance.

“`Desilu president Lucille Ball campaigned to keep the program running after lackluster ratings in its first season. Ball’s efforts allowed the show to become an eventual long-running hit for the network. Eventually, the producers cast a secretary, portrayed by African-American actress Gail Fisher. CBS chiefs were concerned Southern affiliates might complain about her character. A backlash never happened. Another highlight was an opening theme song by legendary screen composer Lalo Schifrin. Connors appeared with his supportive boss as Joe Mannix in a cross-promo episode of Here’s Lucy.  MIKE CONNORS —>

“`On the small screen, he guest-starred in Cheyenne, Tightrope, Maverick, Wagon Train, Perry Mason, One Step Beyond, Walker Texas Ranger, Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis: Murder, and Two and a Half Men. Connors played Air Force Colonel Hack Peters in Herman Wouk’s World War II-based miniseries War and Remembrance.

“`Connors made his film debut in 1952’s Sudden Fear, starring Joan Crawford. Other movies included Island in the Sky, The Ten Commandments, Good Neighbor Sam, Harlow, and a remake of Stagecoach.

“`Using his celebrity, he and his wife championed efforts to erase the stigma of mental illness. Connors was also the proud owner of the Forgotten Hollywood Book Series.

“`Mike Connors was 91.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

“`Mary Tyler Moore was the pioneering star of two of television’s great sitcoms, and whose comic realism shaped the coy attitude of a modern woman. She ranks with Lucille Ball, Imogene Coca, Carol Burnett, and Bea Arthur as trailblazing funny-women on the small screen. Her work earned seven Emmys; and she received an Oscar nod for her portrait of a grieving mother after her son is killed in Ordinary People.

“`She gained fame in the 1960s as frazzled wife Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. With her gift for comedy, Moore was a perfect fit in the post-Eisenhower age. She became a fashion icon when she wore Capri pants that were fashionable, and suited to gals of the era. Plus, Moore’s chemistry with Van Dyke was also unmistakable.

“`In the 1970s, she created one of television’s first career-woman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. As Mary Richards, the plucky Minneapolis television news producer, she truly made her mark. At a time when women’s liberation was catching on worldwide, her character brought a new independence to the female mystique that was pioneered by Marlo Thomas on That Girl, years before. Richards was comfortable as a single professional in her 30s. She affectionately sparred with her gruff boss, Mr. Grant, played to perfection by Ed Asner.

“`The Mary Tyler Moore Show spawned spin-offs, such as Rhoda starring Valerie Harper; Phyllis with Cloris Leachman; and Lou Grant, a rare drama spun off from a comedy. These programs were developed by her then-hubby, Grant Tinker, who died last year, through their MTM Enterprises. The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues, WKRP in Cincinnati and St. Elsewhere are MTM shows that were big hits.  A meowing kitty at the conclusion of the sitcoms was a cute parody of the MGM lion.

“` On the big screen, Moore was a 1920s flapper in the musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie; and a nun who falls for Elvis Presley in Change of Habit. On television, she guest-starred in 77 Sunset Strip, Bachelor Father, Thiller, Wanted Dead or Alive, and recently, Frasier, That 70s Show, and Hot in Cleveland.

“`Moore lived with Type-1 diabetes for 4 decades. She served as chairperson of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, supported embryonic stem cell research, and she was active in animal rights causes.

“`In 1992, Moore was awarded a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. A decade later, a life-size bronze statue went on display in Minneapolis, with her tossing the trademark tam, as she did in the opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. This afternoon, both locales became makeshift memorials.

“`Mary Tyler Moore: Love is All Around is a CBS News retrospective that airs tomorrow. Gayle King, co-anchor of CBS This Morning, will present this salute. And, Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration, which first aired in 2015 on PBS, will run on its member stations; and streamed through their website at PBS.org.

“`Mary Tyler Moore (above) was 80.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`Anthony Quinn is again the iconic Pope of Broadway; his colorful image welcoming visitors to Downtown Los Angeles. Artist Eloy Torrez’s magnificent 70-foot-tall acrylic mural, showing the actor with his arms outstretched, was rededicated this week after the muralist spent last Fall restoring it to its former glory.

“`The painting of Quinn, standing on a colorful tile walkway in front of a building resembling a church, has greeted passers-by crossing Broadway, and entering the city’s Third Street Tunnel through Bunker Hill for decades. But, over the years, it had begun to crumble, falling victim to the elements and graffiti vandals.  The restoration campaign was launched in 2010 by Quinn’s late son, Francesco, Edward James Olmos, City Councilman Jose Huizar, and numerous others.

“`One of the art world’s most prominent Chicano painters, Torrez’s works have been displayed, not only on buildings in Los Angeles and France, but in galleries and museums throughout the  United States, Mexico, and Europe. Eloy recalled at the re-dedication that he had completed a mural on the Hollywood wall featuring 1950s cinematic legends – Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, James Dean, among others, when the owner of the Victor Clothing Company asked for one of an equally prominent Hispanic actor for his Downtown building. Most of his clientele, he told Torrez, were Latino.

“`The Mexican-born actor who died in 2001 was twice nominated for leading actor Oscars, and twice won as Supporting Actor for Lust for Life and Viva Zapata. Noted for incredible diversity, he also famously portrayed an angry Bedouin leader in Lawrence of Arabia, the good-natured Zorba the Greek, an impoverished fisherman in The Old Man and the Sea, and numerous other ethnicities in countless films.

“`Quinn’s final role is to welcome all diverse people who travel through Southern California. It’s a role he would relish.

Unitl next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`In 1962, an epic Hollywood rivalry began on the set of the psychological thriller, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The feud involved two legendary actresses — Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The gals were already household names at the time of it’s cinematic release. But, it wasn’t their talents on-screen that revitalized their careers; it was their viciousness off-screen.

“`The story, which unfolded between Crawford and Davis, is dramatized by Ryan Murphy, who recently directed The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and American Horror Story. Feud: Bette and Joan will star Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis;  Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford; Catherine Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland; Alfred Molina as Baby Jane filmmaker Robert Aldrich; Stanley Tucci as Jack Warner; Sarah Paulson as Geraldine Page; and Judy Davis as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. The noteworthy cast also includes Dominic Burgess as Victor Buono; and Kathy Bates as Joan Blondell.

“`In retrospect, Davis despised Crawford, right from the moment she learned they would be co-stars. Both women were strong, talented, and aging starlets. Their rivalry was most likely fueled by the fear of eventually being upstaged. During filming, much of the physical misery inflicted upon Crawford was literally administered by Davis that left bruises and lasting scars on Joan. When Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte went into production in 1964, Crawford chose to decline the opportunity to again co-star with Bette; and was replaced by de Havilland.

“`The most infamous story that sheds a light on the intense dislike they had for each another took place at the 1963 Oscars ceremony.  Davis received the Best Actress nomination for her role as Baby Jane; while Crawford, who portrayed sister Blanche, was snubbed.  Desperate to remain in the spotlight, she contacted other nominees for the accolade, and offered to accept it onstage if they weren’t able to attend. Also, she apparently encouraged Academy members not to choose her co-star. Anne Bancroft, who was a no-show, won for The Miracle Worker, and Joan was asked to accept her Oscar.

“`FX has ordered eight, one-hour episodes, and it will premiere on March 5th. By all accounts, Sarandon and Lange (above right) are great friends, and got along on the set.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

“`With Friday’s peaceful transition of power comes the promise of changes in policy. The new administration has eluded to the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. I humbly protest this action. Here is why:

“`On September 29th, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed bills into law that called for the creation of the NEH and NEA as separate, independent agencies. The Washington Post called the creation of the endowments a momentous step.

“`About two hundred people filled the Rose Garden for the bill-signing ceremony. The guest list included actor Gregory Peck, photographer Ansel Adams, philanthropist Paul Mellon, and writer Ralph Ellison. The ceremony marked a high point in a day devoted to a celebration of culture. Vice President Hubert Humphrey hosted the Rose Garden reception. Harkness Ballet performed that night in the East Room of the White House. The bill was the culmination of a movement calling for the federal government to invest in culture; as it had with science.

“`On October 27, 1965, Peck wrote Johnson to express his thanks for being invited, and his appreciation for what the administration had accomplished. Here is the original letter:

“`The actor, best known for his Academy Award–winning role as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 for a lifetime of humanitarian achievements.

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