Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

   Here’s something you won’t see on an episode of The Brady Bunch. Burglars broke into the familiar home that was used on the classic 1970s sitcom. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the incident, which happened last Wednesday night at the private residence in Studio City, California.

THE BRADY BUNCH

   It’s unclear whether the burglars knew the home was from The Brady Bunch. But if they expected to find shag carpeting and retro decor, they were probably disappointed. The inside of the real home looks nothing like the sets we see on The Brady Bunch. 

   Since  the show went into syndication in 1975, the house at 11222 Dilling St. has become a popular spot for tourists. The property looks a lot different today than it appeared on the show, with a fence being erected to obscure its appearance. Overgrown trees block the facade, and the prop window seen on the show has been removed.

   Despite being such a famous property, the house has only had one owner since The Brady Bunch went off the air in 1974. The property was last sold in 1973 for the bargain price of $61,000. Today, it’s worth an estimated $1.7 million.

   It’s unclear whether the burglars knew the home was from The Brady Bunch. But, if they expected to find shag carpeting and retro decor, they were probably disappointed. The inside of the real home looks nothing like the sets we see on the sitcom. 

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   A wind-driven wildfire in central California led to more evacuations, and the closure of the Hearst Castle on Saturday. Flames from the 8-day-old wildfire in San Luis Obispo County came as close as 3 miles to the national historic landmark, prompting California State Parks officials to cancel tours and close the grounds to visitors.

   A wind shift caused the fire to cross a containment line in the afternoon, leading authorities to issue evacuation orders for several communities north and west of Lake Nacimiento, about 180 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The fire has burned 31 square miles and destroyed 48 structures since it began August 13th. It’s 35% contained.

   Hearst Castle closes occasionally due to bad weather. The closure allowed fire crews to set up firefighting equipment to protect the hilltop estate. The visitor center, which is downhill from the castle, remained open. Workers at the castle have spent several days cutting brush and putting in fire lines to create a defensible space around the castle. A contingency plan is in place to move the large art collection that belonged to media magnate William Randolph Hearst.

   A popular tourist attraction along the Central Coast, the estate was conceived by Hearst to display his art collection. In its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, the castle was a playground for Hollywood stars. The location was the subject of satire in the movie, Citizen Kane. Though married, Hearst’s mistress was actress Marian Davies. Their love-child eventually married actor Arthur Lake, Dagwood Bumstead in the the popular Blondie series of films.

   Hearst Castle is closed until further notice.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

   Arthur Hiller was a noted television and film director, having directed over 33 major motion pictures during his 50-year career. He began his career directing television in Canada. By the late 1950s, he began directing movies, and most often, comedies. He also directed award-winning dramas, such as Love Story, which was nominated for seven Oscars.

   After he graduated high school, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at the start of World War II, and navigated bombers over enemy territory in Europe. After he returned from serving in the military, Hiller graduated from the University of Toronto. One of his first jobs after graduating was with Canadian radio directing various public affairs programs.

   When television entered mainstream media in the early 1950s, he began directing for Canadian broadcasters. NBC asked him to direct television dramas, including episodes of Thriller, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Naked City, and Playhouse 90.

   He collaborated with award-winning screenwriters Paddy Chayefsky and Neil Simon. Hiller hit his stride when he turned to cinema. Productions include The Americanization of Emily, The Out-of-Towners, The Man in the Glass Booth, The Hospital, Man of La Mancha, Plaza Suite, Silver Streak, See No Evil Hear No Evil, W.C. Fields and Me, Author! Author!, and The Babe.

    Hiller was president of the Directors Guild of America from 1989 to 1993, and served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1993 to 1997. He was the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2002.

   One of my favorite modern directors, Arthur Hiller was 92.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   The name is Bond…James Bond.

   Dashing and debonair, spy themes evoke international intrigue, glamour, and suspense. Two-time Grammy Award-winner Sheena Easton, the featured singer on the James Bond soundtrack For Your Eyes Only, will seduce you into the world of The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldfinger, and Skyfall; plus tunes from Mission Impossible, Austin Powers, and more.

   Easton also has notable acting credits, including a five-episode appearance on Miami Vice, a co-starring role opposite Stacy Keach in a John Carpenter-directed trilogy for Showtime, Body Bags, and as a guest star in the cult syndicated series The Highlander, and starring in UPN’s Ghost Stories. Other guest roles have included Brisco County and Tech Wars, as well as a memorable turn in Showtime’s Outer Limits.

   On Broadway, Easton starred as Aldonza / Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha opposite the late Raul Julia’s Don Quixote. She also starred in the hit musical Grease as Rizzo. Easton has been busy with frequent appearances in Las Vegas where she has been a major attraction for the last two decades, and she was recently inducted into the Las Vegas Hall Of Fame.

   Easton has expanded her love of the concert stage as a guest vocalist with symphonies across the nation and has made frequent appearances in The Spy Who Loved Me. This allows her to blend her romance with various styles of music: American Standards and Broadway.

   The Pacific Symphony concert will be held at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Sunday, August 21st. The event will begin promptly at 7:30p.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   You can’t make this stuff up… Dick Van Dyke has treated diners at a Denny’s restaurant in Santa Monica to a rendition of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

   A YouTube video of the performance shows the 90-year-old Van Dyke and the other three members of his quartet, The Vantastix, breaking into their version of a flash-mob type performance. They had just finished an appearance on Good Day LA, a local television show, before going out for breakfast. The video displays the quartet seated with pancakes at the table, and singing the theme song to the 1968 British musical, which starred Van Dyke.

   THE VANTASTIX                                 DICK VAN DYKE

   Van Dyke played eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was co-written by Roald Dahl and was based on a story by Ian Fleming, of James Bond fame. Van Dyke and The Vantastix are promoting a show later this month in Southern California.

   No word on whether they had a memorable meal; but the legendary comedian did order a side of grits. Bulletins as they break…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Fyvush Finkel was a pillar of Yiddish Theatre. He is best known for his colorful characters honored with accolades on Picket Fences and Boston Legal. The actor also appeared in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. Over the years, he joined many revivals of the classic musical, eventually settling in as Lazar Wolf, the butcher; and Tevye, the milkman.                FYVUSH FINKEL ——>

   Finkel first appeared on the stage at age 9, and acted for almost 35 years in the thriving Yiddish Theatre District of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, as well as performing as a stand-up comic in the Catskill’s Borscht Belt. Broadway was a natural extension of his broad comedic talent.

   On the big screen, Fyvush had memorable roles in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Mobsters, Nixon, For Love or Money, and A Serious Man. On television, he also guest-starred in episodes of Kojak, Chicago Hope, Law & Order, The Simpsons, a short-lived revival of Fantasy Island, Blue Bloods, and Hollywood Squares.

   On a personal note, Finkel owned a copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. The paperback was given to him as a gift by a mutual friend.

   The larger-the-life Fyvush Finkel was 93.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Turner Classic Movies and Adover Fabrics are proud to present a new line of quilt-making fabrics inspired by An American in Paris. The fabric line is available at quality, independent fabric retailers, nationwide.

   Bring home the colorful charm and exuberance of this classic MGM musical with these exclusive designs that capture the fun and allure of the film, classic Hollywood, and of course, the magic of Paris.

   Andover Fabrics, Inc., one of the world’s leading quilt fabric manufacturers has deep roots in the story of the American textile industry, dating back to the Roaring Twenties. Their, premier, quality fabrics are sold throughout the world with strategic partners in Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan. The company continues to grow with key licenses, designers, and unique finished products from Quilted Koala Ltd. Its commitment to preserving historical designs is customer driven. Andover Fabrics consumers avidly seek out period-style fabrics for their crafting and quilting.

   In this case, S’Wonderful…

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Lucille Ball’s hometown of Celoron, New York is welcoming a brand new bronze statue of the famous red head. The unveiling is today on what would have been Ball’s 105th birthday. Sculptor Carolyn Palmer’s version of the actress stands proudly on her Hollywood star, clad in a polka-dot dress, pearls, and heels, with her hair curly and coiffed. The sculptor said the statue is a total of 7-feet tall in its entirety.

   Palmer, who was selected from a national competition of 65 sculptors, said she hasn’t spoken to the sculptor of the Scary Lucy statue, Dave Poulin, but she has sympathy for the criticism he received. The current plan is to relocate Scary Lucy to a different part of Lucille Ball Memorial Park.

   In order to seek inspiration for the bronze statue, Palmer hired models that were Ball’s height — 5’7″ — and bought retro swing dresses and a red wig. In addition to using the models as a creative tool, Palmer stood in front of the mirror and practiced different stances she thought the Ball sculpture could emulate. Palmer also watched multiple episodes of I Love Lucy, including one where Lucy is a sculptor and puts clay all over her face.

   The most painstaking process was creating the polka dots. She did all of the polka dots by hand, rolling out clay and pressing a cap into them, then putting them in the freezer. Palmer worked first with clay, then wax, then eventually the bronze for her final product.

   Palmer said she’s already been getting positive reception from those who’ve taken a peek at the new statue, including a few Celoron residents when the statue was being installed. However, she’s eager to see what the masses will say about her version of the beloved star. Her other works include Pope Francis, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and Orville and Wilbur Wright.

   The new statue was shown as part of this year’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, which started Friday in nearby Jamestown.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Lily Tomlin is tapped to receive the SAG Life Achievement Award. SAG-AFTRA will honor the 76-year-old at its 23^rd annual show in 2017. Last year, the award went to Carol Burnett; other recent recipients include Rita Moreno, Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.

   Tomlin was twice nominated for a SAG Award for her work on The West Wing. In recent years, she has received a number of major accolades,  including the 2014 Kennedy Center Award and 2003 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

   The actress, who began her career on the sketch comedy show Laugh-In, has starred in dozens of movies over the decades: Robert Altman’s Nashville; Nine to Five, with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton; and I Heart Huckabees. In 2015 — the same year she starred in the critically acclaimed film, Grandma — she re-teamed with Fonda on the Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie, which will soon enter its third season.

   The SAG Awards will air on TBT and TBS on January 29th.

————————————————————————–

   David Huddleston portrayed the blustery millionaire whose identity Jeff Bridges’ character is mistaken for in the 1998 cult comedy The Big Lebowski. He also personified a jolly St. Nick alongside Dudley Moore in Santa Claus: The Movie; and hilariously played the mayor in Blazing Saddles.

   Huddleston served as an aircraft engine mechanic in the Air Force before studying acting in New York. He began his career in the theater, acting in national tours of such shows as The Music Man, Mame, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Other credits in a 55-year career include guest-starring on such television series as Gunsmoke, Adam-12, Bewitched, Ironside, Bonanza, The Rockford Files, Sanford and Son, Charlie’s Angels, Barnaby Jones, Hawaii Five-0, Columbo, Magnum P.I., The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, and The Wonder Years.

   David Huddleston was 85.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

   Gloria DeHaven was an actress, singer, and a contract star for MGM. Unfortunately, she never truly achieved film stardom. Her musical talents supplemented her acting income. At one time, she was married to actor John Payne.

   DeHaven had small roles in Modern Times (as a child), Three Little Words, The Thin Man Goes Home, Summer Stock, and later, Out to Sea. She was a reliable guest-star on television, appearing in The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Mannix, Marcus Welby M.D., Gunsmoke, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, Mama’s Family, Highway to Heaven, Murder She Wrote, and Touched by an Angel. She had recurring parts in Mary Hartman Mary Hartman; and in daytime soap operas, Ryan’s Hope and As the World Turns. And, she was a guest panelist on Match Game ’75.

   On Broadway, Gloria DeHaven (above) toured in a production of No No Nanette. She also co-starred in The Unsinkable Molly Brown and The Sound of Music. She sang with Bob Crosby’s orchestra, and for a time, had her own nightclub act.

   Gloria DeHaven was 91.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Jack Davis was a cartoonist and illustrator, known for his advertising art, magazine covers, film posters, record album art, and comic book stories. Davis (left) was one of the founding cartoonists for Mad Magazine in 1952. His illustrated characters were characterized by extremely distorted anatomy, including big heads, skinny legs, and extremely large feet. What me worry?

   Attending the University of Georgia on the G.I. Bill, he drew for the campus newspaper, and launched an off-campus humor publication. He never forgot his Bulldog roots. In 1949, he illustrated a Coca Cola training manual, a job that gave him enough money to buy a car and drive to New York.

   Davis initially came to the attention of TV Guide in 1965 when he illustrated an eight-page advertising supplement for NBC’s lineup, which featured icons such as Johnny Carson, Dean Martin, and fictional characters such as Dr. Kildare, Napoleon Solo, and Maxwell Smart. His first cover for the magazine came in 1968, when he depicted a tribute to Andy Griffith, in which the actor was hoisted on the shoulders of his costars, Don Knotts and Jim Nabors. In 2013, the magazine honored him in a retrospective, and spotlighted some of his most memorable covers, including those depicting Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In, Davis’ childhood hero Bob Hope, and Bonanza.

   Davis also drew movie posters, with work on Viva Max!, Kelly’s Heroes, Bananas, American Graffiti, The Long Goodbye, and famously, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in his portfolio.

   Jack Davis was 91.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

    Hollywood voice-double Marni Nixon singing was heard in place of the leading actresses in such classic movie musicals as West Side Story, The King and I, and My Fair Lady. No vocal talent was more familiar, yet her face was unknown to screen audiences for decades. One of her closest friends was the actress she worked along side in An Affair to Remember and The King and I… Deborah Kerr. Rita Moreno was also a pal. Arguably, she is part of Hollywood royalty.          MARNI NIXON –>

   In the heyday of the Hollywood musical, studios often paid big money for film rights to hit Broadway shows, then cast them with popular non-singing actors and actresses. Nixon went uncredited in the films and on their soundtrack albums, and was warned by the filmmakers that if she ever let it be known that she was doing the singing, she would be banned in the film industry. Marni initially resented the dubbing work, but later came to terms with it. Kerr blew Nixon’s cover when she praised her work on The King and I.

   After receiving zero royalties for her work in the 1950s, she negotiated with Leonard Bernstein to part with a sliver of his royalty share for work on West Side Story. It amounted to a major payday for her, given the album’s huge sales. Meanwhile, Natalie Wood was distraught that recordings of her tunes from the soundtrack were discarded.

   Audrey Hepburn, who had memorably sung Moon River in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, had campaigned to do her own singing as Eliza Doolittle in the screen version of My Fair Lady. She was able to handle the film’s early cockney-accented songs like Wouldn’t It be Loverly, but Nixon — carefully matching Hepburn’s vocal style — was called in for such soaring melodies as I Could have Danced All Night. The uproar of replacing Julie Andrews, who was the popular actress in the stage production, cost Hepburn a Oscar nomination.

MARNI NIXON

   Other work included a dubbing job for Margaret O’Brien in 1949 for The Secret Garden; she offered a few notes to Marilyn Monroe’s Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; and she sang the high notes for Natalie Wood in Gypsy. Rarely, Nixon received screen credit for roles in The Sound of Music and the animated Mulan.

   As the era of big, traditional movie musicals dried up, though, so did Nixon’s film career. But she kept busy with other work, including starring in her own children’s television show, singing opera, soloing with symphony orchestras, appearing in a road tour of Cabaret, and teaching at the California Institute of the Arts.

   Nixon was married to film composer-conductor Ernest Gold, Oscar-winner for Exodus, from 1950 to 1969. Her son, Andrew Gold, arranged music for Linda Ronstadt, and had a hit in 1977 with Lonely Boy. He also penned Thank You for Being a Friend, which became the theme song for The Golden Girls.

   Marni Nixon was 86.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   It’s expected the former home and studio of Walt Disney will be protected from demolition. Options range from preserving it as a Historic Cultural Monument to storing it in a museum. Los Angeles civic leaders leaped into action to save it. It was the very first residence of Disney when he moved to the West Coast in 1923.

WALT DISNEY       MICKEY MOUSE       ROY DISNEY

   The City Council have reviewed all the options and asked for an emergency stay. That designation initiates a 75-day stay and will allow the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission to consider its significance. Given the iconic status of Walt Disney, it certainly appears worthy of consideration. If the property becomes as a Historic Cultural Monument, it could be eligible for a property tax reduction via the Mills Act, and could take advantage of the historic building code for renovations. The owners could also negotiate with the city to relocate the entire building. The Valley Relics Museum is interested in moving the property to their location.

   The house has been a rental over the last few years, but this magnificent century-old woodwork appears to be largely intact from Disney’s time of residence.

   Either way, Mickey Mouse will be able to return home.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Writer-director Garry Marshall, whose deft touch with comedy led to a string of iconic television classic hits, including Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy; and box-office success with Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride. The film maker also had an on-screen presence, using his New York accent and gruff delivery in colorful supporting roles.        GARRY MARSHALL —->

   Gary, brother of actress-director Penny Marshall, earned a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and worked at the New York Daily News. But, he was better at writing punch-lines. He began his entertainment career in the 1960s selling jokes to comedians; and then moved to writing sketches for The Tonight Show with Jack Paar in New York. He caught the eye of Joey Bishop, who brought him to Los Angeles to write for his late-night talk show.

   Sitcoms quickly proved to be Marshall’s forte. He and then-writing partner Jerry Belson turned out scripts for the most popular comedies of the 1960s, including The Lucy Show, Make Room for Daddy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., and Love American Style. In 1970, they turned Neil Simon’s Broadway hit, The Odd Couple, into a small screen sitcom starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. It ran for five seasons and proved the beginning of a sitcom empire. He rejected retirement, serving as a consultant on the CBS 2015 reboot of The Odd Couple.

   Marshall and Belson detoured into screenwriting in 1967 with How Sweet It Is starring Debbie Reynolds, and followed it up with The Grasshopper with Jacqueline Bisset. He concentrated on directing with his later films, including Nothing in Common, Overboard, Beaches, and Dear God. In 1984, Marshall had a movie hit as the writer / director of The Flamingo Kid. The Princess Diaries in 2001 was another winner.

   He had on-screen small roles in Goldfinger, Hocus Pocus, and A League of Their Own in film. On television, he guest-starred in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Monk, The Simpsons, Two and a Half Men, Hot in Cleveland, and 24 episodes of Murphy Brown.

GARY MARSHALL’S

STABLE OF STARS

   Marshall was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame for his contributions to the field. In 2012, he was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He received a Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement from Writers Guild of America. Marshall also has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

   The provincial Garry Marshall was 81.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here… 

   Since the first Metropolitan Opera performance of Don Giovanni in 1883, Mozart’s operas have been seen at the Met a combined 1,832 times. This summer, the spotlight shines on Mozart once again in a special cinematic event. For the third year in a row, the Met and the Film Society of Lincoln Center co-present an opera-related film screening that anticipates the annual Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival.

   This year’s choice is Amadeus, Milos Forman’s classic 1984 adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s Tony Awards–winning production about the fraught relationship between Mozart and his quasi-mentor- turned-rival Antonio Salieri. The motion picture won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for F. Murray Abraham, whose Salieri edged out Tom Hulce’s Mozart in the same category. It’s FREE, and will screen outdoors on August 26th at 7:45p.

          TOM HULCE

   Featuring an Oscar-winning screenplay by Shaffer himself, Amadeus is famous for its bawdy portrayal of the genius composer, its ravishing art direction, and for the scene in which Austrian Emperor Joseph II dubiously asserts that a particular Mozart composition has simply too many notes.

   Next season, Amadeus fans can experience more Mozart when Don Giovanni, Idomeneo, and The Magic Flute (sung in English) return to the Met repertory.

Until next time>                               “never forget”