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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Academy Award for the original screenplay of "Citizen Kane" auctioned for more than $861,000.




The Academy Award statuette that Orson Welles won for the original screenplay of "Citizen Kane" was auctioned for more than $861,000 in Los Angeles.
The 1942 Oscar was thought to be lost for decades. It surfaced in 1994 when cinematographer Gary Graver tried to sell it. The sale was stopped by Beatrice Welles, Orson's youngest daughter and sole heir.

Magician David Copperfield was among those clamoring for the golden trophy, but he was the runner-up bidder for the Oscar, which sold to an undisclosed buyer for $861,542, Los Angeles auctioneer Nate D Sanders said.
The slightly tarnished Oscar for 1941 best screenplay is one of just a handful of illustrious Academy Award statues to sell for near the million-dollar mark.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

84 Great Oscar Moments



The 12th Academy Awards (1940)

        Best Picture: "Gone with the Wind"
  • "Gone with the Wind" won eight Academy Awards: Best Picture, Actress (Vivien Leigh), Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Art Direction (Lyle R. Wheeler), Color Cinematography (Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan), Directing (Victor Fleming), Film Editing (Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom) and Writing – Screenplay (Sidney Howard). It received five other nominations. 


http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/moments/index83.html

Monday, December 5, 2011

ACADEMY SHINES NEW LIGHT ON "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE"



Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will examine the technology behind "It's a Wonderful Life" at Los Angeles and New York City screenings on Friday, December 9, and Monday, December 12, respectively. Hosted by Oscar®-winning visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and Oscar-winning sound designer Ben Burtt, the programs will explore studio production methods of the era, the use of matte paintings in key scenes, and the origins of the film's sound effects. Both programs will begin at 7 p.m.
"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) is one of only two motion pictures produced by Liberty Films, the independent company Frank Capra and Samuel J. Briskin created in 1945. Although the film performed only modestly at the box office when it was first released, it went on to earn five Oscar nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Best Actor (James Stewart), Directing (Capra), Film Editing (William Hornbeck) and Sound Recording (RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, sound director).
The inventors of the snow machine that made its debut with the film won an Academy Technical Achievement Award in 1948. Synthetic snow replaced bleached cornflakes, the previous method of simulating falling snow in movies.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

'Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Karl Slover Dead at Age 93



Karl Slover, who played a Munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz" has died at age 93, TMZ reported Wednesday.   Flowers will be placed on the Munchkins star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in California in the afternoon, a spokesperson tweeted.
Standing at just 4 ft 5 inches -- Slover was one of the smallest dwarf actors who played the natives of the fictional Munchkin Country in the 1939 classic film.


He played multiple parts in the movie as a trumpeter, a soldier, one of the sleepy heads, and was also among the choir who sang "Follow the Yellow Brick Road."


There are now just three living Munchkins -- actors Margaret Pellegrini, 88, Ruth Duccini, 93 and Jerry Maren, 91.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Billy Crystal to Return as Host for 84th Academy Awards®






Beverly Hills, CA (November 10, 2011) – Producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer have announced that Billy Crystal will serve as host for the 84th Academy Awards. "I'm thrilled to welcome Billy back to the Oscar® stage," said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak. "He's a comic legend and Oscar icon, and it feels good to have him back where he belongs."
Commented Grazer, "Like so many others, I've been eager to see Billy host again. It's very gratifying that he agreed to do it with Don and me at the helm."
Said Mischer, "With Billy, we're moving forward with one of the greatest hosts in Oscar history. His return to the Oscars® is, in a sense, a celebration."
This will mark Crystal's ninth time as host. Only Bob Hope has hosted more Academy Awards presentations, with 19 ceremonies between 1940 and 1978. Crystal last hosted the Academy Awards in 2004.
"Some of the best moments of my career have happened on the Oscar stage. I am thrilled to be back there. Actually, I am doing this so that the young woman in my pharmacy will stop asking me my name when I pick up my prescriptions," said Crystal.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Brian Grazer to Produce 84th Academy Awards® with Don Mischer


Beverly Hills, CA (November 9, 2011) – Academy President Tom Sherak announced today that Academy Award®-winner Brian Grazer will join Don Mischer as a producer of the 84th Academy Awards. This will be the first time Grazer has produced the Oscar® telecast.
"Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work," said Sherak. "He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars®."
"I am thrilled to welcome Brian Grazer as my partner and that we will be  collaborating to produce an outstanding show," echoed Mischer.
"It’s very gratifying to be part of a show that honors excellence in the medium to which I have devoted so much of my career," said Grazer. "Don is a legend, and I am excited to work with him."
"I too am delighted that Brian will join Don in producing the Academy Awards and I am looking forward to our producers delivering the movie event of the year," commented Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.
Grazer has earned four Academy Award nominations. He won a Best Picture Oscar in 2001 for "A Beautiful Mind."    In 1984, Grazer was nominated in the writing category for "Splash," and he received Best Picture nominations in 1995 and 2008 for "Apollo 13" and "Frost/Nixon," respectively.  His other film credits include "Spies Like Us," "Kindergarten Cop," "The Nutty Professor," "Liar Liar," "8 Mile" and "Cinderella Man."  His current projects include the about to be released "J. Edgar" and the just released "Tower Heist."

Eddie Murphy Exits as Host of 84th Academy Awards®


Beverly Hills, CA (November 9, 2011) – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced that Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of the 84th Academy Awards. "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well," said Sherak.
Commented Murphy, "First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Academy Statement Regarding Brett Ratner





Beverly Hills, CA (November 8, 2011) – This morning, Brett Ratner submitted his resignation as a producer of the 84th annual Academy Awards to Academy President Tom Sherak. Ratner then issued an open letter to the entertainment industry in which he explained his decision.
"He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself," Sherak said. "Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent."

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Gilbert Cates, veteran Oscar producer, dead at 77




Gilbert Cates, the producer and director who oversaw a record 14 Academy Awards ceremonies, has died. He was 77.
Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse, which Cates founded, said he died Monday. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Cates was comfortable at the helm of the Oscars, calling it "an absolutely great job." He produced more Academy Awards telecasts than anyone else and brought in comedians such as Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart and Steve Martin to host the show.
On Tuesday, Martin tweeted his condolences: "So sorry to hear Gil Cates has died. He helmed two Oscar shows I hosted. He was delightful, wise, canny and unperturbed. A great fellow."

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Michael Jackson Trial Opens with Shocking Death Photo



Just days before Michael Jackson died, the alarmed director of his comeback tour confronted Dr. Conrad Murray about the star's health, saying the king of pop was incoherent at times and unable to rehearse.
The testimony of Kenny Ortega, the co-director of Jackson's "This Is It" tour, was as startling as the opening statements by the prosecution and Murray's attorney.
Just minutes into his opening, prosecutor David Walgren showed the courtroom of photo of a ghostly Jackson lying dead in a hospital bed, draped by a hospital gown. He also played a tape of a conversation with Jackson in which the drugged-up singer slurred his words so badly the prosecutors had to run captions on the screen so jurors could understand what Jackson was saying.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Today in Hollywood History September 9th 2011

Today in Hollywood History September 9th 2011


1938 - "Boys Town" starring Spencer Tracey is released.


1951 - 1st broadcast of "Love of Life" on CBS-TV

1955 - Elvis Presley's 1st appearance on Ed Sullivan's Show

1960 - Hugh Grant is born

1966 - Adam Sandler is born

1979 - 31st Emmy Awards: Taxi, Lou Grant, Ron Leibman & Ruth Gordon

1997 - Burgess Meredith known for "Rocky" films dies at 89

2005 - "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" starring Laura Linney is released.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

OSCAR® SAVES RED CARPET SEATS FOR FANS




Beverly Hills, CA – Movie fans can soon vie for seats at the most glamorous spot on Hollywood Boulevard, Oscar’s Red Carpet.
Beginning on Monday, September 12, at noon ET/9 a.m. PT, and continuing for only one week, fans from around world may apply online for a random drawing for bleacher seats along the 84th Academy Awards® red carpet.
There are only 700 seats available along the 500-foot-long walkway that leads into the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®. Those who are selected will watch and cheer Oscar nominees, presenters and other ceremony guests as they arrive at the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Following the red carpet arrivals, everyone seated in the bleachers will be invited to watch the Academy Awards telecast at a nearby location.
The application form will be available at www.oscars.org/bleachers. The application process will close on Sunday, September 18, at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT.
To be eligible for the random drawing, an individual must complete the application form in its entirety. Applications may only be submitted online; they may not be returned via any other method.
Applicants may register for themselves and one guest. Duplicate registrations will not be accepted.
Those whose names are selected in the random drawing will be notified in late September. They will then be required to submit additional information for security purposes prior to final approval. Eligible attendees will receive a confirmation letter in early January with information pertinent to the event.
Only those individuals who have been pre-approved by the Academy will have access to the bleachers. Those who wait overnight to attempt admittance will not be granted entry.
The Academy will not be responsible for securing travel and/or hotel accommodations for bleacher fans.
In previous years, as many as 20,000 fans have applied online for the limited number of red carpet seats.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
# # #
ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

James Earl Jones, Dick Smith and Oprah Winfrey To Receive Academy’s Governors Awards



James Earl Jones, Dick Smith and Oprah Winfrey To Receive Academy’s Governors Awards

Beverly Hills, CA (August 2, 2011) – The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted tonight to present Honorary Awards to actor James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to philanthropist Oprah Winfrey.  All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 3rd Annual Governors Awards dinner on Saturday, November 12, at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones made his film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick’s "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."  In 1970, he earned an Academy Award® nomination for his role as boxer Jack Jefferson in "The Great White Hope."  Jones has appeared in more than 50 feature films including "Claudine," "Conan the Barbarian," "Field of Dreams," "Coming to America" and, as Vice Admiral James Greer, "The Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger."  Additionally, Jones has also voiced some of the most iconic characters in motion pictures including Darth Vader in the Star Wars trilogy and Mufasa in "The Lion King."
Known as the "godfather of makeup," Smith began his career in 1945 as NBC’s first makeup man.  He is known for his makeup artistry on such films as "The Godfather," "The Exorcist" and "Taxi Driver."  In 1984 he won an Oscar® for his work on "Amadeus," and received a nomination for "Dad" (1989).  As an educator, Smith helped train many of today’s Academy Award-winning and nominated makeup artists including Rick Baker, Greg Cannom, Kevin Haney, Kazuhiro Tsuji, Mike Elizalde and Carl Fullerton.
Since receiving her Oscar nomination for her debut film performance in "The Color Purple," actress, television host and producer Winfrey has gone on to establish herself as one of the most influential figures in entertainment and philanthropy. She has been especially dedicated to supporting educational initiatives and raising awareness of issues that affect women and children, both in the United States and around the globe.  Her philanthropic efforts have included Oprah’s Angel Network, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in South Africa in 2007. 
The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given to an individual for "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy."
The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an Oscar statuette, is given to an individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.
The Governors Awards presentation will be produced for the Academy by writer-director Phil Robinson with Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare of Don Mischer Productions.



Eddie Murphy to Host 84th Academy Awards




Eddie Murphy to Host 84th Academy Awards®

Beverly Hills, CA (September 6, 2011) – Oscar® nominee Eddie Murphy, whose performing career spans movies, television and the stage, will host this year's Academy Awards show on Sunday, February 26, 2012, telecast producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer announced today.  This will be Murphy's first hosting stint on the Oscars®.
"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," said Ratner.  "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances – especially on stage – I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February."
Commented Mischer, "Eddie is a truly ground-breaking performer, whose amazingly diverse array of roles has won him a devoted audience of all ages. His quick wit and charisma will serve him very well as Oscar host."
"I am enormously honored to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others," said Murphy.  "I'm looking forward to working with Brett and Don on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year."
Murphy began his career at the age of 15 as a stand-up comedian.  In 1980, at the age of 19, he joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live," becoming the show's youngest cast member to that point, and bringing to life many of the show's most memorable  characters. His 1983 album "Eddie Murphy: Comedian" won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording.  It included portions of his groundbreaking HBO special "Eddie Murphy Delirious."  In 1987, "Eddie Murphy Raw" was theatrically released and went on to gross over $50 million. Murphy made his feature film debut in 1982 with the classic "48 Hrs." and would go on to star in such box-office hits as "Beverly Hills Cop" and the "The Nutty Professor" and "Shrek" franchises. All told, movies in which he has performed have earned in excess of $7 billion worldwide during their theatrical releases.
Murphy earned an Oscar nomination in 2006 for his supporting role in "Dreamgirls."
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Bill Crystal Snubbed in Consideration for Oscar Host




A source close to the production of February's 84th Annual Academy Awards show tells us funnymen Billy Crystal and Jerry Seinfeld were gunning for the coveted role.
After James Franco and Anne Hathaway proved that quirky, youthful co-hosts were not necessarily the key to boosting the Oscar telecast's ratings and reviews, predictions circulated that the academy would once again go old-school with Crystal in 2012.
Last month, the Los Angeles Times reported that Crystal, who's hosted the Oscars eight times, told an audience at an American Cinematheque screening of "City Slickers" that he'd be willing to host the movie awards show "one or two more times."
According to our source, however, "Rush Hour" filmmaker Brett Ratner, who's producing the 2012 Oscars telecast with Don Mischer, was never interested in the comic actor.
Crystal "was campaigning for [the hosting gig] on his own," says the source, "but he was never actually in the running."
The insider snarkily added that Crystal was a "backup option" that "no one was seriously considering."
The source also says Seinfeld's camp contacted the academy to express Jerry's interest in hosting, but points out that, as far as Ratner was concerned, Murphy was his guy.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/09/07/2011-09-07_eddie_murphy_announced_as_oscars_host_also_stars_in_the_award_show_producers_upc.html#ixzz1XIG4nNE3

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Eddie Murphy to Host 84th Academy Awards





Beverly Hills, CA (September 6, 2011) – Oscar® nominee Eddie Murphy, whose performing career spans movies, television and the stage, will host this year's Academy Awards show on Sunday, February 26, 2012, telecast producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer announced today.  This will be Murphy's first hosting stint on the Oscars®.


http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110906.html

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 31st 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 31st 2011


1928 - Actor James Coburn is born

1946 - "The Big Sleep" starring Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall is released.

1949 - Actor Richard Gere is born

1973 - Director John Ford known for "The Grapes of Wrath" dies at 79

1984 - C.H.U.D. starring John Heard is released

2007 - Rob Zombies "Halloween" is released


Thursday, August 25, 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 25th 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 25th 2011

1930 - Acor Sean Connery is born

1939 - "The Wizard of Oz" starring Judy Garland is released.

1958 - Director Tim Burton is born

1967 - Actor Paul Muni known for "The Good Earth" 1937 dies at 71

1989 - "The Package" starring Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones is released

1991 - 43rd Emmy Awards: LA Law, Cheers, Kirstie Alley & Patricia Wettig

Breaking Down the Marisa Tomei Oscar Rumor



For many years, urban legend had it that Marisa Tomei didn't actually win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1992 for My Cousin Vinny. If the rumor (of which there is many versions) is to be believed, a confused Jack Palance (the previous year's Best Supporting winner for City Slickers) wasn't able to make out the name on the envelope's card and announced Tomei as the winner since her name was the last to appear on the TelePrompter. Did Tomei really win an Oscar for her breakthrough performance? Was the award actually intended for Vanessa Redgrave, nominated that year for Howards End? Did the Academy launch a massive cover-up to hide their biggest blunder?

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 11th 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 11th 2011


1948 - Ian McDiarmid known for his role as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in Star Wars is born

1973 - "American Graffiti" is released.

1983 - Chris Hemsworth known for this role as Thor is born

1988 - Anne Ramsey known for her role in the "Throw Mama from the Train" dies at 58

1994 - Peter Cushing known for his role as Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars dies at 81

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 10th 2011

Today in Hollywood History August 10th 2011


1898 - Jack Haley known for his role as the Tin Man in the "Wizard of Oz is born.

1933 - Tarzan the Fearless starring Buster Crabbe is released.

1943 - Heaven Can Wait starring Gene Tierney and Don Ameche is released

1948 - Allen Funt's "Candid Camera" TV debut on ABC.

1952 - Diane Venora known for "The Insider" is born.

1959 - Rosanna Arquette known for "Pulp Fiction" is born

1960 - Antonio Banderas known for "Desperado" is born

1989 - Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child starring Robert Englund is released

1990 - Lucas Till known for "X-Men: First Class" is born.




Producers of the 84th Academy Awards











Brett Ratner and Don Mischer will produce the 84th Academy Awards telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced.  Not sure if this is a good thing, but here is the full story.

http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/producers.html

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

James Earl Jones amongst Governors Award recipients.



Beverly Hills, CA (August 2, 2011) – The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted tonight to present Honorary Awards to actor James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to philanthropist Oprah Winfrey.  All three awards will be presented at the Academy’s 3rd Annual Governors Awards dinner on Saturday, November 12, at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.


http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110802b.html

Friday, July 22, 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 22nd 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 22nd 2011 


1946 - Danny Glover is born

1954 - "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" starring Howard Keel is released.

1955 - Willem DaFoe is born

1964 - David Spade is born

1964 - "Shock Treatment" starring Lauren BaCall is released.

1977 "The Hills Have Eyes" starring Susan Lanier  is released

1983 - "Jaws" 3D is released.

2005 - George Wallace known for "Forbidden Planet" dies at 88

2005 - "The Island" starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson is released.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 14th 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 14th 2011


1918 - Ingmar Bergman known for "The Seventh Seal" 1957 is born


1939 - Sid Haig known as Captain Spaulding in Rob Zombie's horror films "House of 1000 Corpses" is born


1952 - Joel Silver, producer of the Matrix Trilogy, Die Hard, the Lethal Weapon Flicks and more, is born.

1966 - "Torn Curtain" starring Paul Newman is released.


1978 - "The Swarm" starring Michael Caine is released.


1990 - "Solar Crisis" starring Charlton Heston is released.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Film pick of the Week "Miss Nobody"




Miss Nobody Synopsis: A mild-mannered secretary discovers that she has a talent for murder as she ascends the corporate ladder

Leslie Bibb combines a naive outlook with her own personal justification that carries the film. Everything in this film works, this is a fun (and surprisingly non-violent) murderous trip into the corporate world that could well be a sleeper hit like Office Space was - it is a good little film, with loads of character actors that you'll recognize, a strong romance, and suspense, and is, all in all, a wry take on corporate life.

Today in Hollywood History July 13th 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 13th 2011


1923 - The Hollywood Sign is officially dedicated in the hills above Hollywood, Los Angeles. It originally reads "Hollywoodland " but the four last letters are dropped after renovation in 1949.

1930 - Sarnoff reports in NY Times "TV would be a theater in every home"

1940 - Patrick Stewart known for "Star Trek" and "X-Men" is born

1941 - Robert Forster known for "Jackie Brown" is born.

1942 - Harrison Ford known for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is born.

1946 - Cheech Marin known for "Cheech and Chong" is born

1977 - "The Island of Dr. Moreau" starring Burt Lancaster is released.

1981 - "Time Bandits" starring John Cleese is released.

1999 - "Eyes Wide Shut" starring Tom Cruise is released.

2006 - Red Buttons known for "Sayonara" (1956) dies at 87

2007 - "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is released.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 12th 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 12th 2011

1908 - Milton Berle is born

1935 - "Mad Love" starring Peter Loree

1937 - Bill Cosby born

1951 - Cheryl Ladd known for "Charlies Angels" born

1956 - "Foreign Intrigue" starring Robert Mitchum is released.

1961 - "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" starring Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Peter Lorre is released.

1973 - Lon Chaney Jr. known for "The Wolf Man" (1941) dies at 67

1985 - "Explorers" starring Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix is released.

1993 - Gusti Huber known for "The Diary of Anne Frank" dies at 78

2002 - "Halloween: Resurrection" starring Jamie Lee Curtis is released.

Remembering Sherwood Schwartz




Sherwood Schwartz, writer-creator of two of the best-remembered TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch,” has died at age 94.

Sherwood Charles Schwartz (November 14, 1916 – July 12, 2011) was an American television producer. He worked on radio shows in the 1940s, and created the television series Gilligan's Island on CBS and The Brady Bunch on ABC. On March 7, 2008, Schwartz, at the time still active in his 90s, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Monday, July 11, 2011

Making the Sci-Fi Epic "Forbidden Planet" (1956)

A celebration of the technology behind "Forbidden Planet" featuring a screening and a three-week display highlighting the production methods used to create the sci-fi classic.


http://www.oscars.org/events-exhibitions/events/2011/07/forbidden-planet.html

Today in Hollywood History July 11th 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 11th 2011


1920 - Yul Brynner known for "The King and I" is born

1922 - The Hollywood Bowl opens.

1937 - George Gershwin composer dies at 38

1946 - "The Cockeyed Miracle" starring Frank Morgan and Audrey Totter is released.

1989 - Laurence Olivier known for "Rebecca" dies at 82

2005 - Frances Langford known for "Broadway Melody of 1936" dies at 92

2008 - "Jorney to the Center of the Earth" starring Brendan Fraser is released.

2008 - "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" starring Ron Perlman is released.



Thursday, July 7, 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 7th 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 7th 2011

1944 - "The Mummy's Ghost" starring Lon Chaney Jr. is released.

1949 - Shelley Duvall known for "The Shining" is born

1950 - "Where the Sidewalk Ends" starring Gene Tierney, Karl Malden is released.

1967 - Vivien Leigh Oscar Winner known for "Gone with the Wind" dies at 53

1973 - Veronica Lake known for "This Gun for Hire" dies at 50

1977 - "The Spy who Loved Me" starring Roger Moore is released.

1980 - Dore Schary producer/former MGM studio head dies at 74

1986 - Actress Deborah Hunter marries actor Michael Tylo

1994 - Actress Diane Lane files for divorce from Christopher Lambert

2004 - "King Arthur" starring Clive Owen is released.

2006 - "A Darkly Scanner" starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr. is released.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Warner Bros. Wins Key Legal Ruling Impacting All 'Wizard of Oz' Remakes


In 1900, L. Frank Baum wrote the famous children's novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It's easy to assume that since the book was published more than 110 years ago, the characters of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the rest are safely in the public domain.
Or so Hollywood hopes. Many movie studios are in the midst of re-adapting the classic. But the truth about what's in the public domain and what's not may be a little murky, thanks to a decision on Tuesday by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Warner Bros. owns the rights to the 1939 MGM movie, The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland.

FULL STORY http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/warner-bros-wins-key-legal-208255

Today in Hollywood History July 6th 2011

Today in Hollywood History July 6th 2011



1927 - Janet Leigh known for "Psycho" 1950 is born

1946 - Sylvester Stallone known for "Rocky" is born

1951 - Geoffrey Rush known for "Shine" is born

1973 - "Live and Let Die" starring Roger Moore is released.

1990 - "Jetson's the Movie" with Tiffany, premieres

1998 - Roy Rogers known for "King of the Cowboys" dies at 86

2003 - Buddy Ebsen known for "The Beverly Hillbillies" dies at 95

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Today in Hollywood History June 30th 2011

Today in Hollywood History June 30th 2011


1917 - Lena Horne known for "Ziegfeld Follies" 1945 is born


1936 - "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, published


1955 - "Johnny Carson Show," debuts on CBS-TV


1955 - "A Life in the Balance" starring Ricardo Montalban and Anne Bancroft is released.


1973 - "Burns & Schreiber Comedy Hour," TV Variety; debut on ABC


1984 - "The Last Starfighter" starring Lance Guest is released.


1992 - Actress Cecil Hoffman (Zoe-LA Law) marries Paul Slye


1993 - George "Spanky" McFarland known for "The Little Rascals"  dies at 64


2003 - Buddy Hackett known for "The Music Man" dies at 78

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Academy's Bruce Davis Reflects



After 22 years as executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bruce Davis is retiring Thursday. For two decades, he's overseen the day-to-day operations of the Academy, providing continuity and institutional memory even as six different men have held the post of president.

Davis' tenure has been marked by several major accomplishments: He helped raise an endowment that supports the operation of the Margaret Herrick Library, which has occupied a former waterworks on La Cienega Blvd. in Beverly Hills since 1991. He encouraged the Academy's move into film preservation by establishing an archive at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, which opened its doors in 2002.

Full story: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academys-bruce-davis-reflects-best-206318