The Way We Watch

      Since late win ter 2020, the world has been dealing with the effects of COVID-19  and everything that's come with it. Our vocabulary now consists of terms like 'social distancing' and quarantine, both things our generation rarely spoke of until now.  This isn't the first time a virus has ravaged the United States or the world. In 1918 the "Spanish Flu" swept across the globe, killing millions. In the fall of 1918, the "flu" made itsway across America.   We were not prepared for such a virus to sweep through our population, but the country did the best it could with what we had.  Nobody was immune to this powerful virus, not even the celebrities of the silent era.  Harold Lockwood was foreign to me until I started researching notable names hit with this powerful virus. But, it was clear he was one of the biggest Hollywood names to succumb to the ‘flu.’ Lockwood was a popular silent movie star of the time, starring in several films between 1911 a

The self-trained actor, one of the greatest actors of all time, a man who took his work seriously and worked long and hard to perfect himself in all ways, died ninety years ago today. Like Cary Grant, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Lemon, and Laurence Olivier, Lon Chaney, possessed something special as an actor, something that went above and beyond what we see today. Something most of us don't have, something with which they were born.  This long-gone actor's gift of the horrible was such that it endowed. It seems by most accounts that Chaney was a likable human. He was quiet and unassuming and took his fame with a grain of salt. Lon Chaney gave his all to his work then returned home where he lived his life as an ordinary man.  This ordinary and extraordinary life ended too soon on August 26, 1930. Lon Chaney, genius of the grotesque, man of a "thousand faces,' died in his wife, the former Hazel Hastings, arms at 12:55 a.m. in St. Vincent's hospital in Los Angeles.  His so

.  As the editor of a newspaper, I often come across interesting old classic film articles while doing research. From time to time I'll share some here.   Is Gossip as Natural to A Woman as Breathing? By Rosalind Russell There is nothing quite so fragile as feminine friendships. Being fragile, they are allergic to gossip, and gossip is the enemy of friendship between women. gossip is as natural to a woman, however, as breathing. It can be amusing and stimulating until it becomes personal. Then it is malicious and dangerous.  The surest way to keep women friends is never to ask questions. The minute you give way to temptation of prying into other people's business, trouble inevitably follows. There is only one basis upon which feminine friendships can be successfully preserved, and that is comradeship, plus a detached impersonal attitude. Think back on some of your own experiences. Personally, there is nothing so abhorrent to me as to hear women gossiping about my friends. It ma

As the editor of a newspaper, I often come across interesting old classic film articles while doing research. From time to time I'll share some here.    Oakland Tribune. September 27, 1939 On How to Keep Women Friends Rosalind Russell Tells Secret; Never Confide Your Own Shortcomings (By Rosalind Russell) Appearing with Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford in "The Women" No woman should ever confide a weakness or a shortcoming to another woman. Deny it, and if it does happen to be a real fault keep her guessing as to whether you're crazy or who she is. So many women think it is smart to boast about a weakness, real or imaginary. This only serves to make the real shortcoming material for gossip or build up the imaginary one until it is more tangible than the other.  The surest way to keep women friends is never to ask questions. The minute you give way to the temptation of prying into other people's business, trouble inevitably follows.  IMPERSONAL ATTITUDE There is onl

Chance Brought Romance Into Life of Norma Shearer LA Times, Sept. 15, 1936 Irving Thalberg’s habit of jotting down ideas in his notebook led to his romance and eventual marriage with Norma Shearer.   Theirs provided to be one of Hollywood’s happiest unions from which came a son, Irving Jr., 6, to perpetuate his name and a daughter Katherine, 1.  Chance Joined Them The story of their romance was vividly recalled yesterday on Thalberg’s sudden death at his home in Santa Monica.  As a young and advancing executive at Universal, this shy, boyish young man happened to catch a preview of a picture called, “Channing of the Northwest,” It was made at one of the New York Studios.  The striking personality of the leading lady prompted him to find out her name and he wrote down Norma Shearer in his notebook as a likely prospect for better things.  Rejected Offers At the time Miss Shearer was making a comfortable living in the East working in films, posing for advertisements and modeling. So when

As the editor of a newspaper, I often come across interesting old classic film articles while doing research. From time to time I'll reprint them here to share.  ‘From Under My Hat’ By Hedda Hopper LA Times, Sept. 16, 1952.  The night Norma got under Carole Lombard’s skin.   (This is the 10 th  in a series of 14 installments condensed from Hedda Hopper’s autobiography, “From Under My Hat,” copyrighted by Hedda Hopper and published by Doubleday  Co., Inc.) Norma Shearer and I worked until midnight one night, then started together for our dressing rooms. It was dark and seemed very quiet.  Sitting in the doorway of my room was a lion. I let out a screech you could have heard in Pomona and – Norma at my heels-ran back toward the set. I found a man there and tried to tell him about it, but my teeth were chattering so I could hardly get out the words.  Norma met Irving Thalberg at the Selig Zoo. Many stars had no time for Irving. Let it be said that he had little time for girls. He hadn

I found this graphic on Pinterest. I don't own the rights. This seems to be what the OG Chihuahuas looked like.  This past weekend my Aunt, Uncle, and mom made a Chihuahua kit for our family for lunch. My Aunt and uncle make the best Chihuahua’s.  I’ve had them for as long as I can remember. Growing up, we had them from time to time, but as an adult, I have made sure we have them for dinner at least once a month.  This meal is among one of my all-time favorites, and I gorge myself silly each time I make it. In 1951 this spectacular ‘sandwich’ was invented in a kitchen in Lubbock, Texas.   The Chihuahua Sandwich was created by the husband-wife team of Ed and Sarah Noret to add to their Drive-In Theater concession stand. The sandwich was such a hit that locals in this West Texas town would flock to the Sky-Vue Drive-In Theater to pick up a few of these ‘sandwiches’ and leave without seeing the movie.  They say the Chihuahuas worked at the Drive-In because they are uniq

 This year will be the first year since 2016 that I won't be headed to Los Angeles this spring. I knew the cancellation was coming, but it still hurt after a year of planning and saving.  Many of us talked and decided that we would dress up, call our local food establishments to order dinner out, and chat and watch some of our favorite TCM Film Festival movies. TCM had the same idea when they announced they would have a "TCM Classic Film Festival Home Edition," April 16-19. The network will show moments from past festivals, interviews, and some of the most popular films they've shown.  I was excited because now I can go to the festival with all of you.  They released their schedule along with their announcement. Since we're all stuck at home, now is the best time to discover and fall in love with these classic films. Trust me; I'm going to give you a list of must-see movies that will make you forget all about what's happening outside.  Thursday, April 16 ,

Turner Classic Movies has announced a few of the films they will be showing during this year’s Film Festival. The TCMFF held in the heart of Hollywood is in its 11th year. The 2020 dates are April 16-19th and passes are available for purchase here . By this time each year, my excitement is at a fever pitch. We are only weeks out from the event and after a few films are announced I start planning. It’s really impossible to plan for the event as a slew of films will still be announced, but usually, there are a few that make you giddy. This year the films that have me ready to get in line now are: The World The Flesh and The Devil (1959) The premise of the film is that Ralph (Belefonte) is a trapped miner who digs himself out and finds that all of mankind has been destroyed in a Nuclear holocaust. He goes to New York City and finds he is alone until he comes across Sarah (Inger Stevens) Together they grow close and survive until Benson Thacker (Mel Ferrer) shows up and puts a

Guys, we have roughly eight weeks to go until the Turner Classic Film Festival, can you believe it? (UPDATED Feb. 2020 in time for my 5th Festival!) To some, the festival has become second nature or something you just do, a right. For some of us, it's still this surreal, magical experience that we have to save every extra nickel we earn so we can attend. The moment I get home from the festival, I'm counting the days down until the next one. It's what I look forward to most all year long. This year will be my third trip to Hollywood for the TCM Film Festival, and it still feels like my first time. Eight weeks out and I still have butterflies in my stomach. I’m excited, and as I write this my heart beats faster and harder as I think about what films they have yet to announce,  Wuthering Heights  perhaps? Possibly,  Gone With the Wind ? Probably not, they ran that a few years back, before I could afford to attend, dang. Before my first trip in 2016 I researched so