My tree is small, and my apartment cluttered, but there's just as much brightness and love here on Christmas Day!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Morning 2011
My tree is small, and my apartment cluttered, but there's just as much brightness and love here on Christmas Day!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
book review - The Story of Hollywood
First published in 2006, The Story of Hollywood was the recipient of the National Best Books Award 2007, and was also a Film, TV, Radio IPPY Silver Medal Winner 2007. Leonard Maltin has given the book his highest recommendation, and Los Angeles magazine calls The Story of Hollywood the best book on the neighborhood to come out this decade.
During the course of his research, Gregory Paul Williams saw so many buildings being destroyed and lost in Hollywood that he soon realized he was mapping out an incredible place that was about to become the stuff of myth rather than reality. This made him not just want to record its history, but get actively involved in its preservation, which led him to serve Hollywood Heritage as the chairman of its Preservation Issues Committee for two years.
Since its publication, Williams has become acknowledged as an expert, spokesman, as well as an advocate about his hometown and its historic architecture.
http://www.storyofhollywood.com/
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What can I possibly add to the accolades showered upon The Story of Hollywood, An Illustrated History (BL Press LLC), as its paperback hits the streets? As I opened the 405 pp. coffee table book, the first photo that caught my eye was that of Ginger Rogers accepting her Academy Award for Kitty Foyle in 1940. Although a black and white photo, the glamor practically jumped right out at me. I've seen thousands of black and white photos of thousands of celebrities, but most are forgettable. The image of this glamorous lady, as actress/dancer, star, triggered in me a deep-seated feeling, a wish, a dream that had beckoned to me to come to Hollywood in the first place many years ago. Something that I wanted to find, something that I wanted to experience like never before became a quest. Unfortunately I did not grow up in Hollywood, but just to know that glamor did exist and to see it in an old photograph sent my imagination reeling. Even if you do not have great imaginative powers, The Story of Hollywood will bring visions of Hollywood in its heyday to vibrant life.
Hundreds and hundreds of beautiful photos adorn the pages of The Story of Hollywood from its beginnings to the present. The book is divided into seven fascinating sounding chapter headings: 1. In the Valley of the Cahuengas, 2. A City of Homes, 3. No Dogs, No Movies, 4. Main Street of the Movies, 5. Boulevard of Broken Dreams, 6. Radio Days and 7. Lost Hollywood. Let me tease you with a tiny fact or tidbit of information from each chapter that will give you just a glimmer of an idea of what this spectacular book has to offer.
Just picture it - the not-so-familiar of yesteryear right before your eyes! At the onset you will see a picture of the very first homestead in Hollywood, an adobe near Franklin Avenue and Outpost Drive built by Don Tomas four years into California's statehood in 1854. Behind it are the Santa Monica Hills upon which today rests the famous Hollywood Sign. There's also a look at the very first Joyriders in a jalopy along Hollywood Boulevard in 1909. In Chapter Three-No Dogs, No Movies-we are offered a glimpse of the first Hollywood studios. The original Paramount Studio was on Vine in 1916 and Metro in 1919 was housed at the corner of Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine St. Did you ever think that studios could start so small? Or did you ever imagine a movie theater so huge? Well, Sid Grauman built Grauman's Egyptian Theater, called a temple of art and one of its very first premieres was Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood in 1922. The poster of Fairbanks towered over Hollywood Boulevard. What fun to see people on the rooftop of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel watching a movie premiere across the street at Grauman's and to see vintage photos of Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman and even little Shirley Temple out on the town. In Radio Days, we are treated to the beginnings of radio programs that originated in Hollywood, like William Powell and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man, as well as George Burns and Gracie Allen and John Barrymore among many others. Finally in Lost Hollywood we see the more familiar in the origins of the Metro system RailRoad from Hollywood Boulevard to NoHo (North Hollywood) in the early 1990s.
Did you know that the famous Pig 'n Whistle Restaurant was around in 1929, or that in 1934 Sardi's was in competition with The Brown Derby or that in 1941 since Orson Welles' Citizen Kane was boycotted by William Randolph Hearst to play anywhere, that it ran exclusively at the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Boulevard? Also that Capitol Records built the first circular office tower in 1954 - still a landmark in Hollywood, or that the Emmy Award as we know it was redesigned in Hollywood in 1949? All of these facts have tremendous meaning to trivia buffs who savor show business and the changing face of Hollywood through the years.
Wow! What a beautiful coffee table book that makes a great addition to anyone's home library, a perfect gift just in time for the holidays. I will use it as a reference and will treasure it always!
http://www.storyofhollywood.com/
Jeffrey Cornell Produces CD Everything Christmas
Originally from Oshkosh, WI, Jeffrey Cornell took tap lessons as a kid. He moved to LA at the age of 19 to begin a dance career, and ended up dancing in films, TV specials, Las Vegas, and Nightclub acts. He was in the first national tour of 42nd Street, opening New Year's Eve in Chicago, 1983. He transferred into the Broadway company of the popular show in May of '84.
Jeff wrote his first Christmas song ("Christmas Wishes") for his company Christmas party in 1985. The song was sung on stage at the Majestic Theater by his dear friend Beth Leavel (who also transferred in from the National tour.) When he moved back to LA in the summer of '86, he started writing more.
Through the years, the Christmas songs have been sung in nightclub acts, churches, concerts, and stage shows.
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What turns a Christmas song into a classic? Firstly, the music & lyrics become instantly recognizable. Secondly, it triggers in the listener an image or memory of real happiness. Third, it immediately makes him want to sing along. Actor/dancer Jeffrey Cornell's Everything Christmas, his personal collection of original compositions through the years has a few such future classics... like listening to the score of a Broadway show, there's a big, dramatic pulsating orchestral sound...and, the lyrics are uplifting, infusing you with peace, heart and love, feelings that only Christmas can generate.
The album's wonderful music arranger is Kirk Hunter and features the vocal talents of both seasoned and up and coming performers like David Burnham, Michelle Duffy, Derek Klena, Daniel Tatar, Pat Whiteman among others.
Highlights include: the dramatic spirituality of "Christmas Angels" performed so solidly by Michelle Duffy, "The Christmas Light" sung by Tom Lowe, "It's Truly Christmas Day" essayed by Julie Garnye, the warmly happy "Somewhere Beyond the Snow" sung with boyish charm by Derek Klena, the beautiful "Christmas Grace" conveyed warmly by David Burnham, "I'm Counting on Christmas" with vocals by Katy Tang, and Cornell's very first composition "Christmas Wishes" with Daniel Tatar.
It's truly special when a new album of original Christmas songs hits the airwaves, especially one in which it is obvious from the getgo that the composer truly loves the season. Every note and lyric reflect just that, as Cornwell shares abundantly his own personal hope and joy that are Christmas.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dianebrownanddavidburnha
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Friendly Christmas Brunch
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| telling Father Christmas my Christmas Wish |
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