Yes I had to fudge a little on this one to fit in everything I wanted to write about on the A to Z Challenge, so I chose You’re the One That I Want and Grease as my Y even though I am just going to write about Grease. It is my all-time favorite movie. It was my favorite movie growing up and still is today. I can recite every line – I’m not exaggerating. I first saw it in the theatre in 1978 when I was 5 – I still have my Grease tee shirt. I watched it when it came on tv, then taped it when Beta came out and watched it over and over. I bought it on vhs and then dvd, but still watch it when it comes on VH-1 classic, even though I own it and can recite it. I saw Grease again in the theatre on its 20th anniversary. I went everyday the first week it was re-released. I’ve also seen the play Grease several times all over, including Baltimore, Memphis and Dublin. Grease was my first album, so along with Happy Days, it was my first music and was a critical part in shaping what kind of music I enjoy. Grease is like home to me, it comforts me.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I had a lot of fun in April blogging about 26 of my favorite things in the A to Z challenge. So much fun in fact that I wanted to list all of my favorites in this one blog post, each highlighted with links back to the original posts. I have also included some honorable mentions to truly include all of my favorites. So here are 26 of my favorites from A to Z!
A is for (brady) Anderson with Autobiographies as honorable mention.
B is for (denver) Broncos with Biographies as honorable mention.
C is for (johnny) Cash with Casinos as honorable mention.
I will definitely participate the A to Z Challenge again next year. I met lots of new friends, read a lot of interesting new blogs, and I loved writing my about all of my favorite things.
A favorite of mine that begins with X is Xanadu. Actually Xanadu isn’t one of my favorite movies now, but it was when I was little and it is the only thing I could think of that begins with X. It is one of Olivia Newton-John’s movies, and she is my favorite female performer, so Xanadu counts as my favorite ‘X.’ Plus the definition of Xanadu is an idyllic, beautiful place and that is fantastic. The movie Xanadu was a campy 1980′s romantic musical fantasy, but for me as an 8 year old it was all about roller skating. My best friend Cindy and I spent hours and hours roller skating in her carport while listening to our Xanadu record.
What is a favorite of yours that begins with X?
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.
A favorite of mine that begins with T is Turner, Lana better known as Lana Turner, my favorite actress. I love her. Lana Turner was independent and confident and portrayed these characteristics in her movie roles as well. It seemed in every movie she was single and making it on her own, and that was in the 1940s and 1950s. My favorite Lana Turner movies are Imitation of Life, A Life of Her Own, The Bad and the Beautiful and Peyton Place.
I’ve probably only seen about half of Lana Turner’s movies. They are hard to find and rarely on TCM, except for the obvious ones. I have read both her autobiography and her daughter’s and any other biographies I can find. So if you have any questions about Lana, just ask.
Who is your favorite actress?
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.
A favorite of mine that begins with N is Newton-John, Olivia – better known as Olivia Newton-John. Olivia is my favorite female singer. I have loved her since I was five. She was my first obsession, my first scrapbook. I discovered Olivia Newton-John in Grease and soon had all of her albums. Olivia has a memorabilia shelf along side Elvis and U2. My favorite Olivia Newton-John album is Totally Hot, which contains my favorite ONJ song A Little More Love.
Unfortunately I have yet to meet Olivia Newton-John, but I was lucky enough to see her in concert a few years ago. I was in the front row and cried during her first five songs. I was just so excited to finally see her live in concert. Besides being a wonderful singer and great actress (you should also check out Xanadu and Two of a Kind), Olivia is a a great humanitarian. She is giving back to the planet more than she is taking. I can’t say (or write) enough about this wonderful woman.
Who is your favorite female performer?
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.
A favorite of mine that begins with J is James Dean. He is my favorite actor. I don’t remember how or why I discovered James Dean. I just always remember loving him. He was the iconic symbol of cool in the 1950s. He was an amazing actor. I love his movies: East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant. It is so sad that he died so young, but then again he may not have been such a legend had he lived. “Live fast and die young” – I’m not sure if it was his motto or one that was associated with him after he died.
Who is your favorite actor?
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.
A favorite of mine that begins with G is Grease. It is my all-time favorite movie. It was my favorite movie growing up and still is today. I can recite every line – I’m not exaggerating. I first saw it in the theatre in 1978 when I was 5 – I still have my Grease tee shirt. I watched it when it came on tv, then taped it when Beta came out and watched it over and over. I bought it on vhs and then dvd, but still watch it when it comes on VH-1 classic, even though I own it and can recite it. I saw Grease again in the theatre on it’s 20th anniversary. I went everyday the first week it was re-released. I’ve also seen the play Grease several times all over, including Baltimore, Memphis and Dublin. Grease has its own shelf of memorabilia along side Brady Anderson, Elvis Presley and others. The big part of why I loved and love Grease is Olivia Newton-John, my first obsession and first scrapbook – more on her later. I also love Grease because it is set in the 1950s. Grease is like home to me, it comforts me.
What is your favorite movie?
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.
I love Christmas movies. I start watching them the day after Halloween. Luckily, the Hallmark channel starts showing them November 1st with its ‘Countdown to Christmas,’ and I set my DVR for all of my favorites – because I watch the same ones every year. Lifetime starts showing Christmas movies around Thanksgiving. It used to be called ‘Fa La La La Lifetime,’ which I loved, but it has changed to ‘It’s a Wonderful Lifetime.’ – not nearly as fun to say. The Family channel also shows Christmas movies, but my favorites are from Hallmark and Lifetime. Over the recent years, I have started purchasing my favorite Christmas movies on DVD, so I don’t have to fill up my DVR.
I have four favorite types of Christmas movies: the first is about someone from the big city who goes to a small town and Christmas makes them a better person, the second is about a person goes back in time to see that their life could have been better if they had chosen love over a career, the third is about a person who hires or tricks another person into being their fiancée or boyfriend to satisfy their parents, and the fourth is about someone who in engaged to the wrong person and is attracted to the newcomer in town who is the right person. Of course all of these movies have happy endings, and everyone in them are good people. It may sound corny and cliche, but these movies give me hope, make me want to be a better person and remind me of the true meaning of Christmas. So far I have watched Mrs Miracle, Eves’ Christmas, Farewell Mr Kringle, Moonlight and Mistletoe, Our first Christmas, This Christmas, Saint Maybe, A Dog Named Christmas, The Family Stone, Undercover Christmas, A Christmas Wish, Secret Santa, Trading Christmas, Home for the Holidays, A Season for Miracles, Have a Little Faith, Silver Bells, Fallen Angels, Finding John Christmas, A Christmas Visitor, The Christmas Pageant, Fred Claus, 4 Christmases, Comfort and Joy, A Carol Christmas, Christmas Caper, A Boyfriend for Christmas, Holiday in Handcuffs, The Christmas Card, and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. My favorite of all of these is A Dog Named Christmas. It is about a a developmentally challenged young man who encourages his town to participate in the shelter’s ‘Adopt a Dog for Christmas program.’ It makes me cry every time I watch it.
I save my favorite Christmas movies, the classics, for Christmas Eve. I watch Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Holiday Affair, and Holiday Inn. Sometimes I watch Miracle on 34th Street on Thanksgiving because it comes on after the parade, but this year I didn’t. This movie has become such a part of my Christmas tradition that when I go to New York City, I get SO excited when I see Macy’s. I like this movie because it’s about Santa Claus and I love Santa Claus. Also, Natalie Wood was fantastic, even as a child. I like White Christmas because of Bing Crosby. It’s about two army buddies who romance and work with two sisters. Holiday Inn also stars Bing Crosby and was actually the debut of the song White Christmas. It was out 12 years before the movie White Christmas, sort of a prequel – and I like it much better. Holiday Inn is about an Inn that is only open on holidays. Holiday Affair, my favorite of all Christmas movies, is a sweet story of a widow with a young son who is engaged to the wrong guy and attracted to a stranger who turns out to be the right guy – it stars Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh.
I hope you find the Christmas spirit, as I have through these great Christmas movies, and keep it with you throughout the year. Merry Christmas!
I added the movie I Melt With You on my list of movies I wanted to see when I saw Rob Lowe and later Jeremy Piven talk about the it on The View. Those two actors alone are enough to make me want to see the movie. They billed it as a movie about guys and their friendships. This sounded interesting to me as one of my favorite movies, Swingers, is also about guys and their friendships. But make no mistake, this movie is not Swingers. Although there is also great music in this film, such as U2‘s Out of Control!
I Melt With You opens in theaters tomorrow Dec 9, but I was able to watch it last night on HD Movie Net. It is a dark movie, one that is hard to watch at times. But it is the kind of movie that you like more and more as the hours pass after you’ve watched it. The kind of movie that sticks with you, that you can’t get out of your head. I don’t want to give away the plot because that would do a disservice to the film. But I can say it is about four old college roommates in their mid-40s who get together for a week. They do this every year on the one friend’s birthday to catch up with each others’ lives. Please let me know what you think about I Melt With You after you see it.
In the words of Modern English, “I’ll stop the world and melt with you.”
I’ve loved The Muppets for over 30 years, longer than I’ve loved U2. I used to watch The Muppet Show every week in the late 1970s. My favorite back then was Fozzie the Bear, but I had a Miss Piggy puppet which I still have today. Now I also love Animal because he plays the drums.
Animal is all about drums
I was very excited when I learned there was going to be a Muppet movie this year. I saw The Muppetsyesterday and really liked it, but I wasn’t sure I was going to when the movie started. There was a bit of campy musical dance scenes in the beginning with Jason Segel, who wrote the movie for his love of Kermit, and Amy Adams, which I found a little cheesy. I wanted to see the Muppets dance and sing, not real people. But the Muppets soon took over the movie, and I was transported back into the late 1970s.
The Muppet Show
I identified with Walter, who is the #1 Muppet fan and actually a Muppet himself. His dream was to be part of the Muppet Show. He goes to Hollywood to visit the old Muppet Studio, which I must have missed as I walking down Hollywood Boulevard this summer – haha. As Walter stands in front of the theatre about to take the tour, he starts to shake because he’s SO excited. Reminded me of myself standing outside of Graceland before starting the tour. Then Walter faints when he meets Kermit. Much like me crying after Larry hugged me on his way to the stage in Pittsburgh.
The Muppets
The Muppets stayed true to its characters. Fozzie was still funny, Miss Piggy was still a diva, and Animal was still crazy – in fact he was in an anger management class with Jack Black. Other cameos were Dave Grohl, who was Fozzie’s drummer in his new act, Whoopi Goldberg and Jim Parsons – I was very excited to see Sheldon! If you loved The Muppet Show, you’ll like The Muppets.
Today is the 48th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy – November 22, 1963. I’ve had a great interest in the Kennedy family over the years, but recently I’ve been quite obsessed. I have watched and re-watched The Kennedys 8-hour miniseries on tv, as well as The Women of Camelot , Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onasis, and Robert Kennedy and His Times miniseries. I have also been reading Ted Kennedy’s memoir True Compass. When I’m finished with Teddy’s memoir, I’m going to read Bobby’s and Jack’s biographies. Bobby Kennedy is the one with whom I am most interested.
Teddy, Jack, Bobby
I have a love and passion for history, especially post World War 2 American history. It is what I studied in college earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The Kennedys were a huge part of that post-WW2 American history that I adore so much. Also being an only child, I’ve always been fascinated with huge families. I thought it would have been great to be a Kennedy until I learned in Teddy’s memoir that each child was only allowed one napkin per week for dinner. I practically use one napkin per bite. No, I wouldn’t have made it as a Kennedy.
Of all the Kennedys, Jack has always gotten most of the publicity. I guess being President of the United States will do that, but it was his younger brother Bobby, Attorney General, who was behind most of Jack’s critical presidential decisions – including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights legislation. Jack was also interesting to the public because of his playful ways and playboy image, whereas Bobby was the more serious religious husband and father. Jack had Frank Sinatra, but Bobby had Bobby Darin – one of of my favorites! What I admire most about Bobby was his sense of right and wrong and speaking his mind no matter who he was talking to and no matter what it might have done to his political career. Bobby stood up for what was right, even when it wasn’t popular. And he loved dogs!
The world would have been a different place, a much better place, had both brothers not been assassinated within 5 years of each other. I truly believe the United States would not have endured all those horrible years in the Vietnam War had Jack and Bobby lived. Jack’s assassination in 1963 ended the seemingly carefree prosperous post-war era. Bobby’s assassination in 1968 ended America’s era of hope and, along with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr two months earlier, began an era of disillusionment and cynicism that is unfortunately still with us today.
Please watch the video of that fateful day in Dallas – 48 years ago today. Please watch the video of Walter Cronkite’s news broadcast on November 22, 1963.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend the screening of the remake of Footloosedirected by Memphis’ own Craig Brewer. The movie was fantastic! It was really funny and had an underdog champion kind of feel like Karate Kid and Rocky. The story and characters followed the original movie. Kenny Wormald’s Ren was way hotter than Kevin Bacon’s, but he did wear what looked like the same maroon blazer to the dance at the end of the movie. Dennis Quaid’s Rev. Moore was more sympathetic and less scary than John Lithgow’s. The music was great. It was a mix of covers of the original soundtrack, including a beautiful version of Holding Out For A Hero by Ella Mae Bowen, and new songs, including Magic In My Home by Memphis musician Jason Freeman. I thought I heard Kenny Loggins’ Footloose during the opening credits and Deniece Williams’ Let’s Hear It For The Boy, but they are not included on the new soundtrack.
Footloose
The large theatre at the Paradiso in Memphis was almost full at 11am on a Friday morning for the 6th screening of Footloose. A lot of folks from the local news were in attendance, including Val and Greg from Good Morning Memphis and Mary Beth from Live at 9. Director Craig Brewer was there to greet us as we arrived and sign posters after the screening. Craig explained he remade Footloose because as a 13 year-old kid in 1984 when it came out, it was as if the movie was made just for him. He was the misfit city kid who moved to the small rural town. Craig Brewer put me on the list, so I could see this fantastic movie. Thanks Craig!
Director Craig Brewer talking before the screening of Footloose in Memphis
Yesterday I had my first non U2 day all year. Since the beginning of this year, all of my updates have been about U2 and all of my blog posts have been about U2 at On the Road with U2. But not yesterday. Yesterday I listened to Elvis all day and didn’t post one thing on Twitter or Facebook about U2. Yesterday I didn’t have power. A bad thunderstorm (and luckily not a tornado) knocked out the power at my house just before 11pm Tuesday night and didn’t come back on until about 5pm Wednesday.
I couldn’t stand being home all day without power. It was too quiet and it was damp and rainy outside, so I couldn’t really go outside to enjoy the day. So I decided to get my oil changed, since my car needs a check up before the big U2 road trip this summer. I called to make an appointment, but they were busy until 2pm and told me to just come in then. It was 10:30am, so I had four hours to kill. I took a shower by candlelight and then headed off to Graceland, since I have an annual pass that expires in July.
Graceland was fantastic! I hadn’t been since January for Elvis’ birthday celebration. It wasn’t crowded, and I got to spent a lot of time in my favorite part of the mansion – the foyer/living room area. I also got to see the new exhibit that opened up in March in Sincerely Elvis. It was the Newseum that was in DC for the past year or so. It was the best exhibit they have ever had in Sincerely Elvis. I had lunch at the Silver Chrome Diner – mashed potatoes, green beans, corn bread, and sweet tea.
It was just about 1:30, so I headed over to the Saturn dealership – or what I thought was the Saturn dealership. As I was driving down Covington Pike, I saw the building that I used to take my Saturn too was now a Saab dealership. I knew Saturn had went out of business, but I had been there since then. Anyway, the Chevy dealership is now handling the Saturns. So I got there just before 2 and there were no other cars there. I had my coupon for free maintenance for a year, but I hadn’t printed it out. I thought showing them on my phone would suffice – I was wrong. And I couldn’t print it out on their computer. So I left and will make an appointment next week.
I arrived home around 3 and there was still no power. I was so frustrated and tired and didn’t really feel like going out but didn’t want to stay home either. So I decided to go to the movies. I had no idea what was playing, but The Conspirator at Studio on the Square looked very interesting. It was lovely because there were only about 4 other people there, including Congressman Steve Cohen – I’m pretty sure that was him sitting in front of me. I was so engrossed in the movie that I let out a little yell at a dramatic scene at the end. It was a fantastic historical drama about the people that ‘conspired’ to assassinate President Lincoln. It was directed by Robert Redford and starring Robin Wright, James McAvoy, Evan Rachel Wood, and Kevin Kline.
When I got home from the movie, my power was on and I was the happiest girl in the world! I ran around turning on all my lights. It was so fabulous! I immediately fixed dinner and charged my phone because it was storming again. But so far so good, I’ve had power for 24 hours straight. Let’s see what happens next week during the storms of the Beale Street Music Festival.
I have spent the past two days with my favorite women. Tuesday night we had our annual Trivia Christmas party. Wednesday I went to dinner and a movie with Cindy, Tabitha and Keira.
When I lived in Maryland, I would go to trivia parties once a month at my mom’s house with her friends, who became my friends. It was a good time of food, drink and trivial pursuit. And we would have a Christmas party every year with even more food and more drink. Since I moved to Memphis, I don’t make the montly trivia parties, but I do attend the annual Trivia Christmas party. It’s always great fun. There were about 11 of us. We ate and drank a lot and played Christmas games, but never got around to actual trivial pursuit. Please watch the short video of our party http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5aqV_VylNg
ready for annual christmas trivia party
It has become a tradition that every time I visit Maryland, Cindy and I take her daughters Tabitha and Keira to the movies. We’ve seen Alvin and the Chipmunks, and then the Squequal, Marmaduke and yesterday Tangled. It was good, but maybe a little long and involved for four year old Keira. But seven year old Tabitha really enjoyed it.
keira and tabitha
After the movie, we had dinner at Macaroni Grill. It was nice just to be with my best friend and her daughters and just enjoy each others’ company. A good day!
Now I’m just going to relax and home with Elvis and Cilla and Mom and Dad until Christmas.
A great Wednesday I had! Started off the day by getting Big Orange inspected for my tag renewal. This occurs every year in Memphis at a rate of $144. for the tag renewal - the inspection is free. Inside tip, 10:30am an a Wednesday is a great time to get your car inspected – only 2 cars in front of me.
Memphis Vehicle Inspection
Next stop was PetCo. Elvis and Cilla were getting tired of eating cereal because I was too lazy to get them dog food. Actually, they probably weren’t tired of the cereal. I think they enjoyed it, but their dog food is better for them. It’s good to change up their diet every once in a while though.
Petco on Poplar
Then it was lunch at Fuel Cafe. I have been wanting to try Fuel Cafe for a while now because they have vegan dishes! They have a vegan dip plate, vegan burgers, vegan chili, vegan stir fry and others. My server Gary couldn’t have been friendlier or more accommodating. It is such a great place, like an old diner on route 66. I felt right at home.
Fuel Cafe
Fuel Cafe patio
Although it was a lot cooler than it has been, I still ate inside – in the room off of the diner part. I decided on the vegan dip plate, which today was red pepper hummus. It was fantastic – and only $7.
Red Pepper Hummus
After my yummy lunch, I went to Studio on the Square to see Eat Pray Love, even though I haven’t finished the book yet.
Studio on the Square
Eat Pray Love
I really enjoyed Eat Pray Love. It pretty much followed the book, although it couldn’t include everything that is in the book. I love the book and really identify with Liz. Although, I’m not a writer, I aspire to be. And although I didn’t leave a husband and travel to 3 countries for a year, I did take the road less traveled. First when I moved to Memphis, leaving all of my comforts and support system as Liz did, then not working for a year and traveling around the US.
My dinner plans were cancelled, so inspired by Eat Pray Love I decided to have wine and pizza – all vegan of course. So I went to Joe’s Wines, bought some pinot grigio and put a Rosinni’s pizza in the oven.
Joe's Wines
my vino!
my pizza!
Now I’m going to sit back with a cold glass of pinot grigio, a few slices of hot, gooey pizza and watch my shows on the dvr – and maybe do some writing later. Happy Wednesday!
I don’t like vampire movies. They are just not my thing. I don’t like blood and certainly don’t like seeing blood. That being said, the Memphis made ‘Daylight Fades’ is a great movie. I attended the encore presentation of ‘Daylight Fades’ at Studio on the Square this evening. It was sold out. And the crowd was very into the movie and liked it very much.
‘Daylight Fades’ was shot in Memphis by a Memphis director with Memphis actors and Memphis music. It wasn’t your typical gory vampire horror flick. It wasn’t a horror flick at all. It was a very intense drama that just happened to be about vampires and the people in their lives who live in Memphis. It showcased Memphis spots such Young Avenue Deli, Overton Park, Ernestine and Hazel’s, McEwen’s, the great porches of the midtown homes, and the beautiful sunrises coming up over the Mississippi. I hope it gets picked up nationally because I think it would do very well. http://www.daylightfades.com/
I went to the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi today. I listened to great blues, watched documentaries and took a tour of Clarksdale.
JukeJoint Festival 2010
I arrived at the Crossroads just after 11am, so it was easy to get around downtown Clarksdale and I got a great parking space at the Delta Blues Museum parking lot. With my cowboy hat on, I walked down third street to the heart of the festival on Delta Street. It was hot in the sun, but cool in the shade. I made my way past Cathead and onto Miss Del’s General Store.
Miss Del's General Store
I stood across the street from the stage at Miss Del’s in the shade waiting for Valerie June to come on in about 15 minutes. But the band that was currently playing was really good and the crowd was really into it. I couldn’t see who they were because there were so many people around. During their last song the singer said, “I’m Stacy Mitchart.” I ran toward the stage and saw that this was the guy I just watched a documentary on yesterday. He’s a blue singer from Nashville. This was a very pleasant surprise!
Stacy Mitchart
After Stacy was finished was finished, the crowd kind of cleared out. I was able to get a seat under the awning right in front of the stage – and in the shade. I was really excited to see Valerie June as she is from Memphis, and I have wanted to see her ever since I saw her on ’5 Dollar Cover’ almost 2 years ago. She opened up with ‘Hound Dog’ and then ‘No Draws Blues,’ so I knew both of those. She also did a Robert Johnson song. Needless to say I really enjoyed Valerie June!
Valerie June
With my newfound love of documentaries, I didn’t want to miss the Juke Joint Film Festival at the Delta Cinema. Although I was probably the only one – well there were 2 other people in there. It was about 7 short documentaries by William Ferris. My favorite was one shot back in the 1970s with BB King and Son House and others.
Juke Joint Film Festival
I wanted to take the bus tour and learn about the history of Clarksdale. This event was much more popular than the film festival, as one guest had to stand on the bus. We started our tour at the original Greyhound Bus Station on 3rd Street.
historic Greyhound station
Our first stop was Tennessee William’s childhood home. I had no idea he lived in Clarksdale. And many of his characters, such as Blanche from ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ and Brick from ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,’ were based on his neighbors. There is a Tennessee Williams festival in Clarksdale in October that I am definitely not going to miss.
Tennessee Williams' childhood home
We went by the Riverside Hotel where many musicians have stayed. Before it was a hotel, it was a hospital where Bessie Smith died.
Riverside Hotel
It was a great day – outside listening to blues and learning history. Thanks Clarksdale!
Tonight I went to the Found Footage Festival http://www.foundfootagefest.com/ at Studio on the Square. It was definitely worth my $10, very entertaining. Everyone else in Midtown thought so too because there wasn’t an empty seat in the theatre. I even had a couple sitting on the stairs next to me. Nick Prueher and Joe Picket introduced each montage, which consisted of all sorts of old VHS footage from computer instructionals to cartoons to rock concert parties to exercise videos to commercials. I enjoyed listening to Nick and Joe’s hilarious introductions as much as I enjoyed watching the old VHS footage they edited. Basically, these guys go around collecting and buying old VHS tapes and editing them to make these great montages of nostalia and then show them to folks like me in various cities. A simple and great idea.
Found Footage Festival 4.14.10
Nick and Joe introducing the festival
my ticket
This again proves to me that if you have an idea, go for it and make it happen, no matter what anyone says. Thanks Nick and Joe for a very entertaining evening!
After enjoying the beautiful morning on my front porch catching up on my magazines and reading and listening to my tunes, I had to go inside because the pollen was getting to me. I decided to have a Lana Turner movie marathon. I love her. She is definitely my favorite actress and probably the most beautiful woman ever to walk this planet. She was independent and confident and portrayed these characteristics in her roles as well. It seemed in every movie she was single and making it on her own, and that was in the 1940s and 1950s.
My favorite Lana Turner movie is ‘Imitation of Life’ followed by ‘The Bad and the Beautiful’ and ‘Peyton Place,’ but I didn’t watch any of those today. I watched her movies that I had on DVR that I can’t find on dvd yet.
I started out with ‘Slightly Dangerous,’ which is a flufflier movie than I remember co-starring Robert Young of ‘Father Knows Best’ fame. Lana’s character fakes amnesia to get out of her dead end job in a small town and have a better life. It all works out in the end – she gets the guy and the good life.
I followed this movie with ‘Weekend at the Waldorf’ costarring Ginger Rogers and Van Johnson. I didn’t like this movie very much because it did not center around Lana. There were a few storylines going on and hers was one of them. I deleted it from my DVR.
Then I watched ‘A Life of Her Own,’ which I really love. It is right up there as one of my favorite Lana Turner movies. Lana’s character again yearns for something better and moves from Kansas to New York to become a model. She falls in love with a married man and ends up leaving him for the good of his crippled wife. I probably like this movie so much because they don’t end up together, which is very realistic. Her love interest is played by Ray Milland.
I followed this with ‘Johnny Eager,’ which is one of her more popular movies, but I don’t love it. I like it but Lana isn’t in it enough for me. Her character falls in love with a gangster, but does not end up with him – i like that part.
The last movie of my Lana Turner marathon is ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ costarring Bob Hope. This is a typical 1960s romance comedy, much like the Elvis movies minus the singing. It is alright, but I prefer Lana’s more dramatic movies from the 1940s and 1950s. Lana’s character is a single woman by choice who works for a housing development company who a house to bachelor writer Bob Hope’s character.
I’ve probably only seen about half of Lana Turner’s movies. They are hard to find and rarely on TCM, except for the obvious ones. I have read both her autobiography and her daughter’s and any other biographies I can find. So if you have any questions about Lana, just ask.
