"The Ballad of Gilligan's Island," penned by executive producer and show creator Sherwood Schwartz and songwriter George Wyle holds the distinction of being the best TV theme song of all time. It might only be tied with the theme song to "The Brady Bunch" ... which was also co-written by Schwartz. In both cases, the theme songs cleverly weave earworm-ready melodies into explicit descriptions of the show's premise. In only 55 seconds, audiences learn that they're about to watch a sitcom about seven stranded castaways on a tropical island, how those castaways got there, and who each of the castaways are. "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" is both hummable and functional. Even the amazing surf guitars of "The Munsters" or the wicked pip organs of "Tales from the Crypt" cannot approach the utilitarian glories of "Gilligan."
The first season theme song famously omitted the names of the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary...
The first season theme song famously omitted the names of the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary...
- 2/28/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"Gee, Pee-wee, do you think you asked for enough?" There's not many new updates at this time of the year (the grey zone between Christmas & New Years) but this is a fun video to feature. Actor / comedian Paul Reubens passed away earlier in 2023 at the age of 70. In remembrance of his work, the Pee-wee Herman Yt channel uploaded a pristine, 4K quality copy of his iconic Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special that aired on CBS in 1988. If you're not familiar with this X-Mas special, wondering why it's being brought up again, there's an entire Vulture article discussing its legacy within entertainment. "One of the strangest, most glorious, most improbable, most confident pieces of entertainment to appear on [TV]." Special guests include Frankie Avalon, Charo, The Del Rubio Triplets, Annette Funicello, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Whoopi Goldberg, Magic Johnson, Grace Jones, Little Richard, Joan Rivers, Dinah Shore, & Oprah Winfrey. Enjoy the laughs. // Continue...
- 12/26/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Judy Nugent, the former ’50s child actor who co-starred with Jane Wyman in Magnificent Obsession, Annette Funicello in the popular Annette serial on ABC’s The Mickey Mouse Club and flew in the arms of George Reeves’ Superman in a 1954 episode of The Adventures of Superman, died of October 26 cancer, surrounded by family at her ranch in Montana. She was 83.
Her death was announced in a family statement released by daughter-in-law Anne Lockhart, the Chicago Fire actor and daughter of Lost in Space star June Lockhart.
A Los Angeles native – she was the daughter of MGM prop man Carl Nugent – Nugent had already appeared in a handful of uncredited roles, including in the 1951 film Angels in the Outfield, when she landed her breakthrough role as Donna Ruggles in the 1949-52 TV series The Ruggles, an early family sitcom starring comic actor Charles Ruggles (Bringing Up Baby). Nugent played the twin...
Her death was announced in a family statement released by daughter-in-law Anne Lockhart, the Chicago Fire actor and daughter of Lost in Space star June Lockhart.
A Los Angeles native – she was the daughter of MGM prop man Carl Nugent – Nugent had already appeared in a handful of uncredited roles, including in the 1951 film Angels in the Outfield, when she landed her breakthrough role as Donna Ruggles in the 1949-52 TV series The Ruggles, an early family sitcom starring comic actor Charles Ruggles (Bringing Up Baby). Nugent played the twin...
- 10/31/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Judy Nugent, who portrayed one of the twins on the early TV sitcom The Ruggles and a girl who flies around the world in the arms of the Man of Steel on a heartwarming Adventures of Superman episode, has died. She was 83.
Nugent died on Oct. 26 “surrounded by family at her Montana ranch after a short battle with cancer,” according to a family statement shared by her daughter-in-law and Battlestar Galactica and Chicago Fire actress Anne Lockhart (the older daughter of Lassie and Lost in Space star June Lockhart).
The younger daughter of a prop man at MGM, Nugent also appeared in two films directed by Douglas Sirk: as a wise-cracking tomboy who tries to get a blinded widow (Jane Wyman) to snap out of it in Magnificent Obsession (1954), and as one of the daughters of Fred MacMurray and Joan Bennett’s characters in There’s Always Tomorrow (1956).
Nugent also...
Nugent died on Oct. 26 “surrounded by family at her Montana ranch after a short battle with cancer,” according to a family statement shared by her daughter-in-law and Battlestar Galactica and Chicago Fire actress Anne Lockhart (the older daughter of Lassie and Lost in Space star June Lockhart).
The younger daughter of a prop man at MGM, Nugent also appeared in two films directed by Douglas Sirk: as a wise-cracking tomboy who tries to get a blinded widow (Jane Wyman) to snap out of it in Magnificent Obsession (1954), and as one of the daughters of Fred MacMurray and Joan Bennett’s characters in There’s Always Tomorrow (1956).
Nugent also...
- 10/31/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Goddard, who played Major Don West, the hot-tempered pilot of the Jupiter 2, on the 1960s CBS adventure series Lost in Space, has died. He was 87.
Goddard died Tuesday in Hingham, Massachusetts, his wife Evelyn Pezzulich told The Hollywood Reporter.
Goddard had worked as a regular on the Four Star Television series Johnny Ringo and The Detectives when he was approached by his agent about coming aboard the new Lost on Space, created and produced by Irwin Allen.
The sci-fi show revolved around the adventures of the Robinson family: Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams), his biochemist wife, Maureen (June Lockhart) and their children Judy, Penny and Will (Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright and Billy Mumy).
Major West also was on board, as was a stowaway, Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), and a robot (designed by Forbidden Planet‘s Robert Kinoshita, played by Bob May and voiced by Dick Tufeld). Their space colonization mission,...
Goddard died Tuesday in Hingham, Massachusetts, his wife Evelyn Pezzulich told The Hollywood Reporter.
Goddard had worked as a regular on the Four Star Television series Johnny Ringo and The Detectives when he was approached by his agent about coming aboard the new Lost on Space, created and produced by Irwin Allen.
The sci-fi show revolved around the adventures of the Robinson family: Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams), his biochemist wife, Maureen (June Lockhart) and their children Judy, Penny and Will (Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright and Billy Mumy).
Major West also was on board, as was a stowaway, Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), and a robot (designed by Forbidden Planet‘s Robert Kinoshita, played by Bob May and voiced by Dick Tufeld). Their space colonization mission,...
- 10/13/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Of the thousands of members of Congress who have served throughout history, few will be remembered, with rare exceptions. Those who become presidents, or Speaker of the House, or have buildings named after them are less likely to be forgotten. Then there are those whose policy stands solidify their legacies. When California Representative Barbara Lee became the lone member of Congress to vote against the war in Iraq in 2001, she became a target of nonstop hate mail and death threats. Now, decades later, as she strives to become just the third Black woman in American history elected to the United States Senate, her willingness to take a stand in the face of such adversity years ago has emerged as a political asset, landing her high-profile endorsements from colleagues like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). In the latest THR “Power Watch” column, Lee — who was the subject of the 2020 Starz documentary Barbara...
- 8/28/2023
- by Keli Goff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Paul Reubens, the creator of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” who starred in several projects as the goofy, child-like Pee-wee Herman including 1985’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” has died at age 70, his estate said Monday.
“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” his estate posted to Facebook.
“Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit,” the post continued.
The actor wrote a posthumous statement explaining why he chose not to disclose his cancer diagnosis. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years.
“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” his estate posted to Facebook.
“Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit,” the post continued.
The actor wrote a posthumous statement explaining why he chose not to disclose his cancer diagnosis. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years.
- 7/31/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Mike Nesmith always had a soft spot for The Monkees‘ only feature film, Head. The 1968 film was misunderstood by many critics and fans of the band who were used to the casual hijinks of the quartet’s NBC series. However, Nesmith discussed how the film had a hidden meaning missed by many. He claimed the film poked “a lot of fun at The Monkees’ expense.”
The Monkees in a scene from the feature film ‘Head’ | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Mike Nesmith shared in a rare interview the intentions of the movie ‘Head’
Mike Nesmith shared the purposes of the group’s first feature film in a rare interview with Monkees bandmates Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork for the Hy Lit Show. Head, he explained, poked “a lot of fun” at the expense of its stars.
“The most fun was the character assassination,” Nesmith said of the darker...
The Monkees in a scene from the feature film ‘Head’ | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Mike Nesmith shared in a rare interview the intentions of the movie ‘Head’
Mike Nesmith shared the purposes of the group’s first feature film in a rare interview with Monkees bandmates Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork for the Hy Lit Show. Head, he explained, poked “a lot of fun” at the expense of its stars.
“The most fun was the character assassination,” Nesmith said of the darker...
- 6/1/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mill Creek’s latest disc collection gathers three Columbia Sci-fi faves and throws in a Blu-ray debut for a fourth. It’s a good selection: two giant Ray Harryhausen monsters, one marginal bad-taste Sam Katzman zombie epic, and a quirky Lou Costello comedy with Dorothy Provine doing a wholesome take on Allison Hayes’ biggest role. Do these encodings measure up to fancier editions? We give them a spin.
Sci-Fi from the Vault: 4 Films
Blu-ray
Creature with the Atom Brain, It Came from Beneath the Sea, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
Mill Creek Entertainment
1955-1959 / B&w / 303 min. / Street Date February 14, 2023 / Available from Mill Creek Entertainment / 29.99
Starring: Richard Denning; Kenneth Tobey & Faith Domergue; William Hopper & Joan Taylor; Lou Costello & Dorothy Provine.
Directed by Edward L. Cahn, Robert Gordon, Nathan Juran, Sidney Miller
Disc collectors are now tempted weekly by plenty of interesting disc releases...
Sci-Fi from the Vault: 4 Films
Blu-ray
Creature with the Atom Brain, It Came from Beneath the Sea, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
Mill Creek Entertainment
1955-1959 / B&w / 303 min. / Street Date February 14, 2023 / Available from Mill Creek Entertainment / 29.99
Starring: Richard Denning; Kenneth Tobey & Faith Domergue; William Hopper & Joan Taylor; Lou Costello & Dorothy Provine.
Directed by Edward L. Cahn, Robert Gordon, Nathan Juran, Sidney Miller
Disc collectors are now tempted weekly by plenty of interesting disc releases...
- 2/25/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The James Bond franchise is known for including over-the-top action sequences with effects to match 007’s epic displays of derring-do. Still, there’s a chance for mediocrity in all things, even when the world’s most famous fictional spy is a part of the equation. Speaking with Yahoo! Movies, Bond film director Lee Tamahori says he regrets decisions made about filming the infamous kitesurfing sequence for Die Another Day. According to Tamahori, he wishes he didn’t use CGI for the scene. CGI is standard in film today, but Die Another Day hit theaters in 2002 when VFX methods were still rough around the edges. Watching the clip online, I can see why Tamahori cringes at the sight of Bond’s all-too-fake tsunami surfing.
“The only thing I’d do differently [with Die Another Day] would be the kitesurfing sequence,” Tamahori told Yahoo! Movies. “I don’t know how you’d do it differently.
“The only thing I’d do differently [with Die Another Day] would be the kitesurfing sequence,” Tamahori told Yahoo! Movies. “I don’t know how you’d do it differently.
- 12/12/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Would “The Sopranos” finale have been as impactful if it hadn’t included Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”? And what would “Grey’s Anatomy” be without its frequent use of the Snow Patrol song “Chasing Cars”? These and many more unforgettable musical TV moments all occurred before the establishment of the Best Music Supervision Emmy category. Since 2017, the award has served the purpose of honoring the people who enhance TV shows by incorporating existing songs into episodes and thus stirring up viewers’ emotions.
This year, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” could pull off its fourth win in this category after taking the prize every year from 2018 to 2020. It is being challenged for the third time each by “Better Call Saul” (AMC) and “Stranger Things” (Netflix) and for the second time by “Euphoria” (HBO). The 2022 lineup’s remaining two slots are filled by “Ozark” (Netflix) and “The White Lotus...
This year, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” could pull off its fourth win in this category after taking the prize every year from 2018 to 2020. It is being challenged for the third time each by “Better Call Saul” (AMC) and “Stranger Things” (Netflix) and for the second time by “Euphoria” (HBO). The 2022 lineup’s remaining two slots are filled by “Ozark” (Netflix) and “The White Lotus...
- 8/28/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on Star 96.7 Wssr-fm reviewing the new Blu-Ray edition of “Back to the Beach,” the 1987 parody of Frankie and Annette beach movies from the 1960s, featuring of course Frankie and Annette.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello portray offbeat fictional versions of themselves, married and stuck in Ohio after Frankie (nicknamed the Big Kahuna) wiped out on a monster wave called the Cowabunga from Down Unda, and left the California Beach to raise rebellious Bobby (Demian Slide) and grown daughter Sandi. When Frankie and Annette go back in California to visit Sandi, the old wave meets the new wave.
Extras: Watch anywhere Digital Movie Code, Special Feature “Filmmaker Focus” spotlighting Director Lyndall Hobbs.
’Back to the Beach’ on Blu-Ray
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviewed “Back to the Beach” during the Eddie Volkman...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello portray offbeat fictional versions of themselves, married and stuck in Ohio after Frankie (nicknamed the Big Kahuna) wiped out on a monster wave called the Cowabunga from Down Unda, and left the California Beach to raise rebellious Bobby (Demian Slide) and grown daughter Sandi. When Frankie and Annette go back in California to visit Sandi, the old wave meets the new wave.
Extras: Watch anywhere Digital Movie Code, Special Feature “Filmmaker Focus” spotlighting Director Lyndall Hobbs.
’Back to the Beach’ on Blu-Ray
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviewed “Back to the Beach” during the Eddie Volkman...
- 8/22/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Disney’s D23 Expo will kick off next month with a presentation of this year’s class of Disney Legends, the roster of which was announced today. Per the company, “The Disney Legends Award is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Disney legacy.”
This year’s honorees are Anthony Anderson, Kristen Bell, Chadwick Boseman, Rob’t Coltrin, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Price “Bob” Foster, Jonathan Groff, Don Hahn, Josh Gad, Doris Hardoon, Idina Menzel, Chris Montan, Ellen Pompeo, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Tamron Hall will host the ceremony.
“For nearly a century, Disney has been entertaining and inspiring people around the world,” said Chapek in a statement today. “I can’t wait to give fans a first look at what we have in store for our hundredth anniversary, and how we’re using this occasion to celebrate all the fans and families who have welcomed Disney into their lives.
This year’s honorees are Anthony Anderson, Kristen Bell, Chadwick Boseman, Rob’t Coltrin, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Price “Bob” Foster, Jonathan Groff, Don Hahn, Josh Gad, Doris Hardoon, Idina Menzel, Chris Montan, Ellen Pompeo, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Tamron Hall will host the ceremony.
“For nearly a century, Disney has been entertaining and inspiring people around the world,” said Chapek in a statement today. “I can’t wait to give fans a first look at what we have in store for our hundredth anniversary, and how we’re using this occasion to celebrate all the fans and families who have welcomed Disney into their lives.
- 8/19/2022
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Filmmaker John Waters, the proud “Pope of Trash,” is no stranger to weird questions. But at a recent audience Q&a when someone asked him, “How did you avoid getting cancer?” he was flummoxed. “I thought, ‘I did smoke, I’m 76 — I guess it is a fair question,'” he says on a call from his home in Provincetown, Massachusetts. “I was explaining all this, and the audience starts laughing harder and harder. And then I realized I heard them wrong. They said, ‘How did you avoid getting canceled?'”
For nearly 60 years,...
For nearly 60 years,...
- 8/17/2022
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Click here to read the full article.
Bob Rafelson, the writer, director, producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging, psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer in one of the most influential eras in the history of independent film, has died. He was 89.
Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), died Saturday night of natural causes at his home in Aspen, Colorado, his wife, Gabrielle, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rafelson earned Oscar nominations for co-writing and producing Five Easy Pieces and then, for an encore, produced Peter Bogdanovich‘s breakthrough hit, The Last Picture Show (1971).
Along with his late partner Bert Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees, the touchstone NBC show that debuted in 1966. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the...
Bob Rafelson, the writer, director, producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging, psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer in one of the most influential eras in the history of independent film, has died. He was 89.
Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), died Saturday night of natural causes at his home in Aspen, Colorado, his wife, Gabrielle, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rafelson earned Oscar nominations for co-writing and producing Five Easy Pieces and then, for an encore, produced Peter Bogdanovich‘s breakthrough hit, The Last Picture Show (1971).
Along with his late partner Bert Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees, the touchstone NBC show that debuted in 1966. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the...
- 7/24/2022
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Maureen Arthur, who starred on Broadway and the big screen as the ambitious mistress and secretary Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, has died. She was 88.
Arthur died Wednesday of natural causes at her home in Beverly Hills after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease, her brother Gerald told The Hollywood Reporter.
The vivacious Arthur also portrayed a nudie-magazine cover girl opposite Don Knotts and Edmond O’Brien in The Love God? (1969), a divorced woman who romances Bob Hope in How to Commit Marriage (1969) and an office tramp alongside John Phillip Law in The Love Machine (1971), based on a Jacqueline Susann novel.
Arthur played the bubble-headed Hedy in the national touring company of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which had opened on Broadway in October 1961 en route to a spectacular run of more than 1,400 performances,...
Maureen Arthur, who starred on Broadway and the big screen as the ambitious mistress and secretary Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, has died. She was 88.
Arthur died Wednesday of natural causes at her home in Beverly Hills after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease, her brother Gerald told The Hollywood Reporter.
The vivacious Arthur also portrayed a nudie-magazine cover girl opposite Don Knotts and Edmond O’Brien in The Love God? (1969), a divorced woman who romances Bob Hope in How to Commit Marriage (1969) and an office tramp alongside John Phillip Law in The Love Machine (1971), based on a Jacqueline Susann novel.
Arthur played the bubble-headed Hedy in the national touring company of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which had opened on Broadway in October 1961 en route to a spectacular run of more than 1,400 performances,...
- 6/21/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tim Considine, one of the most popular young Disney actors of the 1950s before originating the role of the eldest brother on the 1960s sitcom My Three Sons, died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81.
His death was announced by his son Christopher, and shared on Facebook by My Three Sons co-star Stanley Livingston, who played Chip Douglas to Considine’s Mike. “Tim and I have been friends for more than 70 years,” Livingston wrote, adding “He will be missed by all those who knew him. I love you Bro.”
Considine was already known to television audiences — particularly youngsters — by the time he was cast for the 1960 debut on ABC of My Three Sons. He had played Spin Evans on the mid-’50s Mickey Mouse Club serial “The Adventures of Spin and Marty,” and, later in the decade, Frank Hardy (to Tommy Kirk’s Joe Hardy) on the...
His death was announced by his son Christopher, and shared on Facebook by My Three Sons co-star Stanley Livingston, who played Chip Douglas to Considine’s Mike. “Tim and I have been friends for more than 70 years,” Livingston wrote, adding “He will be missed by all those who knew him. I love you Bro.”
Considine was already known to television audiences — particularly youngsters — by the time he was cast for the 1960 debut on ABC of My Three Sons. He had played Spin Evans on the mid-’50s Mickey Mouse Club serial “The Adventures of Spin and Marty,” and, later in the decade, Frank Hardy (to Tommy Kirk’s Joe Hardy) on the...
- 3/4/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
"Life's A Beach"
By Lee Pfeiffer
When it comes to defining cinematic guilty pleasures, one need not look any further than the lame-brained beach movies that were marketed to teenagers in the mid-1960s. The formula started in 1963 with "Beach Party", teaming Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon for the first time as loved-starved teens who are addicted to fun and sun in the surf. The film was such a hit that it spawned numerous sequels, delighting producers Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson and American International, which was mining gold by making big profits from low-budget productions. The beach series didn't vary much in terms of content and many of the most popular actors were utilized in each successive film. There were also simlarly-themed films starring Avalon in different geographical settings. But if the beach series burned brightly, its flame was short-lived. By 1965, the young audiences that initially craved...
By Lee Pfeiffer
When it comes to defining cinematic guilty pleasures, one need not look any further than the lame-brained beach movies that were marketed to teenagers in the mid-1960s. The formula started in 1963 with "Beach Party", teaming Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon for the first time as loved-starved teens who are addicted to fun and sun in the surf. The film was such a hit that it spawned numerous sequels, delighting producers Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson and American International, which was mining gold by making big profits from low-budget productions. The beach series didn't vary much in terms of content and many of the most popular actors were utilized in each successive film. There were also simlarly-themed films starring Avalon in different geographical settings. But if the beach series burned brightly, its flame was short-lived. By 1965, the young audiences that initially craved...
- 11/6/2021
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Tommy Kirk, the actor known for playing Travis Coates in “Old Yeller” and several other Disney films, was found dead in his Las Vegas home Tuesday. He was 79.
Kirk’s longtime friend Paul Petersen II posted the news on Facebook, writing, “Please know that Tommy Kirk loved you, his fans.”
Kirk was born in Louisville, Ky. in 1941 and grew up in Los Angeles County. He began acting as a teenager, and appeared in a play at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he was discovered by an agent who helped him to make his screen debut in “The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs,” a 1955 episode of “TV Reader’s Digest.” From there, he appeared in episodes of several TV series including “The Loretta Young Show” and “Gunsmoke.” His profile rose when he began to play the role of Joe Hardy in the “Hardy Boys” series “The Mystery of the Applegate...
Kirk’s longtime friend Paul Petersen II posted the news on Facebook, writing, “Please know that Tommy Kirk loved you, his fans.”
Kirk was born in Louisville, Ky. in 1941 and grew up in Los Angeles County. He began acting as a teenager, and appeared in a play at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he was discovered by an agent who helped him to make his screen debut in “The Last of the Old Time Shooting Sheriffs,” a 1955 episode of “TV Reader’s Digest.” From there, he appeared in episodes of several TV series including “The Loretta Young Show” and “Gunsmoke.” His profile rose when he began to play the role of Joe Hardy in the “Hardy Boys” series “The Mystery of the Applegate...
- 9/29/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Tommy Kirk, one of Disney’s major young stars of the 1950s and early ’60s with performances in generational touchstone films such as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog and Son of Flubber, died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 79.
His death was announced on Facebook by friend and fellow child star Paul Petersen.
Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery
“My friend of many decades, Tommy Kirk, was found dead last night,” wrote Petersen, who has long been an advocate for child actors through his organization A Minor Consideration. “Tommy was intensely private. He lived alone in Las Vegas, close to his friend … and Ol Yeller co-star, Bev Washburn … and it was she who called me this morning. Tommy was gay and estranged from what remains of his blood-family. We in A Minor Consideration are Tommy’s family. Without apology. We will take care of this.
His death was announced on Facebook by friend and fellow child star Paul Petersen.
Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery
“My friend of many decades, Tommy Kirk, was found dead last night,” wrote Petersen, who has long been an advocate for child actors through his organization A Minor Consideration. “Tommy was intensely private. He lived alone in Las Vegas, close to his friend … and Ol Yeller co-star, Bev Washburn … and it was she who called me this morning. Tommy was gay and estranged from what remains of his blood-family. We in A Minor Consideration are Tommy’s family. Without apology. We will take care of this.
- 9/29/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Francesco “Nino” Castelnuovo, the Italian actor who starred in the Palme D’Or winner “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and the Best Picture Oscar winner “The English Patient,” died on Monday after a long battle with illness, his family announced. He was 84.
Born in Lombardy, Castelnuovo took on blue-collar jobs like house painting and mechanic work before traveling to Milan and enrolling in the Piccolo Teatro acting school. In 1957, he got his start as an actor as a mime on a children’s TV show and five years later, got his first taste of Hollywood via Walt Disney in “Escapade in Florence,” a mini-movie that aired on the “Disneyland” TV show starring Disney regulars Annette Funicello and Tommy Kirk.
But Castelnuovo’s big break came in 1964 with “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” a sung-through romantic drama directed by Jacques Demy. Castelnuovo starred alongside Catherine Deneuve as a teenage couple forced apart by the Algerian War.
Born in Lombardy, Castelnuovo took on blue-collar jobs like house painting and mechanic work before traveling to Milan and enrolling in the Piccolo Teatro acting school. In 1957, he got his start as an actor as a mime on a children’s TV show and five years later, got his first taste of Hollywood via Walt Disney in “Escapade in Florence,” a mini-movie that aired on the “Disneyland” TV show starring Disney regulars Annette Funicello and Tommy Kirk.
But Castelnuovo’s big break came in 1964 with “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” a sung-through romantic drama directed by Jacques Demy. Castelnuovo starred alongside Catherine Deneuve as a teenage couple forced apart by the Algerian War.
- 9/8/2021
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Michael Nader, an actor who appeared on “Dynasty” and “All My Children,” has died. He was 76.
Nader’s manager confirmed his passing to TheWrap. Nader died on Monday from an untreatable form of cancer.
Michael’s wife, Jodi Lister, released a statement to soap opera writer Michael Fairman: “With heavy heart, I’m sharing the news of the passing of my beloved, Michael. We had 18 wonderful years together with the many dogs we fostered and adopted. Recently, Michael was so thrilled to reconnect with his friends from the cast of ‘Dynasty’ during Emma Samms virtual event to help raise funds for Long-Covid research. Michael was working on a book about his life and addiction at the time of his death. He was a beautiful and fascinating man with many talents and skills. I will miss him forever.”
Nader was best known for playing Farnsworth “Dex” Dexter on the 1980s primetime soap opera “Dynasty.
Nader’s manager confirmed his passing to TheWrap. Nader died on Monday from an untreatable form of cancer.
Michael’s wife, Jodi Lister, released a statement to soap opera writer Michael Fairman: “With heavy heart, I’m sharing the news of the passing of my beloved, Michael. We had 18 wonderful years together with the many dogs we fostered and adopted. Recently, Michael was so thrilled to reconnect with his friends from the cast of ‘Dynasty’ during Emma Samms virtual event to help raise funds for Long-Covid research. Michael was working on a book about his life and addiction at the time of his death. He was a beautiful and fascinating man with many talents and skills. I will miss him forever.”
Nader was best known for playing Farnsworth “Dex” Dexter on the 1980s primetime soap opera “Dynasty.
- 8/25/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
March marked the 65th anniversary of the wrap of the first season of the “Mickey Mouse Club,” and the recent death of one of the original Mouseketeers, Johnny Crawford, reminded fans of the enduring talent that the show, and especially its early 1990s iteration, brought to the entertainment industry. The original “Mickey Mouse Club” launched the career of Annette Funicello, who occupied a beloved niche in audiences’ hearts for six decades, and the 1990s revival produced Oscar nominees and artists who’ve sold tens of millions of albums and redefined pop music and pop culture. But who are the greatest Mouseketeers? It’s a list ready for debate between boomers and gen Z.
Justin Timberlake
“The All-New Mickey Mouse Club”
A breakout star from the series, Timberlake really hit it big in Ur boy band *Nsync (with fellow “Mmc” castmate Jc Chasez). He transitioned into an even bigger solo pop career,...
Justin Timberlake
“The All-New Mickey Mouse Club”
A breakout star from the series, Timberlake really hit it big in Ur boy band *Nsync (with fellow “Mmc” castmate Jc Chasez). He transitioned into an even bigger solo pop career,...
- 5/8/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
Ron Howard. Melissa Gilbert. Gary Coleman. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Fred Savage. If these names bring a smile to your face, it is probably because you either grew up with them, or watched them grow up in front of you. These are just a few of the many child actors who spent much of their youth bringing entertainment into our homes each week on well-loved TV programs.
There have been hundreds of child actors in Hollywood’s rich history, but for this article we are focusing on the ones who, although they may have made memorable films as well, are largely remembered for their work on television. Unsurprisingly, many, such as Annette Funicello and Selena Gomez, rose to fame on a Disney program. Several proved they were just as capable as their adult counterparts, by earning competitive acting nominations alongside those adults – with actress Kristy McNichol winning two Emmys before...
There have been hundreds of child actors in Hollywood’s rich history, but for this article we are focusing on the ones who, although they may have made memorable films as well, are largely remembered for their work on television. Unsurprisingly, many, such as Annette Funicello and Selena Gomez, rose to fame on a Disney program. Several proved they were just as capable as their adult counterparts, by earning competitive acting nominations alongside those adults – with actress Kristy McNichol winning two Emmys before...
- 3/12/2021
- by Susan Pennington and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Ron Howard. Melissa Gilbert. Gary Coleman. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Fred Savage. If these names bring a smile to your face, it is probably because you either grew up with them, or watched them grow up in front of you. These are just a few of the many child actors who spent much of their youth bringing entertainment into our homes each week on well-loved TV programs.
There have been hundreds of child actors in Hollywood’s rich history, but for this article we are focusing on the ones who, although they may have made memorable films as well, are largely remembered for their work on television. Unsurprisingly, many, such as Annette Funicello and Selena Gomez, rose to fame on a Disney program. Several proved they were just as capable as their adult counterparts, by earning competitive acting nominations alongside those adults – with actress Kristy McNichol winning two Emmys before...
There have been hundreds of child actors in Hollywood’s rich history, but for this article we are focusing on the ones who, although they may have made memorable films as well, are largely remembered for their work on television. Unsurprisingly, many, such as Annette Funicello and Selena Gomez, rose to fame on a Disney program. Several proved they were just as capable as their adult counterparts, by earning competitive acting nominations alongside those adults – with actress Kristy McNichol winning two Emmys before...
- 3/11/2021
- by Susan Pennington, Chris Beachum and Misty Holland
- Gold Derby
Nancy Sinatra wasn’t planning on revisiting her old hits. The singer, who ruled the Sixties with dark psychedelic-pop classics like “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” and “Bang Bang,” walked away from the music business in the Seventies to focus on raising her daughters and supporting progressive causes. She stopped touring in the early 2000s, though she’s recorded occasionally since. “I guess I didn’t have an agent, I didn’t have anybody promoting anything,” she says. “If you’re an artist who used to be famous, you...
- 1/15/2021
- by Patrick Doyle
- Rollingstone.com
Two attractive teenage boys, one of whom is shirtless, energetically dance to “Skechers” by DripReport, their sun-streaked curls bouncing, palm trees and stucco pseudo-Renaissance architecture in the background.
It’s a snapshot from an idyllic teenage dream, the 2020s version of the Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello beach party movies. One would be forgiven for not immediately realizing that it was posted amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The boys, Jack and James Wright, are 16-year-old twins and members of the L.A. Hype House, a creator collective comprised of about 20 young,...
It’s a snapshot from an idyllic teenage dream, the 2020s version of the Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello beach party movies. One would be forgiven for not immediately realizing that it was posted amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The boys, Jack and James Wright, are 16-year-old twins and members of the L.A. Hype House, a creator collective comprised of about 20 young,...
- 3/24/2020
- by EJ Dickson
- Rollingstone.com
Seven new queens entered the workroom on Friday’s Drag Race premiere, which also blessed us with a television moment we never knew we needed: Nicki Minaj rapping about Carson Kressley.
I know some fans aren’t thrilled about it, but I actually prefer the premiere being presented into two parts. Among other things, it gave us more face time with each of the new queens — for better or worse.
More from TVLineRuPaul's Drag Race: 10 Dramatic Eliminations We're Still Not OverRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Moves to Showtime, Gets June Premiere DateRuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Trailer: Nicki Minaj, Alexandria...
I know some fans aren’t thrilled about it, but I actually prefer the premiere being presented into two parts. Among other things, it gave us more face time with each of the new queens — for better or worse.
More from TVLineRuPaul's Drag Race: 10 Dramatic Eliminations We're Still Not OverRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Moves to Showtime, Gets June Premiere DateRuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Trailer: Nicki Minaj, Alexandria...
- 2/29/2020
- TVLine.com
In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor and comedian Drew Droege about Sylvester's 1982 album 'All I Need.' They also discuss Audra McDonald, Eddie Murphy, Sandra Bernhard, Diana Ross, Has Mar Superstar, Robyn, Chlo Sevigny, Annette Funicello, John Waters, Sinead O'Connor, Melissa McCarthy, RuPaul, Jane Fonda. Michael Patrick King, Latrice Royale, Dianne Wiest, Kathleen Turner, Glenn Close, Carol Burnett, 'The Comeback,' and Donna Murphy. Drew is currently performing his play 'Happy Birthday Doug' at SoHo Playhouse. His previous play 'Bright Colors and Bold Patterns' is available to stream on BroadwayHD.
- 2/24/2020
- by Ben Rimalower
- BroadwayWorld.com
A celebration of the life of Jack Gilardi, an ICM agent for 68 years, will take place this Monday, December 9, at 7:00 Pm at Paramount Studios.
Industry friends are welcome to attend, but must RSVP to obtain a drive-on to the Paramount lot. The RSVP email is Gilardimemorial@icmpartners.com.
Gilardi passed away September 19. During his long career, he represented major stars, directors, music artists, and athletes, including Sylvester Stallone, Joe Mantegna, Jerry Lewis, Shirley MacLain, Ann Margaret, Charlton Heston, Frankie Avalon, Walter Hill, Walter Becker, Frankie Valli, Howie Long and Annette Funicello, whom he married and had three children with. The children will speak at the memorial, along with many of the stars that Gilardi represented.
The official invitation is below:...
Industry friends are welcome to attend, but must RSVP to obtain a drive-on to the Paramount lot. The RSVP email is Gilardimemorial@icmpartners.com.
Gilardi passed away September 19. During his long career, he represented major stars, directors, music artists, and athletes, including Sylvester Stallone, Joe Mantegna, Jerry Lewis, Shirley MacLain, Ann Margaret, Charlton Heston, Frankie Avalon, Walter Hill, Walter Becker, Frankie Valli, Howie Long and Annette Funicello, whom he married and had three children with. The children will speak at the memorial, along with many of the stars that Gilardi represented.
The official invitation is below:...
- 12/6/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Karen Pendleton, one original Mouseketeers from The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, died Sunday of a heart attack in Fresno, CA. She was 73. Author and Disney historian Lorraine Santoli announced the news today.
Known for her shoulder-length blond curls, Pendleton was among the youngest of the original Mouseketeers. She appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club during its entire first run from 1955-59, one of only nine to do so among a regularly changing cast. She famously was paired with Carl “Cubby” O’Brien in the episode-closing “Now it’s time to say goodbye” song. Because of their tender ages, Pendleton and O’Brien originally were “Meeseketeers.” Both were part of what was referred to as the “Red Team” of Mouseketeers, which included Annette Funicello.
Produced by Walt Disney Productions, The Mickey Mouse Club was a variety show for kids and starring kids. Each day featured a different theme, including “fun with music,...
Known for her shoulder-length blond curls, Pendleton was among the youngest of the original Mouseketeers. She appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club during its entire first run from 1955-59, one of only nine to do so among a regularly changing cast. She famously was paired with Carl “Cubby” O’Brien in the episode-closing “Now it’s time to say goodbye” song. Because of their tender ages, Pendleton and O’Brien originally were “Meeseketeers.” Both were part of what was referred to as the “Red Team” of Mouseketeers, which included Annette Funicello.
Produced by Walt Disney Productions, The Mickey Mouse Club was a variety show for kids and starring kids. Each day featured a different theme, including “fun with music,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Jack Gilardi, a longtime ICM Partners agent whose license plate read “ICM Jg,” died on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles at age 88, the agency announced.
During his seven-decade career, Gilardi represented Hollywood legends such as Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Lewis, Shirley MacLaine and Charlton Heston. Longstanding clients who have remained with him until the end include Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Walter Hill, Frankie Avalon and Jaclyn Smith, among many others.
He was also married to actress and former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello from 1965 to 1981; the couple had three children together.
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)
The Chicago native got his start in talent representation while serving in the U.S. Army, where he was placed in charge of bringing entertainment to the soldiers stationed at Fort Knox. In October 1954, following his completion of service, he began working as an agent with General Artists Corporation, which later joined Creative Management Associates,...
During his seven-decade career, Gilardi represented Hollywood legends such as Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Lewis, Shirley MacLaine and Charlton Heston. Longstanding clients who have remained with him until the end include Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Walter Hill, Frankie Avalon and Jaclyn Smith, among many others.
He was also married to actress and former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello from 1965 to 1981; the couple had three children together.
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)
The Chicago native got his start in talent representation while serving in the U.S. Army, where he was placed in charge of bringing entertainment to the soldiers stationed at Fort Knox. In October 1954, following his completion of service, he began working as an agent with General Artists Corporation, which later joined Creative Management Associates,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Jack L. Gilardi, a longtime ICM Partners agent whose client roster over the years included Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Lewis, Shirley MacLaine, and Charlton Heston, died this morning at age 88.
His death was announced by ICM Partners. No cause of death was given, but the company notes that Gilardi passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family.
Gilardi would have celebrated his 65th anniversary at the company next month. Longstanding clients who remained with Gilardi until the end include Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Walter Hill, Frankie Avalon, and Jaclyn Smith, among others.
Among his early clients was former Mouseketeer and star of American-International’s “Beach Party” film franchise Annette Funicello, who he would marry in 1965. The couple had three children before divorcing in 1983. (Funicello died at 70 in 2013 of complications due to multiple sclerosis).
Born on October 5th, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, Gilardi would go on to join the Us Army and,...
His death was announced by ICM Partners. No cause of death was given, but the company notes that Gilardi passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family.
Gilardi would have celebrated his 65th anniversary at the company next month. Longstanding clients who remained with Gilardi until the end include Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Walter Hill, Frankie Avalon, and Jaclyn Smith, among others.
Among his early clients was former Mouseketeer and star of American-International’s “Beach Party” film franchise Annette Funicello, who he would marry in 1965. The couple had three children before divorcing in 1983. (Funicello died at 70 in 2013 of complications due to multiple sclerosis).
Born on October 5th, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, Gilardi would go on to join the Us Army and,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Jack Gilardi, a longtime ICM Partners agent who represented such stars as Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Lewis, Charlton Heston and Shirley MacLaine, died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.
Gilardi was known for his gentlemanly style, love of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his skill at representing top actors. He would have marked his 65th anniversary at ICM (and its predecessor Creative Management Associates) next month. Gilardi remained active as a talent rep on behalf of longtime clients including Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Walter Hill, Frankie Valli, Frankie Avalon and Jaclyn Smith. He was married to one-time client Annette Funicello for 17 years in the 1960s and ’70s.
A native of Chicago, Gilardi served in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox in Kentucky, where he was in charge of arranging entertainment for the soldiers. That led him to pursue a career as a talent agency after his discharge...
Gilardi was known for his gentlemanly style, love of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his skill at representing top actors. He would have marked his 65th anniversary at ICM (and its predecessor Creative Management Associates) next month. Gilardi remained active as a talent rep on behalf of longtime clients including Ann-Margret, Joe Mantegna, Walter Hill, Frankie Valli, Frankie Avalon and Jaclyn Smith. He was married to one-time client Annette Funicello for 17 years in the 1960s and ’70s.
A native of Chicago, Gilardi served in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox in Kentucky, where he was in charge of arranging entertainment for the soldiers. That led him to pursue a career as a talent agency after his discharge...
- 9/19/2019
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Jack Gilardi, the dapper agent who spent the past 64-plus years with ICM Partners and its predecessor companies, has died. He was 88.
Gilardi died Thursday morning in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family, a spokesperson for ICM announced.
He was married to the late actress Annette Funicello — he first met her on the set of her 1961 film Babes in Toyland and served as her agent and manager — from 1965 until their divorce in 1981.
Gilardi's roster of current clients included Funicello's frequent co-star Frankie Avalon as well as ...
Gilardi died Thursday morning in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family, a spokesperson for ICM announced.
He was married to the late actress Annette Funicello — he first met her on the set of her 1961 film Babes in Toyland and served as her agent and manager — from 1965 until their divorce in 1981.
Gilardi's roster of current clients included Funicello's frequent co-star Frankie Avalon as well as ...
- 9/19/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Jack Gilardi, the dapper agent who spent the past 64-plus years with ICM Partners and its predecessor companies, has died. He was 88.
Gilardi died Thursday morning in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family, a spokesperson for ICM announced.
He was married to the late actress Annette Funicello — he first met her on the set of her 1961 film Babes in Toyland and served as her agent and manager — from 1965 until their divorce in 1981.
Gilardi's roster of current clients included Funicello's frequent co-star Frankie Avalon as well as ...
Gilardi died Thursday morning in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family, a spokesperson for ICM announced.
He was married to the late actress Annette Funicello — he first met her on the set of her 1961 film Babes in Toyland and served as her agent and manager — from 1965 until their divorce in 1981.
Gilardi's roster of current clients included Funicello's frequent co-star Frankie Avalon as well as ...
- 9/19/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
Blu ray
Olive Films
1965 / 2.35 : 1 / 93 Min.
Starring Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Mickey Rooney
Cinematography by Floyd Crosby
Directed by William Asher
Sam Arkoff and James Nicholson, the men behind such teen-friendly drive-in fare as Reform School Girl and High School Hellcats, caught a monster wave with 1963’s Beach Party and hung on for three long years before sinking into the sunset with Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, a haunted house spoof starring Tommy Kirk and a frail Boris Karloff.
It was a wild ride sustained by Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon and a rotating cast of fun-loving deadbeats who would become as familiar to 60’s audiences as Eugene Pallette and Hugh Herbert were to depression era movie fans. As weighty as a cherry popsicle in July, the movies were aimed at high schoolers but the gags were older than dirt – vaudeville humor with that Coppertone tan.
Blu ray
Olive Films
1965 / 2.35 : 1 / 93 Min.
Starring Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Mickey Rooney
Cinematography by Floyd Crosby
Directed by William Asher
Sam Arkoff and James Nicholson, the men behind such teen-friendly drive-in fare as Reform School Girl and High School Hellcats, caught a monster wave with 1963’s Beach Party and hung on for three long years before sinking into the sunset with Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, a haunted house spoof starring Tommy Kirk and a frail Boris Karloff.
It was a wild ride sustained by Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon and a rotating cast of fun-loving deadbeats who would become as familiar to 60’s audiences as Eugene Pallette and Hugh Herbert were to depression era movie fans. As weighty as a cherry popsicle in July, the movies were aimed at high schoolers but the gags were older than dirt – vaudeville humor with that Coppertone tan.
- 6/15/2019
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Dick Dale, whose jangly, reverb-heavy surf guitar style was the soundtrack on numerous film and TV productions, died on Saturday. No cause was given, but Dale had been in ill health for a number of years, even as he kept up a crowded touring schedule.
Dale’s music was a featured attraction in such films as Pulp Fiction, Escape From L.A., Space Jam, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Garfield 2, among many others. He was equally prolific in TV music, and even had a few acting stints, including an uncredited role in Elvis Presley’s Let’s Make Love in 1960.
But it was as a musician that Dale made an indelible mark. His versions of “Pipeline” and “Misirlou“ (the theme from Pulp Fiction) are considered rock ‘n roll classics, and Dale branded the unique surf sound on several generations of fans. He continued to tour despite a host of health problems,...
Dale’s music was a featured attraction in such films as Pulp Fiction, Escape From L.A., Space Jam, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Garfield 2, among many others. He was equally prolific in TV music, and even had a few acting stints, including an uncredited role in Elvis Presley’s Let’s Make Love in 1960.
But it was as a musician that Dale made an indelible mark. His versions of “Pipeline” and “Misirlou“ (the theme from Pulp Fiction) are considered rock ‘n roll classics, and Dale branded the unique surf sound on several generations of fans. He continued to tour despite a host of health problems,...
- 3/17/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of the Monkees will be on hand for a Q&A session at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Nov. 1 when an American Cinematheque screening of the band’s 1968 feature “Head” commemorates the 50th anniversary of the film’s release.
The Pre-Fab Four’s big-screen debut was a self-referential and surrealistic picture starring the band – Nesmith, Dolenz, Peter Tork and the late Davy Jones – and featuring an eclectic cast that included Frank Zappa, Annette Funicello, Victor Mature, pro football linebacker Ray Nitschke, prizefighter Sonny Liston and topless dancer Carol Doda. Co-written by Bob Rafelson (who also co-produced the film with Bert Schneider) and Jack Nicholson, it marked Rafelson’s feature directing debut.
Shot following the cancellation of the Monkees’ popular TV show, the movie, which premiered in New York on Nov. 6, 1968 — and in Hollywood two weeks later — sported a soundtrack that included songs by Harry Nilsson...
The Pre-Fab Four’s big-screen debut was a self-referential and surrealistic picture starring the band – Nesmith, Dolenz, Peter Tork and the late Davy Jones – and featuring an eclectic cast that included Frank Zappa, Annette Funicello, Victor Mature, pro football linebacker Ray Nitschke, prizefighter Sonny Liston and topless dancer Carol Doda. Co-written by Bob Rafelson (who also co-produced the film with Bert Schneider) and Jack Nicholson, it marked Rafelson’s feature directing debut.
Shot following the cancellation of the Monkees’ popular TV show, the movie, which premiered in New York on Nov. 6, 1968 — and in Hollywood two weeks later — sported a soundtrack that included songs by Harry Nilsson...
- 10/16/2018
- by Chris Morris
- Variety Film + TV
“The Mickey Mouse Club” first premiered in October 1955 under the leadership of the one and only Walt Disney. The long-lasting variety show served as incubator for more than a few major future stars throughout its run, and during its second iteration in the 1990s, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera all shared airtime as Mousketeers. Here’s a look back at the biggest stars who made appearances on the show.
Annette Funicello
Funicello joined the Mousketeers in 1955 at the age of 12 after being personally discovered at a ballet performance by none other than Walt Disney. She quickly became one of the show’s most popular performers, receiving 6,000 fan letters a week, along with wristwatches and a few engagement rings. Funicello went on to star in several Disney-produced serials and movies, including “The Shaggy Dog” and “Babes in Toyland,” and then switched gears to costar in a...
Annette Funicello
Funicello joined the Mousketeers in 1955 at the age of 12 after being personally discovered at a ballet performance by none other than Walt Disney. She quickly became one of the show’s most popular performers, receiving 6,000 fan letters a week, along with wristwatches and a few engagement rings. Funicello went on to star in several Disney-produced serials and movies, including “The Shaggy Dog” and “Babes in Toyland,” and then switched gears to costar in a...
- 8/10/2018
- by Juliette Verlaque
- The Wrap
Rock stars wanting to be actors and vice versa are a common phenomenon in Hollywood. No one quite managed to pull off the transition with the success of Cher, who remains the only rock icon to manage to not only make a successful transition to acting but also to win an Oscar for acting and not composing.
It wasn’t an easy transition though. Cher paired with husband Sonny Bono in her teens to become the duo simply known as Sonny and Cher. After a string of hit records, the duo launched a successful television variety show where Cher was able to hone her acting and comedic skills as she appeared in various sketches. Her marriage to Sonny would end in divorce, and Cher struggled to transition in to acting. Upon receipt of a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for “Silkwood,” Cher thanked all the Hollywood moguls who would never give her a job.
It wasn’t an easy transition though. Cher paired with husband Sonny Bono in her teens to become the duo simply known as Sonny and Cher. After a string of hit records, the duo launched a successful television variety show where Cher was able to hone her acting and comedic skills as she appeared in various sketches. Her marriage to Sonny would end in divorce, and Cher struggled to transition in to acting. Upon receipt of a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for “Silkwood,” Cher thanked all the Hollywood moguls who would never give her a job.
- 7/18/2018
- by Robert Pius and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Keala Settle, co-star of the smash movie musical The Greatest Showman, hit the stage at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theatre on Wednesday night to sing a killer rendition of the iconic Disneyland theme, “It’s a Small World,” the kickoff to a magical night as Oscar celebrated the writers of that tune: Disney legends Richard M Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.
So the lyrics might have said “it’s a small world,” but the lines outside the Academy to get into this sold-out tribute were anything but small, with upward of 100 turned away due to capacity issues. Every seat was taken, and some even tried sitting in the aisles for this once-in-a-lifetime show called The Sherman Brothers: A Hollywood Songbook, timed to Richard Sherman’s 90th birthday (the actual date was June 12). He is the surviving brother of the duo, with Robert having passed...
So the lyrics might have said “it’s a small world,” but the lines outside the Academy to get into this sold-out tribute were anything but small, with upward of 100 turned away due to capacity issues. Every seat was taken, and some even tried sitting in the aisles for this once-in-a-lifetime show called The Sherman Brothers: A Hollywood Songbook, timed to Richard Sherman’s 90th birthday (the actual date was June 12). He is the surviving brother of the duo, with Robert having passed...
- 6/22/2018
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
On a snowy afternoon in 1958, Annette Funicello, Tommy Cole, and several other The Mickey Mouse Club members were on an East Coast bus tour when they gave one unsuspecting family a huge surprise. "The new Annette series was coming on the air and we wanted to see it," Tommy exclusively recalls to Closer Weekly of the sitcom in which Annette played a rural girl who moves in with rich relatives. "Our bus driver went up to a house that had bikes on the porch — we knew there were kids. He knocked and said, 'I have some of the original Mouseketeers on my bus — can we come in and watch Annette with you?' And they went, 'Oh my!'" By the third season of The Mickey Mouse Club, Annette had become the most beloved girl in America. The Mickey Mouse Club cast. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) "She was someone that everyone wanted to be,...
- 3/10/2018
- by Closer Staff
- Closer Weekly
In a world where pop culture is alive and well 24/7, it's hard to imagine a Hollywood actress not realizing she was an Oscar winner. But according to Hayley Mills, she didn't realize just how special her role in Pollyanna was until after the biggest award show of the year. Back in 1961, the then child star won the Academy Juvenile Award. But instead of accepting the award in front of her peers, Annette Funicello accepted the trophy on her behalf. "I was actually at boarding school in England, and I didn't know anything about it until it turned up. Like, 'Oh, that's sweet. What's that?' I was told, 'Well, this is a very special award,' but it was quite a few years...
- 2/21/2018
- E! Online
Et has learned that Today weekend co-host Craig Melvin is in the running to replace Matt Lauer as co-host of Today.
A source at the show tells Et that both NBC and staff are fans of 38-year-old Melvin. Melvin currently anchors MSNBC Live on weekdays, and is co-anchor of Today Saturday edition.
“This would give the network the opportunity to make Melvin into a star at NBC,” the source says. “This would be clean slate.”
Melvin has been married to Espn sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak since 2011. The couple has two children together.
As for the possibility that Hoda Kotb would replace Lauer, our source says that would be “highly doubtful,” as Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford’s Today hour is already a huge success, and they wouldn't want to change the dynamic.
Still, there are other potential replacements in the running. Our source says that Willie Geist -- who frequently serves as a fill-in anchor on Today --...
A source at the show tells Et that both NBC and staff are fans of 38-year-old Melvin. Melvin currently anchors MSNBC Live on weekdays, and is co-anchor of Today Saturday edition.
“This would give the network the opportunity to make Melvin into a star at NBC,” the source says. “This would be clean slate.”
Melvin has been married to Espn sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak since 2011. The couple has two children together.
As for the possibility that Hoda Kotb would replace Lauer, our source says that would be “highly doubtful,” as Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford’s Today hour is already a huge success, and they wouldn't want to change the dynamic.
Still, there are other potential replacements in the running. Our source says that Willie Geist -- who frequently serves as a fill-in anchor on Today --...
- 12/5/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Matt Lauer‘s ex-wife Nancy Alspaugh is coming to his defense in the wake of his shocking firing from the Today show.
Alspaugh, who was married to Lauer from 1981-88, said that she is supportive of her ex-husband “one hundred percent,” despite the numerous sexual misconduct allegations that have been brought against him.
“I was shocked because he’s been such a stalwart at that network and in that job,” television producer Alspaugh told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday. “He’s been the best person that’s ever held that job and I couldn’t imagine that anything that he would...
Alspaugh, who was married to Lauer from 1981-88, said that she is supportive of her ex-husband “one hundred percent,” despite the numerous sexual misconduct allegations that have been brought against him.
“I was shocked because he’s been such a stalwart at that network and in that job,” television producer Alspaugh told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday. “He’s been the best person that’s ever held that job and I couldn’t imagine that anything that he would...
- 12/1/2017
- by Natalie Stone
- PEOPLE.com
Today show fans were stunned on Wednesday morning, when co-anchor Savannah Guthrie announced that Matt Lauer had been fired from the long-running morning show for "inappropriate sexual behavior."
NBC News chairman Andy Lack also revealed in a letter to staff that Lauer had been accused by a female colleague of “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace," and after a "serious review," called Lauer's alleged actions a "clear violation of our company's standards." Lauer was then immediately fired.
"While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with a reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident," Lack wrote. "Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected and to ensure that any actions that run counter to our core values are met with consequences no matter who the offender. We are deeply...
NBC News chairman Andy Lack also revealed in a letter to staff that Lauer had been accused by a female colleague of “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace," and after a "serious review," called Lauer's alleged actions a "clear violation of our company's standards." Lauer was then immediately fired.
"While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with a reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident," Lack wrote. "Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected and to ensure that any actions that run counter to our core values are met with consequences no matter who the offender. We are deeply...
- 11/29/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Gothic horror found its way into the American mainstream in the early 1960s courtesy of Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe adaptations for American International Pictures. Movies with a tortured Vincent Price brooding around darkened castles, longing for the spirits of some long-lost love were reaching audiences on the same screens as Frankie and Annette and the Beach Party series—and from the same studio, no less. Over in Europe, though, it was a totally different story.
Mario Bava’s The Whip and the Body (La frusta e il corpo) is gothic horror of a very different sort. Yes, there are darkened castles and brooding characters and waves crashing against cliffs and possible madness, but it’s of a much, much more adult nature than its American counterparts. After an affair that led to the suicide of a servant’s daughter, Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee) returns to his family castle...
Mario Bava’s The Whip and the Body (La frusta e il corpo) is gothic horror of a very different sort. Yes, there are darkened castles and brooding characters and waves crashing against cliffs and possible madness, but it’s of a much, much more adult nature than its American counterparts. After an affair that led to the suicide of a servant’s daughter, Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee) returns to his family castle...
- 7/18/2017
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
The Mickey Mouse Club is coming back... kind of.
Disney is reviving the show for Facebook -- and calling it Club Mickey Mouse -- according to CNBC.
Watch: Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling Had a Mini-'Mickey Mouse Club' Reunion at the Oscars! See the Pics
"We're not bound to one format. We're not bound to one length," Josh Mattison, vice president of digital ad sales for Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, told CNBC of the show airing exclusively on Facebook. "That's the beauty."
A new generation of Mouseketeers have yet to be named, but Disney will draw from Maker Studios, its in-house multichannel network and talent company.
The original Mickey Mouse Club launched the career of Annette Funicello after premiering on ABC in 1955. The show was revived in 1977, and again in 1989 -- with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Christina Aguilera and Jc Chasez.
Watch: Britney Spears Talks 'Mickey Mouse Club' in First...
Disney is reviving the show for Facebook -- and calling it Club Mickey Mouse -- according to CNBC.
Watch: Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling Had a Mini-'Mickey Mouse Club' Reunion at the Oscars! See the Pics
"We're not bound to one format. We're not bound to one length," Josh Mattison, vice president of digital ad sales for Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, told CNBC of the show airing exclusively on Facebook. "That's the beauty."
A new generation of Mouseketeers have yet to be named, but Disney will draw from Maker Studios, its in-house multichannel network and talent company.
The original Mickey Mouse Club launched the career of Annette Funicello after premiering on ABC in 1955. The show was revived in 1977, and again in 1989 -- with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Christina Aguilera and Jc Chasez.
Watch: Britney Spears Talks 'Mickey Mouse Club' in First...
- 5/3/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Los Angeles – With the flourish of trumpets in “The Bullfighter’s Song,” a pugnacious man would strut on stage and launch a volley of hilarious insults on some unsuspecting targets. That act was Don Rickles, whose show business nicknames included “The King of Zing,” “The Merchant of Venom” and the magnificently ironic “Mr. Warmth.” Rickles died in Los Angeles on April 6th, 2017. He was 90.
In his early career, Rickles was a throwback to the cocktail and burlesque joints of the 1950s and ‘60s, where a burgeoning stand up comic would do anything to engage the audience and keep a gig. With a quick wit and rat-a-tat delivery, Rickles developed a persona that would keep him working virtually all the way to the end. He went from the “Rat Pack” era, through comedy roasts of the 1970s, to the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” series, and never...
In his early career, Rickles was a throwback to the cocktail and burlesque joints of the 1950s and ‘60s, where a burgeoning stand up comic would do anything to engage the audience and keep a gig. With a quick wit and rat-a-tat delivery, Rickles developed a persona that would keep him working virtually all the way to the end. He went from the “Rat Pack” era, through comedy roasts of the 1970s, to the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the “Toy Story” series, and never...
- 4/7/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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