“Gun Crazy”‘s Russ Tamblyn in person @ UCLA Film & Television Archive

Film
Super looking forward to Friday night at the Billy Wilder Theater for a screening of Joseph H. Lewis’ GUN CRAZY at UCLA Film & Television Archive.  The film noir cult classic is a stylish example of the doomed-lovers-on-the-lam prototype; it anticipated “Bonnie and Clyde” two decades hence. The screening of “Gun Crazy” opens the UCLA ...

Edward Villella, upcoming, at New York’s Paley Center

Dance
Coming to New York’s Paley Center for Media for an evening of conversation and television and film clips, the legendary dancer and artistic director Edward Villella will discuss his extraordinary and unique career. A regular performer, in the 1960s, on American television, Villella’s accessible appeal and hunky good looks made him a scintillating sight on ...

Matt (Harold Henry) Mattox, memorialized 1

Dance · Film · Theater
by 
MATT (Harold Henry) MATTOX b. Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, August 18, 1921 d. Perpignan, France, February 18, 2013 “I’ve never classified myself as a jazz teacher, I prefer to talk about ‘free-style dancing,’ which means I have a choice of movement for any piece of music,” said Mattox in a 1993 interview. To prepare for his ...

Matt Mattox (1921-2013) leads off in “Lonesome Polecat” 5

Dance · Film
Big guy Matt Mattox leads off his “brothers” in this lovely unhurried number choreographed by Michael Kidd for SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (MGM, 1954). The precision! Matt’s mournful singing, “Can’t make no vows … to a herd of cows” is dubbed in the movie by Bill Lee. Like this? Read more: Matt Mattox, memorialized ...

In memorium: Matt Mattox from ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’

Dance · Film
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954) / MGM / LES SEPT FEMMES DE BARBEROUSSE / FRANCE / ARTIST: ROGER SOUBIE Enchanting Jane Powell marrying reclusive rancher Howard Keel is the catalyst for his six brothers following suit in a rollicking athletic courtship, inventively choreographed by Michael Kidd, and visualized by France’s most prolific poster artist, Roger ...

Connoisseur collection of dance-movie posters grace Barnsdall exhibit 1

Dance · Film · Visual arts
“I was born with a poster gene! When I was a kid I used to ‘color in’ the New York Times (black & white) print ads for theater. When I saw the poster, I’d compare their color choices [to mine].” Collector Mike Kaplan offers this charming anecdote in explanation for a lifelong obsession as we ...

Superb exhibition “Stravinsky and L.A. Dance” to close 2

Dance · Music
Stravinsky & L.A. Dance, located on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion’s sunlight-strewn mezzanine celebrates the composer’s creative influence on Los Angeles dance-makers of the past. The photos (several by Otto Rothschild) are presented together with reconstruction materials of The Joffrey Ballet’s The Rite of Spring. Curated by Lorin Johnson and Mark Konecny and instigated and overseen by Music ...

My dad, Dana Andrews, at the Egyptian Wednesday 1

Film
Looking forward to viewing the early film noir, Laura, directed by Otto Preminger and starrring Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb and Dana Andrews.Hosted by The American Cinematheque, the screening takes place next Wednesday night at the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The showcase includes bonus appearances. Introducing the film will be Dana Andrews’ daughter, Susan Andrews.Author ...

A garden of creativity on “Project Runway”

Fashion
I very much enjoyed the exquisite results of the ‘special challenge’ on last night’s “Project Runway“; the assignment involved melding purchases from hardware store and  flower shop into creative couture. Real, fresh flowers are interwoven in those dresses. Or … could it be the arts·meme green that attracts my eye? Incredibly well done. Thanks to ...

Culture clash: Dino & the Stones

Music
From “Life” by Keith Richards (Little, Brown, 2010) page 151: “The first show we ever did in America was at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, California. Bobby Goldsboro … was on the show, and the Chiffons. But earlier, we’d had the experience of Dean Martin introducing us at the taping of the Hollywood Palace TV show. ...