Gonna do something a little different today. I don't often share personal stories, as you all know, but for the past week I've been coming to terms with a somewhat major recent event. I'll do my best not to overshare because I don't want to air any dirty laundry here, but I feel the need … Continue reading For Josh
Go Team
*click* *adjusts rabbit ears* In my humble opinion, the most iconic villain of the original MacGyver series was Murdoc, played by Michael Des Barres. He appeared on the series a total of nine times, and for one reason only: MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) was the only target master hitman Murdoc couldn't murder. Well, that, and he lived … Continue reading Go Team
Announcing The Third Broadway Bound Blogathon!
Things might be weird and tense right now because of the coronavirus, but we're still, God willing, going back to Broadway. We need all the fun we can get, people. We really do. For those of you who are new to Taking Up Room, this is when we pay tribute to the symbiotic relationship between … Continue reading Announcing The Third Broadway Bound Blogathon!
Reading Rarities: John Lennon In His Own Write
If he were alive today, John Lennon would be turning eighty this year. It's also the fortieth anniversary of his death. Kind of amazing, isn't it? Gee whiz, time flies. Once the Beatles had a number one song in America, lives that were already on fast-forward went into hyperspace. In 1964 alone, the group toured … Continue reading Reading Rarities: John Lennon In His Own Write
Taking Off the Mask
Time to rock out, all... It's always interesting when Christian artists (or any musicians) dabble in moviemaking, and 2008's The Imposter sports not one artist, but three: dc Talk alum Kevin Max, Kerry Livgren of Kansas, and Jeff Deyo, formerly of Sonicflood. Not to be confused with the Gary Sinise film, The Imposter follows Johnny … Continue reading Taking Off the Mask
Back To MGM
Mr. Keaton is back... Buster Keaton did have a career of sorts in sound films. Well, he tried, anyway. From 1933 onwards Keaton's life was turbulent. He was fired from MGM in 1933, his marriage collapsed, and Keaton struggled with alcohol abuse. IMDb claims there was a period of time when the public hated him … Continue reading Back To MGM
Norma’s Almost-Swan Song
Way up north... Quebecois Norma Shearer was an unlikely film star, at least in the sense that she didn't fit the mold of the perfect movie goddess. She had short legs, one of her eyes had a slight cast, and the critics regularly poked fun at her delivery. On the other hand, in regards to … Continue reading Norma’s Almost-Swan Song
Under the Sea
Glug, glug... I'll be honest: I'm not a huge James Cameron fan. I think he's kind of a jerk, really. However, he's made some great movies, and one of them is 1989's The Abyss, a gripping story about creatures that lie beneath. And nukes. And a paranoid Naval officer. And possible annihilation by going too … Continue reading Under the Sea
Heigh-ho For Cuba
In this post-Fidel Castro day and age, it seems really odd to think about Cuba being a top tourist destination for Americans, but at one time it was. Before the country was declared off-limits to Americans, people liked the fact that they could pop round to an exotic country for a quick visit and be … Continue reading Heigh-ho For Cuba
Stage To Screen: He Who Gets Slapped
Plenty of us film buffs, including me, are aware that 1924's He Who Gets Slapped was MGM's first movie. There were a few other films in production at the time of MGM's incorporation, but He Who Gets Slapped is the first movie made by MGM as a new distinct entity. What I didn't know until recently … Continue reading Stage To Screen: He Who Gets Slapped
The Leap Year Blogathon: Wrapup
It's kind of odd writing about a day that happens every four years. It's like Brigadoon, only time doesn't stop in between Leap Days. Anyways, I hope people enjoyed the blogathon yesterday. I'm having fun reading all your posts, and it's awesome that everyone took this Leap Day thingie and ran with it. Please be patient … Continue reading The Leap Year Blogathon: Wrapup
Taking Up Room 