Street corners. Tourist traps. Flatbed trailers. Any place is fair game for an entertainer to ply their craft as long as there's an audience. Or even if there isn't. When I was with the Continental Singers, we once did an impromptu mini-concert in an old folks' home in Nebraska while waiting for our bus's air … Continue reading Stage To Screen: Show Boat
The Second Annual Broadway Bound Blogathon Is One Month Away
It's one month until curtain, and no doubt our participants are zealously rehearsing their parts in the Second Annual Broadway Bound Blogathon. Scripts memorized. Stages blocked. Kicklines formed, for those who are into that sort of thing. It's all coming together. I'm so glad to see people are enthusiastic about the blogging world's return engagement … Continue reading The Second Annual Broadway Bound Blogathon Is One Month Away
The Purrfect Crime
Meow... I always like working more silent movies into my film-watching experience, and while I wish I could be more deliberate about it, the silent films I do get to see are generally surprises. One of the nicest ones so far is 1927's The Cat and the Canary. Based on the successful John Willard play of the … Continue reading The Purrfect Crime
Broadway Bound Blogathon: Curtain Call
First things first, we have a few more arriving at the party… Michaela at Love Letters To Old Hollywood gives us her third and final post with the history of Gigi. Catherine at Thoughts All Sorts has some thoughts on Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Tiffany from Pure Entertainment Preservation Society brings us her review of the 1941 classic, Babes On Broadway. And in […]
Broadway Bound Blogathon: Day Three
We have come to Day Three of our Broadway Bound Blogathon, and more great entries are ahead (See Day Two here). As usual, I will post new arrivals throughout the day. So let's get right to them... Amanda from Old Hollywood Films leads with a look at the history of The King and I. Who knew this classic got … Continue reading Broadway Bound Blogathon: Day Three
End of an Era
Long before MGM put his story on the screen, Florenz Ziegfeld was dipping his toe into Hollywood. The first film he produced was 1917's The Land of Promise. Starring Billie Burke, the film is a straightforward story of farmers and romance. It's also, unfortunately, lost. Other films were takeoffs of his stage shows, such as Rio Rita or Whoopee. Only … Continue reading End of an Era
Broadway Bound Blogathon: Day Two
Day Two, guys and gals! We've been having a great time so far on Broadway (Read Day One's entries here), and I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm excited to see what our participants have in store for us today. And unlike yesterday, you now have my undivided attention. 😉 So, without … Continue reading Broadway Bound Blogathon: Day Two
Three Ziegfeld Girls
While The Great Ziegfeld is a terrific movie, only a small percentage of it focused on the actual making of the Follies. We barely even got to see those famed stairs. Like Broadway, the Follies are a big subject, and in 1941, MGM revisited them in Ziegfeld Girl. Starring James Stewart, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, and Hedy Lamarr, … Continue reading Three Ziegfeld Girls
Broadway Bound Blogathon: Day One
The house lights have gone down, and the curtain has gone up... Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is the first day of the Broadway Bound Blogathon! I will endeavor to update this post throughout the day with all the lovely entries our participants have in store for us. Thanks so much for all your well-wishes … Continue reading Broadway Bound Blogathon: Day One
The Man Behind the Curtain
While Broadway is considered the pinnacle of a performer's career, in the early twentieth century the Ziegfeld Follies were the pinnacle of Broadway. These lavish shows featured comedy acts, music, and dancing. Most famously of all, there were women in strategically skimpy and unusual costumes walking down stairs as if descending from heaven. To be … Continue reading The Man Behind the Curtain
Two Weeks To Go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2SDf42guB4 Okay, it's a little out of left field, but hey, it's the Bee Gees singing about Broadway. At least, they mention it. 🙂 Anyway, the Broadway Bound Blogathon draws nigh. There's still time to sign up, so leave a comment or message me if anyone's interested. Find the rules and current roster here. For … Continue reading Two Weeks To Go
The Broadway Bound Blogathon Is One Month Away
The calendar never lies, friends. Come June first, the curtain will rise on the blogging world's look at the Great White Way. Allow me to offer a great big thank you in advance to those of you who have already signed up. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support and enthusiasm (not … Continue reading The Broadway Bound Blogathon Is One Month Away
Announcing the Broadway Bound Blogathon!
Yep. This is big. Really big. First, I've never hosted a blogathon before, and second, the Great White Way has been the pinnacle of so many performers' careers for almost one-hundred fifty years. I know I delve into Broadway at least every other month on Taking Up Room, but it's such a massive subject that I wanted … Continue reading Announcing the Broadway Bound Blogathon!
Taking Up Room 