Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...A very happy birthday to one of the true movie and music greats, Doris Day!

...Margaret O'Brien recently shared thoughts on Elizabeth Taylor and being the last of the LITTLE WOMEN (1949).

...Jennifer Garlen has posted a list at the Examiner of actors born in 1925 or earlier who are still living.

...Dear Old Hollywood has a great photo tour of a home once lived in by Don Ameche, as well as other celebrities.

...I was very honored to receive the Stylish Blogger Award last week at 50 Westerns From the 50s. Thank you very much indeed for the kind words and encouragement, Toby!

...Toby's post linked above introduced me to a great food blog, Please Pass the Pie. Abbie posts amazing photos!

...An L.A. Times story introduced me to TasteSpotting, another food blog which is a feast for the eyes.

...Royal wedding watch: Here's a look at the official postage stamps celebrating this month's royal wedding in Great Britain.

...Chapman University here in Orange County, which has an up-and-coming film school, announced it's starting a film production company.

...From the "What on earth are they thinking?!" department: Jennifer Garner reportedly will produce and star in a new "contemporary" Disney version of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple character. As I Tweeted the other day, will she be called "Ms. Marple"?

...Leonard Maltin has reviewed a few new film books, including MGM: HOLLYWOOD'S GREATEST BACKLOT. I recently received this book myself and can state unequivocally that the photographs are stunning and will be of great interest to anyone who loves MGM movies.

...South Pole exploration has interested me for years. The first building ever built at the South Pole, over half a century ago, was recently blown up.

...In March Glenn Erickson reviewed the Warner Archive release of HIGH WALL (1947), which I saw at the Noir City Festival last Friday. I reviewed it a couple years ago; it's a terrific movie.

...Speaking of film noir, here's an article by the Film Noir Foundation's Eddie Muller on the restoration of CRY DANGER (1951), a film I absolutely loved when I saw it at UCLA last month. The article was posted at Ferdy on Films.

...At Twenty Four Frames John Greco reviews Dick Powell in PITFALL (1948). As I mentioned in a comment below the review, I recently bought this film on video and am looking forward to checking it out.

...There was an interesting column in the New York Times a couple weeks ago on the sharp dropoff in the use of the telephone -- for voice calls, that is. My kids call their friends fairly rarely -- these days, the main use for a phone is texting! That's vanquished even instant messaging, which was the preferred method of communication when our oldest was in high school.

...THE GOOD WIFE, one of the best shows currently on TV, just received the Peabody Award.

...R. Emmet Sweeney has posted thoughts on Joel McCrea's STARS IN MY CROWN (1950) at TCM's Movie Morlocks blog.

...DVR alert for fans of THE WALTONS: A WALTONS FAMILY REUNION, a new half-hour special, airs this weekend on cable's Inspiration Network.

...Notable passing: country singer Mel McDaniel has passed on at the age of 68. His hits included "Louisiana Saturday Night," one of my faves from the early '80s.

Have a great week!