Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...The big news for classic film fans last week was the news that Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide is ceasing publication after 45 years. The 2015 edition, due out later this year, will be the last. The guide has suffered declining sales due to younger film fans, in particular, relying on the internet for information on films. A ray of sunshine is the news that there will be a third edition of his CLASSIC MOVIE GUIDE in 2015.

...It's impossible to overstate the importance of Maltin's Movie Guide over the last few decades; along with the late Stephen Scheuer's MOVIES ON TV, Maltin's guide was a key resource for many of us before the prevalence of online references such as IMDb. I continue to rely on Maltin's guides; various editions are scattered all over our home. I don't always agree with the opinions, but I always find them interesting, and the book continues to be invaluable to quickly check release dates and running times.

...I wondered why the "app" version of the Maltin book wasn't updating anymore on my iPhone and found an explanation from Leonard that I somehow missed seeing earlier this year.

...Thanks to Kristina for making me aware of the Rod Cameron TV series CORONADO 9. It's a half hour P.I. series which was filmed in part at the famous Hotel Del Coronado; lots of good guest stars including Coleen Gray, Patricia Medina, Nan Leslie, and Elaine Riley. Fortunately it's available on DVD from Shout! Factory/Timeless Media, and I just received my set.

...Last week I mentioned that actress Julie Adams would be throwing out the first pitch to Tommy Davis at an L.A. Dodgers game. Photos from the event are now available at Adams' Official Facebook page.

...Here's a fantastic photo tour of Fred MacMurray and June Haver's farmhouse, along with stories from their daughter Kate.

...Coming soon from the Warner Archive: Two versions of THE DESERT SONG, the 1944 version with Dennis Morgan and Irene Manning, and the 1953 edition with Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson.

...Greenbriar Picture Shows takes a look at WAGON TRAIN (1940) starring Tim Holt, Martha O'Driscoll, and Ray Whitley: "The Tim Holts as a group rank at the tip-top of series westerns."

...Aurora just attended the Capitolfest Film Festival in Rome, New York, and wrote about it at her blog, Once Upon a Screen. William Powell was the festival's featured star. The 13th annual Capitolfest festival is scheduled to take place August 7-9, 2015, with Nancy Carroll as the featured star.

...The many great reviews in the recent Build-Your-Own-Blogathon included BEND OF THE RIVER (1952) by Jennifer at Virtual Virago, T-MEN (1947) by Caftan Woman, and CRY OF THE CITY (1948) by Karen at Shadows and Satin. Do check out these posts as well as the many other fine posts which were part of the blogathon!

...Debbie Reynolds will receive the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation will take place in January 2015.

...Raquel has reviewed A LIFE OF BARBARA STANWYCK: STEEL-TRUE 1907-1940 by Victoria Wilson at her blog, Out of the Past.

...New at Riding the High Country: A look at JOE DAKOTA (1957) starring Jock Mahoney, Luana Patten, Charles McGraw, and Barbara Lawrence.

...Received last week from Amazon UK: KING'S RHAPSODY (1955), which is apparently a musical (?!) starring Errol Flynn, Anna Neagle, and Patrice Wymore (Mrs. Errol Flynn). Looking forward to checking it out.

...Gigi Garner was interviewed about her father James Garner's recent passing by The Oklahoman. She said "We were astonished" by the outpouring of love and condolences from fans around the world: "They were all so heartfelt and kind. It’s just unbelievable how much people really connected with him and how much he became part of their lives. I certainly didn’t realize that, and I’m sure my father didn’t either...It is a source of comfort for us to know that he meant so much to other people and that we are not grieving alone."

...Attention Southern Californians: A brand-new Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles has just opened near Disneyland. I've never been to one but look forward to checking it out sometime.

...More for Southern Californians: Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA is coming to the Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center next spring, March 17 through April 26, 2015.

...Also in 2015: Screenings of Hitchcock's VERTIGO (1958) with live accompaniment by the Pacific Symphony replacing the film's musical soundtrack. The screenings will take place at Segerstrom Hall in Orange County from April 30-May 2, 2015.

Have a great week!