Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...After a busy spring in which I had to set aside Around the Blogosphere link roundups in order to make room in my schedule for multiple film festivals and travel, the calendar has turned the page to July and it's time to get back at it!

...As I shared in February, IMDb won its first legal round against the State of California's new law prohibiting the website from publishing actors' birthdates. Last week the judge strongly reprimanded the California Attorney General for its "disturbing" government harassment of IMDb, pressing forward with burdensome discovery requests despite the injunction against the law and the likelihood it will lose the case.

...Congratulations to my friend Raquel who recently celebrated her 10th Anniversary blogging at her terrific blog Out of the Past. I was honored to be one of three longtime classic film bloggers Raquel interviewed in the run-up to her anniversary. Raquel also recently wrote a fun guest post for the Warner Archive streaming service; be sure to check it out! Her annual Summer Reading Challenge is also in full swing right now.

...I'd also like to wish a belated happy 10th Blogging Anniversary to Jacqueline Lynch of Another Old Movie Blog! Jacqueline's anniversary fell during my brief hiatus from writing link roundups. She's been one of my favorite reads for probably all of her ten years! Her latest series is on how Hollywood depicted children and teenagers' experiences during WWII. I especially enjoyed her review of YOUTH RUNS WILD (1944) with Bonita Granville.

...Thanks to reader Terry for making me aware of a tour opportunity at the former Republic Pictures lot tomorrow, on the 4th of July. If only the cost weren't so prohibitive! Sharing here in case someone with money to burn sees this at the last minute and wants to sign up! For more details, click over to Toby's post at 50 Westerns From the 50s.

...Last month I linked to my post on five underrated films of 1947, posted at Rupert Pupkin Speaks. Please also check out the excellent lists by KC and Kristina.

...The great George Sanders was born this date in 1906. Here's my 2014 birthday tribute, which has been updated with several new review links.

...Last month the Los Angeles Times published an overview of the L.A. classic film scene.

...Here's Leonard Maltin on "The Death of VHS - And What We've Lost."

...The New York Times ran an article a few weeks ago on the Warner Archive and FilmStruck streaming services.

...The above Maltin article ties in well with Paste Magazine's "In the Ephemeral World of Streaming, Physical Media Is More Important Than Ever."

...There's a new documentary, BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY, which was shown in April at the Tribeca Film Festival. It will eventually makes its way to the PBS series AMERICAN MASTERS. Looking forward to seeing it.

...Check out some gorgeous photos of classic Hollywood actors at Vintage Every Day.

...New from Bear Manor Media: THE MAGNIFICENT HEEL: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF RICARDO CORTEZ by Dan Van Neste.

...If it's July that means fall cookbook season is right around the corner! Some of the new titles headed to shelves in a few weeks: THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS: COME AND GET IT! by Ree Drummond, THE COMPLETE SLOW COOKER and THE PERFECT COOKIE from America's Test Kitchen, COOKING AT HOME WITH BRIDGET AND JULIA by Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison of America's Test Kitchen, and MILK STREET: THE NEW HOME COOKING by Christopher Kimball, who was formerly with America's Test Kitchen. These are all "can't miss" cookbook writers.

...Recently published: SUGAR BUTTER FLOUR: THE WAITRESS PIE BOOK by Jenna Hunterson, inspired by the Broadway musical based on the 2007 movie.

...Notable Passings: Skip Homeier, who often played villains, has passed on at 86. Homeier was in many good Westerns, with STRANGER AT MY DOOR (1956) and COMANCHE STATION (1960) being two of the best...Emmy-winning actor Peter Hansen (seen at left), best known for playing Lee Baldwin on GENERAL HOSPITAL, has died at 95. Hansen's film career began with a good role in BRANDED (1950) opposite Alan Ladd. Other early roles included DARLING, HOW COULD YOU! (1951) and the sci-fi classic WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (1951).

...More Notable Passings: Actress Helene Stanton has passed on at 91...Famed architect William Krisel, best known for his work in Palm Springs, has died at 92...Jared Martin, who played Howard Keel's son Dusty Farlow on DALLAS, has died at 75...I recently learned of the December passing of choreographer Robert Tucker, whose daughter is actress Nana Visitor (STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE)...I enjoyed learning about the life of Catherine Livingston Titus, a swimmer in BATHING BEAUTY (1944) with Esther Williams, who recently passed at the age of 92...Tom Selleck's mother Martha, known for her work with Motion Picture Mothers, died in February, age 96...Christine Kaufmann, who was once married to Tony Curtis, died in March, age 72. Her credits included ESCAPE FROM EAST BERLIN (1962)...It was a surprise to learn of the death of Powers Boothe, who had recently been appearing on AGENTS OF SHIELD. He was 68...and of course it was sad to learn Adam West of BATMAN had died at 88. Los Angeles lit up the Bat Signal at City Hall as a tribute.

Happy Independence Day, and have a great week!