Around the Blogosphere This Week

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

...Photos of Netflix's proposed remodel of Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre have been released.  I'm glad they're putting money into the theater, though I do have concerns about reduction in seating capacity.  Changes will include removing the theater balcony, which was actually not added until 1998.  The theater first opened in 1922.

...UC Santa Barbara has acquired the American Radio Archives, a treasure trove of classic radio memorabilia previously housed at the Thousand Oaks Library.

...Charlie Largent has reviewed the Inner Sanctum Mysteries Blu-ray collection for CineSavant at the Trailers From Hell site.

...Thanks to my friend Jane for passing on this terrific article on Bonita Granville from the Desert Sun. Granville had a multifaceted life beyond her excellent acting career.

...UCLA has announced that alumna May Hong HaDuong will be the new director of the UCLA Film & Television Archive beginning in February.  She is only the fourth director in the archive's history. 

...I was sorry to hear that the 101 Coffee Shop in Hollywood, where I've enjoyed breakfast, has permanently closed due to COVID lockdowns.  It was located in the bottom of the Best Western Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel on Franklin Avenue.

...Matthew Jacobs muses on Christmas without movie theaters at the Huffington Post.

...More good stuff ahead from Kino Lorber: It's been announced that O.S.S. (1946), starring Alan Ladd and Geraldine Fitzgerald, is coming to Blu-ray "soon," from a brand-new 2K master.  I reviewed the film close to a decade ago after watching it on VHS and look forward to seeing this new print.

...Karie Bible's "Hollywood Kitchen" series returns to the Internet on January 17th, featuring Cary Grant's Apple Pie.

...The Los Angeles Dodgers family has suffered two huge losses in a matter of days.  Vin Scully's wife Sandra died on January 3rd due to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).  They were married 47 years.  She was 76...I was quite emotional hearing the news that longtime Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who worked for the organization for 71 years, passed on January 7th at 93. He's part of so many Dodgers memories! He had been in poor health in recent weeks, but it's a joy to know he was there last October when the Dodgers won the World Series for the first time since 1988, when he was manager.  Buildings and stadiums around Los Angeles lit up blue in his honor Friday night. 

...Notable Passings: Diana Millay of TV's DARK SHADOWS is reported to have passed on at 85.  Like so many actors, she's someone I first knew from my favorite TV show, MAVERICK; she was in the episode "Dodge City or Bust" (1960), seen here with MAVERICK star Jack Kelly...Tanya Roberts of CHARLIE'S ANGELS and the 007 film A VIEW TO A KILL (1985) has died of an infection at the age of 65.  She starred in the first movie I ever saw with my husband, which was, believe it or not, THE BEASTMASTER (1982).  Her death came shortly after she was mistakenly said to be dead but had not yet actually passed...Director Michael Apted, whose credits included COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER (1980) and the James Bond film THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999), has passed away at 79...Barbara Shelley of Hammer horror films has passed away at 88.

...Legendary Disneyland photographer Renie Bardeau has died at 86. He shot many well-known pictures throughout the park's history, including Walt Disney with Mickey Mouse on a fire engine in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the "Footsteps" photo of Walt walking across wet early morning pavement behind the castle.  Renie was honored with a tribute window on Disneyland's Main Street USA, appropriately located above the Camera Shop. His death closely follows the passing of longtime Disneyland exec Ron Dominguez, reported here last week.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my January 2nd roundup.

Have a great week!

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