The 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival: Day One

The TCM Classic Film Festival kicked off for many of us on Wednesday, April 12th, a day ahead of when the movies began rolling.

I checked in at the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, where I've stayed during the festival since 2015. This sign was a little worse for the wear, but the hotel was as pleasant as ever. The hotel is "no frills" but very clean and with a helpful, welcoming staff. And it's just steps away from a back entrance into the mall where the multiplex theatres are located.

As has become tradition on this day of the week, my husband and I enjoyed lunch at 25 Degrees in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel:

There were several other items on the day's agenda, starting with a stop at the TCM Boutique. This year the boutique was located in the lobby of the Chinese Multiplex Theatres:

There were somewhat fewer items for sale this year, and a couple of designs, including the mug and the tote bag seen above, were reused from last year.

The lower-key boutique offerings were part of an overall feeling of budget frugality this year.

For instance, at media check-in, "swag" was limited to a tote bag and the choice of one of a few different TCM-Running Press books. I was quite happy with my lovely gift, this is just an observation about cutbacks noted at the festival in general.

Other changes this year included no screenings at the El Capitan Theatre, no hand and footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theatre, and the closing night party being limited to the Hollywood Roosevelt lobby and Club TCM rather than poolside.

Despite those omissions, TCM nonetheless provided an absolutely wonderful festival, and as the 2024 festival was announced as confirmed at the closing night party, hopefully we will all be there again next year!

It's always great to see my fellow bloggers and film fans! Many of us have now known each other for over a decade. Thanks to both blogging and Twitter, there is a friend around every corner at the festival and always someone to enjoy a movie with!

The Media Welcome Reception took place in Club TCM at the Hollywood Roosevelt again this year, and we were treated to a first look at some marvelous Warner Bros. memorabilia on display.

Items on display included these costumes from THE MUSIC MAN (1962):

Most remarkably, three working neon violins from "The Shadow Waltz" in GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933) were there. The sight of these brought me to tears.

Busby Berkeley's personal scrapbook:

The Turner Classic Movies hosts made a few remarks from the stage before mingling with guests. Left to right: Dave Karger, Eddie Muller, TCM General Manager Pola Chagnon, Jacqueline Stewart, Ben Mankiewicz, and Alicia Malone.

After dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe it was on to the Hollywood Heritage Museum on Highland Avenue!

The Hollywood Heritage's Lasky-DeMille Barn hosted a marvelous, sold-out presentation on festival film fashions by Kimberly Truhler and Oscar-winning costume designer Mark Bridges.

It was a wonderfully informative and entertaining evening among many friends.

Coming soon: Day Two, including the first pair of films seen at the festival.

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