musicalnovelty

Some fun facts about the MGM short LA FIESTA DE SANTA BARBARA (1935) - MGM (latest film posted on your original thread) - The short is a sort of "unofficial sequel" to the 1934 RKO Radio short LA CUCARACHA also featuring actor Paul Porcasi (to whom The Garland Sisters sing their song "La Cucaracha" in this MGM short). Judy Garland and her sisters appear billed as The Garland Sisters. It is generally been stated that only Judy changed her name from Gumm to Garland when she went solo. But this short proves that at this time the sisters were using the name The Garland Sisters (they get onscreen billing as The Garland Sisters). When Ted Healy and his Stooges split in 1934 Ted had a successful solo career at MGM but occasionally for events such as live performances he still used stooges. So he hired replacement Stooges when needed, one of whom is the James Brewster he appears with in this short. They also appeared together in the 1936 MGM feature SAN FRANCISCO in which Ted (with and without his new Stooges) had more to do than was left in the film after the final editing was done. Later Ted hired three different new Stooges to work with him in some radio appearances he did in 1937. Buster Keaton was rather famously fired from MGM in 1933 or '34 and a lot of sources would have us believe that he didn't come back and appear in an MGM film until 1949 (IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME) (after years of working as a gagman, writer and occasional shorts director). But here he is in 1935 already back at MGM in LA FIESTA DE SANTA BARBARA. This was probably because the Technicolor all-star shorts in this series were produced independently by Louis Lewin so if he used a fired guy like Buster whom reportedly Louis B. Mayer didn't want appearing any more at MGM, it's possible he could "sneak" him by the bosses in a short film like this.

> {quote:title=metz44 wrote: > }{quote}delightful reply..thank you..happy new year Thanks! A clue to the latest picture posted (if I'm correct) - I have an early 1930's autograph from him in which he drew an elaborate cat face in the middle of his name.

> {quote:title=Aranxa wrote: > }{quote}Mr. Magoo! > With razzleberry dressing! > Another fan! Get your "pencible" and take this down: "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" will be shown on the channel called Me-TV twice on Christmas eve and again in the afternoon on Christmas Day. I know that it's not difficult any more to find the program on video or DVD, but still I am always happy to see it being shown somewhere on TV each year.

> {quote:title=TikiSoo wrote:}{quote} > > And regarding the above listed titles, actually I'd seen three of them before....and liked them all. > With me sitting nearby most likely. > Films like these are often better appreciated in a theater setting with an audience, rather than on TV.... Yes, I know you were nearby for our March 25, 2010 Cinefest viewing of THE VALIANT. As I recall, everyone I heard from liked it (myself included, of course!), so I have been a bit surprised at the negative comments the movie has been getting from some TCM viewers since it was shown last week. I guess it just supports your comment that films are better appreciated in a theater setting with an audience.

> {quote:title=ziggyelman wrote:}{quote} > July 1, 1934 is the date the code was finally really enforced. Of course to add to the confusion, I just read that the John Ford film,The World Moves On was the very first film to get the new seal of approval. But, IMDB says the film was released August 31st,1934! Ever since I got interested in old movies I began to take note of the MPPDA (and MPAA after 1946) Production Code Numbers. I started logging them (starting in the mid-1970's!) before long I was able to use these listings to determine info such as release dates (in those old days before the internet and before I acquired many reference books and other material from which I could learn such info). I obviously got many thousands of numbers logged (features, shorts, cartoons, serial chapters) and in 1991 I found out where the original Production Code Authority documents are in which the numbers were logged as they were assigned. I got to visit the place and copy down all the numbers I didn't already have (for lost & rare films I'll never see and never otherwise learn their numbers). I had a lot already logged myself but now have every number up to #1272 (when I ran out of time there). I have many thousands of other numbers logged from after that point, but that is as far as my absolutely complete listing goes as of now. In addition to the listings of the films and numbers there was a lot of other interesting stuff to learn from those original documents, such as numbers assigned to films that ultimately were never released, etc. One of the major challenges in reading the Code Numbers is when they are difficult or impossible to read in a film's credits...printed too small or unclear. Also, the Code Numbers were printed before films' credits for about the first year (mid-1934 through mid-to late 1935, depending upon each studios' way of doing it). And that part of the films' leader with the Code Number has been cut off and lost over the years on most of the films from that period, making it impossible to know the number. I learned which Trade Paper reviews of the period sometimes included the Code Numbers, and other clues to figure out unknown numbers. I had always known what Code #1 was but had also always wondered what films got numbers 1000 10,000 20,000 Number 10,000 was easy, it's a movie that I'd get to see often on television: DRAGON SEED (1944). Without access the original documents I'd probably never have known #1000. It turned out to be a chapter in a 1935 Tarzan serial. Number 20,000 remained unknown to me for many years until TCM started running the movie often. Once I saw it and examined the credits I found that #20,000 is the 1962 movie LOLITA. I don't watch many new movies, but traditionally go with some friends to see the Harry Potter movies when they come out, and so (naturally) I stay to the end of the credits to see the MPAA Number. So the highest number I have logged is for the most recent Harry Potter movie: 46713 (yes, they're still numbering new films). There were actually two different numbering systems with two separate sets of numbers. The other list was for films produced at east coast studios (Vitaphone shorts, Fleischer cartoons, etc.) and certain British or other foreign-produced films. These numbers started with a zero. For example, the 1940 Vitaphone short DOUBLE OR NOTHING is #02434. The 1939 British feature THE FOUR FEATHERS is #02457. Unfortunately I was told that the original documents and listings of these East Coast numbers are lost - apparently never saved. Regarding your comments about the discrepencies between the numbering and the release dates of films, I learned early on that they didn't exactly correspond. A film's production dates, the date its MPPDA Number was assigned, and the film's release date were approximately chronological, but not exact.

> {quote:title=C.Bogle wrote:}{quote} > Of the bands I'm familiar with, I'd say the Bonzo Dog Band were the funniest, > something of an earlier musical version of Monty Python. Thanks for mentioning them, from another big Bonzos fan! Got all their LP's (British & U.S.) and several 45's too. Also have various solo LP's by Neil Innes, Vivian Stanshall, with the the two Roger Ruskin Spear solo albums being particular favorites. Here's where to read more, for anyone not familiar with them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonzo_Dog_Band

> {quote:title=TikiSoo wrote:}{quote} > .....Now the only thing left is to figure out what movie she may have worn that crazy outfit in. If she was a dancer, then I'd be certain it was her. In many older photos she's brunette! So.....what, no prize for being the first to correctly identify her? And, thanks for the clue about the date 1934. That should be helpful in identifying the film (hopefully!)

> {quote:title=metz44 wrote: > }{quote}you know them all..i hate to ask but would you please let another answer or two before replying>>thank you and Merry Christmas. Actually I do skip a lot that I could answer. And I've been known to get some wrong. And honestly, Marc Lawrence was just a lucky wild guess. And I'm 100% sure I know this latest one you posted, but will pass on it to give someone else a chance. And Merry Christmas to you, too!

> {quote:title=slaytonf wrote: > }{quote}....For what I've seen, this is the reaction I've had to them: > > *The Blue Bird* > *The Valiant* > *Huckleberry Finn* > *Roaring Rails* > *The World Moves On* > > One out of four, so far. That's not bad.... As far as I'm concerned, in a way this is a case where it's almost irrelevant whether or not the movies were actually good (within reason, of course!) What I think matters most is that these movies were found, restored, preserved and shown on TCM. That's SO COOL!! Thank you George Eastman House and TCM! And regarding the above listed titles, actually I'd seen three of them before (two on the "big screen" in 35mm) and liked them all.

Last two: Dorothy Jordan William Davidson

That's a tough one, but I'll guess: Marc Lawrence?

> {quote:title=FredCDobbs wrote: > }{quote}She is really wonderful in Crime and Punishment. And FIVE STAR FINAL (1931) too.

Another essential for Marian Marsh fans is THE ROAD TO SINGAPORE (1931), shown on TCM this morning, Dec. 16. Here's a biography for Marian Marsh: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550620/bio

> {quote:title=LuckyDan wrote: > }{quote}I'm sorry to hear of your friend's passing, MN. Thank you for remembering her here, with that scene. I hope she had happy memories of working with Danny Kaye. Seems like any child would. Yes, she enjoyed working in THE FIVE PENNIES and I think it shows in her performance, especially in the musical sequences and scenes with Danny Kaye. She actually enjoyed her acting career and retired voluntarily at age 17 and had a happy and productive life.

I just switched over to AMC to watch a bit of HOLIDAY INN...and they cut out the "Abraham" number! Back to TCM, where they do things right!

How about making it a bit more challenging and thinking of movies that have more than one color in their titles. Such as: RED, HOT AND BLUE (1949 Betty Hutton movie)

Actually if one reads these threads closely, they're not all about the year-end "TCM Remembers" but some are about the memorial montage TCM does for an individual star when they pass away during the year. So, yes, there are a lot of them, but they're not all about the same thing.

Child (and teen) actress Susan Gordon passed away just this past Sunday, Dec. 11, too late to be included in this year's "TCM Remembers". Can she be edited in and be given the tribute she deserves? I hope someone at TCM with the power to make such a decision will see this and get on it as soon as possible.

Child (and teen) actress Susan Gordon passed away just this past Sunday, Dec. 11, too late to be included in this year's "TCM Remembers". Can she be edited in and be given the tribute she deserves? I hope someone at TCM with the power to make such a decision will see this and get on it as soon as possible.

> {quote:title=mongo wrote: > }{quote}Musicalnovelty, It would be my pleasure to honor the late Susan Gordon. May she rest in peace. > > > > > SUSAN GORDON (1949 - 2011) Thanks. Nice shots!

Results of the auction: http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19431/lot/4342/

Hal Roach shorts coming up on TCM: December 19, 2011: MUSIC IN YOUR HAIR (1934) - Billy Gilbert & Billy Bletcher. NIGHT OWLS (1930) - Laurel & Hardy

> {quote:title=ziggyelman wrote: > }{quote}..."borrowed" these from a very cool site a year or two ago, now can't remember where! > > > I believe they came from this site: http://www.elbrendel.com/

Hello, "Soo", I think it's Marian Nixon.

THANK YOU, TCM for George Eastman House Day! All the effort to plan & program the movies today is very much appreciated. Please feel free to do another Eastman House Day again soon!