Wayne Newton “Up Close and Personal” at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills

By

Judy Shields

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April 12, 2017

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Wayne Newton and Danke Schoen album cover photo

By: Judy Shields

Beverly Hills, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/10/17 – “I am from the great state of Virginia, I am half Native American, a quarter Irish and a quarter German and stayed in Virginia until I was eight years old.” Wayne Newton told the audience at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills this past Friday night.

Mr. Newton went on to tell the story of his early career as follows:

“I was sickly kid and we moved to Phoenix, Arizona, because I had bronchial asthma. My brother and I had a small little TV show in Phoenix and Marty Robbins stopped by to star on our show. At 15, still doing that television show, a gentleman, an agent, his name, believe it or not was Bookie Levin (Julius), that is a fact. He came to Phoenix and saw the show and called our parents and told them he wanted us to come to Las Vegas to try out for a show. My brother and I jumped aboard a Greyhound bus and auditioned at the Fremont Hotel, downtown Las Vegas.

The gentleman listened to two songs and got up and left. He stuck his head back in the door and said, ‘I am going to get you a work permit’ and I will hire you for two weeks. The law was that you had to be 21 years of age to work in a casino. It took about two weeks and Bookie called to say he got us a work permit and I still have it to this day, it said ‘Wayne Newton will be allowed to work in the Fremont Hotel he is just not allowed to be in the place he is working.” (Laughter erupted)

“I have never figured that one out!” We did six shows a night, six nights a week and 40 mins on and 20 minutes off and we had to go outside. It turned out to 52 weeks. That is how I got to Vegas and that is how I got to stay there.”

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Father and Son Carl & Rob Reiner, Hand and Footprint Ceremony

Film Festivals / Expos / Conventions

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Judy Shields

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April 12, 2017

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Rob Reiner listening to his Father Carl Reiner (Photo: THT)

By: Judy Shields

Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/11/17 – “The thing that is most important for me and why this means so much is , first of all we are the first father and son to do this at the same time, but my father was my idol and I looked up to him. He stood for everything I wanted to be in life. When I was a little boy of eight year old, I went to my Mother and wanted to change my name.”

Rob Reiner told the fans, photographers, reporters and his family and friends that gathered in front of the TCL Chinese theatre before he and his father Carl Reiner put their hands and feet into wet cement, last Friday at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood.

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TCM Classic Film Festival 2017: A 3 Day Recap

Film Festivals / Expos / Conventions

By

Judy Shields

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April 8, 2017

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By: Judy Shields

“Live From” interview with Michael Douglas

Saturday, April 8th

TCM celebrated the life and career of Hollywood legend Michael Douglas during a taping of “Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival” on April 8 at the famous Montalban Theatre during the eighth annual festival.

Left to right: Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President Programming and Production; Turner Classic Movies; Pola Changnon, Senior Vice President, Creative, Brand and Marketing, Turner Classic Movies; Ben Mankiewicz.

Host, Turner Classic Movies; Jennifer Dorian, General Manger, Turner Classic Movies; Michael Douglas; Genevieve McGillicuddy, Director, TCM Classic Film Festival

Left to right: Genevieve McGillicuddy, Director, TCM Classic Film Festival; Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President Programming and Production; Turner Classic Movies; Jennifer Dorian, General Manger, Turner Classic Movies; Mel Brooks; Pola Changnon, Senior Vice President, Creative, Brand and Marketing, Turner Classic Movies

Left to right: Ben Mankiewicz. Host, Turner Classic Movies; Jennifer Dorian, General Manger, Turner Classic Movies; Peter Bogdanovich; Pola Changnon, Senior Vice President, Creative, Brand and Marketing, Turner Classic Movies; Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President Programming and Production; Turner Classic Movies; Genevieve McGillicuddy, Director, TCM Classic Film Festival;

TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL: HAND & FOOTPRINT CEREMONY

Friday, April 7th

TCM honored legendary father and son film icons Carl Reiner and Rob Reiner during a hand and footprint ceremony at the world famous TCL Chinese Theater IMAX® in Hollywood during the eighth annual TCM Classic Film Festival on Friday, April 7. Special guests and friends of the Reiner’s including comedian Billy Crystal, TV host Tom Bergeron and legendary writer and producer Normal Lear celebrated the storied careers of the father and son duo who have collectively worked in the industry for over a century and amassed countless accolades along the way. This marks the first occasion that a father and son have jointly been honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater IMAX®.

TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL 2017: OPENING NIGHT

Thursday, April 6th

TCM kicks off opening night of the 8th annual TCM Classic Film Festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of In The Night of the Night. TCM executives joined Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier, as well as producer Walter Mirisch, director Norman Jewison, actress Lee Grant and award-winning composer Quincy Jones who were on hand to discuss the film which is considered to be a landmark of its time.

Pictured Left to Right Image 1:
First Row: Walter Mirisch, Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones
Second Row: Ben Mankiewicz, Host, Turner Classic Movies; Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, Turner Classic Movies; Norman Jewison, Lee Grant
Third Row: Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, Turner Classic Movies; Genevieve McGillicuddy, Director TCM Classic Film Festival; Coleman Breland, President Turner Classic Movies and Turner Content Distribution

Pictured Left to Right Image 2:
First Row: Walter Mirisch, Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones
Second Row: Norman Jewison, Lee Grant

Pictured Left to Right Image 3:
Coleman Breland, President Turner Classic Movies and Turner Content Distribution, Pola Changnon, Senior Vice President, Creative, Brand and Marketing, Turner Classic Movies; Genevieve McGillicuddy, Director TCM Classic Film Festival; Walter Mirisch; Ben Mankiewicz, Host, Turner Classic Movies; Lee Grant; Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production; Turner Classic Movies, Charlie Tabesh, Senior Vice President Programming and Production; Turner Classic Movies

2017 FILMS

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 1971_11.jpg

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)

SIDNEY POITIER | ROD STEIGER | LEE GRANT

Courtesy of Everett Collection

24th ANNUAL LOS ANGELES WOMEN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL

By

Judy Shields

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March 16, 2017

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HONORS COMPOSER MEGAN CAVALLARI ON MARCH 23^rd

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 3/16/17 – “I got an email that I had won an award and I was so excited about it. I was not even aware that I was even nominated, it’s all very exciting and next Thursday, there will be a ceremony. I am so excited to be getting back into theatre,” Megan Cavallari told The Hollywood Times yesterday.

The 24th Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival will honor composer Megan Cavallari with the Integrity Award on Wednesday, March 23rd at 7 pm at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.

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KCETLink Media Group to Premiere One-Hour Documentary Special “Tending The Wild” – February 7th

By

Judy Shields

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January 31, 2017

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By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/31/17 -“We are thrilled to partner with KCETLink on this initiative to amplify voices and perspectives from within California’s Native communities,” said W. Richard West, Jr., the Autry’s President and CEO.

“It is wonderful to be here tonight at the Autry Museum of the America West along with the Los Angeles Magazine to present this exciting original documentary TENDING THE WILD. We thank both of the teams for your tremendous partnership in helping to host this evenings event. Michael Riley, President and CEO of KCETLink Media Group told the audience that gathered last week at the Wells Fargo Theatre at the Autry Museum of the America West.

Michael Riley said that the one-hour documentary would run throughout the month of February, so we will all have time to see it. This is a great film to share with your children, to get them interested in the Native culture and their struggle to live in these changing times.

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Getting off on Frank Sinatra –

Book Reviews

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Judy Shields

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January 31, 2017

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New Novel by Megan Edwards

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, (The Hollywood Times) 1/31/17 – “This is my first to be published novel, I have actually written several other books.” I finally got one published!” Megan Edwards, author of “Getting off on Frank Sinatra” told The Hollywood Times this afternoon over the phone calling in from Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Getting off on Frank Sinatra” is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel and will be available wherever books are sold on March 14, 2017 as paperback, e-book and audiobook.

I received the book from Megan’s publicist and once I started reading it, I could not put it down, it was certainly a page turner. The story of Copper Black, new to Las Vegas and living with her brother and his wife, and still learning her way around a city with streets named after its famous people. Copper is pursuing a career as a serious journalist, she takes a job editing the calendar section for Las Vegas Light.

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“What is Cinema?” – Chuck Workman’s Documentary to debut on Cohen Film Classics

By

Judy Shields

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January 23, 2017

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Chuck Workman’s Documentary to debut on Cohen Film Classics

Friday, January 27 10pm KCET

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/23/17 – “I was very happy when they called me about having my documentary film be part of the Cohen Film Classics. I really like the movie that I had done with Charles before I had made a larger film about Orson Welles, called “Magician” which played in theatres and film festivals.” Filmmaker Chuck Workman told The Hollywood Times during a telephone conversation last week.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chuck Workman’s documentary “What Is Cinema?” tackles the question of its title through over 100 clips and new interviews with Mike Leigh, Jonas Mekas, Yvonne Rainer, David Lynch, video artist Bill Viola, Robert Altman, Kelly Reichardt, Costa-Gavras, Ken Jacobs, Michael Moore, critic J. Hoberman, and others, and with archival interviews from Robert Bresson, Alfred Hitchcock, Chantal Akerman, Akira Kurosawa, Abbas Kiarostami, and more.

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Laguna Playhouse Presents “CHAPATTI” – January 11-29

Theatre reviews

By

Judy Shields

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January 18, 2017

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chapatti-photo-by-aaron-rumley By: Judy Shields

Laguna, California (The Hollywood Times) 1/18-17 – “A need for championship, a slice of life for all, I just fell in love with this play and I know you all will too.” Ann E. Wareham, Artistic Director told the full house before the play.

Laguna Playhouse presents the Third Show in their 2016-2017 Season! CHAPATTI, written by Christian O’Reilly, Directed by David Ellenstein, based on the Direction of Judith Ivey

Limited Engagement Opened Sunday, January 15^th at Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach

What do you get when you mix an Irish tale with 19 cats, one dog named after a pancake, and two eccentric animal lovers? Annabella Price and Mark Bramhall star in this humorous and heartwarming tale about two animal lovers in Dublin, and their unexpected spark as they re-discover the importance of human companionship. This second-chance comedy celebrates these unforgettable characters who still believe in love.

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2017 ASIAN AMERICAN EXPO USHERS IN YEAR OF THE ROOSTER – Fairplex

Latest News -TheHollywoodTimes

By

Judy Shields

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January 17, 2017

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By: Judy Shields

Pomona, California (The Hollywood Times) 1/16/17 – “As the largest Lunar New Year celebration in America, since 1982, the Asian American Expo was organized as a local community event founded to share a cultural heritage and to promote a better understanding among people of different backgrounds through a celebration of the Lunar New Year. We are celebrating its 36^th year,” said Shaun He, Business Development Coordinator with C.O.M.S Corporation.
The Hollywood Times was in attendance with thousands of attendees for the 2017 Asian American Expo. The Expo also proudly included three new components to the event, Asian American Expo, SILK Show and Anime Impluse.

The Asian American Expo was back again at Fairplex for the 2017 Lunar New Year this past weekend with new and diverse lineup of exhibits, sponsors, shows and activities. As the largest Lunar New Year celebration in America, the 2017 Asian American Expo, celebrated its 36th year.

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Special Valentine’s Concert at Sierra Madre Playhouse

By

Judy Shields

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January 12, 2017

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By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, CA (The Holly wood Times) 1/12/17 –

February 12^th With The Vignes Rooftop Revival

Can you believe it is almost time for Valentine’s Day? Well, it is just around the corner and here is a great pre-Valentine’s Day concert to take that special loved one in your life.

The Hollywood Times has covered several plays and intimate concerts at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, and they all have been great. The last event was with NBC weatherman Fritz Coleman, and that one was really a great one-man comedy show.

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