Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Some Of My Favorite Pictures From The Archives.... Part 3..... Hope U Are Having A Great Day (:

Interviewing Shirley MacLaine was fun (:

I loved taking this picture of magician Jim Bentley being tied up for a Harry Houdini escape act  trick by by JoAnn Worley, Romi Dames and Tippi Hedren at The Magic Castle's Magical Birthday Celebration.                                                                 
Harrison Ford is such a cool guy.
 Hanging out and covering  the Magic Castle Birthday Celebration for http://www.lastheplace.com/ rocked. Great camaraderie.  Photo: Bill Dow
The Cole Porter Star Ceremony was great. Photos are being published twice because for some reason  the computer won't let me erase them - Oh well... 
Meeting Jane Fonda was very cool (:
Legendary Actress Ann Rutherford of "Gone With The Wind" with Harrison Held following an on camera interview for The Backlot Film Festival....  Photo by Joe Faulkner (:

Filmmaker Henry Jaglom with actress Vida Ghaffari

Self Portrait: Harrison Held
"Life is a journey, get on the right track"
Paris Hilton and Atlanta's Talkin' With Tammi at Bravo's A-List Awards (:

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

"The Five Senses" At The Mark For Events... (:


Reinvention Specialist/Matchmaker Renee Piane, http://www.reneepiane.com/,  performer Lynn Rose, Mixocologist Nikolas Potocic, public relations expert Lisa Schneiderman and Kelly Breaux http://www.hooppitopworldwide.com/

Last nite, The Five Senses at The Mark for Events  (9320 W. Pico Boulevard -http://www.themarkforevents.com/) celebrated Biz Bash Nominees and Winners for 2010. Well attended by Event Industry leaders, the party featured terrific Molecular Cocktails by Nickolas Potocic and Grey Goose Vodka, a beautiful exhibit of World Portraits by Stephen Bennett, the dream-pop sounds of the Hear&Now Band, awesome Belly Dance by Josie Dance, a cool aroma therapy station and delicious cuisine by master culinary Chef Thomas Rivera.  Great Angus Sliders, Gruyere Gorges and shortrib stuffed mushrooms with Port Wine Glazewere  were the standouts for me...  "Goodbye diet"...for the nite(:  For more info about The Mark please contact Victoria Graham at vgraham1@me.com or Renee@ReneePiane.com  . Great Event.....   HH(:
Josie Dance
     www.youtube.com/josiebellydance
Charlie Charles of the band Hear&Now www.myspace.com/hearandnowband  and band manager/filmmaker Rodney Charles http://www.rodneycharles.com/
Nickolas Potocic http://www.oneevents.biz/

Monday, June 27, 2011

Hamilton-Selway Fine Art Presents HSUS Reception with Wayne Pacelle Sunday, June 26th....

Wayne Pacelle author of the "The Bond"  and president of the The Humane Society of the United States (center) is joined by Filippo Marchino and Jenella Anderlie (left)  and Phil Selway of Hamilton-Selway Fine Art with producer director Mira Tweti (far right).
Nicki from Book Soup (:
Above, some of the art at the Gallery
During his tenure as CEO of The HSUS, Wayne Pacelle has successfully led more than 25 statewide ballot initiatives-including measures to outlaw cockfighting, factory farming abuses, bear baiting, and a range of other inhumane practises.  He and The HSUS (ww.humanesociety.org) have worked to pass 1,000 laws and more than 25 federal statutes to protect animals in the last decade.  In his book "The Bond" he seeks to disentangle the contradictory attitudes in our relationships with animals and to shows us a better way forward.  Wayne Pacelle has become America's foremost voice for those who cannot speak in their own defense, and has helped to bring animal protection from the margins to the mainstream.   

Monday, June 20, 2011

Theatre West Presents A Great Performance In Memory of A Great Star: Betty Garrett (:

Barbara Minkus and Daniel Keough
Andrew Parks, guest Miles Kruger and Devra Korwin

Madison Clair Parks and Grandmother Betty Garrett
Madison Clair Parks and Brian O'Halloran

Madison Clair Parks and guest Connie Sawyer ("Pineapple Express")
Daniel Keough, Robert W. Laur, Madison Clair Parks, Brian O'Halloran, Barbara Mallory
Theatre West held their first Concert Reading Benefit for the Betty Garrett Musical Comedy Workshop last nite and it was a hit.  In her memory they presented Miss Garrett's first Broadway musical she co-starred in with Ethel Merman, Cole Porter's "Something For The Boys" with Book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields.  The talent on the stage was amazing with great direction and musical direction  by Brian O'Halloran.  Kudos to all involved... In order of appearance Devra Korwin, Andre Landzaat, Andrew Parks - Miss Garrett's proud son, Barbara Minkus, Daniel Keough, Elliot Schwartz, Madison Clair Parks - Miss Garret's lovely granddaughter, Emily Bridges, Caitlin Gallogly, Laura Wolf, Anthony Gruppuso, Beau Bridges, Robert W. Laur, Lee Meriwether, David P. Johnson and Barbara Mallory. 
I'm glad I was at this very entertaining and very memorable presentation about three long lost cousins who inherit property in Texas and decide to make it into lodging for service men....  "Something For The Boys".  The love, respect and admiration from the audience, the cast and production staff for Betty resonated clearly.  Very memorable is that her granddaughter Madison Clair Parks beautifully sang the song which Betty performed in the 1943 Broadway show that Cole Porter wrote especially for her.  Some 68 years later Betty's long time friend actress Connie Sawyer (a feisty 97 and still working!) reminisced warmly seeing Betty perform the song on Broadway and how proud she was to see her granddaughter reprising the same. What A Great Nite!  Also of note, yesterday was Father's Day and director and musical director Brian O'Halloran proudly wore his Father's coat from the Navy for the show.  It fit him well and was very fitting for this very special performance of "Something For The Boys".  Have A Great Week.....   HH(:

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown... Susan Lurie, Bill Lithgow, Kathleen Hughes, Stanley Rubin, Marilyn Fox, Penny Safranek, Joe McGovern, Lesley Fera... HH(:

Susan Lurie, Stellar Cast Member Bill Lithgow, Kathleen Hughes, Stanley Rubin and Artistic Director Marilyn Fox
Stellar Cast Members Penny Safranek and Joe McGovern
Stellar Cast Members Kevin Railsback and Lesley Fera pose with Marilyn Fox (center)
Last nite I attended opening night of  the Pacific Resident Theatre's "Barrie: Back to Back" consisting of 2 little seen plays by playwright J.M. Barrie, most famous for "Peter Pan".  Cast member Bill Lithgow is a good friend of my friends Kathleen Hughes and Stanley Rubin who appear on my TV Show about Marilyn Monroe.  Stanley produced "River of No Return" and Kathleen was a glamorous MM contemporary back in the 1950's and still is very glamorous (so for that manner is eloquent Stanley).  I've heard for years what a great actor Bill aka William Lithgow is and after seeing him on the boards in the 2nd production of the nite, "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals", I can say he certainly lives up to his reputation, he's such a fine actor!  I greatly enjoyed both of the evening's productions, great storytelling, great acting and great production values. The first play, "Rosalind" was directed by Dana Dewes featuring Lesley Fera, Sarah Zinnser and newcomer Kevin Railsback and was followed after intermission by the aforementioned "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" with Penny Safranek,  Roses Prichard, Sara Zinsser, Jennifer Lonsway, Bill Lithgow and Joe McGovern and was directed by Marilyn Fox and Dana Dewes.  Pacific Resident Theater lives up to it's reputation of producing excellent theater.  On another completely different note I thought it was ironic that the artistic director is Marilyn Fox and that Stanley Rubin produced Marilyn's film "River of No Return" at Fox where she was their greatest star.  Author J.M. Barrie was a benevolent and caring figure towards children and willed that any royalties from "Peter Pan" to be awarded in perpetuity to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children in London.  Actress Marilyn Monroe was also a benevolent and caring figure towards children and willed a substantial fortune to a children's medical facility as well.  I guess caring and talented minds think alike.....  J.M. Barrie was born May 9, 1860 and died 74 years ago today, June 19, 1937.  Through the gift of his talent and imagination children of all ages, myself included, continue to enjoy his work. Hope my Legacy will be as cool....    HH(:

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Theatre West Fundraiser Sunday 6/19th Honoring Musical Theater Star Betty Garrett... (:

Tomorrow is Father's Day and if your Dad is a fan of the late Betty Garrett check out the concert reading of Porter's musical "Something for the Boys" at Theatre West on Cahuenga.  The event is a fundraiser for the Betty Garrett Musical Comedy Workshop and will feature Lee Merriweather, Beau Bridges, Emily Bridges, plus the beloved star's son Andrew Parks and her grandddaughter Madison Claire Parks.  Madison will sing "I'm In Love With A Soldier Boy"  which was Betty Garrett's star turn on Broadway when it premiered in 1943.  Sounds like a great family event to me and a great cause to support.  For more info visit  http://www.theatrewest.org/ or call 323-851-7977.

Betty Garrett...  photo by Toby Carnhan/Getty Images


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Thursday, June 16th... Ensele Art in Calabasas Presents...

Artist SELENE Kepila and Barbara Hollander, Art Director
"Colorist" Barbara Woolston
Artist Victoria Levine
SELENE poses with one of her paintings
Beautiful Masks by Barbara Woolston
Guest Diana Herbert and artist Christy Botkin-Reeves pose in front of her painting about Adelle Buffington

Alex Chavira and Louie Martinez join SELENE
Guests join Victoria Levine and Eric Pacheco
Actor Michael Darren checks his texts while friends chat at the Gallery(:
Another Great Event....  HH(:
23480 Park Sorrento, #217A
Calabasas, California
516-376-8109