Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on February 8, 2022

It’s Oscar season already! There have been a number of memorable films and performances as the film industry eases into a world that has been changed massively due to the pandemic. Whether it’s through streaming a movie from the comfort of home or enjoying some time in the movie theater,   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on February 4, 2022

Though we lost dear Betty White shortly before what would have been her 100th birthday, centennial celebrations throughout the United States carried on in her memory. A talented actress and devoted activist, there was much to honor relating to her life and what she held dear. I was lucky to...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on February 2, 2022

Note: Spoilers! Avoid this review if you haven’t seen the film, just to be on the safe side. Over the years, there have been quite a few portrayals of Lucille Ball–and unsurprisingly so. She and her husband, Desi Arnaz, made a massive impact on comedy and the sitcom style of...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on February 1, 2022

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road–in person or virtually–in order to offer fun and engaging presentations about Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her presentations range from focusing on various subjects related to Golden Age Hollywood, in addition to pres   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on February 1, 2022

“My mother always used to say, ‘The older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.’” –Betty White Betty White was an American actress and comedian who has worked across many different mediums and is a beloved icon today. He career has spanned over nine decades within th   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 29, 2022

The life and career of Buster Keaton is the stuff of legend. Known as the “Great Stone Face,” Keaton made a massive impact upon comedy and early film. From a start in vaudeville to a promising career in motion pictures, Keaton’s life had its many ups and downs. Nonetheless, his...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 24, 2022

The Hollywood Blacklist affected many different entertainers working in various facets of the industry. In Rare Birds: An American Family, Dan Bessie shares his family history and how it was affected by the blacklist. Bessie’s family included numerous creative minds over the course of 150 year   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 23, 2022

Orson Welles is nothing short of an icon from Hollywood’s Golden Age. An innovator and highly regarded director and actor, Welles left a huge impression upon film and radio. While much has been written about Welles’s storied career, What Ever Happened to Orson Welles?: A Portrait of an   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 22, 2022

The growth of the film industry no doubt also opened the door to many new job opportunities. In the case of B.S. Moss, Moss followed his calling to build a large and prestigious theater chain in New York. To this day, Moss Management continues to keep his theater chain alive,...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 18, 2022

In September 2021, I was delighted to join the West Coast Classic Film Bloggers Zoom Association (WCCFBZA) for an exciting trip to the Joel and Frances McCrea Ranch Foundation. I had not visited my favorite state on the map since 2019, so I was more than ready to soak up...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 16, 2022

The Golden Age of Hollywood sings in Carla Valderrama’s This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars & Stories. This small tome is jam-packed with information about some of Hollywood’s most intriguing film legends who have since faded into obscurity. Valderrama delves into interviews and arch   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 13, 2022

In light of the passing of Sidney Poitier, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will be honoring him on February 19th and 20th with a special tribute featuring a lineup of his films. February 20th would have been his 97th birthday. The weekend lineup of his films is as follows: TCM Remembers...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 13, 2022

Ladies of Laughter: Great ComediennesTues., Jan. 25, 2022, 8-9pm ESTHometowns to Hollywood EventbriteOnline Program via ZoomIn the early days of comedy and beyond, many top-notch classic comediennes have made audiences laugh. Join Film Historian Dr. Annette Bochenek as she presents about the funny w   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 9, 2022

Iconic Rat Pack crooner and “King of Cool,” Dean Martin‘s life, career, and legacy are documented beautifully in King of Cool (2021). From his Italian-American roots and early years in Ohio, to an arduous though enthralling launch into show business, Martin realized success as a si   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 9, 2022

As we begin the new year, I wanted to take a moment and acknowledge ten classic film-related “things” that have brought me joy this year. These items were not all necessarily released or created in 2021, but have happened to inform and delight me throughout the year. Here they are,...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 7, 2022

Actress Sylvia Sidney is best remembered for her roles in Pre Code films, such as Merrily We Go to Hell (1932), among many others. While her films are quite enjoyable, so too is her recipe for cherry pudding! With this particular recipe, I expected to yield a creamy, spoonable pudding;...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 5, 2022

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 guidelines, some of the institutions hosting Hometowns to Hollywood events have moved from in-person to virtual. I am reposting this listing of programs to reflect the most up-to-date information for January programs. Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood o   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 3, 2022

George Cukor was a prolific studio director, famously winning the Academy Award for Best Director for My Fair Lady (1964). Prior to its release, Cukor had already been well established as a director of Hollywood’s early sound era, collaborating with the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Rosalind Rus   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 2, 2022

William “Wild Bill” Wellman was an accomplished director from Hollywood’s Golden Age. His credits include Wings (1927), which won the first Academy Award for Best Picture; Public Enemy (1931); A Star is Born (1937); The Call of the Wild (1935), Beau Geste (1939); The Ox-Bow Inciden   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 2, 2022

From its humble beginnings as CBC Film Sales Company, on through the reign of Harry Cohn and corporate Hollywood, Columbia Pictures has an interesting history that is worth studying. Author Bernard F. Dick grows his bibliography of studio histories with his installment of Columbia Pictures: Portrait   read more