Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on October 2, 2025

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road–in person or virtually–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 presentations that showcase ind   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on October 1, 2025

While the name Nick Long may be obscure to many, Long’s talent as a dancer is well worth celebrating. In fact, Long was seen as a potential rival to Fred Astaire, though he never connected with audiences in the same way as Astaire. Nick Long, Jr. was born on August...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 22, 2025

The Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) returns with its 2025 lineup this Fall! From October 9th-19th, 2025, film fans can enjoy an assortment of in-person screenings in the Indianapolis area as well as streaming opportunities for this ye   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 22, 2025

Walter Foster Publishing has released two new coloring books, dubbed “Unoffical Coloring Adventures,” catering to fans of two very different genres: horror films and romantic comedies. The two coloring books are titled   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 22, 2025

The 61st Chicago International Film Festival returns this Fall from October 15th-26th, 2025! Below are my picks for this year’s festival. FrankensteinFri., Oct. 17, 2025, 6pm | Music Box TheatreMon., Oct. 20, 2025, 1:3   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 1, 2025

Miss Crabtree: Now, tell me. Why don’t you want to go to school?Jackie: Aw, we’re gonna have a new teacher today and I know she’s an old battle axe and I ain’t gonna like her.Miss Crabtree: What makes you think so?   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 30, 2025

Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli continues to captivate audiences with his wonderful live performances. His career boasts over twenty solo albums in addition to appearances on well over forty albums by other recording artists. The son of legendary swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John st   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 28, 2025

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road–in person or virtually–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 presentations that showcase ind   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 27, 2025

Clarence: Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he? –Henry Travers as Clarence Oddbody in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 2, 2025

While by no means the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1980s offered their own fair share of contemporary classics that are being celebrated today as we move farther away from the years of their release. John Malahy’s   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 2, 2025

Cesar Romero was an American actor who proved versatile through his performances as a Latin lover and, most famously, as the Joker on the 1960s Batman television series. He performed in films, on the radio, and on television for roughly 60 years. Samual Garza Bernstein’s   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 1, 2025

“Hollywood! It’s like an old chair–if it’s useful, keep it; if not, give it to Goodwill.” –Sylvia Sidney Sylvia Sidney was born Sophia Kosow in the Bronx, New York, to Rebecca and Victor Kosow on August 8, 1910. Her parents divorced in 1915 and she was later adopt   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 30, 2025

Forest Lawn Memorial Park–Cathedral City is located in Cathedral City, California, and operated as Palm Springs Mortuary and Mausoleum until 2005. Unlike its counterparts under the Forest Lawn name, the majority of this location’s space is dedicated to multiple levels of mausoleum and ni   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 30, 2025

Desert Memorial Park is a cemetery in Cathedral City, California, United States, near Palm Springs. It opened in 1956 and is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District. The same district also maintains the W   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 30, 2025

Sunset Hills Memorial Park is located in Apple Valley, California, tucked away in the Sycamore Rocks. Its most famous residents were a beloved on-screen and real-life couple: “King of the Cowboys” Roy Rogers and “Queen of the West” Dale Evans. After Roy’s passing, Dale   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 30, 2025

The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery is a cemetery in the Coachella Valley of Southern California and is located in Unincorporated Riverside County. This cemetery has some notable individuals at rest here, in addition to individuals with ties to the entertainment industry. Frank Capra   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 29, 2025

Palm Springs, CA, pioneer Dr. Welwood Murray, one of the desert’s most prominent landowners, established the two-acre Welwood Murray cemetery in 1917. Many notable civic and community leaders and famous desert pioneers are buried here, including the likes of Earl C. Coffman, Nellie Coffman, Fr   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 28, 2025

Joan Crawford was an iconic star of Hollywood’s Golden Age with talents that allowed her to cross genres. A chameleon in her own right and fashion icon, much has been written about Crawford throughout various points in her life and career. Scott Eyman’s   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 27, 2025

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road–in person or virtually–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 presentations that showcase ind   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 1, 2025

Helen Chandler was born on February 1, 1909, in New York, New York, to Leland and Frances Chandler. Across different census records and documents, her year of birth, however, has been widely disputed, documented as 1906, 1909, and 1911. Her father worked as a salesman and club manager and her...   read more