Baby Boomer IQ Test:How can you be sure if someone is a Baby Boomer?
They must know at least seven dubious monikers that Endora,(on the television series Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery) bestowed upon Darrin right before she turned him into a frog, or put a spell on him that made him tell the absolute truth. Get Ready...YaggazzoozieYaggazzoozieYaggazzooziezam...1..2...3...Derwood, David, Delbert, Donald, Dustbin, Darwin, and my all-time fave--Dobbin! Tinkletinkletink!
You can also spot a traveling Baby Boomer because we often read a hard copy of something called a "folding map," the precursor of the British lady that talks to you when you are lost and driving around in your car. We BB's were given secrets to the sacred directions of North, South, East, and West at birth, or shortly thereafter when we were able to read at the ages of 3 and 4.
So why did I develop a fondness for classic film? I was a very shy child, and my mother enrolled me in a progressive kindergarten to teach me to socialize (i.e., "Quit being so quiet!") where I was put on a television show in Houston called Romper Room. There I became the biggest canned ham in red cowgirl boots, and was often enlisted to help with the commercials. I was a good "Do-Bee." I also met Dan Rather there before his Hurricane Carla broadcast from the Flagship hotel sent him packing to bigger and better broadcast television opportunities. He was nice. He smiled at us.
My mother then made a huge fuss about this, and baked a chocolate pie.
So it had to be cool, right?
When my Dad often had to work shift work late at night, sometimes I was allowed to stay up late and watch t.v. with my Mom. The first film I can remember seeing on television with her was Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison with Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr. I felt so icky when I had to think about what I would do if I only had raw fish to eat in a cave. EEyuck. But those people were pretty neat.
But my Mom saw how upset I was and baked a coconut pie.
So it had to be cool, right?
So I had to come to the TCM Fan Fest. I flew to CA last week, and I have been in the high desert for a few days visiting friends and enjoying nonstop sunshine and no refinery pollution.
While planning my wardrobe , checking and rechecking travel details,and squirreling away Diet Cokes and healthy snacks to keep me at a peak energy level for all the fun, I thought I might chronicle my experiences, especially if I go to Grauman's and steal John Wayne's footprints.
Do I wear my Vera Wang Dangly Earrings with my Chinese silk dress with the Mandarin collar to the Red Carpet Festivities or should I wear the pink pearl studs? Shall I don my new cowgirl boots and Wranglers for the screening of The Big Trail? Will I need my water wings and flip-flops at the Neptune's Daughter poolside bash with Esther Williams and Betty Garrett? Deep down, like Ava Gardner once said, I guess I'm pretty shallow.
I have definitely made a big fashion decision. I will carry a pink balloon so that everyone from here recognizes me from my avatar.
It's exciting. I will actually be able to view classic films in theaters where they were meant to be shown. No letterbox. No scrunched down credits at the end of a film where an ad for Viagra or a reminder to watch reruns of The Ghost Whisperer make it impossible to see who played the second lead.
According the the TCM website and schedule of events for the festival, which begins on Thursday, April 22, and runs through the evening pf April 25, Anjelica and Danny Huston will discuss the Huston dynasty as they introduce The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, John Huston's classic film starring Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, and Walter Huston. Popular TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz will be on hand for the festivities, as well as The Essentials co-host, that laid back "wizard of cool," Alec Baldwin.
Tony Curtis will have some of his art for sale, as well as a book signing, and a couple of introductions to do. Remember him? Bernie Schwartz? "Come wit me to the castle of my fadduh?" Some Like It Hot will be one of the films he will introduce, and it is one of my favorites. He will also introduce Sweet Smell of Success.
Jerry Lewis was scheduled to attend and introduce The King of Comedy but he has canceled his appearance completely due to personal (health?) issues.
Luise Rainer, who is 100 years old, will attend a screening of Pearl Buck's masterpiece, The Good Earth. Rainer has won two oscars, one for The Good Earth, and another for The Great Ziegfeld. Rainer played Anna Held in The Great Ziegfeld and displayed her talents for singing, acting, and dancing in that film. A triple threat, just like Ginger Rogers. She was wonderful in both films.
What am I doing right this very minute? Being verrrrrry nervous. I can't wait to see some of my favorite classic films in a movie theater. Also, I especially want to attend a screening of Imitation of Life because Juanita Moore, a fantastic actress who began her film career in 1949 and has had a career spanning more than fifty years, will be at the festival, as well as Susan Kohner, who also had spectacular celluloid moments until she decided to relinquish her career so that she might be more devoted to her family. Both played moving roles in Imitation of Life, with Lana Turner.
Whom do I hope to meet? Robert Osborne, the host of Turner Classic Movies, and the main reason it's called "Classic" because he truly is. Good taste, informed comments, and the scuttlebutt is that is really is a nice guy!
More later!
Sincerely,
Christy
Christy's TCM Travel Blog
Some information from the festival website:
Special guests of the Festival
* Actor Jean-Paul Belmondo
* Editor and author Peter Biskind
* Film director and historian Peter Bogdanovich
* Film historian and author Donald Bogle
* Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine
* Actor, producer, director and writer Mel Brooks
* Producer and director Frank Capra III
* Noted filmmaker John Carpenter
* Author Cheryl Crane
* Actor Tony Curtis
* Producer and Director Stanley Donen
* Emmy-nominated actress Illeana Douglas
* Photographer, writer and editor Curtis Hanson
* Screenwriter and actor Buck Henry
* Actor, writer, director and producer Darryl Hickman
* Award-winning actress and director Anjelica Huston
* Award-winning actor Danny Huston
* Writer and editor David Kamp
* Editor and writer Sam Kashner
* Actor Martin Landau
* Actor, director and producer, Jerry Lewis
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regretfully announce Jerry Lewis has cancelled his appearance.
* Actor, producer and director Norman Lloyd
* Film historian and author Leonard Maltin
* Actress Nancy Olson
* Actress Luise Rainer
* Director, producer and writer Richard Rush
* Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint
* Academy-Award winning visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull
* Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight
* Actor Eli Wallach
