Leisure
Appreciating African American Music This Month
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- Written by James Patterson James Patterson
In April, singer Nat King Cole’s 1961 version of “The Christmas Song” was added to the Library of Congress’s 2022 National Recording Registry. Cole (1919-1965) had one of the smoothest voices of all singers.
The Reel Deal: Downton Abbey: A New Era
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
Eleven months ago, American film production and distribution company Focus Features trumpeted news of the forthcoming movie Downton Abbey – A New Era. It was set to be released at Christmastime but, as with many films, the ongoing pandemic played havoc with schedules.
Tinseltown Talks: Claudia Wells Went ‘Back to the Future’
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- Written by Nick Thomas Nick Thomas
When the Los Angeles Hollywood Museum reopened last August, having closed its doors to the public during much of the pandemic, Claudia Wells was one of many guests invited to celebrate the event that included a Back to the Future exhibit.
It Was 50 Years Ago Today: ‘A Horse with No Name’
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
We’ve all been through this before. You hear a new tune on the radio, and it grabs you by the collar, demanding your attention. Soon it’s burrowing deeply inside your brain, to reside there forever. It’s a song you never forget.
The Reel Deal: Tyson’s Run
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
Good, old-fashioned “feel-good” movies seem to never go out of style, and audiences to this day still want to cheer for the little guy and watch sympathetic people overcome the odds. Tyson’s Run provides such a story.
Sixties Flashback: Where No Show Had Gone Before
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
When Star Trek premiered on NBC-TV in September 1966, creator Gene Roddenberry was no doubt knocked for a loop when his much-anticipated show tanked. It never rose above 52 in the ratings, and that was only during the first season of its three-year run.
Sixties Flashback: And the Winning Bid is …
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
On Jan. 13, 2013, Lot 5037 rolled smoothly onto center stage at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The sleek, low-slung vehicle, owned by California auto customizer George Barris, glistened like a black diamond under the lights.
It Was 50 Years Ago Today: ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
The first time the world heard of Brooklyn-born Robert John was in 1958, when he was 12 years old. Back then, the singing youngster was going by his real name: Bobby Pedrick Jr.
The Reel Deal: The 355
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
A new action thriller with the intriguing title of The 355 opens this month. The inspiration for the film’s title goes back to the Revolutionary War era, when 355 was the code number assigned to the first female spy — a woman unnamed (and obviously unappreciated) by historians to this day.