Tuesday, January 21, 2025

On this day in movie history - Niagara (1953):


Niagara

directed by Henry Hathaway,
written by Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch and Richard L. Breen,
was released in the United States on January 21, 1953.
Music by Sol Kaplan.

Cast:

Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotton, Jean Peters, Max Showalter, Denis O'Dea, Richard Allan, Don Wilson, Lurene Tuttle, Russell Collins, Will Wright, John 'Scotty' Watson, Leon Alton, Henry Beckman, John Brascia, Harry Carey Jr., Bill Coontz, Roy Damron, Robert Ellis, Howard Engel, Neil Fitzgerald, Gloria Gordon, Patricia Henderson, Winifield Hoeny, George Ives, Arch Johnson, Lester Matthews, Sean McClory, Norman McKay, Audre Monture, Patrick O'Moore, Tom Reynolds, Willard Sage, Bert Stevens, Minerva Urecal, Nina Varela, Gene Wesson.

Born on this day – Ann Wedgeworth:


Ann Wedgeworth


Actress

January 21, 1934 – November 16, 2017

Credits:

The Hawk Is Dying (2006); The Hunter's Moon (1999); The Whole Wide World (1996); Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story (1995); A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994); Love and a .45 (1994); Evening Shade (1990–1994); Harlan & Merleen (1993); Cooperstown (1993); Hard Promises (1991); Green Card (1990); Roseanne (1989); Steel Magnolias (1989); Miss Firecracker (1989); Far North (1988); The Equalizer (1987); Made in Heaven (1987); A Tiger's Tale (1987); A Stranger Waits (1987); The Twilight Zone (1986); The Men's Club (1986); Sylvan in Paradise (1986); Sweet Dreams (1985); My Science Project (1985); Right to Kill? (1985); No Small Affair (1984); Filthy Rich (1982–1983); Trapper John, M.D. (1982); Killjoy (1981); Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981); Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981); When the Whistle Blows (1980); Bogie (1980); Three's Company (1979); The War Between the Tates (1977); Citizens Band (1977); Thieves (1977); Birch Interval (1976); Dragonfly (1976); Bronk (1975); Law and Disorder (1974); The Catamount Killing (1974); Bang the Drum Slowly (1973); Scarecrow (1973); Madigan (1972); Another World (1968–1970); Somerset (1970); One Life to Live (1968); Hawk (1966); Andy (1965); The Defenders (1964); Startime (1959); Kraft Theatre (1957); The Edge of Night (1956).

Born on this day – Denis Sanders:


Denis Sanders


Director

Producer

Writer

January 21, 1929 – December 10, 1987

Credits:

A Film on Hitchhiking (1974); A Time Out of War (1954); Assignment: Underwater (1961); Computers Are People, Too! (1982); Computers: The Friendly Invasion (1982); Crime & Punishment, USA (1959); Czechoslovakia 1918-1968 (1969); Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970); Ford Star Jubilee (1956); Have Gun - Will Travel (1959); Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973); Mannix (1968); Naked City (1962); One Man's Way (1964); Ripcord (1962); Route 66 (1964); Shock Treatment (1964); Soul to Soul (1971); Subject: Narcotics (1951); The American West of John Ford (1971); The Defenders (1962); The Great Adventure (1964); The Naked and the Dead (1958); Trial: the City and County of Denver vs. Lauren R. Watson (1970); War Hunt (1962); What's the Big Hurry? (1974).

Born on this day – Telly Savalas:


Telly Savalas


Actor

Singer

January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994


Credits:

Backfire! (1995); Mind Twister (1993); The Commish (1991); Ein Schloß am Wörthersee (1990); Rose Against the Odds (1991); Kojak: None So Blind (1990); Kojak: It's Always Something (1990); Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990); Kojak: Fatal Flaw (1989); Kojak: Ariana (1989); The Hollywood Detective (1989); Faceless (1988); The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (1988); J.J. Starbuck (1987); The Equalizer (1987); The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission (1987); Kojak: The Price of Justice (1987); GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986); Solomon's Universe (1985); Alice in Wonderland (1985); George Burns Comedy Week (1985); Beyond Reason (1985); Kojak: The Belarus File (1985); The Love Boat (1977); The Cartier Affair (1984); Cannonball Run II (1984); Afghanistan pourquoi? (1983); Fake-Out (1982); American Playhouse (1982); Tales of the Unexpected (1979); Hellinger's Law (1981); Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980); Border Cop (1980); The French Atlantic Affair (1979); Alice (1979); The Muppet Movie (1979); Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979); Escape to Athena (1979); Windows, Doors & Keyholes (1978); Kojak (1973–1978); Capricorn One (1977); Killer Force (1976); Inside Out (1975); Lisa and the Devil (1973); She Cried Murder (1973); The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973); Redneck (1973); Pancho Villa (1972); A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972); Visions... (1972); The Killer Is on the Phone (1972); Horror Express (1972); onny and Jed (1972); Crime Boss (1972); Mongo's Back in Town (1971); Clay Pigeon (1971); A Town Called Hell (1971); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969); Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971); Violent City (1970); Kelly's Heroes (1970); On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969); Land Raiders (1969); Sophie's Place (1969); Mackenna's Gold (1969); The Assassination Bureau (1969); Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968); The Scalphunters (1968); Sol Madrid (1968); Cimarron Strip (1967); Garrison's Gorillas (1967); The Dirty Dozen (1967); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1967); The F.B.I. (1967); Combat! (1964–1967); Beau Geste (1966); The Fugitive (1964–1966); The Virginian (1966); Battle of the Bulge (1965); The Slender Thread (1965); Run for Your Life (1965); Bonanza (1965); Genghis Khan (1965); John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965); Burke's Law (1963–1965); The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965); The Rogues (1964); Fanfare for a Death Scene (1964); The New Interns (1964); Kraft Suspense Theatre (1964); Breaking Point (1964); The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964); Arrest and Trial (1964); Channing (1964); The Twilight Zone (1963); 77 Sunset Strip (1963); Grindl (1963); Johnny Cool (1963); Love Is a Ball (1963); The Man from the Diners' Club (1963); Empire (1963); The Dakotas (1963); The Eleventh Hour (1962); The Untouchables (1961–1963); The Sin of Jesus (1962); Alcoa Premiere (1961); The Interns (1962); Birdman of Alcatraz (1962); Cape Fear (1962); Cain's Hundred (1961–1962); Ben Casey (1961); The Detectives (1961); The Dick Powell Theatre (1961); King of Diamonds (1961); The New Breed (1961); The Young Savages (1961); Mad Dog Coll (1961); Acapulco (1961); The Aquanauts (1961); Kraft Theatre (1960); The Witness (1960); Naked City (1960); Armstrong Circle Theatre (1959–1960); Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (1960); Diagnosis: Unknown (1960); Deadline (1959); Sunday Showcase (1959).

Recommended reading - Balboa Films (2007):


Balboa Films

A History and Filmography of the Silent Film Studio

By Jean-Jacques Jura & Rodney Norman Bardin II.

Published by McFarland.
Published 2007.
Paperback.
ISBN-10: 0786430982
ISBN-13: 9780786430987

Description:

From 1913 through 1918, Long Beach, California, was home to the largest independent film company in the world, the largely forgotten Balboa Studio. Founder Herbert M. Horkheimer bought the studio from Edison Company in 1913, and by 1915 Balboa's expenses exceeded $2,500 a day and its output hit 15,500 feet of film per week. Bert Bracken, Fatty Arbuckle, Henry King, Baby Marie Osborne, Thomas Ince, and William Desmond Taylor began their careers with the studio.

In 1918, Horkheimer stunned the industry by declaring bankruptcy, shutting down Balboa, and walking away from moviemaking. The closing of the studio effectively ended Long Beach's runs as a major film location and left many wondering about the true reasons behind Horkheimer's decision. Most of Balboa's films have been lost, and little has until now been written about the studio. This book first explores the history of filmmaking in Long Beach and then fully details the story of Balboa. The extensive filmography includes length, copyright date when available, cast and credits, and a plot summary.

Susan Sontag, on reading and writing:


Reading usually precedes writing.
And the impulse to write is almost always fired by reading.
Reading, the love of reading, is what makes you dream of becoming a writer.

- Susan Sontag.

Penguins vs. Kings:


Friday, January 20, 2025.

Pittsburgh Penguins: 5. Los Angeles Kings: 1.

YEAH!

GO PENS!