Tom Barnes's Blog: Tom's 'RocktheTower' Blog, page 5
March 31, 2010
The Holocaust and Nazis Stolen Art
This Week
'The Goring Collection'
Writers Notebook: John Steinbeck
The Holocaust was just the beginning. Future generations continue to suffer the insult and loss of their family heritage.
'The Goring Collection' is a fact based novel that sheds light on the flourishing stolen art underground.
Excerpt from Lenora Smalley's review: 'Some readers may have forgotten or never knew that Hermann Goring, Hitler's ruthless second in command, was in charge of looting and hiding thousands of museum paintings created by some of Europe's most famous artists and some whose work would become more valuable during proceeding decades. They have become known as The Goring Collection. Hundreds of these paintings are still missing today....'
The Goring Collection
Prologue (Part 1)
Berlin, Germany 1941
Jacob was six years old and his sister Natalie a year younger, when they stood on the windswept platform at Berlin Station and waved enthusiastically while their parents boarded the train. Jonathan and Anna Meyers had told the children they were off on a business trip to Switzerland, and they would meet them later in Rostock. The trip was precipitated when Jonathan’s friend, Fritz Heimann, while working at the Reich Chancellery saw the names Jonathan and Anna Meyers on a list stamped JEWS for DEPORTATION. However, the news was not all bad as he noticed that, for some unknown reason, Jacob and Natalie were not named in the document and in that instant he saw a way to save the children. Fritz Heimann urged his friend to leave them in his care, explaining that he would take them to his family home in Rostock.
Jonathan Meyers was reluctant at first but eventually recognized the gravity of the situation, consulted with his wife Anna and they agreed to go along with Heimann’s plan. Jonathan sold off some of his merchandise, which included one of the finest collections of rare books, old coins and paintings in Berlin. Then he packaged his cherished Pissarro painting, The Cliff’s of Normandy, and shipped it off to Rostock.
Once the elder Meyers’ train rolled out of Berlin Station Fritz Heimann leaned on his cane and gestured. "Come along children, we must hurry, our train leaves soon."
Jacob and Natalie skipped along the platform as they made their way to the other track, and boarded the Rostock Express that would take them north to the city by the sea. During that trip north the children’s questions never ceased. When will Mama and Papa come? Where will we live? Who will we be staying with? Fritz Heimann explained that they would be living at his family home and then in a very serious tone, he admonished, “For now you must address me as your father. Do you understand?” It was obvious, from the looks on their innocent faces that the children did not understand. However, a few moments later a mischievous grin spread over Jacob’s face as he decided to play the game. “Yes, Papa.”
Jacob and Natalie lived out the war years in Rostock as Fritz Heimann’s children. Their father’s Pissarro hung on the living room wall and became a larger than life beacon of hope, for the youngsters, which helped to sustain the memory of their parents. But near the end of the war that symbol was shattered when a Nazi Special Detail came and took the painting away.
At the end of the war, with Jacob and Natalie still expecting their parents to come home Fritz Heimann finally told them exactly what had happened. “Your mother and father died at the concentration camp at Buchenwald.” Jacob’s shock at hearing the truth led him to believe that Fritz Heimann was telling a cruel joke, but Natalie recognized it for what it was and wept for days. Eventually Jacob’s questions were answered and over a period of time by using physical activities and studies, as a diversion, the hurt he felt at the loss of his parents began to wane.
Following the war Rostock became a part of the Soviet Bloc, and as a consequence the children grew up in East Germany. Jacob was bright and always near the top of his class. He entered the University of Rostock, and as a way to break from the past he immersed himself into his studies and absorbed the indoctrination to the Communist System. Jacob was especially interested in the political, economic, and social theories advanced by Marx and Engels. It was during his sophomore year when he first began to think about a possible career in politics.
But while Jacob was consumed by the socialists’ ideology, it offered no appeal to Natalie. During those post war years she was desperately searching for her Jewish roots, and eventually joined a small clandestine group that had begun to study the Torah.
Soon after Jacob’s graduation, from the University of Rostock, Communist Party officials looked at his scholastic achievements and offered him a position with the KGB.
He accepted and following his preliminary indoctrination into the agency he was ordered to Moscow for special training.
Jacob’s trip to Moscow was exciting and filled with many challenges and hard work, the kind of environment in which he excelled. He attended classes and participated in exercises taught by instructors that were experts on the subjects. Many of the instructors were internationally known spies that notoriety had forced to retire from service.
By the time Jacob completed his course and left Moscow for his return to Rostock he had every intention of joining the secret world of intelligence gathering and espionage, but those ideas were quickly derailed. For when Jacob returned to Rostock new orders awaited him. He would be moving to the United States and assigned to work with the American Communist Party, from a position, later to be determined, in academia. Jacob didn’t question his assignment, but he was disappointed in the new job since it didn’t allow him to become a part of the Intelligence Service.
Nothing was spelled out about his transfer until a meeting with his regular KGB contact; a heavyset man named Alexei. They always met in a park at the end of a promontory overlooking the Baltic Sea. It was there during one a routine meeting when Alexei explained, in great detail, the KGB's plan for Jacob’s defection to the West. The escape would be timed to coincide with the 1960 Rome Olympics. Jacob was given a job as an assistant gymnastics instructor, and following a formal request Natalie was allowed to accompany her brother to the West.
The defection was set to take place during an Aeroflot charter flight in route from Potsdam to Rome. They faked a hijacking, and the charter flight made an emergency landing at London’s Heathrow Airport. The plane had no sooner parked on the tarmac when Jacob and Natalie made their exit and asked for political asylum in the United States. Then following extensive questioning by British authorities they were granted their wish and turned over to the American CIA. (To be continued.)
Writers Notebook:
'Nobody ever mastered any skill except through intensive, persistent and intelligent practice.' Norman Vincent Peale. The quote is from his famous book 'The Power of Positive Thinking.'
John Steinbeck mentions practice a number of times in 'Steinbeck: A Life in Letters.' '...I want to start on my long novel -- the one I've been practicing for all my life. It is the Salinas Valley one. I think that if I'm not ready to write it, I never will be.' Steinbeck was referring to 'East of Eden.'
Those are common sense reminders that some writers seem to ignore. Look at it this way, assuming you have some writing talent, how much better your work could be if you actually practiced and worked on your craft?
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
'The Goring Collection'
Writers Notebook: John Steinbeck
The Holocaust was just the beginning. Future generations continue to suffer the insult and loss of their family heritage.
'The Goring Collection' is a fact based novel that sheds light on the flourishing stolen art underground.
Excerpt from Lenora Smalley's review: 'Some readers may have forgotten or never knew that Hermann Goring, Hitler's ruthless second in command, was in charge of looting and hiding thousands of museum paintings created by some of Europe's most famous artists and some whose work would become more valuable during proceeding decades. They have become known as The Goring Collection. Hundreds of these paintings are still missing today....'
The Goring Collection
Prologue (Part 1)
Berlin, Germany 1941
Jacob was six years old and his sister Natalie a year younger, when they stood on the windswept platform at Berlin Station and waved enthusiastically while their parents boarded the train. Jonathan and Anna Meyers had told the children they were off on a business trip to Switzerland, and they would meet them later in Rostock. The trip was precipitated when Jonathan’s friend, Fritz Heimann, while working at the Reich Chancellery saw the names Jonathan and Anna Meyers on a list stamped JEWS for DEPORTATION. However, the news was not all bad as he noticed that, for some unknown reason, Jacob and Natalie were not named in the document and in that instant he saw a way to save the children. Fritz Heimann urged his friend to leave them in his care, explaining that he would take them to his family home in Rostock.
Jonathan Meyers was reluctant at first but eventually recognized the gravity of the situation, consulted with his wife Anna and they agreed to go along with Heimann’s plan. Jonathan sold off some of his merchandise, which included one of the finest collections of rare books, old coins and paintings in Berlin. Then he packaged his cherished Pissarro painting, The Cliff’s of Normandy, and shipped it off to Rostock.
Once the elder Meyers’ train rolled out of Berlin Station Fritz Heimann leaned on his cane and gestured. "Come along children, we must hurry, our train leaves soon."
Jacob and Natalie skipped along the platform as they made their way to the other track, and boarded the Rostock Express that would take them north to the city by the sea. During that trip north the children’s questions never ceased. When will Mama and Papa come? Where will we live? Who will we be staying with? Fritz Heimann explained that they would be living at his family home and then in a very serious tone, he admonished, “For now you must address me as your father. Do you understand?” It was obvious, from the looks on their innocent faces that the children did not understand. However, a few moments later a mischievous grin spread over Jacob’s face as he decided to play the game. “Yes, Papa.”
Jacob and Natalie lived out the war years in Rostock as Fritz Heimann’s children. Their father’s Pissarro hung on the living room wall and became a larger than life beacon of hope, for the youngsters, which helped to sustain the memory of their parents. But near the end of the war that symbol was shattered when a Nazi Special Detail came and took the painting away.
At the end of the war, with Jacob and Natalie still expecting their parents to come home Fritz Heimann finally told them exactly what had happened. “Your mother and father died at the concentration camp at Buchenwald.” Jacob’s shock at hearing the truth led him to believe that Fritz Heimann was telling a cruel joke, but Natalie recognized it for what it was and wept for days. Eventually Jacob’s questions were answered and over a period of time by using physical activities and studies, as a diversion, the hurt he felt at the loss of his parents began to wane.
Following the war Rostock became a part of the Soviet Bloc, and as a consequence the children grew up in East Germany. Jacob was bright and always near the top of his class. He entered the University of Rostock, and as a way to break from the past he immersed himself into his studies and absorbed the indoctrination to the Communist System. Jacob was especially interested in the political, economic, and social theories advanced by Marx and Engels. It was during his sophomore year when he first began to think about a possible career in politics.
But while Jacob was consumed by the socialists’ ideology, it offered no appeal to Natalie. During those post war years she was desperately searching for her Jewish roots, and eventually joined a small clandestine group that had begun to study the Torah.
Soon after Jacob’s graduation, from the University of Rostock, Communist Party officials looked at his scholastic achievements and offered him a position with the KGB.
He accepted and following his preliminary indoctrination into the agency he was ordered to Moscow for special training.
Jacob’s trip to Moscow was exciting and filled with many challenges and hard work, the kind of environment in which he excelled. He attended classes and participated in exercises taught by instructors that were experts on the subjects. Many of the instructors were internationally known spies that notoriety had forced to retire from service.
By the time Jacob completed his course and left Moscow for his return to Rostock he had every intention of joining the secret world of intelligence gathering and espionage, but those ideas were quickly derailed. For when Jacob returned to Rostock new orders awaited him. He would be moving to the United States and assigned to work with the American Communist Party, from a position, later to be determined, in academia. Jacob didn’t question his assignment, but he was disappointed in the new job since it didn’t allow him to become a part of the Intelligence Service.
Nothing was spelled out about his transfer until a meeting with his regular KGB contact; a heavyset man named Alexei. They always met in a park at the end of a promontory overlooking the Baltic Sea. It was there during one a routine meeting when Alexei explained, in great detail, the KGB's plan for Jacob’s defection to the West. The escape would be timed to coincide with the 1960 Rome Olympics. Jacob was given a job as an assistant gymnastics instructor, and following a formal request Natalie was allowed to accompany her brother to the West.
The defection was set to take place during an Aeroflot charter flight in route from Potsdam to Rome. They faked a hijacking, and the charter flight made an emergency landing at London’s Heathrow Airport. The plane had no sooner parked on the tarmac when Jacob and Natalie made their exit and asked for political asylum in the United States. Then following extensive questioning by British authorities they were granted their wish and turned over to the American CIA. (To be continued.)
Writers Notebook:
'Nobody ever mastered any skill except through intensive, persistent and intelligent practice.' Norman Vincent Peale. The quote is from his famous book 'The Power of Positive Thinking.'
John Steinbeck mentions practice a number of times in 'Steinbeck: A Life in Letters.' '...I want to start on my long novel -- the one I've been practicing for all my life. It is the Salinas Valley one. I think that if I'm not ready to write it, I never will be.' Steinbeck was referring to 'East of Eden.'
Those are common sense reminders that some writers seem to ignore. Look at it this way, assuming you have some writing talent, how much better your work could be if you actually practiced and worked on your craft?
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com
March 24, 2010
The Legend of Ebo Landing
This Week
Tungee's Gold:
Writers Notebook: Duke Howard
Savannah Waterfront and the Legend
The idea for this historical novel came from an old slave tale, “The Legend of Ebo Landing.” I first heard the story at a Savannah waterfront bar while doing research and writing for my PBS Television Series, “Georgia’s Heritage.” The legend came from a story that tells of a number of West Africans that chose death rather than slavery. It is said that while a number of Ebo’s were debarking the slave ship they simply slipped into the water and drowned. The human tragedy got my attention and I followed up by going to St. Simons Island, the source of the story.
When I got to the island I asked some questions about the legend and was directed to an African-American woman known as the Voo Doo Lady. I located her house and introduced myself and was pleasantly surprised at the reception I got. After I explained what I was doing she led me on a walking tour of the island. Our first stop was a reed-covered estuary on the west side of St. Simons Island, which according to the Voo Doo Lady was the place called Ebo Landing, the scene of the actual tragedy. After that first stop my guide gave me a short history lesson of the place and we walked from one church and cemetery to another with the Voo Doo Lady talking and I taking notes.
At the end of the day I had only one nagging question – why? After a ton of research and ninety thousand words later I found the answer.
MEDIA RELEASE iUniverse
1663 S. Liberty Dr. Suite 300
Bloomington, IN 47403
For Immediate Release
Tungee's Gold
The Legend of Ebo Landing
by
Tom Barnes
Review Excerpt:
'With Tungee's Gold, I found myself eagerly reading, because it is such a compelling adventure – the kind of thing I remember from reading Zane Gray as a young man. You've got excellent character, a broad sweep of action – from gold fields to the high seas – and you've told the tale well by keeping the story in focus...'
Terry Kay author of 'To Dance with the White Dog.'
Tungee Cahill deposits gold in San Francisco bank in the morning, is shanghaied that night and wakes up on a Clipper Ship bound for Liverpool. The ship is rife with plots from mutiny to piracy. Tungee joins Captain Foster and they halt a bloody takeover of the ship. They make their way through the freezing rains and icy hell of Cape Horn, then up the east coast of South America to St. Katherine’s Island. However, at St. Kat the scurrilous ship owner issues new orders, and diverts the ship to West Africa for another slave run.
Despite a belligerent crew opposed to the slave run the ship sails on to West Africa where the Africans are herded on board. When the ship sets sail for America a British and American warship give chase, but Captain Foster elects to dodge into a heavy storm. When they come out of the storm some slaves are allowed to stay on deck. During several nights Tungee and others watch as the Africans participate in various rituals and incantations. Is it voodoo or witchcraft? Nobody knows, and by the time they find out, it’s too late. A tribal king called Kumi said, 'I may be prisoner now but I will never become a slave.' Using his presence and strong will, Kumi inspires a number of his people to follow his lead and make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom
About the Author:
Tom Barnes grew up in the South and studied English literature and drama at Middle Georgia College and the Pasadena Playhouse. After a hitch in the Navy, and a season with The Hurricane Hunters Tom did Theater and TV in New York. He has written documentaries for PBS and is author of The Goring Collection, Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone, The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Book is available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online venues and bookstores
Writers Notebook:
Review by Duke Howard
For those of you who like the taste of powder, fire and smoke with their stories and enjoy the company of men who have little or no control over their own fate, come join the half-breed, Tungee as he is shanghaied off the Barbary Coast and sail with him and his mates;Captain Foster, the Black Moses, King Kumi; the slave trader, Jeff Turner, the Crimp and the Aussie Duck Man, Alf Talbot on the 1851 slave ship, MFC for a rousing adventure of blood and violence. Tom Barnes is a master story teller.
--Duke Howard, author of THE DAMNATION OF MERCY KILWICK.
Civil War Journal feature begins on this blog the week of April 12.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
Tungee's Gold:
Writers Notebook: Duke Howard
Savannah Waterfront and the Legend
The idea for this historical novel came from an old slave tale, “The Legend of Ebo Landing.” I first heard the story at a Savannah waterfront bar while doing research and writing for my PBS Television Series, “Georgia’s Heritage.” The legend came from a story that tells of a number of West Africans that chose death rather than slavery. It is said that while a number of Ebo’s were debarking the slave ship they simply slipped into the water and drowned. The human tragedy got my attention and I followed up by going to St. Simons Island, the source of the story.
When I got to the island I asked some questions about the legend and was directed to an African-American woman known as the Voo Doo Lady. I located her house and introduced myself and was pleasantly surprised at the reception I got. After I explained what I was doing she led me on a walking tour of the island. Our first stop was a reed-covered estuary on the west side of St. Simons Island, which according to the Voo Doo Lady was the place called Ebo Landing, the scene of the actual tragedy. After that first stop my guide gave me a short history lesson of the place and we walked from one church and cemetery to another with the Voo Doo Lady talking and I taking notes.
At the end of the day I had only one nagging question – why? After a ton of research and ninety thousand words later I found the answer.
MEDIA RELEASE iUniverse
1663 S. Liberty Dr. Suite 300
Bloomington, IN 47403
For Immediate Release
Tungee's Gold
The Legend of Ebo Landing
by
Tom Barnes
Review Excerpt:
'With Tungee's Gold, I found myself eagerly reading, because it is such a compelling adventure – the kind of thing I remember from reading Zane Gray as a young man. You've got excellent character, a broad sweep of action – from gold fields to the high seas – and you've told the tale well by keeping the story in focus...'
Terry Kay author of 'To Dance with the White Dog.'
Tungee Cahill deposits gold in San Francisco bank in the morning, is shanghaied that night and wakes up on a Clipper Ship bound for Liverpool. The ship is rife with plots from mutiny to piracy. Tungee joins Captain Foster and they halt a bloody takeover of the ship. They make their way through the freezing rains and icy hell of Cape Horn, then up the east coast of South America to St. Katherine’s Island. However, at St. Kat the scurrilous ship owner issues new orders, and diverts the ship to West Africa for another slave run.
Despite a belligerent crew opposed to the slave run the ship sails on to West Africa where the Africans are herded on board. When the ship sets sail for America a British and American warship give chase, but Captain Foster elects to dodge into a heavy storm. When they come out of the storm some slaves are allowed to stay on deck. During several nights Tungee and others watch as the Africans participate in various rituals and incantations. Is it voodoo or witchcraft? Nobody knows, and by the time they find out, it’s too late. A tribal king called Kumi said, 'I may be prisoner now but I will never become a slave.' Using his presence and strong will, Kumi inspires a number of his people to follow his lead and make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom
About the Author:
Tom Barnes grew up in the South and studied English literature and drama at Middle Georgia College and the Pasadena Playhouse. After a hitch in the Navy, and a season with The Hurricane Hunters Tom did Theater and TV in New York. He has written documentaries for PBS and is author of The Goring Collection, Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone, The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Book is available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online venues and bookstores
Writers Notebook:
Review by Duke Howard
For those of you who like the taste of powder, fire and smoke with their stories and enjoy the company of men who have little or no control over their own fate, come join the half-breed, Tungee as he is shanghaied off the Barbary Coast and sail with him and his mates;Captain Foster, the Black Moses, King Kumi; the slave trader, Jeff Turner, the Crimp and the Aussie Duck Man, Alf Talbot on the 1851 slave ship, MFC for a rousing adventure of blood and violence. Tom Barnes is a master story teller.
--Duke Howard, author of THE DAMNATION OF MERCY KILWICK.
Civil War Journal feature begins on this blog the week of April 12.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
March 17, 2010
Gone With the Wind, Garbo and Doc Holliday
This Week
1939 Hollywood and Garbo Laughs
Tombstone: Judge Spicer's Ruling
Writers Notebook: Kindle, Sony and Nook
Light up the Sky
(From Tom's Little Boy series)
In 1939 we lived on South Gordon Street in the West End of Atlanta, Georgia. I was in the seventh grade attending Joe Brown Junior High School. During the fall of that year I can remember the newspaper headlines and radio news talking about Hitler, Mussolini, Poland and the coming war.
But all that seemed far away and had little or nothing to do with us. What really mattered to the folks of Atlanta was a movie about the Civil War called 'Gone With the Wind.' Of course the story wasn't new because most adults had read the book 'Gone With the Wind' written by local author Margaret Mitchell. But the world premier of the movie would be held in mid December at the Loew's Grand Theater on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Lots of stars would be there, Clark Gable was mentioned most, the mayor and maybe even the governor would make speeches.
I guess the people of Atlanta were about as excited as at any time I could remember.
The day finally came though and soon after sundown on the night of December 15, 1939 five or six big Klieg Lights were turned on and pierced the darkness of the night as they criss-crossed the sky announcing the opening of 'Gone With the Wind.'
My younger brother George and I watched the light show while standing on our front steps. Those stalks of light looked so close you could reach out and touch them. Caught up in the moment we felt that we could just run over and see the show, maybe like climbing the fence at Ponce de Leon Park to watch the Crackers play ball. We ran for several blocks before we decided it was too far and turned back toward the house. It wasn't too bad though because for a dime we could go see the film that was playing around the corner at the Cascade Theater – 'The Wizard of Oz.'
During the year of 1939 no one in Hollywood or the country had a clue about the movie making history that was being made that year. There were several dozen films produced in '39 that likely could have won best picture award on any other year.
Here's a background story on one of those films.
.
During the 1920’s and 30’s Greta Garbo’s name was movie magic. Paramount Pictures producer/director Ernst Lubitsch wanted to sign Garbo for a film he was preparing titled Ninotchka, but since Garbo shunned publicity and lived an almost secret life Lubitsch knew very little about the star with the exception of her stunning performances that he’d seen on the screen. Her last picture Camille was heavy drama and Ninotchka a comedy.
Lubitsch had Paramount arrange for Miss Garbo to come in for a sit down interview at his office and talk about the film.
Ernst Lubitsch had an outgoing personality and the interview went well, but Lubitsch had something in mind that went directly to his concept of the film, and it had to do with the female star.
Lubitsch got up from his desk and paced the room, when suddenly he turned to Garbo and said, “Can you laugh?”
A wry grin broke over Garbo’s placid face and she said, “Yes. I think I can laugh.”
Lubitsch continued to pace a bit more and said, “I’m not talking about just a little laugh. I mean a big laugh. You see the star of Ninotchka must be a character with a wide-open and completely spontaneous laugh. Can you do that?”
Garbo smiled and said, “Let me give it some thought. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
As Lubitsch escorted the star out of the office he was thinking well, it wasn’t a yes and it wasn’t a no.
True to her word Garbo was back the next day. And following the normal amenities including coffee the two of them manufactured small talk as they sparred around avoiding the subject of laughter.
Eventually though Greta Garbo’s grin changed to a wide smile and she said, “Your question and the idea – can you laugh is silly.”
Lubitsch chortled. “I think you’re right.”
“And I love it, “ she whispered. “The more I think about that silly notion the more I want to laugh.” And she began to laugh the most joyous outgoing kind of laughter Lubitsch had ever heard. In fact it was so infectious that he joined her in the celebration of the laugh.
And of course she signed a contract and they made the film.
The Paramount publicity people picked on the story and used the two-word phrase to spearhead their publicity campaign – Garbo Laughs.
Ninotchka was nominated for best picture and Garbo was nominated for best actress.
Of course everyone knows what happened at the Oscars that year – Gone With the Wind.
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Conclusion of Judge Spicer's ruling..
“...In view of the past history of the country, and the existence at this time of desperate, reckless and lawless men in our midst, living by felonious and predatory pursuits, regarding neither life nor property in their career. And for these men to parade the streets armed with repeating rifles and six-shooters, and for them to demand that the chief of police and his assistants be disarmed is a proposition both monstrous and startling. This was said by one of the deceased only minutes before the arrival of the officers."
Spicer stopped briefly and mopped the sweat off his brow. "Another fact, the deceased from the first inception of the encounter were standing their ground and fighting back, giving and taking death with unflinching bravery. It does not appear to have been a wanton slaughter of unresisting and unarmed innocence, who were yielding to officers of the law, or surrendering to, or fleeing from their assailants. They were armed and defiant men, accepting the wager of battle and succumbing only in death.
Now, the prosecution claims that the Earp party acted with criminal haste and that precipitated the triple homicide by felonious anxiety and quickness to begin the tragedy. That they killed with malice aforethought, with the intent then and there to murder the deceased. And that they made use of their official character as a pretext."
There was some obvious head bobbing from cowboy faithfuls to the judge's last point.
"I cannot believe this theory, and cannot resist the firm conviction that the Earps acted wisely, discreetly and prudently to secure their own self-preservation. They saw at once the dire necessity of giving the first shot to save themselves from certain death. They acted; their shots were effective. And this alone saved all the Earp party from being slain.”
The judge took a long drink of water. Then with an air of confidence, he said, "In view of all the facts and circumstances of the case; considering the threats made, the character and position of the parties, I cannot resist the conclusion that the defendants were fully justified in committing those homicides, that it was a necessary act, done in the discharge of an official duty.”
The judge then gave several pages and sections of statutes of territorial law to back up his assumptions.
"The evidence taken before me in this case would not, in my judgment, warrant a conviction of the defendants by a trial jury of any offense whatever. I do not believe that any trial jury that could be put together in this territory would, on all the evidence taken before me, find the defendants guilty of any offense."
Judge Spicer scanned his audience and with a wry grin said, "Now it may be that my judgment is erroneous, and my view of the law incorrect. Yet it is my own judgment, and my own understanding of the law. And upon these facts I must act and decide, and not upon those of any other person. I have given over four weeks of patient attention to the hearing of evidence in this case, and most of my working hours have been devoted to an earnest study of the evidence."
The judge then broke into a smile, for the first time that day. “I have less reluctance in arriving at this conclusion because the Grand Jury of this County is now in session and it is quite within the power of that body (if dissatisfied with my decision) to call witnesses before them or to use the depositions taken before me. I shall turn them over to the District Court as required by law. They may disregard my findings and find an indictment against the defendants if they think the evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction.”
“I conclude the performance of the duty imposed upon me by saying, in the language of the statute, ‘There being no sufficient cause to believe the named, Wyatt S. Earp and John H. Holliday, guilty of the offense mentioned within,’ I order them to be released.”
Writers Notebook:
General facts about Digital Book Reader
A digital book reader is a hardware device, the intent of which is to read and display electronic books and digital content. An eBook reader is deigned and developed to meet the needs of people who have a high mobility and need stay in touch with books frequently. In such cases, it is usually troublesome to carry bulky books with you. So the need for digital book readers and electronic books was felt. Thank to the information technology, which has made it possible to keep the whole library content in a slim, thin and handy device known as eBook reader. Kindle, Sony Reader, Barnes and Noble's Nook plus several others all at competitive prices.
You authors with POD books should look into this field because that $9.99 price puts you on the level with the mass market paperbacks.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
.
1939 Hollywood and Garbo Laughs
Tombstone: Judge Spicer's Ruling
Writers Notebook: Kindle, Sony and Nook
Light up the Sky
(From Tom's Little Boy series)
In 1939 we lived on South Gordon Street in the West End of Atlanta, Georgia. I was in the seventh grade attending Joe Brown Junior High School. During the fall of that year I can remember the newspaper headlines and radio news talking about Hitler, Mussolini, Poland and the coming war.
But all that seemed far away and had little or nothing to do with us. What really mattered to the folks of Atlanta was a movie about the Civil War called 'Gone With the Wind.' Of course the story wasn't new because most adults had read the book 'Gone With the Wind' written by local author Margaret Mitchell. But the world premier of the movie would be held in mid December at the Loew's Grand Theater on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Lots of stars would be there, Clark Gable was mentioned most, the mayor and maybe even the governor would make speeches.
I guess the people of Atlanta were about as excited as at any time I could remember.
The day finally came though and soon after sundown on the night of December 15, 1939 five or six big Klieg Lights were turned on and pierced the darkness of the night as they criss-crossed the sky announcing the opening of 'Gone With the Wind.'
My younger brother George and I watched the light show while standing on our front steps. Those stalks of light looked so close you could reach out and touch them. Caught up in the moment we felt that we could just run over and see the show, maybe like climbing the fence at Ponce de Leon Park to watch the Crackers play ball. We ran for several blocks before we decided it was too far and turned back toward the house. It wasn't too bad though because for a dime we could go see the film that was playing around the corner at the Cascade Theater – 'The Wizard of Oz.'
During the year of 1939 no one in Hollywood or the country had a clue about the movie making history that was being made that year. There were several dozen films produced in '39 that likely could have won best picture award on any other year.
Here's a background story on one of those films.
.
During the 1920’s and 30’s Greta Garbo’s name was movie magic. Paramount Pictures producer/director Ernst Lubitsch wanted to sign Garbo for a film he was preparing titled Ninotchka, but since Garbo shunned publicity and lived an almost secret life Lubitsch knew very little about the star with the exception of her stunning performances that he’d seen on the screen. Her last picture Camille was heavy drama and Ninotchka a comedy.
Lubitsch had Paramount arrange for Miss Garbo to come in for a sit down interview at his office and talk about the film.
Ernst Lubitsch had an outgoing personality and the interview went well, but Lubitsch had something in mind that went directly to his concept of the film, and it had to do with the female star.
Lubitsch got up from his desk and paced the room, when suddenly he turned to Garbo and said, “Can you laugh?”
A wry grin broke over Garbo’s placid face and she said, “Yes. I think I can laugh.”
Lubitsch continued to pace a bit more and said, “I’m not talking about just a little laugh. I mean a big laugh. You see the star of Ninotchka must be a character with a wide-open and completely spontaneous laugh. Can you do that?”
Garbo smiled and said, “Let me give it some thought. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
As Lubitsch escorted the star out of the office he was thinking well, it wasn’t a yes and it wasn’t a no.
True to her word Garbo was back the next day. And following the normal amenities including coffee the two of them manufactured small talk as they sparred around avoiding the subject of laughter.
Eventually though Greta Garbo’s grin changed to a wide smile and she said, “Your question and the idea – can you laugh is silly.”
Lubitsch chortled. “I think you’re right.”
“And I love it, “ she whispered. “The more I think about that silly notion the more I want to laugh.” And she began to laugh the most joyous outgoing kind of laughter Lubitsch had ever heard. In fact it was so infectious that he joined her in the celebration of the laugh.
And of course she signed a contract and they made the film.
The Paramount publicity people picked on the story and used the two-word phrase to spearhead their publicity campaign – Garbo Laughs.
Ninotchka was nominated for best picture and Garbo was nominated for best actress.
Of course everyone knows what happened at the Oscars that year – Gone With the Wind.
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Conclusion of Judge Spicer's ruling..
“...In view of the past history of the country, and the existence at this time of desperate, reckless and lawless men in our midst, living by felonious and predatory pursuits, regarding neither life nor property in their career. And for these men to parade the streets armed with repeating rifles and six-shooters, and for them to demand that the chief of police and his assistants be disarmed is a proposition both monstrous and startling. This was said by one of the deceased only minutes before the arrival of the officers."
Spicer stopped briefly and mopped the sweat off his brow. "Another fact, the deceased from the first inception of the encounter were standing their ground and fighting back, giving and taking death with unflinching bravery. It does not appear to have been a wanton slaughter of unresisting and unarmed innocence, who were yielding to officers of the law, or surrendering to, or fleeing from their assailants. They were armed and defiant men, accepting the wager of battle and succumbing only in death.
Now, the prosecution claims that the Earp party acted with criminal haste and that precipitated the triple homicide by felonious anxiety and quickness to begin the tragedy. That they killed with malice aforethought, with the intent then and there to murder the deceased. And that they made use of their official character as a pretext."
There was some obvious head bobbing from cowboy faithfuls to the judge's last point.
"I cannot believe this theory, and cannot resist the firm conviction that the Earps acted wisely, discreetly and prudently to secure their own self-preservation. They saw at once the dire necessity of giving the first shot to save themselves from certain death. They acted; their shots were effective. And this alone saved all the Earp party from being slain.”
The judge took a long drink of water. Then with an air of confidence, he said, "In view of all the facts and circumstances of the case; considering the threats made, the character and position of the parties, I cannot resist the conclusion that the defendants were fully justified in committing those homicides, that it was a necessary act, done in the discharge of an official duty.”
The judge then gave several pages and sections of statutes of territorial law to back up his assumptions.
"The evidence taken before me in this case would not, in my judgment, warrant a conviction of the defendants by a trial jury of any offense whatever. I do not believe that any trial jury that could be put together in this territory would, on all the evidence taken before me, find the defendants guilty of any offense."
Judge Spicer scanned his audience and with a wry grin said, "Now it may be that my judgment is erroneous, and my view of the law incorrect. Yet it is my own judgment, and my own understanding of the law. And upon these facts I must act and decide, and not upon those of any other person. I have given over four weeks of patient attention to the hearing of evidence in this case, and most of my working hours have been devoted to an earnest study of the evidence."
The judge then broke into a smile, for the first time that day. “I have less reluctance in arriving at this conclusion because the Grand Jury of this County is now in session and it is quite within the power of that body (if dissatisfied with my decision) to call witnesses before them or to use the depositions taken before me. I shall turn them over to the District Court as required by law. They may disregard my findings and find an indictment against the defendants if they think the evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction.”
“I conclude the performance of the duty imposed upon me by saying, in the language of the statute, ‘There being no sufficient cause to believe the named, Wyatt S. Earp and John H. Holliday, guilty of the offense mentioned within,’ I order them to be released.”
Writers Notebook:
General facts about Digital Book Reader
A digital book reader is a hardware device, the intent of which is to read and display electronic books and digital content. An eBook reader is deigned and developed to meet the needs of people who have a high mobility and need stay in touch with books frequently. In such cases, it is usually troublesome to carry bulky books with you. So the need for digital book readers and electronic books was felt. Thank to the information technology, which has made it possible to keep the whole library content in a slim, thin and handy device known as eBook reader. Kindle, Sony Reader, Barnes and Noble's Nook plus several others all at competitive prices.
You authors with POD books should look into this field because that $9.99 price puts you on the level with the mass market paperbacks.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
.
March 10, 2010
Hollywood Thirties Best Year 1939
This Week
1939 Was a Very Good Year
Judge Spicer's Ruling
Writers Notebook: Sidney Sheldon
In the late twenties when Al Jolson belted out Mammy and then said, 'You ain't heard nothing yet, folks,' sound had made it's way onto the silver screen. Technology was finally taking hold and making Louis B. Mayer's vision for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences seem almost plausible. That was a start but it was the thirties that made color a staple in Hollywood films. And at that same time writers, directors, actors and producers were all growing and becoming comfortable in their new environment.
But even with the studio system and its assembly line production methods, system naysayers had to admit that Hollywood was turning out solid numbers of quality films. Some of that growth has to be attributed to the large influx of European talent coming to Hollywood in order to escape the Nazis. Overall that new talent was well received and a number of those people became a big part of the motion picture community.
The growth in the movie industry during the thirties has never been fully explained, but my pet theory is that out of the European and American talent competition new ideas were born.
Or perhaps it was Hollywood's way of reaching out to Americans all over the depression-plagued land and giving hope to millions who had little more than hope to cling to during those hard times.
However, no matter how it all came about something strange and wonderful happened to Hollywood at the end of that decade. During the year of 1939 it was as if a new breed of filmmaker had suddenly taken over and tugged the industry to new heights.
There were 365 movies made in Hollywood that year and I'll list 20 to give you a good sample of what movie goers could see at their local theaters in 1939.
Drums along the Mohawk – Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda
Gunga Din -- Cary Grant.
Wuthering Heights – Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon.
Goodbye, Mr Chips -- Robert Donat
Dark Victory -- Betty Davis and Humphrey Bogart
Only Angels Have Wings – Cary Grant and Jean Arthur
Love Affair – Charles Boyer and Irene Dunn
The Little Princess – Shirley Temple
Juarez – Paul Muni and Betty Davis
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Stanley and Livingston – Spencer Tracy
Babes in Arms – Mickey Rooney
The Wizard of Oz – Judy Garland
Jesse James – Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda
Stage Coach – John Wayne and Clair Trevor
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – James Stewart
Of Mice and Men – Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr.
Ninotchka – Greta Garbo
Gone With the Wind – Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh
Young Mr. Lincoln – Henry Fonda
Nominations for Best Picture:
Wuthering Heights, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Dark Victory, Love Affair, The Wizard of Oz, Stage Coach, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Mice and Men, Ninotchka, Gone With the Wind.
The Winner was Gone With the Wind.
Winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role was Robert Donat – Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
Winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role was Vivien Leigh – Gone With the Wind.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role was Thomas Mitchell – Stagecoach.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role was Hattie McDaniel – Gone With the Wind.
Best Director was Victor Fleming – Gone With the Wind.
Best Writer Original Story was Lewis R. Foster – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Best Writer Screenplay was Sidney Howard – Gone With the Wind.
(More next week about 1939)
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Tuesday morning, November 29th
Judge Spicer’s courtroom was filled to capacity, everyone anxious to hear, first hand, the judge’s ruling. However, the crowd was immediately disappointed when the prosecution requested and was given the opportunity to call one more witness.
Ernest Storm took the stand and District Attorney Price questioned and re questioned the witness regarding Tom McLowry as to whether he was armed or not at the time of the confrontation. Storm was not at all convincing and the defense had no questions on cross-examination.
It was early in the day when Ernest Storm stepped out of the witness box¸ however since Judge Spicer needed to consider that last piece of evidence, he recessed the court until two o’clock that afternoon.
As clock hands neared the appointed hour Tombstone residents crowded into Judge Spicer's courtroom. Will McLowry and Ike Clanton sat at the prosecution table along with District Attorney Lyttleton Price and his chief assistant Earl Smith. At the defense table Doc and Wyatt sat between Tom Fitch and T.J. Drum. The gallery was populated with more than a score of lawyers and legal experts representing both sides of the argument.
Judge Spicer entered the courtroom and even before he took his seat picked up his gavel, slammed it onto the desk top and growled, "Quiet in the courtroom! Bailiff, them that can't stay quiet, escort them out of the room."
The courtroom immediately went from a din of chatter to pin drop silence.
The judge took his time, adjusted his spectacles and deliberately put his papers in order. Then in a clear voice, he read, in meticulous order, the formal charges. Spicer then ticked off several of the prosecution’s assertions and defense rebuttals.
The issue that seemed most perplexing to the judge was basic and had to do with the fairness of the fight. Prosecution contended that the Earps and Holliday had taken advantage of the cowboys and shot them as they were trying to surrender... The defense believed the Earps and Holliday had been drawn into an ambush, set up by the cowboys, and that they had every right to defend their own lives.
Judge Spicer pointed out specific testimony in an effort to make his point. "Addie Borland saw distinctly the approach of the Earps and Holliday. This was only minutes before the altercation. This witness was directly across the street where she could observe all their movements. She could not tell who fired first, that the firing commenced at once from both sides upon the approach of the Earp party. And that no one held his hands up -- she would have seen them had they been over their heads." The judge then took a sip of water and continued. "Another unbiased witness, Sills asserts that the firing was almost simultaneous. He cannot tell which side fired first.
The defendants were officers charged with the duty of disarming brave, determined men who were experts in the use of firearms. As quick as thought and certain as death and who had previously declared their intentions -- not to be arrested nor disarmed.”
The attorneys and partisan gallery listened intently.
"The testimony of Isaac Clanton that this tragedy was a result of a scheme on the part of the Earps to assassinate him, and thereby bury in oblivion the confessions the Earps had made to him about "piping" away the shipment of coin by Wells Fargo & Co., falls short of being a sound theory. The most prominent fact in the matter, to wit, Isaac Clanton was not injured at all. If it was the object of the attack to kill him, he would have been the first to fall. But, he was believed to be unarmed. And was suffered, so Wyatt Earp testifies, told to go away and was not harmed. (To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
More Sidney Sheldon on his approach to the novel.
‘I dictate the first draft of my novels to a secretary. When the first draft is typed – and it usually runs between one thousand and twelve hundred pages – I go back to page one and start a rewrite. Not a polish – a complete rewrite. I will often throw away a hundred pages at a time, get rid of a half dozen characters and add new ones. Along the way, I constantly refine and tighten. When I get to the end of the book again, I go back to page one. I repeat this process as many as a dozen times, spending anywhere from a year to a year and a half rewriting and finally polishing, until the manuscript is as good as I know how to make it.’
Sidney Sheldon
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http:// hurricanehunter.blogspot.com
1939 Was a Very Good Year
Judge Spicer's Ruling
Writers Notebook: Sidney Sheldon
In the late twenties when Al Jolson belted out Mammy and then said, 'You ain't heard nothing yet, folks,' sound had made it's way onto the silver screen. Technology was finally taking hold and making Louis B. Mayer's vision for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences seem almost plausible. That was a start but it was the thirties that made color a staple in Hollywood films. And at that same time writers, directors, actors and producers were all growing and becoming comfortable in their new environment.
But even with the studio system and its assembly line production methods, system naysayers had to admit that Hollywood was turning out solid numbers of quality films. Some of that growth has to be attributed to the large influx of European talent coming to Hollywood in order to escape the Nazis. Overall that new talent was well received and a number of those people became a big part of the motion picture community.
The growth in the movie industry during the thirties has never been fully explained, but my pet theory is that out of the European and American talent competition new ideas were born.
Or perhaps it was Hollywood's way of reaching out to Americans all over the depression-plagued land and giving hope to millions who had little more than hope to cling to during those hard times.
However, no matter how it all came about something strange and wonderful happened to Hollywood at the end of that decade. During the year of 1939 it was as if a new breed of filmmaker had suddenly taken over and tugged the industry to new heights.
There were 365 movies made in Hollywood that year and I'll list 20 to give you a good sample of what movie goers could see at their local theaters in 1939.
Drums along the Mohawk – Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda
Gunga Din -- Cary Grant.
Wuthering Heights – Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon.
Goodbye, Mr Chips -- Robert Donat
Dark Victory -- Betty Davis and Humphrey Bogart
Only Angels Have Wings – Cary Grant and Jean Arthur
Love Affair – Charles Boyer and Irene Dunn
The Little Princess – Shirley Temple
Juarez – Paul Muni and Betty Davis
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Stanley and Livingston – Spencer Tracy
Babes in Arms – Mickey Rooney
The Wizard of Oz – Judy Garland
Jesse James – Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda
Stage Coach – John Wayne and Clair Trevor
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – James Stewart
Of Mice and Men – Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr.
Ninotchka – Greta Garbo
Gone With the Wind – Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh
Young Mr. Lincoln – Henry Fonda
Nominations for Best Picture:
Wuthering Heights, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Dark Victory, Love Affair, The Wizard of Oz, Stage Coach, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Mice and Men, Ninotchka, Gone With the Wind.
The Winner was Gone With the Wind.
Winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role was Robert Donat – Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
Winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role was Vivien Leigh – Gone With the Wind.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role was Thomas Mitchell – Stagecoach.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role was Hattie McDaniel – Gone With the Wind.
Best Director was Victor Fleming – Gone With the Wind.
Best Writer Original Story was Lewis R. Foster – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Best Writer Screenplay was Sidney Howard – Gone With the Wind.
(More next week about 1939)
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Tuesday morning, November 29th
Judge Spicer’s courtroom was filled to capacity, everyone anxious to hear, first hand, the judge’s ruling. However, the crowd was immediately disappointed when the prosecution requested and was given the opportunity to call one more witness.
Ernest Storm took the stand and District Attorney Price questioned and re questioned the witness regarding Tom McLowry as to whether he was armed or not at the time of the confrontation. Storm was not at all convincing and the defense had no questions on cross-examination.
It was early in the day when Ernest Storm stepped out of the witness box¸ however since Judge Spicer needed to consider that last piece of evidence, he recessed the court until two o’clock that afternoon.
As clock hands neared the appointed hour Tombstone residents crowded into Judge Spicer's courtroom. Will McLowry and Ike Clanton sat at the prosecution table along with District Attorney Lyttleton Price and his chief assistant Earl Smith. At the defense table Doc and Wyatt sat between Tom Fitch and T.J. Drum. The gallery was populated with more than a score of lawyers and legal experts representing both sides of the argument.
Judge Spicer entered the courtroom and even before he took his seat picked up his gavel, slammed it onto the desk top and growled, "Quiet in the courtroom! Bailiff, them that can't stay quiet, escort them out of the room."
The courtroom immediately went from a din of chatter to pin drop silence.
The judge took his time, adjusted his spectacles and deliberately put his papers in order. Then in a clear voice, he read, in meticulous order, the formal charges. Spicer then ticked off several of the prosecution’s assertions and defense rebuttals.
The issue that seemed most perplexing to the judge was basic and had to do with the fairness of the fight. Prosecution contended that the Earps and Holliday had taken advantage of the cowboys and shot them as they were trying to surrender... The defense believed the Earps and Holliday had been drawn into an ambush, set up by the cowboys, and that they had every right to defend their own lives.
Judge Spicer pointed out specific testimony in an effort to make his point. "Addie Borland saw distinctly the approach of the Earps and Holliday. This was only minutes before the altercation. This witness was directly across the street where she could observe all their movements. She could not tell who fired first, that the firing commenced at once from both sides upon the approach of the Earp party. And that no one held his hands up -- she would have seen them had they been over their heads." The judge then took a sip of water and continued. "Another unbiased witness, Sills asserts that the firing was almost simultaneous. He cannot tell which side fired first.
The defendants were officers charged with the duty of disarming brave, determined men who were experts in the use of firearms. As quick as thought and certain as death and who had previously declared their intentions -- not to be arrested nor disarmed.”
The attorneys and partisan gallery listened intently.
"The testimony of Isaac Clanton that this tragedy was a result of a scheme on the part of the Earps to assassinate him, and thereby bury in oblivion the confessions the Earps had made to him about "piping" away the shipment of coin by Wells Fargo & Co., falls short of being a sound theory. The most prominent fact in the matter, to wit, Isaac Clanton was not injured at all. If it was the object of the attack to kill him, he would have been the first to fall. But, he was believed to be unarmed. And was suffered, so Wyatt Earp testifies, told to go away and was not harmed. (To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
More Sidney Sheldon on his approach to the novel.
‘I dictate the first draft of my novels to a secretary. When the first draft is typed – and it usually runs between one thousand and twelve hundred pages – I go back to page one and start a rewrite. Not a polish – a complete rewrite. I will often throw away a hundred pages at a time, get rid of a half dozen characters and add new ones. Along the way, I constantly refine and tighten. When I get to the end of the book again, I go back to page one. I repeat this process as many as a dozen times, spending anywhere from a year to a year and a half rewriting and finally polishing, until the manuscript is as good as I know how to make it.’
Sidney Sheldon
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http:// hurricanehunter.blogspot.com
March 3, 2010
Through the Years With Oscar
This Week
The Early Years of Oscar
Judge Spicer Delivers his Finding
Writers Notebook: On rewriting.
'Open the envelope please.'
With the 72nd Motion Picture Academy Awards coming up this Sunday, March 7, 2010 I'd like to revisit and comment on some of the the early Oscar years.
Year, Film and Director:
1927/28 - Wings – William A. Wellman
1928/29 - The Broadway Melody – Harry Beaumont
1929/30 - All Quiet on the Western Front – Lewis Milestone
1930/31 - Cimarron – Wesley Ruggles
1931/32 - Grand Hotel – Edmond Goulding
1932/33 - Cavalcade – Frank Lloyd
1934 - It Happened one Night – Frank Capra
1935 - Mutiny on the Bounty – Frank Lloyd
1936 - The Great Ziegfeld – Robert Z. Leonard
1937 - The Life of Emile Zola – William Dieterle
1938 - You can't Take it With you – Frank Capra
Choosing the best of the best every year just to be nominated is hard enough – then selecting one from that short list is almost impossible. Thankfully that winnowing process is done by several thousand academy members voting by secret ballot.
I suspect that through the years vote buying has been a minor problem, but all in all talent has generally won the day. And looking back to the early years, to make my point, I've looked up a few of those talented recipients from 1928 through 1938. I selected only four, beginning with Ben Hecht, Google them and maybe you'll make some changes – let me hear from you.
Ben Hecht won two writing Oscars for the Underworld and The Scoundrel.
Frances Marion won two for writing The Big House and The Champ.
Frank Lloyd won a directors award for Cavalcade and was nominated for Mutiny on the Bounty.
Frank Capra won three Oscars It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, and You Can't take it With you. Capra was nominated for three others.
Next week we are going to concentrate on one single year 1939. Many contend that in 1939 more great films were produced in Hollywood than any other single year ever. We'll see what you think.
In the meantime, go to Oscar.com and see what the 72nd Academy Awards will be all about.
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Spicer Hearing: Tuesday morning, November 29th
Judge Spicer’s courtroom was filled to capacity, everyone anxious to hear, first hand, the judge’s ruling. However, the crowd was immediately disappointed when the prosecution requested and was given the opportunity to call one more witness.
Ernest Storm took the stand and District Attorney Price questioned and re questioned the witness regarding Tom McLowry as to whether he was armed or not at the time of the confrontation. Storm was not at all convincing and the defense had no questions on cross-examination.
It was early in the day when Ernest Storm stepped out of the witness box¸ however since Judge Spicer needed to consider that last piece of evidence, he recessed the court until two o’clock that afternoon.
As clock hands neared the appointed hour Tombstone residents crowded into Judge Spicer's courtroom. Will McLowry and Ike Clanton sat at the prosecution table along with District Attorney Lyttleton Price and his chief assistant Earl Smith. At the defense table Doc and Wyatt sat between Tom Fitch and T.J. Drum. The gallery was populated with more than a score of lawyers and legal experts representing both sides of the argument.
Judge Spicer entered the courtroom and even before he took his seat picked up his gavel, slammed it onto the desk top and growled, "Quiet in the courtroom! Bailiff, them that can't stay quiet, escort them out of the room."
The courtroom immediately went from a din of chatter to pin drop silence.
The judge took his time, adjusted his spectacles and deliberately put his papers in order. Then in a clear voice, he read, in meticulous order, the formal charges. Spicer then ticked off several of the prosecution’s assertions and defense rebuttals.
The issue that seemed most perplexing to the judge was basic and had to do with the fairness of the fight. Prosecution contended that the Earps and Holliday had taken advantage of the cowboys and shot them as they were trying to surrender... The defense believed the Earps and Holliday had been drawn into an ambush, set up by the cowboys, and that they had every right to defend their own lives.
Judge Spicer pointed out specific testimony in an effort to make his point. "Addie Borland saw distinctly the approach of the Earps and Holliday. This was only minutes before the altercation. This witness was directly across the street where she could observe all their movements. She could not tell who fired first, that the firing commenced at once from both sides upon the approach of the Earp party. And that no one held his hands up -- she would have seen them had they been over their heads." The judge then took a sip of water and continued. "Another unbiased witness, Sills asserts that the firing was almost simultaneous. He cannot tell which side fired first.
The defendants were officers charged with the duty of disarming brave, determined men who were experts in the use of firearms. As quick as thought and certain as death and who had previously declared their intentions -- not to be arrested nor disarmed.”
The attorneys and partisan gallery listened intently.
"The testimony of Isaac Clanton that this tragedy was a result of a scheme on the part of the Earps to assassinate him, and thereby bury in oblivion the confessions the Earps had made to him about "piping" away the shipment of coin by Wells Fargo & Co., falls short of being a sound theory. The most prominent fact in the matter, to wit, Isaac Clanton was not injured at all. If it was the object of the attack to kill him, he would have been the first to fall. But, he was believed to be unarmed. And was suffered, so Wyatt Earp testifies, told to go away and was not harmed.
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Maybe I dwell too much on rewriting, but from my point of view rewriting is the most important part of our work.
That being said, there is no consensus on how to go about the task and that will probably never change.
However, here’s one system that I find very interesting.
‘Once you’ve begun a novel, finish it before you revise a word. Don’t polish as you go. Finishing not only gives you a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll really know your characters and can spot pitfalls. Make notes of necessary changes that occur to you as you write,’ says writer Jill Marie Landis.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
The Early Years of Oscar
Judge Spicer Delivers his Finding
Writers Notebook: On rewriting.
'Open the envelope please.'
With the 72nd Motion Picture Academy Awards coming up this Sunday, March 7, 2010 I'd like to revisit and comment on some of the the early Oscar years.
Year, Film and Director:
1927/28 - Wings – William A. Wellman
1928/29 - The Broadway Melody – Harry Beaumont
1929/30 - All Quiet on the Western Front – Lewis Milestone
1930/31 - Cimarron – Wesley Ruggles
1931/32 - Grand Hotel – Edmond Goulding
1932/33 - Cavalcade – Frank Lloyd
1934 - It Happened one Night – Frank Capra
1935 - Mutiny on the Bounty – Frank Lloyd
1936 - The Great Ziegfeld – Robert Z. Leonard
1937 - The Life of Emile Zola – William Dieterle
1938 - You can't Take it With you – Frank Capra
Choosing the best of the best every year just to be nominated is hard enough – then selecting one from that short list is almost impossible. Thankfully that winnowing process is done by several thousand academy members voting by secret ballot.
I suspect that through the years vote buying has been a minor problem, but all in all talent has generally won the day. And looking back to the early years, to make my point, I've looked up a few of those talented recipients from 1928 through 1938. I selected only four, beginning with Ben Hecht, Google them and maybe you'll make some changes – let me hear from you.
Ben Hecht won two writing Oscars for the Underworld and The Scoundrel.
Frances Marion won two for writing The Big House and The Champ.
Frank Lloyd won a directors award for Cavalcade and was nominated for Mutiny on the Bounty.
Frank Capra won three Oscars It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, and You Can't take it With you. Capra was nominated for three others.
Next week we are going to concentrate on one single year 1939. Many contend that in 1939 more great films were produced in Hollywood than any other single year ever. We'll see what you think.
In the meantime, go to Oscar.com and see what the 72nd Academy Awards will be all about.
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Spicer Hearing: Tuesday morning, November 29th
Judge Spicer’s courtroom was filled to capacity, everyone anxious to hear, first hand, the judge’s ruling. However, the crowd was immediately disappointed when the prosecution requested and was given the opportunity to call one more witness.
Ernest Storm took the stand and District Attorney Price questioned and re questioned the witness regarding Tom McLowry as to whether he was armed or not at the time of the confrontation. Storm was not at all convincing and the defense had no questions on cross-examination.
It was early in the day when Ernest Storm stepped out of the witness box¸ however since Judge Spicer needed to consider that last piece of evidence, he recessed the court until two o’clock that afternoon.
As clock hands neared the appointed hour Tombstone residents crowded into Judge Spicer's courtroom. Will McLowry and Ike Clanton sat at the prosecution table along with District Attorney Lyttleton Price and his chief assistant Earl Smith. At the defense table Doc and Wyatt sat between Tom Fitch and T.J. Drum. The gallery was populated with more than a score of lawyers and legal experts representing both sides of the argument.
Judge Spicer entered the courtroom and even before he took his seat picked up his gavel, slammed it onto the desk top and growled, "Quiet in the courtroom! Bailiff, them that can't stay quiet, escort them out of the room."
The courtroom immediately went from a din of chatter to pin drop silence.
The judge took his time, adjusted his spectacles and deliberately put his papers in order. Then in a clear voice, he read, in meticulous order, the formal charges. Spicer then ticked off several of the prosecution’s assertions and defense rebuttals.
The issue that seemed most perplexing to the judge was basic and had to do with the fairness of the fight. Prosecution contended that the Earps and Holliday had taken advantage of the cowboys and shot them as they were trying to surrender... The defense believed the Earps and Holliday had been drawn into an ambush, set up by the cowboys, and that they had every right to defend their own lives.
Judge Spicer pointed out specific testimony in an effort to make his point. "Addie Borland saw distinctly the approach of the Earps and Holliday. This was only minutes before the altercation. This witness was directly across the street where she could observe all their movements. She could not tell who fired first, that the firing commenced at once from both sides upon the approach of the Earp party. And that no one held his hands up -- she would have seen them had they been over their heads." The judge then took a sip of water and continued. "Another unbiased witness, Sills asserts that the firing was almost simultaneous. He cannot tell which side fired first.
The defendants were officers charged with the duty of disarming brave, determined men who were experts in the use of firearms. As quick as thought and certain as death and who had previously declared their intentions -- not to be arrested nor disarmed.”
The attorneys and partisan gallery listened intently.
"The testimony of Isaac Clanton that this tragedy was a result of a scheme on the part of the Earps to assassinate him, and thereby bury in oblivion the confessions the Earps had made to him about "piping" away the shipment of coin by Wells Fargo & Co., falls short of being a sound theory. The most prominent fact in the matter, to wit, Isaac Clanton was not injured at all. If it was the object of the attack to kill him, he would have been the first to fall. But, he was believed to be unarmed. And was suffered, so Wyatt Earp testifies, told to go away and was not harmed.
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Maybe I dwell too much on rewriting, but from my point of view rewriting is the most important part of our work.
That being said, there is no consensus on how to go about the task and that will probably never change.
However, here’s one system that I find very interesting.
‘Once you’ve begun a novel, finish it before you revise a word. Don’t polish as you go. Finishing not only gives you a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll really know your characters and can spot pitfalls. Make notes of necessary changes that occur to you as you write,’ says writer Jill Marie Landis.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
February 24, 2010
The Academy Awards and Oscar
This Week
Meet me at the Ambassador
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Writers Notebook: Story origins
Ambassador Hotel
Monday, January 11, 1927
Thirty six members of the Hollywood motion picture community, interested in promoting the film industry, gathered at the Ambassador Hotel for dinner and a meeting.
Members attending that meeting are listed in alphabetical order: J.A. Ball, Richard Barthelmess, Fred Beetson, Charles H. Christie, George Cohen, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Joseph W. Farnham, Cedric Gibbons, Benjamin Glazer, Sid Grauman, Milton Hoffman, Jack Holt, Henry King, Jesse Lasky, M.C. Levee, Frank Lloyd, Harold Lloyd, Edwin Loeb, Jeanie MacPherson, Louis B. Mayer, Bess Meredyth, Conrad Nagel, Fred Niblo, Mary Pickford, Roy Pomeroy, Harry Rapf, Joseph Schenck, Milton Sills, John Stahl, Irving Thalberg, Raoul Walsh, Harry Warner, Jack L. Warner, Carey Wilson and Frank Woods.
During the meeting Mayer, Nagel, Niblo and Beetson laid out a general plan and fielded questions from the group. At the end of the meeting L.B. Mayer announced that the present group would be known as the official founders of the Academy of Motion Pictures.
Following that meeting the group moved swiftly to put together articles of incorporation. By mid March the first officers were elected: Douglas Fairbanks (president), Fred Niblo (vice president), M.C. Levee (treasurer), and Frank Woods (secretary).
On May 4, 1927 the State of California granted the academy a charter as a non profit corporation and one week later, on May 11, 1927 a festive and official organizational banquet took place in the Crystal Ball Room of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles with three hundred guests in attendance.
Of that group of three hundred two hundred and thirty wrote checks in the amount of one hundred dollars each and were accepted as Pioneer members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
From that night in May it seems that everyone in the movie industry became enthusiastic about the academy and wanted to be a part of it.
Cedric Gibbons, one of the academy founders, was tasked with designing the statue of merit that would be handed out at the Academy Awards ceremony – Oscar was born.
Here are the major awards winners for the first Academy presentation. 1927-28
Production (Picture):
"WINGS," also nominated "The Racket," "Seventh Heaven...."
Actor:
EMIL JANNINGS in "The Way of All Flesh"
Actress:
JANET GAYNOR in "Seventh Heaven"
Director: (Two Awards)
Drama Direction:
FRANK BORZAGE for "Seventh Heaven"
Comedy Direction:
LEWIS MILESTONE for "Two Arabian Knights"
Adapted Screenplay:
Benjamin Glazer (Seventh Heaven)
Original Story:
Ben Hecht (Underworld)
(To be continued)
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Spicer Hearing final Witness – View the OK Corral
Doc shuffled through his notes and pulled the one out that said, why didn’t Tom Fitch ask a follow up question of Mrs. Bourland regarding the cowboy’s hands up status. Then he mused, Judge Spicer asked Tom’s question with absolute clarity and Mrs. Bourland’s answer put to rest the cowboy’s surrender claims. Doc wadded up the note and chuckled as he flipped it into the trash basket.
T.J. Drum called Judge J.H. Lucas, a slight bespectacled man to the stand. The judge’s office is on the second floor of the Exchange Building which fronts on Fremont Street, on the opposite side of the street from Fly's building.
Judge Lucas was in his office on the afternoon of the difficulty heard the shots being fired and rushed to the front window. “I looked down the street and saw Billy Clanton standing in front of the house just below Fly's building. He had his pistol up and I thought was firing. Then for fear of a stray bullet, I drew my head in for an instant. When I looked again, he was still standing there with his pistol and I thought fighting."
"Did you see anyone other than Billy Clanton, shooting or fighting, as you said?" T.J. Drum asked.
"No. I did not see anyone else that I thought had weapons."
"What happened to Billy Clanton?"
"I saw from his movement that he was wounded. His body seemed to bend a little and his pistol was above his head as he was in the act of falling. He caught against the window or wall and turned partly around. He struggled until he was clean down to the ground. Then the firing ceased."
"Thank you Judge Lucas, I have no further questions."
The district attorney stepped forward to cross-examine the witness. "Did you see any other person or persons with arms and engaged in shooting at the time you saw a pistol in Billy Clanton's hand?"
“I did not. I heard considerable shooting, but could not see any other parties with weapons, except Billy Clanton."
Price then turned to the Judge, “I have no further questions, Your Honor.”
Judge Spicer said, “You may step down, Judge Lucas.”
As soon as Judge Lucas stepped out of the witness box Tom Fitch announced, “Defense has no further witnesses, Your Honor.”
Judge Spicer rubbed his chin and looked at his notes for a long moment. Then he relaxed and sat back in his chair. "I plan to take some time and study the testimony. I shall adjourn this court to be reconvened Tuesday morning November 29th at nine o'clock."
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Writers write best about what they know – sounds cliche, but it’s true. You might also add this bit, there’s a tinge of autobiography and a hint of bias in all of it.
Margaret Mitchell's ‘Gone the Wind’ is an excellent example. Ms. Mitchell based her great American novels location in and around Jonesboro, Georgia where her ancestors had lived, and a number of her characters were based on either relatives or people she knew.
Ernest Hemingway drew from a real life experience when he wrote ‘The Sun Also Rises.’ Donald Ogden Stewart, Oscar winning writer, and friend of Hemingway's tells that, while in Spain together they had made it into American newspapers as, ‘bullfighting Americanos’ in Pamplona in 1924. Then when ‘The Sun Also Rises’ was published in 1926, Stewart was mystified by the praise lavished on it. It seemed to him only an accurate journalistic account of what had actually happened during their trip to Pamplona with a group of friends, including some British Royalty. (Brett Ashley in the book).
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
Meet me at the Ambassador
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Writers Notebook: Story origins
Ambassador Hotel
Monday, January 11, 1927
Thirty six members of the Hollywood motion picture community, interested in promoting the film industry, gathered at the Ambassador Hotel for dinner and a meeting.
Members attending that meeting are listed in alphabetical order: J.A. Ball, Richard Barthelmess, Fred Beetson, Charles H. Christie, George Cohen, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Joseph W. Farnham, Cedric Gibbons, Benjamin Glazer, Sid Grauman, Milton Hoffman, Jack Holt, Henry King, Jesse Lasky, M.C. Levee, Frank Lloyd, Harold Lloyd, Edwin Loeb, Jeanie MacPherson, Louis B. Mayer, Bess Meredyth, Conrad Nagel, Fred Niblo, Mary Pickford, Roy Pomeroy, Harry Rapf, Joseph Schenck, Milton Sills, John Stahl, Irving Thalberg, Raoul Walsh, Harry Warner, Jack L. Warner, Carey Wilson and Frank Woods.
During the meeting Mayer, Nagel, Niblo and Beetson laid out a general plan and fielded questions from the group. At the end of the meeting L.B. Mayer announced that the present group would be known as the official founders of the Academy of Motion Pictures.
Following that meeting the group moved swiftly to put together articles of incorporation. By mid March the first officers were elected: Douglas Fairbanks (president), Fred Niblo (vice president), M.C. Levee (treasurer), and Frank Woods (secretary).
On May 4, 1927 the State of California granted the academy a charter as a non profit corporation and one week later, on May 11, 1927 a festive and official organizational banquet took place in the Crystal Ball Room of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles with three hundred guests in attendance.
Of that group of three hundred two hundred and thirty wrote checks in the amount of one hundred dollars each and were accepted as Pioneer members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
From that night in May it seems that everyone in the movie industry became enthusiastic about the academy and wanted to be a part of it.
Cedric Gibbons, one of the academy founders, was tasked with designing the statue of merit that would be handed out at the Academy Awards ceremony – Oscar was born.
Here are the major awards winners for the first Academy presentation. 1927-28
Production (Picture):
"WINGS," also nominated "The Racket," "Seventh Heaven...."
Actor:
EMIL JANNINGS in "The Way of All Flesh"
Actress:
JANET GAYNOR in "Seventh Heaven"
Director: (Two Awards)
Drama Direction:
FRANK BORZAGE for "Seventh Heaven"
Comedy Direction:
LEWIS MILESTONE for "Two Arabian Knights"
Adapted Screenplay:
Benjamin Glazer (Seventh Heaven)
Original Story:
Ben Hecht (Underworld)
(To be continued)
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Spicer Hearing final Witness – View the OK Corral
Doc shuffled through his notes and pulled the one out that said, why didn’t Tom Fitch ask a follow up question of Mrs. Bourland regarding the cowboy’s hands up status. Then he mused, Judge Spicer asked Tom’s question with absolute clarity and Mrs. Bourland’s answer put to rest the cowboy’s surrender claims. Doc wadded up the note and chuckled as he flipped it into the trash basket.
T.J. Drum called Judge J.H. Lucas, a slight bespectacled man to the stand. The judge’s office is on the second floor of the Exchange Building which fronts on Fremont Street, on the opposite side of the street from Fly's building.
Judge Lucas was in his office on the afternoon of the difficulty heard the shots being fired and rushed to the front window. “I looked down the street and saw Billy Clanton standing in front of the house just below Fly's building. He had his pistol up and I thought was firing. Then for fear of a stray bullet, I drew my head in for an instant. When I looked again, he was still standing there with his pistol and I thought fighting."
"Did you see anyone other than Billy Clanton, shooting or fighting, as you said?" T.J. Drum asked.
"No. I did not see anyone else that I thought had weapons."
"What happened to Billy Clanton?"
"I saw from his movement that he was wounded. His body seemed to bend a little and his pistol was above his head as he was in the act of falling. He caught against the window or wall and turned partly around. He struggled until he was clean down to the ground. Then the firing ceased."
"Thank you Judge Lucas, I have no further questions."
The district attorney stepped forward to cross-examine the witness. "Did you see any other person or persons with arms and engaged in shooting at the time you saw a pistol in Billy Clanton's hand?"
“I did not. I heard considerable shooting, but could not see any other parties with weapons, except Billy Clanton."
Price then turned to the Judge, “I have no further questions, Your Honor.”
Judge Spicer said, “You may step down, Judge Lucas.”
As soon as Judge Lucas stepped out of the witness box Tom Fitch announced, “Defense has no further witnesses, Your Honor.”
Judge Spicer rubbed his chin and looked at his notes for a long moment. Then he relaxed and sat back in his chair. "I plan to take some time and study the testimony. I shall adjourn this court to be reconvened Tuesday morning November 29th at nine o'clock."
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Writers write best about what they know – sounds cliche, but it’s true. You might also add this bit, there’s a tinge of autobiography and a hint of bias in all of it.
Margaret Mitchell's ‘Gone the Wind’ is an excellent example. Ms. Mitchell based her great American novels location in and around Jonesboro, Georgia where her ancestors had lived, and a number of her characters were based on either relatives or people she knew.
Ernest Hemingway drew from a real life experience when he wrote ‘The Sun Also Rises.’ Donald Ogden Stewart, Oscar winning writer, and friend of Hemingway's tells that, while in Spain together they had made it into American newspapers as, ‘bullfighting Americanos’ in Pamplona in 1924. Then when ‘The Sun Also Rises’ was published in 1926, Stewart was mystified by the praise lavished on it. It seemed to him only an accurate journalistic account of what had actually happened during their trip to Pamplona with a group of friends, including some British Royalty. (Brett Ashley in the book).
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
February 17, 2010
Hollywood, Oscar and Doc Holliday
This Week
Academy Awards
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Writers Notebook: Sherwood Anderson
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The head of MGM, Louis B. Mayer might have had more enemies than friends in Hollywood, but like him or hate him you have to recognize him as a visionary. Mayer had seen Hollywood's dark side with scandals and turf wars. And he was part of a group that mobilized the Hays Office in an effort to keep Hollywood on a moral high ground. And while the Hays office did a good job in the area of morality Mayer felt the film industry needed something more than morality police.
Following the great success of the Jazz Singer and sound becoming a reality Mayer thought an organization was needed to mediate labor disputes and improve the industry's overall image. And in an effort to promote his idea, he assembled a small group that included actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblo, and the head of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Fred Beetson to sit down and discuss the matters. That group tossed some ideas around and before setting up any rules for action they decided to expand the group and get more input.
Over a period of weeks they expanded the group and began to set up rules and by-laws that would establish the kind of membership that would be open to people that were involved in one or the other of the five branches of the industry actors, directors, writers, technicians and producers.
Membership had grown to thirty six and they included L.B. Mayer, Conrad Nagel, Fred Niblo, Fred Beetson, Mary Pickford, Sid Grumman, Jesse Lasky, George Cohen, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Cedric Gibbons and Irving Thalberg. (I hope to find the other founding members and I will post their names ASAP.)
Mayer invited all the current members to a formal banquet at the Ambassador Hotel on the evening of January 11, 1927 for a dinner and meeting. That evening he announced to those present, and later put it into a press release, what he called the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and membership was open to those who had contributed to the motion picture industry. Everyone in the room that evening became a founder of the Academy. It wasn’t until later, when Mayer's lawyers were writing up the charter, that the name changed to "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.”
Douglas Fairbanks, was elected as the first president of the Academy. And as one of his first acts, he added an activity that would bestow awards of merit and achievement. No one back then saw it as anything more than just an award. However, they were on the brink of forming something historical. A year later the voting system for the Awards was established, and the nomination and selection process began.
There have been many great moments in the Academy Awards history and one of them happened during the 1972 Oscar ceremony.
Back Stage with Duke Howard:
"I was there"
'The year 1972, it was the "44 Academy Awards."Charlie Chaplin was about to receive his second Oscar. This one was to be a honorary awarded to be presented to him for his great contribution of making motion pictures an art form of the 20thCentury.
I was back stage working as a stage hand out of the Stage Hands Local 33 when I watched a prop man bring out a comfortable padded chair and place it center stage behind the main curtain.
Then Charlie was brought out on stage by Cybill Shepherd. If I remember correctly, she was holding his arm as they walked out on stage. I was wondering what they were saying to one another. She seated him, and there he was sitting on the stage of the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion. My thoughts at the time was what is he thinking? I would have loved to be able to hear his thoughts as he sat alone on this barren stage. It had been a long time for Charlie who had been in exile. This was 43 years after his first Academy Award. Was he thinking about how he was going to be received by the motion picture audience? He had been such a controversial figure during his years as a film maker, but what a genius. Would he be accepted and how?
The Curtain was pulled back and Charlie to finally faced his peers. As he slowly walked with trepidation out on stage, the applause began to build and people stood. They all applauded and it seemed to go on forever. The warm feeling for this genius was mutual and overwhelming. From what I have been told it went on for 5 minutes, and it was the longest standing ovation in Academy Award History. I wish I could have seen Charlie's face and I don't remember what he said to the audience. Being backstage had its disadvantage, but after they closed the curtain, I could see he was animated with Cybill when she helped him off stage, so he was happy and elated.
Charlie was blown away by the unexpected reception he received. I am glad I was there to see this great moment in the life of an icon'
Duke Howard
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Excerpt – Spicer Hearing
At precisely two o’clock Judge Spicer rapped his gavel and the noise in the room subsided. The judge peered over the top of his spectacles and announced, "The court would like to have the last witness return to the stand. Mrs. Addie Bourland please take the stand and keep in mind that you are still under oath."
"I object, Your Honor,” the district attorney said as he got to his feet, “this is highly irregular."
Judge Spicer chuckled. "Objection overruled. The court has another question or two for this witness."
Spicer took his time, sorted through his notes and said, "Mrs. Bourland, you said in your examination that you were looking at the parties engaged in that fatal affray in Tombstone on the 26th of October last. Now, at the time the firing commenced, please state the position in which the party called the cowboys held their hands when the firing started. That is, were they holding up their hands, or were they firing back at the other party?"
"Prosecution objects to the further examination of the witness, Addie Bourland.” Price stood tall and flailed his arms about. "Her testimony has been read and signed off on by both defense and prosecution, neither of which has requested any further testimony from this witness."
"You have no objection to the truth coming out do you, Mr. Price?" Judge Spicer snapped.
The bluster disappeared and Price said, "No, Your Honor."
"Then let me finish some of the court's business. Objection overruled."
Judge Spicer took off his spectacles and looked out toward the gallery. "Following recess, I decided to walk to the scene of the shooting and once there, I recognized the proximity of this witness's vantage point. I decided further questions were in order so that I might clear some things up in my own mind. I talked to Mrs. Bourland and scanned the scene of the shooting. Then I asked her several questions and requested her to return to this court. Now that is where the matter stands.”
Then the judge turned and spoke directly to the witness. "You said in your examination that you were looking at the parties engaged in the affray. At the time the firing commenced. Please state the position in which the parties called the cowboys held their hands. That is, were they holding up their hands or were they firing back at the other party?"
"I did not see anyone hold up their hands. They all seemed to be firing. They were firing at each other. From the time the firing commenced."
Spicer looked at Price and said, "Now Mr. Prosecutor, go ahead and cross-examine, if you have any questions."
"Thank you, Your Honor." Price walked to the witness and in a taunting tone said, "Didn't you say this morning, that you did not see who fired the first shot?"
"I did say so."
"Did you say this morning, there were two shots fired close together?"
"I did not," Mrs. Bourland rebutted sharply.
"Did you say there were any shots fired at all?"
"I did.”
"Did you say this morning that when the first two or four shots were fired, you were excited and confused and got up from the window and went into the back room?"
"I did not say how many shots were fired when I went into the back room."
"What conversation did you have with Judge Spicer, if any, with reference to your testimony to be given here since you signed your testimony this morning?"
"He asked me one or two questions in regard to seeing the difficulty, and if I saw any men hold up their hands. And if they had thrown up their hands whether I would have seen it. I told him I thought I would have seen it."
"Did you testify this morning that those men did not throw up their hands?"
"Yes, sir. I did."
"I have no further questions."
Spicer looked toward the defense table, "Any questions?"
"We have no questions, Your Honor." Tom Fitch said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Bourland,” Judge Spicer said, “I believe that will be all now. You may step down."
Writers Notebook:
Honor your character’s integrity.
To paraphrase Sherwood Anderson: Your characters should be as real as living people. You should be no more willing to sell them out than you would to sell out your friends or the woman you love. To take the lives of those people and bend or twist them to suit the needs of some cleverly thought out plot to give your readers a false emotion is as mean and ignoble as it is to sell out living men or women… And that is the truth.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter,blogspot.com
Academy Awards
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Writers Notebook: Sherwood Anderson
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The head of MGM, Louis B. Mayer might have had more enemies than friends in Hollywood, but like him or hate him you have to recognize him as a visionary. Mayer had seen Hollywood's dark side with scandals and turf wars. And he was part of a group that mobilized the Hays Office in an effort to keep Hollywood on a moral high ground. And while the Hays office did a good job in the area of morality Mayer felt the film industry needed something more than morality police.
Following the great success of the Jazz Singer and sound becoming a reality Mayer thought an organization was needed to mediate labor disputes and improve the industry's overall image. And in an effort to promote his idea, he assembled a small group that included actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblo, and the head of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Fred Beetson to sit down and discuss the matters. That group tossed some ideas around and before setting up any rules for action they decided to expand the group and get more input.
Over a period of weeks they expanded the group and began to set up rules and by-laws that would establish the kind of membership that would be open to people that were involved in one or the other of the five branches of the industry actors, directors, writers, technicians and producers.
Membership had grown to thirty six and they included L.B. Mayer, Conrad Nagel, Fred Niblo, Fred Beetson, Mary Pickford, Sid Grumman, Jesse Lasky, George Cohen, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Cedric Gibbons and Irving Thalberg. (I hope to find the other founding members and I will post their names ASAP.)
Mayer invited all the current members to a formal banquet at the Ambassador Hotel on the evening of January 11, 1927 for a dinner and meeting. That evening he announced to those present, and later put it into a press release, what he called the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and membership was open to those who had contributed to the motion picture industry. Everyone in the room that evening became a founder of the Academy. It wasn’t until later, when Mayer's lawyers were writing up the charter, that the name changed to "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.”
Douglas Fairbanks, was elected as the first president of the Academy. And as one of his first acts, he added an activity that would bestow awards of merit and achievement. No one back then saw it as anything more than just an award. However, they were on the brink of forming something historical. A year later the voting system for the Awards was established, and the nomination and selection process began.
There have been many great moments in the Academy Awards history and one of them happened during the 1972 Oscar ceremony.
Back Stage with Duke Howard:
"I was there"
'The year 1972, it was the "44 Academy Awards."Charlie Chaplin was about to receive his second Oscar. This one was to be a honorary awarded to be presented to him for his great contribution of making motion pictures an art form of the 20thCentury.
I was back stage working as a stage hand out of the Stage Hands Local 33 when I watched a prop man bring out a comfortable padded chair and place it center stage behind the main curtain.
Then Charlie was brought out on stage by Cybill Shepherd. If I remember correctly, she was holding his arm as they walked out on stage. I was wondering what they were saying to one another. She seated him, and there he was sitting on the stage of the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion. My thoughts at the time was what is he thinking? I would have loved to be able to hear his thoughts as he sat alone on this barren stage. It had been a long time for Charlie who had been in exile. This was 43 years after his first Academy Award. Was he thinking about how he was going to be received by the motion picture audience? He had been such a controversial figure during his years as a film maker, but what a genius. Would he be accepted and how?
The Curtain was pulled back and Charlie to finally faced his peers. As he slowly walked with trepidation out on stage, the applause began to build and people stood. They all applauded and it seemed to go on forever. The warm feeling for this genius was mutual and overwhelming. From what I have been told it went on for 5 minutes, and it was the longest standing ovation in Academy Award History. I wish I could have seen Charlie's face and I don't remember what he said to the audience. Being backstage had its disadvantage, but after they closed the curtain, I could see he was animated with Cybill when she helped him off stage, so he was happy and elated.
Charlie was blown away by the unexpected reception he received. I am glad I was there to see this great moment in the life of an icon'
Duke Howard
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone
Excerpt – Spicer Hearing
At precisely two o’clock Judge Spicer rapped his gavel and the noise in the room subsided. The judge peered over the top of his spectacles and announced, "The court would like to have the last witness return to the stand. Mrs. Addie Bourland please take the stand and keep in mind that you are still under oath."
"I object, Your Honor,” the district attorney said as he got to his feet, “this is highly irregular."
Judge Spicer chuckled. "Objection overruled. The court has another question or two for this witness."
Spicer took his time, sorted through his notes and said, "Mrs. Bourland, you said in your examination that you were looking at the parties engaged in that fatal affray in Tombstone on the 26th of October last. Now, at the time the firing commenced, please state the position in which the party called the cowboys held their hands when the firing started. That is, were they holding up their hands, or were they firing back at the other party?"
"Prosecution objects to the further examination of the witness, Addie Bourland.” Price stood tall and flailed his arms about. "Her testimony has been read and signed off on by both defense and prosecution, neither of which has requested any further testimony from this witness."
"You have no objection to the truth coming out do you, Mr. Price?" Judge Spicer snapped.
The bluster disappeared and Price said, "No, Your Honor."
"Then let me finish some of the court's business. Objection overruled."
Judge Spicer took off his spectacles and looked out toward the gallery. "Following recess, I decided to walk to the scene of the shooting and once there, I recognized the proximity of this witness's vantage point. I decided further questions were in order so that I might clear some things up in my own mind. I talked to Mrs. Bourland and scanned the scene of the shooting. Then I asked her several questions and requested her to return to this court. Now that is where the matter stands.”
Then the judge turned and spoke directly to the witness. "You said in your examination that you were looking at the parties engaged in the affray. At the time the firing commenced. Please state the position in which the parties called the cowboys held their hands. That is, were they holding up their hands or were they firing back at the other party?"
"I did not see anyone hold up their hands. They all seemed to be firing. They were firing at each other. From the time the firing commenced."
Spicer looked at Price and said, "Now Mr. Prosecutor, go ahead and cross-examine, if you have any questions."
"Thank you, Your Honor." Price walked to the witness and in a taunting tone said, "Didn't you say this morning, that you did not see who fired the first shot?"
"I did say so."
"Did you say this morning, there were two shots fired close together?"
"I did not," Mrs. Bourland rebutted sharply.
"Did you say there were any shots fired at all?"
"I did.”
"Did you say this morning that when the first two or four shots were fired, you were excited and confused and got up from the window and went into the back room?"
"I did not say how many shots were fired when I went into the back room."
"What conversation did you have with Judge Spicer, if any, with reference to your testimony to be given here since you signed your testimony this morning?"
"He asked me one or two questions in regard to seeing the difficulty, and if I saw any men hold up their hands. And if they had thrown up their hands whether I would have seen it. I told him I thought I would have seen it."
"Did you testify this morning that those men did not throw up their hands?"
"Yes, sir. I did."
"I have no further questions."
Spicer looked toward the defense table, "Any questions?"
"We have no questions, Your Honor." Tom Fitch said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Bourland,” Judge Spicer said, “I believe that will be all now. You may step down."
Writers Notebook:
Honor your character’s integrity.
To paraphrase Sherwood Anderson: Your characters should be as real as living people. You should be no more willing to sell them out than you would to sell out your friends or the woman you love. To take the lives of those people and bend or twist them to suit the needs of some cleverly thought out plot to give your readers a false emotion is as mean and ignoble as it is to sell out living men or women… And that is the truth.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter,blogspot.com
February 10, 2010
Out of the Silence
This Week
Let's Go to the Movies
Spicer Hearing witness Addie Bourland
Writers Notebook:
Early Hollywood Screenwriters
As Hollywood moved away from silent films to sound I'd like to mention several female writers and their contributions to the film industry.
They we all hard working, bright and talented.
Bess Meredyth was an award winning screenwriter and actress. She was also one of the founders of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Among her many screen credits 'A Woman of Affairs,' 'Strange Interlude,' 'Don Juan,' The Mighty Barnum, Charlie Chan at the Opera and the Mark of Zorro.
June Mathis wrote screenplays, her first being 'House of Tears,' back in New York. However she moved to Hollywood and after only one year of screenwriting at Metro Films she was moved to the scenario department and was one of the first heads of any film department and the only female executive at Metro.
Richard Rowland, the head of Metro paid twenty thousand dollars for the novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The epic best seller was considered unadaptable by every major studio in the country. Rowland handed the book off to Mathis for adaptation and was so impress with her screenplay that he ask for her input on director and star. Ms. Mathis accepted the challenge and picked Rex Ingram for the director and the fledgling actor Rudolph Valentino as the star. It worked perfectly well and Valentino became an immediate star. And later that same year they did Blood and Sand.
Anita Loos grew up in California and had a dynamic personality. Her career as a screenwriter had its beginning when she wrote the short story 'The New York Hat' and submitted to to D.W. Griffith. The story was adapted to the screen by Griffith, Mary Pickford played the lead and the film was successful.
During the silent era miss Loos became known as Miss fix-it. She could take a dull film, rewrite new captions and make a silk purse out of a souse's ear.
Anita Loos also wrote stories for Douglas Fairbanks who soon became one of the great stars of the American screen. Loos was a prolific writer and turned out scores of scripts like 'The Virtuous Vamp', 'Two Weeks,' 'In search of a Sinner,' 'Dangerous Business,' 'The Perfect Woman.' Her most famous story was 'Gentleman Prefer Blonds.' She wasn't finished with that story because she wrote San Francisco, Saratoga and 'The Women,'
Frances Marion grew up in San Francisco and before arriving in Hollywood in 1913 she had worked as an artist, photographer's model, commercial illustrator, and writer of several stories and verse. In her early days in Los Angeles she was introduced to Mary Pickford and they became great friends as well as collaborators and colleagues for the rest of their lives.
Marion also worked closely with Marie Dressler and others including Alice Brady, Elsie Janis, Billie Burke, and Marion Davies. She also worked with male actors Ronald Coleman, Rudolph Valentino, John Gilbert and Wallace Beery.
Many of the producers of the time considered her their go to screenwriter and they included William Randolph Hearst, Joe Kennedy, L.B. Mayer, Irving Thalberg. Sam Goldwyn was one of her favorite producers and the feeling was mutual – Marion was his favorite screenwriter.
Some of her late hits were Stella Dallas, Dinner at Eight, The Champ and The Big House.
Frances Marion won Oscars for the Champ and The Big House.
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone'
Excerpt from Judge Spicer's Hearing.
Doc scratched out a note: Within a couple of hours after the shooting Johnny Behan tells Virg, 'I am your friend, you did perfectly right.' Was Williams being enticed to modify his testimony by the prosecution with a job on the district attorney's staff?
Doc thumped his pencil onto his note pad and thought the answer was a probably yes, but the larger question was what did the judge think?
Judge Spicer dismissed Mr. Williams and motioned to defense to call their next witness.
Tom Fitch said, “Would Mrs. Addie Bourland please come forward?”
A tall thin, middle-aged, woman wearing a long blue calico dress walked to the front of the court, was sworn in, and with an air of confidence took the witness stand.
Tom Fitch asked the routine identification questions, and then said, "Would you tell us the exact location of your residence?”
"I live on the opposite side of Fremont Street from the entrance to Fly's lodging house."
"Tell us if you observed any part of the difficulty that occurred across from your house on the afternoon of October 26th.”
“I first saw, five men opposite my house leaning against a small house, west of Fly's gallery. One man was holding a horse and standing a little out from the house. I supposed them to be cowboys. I saw four men coming down the street toward them and a man wearing a long coat. He walked up to the man holding the horse and put a pistol to his stomach then he, the man with the long coat, stepped back two or three feet and the firing seemed to be general. That is all I saw."
"Where were you at the time you saw this occurrence?"
"I was in my house at the front window."
"How long after the two parties met did the firing commence?"
"It was only a few seconds."
"Which party fired first?"
"I don't know."
"Were you looking at both parties when the firing commenced?"
"I was looking at them, but not at anyone in particular. I did not know there was going to be any difficulty."
"Did you know the man with the long coat?"
"I did not know him then. I recognize Doctor Holliday, the man sitting there writing, as the man.”
"Did you notice what kind of weapon Holliday had in his hand?"
"A very large pistol.”
"Did you notice the color of the pistol?"
"Dark bronze."
"Was it or was it not a nickel-plated pistol?"
"It was not a nickel-plated pistol."
Doc nudged Wyatt and whispered. "She saw the Parker I was holding in the crook of my arm. And from her angle she could have mistaken it for a long forty five."
Wyatt nodded agreement with Doc's theory.
"At the time the party descending Fremont Street approached the others, did you see any of the men that you thought were cowboys, throw up their hands?"
"I did not."
"Did you hear any conversation or exclamations between the two parties after they met and before the firing commenced?"
"I did not. My door was closed."
"How long did you continue to look at the parties after they met?"
"Until they commenced to fire, then I got up and went into my back room.”
"About how many shots were fired before you left the window?"
"I could not tell -- all was confusion."
"Were all the parties shooting at each other at the time you were looking at them?"
"Yes, it looked to me like that."
"Had any of the parties fallen at the time you left the window?"
"I saw no parties fall."
Then Tom Fitch announced, "I have no further questions."
Price stood and said, "Prosecution has no questions for this witness, Your Honor.”
Doc reread the note he had just scribbled and wanted to yell at his own lawyer. Damn it, he thought, Tom Fitch asked the right question, did she see the cowboy's hands up? She said, 'I did not.' Why didn't he ask a follow up question to nail down her answer? Somehow we've got to make every person in this courtroom aware of what the lady said -- that she did not see the cowboy's hands in the air.
Judge Spicer took a long look at his watch and finally said, "Court will take its noon recess and reconvene at two o'clock."
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Fiction and nonfiction:
Nonfiction is a term loosely used to describe a factual happening or event. But is it all fact? No. During the recreation of actual events fiction techniques are often employed, and when those techniques are used today they are called creative non-fiction. For example – one of the most famous nonfiction books in the English language is Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood,’ a book filled with passages of pure fiction. There are no clear-cut rules that state how far writers of nonfiction may legitimately go into the area of fiction. And while the ivory tower crowd mull over the changing rules of the English language, non fiction writers that feel a need to stray too far into fiction might keep Television’s famous cop Joe Friday’s admonition in mind – ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter,blogspot.com
Let's Go to the Movies
Spicer Hearing witness Addie Bourland
Writers Notebook:
Early Hollywood Screenwriters
As Hollywood moved away from silent films to sound I'd like to mention several female writers and their contributions to the film industry.
They we all hard working, bright and talented.
Bess Meredyth was an award winning screenwriter and actress. She was also one of the founders of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Among her many screen credits 'A Woman of Affairs,' 'Strange Interlude,' 'Don Juan,' The Mighty Barnum, Charlie Chan at the Opera and the Mark of Zorro.
June Mathis wrote screenplays, her first being 'House of Tears,' back in New York. However she moved to Hollywood and after only one year of screenwriting at Metro Films she was moved to the scenario department and was one of the first heads of any film department and the only female executive at Metro.
Richard Rowland, the head of Metro paid twenty thousand dollars for the novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The epic best seller was considered unadaptable by every major studio in the country. Rowland handed the book off to Mathis for adaptation and was so impress with her screenplay that he ask for her input on director and star. Ms. Mathis accepted the challenge and picked Rex Ingram for the director and the fledgling actor Rudolph Valentino as the star. It worked perfectly well and Valentino became an immediate star. And later that same year they did Blood and Sand.
Anita Loos grew up in California and had a dynamic personality. Her career as a screenwriter had its beginning when she wrote the short story 'The New York Hat' and submitted to to D.W. Griffith. The story was adapted to the screen by Griffith, Mary Pickford played the lead and the film was successful.
During the silent era miss Loos became known as Miss fix-it. She could take a dull film, rewrite new captions and make a silk purse out of a souse's ear.
Anita Loos also wrote stories for Douglas Fairbanks who soon became one of the great stars of the American screen. Loos was a prolific writer and turned out scores of scripts like 'The Virtuous Vamp', 'Two Weeks,' 'In search of a Sinner,' 'Dangerous Business,' 'The Perfect Woman.' Her most famous story was 'Gentleman Prefer Blonds.' She wasn't finished with that story because she wrote San Francisco, Saratoga and 'The Women,'
Frances Marion grew up in San Francisco and before arriving in Hollywood in 1913 she had worked as an artist, photographer's model, commercial illustrator, and writer of several stories and verse. In her early days in Los Angeles she was introduced to Mary Pickford and they became great friends as well as collaborators and colleagues for the rest of their lives.
Marion also worked closely with Marie Dressler and others including Alice Brady, Elsie Janis, Billie Burke, and Marion Davies. She also worked with male actors Ronald Coleman, Rudolph Valentino, John Gilbert and Wallace Beery.
Many of the producers of the time considered her their go to screenwriter and they included William Randolph Hearst, Joe Kennedy, L.B. Mayer, Irving Thalberg. Sam Goldwyn was one of her favorite producers and the feeling was mutual – Marion was his favorite screenwriter.
Some of her late hits were Stella Dallas, Dinner at Eight, The Champ and The Big House.
Frances Marion won Oscars for the Champ and The Big House.
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone'
Excerpt from Judge Spicer's Hearing.
Doc scratched out a note: Within a couple of hours after the shooting Johnny Behan tells Virg, 'I am your friend, you did perfectly right.' Was Williams being enticed to modify his testimony by the prosecution with a job on the district attorney's staff?
Doc thumped his pencil onto his note pad and thought the answer was a probably yes, but the larger question was what did the judge think?
Judge Spicer dismissed Mr. Williams and motioned to defense to call their next witness.
Tom Fitch said, “Would Mrs. Addie Bourland please come forward?”
A tall thin, middle-aged, woman wearing a long blue calico dress walked to the front of the court, was sworn in, and with an air of confidence took the witness stand.
Tom Fitch asked the routine identification questions, and then said, "Would you tell us the exact location of your residence?”
"I live on the opposite side of Fremont Street from the entrance to Fly's lodging house."
"Tell us if you observed any part of the difficulty that occurred across from your house on the afternoon of October 26th.”
“I first saw, five men opposite my house leaning against a small house, west of Fly's gallery. One man was holding a horse and standing a little out from the house. I supposed them to be cowboys. I saw four men coming down the street toward them and a man wearing a long coat. He walked up to the man holding the horse and put a pistol to his stomach then he, the man with the long coat, stepped back two or three feet and the firing seemed to be general. That is all I saw."
"Where were you at the time you saw this occurrence?"
"I was in my house at the front window."
"How long after the two parties met did the firing commence?"
"It was only a few seconds."
"Which party fired first?"
"I don't know."
"Were you looking at both parties when the firing commenced?"
"I was looking at them, but not at anyone in particular. I did not know there was going to be any difficulty."
"Did you know the man with the long coat?"
"I did not know him then. I recognize Doctor Holliday, the man sitting there writing, as the man.”
"Did you notice what kind of weapon Holliday had in his hand?"
"A very large pistol.”
"Did you notice the color of the pistol?"
"Dark bronze."
"Was it or was it not a nickel-plated pistol?"
"It was not a nickel-plated pistol."
Doc nudged Wyatt and whispered. "She saw the Parker I was holding in the crook of my arm. And from her angle she could have mistaken it for a long forty five."
Wyatt nodded agreement with Doc's theory.
"At the time the party descending Fremont Street approached the others, did you see any of the men that you thought were cowboys, throw up their hands?"
"I did not."
"Did you hear any conversation or exclamations between the two parties after they met and before the firing commenced?"
"I did not. My door was closed."
"How long did you continue to look at the parties after they met?"
"Until they commenced to fire, then I got up and went into my back room.”
"About how many shots were fired before you left the window?"
"I could not tell -- all was confusion."
"Were all the parties shooting at each other at the time you were looking at them?"
"Yes, it looked to me like that."
"Had any of the parties fallen at the time you left the window?"
"I saw no parties fall."
Then Tom Fitch announced, "I have no further questions."
Price stood and said, "Prosecution has no questions for this witness, Your Honor.”
Doc reread the note he had just scribbled and wanted to yell at his own lawyer. Damn it, he thought, Tom Fitch asked the right question, did she see the cowboy's hands up? She said, 'I did not.' Why didn't he ask a follow up question to nail down her answer? Somehow we've got to make every person in this courtroom aware of what the lady said -- that she did not see the cowboy's hands in the air.
Judge Spicer took a long look at his watch and finally said, "Court will take its noon recess and reconvene at two o'clock."
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Fiction and nonfiction:
Nonfiction is a term loosely used to describe a factual happening or event. But is it all fact? No. During the recreation of actual events fiction techniques are often employed, and when those techniques are used today they are called creative non-fiction. For example – one of the most famous nonfiction books in the English language is Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood,’ a book filled with passages of pure fiction. There are no clear-cut rules that state how far writers of nonfiction may legitimately go into the area of fiction. And while the ivory tower crowd mull over the changing rules of the English language, non fiction writers that feel a need to stray too far into fiction might keep Television’s famous cop Joe Friday’s admonition in mind – ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter,blogspot.com
February 3, 2010
Broadway, Hollywood and Tombstone
This Week
Let's Go to the Movies
Spicer Hearing witness H.F. Sills
Writers Notebook:
American Theater Broadway to Hollywood
The legendary theatrical producer David Belasco coined the term playwright. When asked why playwright and not dramatist, Belasco said, 'Simply because it's the proper term, 'Playwright's a workman.. We say wheelwright, shipwright – why not playwright? A wright takes the materials he finds and builds them into coherent shape.' ...'The materials the playwright works with are human thoughts, passions and deeds. These are the bricks he works with, the rock he must build upon is human nature.'
Scores of theater people that worked with Belasco later transitioned into film. Among that talent was Lionel Barrymore, Jane Cowl, Judith Anderson, Mary Pickford, David Warfield and perhaps the most famous was C.B. DeMille.
Mary Pickford rose to stardom under the guidance of David Belasco and later became one of our most popular film stars. And as most performers do Mary ran into a rough patch while at Paramount. Adolph Zukor chose a couple of films for his star that were rejected by the public. They didn't approve of the East Indian girl she played in 'Less than the Dust' or her Scottish lass in 'The Pride of the Clan.' Both films were well made, but Mary's fans didn't accept her playing the parts that were written for her. They wanted her to be the American Girl they'd grown to love.
The studio quickly recognized their error, and found a play that fit Mary's style called 'The Poor Little Rich Girl.'
Mary asked them to hire her friend Frances Marion to write the screenplay, which they did. The film was made at the Ft. Lee Studio in New Jersey and
Maurice Tourneur directed the picture. During the filming of the movie Mary and Frances came up with some pretty wild comedy scenes that were neither in the original play or the scrip Frances had written. However the new material seemed to fit at the time and the director reluctantly went along with their ideas.
But once the film was cut, edited and played -- the studio personal thought it was awful. Putrid was the actual word bantered about, and they were on the verge of pulling the film for fear that if shown it would hurt Mary's career.
They sent it back to the cutting room and sharpened the comedy by eliminating a few scenes. And eventually they decided to release it but they were afraid if they let the press preview the film they'd shower it with unfavorable reviews and end the run before it had a chance for the public to weigh in.
They opened the film with no publicity at the Strand on Broadway. Mary wanted to see the audience reaction, good or bad and cajoled Frances Marion into going along with her to the opening.
Mary put on dark glasses, a wide brimmed hat and the two of them stole their way down Broadway to the theater and climbed to the top row of the gallery where they could not be recognized.
Marion said they were gripped by nausea and at Mary's first entrance on the screen she sank deeper into her seat and gave a weak moan.
'It wasn't long before we awakened to the fact that everyone was laughing at incidents which we had come to believe were pointless. As the picture progressed, the theater seemed to rock with laughter. Applause sounded like thunder at the conclusion of some of the scenes, and if lightening had zigzagged from the ceiling we would not have been more startled. Our hearts stood still. So did the audience through the sad scenes of the picture, silence finally broken by soft handkerchiefs and noses being blown.'
'Frances, it's a hit!' Mary gasped.
'Throwing discretion to the wind she pulled off her glasses and wept. At that moment an usher spotted her and a few minutes later the audience discovered that America's Sweetheart was among them.'
(To be continued)
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone'
Excerpt from Spicer hearing – Witness H.F. Sills continues.
District Attorney Price questioned the witness. "When did you arrive in Tombstone?"
"I came here on the 25th of last month.”
"What kind of transportation did you use to get to Tombstone?"
"I came here on the Wells Fargo's express wagon with the driver and one other passenger."
"How can you be sure you arrived in Tombstone on the 25th of October last?"
"I am as positive I came here on the 25th of October on that wagon as I am of anything."
"Did you come directly from Tucson to Tombstone?"
"I stayed in Benson only about a half hour."
Price played with his yellow pencil and paced back and forth. Then he turned to the witness and asked sharply, "Now, Mr. Sills, on the day of the difficulty, how many parties were standing near the OK Corral that you speak of?"
"There were four or five men standing together."
"Where did you next see the same parties?"
"I saw them on Fremont Street between Third and Fourth Street, near the corner of Third, standing in a vacant lot."
"How many men were there at that time?”
"There were five men in the party when I saw them on Fremont Street."
"Where was the Earp party at that time?"
"I saw the Earp's and Doc Holliday when they went down to Fremont Street. I was right behind them. I went behind them as far as the post office; I then crossed the street in front of the courthouse. That is as near as I was to the scene of the difficulty.”
"Where were you located during the shooting?"
"I was standing close to this building and then stepped back into the hall when the shooting became general.”
"Where did the Earp's and Holliday come from, as they walked toward the Clanton’s and McLowry’s?"
"The Earp's and Holliday started from the corner of Fourth and Allen Street."
"Did you see a shotgun among any of the Earp party?"
"I saw the marshal pick up a shotgun when they started from along side the building and hand it to Doc Holliday. Doc Holliday put it under his coat and handed the marshal his cane."
An exasperated district attorney paced back and forth collecting his thoughts. "During the time you were working in the machine shop and running on the U.P. and A.T. & S.F. roads, had you a nickname, and if so, what was it?"
A wide grin played over Sill's face as he rubbed his bald head and chuckled. "Yes, it was Curly, and some folks still call me that."
"Where do you lay off at and what place do you stop in New Mexico?"
"I lay off at Las Vegas and stop at my own house."
"I have no further questions for this witness, You Honor," Price said as he turned and walked dejectedly to his seat.
Spicer looked to the defense bench and T.J. Drum said, "We have no further questions, Your Honor."
Judge Spicer excused Mr. Sills and then with a broad gesture said, "Next witness."
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Author of such novels as Stardust, Back Street, Humoresque and Young at Heart Fannie Hurst said she wrote six hours every day and rarely accomplished anything until the last hour or so of her work day. It took her six to eight weeks to complete a story and one and a half to two years to finish a novel. She always had a character before she had a plot, and she let the character determine the plot.
Ms. Hurst's system was very similar to William Faulkner's. He said about his novels, 'It begins with a character and once he stands on his feet and begins to move all I do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.'
There is nothing mysterious about that. It's simply your sixth sense/subconscious mind putting it all together and tossing it up to your conscious. That way the creative side of your brain gets actively involved in the process.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com www.tombarnes39.com www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
Let's Go to the Movies
Spicer Hearing witness H.F. Sills
Writers Notebook:
American Theater Broadway to Hollywood
The legendary theatrical producer David Belasco coined the term playwright. When asked why playwright and not dramatist, Belasco said, 'Simply because it's the proper term, 'Playwright's a workman.. We say wheelwright, shipwright – why not playwright? A wright takes the materials he finds and builds them into coherent shape.' ...'The materials the playwright works with are human thoughts, passions and deeds. These are the bricks he works with, the rock he must build upon is human nature.'
Scores of theater people that worked with Belasco later transitioned into film. Among that talent was Lionel Barrymore, Jane Cowl, Judith Anderson, Mary Pickford, David Warfield and perhaps the most famous was C.B. DeMille.
Mary Pickford rose to stardom under the guidance of David Belasco and later became one of our most popular film stars. And as most performers do Mary ran into a rough patch while at Paramount. Adolph Zukor chose a couple of films for his star that were rejected by the public. They didn't approve of the East Indian girl she played in 'Less than the Dust' or her Scottish lass in 'The Pride of the Clan.' Both films were well made, but Mary's fans didn't accept her playing the parts that were written for her. They wanted her to be the American Girl they'd grown to love.
The studio quickly recognized their error, and found a play that fit Mary's style called 'The Poor Little Rich Girl.'
Mary asked them to hire her friend Frances Marion to write the screenplay, which they did. The film was made at the Ft. Lee Studio in New Jersey and
Maurice Tourneur directed the picture. During the filming of the movie Mary and Frances came up with some pretty wild comedy scenes that were neither in the original play or the scrip Frances had written. However the new material seemed to fit at the time and the director reluctantly went along with their ideas.
But once the film was cut, edited and played -- the studio personal thought it was awful. Putrid was the actual word bantered about, and they were on the verge of pulling the film for fear that if shown it would hurt Mary's career.
They sent it back to the cutting room and sharpened the comedy by eliminating a few scenes. And eventually they decided to release it but they were afraid if they let the press preview the film they'd shower it with unfavorable reviews and end the run before it had a chance for the public to weigh in.
They opened the film with no publicity at the Strand on Broadway. Mary wanted to see the audience reaction, good or bad and cajoled Frances Marion into going along with her to the opening.
Mary put on dark glasses, a wide brimmed hat and the two of them stole their way down Broadway to the theater and climbed to the top row of the gallery where they could not be recognized.
Marion said they were gripped by nausea and at Mary's first entrance on the screen she sank deeper into her seat and gave a weak moan.
'It wasn't long before we awakened to the fact that everyone was laughing at incidents which we had come to believe were pointless. As the picture progressed, the theater seemed to rock with laughter. Applause sounded like thunder at the conclusion of some of the scenes, and if lightening had zigzagged from the ceiling we would not have been more startled. Our hearts stood still. So did the audience through the sad scenes of the picture, silence finally broken by soft handkerchiefs and noses being blown.'
'Frances, it's a hit!' Mary gasped.
'Throwing discretion to the wind she pulled off her glasses and wept. At that moment an usher spotted her and a few minutes later the audience discovered that America's Sweetheart was among them.'
(To be continued)
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone'
Excerpt from Spicer hearing – Witness H.F. Sills continues.
District Attorney Price questioned the witness. "When did you arrive in Tombstone?"
"I came here on the 25th of last month.”
"What kind of transportation did you use to get to Tombstone?"
"I came here on the Wells Fargo's express wagon with the driver and one other passenger."
"How can you be sure you arrived in Tombstone on the 25th of October last?"
"I am as positive I came here on the 25th of October on that wagon as I am of anything."
"Did you come directly from Tucson to Tombstone?"
"I stayed in Benson only about a half hour."
Price played with his yellow pencil and paced back and forth. Then he turned to the witness and asked sharply, "Now, Mr. Sills, on the day of the difficulty, how many parties were standing near the OK Corral that you speak of?"
"There were four or five men standing together."
"Where did you next see the same parties?"
"I saw them on Fremont Street between Third and Fourth Street, near the corner of Third, standing in a vacant lot."
"How many men were there at that time?”
"There were five men in the party when I saw them on Fremont Street."
"Where was the Earp party at that time?"
"I saw the Earp's and Doc Holliday when they went down to Fremont Street. I was right behind them. I went behind them as far as the post office; I then crossed the street in front of the courthouse. That is as near as I was to the scene of the difficulty.”
"Where were you located during the shooting?"
"I was standing close to this building and then stepped back into the hall when the shooting became general.”
"Where did the Earp's and Holliday come from, as they walked toward the Clanton’s and McLowry’s?"
"The Earp's and Holliday started from the corner of Fourth and Allen Street."
"Did you see a shotgun among any of the Earp party?"
"I saw the marshal pick up a shotgun when they started from along side the building and hand it to Doc Holliday. Doc Holliday put it under his coat and handed the marshal his cane."
An exasperated district attorney paced back and forth collecting his thoughts. "During the time you were working in the machine shop and running on the U.P. and A.T. & S.F. roads, had you a nickname, and if so, what was it?"
A wide grin played over Sill's face as he rubbed his bald head and chuckled. "Yes, it was Curly, and some folks still call me that."
"Where do you lay off at and what place do you stop in New Mexico?"
"I lay off at Las Vegas and stop at my own house."
"I have no further questions for this witness, You Honor," Price said as he turned and walked dejectedly to his seat.
Spicer looked to the defense bench and T.J. Drum said, "We have no further questions, Your Honor."
Judge Spicer excused Mr. Sills and then with a broad gesture said, "Next witness."
(To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Author of such novels as Stardust, Back Street, Humoresque and Young at Heart Fannie Hurst said she wrote six hours every day and rarely accomplished anything until the last hour or so of her work day. It took her six to eight weeks to complete a story and one and a half to two years to finish a novel. She always had a character before she had a plot, and she let the character determine the plot.
Ms. Hurst's system was very similar to William Faulkner's. He said about his novels, 'It begins with a character and once he stands on his feet and begins to move all I do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.'
There is nothing mysterious about that. It's simply your sixth sense/subconscious mind putting it all together and tossing it up to your conscious. That way the creative side of your brain gets actively involved in the process.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com www.tombarnes39.com www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
January 27, 2010
John Gilbert and L.B. Mayer in Hollywood Feud
This Week
Let's Go to the Movies
Testimony from Spicer Hearing
Writers Notebook: Tungee's Gold Review
Hollywood Silents 1914-1929 (Part 15)
The biggest star to fall out of favor with the public, as a direct result of sound, was John Gilbert. Gilbert's talkie debut was an MGM all-star extravaganza, 'The Hollywood Revue of 1929.' Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert and many other MGM contract players participated. Gilbert and Shearer did a humorous version of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and while Gilbert's voice was not robust it was more than adequate.
The reviews for the film were excellent and 'The Hollywood Revue was a box-office smash. It was also nominated for best picture for the 1929/1930 Academy Awards.
John Gilbert's voice was not the real problem, it was a very large four picture contract with MGM and a personal feud with L.B. Mayer that did him in. Hollywood lore says that Gilbert while pitching a story idea to Mayer he made the comment that his mother was a whore. The pious Mayer was so enraged by the idea that he came over his desk and knocked Gilbert to the floor.
Of course it might have been pure drama on Gilbert's part but it's said that is what turned L.B. Mayer against John Gilbert.
Regarding the overall picture, good voice coaches and better sound technology could have saved a number of the silent film stars that were forced in to retirement by the advent of sound. Norma and Constance Talmadge, Mae Murray, Emil Jannings, Pola Negri, Ramon Novarro, Delores Del Rio, Vilma Blanky and even the 'It Girl' Clara Bow.
Two of John Gilbert's contract pictures made with sound were not good, 'Redemption' was just plain awful and 'His Glorious Night' was not too far behind. Those two turkey's just fueled the rumor going around Hollywood that Gilbert's voice wasn't good enough for 'Talkies.'
However, 'Way of the Sailor' directed by Sam Wood with Gilbert and Wallace Beery was an excellent film.
'The Phantom of Paris' was not a bad film and that might have been his final film at MGM had it not been for a picture starring Greta Garbo 'Queen Christina.' Garbo had enough clout to dismiss Lawrence Olivier as her co-star and replace him with Gilbert.
Screenwriter Frances Marion tells a story about a meeting at MGM to discuss another Garbo film 'Anna Karenina.'
'That Anna what-you-may-call-it would drive the public away from the box office!' A remark which started the banding back and forth of titles like Ping-Pong balls until a voice louder than the others cried, 'I've got a wow that'll bring 'em into the theater in droves.'
We bent forward eagerly until the voice rose on a high note: It's Heat.'
'Great!' ...'Never been used before'...'What do you think, Frances?”
'I think it would be a good ad for Dante's Inferno, but I'd hate to see on the billboards – Greta Garbo in Heat.'
They thought about it a bit longer and came up with the title 'Love.'
(To be continued)
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone'
Excerpt from Spicer hearing.
"DOC HOLLIDAY AND WYATT EARP ADMITTED TO BAIL." Headlined the morning's edition of the Tombstone Nugget.
Sills, the railroad engineer, would be back on the stand. Tom Fitch and T.J. Drum warned him to expect some rough and possibly embarrassing questions during his cross-examination. The prosecution had been rocked back on its heels by his testimony and they were not expected to take it lightly. "Just relax, Mr. Sills," was T. J's advice.
The district attorney went right to work in an effort to discredit the witness. The questions were simple enough, but designed to needle and eventually provoke ... Where were you born? How old are you? How long did you live this place or that? Why did you move?
Sills relaxed and looked straight at the prosecutor, undaunted by the abrasive nature in which the questions were framed.
The witness testified that he was born in Canada, lived in many locations up there, Belville being the last.
"Where did you go from there?" Price snapped.
"To Omaha, Nebraska."
"What did you do in Omaha and how long were you there?"
"I worked in the Union Pacific shops. I was in Omaha and on the line of the road between eight and nine years," Sills answered calmly.
"What business were you engaged in during that eight or nine years?"
Sills looked directly at the prosecutor and shook his head in disbelief -- he had just answered the question. He looked toward the defense table and shook his head. "I was an apprentice in the machine shop, a locomotive fireman on the road and then locomotive engineer."
"During the time you were serving your apprenticeship, name the person or persons who had charge of the machine shop?"
Sills apparently began to enjoy the nostalgia in recalling his past and instead of irritation, he began to answer the questions with enthusiasm. "Mr. Cogdon was general master mechanic and Mr. McConnell was foreman."
"About how long of that eight or nine years were you in the shop?"
"Three years."
"How much of the time did you run as fire and how much as engineer?" the determined prosecutor asked.
"About six years, I fired number 23 engine and run number 75.”
"Were your engines attached to freight or passenger trains?"
"Freight trains. I run the train to Grand Island and Omaha. I run between Cheyenne and Laramie and between Laramie and Rollins Springs."
"Who were the conductors on those trains?"
T.J. Drum shot to his feet and declared, "I object, Your Honor. This question is too remote as is this whole line of questioning.”
Spicer waved off the objection and quietly said, "Overruled." The judge was apparently fascinated with the railroad story, as was the gallery.
Sills furrowed his brow and said, "Frank Fuller was the one I remember best and there was another man named Kelly.”
"When and where did you last work for a railroad?"
"Las Vegas, New Mexico for the A.T. & S.F. running a freight between Las Vegas and Wallace ... I am still in the employ of the railroad. I left the line of that road the 19th of last month, went to Tucson and then here to Tombstone.”
"When did you arrive in Tombstone?"
"I came here on the 25th of last month.”
"What kind of transportation did you use to get to Tombstone?"
"I came here on the Wells Fargo's express wagon with the driver and one other passenger."
"How can you be sure you arrived in Tombstone on the 25th of October last?"
"I am as positive I came here on the 25th of October on that wagon as I am of anything." (To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Excerpt: Tungee's Gold Review by Fran Lewis.
Greed makes people do many things that often go against their principles and beliefs. Taken further, greed can force a person to enter into a deal with the devil, even if the end result would cause harm or injury to others. Tungee’s Gold: The Legend of Ebo Landing is a unique story about a man who wanted to make his fortune by panning gold during the Gold Rush like so many other people.
The time period is the late 1800’s. This historically based novel brings the California Gold Rush and us back to 1851. Finding gold and staking their claims meant a person could create a life for themselves wherever they wanted.
Author Tom Barnes weaves a web of deceit, hate, deception and neatly ties up all of the lose ends. “I might be a prisoner now, but I will never become a slave.' ,” said King Kumi the king of the Ebo tribe.
May freedom ring for all and where it does not we need to fight and change it. This book is a must read for everyone and my pick for a number one book for 2010.
Fran Lewis: reviewer and the author of the Bertha Series of Children’s books and Memories are Precious my Alzheimer’s book.
For full review Click Here and go to Amazon Book page.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
Let's Go to the Movies
Testimony from Spicer Hearing
Writers Notebook: Tungee's Gold Review
Hollywood Silents 1914-1929 (Part 15)
The biggest star to fall out of favor with the public, as a direct result of sound, was John Gilbert. Gilbert's talkie debut was an MGM all-star extravaganza, 'The Hollywood Revue of 1929.' Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert and many other MGM contract players participated. Gilbert and Shearer did a humorous version of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and while Gilbert's voice was not robust it was more than adequate.
The reviews for the film were excellent and 'The Hollywood Revue was a box-office smash. It was also nominated for best picture for the 1929/1930 Academy Awards.
John Gilbert's voice was not the real problem, it was a very large four picture contract with MGM and a personal feud with L.B. Mayer that did him in. Hollywood lore says that Gilbert while pitching a story idea to Mayer he made the comment that his mother was a whore. The pious Mayer was so enraged by the idea that he came over his desk and knocked Gilbert to the floor.
Of course it might have been pure drama on Gilbert's part but it's said that is what turned L.B. Mayer against John Gilbert.
Regarding the overall picture, good voice coaches and better sound technology could have saved a number of the silent film stars that were forced in to retirement by the advent of sound. Norma and Constance Talmadge, Mae Murray, Emil Jannings, Pola Negri, Ramon Novarro, Delores Del Rio, Vilma Blanky and even the 'It Girl' Clara Bow.
Two of John Gilbert's contract pictures made with sound were not good, 'Redemption' was just plain awful and 'His Glorious Night' was not too far behind. Those two turkey's just fueled the rumor going around Hollywood that Gilbert's voice wasn't good enough for 'Talkies.'
However, 'Way of the Sailor' directed by Sam Wood with Gilbert and Wallace Beery was an excellent film.
'The Phantom of Paris' was not a bad film and that might have been his final film at MGM had it not been for a picture starring Greta Garbo 'Queen Christina.' Garbo had enough clout to dismiss Lawrence Olivier as her co-star and replace him with Gilbert.
Screenwriter Frances Marion tells a story about a meeting at MGM to discuss another Garbo film 'Anna Karenina.'
'That Anna what-you-may-call-it would drive the public away from the box office!' A remark which started the banding back and forth of titles like Ping-Pong balls until a voice louder than the others cried, 'I've got a wow that'll bring 'em into the theater in droves.'
We bent forward eagerly until the voice rose on a high note: It's Heat.'
'Great!' ...'Never been used before'...'What do you think, Frances?”
'I think it would be a good ad for Dante's Inferno, but I'd hate to see on the billboards – Greta Garbo in Heat.'
They thought about it a bit longer and came up with the title 'Love.'
(To be continued)
'Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone'
Excerpt from Spicer hearing.
"DOC HOLLIDAY AND WYATT EARP ADMITTED TO BAIL." Headlined the morning's edition of the Tombstone Nugget.
Sills, the railroad engineer, would be back on the stand. Tom Fitch and T.J. Drum warned him to expect some rough and possibly embarrassing questions during his cross-examination. The prosecution had been rocked back on its heels by his testimony and they were not expected to take it lightly. "Just relax, Mr. Sills," was T. J's advice.
The district attorney went right to work in an effort to discredit the witness. The questions were simple enough, but designed to needle and eventually provoke ... Where were you born? How old are you? How long did you live this place or that? Why did you move?
Sills relaxed and looked straight at the prosecutor, undaunted by the abrasive nature in which the questions were framed.
The witness testified that he was born in Canada, lived in many locations up there, Belville being the last.
"Where did you go from there?" Price snapped.
"To Omaha, Nebraska."
"What did you do in Omaha and how long were you there?"
"I worked in the Union Pacific shops. I was in Omaha and on the line of the road between eight and nine years," Sills answered calmly.
"What business were you engaged in during that eight or nine years?"
Sills looked directly at the prosecutor and shook his head in disbelief -- he had just answered the question. He looked toward the defense table and shook his head. "I was an apprentice in the machine shop, a locomotive fireman on the road and then locomotive engineer."
"During the time you were serving your apprenticeship, name the person or persons who had charge of the machine shop?"
Sills apparently began to enjoy the nostalgia in recalling his past and instead of irritation, he began to answer the questions with enthusiasm. "Mr. Cogdon was general master mechanic and Mr. McConnell was foreman."
"About how long of that eight or nine years were you in the shop?"
"Three years."
"How much of the time did you run as fire and how much as engineer?" the determined prosecutor asked.
"About six years, I fired number 23 engine and run number 75.”
"Were your engines attached to freight or passenger trains?"
"Freight trains. I run the train to Grand Island and Omaha. I run between Cheyenne and Laramie and between Laramie and Rollins Springs."
"Who were the conductors on those trains?"
T.J. Drum shot to his feet and declared, "I object, Your Honor. This question is too remote as is this whole line of questioning.”
Spicer waved off the objection and quietly said, "Overruled." The judge was apparently fascinated with the railroad story, as was the gallery.
Sills furrowed his brow and said, "Frank Fuller was the one I remember best and there was another man named Kelly.”
"When and where did you last work for a railroad?"
"Las Vegas, New Mexico for the A.T. & S.F. running a freight between Las Vegas and Wallace ... I am still in the employ of the railroad. I left the line of that road the 19th of last month, went to Tucson and then here to Tombstone.”
"When did you arrive in Tombstone?"
"I came here on the 25th of last month.”
"What kind of transportation did you use to get to Tombstone?"
"I came here on the Wells Fargo's express wagon with the driver and one other passenger."
"How can you be sure you arrived in Tombstone on the 25th of October last?"
"I am as positive I came here on the 25th of October on that wagon as I am of anything." (To be continued)
Writers Notebook:
Excerpt: Tungee's Gold Review by Fran Lewis.
Greed makes people do many things that often go against their principles and beliefs. Taken further, greed can force a person to enter into a deal with the devil, even if the end result would cause harm or injury to others. Tungee’s Gold: The Legend of Ebo Landing is a unique story about a man who wanted to make his fortune by panning gold during the Gold Rush like so many other people.
The time period is the late 1800’s. This historically based novel brings the California Gold Rush and us back to 1851. Finding gold and staking their claims meant a person could create a life for themselves wherever they wanted.
Author Tom Barnes weaves a web of deceit, hate, deception and neatly ties up all of the lose ends. “I might be a prisoner now, but I will never become a slave.' ,” said King Kumi the king of the Ebo tribe.
May freedom ring for all and where it does not we need to fight and change it. This book is a must read for everyone and my pick for a number one book for 2010.
Fran Lewis: reviewer and the author of the Bertha Series of Children’s books and Memories are Precious my Alzheimer’s book.
For full review Click Here and go to Amazon Book page.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com
Tom's 'RocktheTower' Blog
I do a variety blog and post every Wednesday. I am an actor, writer and hurricane hunter and my subjects are generally written about those fields. During Hurricane Season I do at least one story every
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