ABSTRACT:
Sometimes a sports interview takes a funny turn. Here are the five funniest sports interviews of 2012.
Media members have conducted countless interviews with athletes, coaches and other sports figures over the last year. Most of the interviews were yawners; however, a few of them contained some humorous moments.
Here are the five funniest sports interviews of 2012.
Rick Pitino Answers the Phone: On Dec. 8, Pitino was holding a routine press conference when a male media member's phone rang in the middle of one of the Louisville coach's answers. The phone was on the podium; Pitino picked it up and started conversing with the female caller on the other end. The media sitting in the gallery laughed uproariously when the woman asked Pitino to go out for dinner and drinks. The Louisville coach politely declined. He then handed the phone to its owner. It is too bad that the camera crews did not snap a photo of the phone's owner at that moment.
Novak Djokovic in Joking Mood: Djokovic pranked fans when he pulled a golf club (instead of a tennis racket) out of his bag during his June 25 opening-round match at Wimbledon. Fans who chuckled at that maneuver probably laughed out loud when they watched the tennis star's post-game press conference. During the interview, Djokovich jokes around with reporters and engages tennis star Maria Sharapova in friendly banter over their pet dogs.
Aaron Rodgers Gets a Pie in the Face: The Green Bay Packers quarterback was conducting a routine press interview after practice on Aug. 27. The interview appeared to be following the usual pattern, with Rodgers providing staid, predictable responses to the reporters' questions. All of that changed when one of Rodgers' fellow players surprised everyone (including Rodgers) by planting a shaving cream pie in the star quarterback's face. Fans of slapstick comedy had to be impressed.
Steve Spurrier Adds Humor to SEC Media Days: When Spurrier finishes his college football coaching career he might be able to land a job as a comedian. Spurrier provided viewers with a taste of his comedic abilities in an interview he gave to the press during the annual SEC Media Days in July. Spurrier's interview provided something for everyone, including quirky facial expressions, folksy phrases, and sarcastic one-liners.
Thomas DeCoud's Meowing: The Atlanta Falcons safety meowed like a cat several times during an ESPN interview in late September. DeCoud's meowing added some comic relief to an otherwise serious interview. A Yahoo! Sports writer noted 14 meows in the interview. How many do you count?
The author follows many sports. He is a fan of the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
-- Anthony Hopper
#sports #history #sportshistory #tennis #collegefootball #football #collegebasketball
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Friday
Five Drive-In Theaters Near Roanoke, Virginia
Abstract:
In the 1950s, the drive-in theater was as American as apple pie. However, over the next few decades, most of the drive-ins closed their doors. There are still a handful of drive-in theaters, located near Roanoke, Va. Here is a guide to five of them.
Drive-in theaters got their start in the 1930s. The concept grew in popularity over the next couple of decades. By the 1950s, thousands of drive-in theaters dotted America's landscape. People flocked to these theaters to watch both B-movies and, less often, new releases. Sadly, the drive-in craze did not last long. The industry went into decline after the mid-1960s, and less than 500 drive-ins remain in operation today.
Given the dearth of drive-in theaters in existence nationally, people who live near Roanoke, Virginia, are in luck. They can choose from several drive-in theaters that are within a two hour drive of Roanoke.
Here is a guide to five of these drive-in theaters.
Hull's Drive-In Theater
Location: 2367 North Lee Highway; Lexington, Va 24450
Movie Times: Call for more information
Prices: Adults are $7, children 5-11 are $3, and kids under 5 are admitted for free
Phone: (540) 463-2621
Hull's Drive-In Theater has a rich history. It opened its doors in 1950 and remained in continuous operation until 1999. The theater closed down for a couple of years but reopened as a non-profit organization in 2001. Hull's is "the nation's first community-owned, non-profit classic drive-in theater."
Hull's Drive-In offers visitors a chance to catch a double feature at a reasonable price. The theater also sells food during these shows. In addition to movie nights, Hull's Drive-In sponsors several festivals or other events at its location during the year.
Mayberry Diner and Theater
Location: 1696 Whitehouse Road; Moneta, Va 24121
Movie Times: Call for more information
Diner Hours: Mon.-Thur. from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Fri.-Sat. from 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m., and Sun. from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Prices (for movies): Adults are $8, children 4-11 are $4.00, and kids under 4 are free
Phone: (520) 296-1480
Mayberry Diner and Theater offers customers the chance to have a sit down meal at a diner and then experience the thrill of watching a movie at a drive-in. At the same time, visitors can choose to forego the diner experience and simply head to the drive-in, which has a separate concessions stand. The theater offers customers the chance to watch single and double features (depending on the day) for a reasonable price. The drive-in also hosts a number of concerts throughout the summer.
Moonlight Drive-In Theater
Location: 17555 Lee Highway; Abingdon, Va 24210
Movie Times: Fri.-Sun. - Call for times
Prices: Adults are $7, children 5-11 are $2, and kids under 5 are admitted for free
Phone: (276) 628-7881
Moonlight Drive-In Theater was built in 1949 and can hold over 450 cars. The drive-in theater started offering double features in 2002. Moonlight Drive-In is listed on both the state and national registries of historic places. As an added attraction, Abingdon, Va is also home to the famous Barter Theater, as well as a number of other attractions.
Park Place Drive-In
Location: 301 Park Boulevard; Marion, Va 24354
Movie Times: Call for more information
Prices: Adults are $6, children 5-11 are $2, and kids under 5 are free.
Phone: (276) 781-2222
Visitors to Park Place can partake in a number of fun activities. The complex contains, among other things, a drive-in theater, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and an ice cream shop. This drive-in theater is actually (sort of) new. The original theater, built in 1954, closed in the 1980s. The current owners of Park Place "rebuilt" it in 2000.
Starlite Drive-In Theater
Location: 275 Starlite Drive; Christiansburg, Va 24073
Movie Times: Every Fri., Sat., and Sun., during the summer (beginning in May). Gates open at 7:00 p.m. Call for more information.
Prices: Adults are $6 and children under 12 are $4
Phone: (540) 382-2202
The Starlite Drive-In Theater has been in business for more than 60 years. It shows movies on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, during the warmer months of the year (beginning in May). Anyone planning on making a trip to see a movie at Starlite should bring cash; the drive-in does not accept credit cards or checks. The theater also has a concessions stand that sells a variety of food items, including hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches, at extremely reasonable prices.
Source
Drive-Ins.com
1. Photographer: J. Bar
Date: November 4, 2007
Title: Bass Hill Drive-In Cinema
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
(click on the title/link to see the photo/credits/permissions)
-- Anthony Hopper
#drivein #entertainment #movies #theaters #attractions #VA #Virginia #Roanoke #mustsee
 |
| Bass Hill Drive-In Cinema (1) |
Given the dearth of drive-in theaters in existence nationally, people who live near Roanoke, Virginia, are in luck. They can choose from several drive-in theaters that are within a two hour drive of Roanoke.
Here is a guide to five of these drive-in theaters.
Hull's Drive-In Theater
Location: 2367 North Lee Highway; Lexington, Va 24450
Movie Times: Call for more information
Prices: Adults are $7, children 5-11 are $3, and kids under 5 are admitted for free
Phone: (540) 463-2621
Hull's Drive-In Theater has a rich history. It opened its doors in 1950 and remained in continuous operation until 1999. The theater closed down for a couple of years but reopened as a non-profit organization in 2001. Hull's is "the nation's first community-owned, non-profit classic drive-in theater."
Hull's Drive-In offers visitors a chance to catch a double feature at a reasonable price. The theater also sells food during these shows. In addition to movie nights, Hull's Drive-In sponsors several festivals or other events at its location during the year.
Mayberry Diner and Theater
Location: 1696 Whitehouse Road; Moneta, Va 24121
Movie Times: Call for more information
Diner Hours: Mon.-Thur. from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Fri.-Sat. from 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m., and Sun. from 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Prices (for movies): Adults are $8, children 4-11 are $4.00, and kids under 4 are free
Phone: (520) 296-1480
Mayberry Diner and Theater offers customers the chance to have a sit down meal at a diner and then experience the thrill of watching a movie at a drive-in. At the same time, visitors can choose to forego the diner experience and simply head to the drive-in, which has a separate concessions stand. The theater offers customers the chance to watch single and double features (depending on the day) for a reasonable price. The drive-in also hosts a number of concerts throughout the summer.
Moonlight Drive-In Theater
Location: 17555 Lee Highway; Abingdon, Va 24210
Movie Times: Fri.-Sun. - Call for times
Prices: Adults are $7, children 5-11 are $2, and kids under 5 are admitted for free
Phone: (276) 628-7881
Moonlight Drive-In Theater was built in 1949 and can hold over 450 cars. The drive-in theater started offering double features in 2002. Moonlight Drive-In is listed on both the state and national registries of historic places. As an added attraction, Abingdon, Va is also home to the famous Barter Theater, as well as a number of other attractions.
Park Place Drive-In
Location: 301 Park Boulevard; Marion, Va 24354
Movie Times: Call for more information
Prices: Adults are $6, children 5-11 are $2, and kids under 5 are free.
Phone: (276) 781-2222
Visitors to Park Place can partake in a number of fun activities. The complex contains, among other things, a drive-in theater, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and an ice cream shop. This drive-in theater is actually (sort of) new. The original theater, built in 1954, closed in the 1980s. The current owners of Park Place "rebuilt" it in 2000.
Starlite Drive-In Theater
Location: 275 Starlite Drive; Christiansburg, Va 24073
Movie Times: Every Fri., Sat., and Sun., during the summer (beginning in May). Gates open at 7:00 p.m. Call for more information.
Prices: Adults are $6 and children under 12 are $4
Phone: (540) 382-2202
The Starlite Drive-In Theater has been in business for more than 60 years. It shows movies on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, during the warmer months of the year (beginning in May). Anyone planning on making a trip to see a movie at Starlite should bring cash; the drive-in does not accept credit cards or checks. The theater also has a concessions stand that sells a variety of food items, including hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches, at extremely reasonable prices.
Source
Drive-Ins.com
1. Photographer: J. Bar
Date: November 4, 2007
Title: Bass Hill Drive-In Cinema
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
(click on the title/link to see the photo/credits/permissions)
-- Anthony Hopper
#drivein #entertainment #movies #theaters #attractions #VA #Virginia #Roanoke #mustsee
Five Famous Moms of NFL Players - 2012
Abstract:
Some mothers of NFL players are very popular with the American public. The article looks at five of these women.
Professional football is one of the most popular sports in the U.S., and many NFL players have millions of fans. These people eagerly snap up T-shirts, jerseys, and other gear that contain their favorite athletes' names or numbers.
Corporations often pay NFL superstars significant amounts of money to market their products on television, by radio, or over the Internet. The media loves these athletes as well; one can routinely find an interesting personal story about a particular NFL player on a TV show or in a news article.
Sometimes, an athlete's mother is able to use her son's star power to attract America's attention, as demonstrated by these five women:
Wilma McNabb
Donovan McNabb, who has quarterbacked for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and Minnesota Vikings, may no longer be one of the most popular players in the NFL. However, his mother is still a household name thanks to her participation in Campbell's Chunky Soup commercials. Per T.V. Guide, an actress played the part of McNabb's mother during the first year these advertisements appeared on television; however, that fact does not diminish Wilma McNabb's popularity.
Leigh Anne Tuohy
Millions of Americans probably recognize the name, Leigh Anne Tuohy. As Oprah.com notes, Leigh Anne and her husband took in Michael Oher when he was a homeless high school student and later adopted him. Oher went on to become a star football player at the University of Mississippi and was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Baltimore Ravens; he currently plays offensive tackle for the team. Tuohy became a household name when a movie detailing Michael Oher's life, "The Blind Side," hit theaters in 2009.
Olivia Manning
Millions of Americans are acquainted with Olivia Manning, who is the mother of two star quarterbacks--future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who now plays for the Denver Broncos, and Eli Manning, whose New York Giants won the Super Bowl this past February. Fox News thought that Olivia Manning was popular enough to dedicate an entire article to her favorite recipes.
Pamela Tebow
Tim Tebow, a quarterback who was recently traded to the New York Jets by the Denver Broncos, is one of the most recognized names in the NFL. According to The Denver Post, Pamela Tebow, Tim's mother, is also well-known. Millions of Americans became acquainted with her when she and her son starred "in a controversial [anti-abortion] Focus on the Family television commercial during the 2010 Super Bowl." As the article notes, Pamela is popular enough with at least some segments of the American public to "pull in crowds around the country as she takes her message of preventing abortions to the masses."
Becky Vinson
Like Michael Oher, Jimmy Graham, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints, had a difficult childhood. Per NBC Sports, he was abused by his family and ended up in a foster home. Becky Vinson took Graham into her household and eventually adopted him. She is popular with the media, having been mentioned in numerous stories that focus on Graham's life, including (per the aforementioned NBC Sports article) a USA Network special that aired in February of this year.
For the record, the author loves the NFL and is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he does not personally know any of these players or their mothers, nor does he work for any NFL franchise.
1. Photographer: Kevin Coles (kcjc009)
Date: December 24, 2005
Title/Description: Washington Redskins fans at FedEx Field in December 2005.
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
(click on the title/link for photo, credits, permissions).
-- Anthony Hopper
#Tebow #Denver #Broncos #NFL #football #moms #sports #Saints
 |
| Redskins fans at FedEx Field in December 2005 (1). |
Corporations often pay NFL superstars significant amounts of money to market their products on television, by radio, or over the Internet. The media loves these athletes as well; one can routinely find an interesting personal story about a particular NFL player on a TV show or in a news article.
Sometimes, an athlete's mother is able to use her son's star power to attract America's attention, as demonstrated by these five women:
Wilma McNabb
Donovan McNabb, who has quarterbacked for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and Minnesota Vikings, may no longer be one of the most popular players in the NFL. However, his mother is still a household name thanks to her participation in Campbell's Chunky Soup commercials. Per T.V. Guide, an actress played the part of McNabb's mother during the first year these advertisements appeared on television; however, that fact does not diminish Wilma McNabb's popularity.
Leigh Anne Tuohy
Millions of Americans probably recognize the name, Leigh Anne Tuohy. As Oprah.com notes, Leigh Anne and her husband took in Michael Oher when he was a homeless high school student and later adopted him. Oher went on to become a star football player at the University of Mississippi and was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Baltimore Ravens; he currently plays offensive tackle for the team. Tuohy became a household name when a movie detailing Michael Oher's life, "The Blind Side," hit theaters in 2009.
Olivia Manning
Millions of Americans are acquainted with Olivia Manning, who is the mother of two star quarterbacks--future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who now plays for the Denver Broncos, and Eli Manning, whose New York Giants won the Super Bowl this past February. Fox News thought that Olivia Manning was popular enough to dedicate an entire article to her favorite recipes.
Pamela Tebow
Tim Tebow, a quarterback who was recently traded to the New York Jets by the Denver Broncos, is one of the most recognized names in the NFL. According to The Denver Post, Pamela Tebow, Tim's mother, is also well-known. Millions of Americans became acquainted with her when she and her son starred "in a controversial [anti-abortion] Focus on the Family television commercial during the 2010 Super Bowl." As the article notes, Pamela is popular enough with at least some segments of the American public to "pull in crowds around the country as she takes her message of preventing abortions to the masses."
Becky Vinson
Like Michael Oher, Jimmy Graham, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints, had a difficult childhood. Per NBC Sports, he was abused by his family and ended up in a foster home. Becky Vinson took Graham into her household and eventually adopted him. She is popular with the media, having been mentioned in numerous stories that focus on Graham's life, including (per the aforementioned NBC Sports article) a USA Network special that aired in February of this year.
For the record, the author loves the NFL and is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he does not personally know any of these players or their mothers, nor does he work for any NFL franchise.
1. Photographer: Kevin Coles (kcjc009)
Date: December 24, 2005
Title/Description: Washington Redskins fans at FedEx Field in December 2005.
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
(click on the title/link for photo, credits, permissions).
-- Anthony Hopper
#Tebow #Denver #Broncos #NFL #football #moms #sports #Saints
Thursday
Five of the Most Memorable Oscar Moments from the 1980s
ABSTRACT:
Over the years, the Academy Awards has seen its share of controversial moments, surprise winners, touching tributes, and dominant movies. Here are five of the most memorable moments from the 1980s Academy Awards presentations.
Many Americans fondly recall the decade of the 1980s. They think back on the endless hours they spent in the video arcades and remember dancing in their rooms to musicians like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Def Leppard. They cried when the space shuttle Challenger exploded and cheered when rescuers freed "Baby Jessica" from a well. A large number of Americans probably also remember waiting anxiously each year for the Academy Awards to air on television. When the day finally arrived, they would gather with friends and family to watch The Oscars.
Here are five of the Academy Awards' most memorable moments from the 1980s.
"Ordinary People" Pulls Off the Upset (1981)
Many experts consider "Raging Bull" to be one of the best movies ever made. Most critics, at least the ones that count, would not even place "Ordinary People" in their top 100. That situation was as true in the 1980s as it is today. So, you can imagine their shock when "Ordinary People" won the Best Picture Oscar during the 1981 Academy Awards. Perhaps the Academy voters did not read the movie reviews.
Henry Fonda Finally Wins a Competitive Oscar (1982)
Henry Fonda was an excellent actor who played memorable roles in such classics as "Twelve Angry Men" and "The Grapes of Wrath." However, despite his long and distinguished Hollywood career, Fonda did not win an Oscar until 1981, when the Academy presented him with a statuette in honor of his lifetime accomplishments. Many Americans probably figured that Fonda, who was 76 at the time, would never win a competitive Oscar. He proved the naysayers wrong when he won the Best Actor Oscar the next year for his performance in "On Golden Pond." Sadly, Fonda was too sick by that time to accept the award in person and would die a short time later.
Sally Field's Emotional Speech (1985)
Viewers who tuned in to watch the Academy Awards on March 25, 1985 expected to hear some emotional comments from the winners. Nonetheless, they were probably surprised by Sally Field's heartfelt speech after winning a Best Actress Oscar for her role in "Places in the Heart." Field emphatically declared that the win demonstrated that the Academy respected her, and ended her speech with the oft quoted phrase (or shout), "You like me. Right now, you like me!"
"The Color Purple" Comes Up Empty (1986)
The cast and crew of "The Color Purple" were probably feeling good coming into the 1986 Academy Awards. After all, their movie had received 11 Oscar nominations. Their mood likely soured quickly, as the movie failed to win even one statuette. "The Color Purple" tied a dubious record for most nominations without an Academy Award. Only one other film, "The Turning Point," had ever achieved that level of Oscar futility.
Matlin Achieves Two Milestones (1987)
At the 1987 Academy Awards, Marlee Matlin won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in "Children of a Lesser God." Matlin achieved two milestones with the win. She became the youngest person to win the Best Actress award and the first deaf individual to win an Oscar of any kind.
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
 |
| 81st Annual Academy Awards (1) |
Here are five of the Academy Awards' most memorable moments from the 1980s.
"Ordinary People" Pulls Off the Upset (1981)
Many experts consider "Raging Bull" to be one of the best movies ever made. Most critics, at least the ones that count, would not even place "Ordinary People" in their top 100. That situation was as true in the 1980s as it is today. So, you can imagine their shock when "Ordinary People" won the Best Picture Oscar during the 1981 Academy Awards. Perhaps the Academy voters did not read the movie reviews.
Henry Fonda Finally Wins a Competitive Oscar (1982)
Henry Fonda was an excellent actor who played memorable roles in such classics as "Twelve Angry Men" and "The Grapes of Wrath." However, despite his long and distinguished Hollywood career, Fonda did not win an Oscar until 1981, when the Academy presented him with a statuette in honor of his lifetime accomplishments. Many Americans probably figured that Fonda, who was 76 at the time, would never win a competitive Oscar. He proved the naysayers wrong when he won the Best Actor Oscar the next year for his performance in "On Golden Pond." Sadly, Fonda was too sick by that time to accept the award in person and would die a short time later.
Sally Field's Emotional Speech (1985)
Viewers who tuned in to watch the Academy Awards on March 25, 1985 expected to hear some emotional comments from the winners. Nonetheless, they were probably surprised by Sally Field's heartfelt speech after winning a Best Actress Oscar for her role in "Places in the Heart." Field emphatically declared that the win demonstrated that the Academy respected her, and ended her speech with the oft quoted phrase (or shout), "You like me. Right now, you like me!"
"The Color Purple" Comes Up Empty (1986)
The cast and crew of "The Color Purple" were probably feeling good coming into the 1986 Academy Awards. After all, their movie had received 11 Oscar nominations. Their mood likely soured quickly, as the movie failed to win even one statuette. "The Color Purple" tied a dubious record for most nominations without an Academy Award. Only one other film, "The Turning Point," had ever achieved that level of Oscar futility.
Matlin Achieves Two Milestones (1987)
At the 1987 Academy Awards, Marlee Matlin won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in "Children of a Lesser God." Matlin achieved two milestones with the win. She became the youngest person to win the Best Actress award and the first deaf individual to win an Oscar of any kind.
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
Five of the Most Memorable Oscar Moments from the 1970s
ABSTRACT:
Over the years, the Academy Awards has seen its share of controversial moments, surprise winners, touching tributes, and dominant movies. Here are five of the most memorable moments from the 1970s Academy Awards presentations.
The 85th Academy Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 24. Over the years, the annual film awards presentation has seen its share of controversial moments, surprise winners, touching tributes, and dominant movies. As we wait for this year's Oscars to be handed out, it is worth looking back at some of the most memorable moments from the 1970s Academy Awards ceremonies.
Here are five of the most memorable Oscar moments from the 1970s.
John Wayne Finally Wins an Oscar (1970)
John Wayne (whose given name was Marion Morrison) was born in 1909. He started his acting career in the 1920s and soon became one of the most beloved movie stars of all time. Even though Wayne has been dead since 1979, he is still one of Hollywood's most popular names. In a 2007 Harris Interactive poll, Americans ranked him as their third most favorite actor. Given his fame, it might surprise some people to learn that Wayne's only Oscar came during the 1970 Academy Awards, when he won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in "True Grit."
X-Rated Movie Wins Best Picture (1970)
People who tuned in to view the Academy Awards in 1970 had the opportunity to witness another memorable event. "Midnight Cowboy" became the first X-rated film to win a Best Picture Oscar. It might have been a once in a lifetime moment. No X-rated (or NC-17 rated) movie has accomplished the feat since that time.
Marlon Brando Is a No Show (1973)
During the 1973 Academy Awards, the crowd cheered when it learned that Marlon Brando had won the Best Actor Oscar. Brando nabbed the statuette for his brilliant performance in "The Godfather." Many people in the audience were probably a bit surprised when a Native American, Sacheen Littlefeather, stepped up to the podium instead of Brando. Their surprise turned to shock when she refused to accept the Oscar. Littlefeather read a statement from Brando in which he declined the award to protest the film industry's mistreatment of Native American workers and actors.
Movie Wins Big Five (1976)
At the 48th Academy Awards, "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" became the first film since 1935 to win the Academy's top five awards-Best Picture, "Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Directing (Milos Forman), and Writing (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman)." This was a very rare honor; only three films in the illustrious history of the awards ceremony have won all five of these Oscars.
Vanessa Redgrave's Rant (1978)
The audience cheered when they learned that Vanessa Redgrave had won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "Julia." She snagged the award for playing the part of an anti-Nazi freedom fighter. In an ironic twist, Redgrave used a portion of her time on the podium to criticize a small number of Israelis and Israeli Americans who had protested the release of one of her recent movies, supporting the creation of a Palestinian state. The audience, perhaps thinking Redgrave was criticizing all people of Jewish descent, booed her loudly. Hollywood directors were also not amused. Many of them refused to offer her roles in their films after that incident.
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
The 85th Academy Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 24. Over the years, the annual film awards presentation has seen its share of controversial moments, surprise winners, touching tributes, and dominant movies. As we wait for this year's Oscars to be handed out, it is worth looking back at some of the most memorable moments from the 1970s Academy Awards ceremonies.
Here are five of the most memorable Oscar moments from the 1970s.
John Wayne Finally Wins an Oscar (1970)
 |
| 81st Annual Academy Awards (1) |
X-Rated Movie Wins Best Picture (1970)
People who tuned in to view the Academy Awards in 1970 had the opportunity to witness another memorable event. "Midnight Cowboy" became the first X-rated film to win a Best Picture Oscar. It might have been a once in a lifetime moment. No X-rated (or NC-17 rated) movie has accomplished the feat since that time.
Marlon Brando Is a No Show (1973)
During the 1973 Academy Awards, the crowd cheered when it learned that Marlon Brando had won the Best Actor Oscar. Brando nabbed the statuette for his brilliant performance in "The Godfather." Many people in the audience were probably a bit surprised when a Native American, Sacheen Littlefeather, stepped up to the podium instead of Brando. Their surprise turned to shock when she refused to accept the Oscar. Littlefeather read a statement from Brando in which he declined the award to protest the film industry's mistreatment of Native American workers and actors.
Movie Wins Big Five (1976)
At the 48th Academy Awards, "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" became the first film since 1935 to win the Academy's top five awards-Best Picture, "Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Directing (Milos Forman), and Writing (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman)." This was a very rare honor; only three films in the illustrious history of the awards ceremony have won all five of these Oscars.
Vanessa Redgrave's Rant (1978)
The audience cheered when they learned that Vanessa Redgrave had won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "Julia." She snagged the award for playing the part of an anti-Nazi freedom fighter. In an ironic twist, Redgrave used a portion of her time on the podium to criticize a small number of Israelis and Israeli Americans who had protested the release of one of her recent movies, supporting the creation of a Palestinian state. The audience, perhaps thinking Redgrave was criticizing all people of Jewish descent, booed her loudly. Hollywood directors were also not amused. Many of them refused to offer her roles in their films after that incident.
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
Five of the Most Memorable Oscar Moments from the 1960s
ABSTRACT:
Over the years, the Academy Awards has seen its share of controversial moments, surprise winners, touching tributes, and dominant movies. Here are five of the most memorable moments from the 1960s Academy Awards presentations.
Movie studios produced a number of great films in the 1960s. Many of them, including "Psycho," "To Kill a Mockingbird," and "The Sound of Music," are included in the American Film Institute's list of the 100 best movies of all time. The 1960s also represented a coming of age for a new generation of movie stars like Barbra Streisand and Sidney Poitier. At the same time, veteran celebrities, such as Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn, continued to work their magic. The Academy Awards in the 1960s helped to celebrate Hollywood's achievements, while also highlighting the accomplishments of its stars-both young and old.
Here are five of the Academy Awards' most memorable moments from the 1960s.
"Ben Hur" Breaks a Record (1960)
MGM spent what was at that time a record breaking $15 million to make "Ben Hur." The studio's risky investment paid off. The movie broke box office records when it was released in 1959. Director William Wyler's epic masterpiece also broke records at the Academy Awards in 1960, when it won more Oscars (11) than any other film up to that point.
Sidney Poitier Makes History (1964)
In the 1960s, African Americans and other minority groups finally started to make significant inroads in their fight for equal rights. Sidney Poitier was both a beneficiary of these changes and one of its champions. During the 1960s, he starred in movies, such as "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," which upended racial stereotypes. In 1964, he became the first African American man, and only the second black actor, to win an Oscar when he nabbed the Best Picture award for his role in "Lillies of the Field."
A Surprise for Bob Hope (1966)
Bob Hope, who was born in 1903, was already a showbiz legend when he hosted the 1966 Academy Awards. The actor had enjoyed success in a variety of different mediums, including radio, television, and on the stage. Hope was in the process of wrapping up The Oscars-the show was down to its final award-when the Academy's president, Arthur Freed, surprised Hope by giving him an award for his "unique and distinguished service" to the film industry and "to the Academy." Hope was thrown off guard for a moment, but he recovered quickly and managed to voice his thanks by way of a couple of good one-liners.
A Tie for the Best Actress Oscar (1969)
The audience waited in anticipation as Ingrid Bergman opened the envelope, containing the name of the Best Actress Oscar winner. Both Bergman and the audience were shocked to learn that Barbra Streisand ("Funny Girl") and Katharine Hepburn ("The Lion in Winter") had tied for the award. The Academy voters could not decide between the 26-year old Streisand, who represented the new generation of movie stars, and the 61-year old Hepburn, the aged veteran.
The Academy Awards Show Is Broadcast around the World (1969)
During the 1960s advances in TV technology changed people's viewing experiences forever. At the beginning of the decade, TV networks were still broadcasting a lot of their shows in black and white. By 1967 they were transmitting most of their televised material in color. At the same time, the TV conglomerates began to develop satellite networks, which allowed them to quickly transmit telecasts across the globe. The Academy Awards were on the forefront of these changes. For the first time in 1969, television viewers from around the world (in 37 countries) could watch a live presentation of The Oscars.
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
 |
| 81st Annual Academy Awards (1) |
Here are five of the Academy Awards' most memorable moments from the 1960s.
"Ben Hur" Breaks a Record (1960)
MGM spent what was at that time a record breaking $15 million to make "Ben Hur." The studio's risky investment paid off. The movie broke box office records when it was released in 1959. Director William Wyler's epic masterpiece also broke records at the Academy Awards in 1960, when it won more Oscars (11) than any other film up to that point.
Sidney Poitier Makes History (1964)
In the 1960s, African Americans and other minority groups finally started to make significant inroads in their fight for equal rights. Sidney Poitier was both a beneficiary of these changes and one of its champions. During the 1960s, he starred in movies, such as "In the Heat of the Night" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," which upended racial stereotypes. In 1964, he became the first African American man, and only the second black actor, to win an Oscar when he nabbed the Best Picture award for his role in "Lillies of the Field."
A Surprise for Bob Hope (1966)
Bob Hope, who was born in 1903, was already a showbiz legend when he hosted the 1966 Academy Awards. The actor had enjoyed success in a variety of different mediums, including radio, television, and on the stage. Hope was in the process of wrapping up The Oscars-the show was down to its final award-when the Academy's president, Arthur Freed, surprised Hope by giving him an award for his "unique and distinguished service" to the film industry and "to the Academy." Hope was thrown off guard for a moment, but he recovered quickly and managed to voice his thanks by way of a couple of good one-liners.
A Tie for the Best Actress Oscar (1969)
The audience waited in anticipation as Ingrid Bergman opened the envelope, containing the name of the Best Actress Oscar winner. Both Bergman and the audience were shocked to learn that Barbra Streisand ("Funny Girl") and Katharine Hepburn ("The Lion in Winter") had tied for the award. The Academy voters could not decide between the 26-year old Streisand, who represented the new generation of movie stars, and the 61-year old Hepburn, the aged veteran.
The Academy Awards Show Is Broadcast around the World (1969)
During the 1960s advances in TV technology changed people's viewing experiences forever. At the beginning of the decade, TV networks were still broadcasting a lot of their shows in black and white. By 1967 they were transmitting most of their televised material in color. At the same time, the TV conglomerates began to develop satellite networks, which allowed them to quickly transmit telecasts across the globe. The Academy Awards were on the forefront of these changes. For the first time in 1969, television viewers from around the world (in 37 countries) could watch a live presentation of The Oscars.
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
Five of the Most Memorable Oscar Moments from the 1990s
ABSTRACT:
Over the years, the Academy Awards has seen its share of controversial moments, surprise winners, touching tributes, and dominant movies. Here are five of the most memorable moments from the 1990s Academy Awards presentations.
Many people might be surprised to learn that the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony was conducted without a lot of fanfare. Fewer than 300 individuals attended the first awards presentation in 1929-a private event that was not broadcast to a wider audience (via radio at the time). By the 1990s the Academy Awards had become must see television for millions of people across the globe. During this period The Oscars disappointed fans on occasion; however, the awards presentations more often provided viewers with moments they could cherish for a lifetime.
Here are five of the Academy Awards' most memorable moments from the 1990s.
The Song Heard around the World (1990)
The Academy Awards producers created a winner when they combined old footage of Julie Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" with a live version by Diana Ross. The rendition gained even more credence when Ross invited the audience to sing along with her. The producers topped it off by using the large screen onstage to showcase viewers in cities located around the world (as well as members of the audience). Ross' singing was not perfect, and some of the audience members refused to follow along. However, the performance's flaws might have helped to endear it to viewers, by making it feel more authentic.
"The Silence of the Lambs" Wins the Big Five (1992)
At the 64th annual Academy Awards in 1992, "The Silence of the Lambs" became the first movie since 1976 to win the top five Oscars-Best Picture, "Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Directing (Jonathan Demme)," and Writing (Ted Tally).
An Animated Movie Receives a Best Picture Nomination (1992)
Most Americans, whatever their age, have probably seen at least a few animated films. These movies, along with their live action counterparts, have been a staple of U.S. life for generations. A number of them are very good. Despite that fact, the Academy did not nominate a fully animated film for Best Picture until 1992, when it added "Beauty and the Beast" to its official list of Oscar contenders.
David Letterman's Epic Fail (1995)
Many viewers who tuned in to watch the Academy Awards in 1995 were probably thrilled to see David Letterman hosting the ceremony. Their excitement did not last too long. A number of critics contend that Letterman's performance was the worst ever by an Oscar emcee. The comedian started off on the wrong foot when his very first joke fell flat, and it did not get much better after that. One critic summed it up when he bemoaned Letterman's inability to keep the show moving and the crowd laughing.
"Titanic" Breaks Records (1998)
James Cameron's "Titanic" performed heroic feats at the box office. It earned hundreds of millions of dollars in the United States alone and stayed atop the box office for a record 15 weeks. The movie also scored big at the Academy Awards in 1998. Its 14 nominations put it in a tie with "All about Eve" for the most nominations ever. "Titanic" ended up taking home 11 Oscars. At the time, only one other film, "Ben Hur," had ever won that many statuettes (in 1960).
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
 |
| 81st Annual Academy Awards (1) |
Here are five of the Academy Awards' most memorable moments from the 1990s.
The Song Heard around the World (1990)
The Academy Awards producers created a winner when they combined old footage of Julie Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" with a live version by Diana Ross. The rendition gained even more credence when Ross invited the audience to sing along with her. The producers topped it off by using the large screen onstage to showcase viewers in cities located around the world (as well as members of the audience). Ross' singing was not perfect, and some of the audience members refused to follow along. However, the performance's flaws might have helped to endear it to viewers, by making it feel more authentic.
"The Silence of the Lambs" Wins the Big Five (1992)
At the 64th annual Academy Awards in 1992, "The Silence of the Lambs" became the first movie since 1976 to win the top five Oscars-Best Picture, "Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Directing (Jonathan Demme)," and Writing (Ted Tally).
An Animated Movie Receives a Best Picture Nomination (1992)
Most Americans, whatever their age, have probably seen at least a few animated films. These movies, along with their live action counterparts, have been a staple of U.S. life for generations. A number of them are very good. Despite that fact, the Academy did not nominate a fully animated film for Best Picture until 1992, when it added "Beauty and the Beast" to its official list of Oscar contenders.
David Letterman's Epic Fail (1995)
Many viewers who tuned in to watch the Academy Awards in 1995 were probably thrilled to see David Letterman hosting the ceremony. Their excitement did not last too long. A number of critics contend that Letterman's performance was the worst ever by an Oscar emcee. The comedian started off on the wrong foot when his very first joke fell flat, and it did not get much better after that. One critic summed it up when he bemoaned Letterman's inability to keep the show moving and the crowd laughing.
"Titanic" Breaks Records (1998)
James Cameron's "Titanic" performed heroic feats at the box office. It earned hundreds of millions of dollars in the United States alone and stayed atop the box office for a record 15 weeks. The movie also scored big at the Academy Awards in 1998. Its 14 nominations put it in a tie with "All about Eve" for the most nominations ever. "Titanic" ended up taking home 11 Oscars. At the time, only one other film, "Ben Hur," had ever won that many statuettes (in 1960).
1. Author: Greg Hernandez
Date: February 22, 2009
Title/Description: Red carpet at 81st Annual Academy Awards in Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
Location/Permission: Wikimedia Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
(see title/link for photo, credits, permissions)
The author is a freelance writer and has a B.A. in History from Roanoke College. He enjoys watching both classic movies and new films.
-- Anthony Hopper
#Oscars #movies #history #entertainment #AcademyAwards #actors #winners
Friday
Books I Would Like to See Made into Films
I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre. I read my first fantasy novel in the summer of my 5th grade year and have been hooked ever since. For a while now, I have been hoping that producers would decide to translate some of the most popular fantasy novels into films. While Hollywood has turned two of the biggest series (LOTR and Harry Potter) into big budget movies, there are many more, good fantasy novels that could easily be turned into hit movies. Even people who aren't huge fans of the fantasy genre might agree with me in a few years, as they sit in theaters watching the 5th reboot of the 'Superman' series or the tenth reboot of 'Spider-Man,' etc.
In an effort to make this blog post more dynamic and to create dialogue (as opposed to a one-sided discussion of the topic), I will only posit one fantasy series that I think would look good on the big screen. I will let you fill in the remainder. Feel free to add additional ones in the 'Comments' section (or write anything you'd like in the Comments section). If you can add pictures in the comments section, even better. :)
The original Dragonlance trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
While I don't consider these novels to be literary masterpieces, they are pretty good. Perhaps more importantly (to movie producers anyway), the trilogy spawned a bevy of other books, including other Dragonlance novels as well as the Forgotten Realms series (whose books once spanned an entire section of the fantasy/sci-fi aisle at my local bookstore). Millions of readers have either read the Dragonlance series or are familiar with the narrative/world. As such, anyone who produced this movie would already have, at hand, three good narratives as well as access to a large, captive audience. The movie would require a large special effects budget; however, I think the money would be worth it. In saying that, whoever takes this project on must do a better job than the team who created an animated, straight to video version of the first book.
The book cover is courtesy of Books 'A Million. You can find the link here: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dragons-Autumn-Twilight/Margaret-Weis/Q187887277?id=5283275760604
In an effort to make this blog post more dynamic and to create dialogue (as opposed to a one-sided discussion of the topic), I will only posit one fantasy series that I think would look good on the big screen. I will let you fill in the remainder. Feel free to add additional ones in the 'Comments' section (or write anything you'd like in the Comments section). If you can add pictures in the comments section, even better. :)
The original Dragonlance trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.
While I don't consider these novels to be literary masterpieces, they are pretty good. Perhaps more importantly (to movie producers anyway), the trilogy spawned a bevy of other books, including other Dragonlance novels as well as the Forgotten Realms series (whose books once spanned an entire section of the fantasy/sci-fi aisle at my local bookstore). Millions of readers have either read the Dragonlance series or are familiar with the narrative/world. As such, anyone who produced this movie would already have, at hand, three good narratives as well as access to a large, captive audience. The movie would require a large special effects budget; however, I think the money would be worth it. In saying that, whoever takes this project on must do a better job than the team who created an animated, straight to video version of the first book. The book cover is courtesy of Books 'A Million. You can find the link here: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dragons-Autumn-Twilight/Margaret-Weis/Q187887277?id=5283275760604
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