“Simply the Best” Miss Tina Turner!

Posted by donnamarie on November 26, 2016

Happy Birthday, Tina!

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Anytime I feel I’m running on low energy I just channel Tina and my body can’t help but pulsate.

Today we celebrate Tina Turner’s 77th birthday and the life of an icon and true RockStar! I marvel at her eternal youth and vitality. I wanna be just like her when I grow up!

Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, is an acclaimed recording artist, dancer, actress, and author, whose career has spanned more than half a century, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards.

Born and raised in Nutbush, Tennesse, she began her musical career in the mid-1950s as a featured singer with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, first recording in 1958 under the name “Little Ann.”

Anna Mae Bullock

Her introduction to the public as Tina Turner began in 1960 as a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Success followed with a string of notable hits credited to the duo, including “A Fool in Love”, “River Deep – Mountain High” (1966), “Proud Mary” (1971) and “Nutbush City Limits” (1973), a song which she herself wrote. (Wikipedia)

Ike & Tina Turner Revue – (Tina center)

Imitating Miss Tina was part of my childhood as my girlfriends and I would shake our booties whipping our hair and working it out with the ladies.

This is an early performance of the gift that is Miss Tina Turner!

In her autobiography, I, Tina, she revealed several instances of severe domestic abuse against her by Ike Turner prior to their 1976 split and subsequent 1978 divorce. Raised as a Baptist, she encountered faith with Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism in 1971, crediting the spiritual chant of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, which Turner claims helped her to endure during difficult times. (Wikipedia)

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This concert footage is part of Tina’s “comeback” tour after those early, disastrous years with Ike Turner. I wrote in a previous post about Tina’s life as portrayed by Angela Bassett in “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”and what a remarkable life Tina has endured.

Tina Turner (l) Angela Bassett (r) “What’s Love Got to Do With It”

She’s always been my idol since I was a child and after seeing Tina looking hot in this white leather outfit and her boundless energy I stopped boohooing about baby weight gained after my daughter and got my butt back into the gym.

Seeing her in concert was a night I’ll always treasure. That woman is all that and no one compares. If you haven’t had the pleasure.

Enjoy!

After her divorce from Ike Turner, Tina rebuilt her career through live performances. In the early 1980s, she launched a major comeback with another string of hits, starting in 1983 with the single “Let’s Stay Together” followed by the 1984 release of her fifth solo album Private Dancer which became a worldwide success. “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, the lead single won three Grammy Awards including Record of the Year. (Wikipedia)

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Her solo success continued with the multi-platinum albums Break Every Rule and Foreign Affair and with singles such as “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)”, “The Best” and “GoldenEye” for the James Bond film of the same name. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” was later used as the title of a loosely based biographical film adapted from her autobiography.

In addition to her musical career, Tina has also experienced success in films, including the role of Acid Queen in the 1975 rock musical “Tommy”, a starring role alongside Mel Gibson in the 1985 action film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, and a cameo role in the 1993 film Last Action Hero. (Wikipedia)

Tina’s critically acclaimed role as “The Acid Queen” in The Who’s “Tommy” (1975) was outstanding! Still a classic today.

If you weren’t on acid, you sure felt like it!

One of the world’s best-selling music artists of all time, she has also been referred to as The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Tina has been called the most successful female Rock ‘n’ Roll artist, receiving eleven Grammy Awards, including eight competitive awards and three Grammy Hall of Fame awards.

Miss Turner has also sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history. Her combined album and single sales total approximately 180 million copies worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling females in music history.

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Her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour became one of the highest selling ticketed shows of 2008–09. Rolling Stone ranked her no. 63 on their 100 greatest artists of all time and in 1991, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Wikipedia)

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Tina Turner’s career has been a marvel to watch. Despite all odds, she brought herself up from Nutbush to the pentacle of success in music, film, and continues to be an inspirational figure.

Thank you, Tina, for uplifting my life and demonstrating that you can accomplish whatever you want with determination and faith. You are simply the best!

Love you!

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“Feed Me Seymour” – The Little Shop Of Horrors🎃🌷

Posted by donnamarie on October 26, 2016

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A funny thing happened at my 6-month dental check-up. Sitting in the dentist’s chair a lightbulb came on and the idea for this post hit me square in the mouth, “The Little Shop of Horrors”(1960)!

People are probably more familiar with the 1986 musical version directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin (demented dentist), Rick Moranis, (Seymour) Ellen Greene (Audrey), Tichina Arnold, and Tisha Campbell (as the urchins).

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The 1986 film is a remake of the hit Broadway stage production which was a remake of the 1960 movie. (Phew, that took the long way around)

I had the fantastic experience of performing in a stage production as one of the street urchins. Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette are fashioned after girl groups from the 1960’s. It was one of my favorite shows and roles in my community theater career.

The original 1960 film was a black comedy horror film directed by Detroit-born (my hometown) and celebrated B-movie legend, Roger Corman and written by Charles B. Griffith. The film is a farce about an inadequate florist’s assistant (Jonathan Haze) who cultivates a plant that feeds on human flesh and blood.

The film stars Jonathan Haze (Seymour), Jackie Joseph (Audrey), Mel Welles (Mr. Mushnick), and Dick Miller, all of whom had worked for Corman on previous films. Produced under the title “The Passionate People Eater”. It was a lot creepier and darker than either the 1986 film or Broadway production.

The film’s concept is thought to be based on a 1932 story called “Green Thoughts”, by John Collier, about a man-eating plant. However, author Dennis McDougal in Jack Nicholson‘s biography suggests that Griffith may have been influenced by Arthur C. Clarke’s sci-fi short story ‘The Reluctant Orchid’. (Wikipedia)

The film became the basis for the horror comedy and Off-Broadway rock musical, Little Shop of Horrors (1982). By composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, the production was notably made into the 1986 feature film.

Trivia:

The film also garnered attention as a movie that was made into a Broadway production; it’s usually the other way around.
Writer, Charles B. Griffith, was the voice of Audrey 2 in 1960 film.
Levi Stubbs (lead singer of The Four Tops-Motown group) was the voice of Audrey II in 1986 movie.
Ellen Greene played Audrey in the Off-Broadway Production.
The gleefully masochistic dental patient, originally played by Jack Nicholson, is not in the musical but is in the 1986 film, played by Bill Murray.

Off-Broadway Production of “Little Shop of Horrors” 1982 with Ellen Greene immediately right of Audrey 2

A young Jack Nicholson‘s small role as the masochistic dental patient in the 1960 film was a hysterical standout. At the time of filming, Jack Nicholson had appeared in two films and had worked with Roger Corman as the lead in “The Cry Baby Killer”.

Roger Corman

According to Nicholson, “I went into the shoot knowing I had to be very quirky because Roger originally hadn’t wanted me. In other words, I couldn’t play it straight. So I just did a lot of weird shit that I thought would make it funny.”

Even though this was only his third film you could see that his talent was something quite special.

Because I’m a big-time musical theater lover, my affinity is for the 1986 film. The musical numbers were fabulous, the performances outstanding, and the memories lasting.

I loved performing the opening “Urchin” musical number “Little Shop of Horrors” which was also from the Off-Broadway stage production:

The film, directed by Frank Oz (Muppets), differs only slightly from the stage play. The title song is expanded to include an additional verse to allow for more opening credits. The song “Ya Never Know” was re-written into a calypso-style song called “Some Fun Now”, although some of the lyrics were retained.

Four other songs (“Closed for Renovation”, “Mushnik and Son”, “Now (It’s Just the Gas)”, as well as “Call Back in the Morning”) were cut from the original production score. An original song was written by Ashman and Menken, “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space”, was created for the film.

For a fun and dark Halloween double feature, I highly recommend checking out “The Little Shop of Horrors” (1960) and the remake, “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986). A little something for everyone.

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Happy Halloween!

Labyrinth’s 30th Anniversary Celebration!💥 💥 💥

Posted by donnamarie on September 2, 2016

Sony Pictures Presents

Labyrinth 30th Anniversary

THE 1986 MUSICAL FANTASY RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN

Fathom Events and Sony Pictures invite you to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Labyrinth when it returns to select cinemas nationwide for a special two-day event on Sunday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 14.

Labyrinth tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), who, in an immature and selfish moment, secretly wishes that her baby brother, Toby, would just disappear. Her wish comes true when goblins kidnap the boy forcing Sarah to solve a life-size labyrinth in order to rescue her baby brother from the castle of Jareth, the Goblin King (David Bowie).

Labyrinth is a 1986 American adventure musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, executive produced by George Lucas, and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud. With the exception of Bowie and Connelly, most of the significant characters in the film are played by puppets produced by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. (Wikipedia)

First of all, Bowie! Second of all, Bowie! And third, oh, you get it. David Bowie was born for this role. His theatricality, magical voice, aura, all made him destined and a standout as the Goblin King.

I remember this film fondly as my children would act out the entire movie in our family room. I’m a big musical movie buff and I would always smile in delight as I secretly checked out the show.

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Featuring a cast of puppets, the story by Dennis Lee and Jim Henson, and a screenplay by Terry Jones, Labyrinth has all the myth and wonder of any childhood classic. As part of this event, the audience will be treated to a special introduction and get an exclusive all-new look behind the curtain at the making of this classic. (fathom events)

After Bowie’s death this year, someone posed the question, did David Bowie keep the Universe together? Seems the world went crazy with all the artists departing the planet. I don’t know, could be true. Well, anyway, make sure to check out Labyrinth’s 30th Anniversary screening! Starring the one and only, keeper of the Universe, David Bowie!

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Check your local theater for showtimes or purchase tickets online here.

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Toga, Toga!🍻

Posted by donnamarie on August 4, 2016

National Lampoon’s Animal House:

August 14th & August 17th

School’s out for the summer, so why not break all the rules? The Deltas did and now they’re battling Dean Wormer. Whose side are you on? The uncivilized frat boys or the administration of Faber College?

The screenplay was adapted by Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller, and Harold Ramis from stories written by Miller and published in National Lampoon magazine, the stories were based on the writers’ college experience in fraternities.

Chris Miller

Doug Kenney/”Stork”

Harold Ramis

“Animal House” was the first film produced by National Lampoon, the most popular humor magazine on college campuses in the mid-1970s. The periodical specialized in humor and satirized politics and popular culture. Many of the magazine’s writers were recent college graduates, hence their appeal to students all over the country. (Wikipedia)

Being a college student in the mid-1970’s, I loved reading National Lampoon. The humor was totally off the wall. An all time favorite magazine cover was entitled: “If You Don’t Buy This Magazine, We’ll Kill This Dog” including a gun to the dog’s head. (told you it was off the wall and sometimes totally inappropriate😳 )

Cover of the infamous “Death” issue in January 1973.

Thanks to “Animal House”, toga parties became one of the favorite college campus happenings during 1978 and 1979. In 2001 the United States Library of Congress deemed Animal House “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected it for preservation in theNational Film Registry.

Coming Soon To a Theater Near You!

60th Anniversary

Whether you’re a Yul Brener fan or just a push over for a love story, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical classic,”The King and I” celebrates its 60th anniversary and is the next film in the series.

Premiering Aug. 28th & Aug. 30th.

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I’ll keep you posted on the upcoming films.

That Cat Can Swing! – Dance in Film 💃

Posted by donnamarie on June 12, 2016

Dance and I go way back. I have memories of American Bandstand and “bopping” with the staircase banister. There have been hundreds of dances long before I came along and even since. But, the most incredible dance craze I’ve ever seen by far is “The Lindy Hop”!

Don’t get me wrong, The Nicholas Brothers are my boys and their performances were breathtaking! No matter how many times I watch their dance routine from the Lena Horne/Bill “Bojangles” Robinson film “Stormy Weather”, I hold my breath in disbelief.

Like the Nicholas Brothers, the Lindy Hop is a marvel to behold! An assemblage of gymnastic, caution to the wind, I can’t believe they just did that dance moves. The coordination and imagination alone make this form of dance tops in my book.

I watch the television dance competition program, “So, You Think You Can Dance” for the myriad of styles and routines. However, I challenge even these dancers to impress me with the moves of the likes of the legendary Lindy Hopper Frankie Manning! (featured in this routine from the 1929 film, “Hellzapoppin”, he and his partner are last.)

The Lindy Hop was developed in Harlem, New York City, in the 1920s and 1930s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. It was very popular during the Swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based on jazz, tap, breakaway, and Charleston. It is frequently described as a jazz dance and is a member of the swing dance family. (Wikipedia)

Just as jazz music emerged as a dominant art form that could absorb and integrate other forms of music, Lindy Hop gained its own fame through dancers in films, performances, competitions, and professional dance troupes.

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Frankie Manning was part of a new generation of Lindy hoppers and is the most celebrated Lindy hopper in history. Some sources credit Manning, working with his partner Freida Washington, for inventing the ground-breaking “Air Step” or “aerial” in 1935. An Air Step is a dance move in which at least one of the partners’ two feet leave the ground in a dramatic, acrobatic style. Most importantly, it is done in time with the music. Air steps are now widely associated with the characterization of lindy hop, despite being generally reserved for competition or performance dancing, and not generally being executed on any social dance floor. (Wikipedia)

The popularity of Lindy Hop declined after World War II, and the dance remained dormant until revived by European and American dancers in the 1980s.

The closest I’ve ever come to Lindy hopping is a gymnastic dance sequence in a community theater production of “West Side Story”. I executed a “back flip” move with my partner which for me stands out as the most exciting dance routine of my community theater career.

I was 40 years of age when I performed the “back flip” routine so, hey, maybe I’ve got a Lindy Hop left in me! 😎

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School Daze (1988)

Posted by donnamarie on June 7, 2016

This controversial 1988 musical comedy-drama was written and directed by Spike Lee and is based in part on Lee’s experiences at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University. (Spike Lee also has a role as “Half-Pint”, a pledge for Gamma Phi Gamma) It is a story about fraternity and sorority members clashing with other students at a historically black college during homecoming weekend and also touches upon issues of colorism (discrimination based on skin color) and hair texture bias within the African-American community. The film stars Larry Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tisha Campbell-Martin.

School Daze resonates with me for a couple of reasons, first, as a member of a sorority and second, because of my love of the musical genre, the well-produced dance sequences.

Spike went out on a limb challenging black colleges, politics, and internal racial relations. At the time, some people felt he was airing family business. Discussing subject matter usually not shared with the world at large. Good and bad hair, light skinned vs. dark skinned, social class. Spike touched a nerve on all these issues, garnering mixed revues from audiences.

As a black, sorority girl, I found that Spike was telling truths that I’ve experienced over the course of my life. Skin color, hair texture, and social standing. These are issues we still deal with today. As far as the politics, my college class was very political and our participation ranged from running for our dorm governing counsel to initiating the first black cheerleader. Because we grew up in the 60’s and the civil rights movement we understood that we benefited from the sacrifices of others and it was our responsibility to pay it forward.

But, the bottom line of my enjoyment of this movie is I absolutely loved the production numbers! When the film was made you didn’t see lots of musicals like in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. More serious subjects were generally being portrayed due to the politics of the times. Remember, Nelson Mandela was still in prison and apartheid was full on in South Africa.

Now, let’s check out my very favorite performance – Gamma Rays!

These divas are working it in this dance piece! I can still perform this entire routine and it continues to make me smile. Absolutely fabulous!!

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times noted School Daze’s significance as a film with a “completely black orientation. “All of the characters, good and bad, are black, and all of the character’s references are to each other.” (Wikipedia)

School Daze is relevant, witty, and worth viewing. Two Thumbs Up!

“Back in the Day” – Let’s Hear it for the VCR! 📼

Posted by donnamarie on June 3, 2016

Can You Guess What This Does?

My ideas for posts come to me in a very organic way. Doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, if a thought comes to mind I immediately write it down. (if I don’t, it can be lost in the ether forever:) This time, sitting under the dryer at the salon, I came up with the idea for a flashback look at the revolutionary video format from “back in the day”and some of my favorite titles from the hundreds of tapes in my VCR library.

The Video Home System (VHS) is a standard for consumer-level use of analog recording on videotape cassettes. It was developed by Victor Company of Japan (JVC) in the 1970s. (Wikipedia)

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Over the years, I’ve been upgrading my VHS tapes to DVDs because of the quality. But, I’d also kept my VCR because of my extensive VHS collection and besides, it was in perfectly good condition. That is until about a year ago. The rewind ceased to function and upon ejecting the tape it became a projectile, hurling itself across the room.

I recently celebrated my birthday and received an Amazon gift card which I was very excited to use in purchasing a new, used VCR. As I started taking inventory of tapes I hadn’t been able to or just forgot about watching over the years, I was like a kid in a candy store, discovering these titles all over again.

Anyone who knows me understands I’m a movie junkie. As a kid, my mom and I went to the “show” (as we called it) on a weekly basis. And on Saturdays, I’d tag along with my sister to the monster matinees.

Growing up in the sixties, I only had access to my favorite films at the movie theater. However, I always believed the day would come when I’d assemble a film library and be able to watch my faves as often as I’d like. It would take another decade, but I got my wish when in 1977 the VCR player became available to the general public.

From the 1950s, magnetic tape video recording became a major contributor to the television industry, via the first commercialized video tape recorders (VTRs). At that time, the devices were used only in expensive professional environments such as television studios and medical imaging (fluoroscopy).

In the 1970s videotape entered home use, creating the home video industry and changing the economics of the television and movie businesses. The television industry viewed VCRs as having the power to disrupt their business, while television users viewed the VCR as the means to take control of their hobby. (Wikipedia)

First VHS Logo

In the beginning, there were few titles available and the tapes were expensive. ($60-$80) It would take until the early eighties before the format was feasible as prices came down.

The first theatrical film ever released to the public on VHS was the South Korean drama, The Young Teacher, in 1976. The first three titles to become available in the U.S were – The Sound of Music, Patton, and MAS*H (at an average retail cost of $50-$70, each).

I have such happy memories of watching The Sound of Music (1965) for the first time and being swept up in the majestic opening number and loving every song. At that moment, Julie Andrews became my favorite songstress and I would forever perform as a soprano!

West Side Story (1961) also made an impression and was one of the coolest musicals of the 1960’s. Winner of ten Academy Awards including Best Picture, this electrifying musical sets the ageless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in the slums of 1950s New York.

My personality is the type that will watch a movie over and over again and I’m so thankful for the advent of the VCR which has allowed me to collect and enjoy my film library anytime I desire. These films have also impacted and inspired me to take my love of musicals and eventually perform in community theater productions.

It’s so wonderful to be able to relive fond big screen memories, and relish home movies of when my kids were young. Starting my video collection was a wish come true and I often enjoy revisiting these special films and moments of days and times gone by.

VHS Legacy

Often considered an important medium of film history, the influence of VHS on art and cinema was highlighted in a retrospective staged at the Museum of Arts and Design in 2013. In 2015 the Yale University Library collected nearly 3,000 horror and exploitation movies on VHS tapes, distributed from 1978 to 1985, calling them “the cultural id of an era.” (Wikipedia)

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That Was Who?

Posted by donnamarie on May 30, 2016

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Les and Cruise

I’ve never been a bigTom Cruise fan. (okay, maybe that one scene in “Risky Business” when he pantomimes Bob Seeger) Until I saw his portrayal of the Coca-Cola-swilling, profanity master, and all around cra-cra mogul -Les Grossman in the hilarious Ben Stiller flick, “Tropic Thunder”.

In my previous post, “Favorite Actors Favorite Roles” I talked about being so immersed in an actor’s portrayal instead of thinking that’s so and so playing a fill in the blank role. In that vein, Tom Cruise blew my mind with his – take it to the max interpretation – of Les Grossman. I totally didn’t even recognize him with the makeup and his over the top performance. It was then and there I decided the only types of roles Cruise should accept are character roles. Whose with me?

Another impressive character role for Cruise was playing rock star Stacee Jaxx in the tribute film “Rock of Ages”. Again, an outstanding performance and parody of an 80’s rocker which included getting ripped and tattooed to complete the look.

The 2012 romantic musical comedy was directed by Adam Shankman and is an adaptation of the 2006 rock jukebox Broadway musical of the same name by Chris D’Arienzo.

Let’s hear it one more time for Stacee Jaxx!

Long Live Rock Movies! 😎🎸

Posted by donnamarie on April 13, 2016

“School of Rock” (2003)

Let’s start with our substitute teacher, Mr. Schneebly – what kid hasn’t wished for a sub like him? No grades, being part of a kick butt rock band, defying parents, breaking the rules. Good, right?

Jack Black’s character Dewey Finn is the forever loser and quintessential wanna be rock star, but when he steals his roommate’s identity as a substitute teacher, (Mr, Schneebly) he discovers he has a class of very musically talented 5th-grade students. So, Dewey decides to turn his class into a rock band to potentially win the Battle of the Bands and $20,000. I won’t spoil whether the kids win or don’t win the battle but as a result of the contest they gain self-confidence and continue to play rock in an after school program coached by Dewey. Long live Rock!

This film totally tapped into my inner rocker!

“The Commitments” (1991)

What happens when a group of white working class Dubliners forms a soul band? A rousing film with some great music inspired by legendary artists, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett.

The band nails the soul of the greats by immersing themselves 24/7 in classic soul standards:

“In the Midnight Hour” – Wilson Pickett
“Try a Little Tenderness” – Otis Redding
“I Never Loved a Man” – Aretha Franklin
Whether on buses, hanging up laundry or in music store windows, they were feeling the soul. In the words of Félim Gormley (Dean Fay- Saxophone), “I’m black and I’m proud!”

I’m so glad the movie was authentic with the cast singing on the soundtrack. (The actors were cast for their musical abilities.) Lead singer (Andrew Strong “Deco”) was nuts but the standout talent of the band.

The Commitments was voted best Irish film of all time in a 2005 poll sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey and launched a generation of Irish musicians and actors.

“This is Spinal Tap” (1984)

OMG, the funniest, dead on satire of a rock metal band ever!

Classic in every sense of the word, Director/Writer Rob Reiner’s masterpiece was also written and scored by the stars:

Rob Reiner – (Marty D. Bergi) – Mokumentarian

Spinal Tap

Christopher Guest – (Nigel Tufnel)

Michael McKean- (David St. Hubbins)

Harry Shearer – (Derek Smalls)

This mockumentary feels so real that some moviegoers thought they were an actual group!

The “Stonehenge” number during the Smell the Glove tour is priceless. Due to a mix up with size dimensions, the Stonehenge replica for their epic song is 18 inches instead of 18 feet tall. The little people performers in the number were taller. And Derek Smalls getting stuck in the stage prop egg is hilarious!

In 2002, This Is Spinal Tap was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry.

These are 3 of my favorite Rock Movies – Let me know yours in the comments!

Nicholas Brothers – Flash! (So You Think You Can Dance?)

Posted by donnamarie on February 28, 2016

In honor of Black History Month, I’ll be featuring films either starring or representing African American themes.

This repost and film duo for the month is the incomparable Nicholas Brothers. Their energy and dynamic dance routines are legendary and unmatched by any other artist then or now. Born during an era when African American entertainers were restricted in film appearances and even cut out for southern audiences, the Nicholas Brothers rose above and beyond the sensibilities of the times.

The Nicholas Brothers were a famous African American team of dancing brothers, Fayard (1914–2006) and Harold (1921–2000). Their highly acrobatic technique (“flash dancing“), demonstrated such a high level of artistry and daring innovations that they were considered by many to be the greatest tap dancers of their day.

Growing up with musician parents (mother played piano and father drums) who had their own band, the brothers were surrounded by some of the best Vaudeville acts of the time and became stars of the jazz circuit during the heyday of the Harlem Renaissance . Fayard and Harold went on to have successful careers performing on stage, film, and television well into the 1990s.

Their signature move was to leapfrog down a long, broad flight of stairs, while completing each step with a split. This move was performed to perfection in the finale of the movie, Stormy Weather . In my humble opinion, the “Jumpin’ Jive” dance number in Stormy Weather was the greatest movie musical sequence of all time!

Nicholas Brothers – Jump!

Another signature move was to arise from a split without using their hands. Gregory Hines (with brother Maurice – tap dancing brother and father team Hines, Hines and Dad) declared that if the Nicholas Brothers biography were ever filmed, their dance numbers would have to be computer generated because no one now could emulate them. Ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov once called them the most amazing dancers he had ever seen in his life.

The Nicholas Brothers influenced every dancer that came after. Including Michael Jackson. Here they are together on the Jackson’s TV Show.

Legends of dance that should always be remembered!

Nicholas Brothers and Gene Kelley

Fayard and Harold

Harold Nicholas, Dorothy Dandridge and Fayard Nicholas

Nicholas Brothers Jump

Happy Birthday, Tina!

Anytime I feel I’m running on low energy I just channel Tina and my body can’t help but pulsate.

Today we celebrate Tina Turner’s 77th birthday and the life of an icon and true RockStar! I marvel at her eternal youth and vitality. I wanna be just like her when I grow up!

Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, is an acclaimed recording artist, dancer, actress, and author, whose career has spanned more than half a century, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards.

Born and raised in Nutbush, Tennesse, she began her musical career in the mid-1950s as a featured singer with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, first recording in 1958 under the name “Little Ann.”

Imitating Miss Tina was part of my childhood as my girlfriends and I would shake our booties whipping our hair and working it out with the ladies.

This is an early performance of the gift that is Miss Tina Turner!

This concert footage is part of Tina’s “comeback” tour after those early, disastrous years with Ike Turner. I wrote in a previous post about Tina’s life as portrayed by Angela Bassett in “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”and what a remarkable life Tina has endured.

She’s always been my idol since I was a child and after seeing Tina looking hot in this white leather outfit and her boundless energy I stopped boohooing about baby weight gained after my daughter and got my butt back into the gym.

Seeing her in concert was a night I’ll always treasure. That woman is all that and no one compares. If you haven’t had the pleasure.

Enjoy!

Tina’s critically acclaimed role as “The Acid Queen” in The Who’s “Tommy” (1975) was outstanding! Still a classic today.

If you weren’t on acid, you sure felt like it!

Miss Turner has also sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history. Her combined album and single sales total approximately 180 million copies worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling females in music history.

Her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour became one of the highest selling ticketed shows of 2008–09. Rolling Stone ranked her no. 63 on their 100 greatest artists of all time and in 1991, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Wikipedia)

Tina Turner’s career has been a marvel to watch. Despite all odds, she brought herself up from Nutbush to the pentacle of success in music, film, and continues to be an inspirational figure.

Thank you, Tina, for uplifting my life and demonstrating that you can accomplish whatever you want with determination and faith. You are simply the best!

Love you!

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A funny thing happened at my 6-month dental check-up. Sitting in the dentist’s chair a lightbulb came on and the idea for this post hit me square in the mouth, “The Little Shop of Horrors”(1960)!

People are probably more familiar with the 1986 musical version directed by Frank Oz and starring Steve Martin (demented dentist), Rick Moranis, (Seymour) Ellen Greene (Audrey), Tichina Arnold, and Tisha Campbell (as the urchins).

The 1986 film is a remake of the hit Broadway stage production which was a remake of the 1960 movie. (Phew, that took the long way around)

I had the fantastic experience of performing in a stage production as one of the street urchins. Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette are fashioned after girl groups from the 1960’s. It was one of my favorite shows and roles in my community theater career.

The film became the basis for the horror comedy and Off-Broadway rock musical, Little Shop of Horrors (1982). By composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, the production was notably made into the 1986 feature film.

Trivia:

The film also garnered attention as a movie that was made into a Broadway production; it’s usually the other way around.

Writer, Charles B. Griffith, was the voice of Audrey 2 in 1960 film.

Levi Stubbs (lead singer of The Four Tops-Motown group) was the voice of Audrey II in 1986 movie.

Ellen Greene played Audrey in the Off-Broadway Production.

The gleefully masochistic dental patient, originally played by Jack Nicholson, is not in the musical but is in the 1986 film, played by Bill Murray.

A young Jack Nicholson‘s small role as the masochistic dental patient in the 1960 film was a hysterical standout. At the time of filming, Jack Nicholson had appeared in two films and had worked with Roger Corman as the lead in “The Cry Baby Killer”.

According to Nicholson, “I went into the shoot knowing I had to be very quirky because Roger originally hadn’t wanted me. In other words, I couldn’t play it straight. So I just did a lot of weird shit that I thought would make it funny.”

Even though this was only his third film you could see that his talent was something quite special.

Because I’m a big-time musical theater lover, my affinity is for the 1986 film. The musical numbers were fabulous, the performances outstanding, and the memories lasting.

I loved performing the opening “Urchin” musical number “Little Shop of Horrors” which was also from the Off-Broadway stage production:

For a fun and dark Halloween double feature, I highly recommend checking out “The Little Shop of Horrors” (1960) and the remake, “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986). A little something for everyone.

Happy Halloween!

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Sony Pictures Presents

THE 1986 MUSICAL FANTASY RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN

Fathom Events and Sony Pictures invite you to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Labyrinth when it returns to select cinemas nationwide for a special two-day event on Sunday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 14.

First of all, Bowie! Second of all, Bowie! And third, oh, you get it. David Bowie was born for this role. His theatricality, magical voice, aura, all made him destined and a standout as the Goblin King.

I remember this film fondly as my children would act out the entire movie in our family room. I’m a big musical movie buff and I would always smile in delight as I secretly checked out the show.

Check your local theater for showtimes or purchase tickets online here.

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And an excellent film that fits the bill is the 1978 comedy “Animal House”.

Let’s head back to college with John Belushi and the gang in this raucous, and hilarious film packed with completely uncivilized frat parties, food fights, togas, and lots of fun!

August 14th & August 17th

School’s out for the summer, so why not break all the rules? The Deltas did and now they’re battling Dean Wormer. Whose side are you on? The uncivilized frat boys or the administration of Faber College?

The screenplay was adapted by Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller, and Harold Ramis from stories written by Miller and published in National Lampoon magazine, the stories were based on the writers’ college experience in fraternities.

Coming Soon To a Theater Near You!

60th Anniversary

Whether you’re a Yul Brener fan or just a push over for a love story, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical classic,”The King and I” celebrates its 60th anniversary and is the next film in the series.

Premiering Aug. 28th & Aug. 30th.

I’ll keep you posted on the upcoming films.

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Dance and I go way back. I have memories of American Bandstand and “bopping” with the staircase banister. There have been hundreds of dances long before I came along and even since. But, the most incredible dance craze I’ve ever seen by far is “The Lindy Hop”!

Don’t get me wrong, The Nicholas Brothers are my boys and their performances were breathtaking! No matter how many times I watch their dance routine from the Lena Horne/Bill “Bojangles” Robinson film “Stormy Weather”, I hold my breath in disbelief.

Like the Nicholas Brothers, the Lindy Hop is a marvel to behold! An assemblage of gymnastic, caution to the wind, I can’t believe they just did that dance moves. The coordination and imagination alone make this form of dance tops in my book.

Just as jazz music emerged as a dominant art form that could absorb and integrate other forms of music, Lindy Hop gained its own fame through dancers in films, performances, competitions, and professional dance troupes.

The popularity of Lindy Hop declined after World War II, and the dance remained dormant until revived by European and American dancers in the 1980s.

The closest I’ve ever come to Lindy hopping is a gymnastic dance sequence in a community theater production of “West Side Story”. I executed a “back flip” move with my partner which for me stands out as the most exciting dance routine of my community theater career.

I was 40 years of age when I performed the “back flip” routine so, hey, maybe I’ve got a Lindy Hop left in me! 😎

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School Daze resonates with me for a couple of reasons, first, as a member of a sorority and second, because of my love of the musical genre, the well-produced dance sequences.

Now, let’s check out my very favorite performance – Gamma Rays!

These divas are working it in this dance piece! I can still perform this entire routine and it continues to make me smile. Absolutely fabulous!!

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times noted School Daze’s significance as a film with a “completely black orientation. “All of the characters, good and bad, are black, and all of the character’s references are to each other.” (Wikipedia)

School Daze is relevant, witty, and worth viewing. Two Thumbs Up!

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Anyone who knows me understands I’m a movie junkie. As a kid, my mom and I went to the “show” (as we called it) on a weekly basis. And on Saturdays, I’d tag along with my sister to the monster matinees.

In the beginning, there were few titles available and the tapes were expensive. ($60-$80) It would take until the early eighties before the format was feasible as prices came down.

The first theatrical film ever released to the public on VHS was the South Korean drama, The Young Teacher, in 1976. The first three titles to become available in the U.S were – The Sound of Music, Patton, and M*A*S*H (at an average retail cost of $50-$70, each).

I have such happy memories of watching The Sound of Music (1965) for the first time and being swept up in the majestic opening number and loving every song. At that moment, Julie Andrews became my favorite songstress and I would forever perform as a soprano!

West Side Story (1961) also made an impression and was one of the coolest musicals of the 1960’s. Winner of ten Academy Awards including Best Picture, this electrifying musical sets the ageless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in the slums of 1950s New York.

It’s so wonderful to be able to relive fond big screen memories, and relish home movies of when my kids were young. Starting my video collection was a wish come true and I often enjoy revisiting these special films and moments of days and times gone by.

VHS Legacy

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I’ve never been a bigTom Cruise fan. (okay, maybe that one scene in “Risky Business” when he pantomimes Bob Seeger) Until I saw his portrayal of the Coca-Cola-swilling, profanity master, and all around cra-cra mogul -Les Grossman in the hilarious Ben Stiller flick, “Tropic Thunder”.

Another impressive character role for Cruise was playing rock star Stacee Jaxx in the tribute film “Rock of Ages”. Again, an outstanding performance and parody of an 80’s rocker which included getting ripped and tattooed to complete the look.

The first theatrical film ever released to the public on VHS was the South Korean drama, The Young Teacher, in 1976. The first three titles to become available in the U.S were – The Sound of Music, Patton, and MAS*H (at an average retail cost of $50-$70, each).