I certainly didn't want to miss the excitement of the first full day of screenings, but it was difficult to "get going' after the late night excitement of the Vanity Fair party, so I wasn't sufficiently "coffee-ed" up enough to make the introduction to The Bad and The Beautiful with Robert Osborne and Cheryl Crane, Lana Turner's only child, and author of a biography of her mother.

The Bad and the Beautiful, Vincent Minelli's excellent Hollywood expose from 1952 with a screenplay scrafted by Charles Schnee who also wrote Red River (both the film and the teleplay), Butterfield 8, They Live by Night, Two Weeks in Another Town, and The Next Voice You Hear, won something like 5 Oscars even though it hadn't been nominated for best picture.

This film showcases Kirk Douglas in one of my favorites of all of his performances, besides George Phipps in A Letter to Three Wives, Spartacus, and Jack in Lonely are the Brave. I made it just in time to see one of my favorite scenes on the big screen when Lana is driving the car in the rain and crying hysterically.

And I always love the ending to this film because even though all the characters have absolutely had it with Jonathan Shields' behavior, at the end Georgia Lorrison, Harry Pebbel, and Fred Amiel are still riveted to the phone listening to Shields lure them in once again. But other passholders who saw the introductory discussion with Osborne and Crane proclaimed Crane's sustained interest in the professionalism of Turner's career, and during a later discussion at Imitation of Life, Robert Osborne would refer to this interview while discussing the filming of Imitation of Life with Juanita Moore, and Susan Kohner.

Then it was on to brunch at the little restaurant that overlooks the inviting pool at the Hollywood Roosevelt. (It's supposedly situated right above the area where Marilyn Monroe had her one and only photo shoot at the hotel.) Folks were swimming in the heated pool and sunning themselves on the lounge chairs while snuggled up in those wonderfully warm super-sized bath towels because it was still a little chilly, especially when you stepped out of that lovely, heated pool.

The breakfast was delicious and the fruit was fresh, eggs were scrambled perfectly fluffy, toast was warm and orange juice tart. But, and now I come to the only complaint portion of my entire visit, except for the fact that the festival was only four short days. It is the small matter of the breakfast potatoes....I think the chef was gearing up for a kind of potatoes galette-kind-of-throw-a few-liquified-capers-in-and-some-garlic- powder-with-dried-parsley-for-a-visual-enticement-like- La Madeleine- kind of culinary experience, but I am sorry. Those breakfast potatoes, and they also serve the same ones if you order room service, were like cold, mushy, greasy, mashed potatoes. It was like The Blob. It acted like it was finally relieved to just sort of ooze on your plate and stare back at you, defying you to attack it with a fork. Eeeeyu! Maybe I've just been viewing too much Gordon Ramsey lately, but there is no way you could pretend they were delicious while you were actually eating them unless you had earned 3 or 4 Oscars. Maybe Meryl Streep could carry it off. I couldn't.

So the wonderful waiter recognized an unhappy patron from her ghoulish, girlish grimace. He brought me an extra side order of toast. That was sweet. The service staff at this hotel attended to details-they were patient, kind, and thoughtful. Thank you, Hollywood Roosevelt, but call the Waffle House for a lesson on Hashed Browns 101. And I wasn't the only passholder put off by the "breakfast" potatoes...several of us had a potato pity party at Club TCM solely about this one and only culinary disgrace. (And, yes, laughter did ensue.) So my only real complaint during the whole wonderful four days is that I want the management to deal with those nasty potatoes....Eeeyu!

Time to run again and onto the "Conversation Between Peter Bogdanovich and Leonard Maltin"mano a mano at Club TCM, right here in the hotel, on the first floor, across from the spacious lobby bar. Bogdonavich and Maltin were seated face-to-face on the raised dais of the dance floor.(And yes, there was dancing, but more about that later.) And Bogdanovich did not disappoint. He told many Hollywood tales in character as he schmoozed about Orson Welles as Orson Welles, a Bogdonavich house guest during his Cybill Shepherd years. Bogdanovich also does a great impression of Howard Hawks, someone he has researched and written about in some of his
printed exploits, and he also indulged in the industrial name-dropping he is famous for. Both gentlemen received a huge round of applause from the packed room, and Bogdonavich signed autographs as he left the stage. (Yes, he signed one of my books. I was just standing there, watching him leave, and since I am about 9 feet tall, I guess my height startled him, and he started wiggling his pen in my direction, so I shoved a book in his direction. (He was sedate, but gracious.)

After the discussion, I visited with several of my TCM City buddies and new folks I'd met at the festival, and we all chatted about what screening we were going to see next. Everyone was still so excited about our experiences..

But I was running out of tip and t-shirt cash (The souvenirs are wonderful!), so I had to find a local branch bank in the area. The lobby near the registration desk had computers for guestmember use and I looked up a local bank address there, and I went out to the covered portico at the valet and was going to ask for my poor, exhausted rent SUV that had already been all over California, but then one of the service staff asked if I needed a free ride, and I answered, "But, of course!" and he stated that they had a brand new Buick with a tall, good looking chaffeur named Dave, to take me anywhere I wanted to go. And I didn't have to jog my rentvee from its cozy and well-positioned valet space. So Dave drove me to and from the bank, and I arrived in front of Grauman's just in time for the screening of Imitation of Life just as the tall, well-attired chauffer opened the inside curb door for me to step out onto the footprint arena where all the famous Hollywood stars I've admired through the years have left their marks....

Next: The Imitation of Life screening with a post-film discussion engaging Juanita Moore, Robert Osborne, and Susan Kohner...

Day One, Part Six

The excitement of attending the Vanity Fair party is electric. Everyone I encountered who attended seemed to experience it and feel it.

Wearing my full-lenth black satin Chinese formal with the Mandarin collar and clicking my high heels all the way down Hollywood Boulevard, I felt my heart beating faster with each step. I was following Countess De Lave and friends as we drew closer to the entrance of the club, and we all were speaking about how much fun we knew it would be.


As we were entering, the first celeb sighting was Eva Marie Saint and her escort (hubby?). She looked lovely and was very gracious. She was exiting as we were entering and was wearing a lovely creme-coloured outfit and carrying a clutch bag. Folks were genuflecting to her and appreciating the fact that she was able to attend on her way out. (Eva Marie Saint will introduce North By Northwest during the festival with Martin Landau as a co-presenter.)


When we had stepped inside, I found my date, Bruce, clasping a glass of white wine, and chatting with another passholder from the East. The crowd was already huge, and I could hear the buzz of voices all around...the screening was..he looks so..they haven't arrived yet...he's over there..the waiter is coming..care for a snack?..look at that hair..she's ravishing... (I like to imagine they were talking about me!)

The first floor of Kress's was packed with folks swarming around in a sort of circular motion that eventually led them around to the table where Robert Osborne and Diane Baker were holding court. Mr. Osborne was sitting in a seat in the booth most closest to the milling crowd, and Miss Baker was seated next to him. I had already visited with Mr. Osborne earlier, shortly after my fan perspective interview, and I introduced myself to Miss Baker who looked stunning and exhibited a kind of serene patience and wonder at all the excitement, seemingly happy to be a part of it, and happy to visit with her fans. Very approachable and affable.

Right before I introduce myself to someone famous, or someone in a position of authority that I am not acquainted with, I always remember a story my cousin told me about Louis Jourdan. It gives me courage.

My cousin was visiting Hollywood for the first time in the 1980's and was staying at a hotel in Beverly Hills. As he was leaving the valet parking area, Louis Jourdan stepped out to wait for his car. My cousin walks over to him to speak, and he says, "Oh, Mr. Jourdan, you're the first movie star I've met since I've been in Hollywood." Mr. Jourdan looks at him with that droll expression of boredom so common to viewers of Gigi, and says in his French-accented English, "I'm so happy for you," and walks away to his car.

So this incident always reminds me that my comments might not be met with the same enthusiasm I feel at the time. It helps me be prepared for rejection...

But Robert Osborne, who makes everyone he meets seem welcome, always was kind and generous with his time to folks I saw him converse with. The general comments about Mr. Osborne as the festival spokesman and TCM onscreen CEO was overwhelmingly favorable.

And meeting Diane Baker was a joy. She stated that she currently is involved in teaching acting, and I told her that I always enjoyed her performances. In Marnie, I explained that I thought the turquoise kimono she wore was lovely, and I always wanted one like it. My aunt, who was a fabulous seamstress, made me a kimono like the one Miss Baker wore in Marnie without even using a pattern. Miss Baker said that she always enjoyed hearing fan stories, and she indeed remembered wearing that lovely kimono. She was charming.

After my lovely visit with Miss Baker, and a short nod to Mr. Osborne who was busy greeting other passholders, I romped upstairs to where my date, Bruce, and friends Countess De Lave, and others were soon to arrive. We had all agreed to meet on the top floor because there were so many people on the ground floor.

On my way upstairs, I ran into Ed Faulker and his wife. Faulkner is a character actor who has worked on many films with John Wayne and episodic television. He was surprised that I had recognized him because he says most folks don't remember who he is. He and his wife are very charming, and Mr. Faulkner currently works in private business, but also continues acting. He expressed the joy he had at working in so many films with John Wayne. They are very sweet folks..Mr. Faulkner can currently be seen in one of the "Words of Mouth" extras on TCM, and I believe it is the one with director Andrew McGlaglen, son of actor Victor McGlaglen, discussing John Wayne.

As I'm waiting in line to move around to the stairs because of all the partygoers, Alec Baldwin walks by, and I say, "Hi, Alec." And he says, "Hi, how's it going?" and moves along to his next stop to sit down by Robert Osborne, and they have a photo op.

Upstairs, my pals and I found the perfect place to see the whole arena of guests and passholders. It was the corner booth upstairs near the DJ. Waiters kept coming around with drinks, and goodies to snack on. We could see everything happening in the main arena of celeb activity while we were perched in our perfect "catbird seat" booth. Then a photographer from CNN comes and sits with us, takes our photos, and sits down to visit for awhile. He tells us about all the folks he has taken pictures of since the evening began, and others at the festival. Then, after he has a beverage, he has to go downstairs and take more pictures.

As I get up to visit the powder room while we are upstairs, Jaqueline Bisset walks in with her friend from London, and I introduce myself and we talk about London, her visit to LA, how great Jack Cardiff was with his photography of FlPandora and the Flying Dutchman which is being screened at the festival, and how hot and humid it is in Houston where she had filmed a movie. She seems very shy at first, but was happy that I had remembered her working and visiting Houston.

Then off to the powder room where I needed to update my look with one of my favorite lip gloss colors, #300, L'Oreal, tuck in a stray hair or two from my upsweep, and readjust my little red flower...

Back at the table, we started requesting our favorites from the DJ, and he was happy to comply, and we all started dancing. More drinks...More dancing. Then the CNN photographer comes back upstairs and tells us Cher had put in an appearance. We all ask what she was wearing. "Some white number," he says.

Then I ran into a tall, good looking man on the stairs who said Hugh Hefner had just been there with some blonde babe. And after way too much wine, I think I said something like, "Oohh, big news flash from 50 years ago." He laughed, but then I felt guilty I had said something like that. Ah, Bacchus...

So I missed Hugh and Cher, but luckily others hadn't and said they were gracious to the passholders who were able to chat with them.....Oh, well. Back to more wine, more snacks, and more dancing to our favorites until the wee hours. We laughed and chatted and danced until the DJ started packing up his equipment, and the wine flowed no more, and little waiters with trays of goodies had abandoned us...

Day One, Part Five

After I saw Judy Garland sing "The Man That Got Away" in A Star is Born at Grauman's Chinese Theater, I quietly slipped away in the back of the auditorium so that I could attend the poolside screening of Neptune's Daughter at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and I wasn't the only passholder who did that. I just didn't want to miss this event as well as the premiere.

The evening was cool, and even though I was wearing my coat, I was chilly. As I was making my way through the large crowd, I found my vintage-clad friends, Countess De Lave and her sister, Miss Lilacs. We all sat at a table and ordered something tasty and warm. I had coffee with B&B. All around the pool area by the bar, several
toasty fires were blaring in metal "kivas" to keep everyone warm. The lights made
by the fires and the illumination on the palm trees reflected in the pool water made lovely shadows that sort of twinkled everywhere, depending upon where someone was seated. Up above the pool area, the large column of rooms at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was visible, bathed in a sort of amber light.

The screen was at one end of the pool, by the shallow end, and the synchronized swimmers, the Aqualillies, had just begun to arrive.

Genevieve McGillicuddy, the director of the festival, steps on the stage and welcomes everyone, followed by applause, and then she introduces Ben Mankiewicz, and he then greets Betty Garrett and Esther Williams on stage.

And when Ben sees that Esther Williams is in a wheelchair, he quietly moves an extra chair out of the way. A very considerate act of kindness to accommodate the ladies.

Esther and Betty are smiling and acting very happy to be at the Festival.
Esther claims that "Everything sounds better under water," and Betty, who seems to be having a cold, has a little hoarseness in her speech, and states that she can't hear everything, but if if someone says something bad, she'll find out about it and
"whack you later." Cute. Spunky. I like it.

Even though Esther Williams was in a wheelchair, she seemed in good health and quite perky. She was wearing a red sequined full-length sheath and sparkled when she spoke. Still a feisty gal, Esther still has her bathing suit business because the Aqualillies were sporting her little red swimsuits and she made note of it. The lovely synchornized swimmers had a great show, doing some of the same Esther Aquatics we've known and loved, and they received a large round of applause.


Betty Garrett was so cute, too, and seemed quite energetic. Esther left shortly after the film began, and so did Betty.

But after the movie started, and the double duets of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Esther and Ricardo Montalban, and Betty and Red Skelton came on, Betty stepped back out on her patio from her private cabana and was watching this sequence wistfully. As many of the viewers around the area saw her standing there, they turned and gave her a round of applause, and as she teared up, she smiled sweetly and disappeared again into her suite.

Lots of folks were wearing their coats because, baby, it really was cold outside!
But the Hollywood Roosevelt had several huge fireplaces warming everyone up. I was still in my full-length Chinese dress with the mandarin collar and stretched out
on one of the deck chairs and finished sipping my coffee and brandy while I enjoyed Ricardo, Betty, Esther, and Red up on the silver screen at the end of the pool.
I was able to be with my new friends, Kyle, Countess De Lave, Miss Lilacs and one of my dearest acquaintances, Lynn, for this wonderful close to a great first day at the day.

But I still had one more event to attend: THE VANITY FAIR PARTY at Kress's!

DAY ONE, PART FOUR

Here is the TCM Promo for the Restoration of A Star is Born. It's a most informative film highlighting the importance of film preservation and how A Star is Born has been transformed for its new DVD Release. (And yes, I ordered one. It's supposed to be on the way.) But there is another reason I enjoy this promo so much, besides its being timely, informative, and historical. I'm in it! Toward the very end of the promo, you can see a tall woman in a formal Chinese dress with a Mandarin collar carrying her turquoise coat as she walks into the actual theater at Grauman's. That's me!

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_cid=mediaroomlink&cid=333749


Day One, Part 4

So I donned more lip gloss, squared my shoulders, marched in the the elevator, and descended into the arena! Everyone who had a pass couldn't wait for CLUB TCM to open. It was across the hall from the lobby and the Festival Store was located right in front of CLUB TCM. When it opened, there were actually 2-3 maitre'd's who would check passes and say nice things like "You look very lovely" etc.

That was a nice touch.

When you walked into CLUB TCM, there was a dance floor with tables and chairs, and all around the room were photos of Hollywood Stars and a screen with film clips running on the wall behind the stage. There were plenty of comfy couches and chairs and folks met their friends there for snacks and drinks before and after the film showings.

It was so much fun in there! You could see all kinds of people who had come from all over the world to be a part of the TCM Film Festival. There were even some kids who flew in from Poland to be a part of it! Everybody wanted to know where someone was from, what your favorite movies were, and what you were planning to attend on the schedule.

I visited with so many people, and I know I couldn't remember all their names. The enjoyment of the moment was what everyone was interested in. I must have met a hundred new people that night, but none of them were rude, officious, or just plain old "stuck-up." If they were there, I didn't see them or meet them.

For snacks they had little beef empanadas, mahi mahi munchies, tabouli salad, bruscietta, oriental egg rolls, and much more...

The waiters were very friendly, and the bartenders were busy, but kind and accomodating.

Passholders would visit about the movies they were going to see and movies they looked forward to.
Several members of TCM City were there and it was wonderful to meet the "faces" behind the names.

But then it was time to go to the Premiere of A Star Is Born, which is one of my favorite films because of the songs Judy Garland sings.



Since it was the first night premiere, all goodies at the concession stand were FREE!!!
I ordered my filmgoing usual, a large diet coke, a small popcorn, and chocolate-covered peanuts.

And as I walk in, I am seated off to the left of the screen, and strike up a conversation with Bruce from D.C., and we talk about the film, and how much fun we are already having at this festival. Discussing aspects of the restoration before the introduction was also helpful and a young couple joined in the conversation.

Robert Osborne introduced the film and practially got a standing ovation. Everyone was so thrilled to see him looking his usually dapper self.

But when the curtain went up, the star was really the beautiful restoration. The colors were so vibrant and the sound was so crisp.

Never in my memory can I remember the sound in a theater being so fresh. No scratchy recordings, no bleeps or blips, just clear tones of voices, songs, and all so accessible. This was the first classic film I had seen on a large screen in many years, and after I had been so nerve-wracked all day, it was a wonderful moment of peace to realize that I was going to see one of my favorite scenes and hear one of my favorite songs and see one of my favorite film stars in one of her most brilliant moments on screen. Ever.

From where I had been sitting, I could hear several Ooohs and Aaaahs when there were closeups. And I loved how people clapped for the film. It was a joy.

Next: Esther and Betty, the Aqualilies, and more...

DAY ONE, PART THREE

Day one-Part 3

All the gals from the lunch bunch had an hour and a half to spruce up our looks and make final style decisions for the "Meet and Greet" when Club TCM finally opens its doors to the swankienda.
Fekkai, the style salon, had generously offered free hairstyles to anyone holding passes to the TCM Film Festival.

How gracious! But unfortunately, I didn't have time to take advantage of the generosity of Fekkai.
However, some of the ladies from the lunch bunch had earlier visited the salon to the stars of TCM at Fekkai and sported new "do's." (They all looked great, BTW.)

And as I had expressed my frazzled fears about how to arrange my locks, one of my friends who had already graced the Fekkai salon offered to help me.

Since I was planning to attend the Grauman's premiere of A Star is Born, I had chosen to wear my full-length Chinese formal with the mandarin collar. Decisions yet to be made included selecting the appropriate jewelry, shoes, and hairstyle.

I was still, however, suffering from periodic bouts of adrenalin rushes, silly spurts of inappropriate laughter, and indecision over which films to attend on the official TCM Film Fest Schedule as aftershocks of my earlier fan perspective interview in the a.m.

Madamoiselle, my kindly volunteer personal stylist, was scrupulously perusing my down do and we had mutually decided to upsweep.

Mlle: I need your comb.
Me: Comb. o.k. haha (inappropriate laughter)
Mlle: The hairpins
Me: Oh, yes, hahahahah (more inappropriate laughter due to delayed adrenalin)
Mlle: Your head is shaking..
Me: I'm still nervous from this morning...ahahahahaha
Mlle: Why?
Me: If my son sees my fan perspective and doesn't like it, it will be something else he will add to his arsenal of verbal volleyballs dating back to the time I accidentally left him in the produce aisle at the grocery store...
Mlle: (LOL) Relax. He's mostly away at college now, isn't he? Give me another hairpin..
Me: Yes. But don't forget about cellphones...
Mlle. So what shoes are you going to wear?
Me: I can't decide between the mid-level heel or to go all the way with the complete high heel. And I'm not talking about my ex-husbands...
Mlle. HAHhahahahhah...but why are you so confused?
Me: Well, I am already about nine feet tall...
Mlle. When I can't make up my mind like that, I usually choose something that makes me feel good.
Me: Then I'll go all the way. So my official premiere look will be the "Chinese tower of power" stance..
Mlle: hahahahaha...

So, thanks to the Madamoiselle I had a lovely upswept "do" with little oriental flowers tucked and anchored with Goody hairpins, and she steered me toward the approprate earrings-- a pair of rhinestone-studded inverted fleur de lis bobs and my black beaded bag with the swag... done. Finally.

And one of my friends here at TCM City emailed me last week and told me that viewers of TCM can see the final creation in the Chinese dress with the Mandarin collar and simple rhinestone earrings and black beaded purse walking into the premiere of A Star is Born on the TCM promo for the restoration of A Star is Born.

I'm in the last few seconds of the promo. I'm walking into the theater from the lobby!

Next: CLUB TCM OPENS, A STAR IS BORN PREMIERE, the tall man with the BUICK, and BETTY AND ESTHER BY THE POOL!

DAY ONE, PART TWO

After regrouping and sprucing up our looks, Lynn and I donned our badges again and bounded out to the elevator to meet with our friends from TCM City downstairs in the spacious lobby area across from Club TCM, which hadn't officially opened yet.

Several regular posters at TCM CITY walked a few blocks from the Historic Hollywood Roosevelt to have the classic burgers, fries, and traditionally delicious chocolate shakes at the In and Out Burger, and they are great! We don't have that franchise in Texas, but we should. Service was quick and we all settled in for lunch in the booths directly across from the cashier to chow down and to chat up.

I almost dribbled catsup from my fries on my blouse because I was laughing, and talking so much,
and asking questions. ( I was still pumping adrenalin from the filming of the fan perspectives in the a.m.)
Then somebody spilled their coke.

Everybody was chatting about the schedule, and we were discussing the films we have chosen to see, and how much fun we knew we were going to have. Some remembered snippets:

Would Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz present a film together?
How about Robert Osborne and Alec Baldwin?
Would Louise Rainer be able to come because of the airport being shut down in the UK due to the
volcanic ash?
What about Jean Paul Belmondo?
Is anybody going to see Pandora and the Flying Dutchman ?
We all have to go to Singin' in the Rain.
Did you see that guy with the bad toupee who kept talking to himself?
What kind of souvenirs do you think they will have?
I'm going to get another chocolate shake.
Fragments, for sure.
North by Northwest ? Of, course.
Imitation of LIfe ? No, too many costume changes!
Well, I'm going.
Sunnyside Up on Thursday night. I'm not missing the inflating bananas.
The Story of Temple Drake on Saturday.
What are you wearing to the premiere tonight?
I want to see Joan Crawford's home movies at Club TCM.
Are you going to Casablanca tonight?
Yes, round up the usual suspects...
Hahahaha..
We had our compliementary coifs today.
I didn't have time to go to the salon.
Isn't it great? It was free.
Well, I'll come by before we leave for the meet and greet and help you with the upsweep.
Big hair is important to me.
I don't know which earrings to wear.
We're wearing our vintage.
The sparkly jacket or the Chinese dress?
Then there's Playtime with Tati on Saturday.
Is that an event at Club TCM?
No. Haven't you ever heard of the French Buster Keaton?
Sorry. I'm more of a professional tourist than a professional film historian.
I just think you are a professional....
Hahahah.....
I can't miss Wild River. One of Lee Remick's favorite performances.
Supposed to be one of Clift's best.
How am I going to go to the premiere of A Star is Born and see Neptune's Daughter, too?
Well, I'm not missing Norman Lloyd.
Oh, the Aqualilies are going to perform. I don't want to miss that.
Me, neither.
Camp and damp. No. Definitely not me.
Hahahahaha.....
Esther and Betty will be there. It's going to be so much fun!
Don't miss The Stuntman on Saturday.
See you tonight at Grauman's.

And then it was time to leave to perk up our looks, our outfits, and our outlooks, not to mention tweak our schedules.

Club TCM opens at 4:00...

DAY ONE, TCM FESTIVAL

It usually takes me at least two cups of coffee before I can conjugate verbs in English, and I began rushing to get ready in the morning so that I can be "on the set" for my fan perspective interview with Tim at 9:00, which was to take place in the penthouse suite of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where once upon a time, Gable and Lombard took up residence.

Lynn,my LA pal and roomie, tells me to "get moving." It was my turn to rule the powder room.

I hear the mambo music playing from my Razorphone. It was the TCM crew in charge of my interview. Would it be all right if they changed me from 9:00 a.m. to Noon? Of course not. I was so nervous, I didn't care if it took place at all. I was shaking, but I had just talked to someone in charge of something at TCM!

I can't decide what to wear. I didn't want to be to spangly-bangly, or flashy-trashy, so I went with my black Misook outfit with the long pants, shell, and jacket with stripes across the shoulders and the little blue-flowered buttons.

But before I could don the outfit, I had to delve into make-up. My hands were shaking so much by the time my foundation had been set with translucent beige powder, that I couldn't draw a straight line with my liner pencil. Then I sneezed, and my eyeliner drooped below the lid. I repaired that line, and then I tried applying mascara, and curled the lashes a little, and sneezed again. Little black marks that looked like bird tracks appeared beneath my lower lids.

Mambo music on the Razorphone again. My son calls from Texas to say he's done well this semester at college. Yay!

I start over. I take makeup remover and remove the tracks, reapply the translucent powder, and begin again all over with the mascara. Curl the lashes. Make some more. I feel another sneeze coming on so I pull by eyelids all the way open so that the little tracks don't make their appearance again. I survived the sneeze with no black birdy tracks, so I proceed to do some more curling.

I'm shaking. I tell Lynn, "I'm shaking so much I can't do my make up!"
Her calm voice reminds me that all will be well. Just hurry up and get ready.

I apply the powder blush, cinnamon peach. I put too much on one cheek. It made me look like one side of me was taller than the other, so I grab a kleenex and smudge some off, and dab a little more translucent powder on it.

I puffled and fluffed my hair a little, and clipped it back with a tortouise-shell- colored clamp. Then I put on my suit, and started to refluff the coif. It was just then that I noticed that one of my nails had chipped, so I reached for the Sally Hansen #230, Hot Cocoa, for a quick repair.

And then we hopped into the car, and Lynn navigated while I tried not to run over any pedestrians. I also was voted by the California Welcome Centers as the tourist driver most likely to be honked at.

Mambo music emanates from my cell. It was Kelli calling to organize the fan perspectives. Can she move me back to 11:00? By this time, I wanted to chicken out all together.

We arrived at the Penthouse Suite and were greeted by the lovely Kelli, a sweet young lady who helped to prep me for my interview. And there were several other folks there who were very nice, but I was so nervous, I forgot their names. I was offered a Diet Coke before my interview, but wished it had been a triple margarita on the rocks with salt on the rim and stability in the stem. No such luck.

I was shaking again.

Lynn spoke some words of encouragement, and I was able to keep my knees from knocking together.

I was introduced to Tim, the fan perspectives director, and we all walked upstairs. O.K. They walked upstairs, and I leaned against the mirrored walls while putting one foot on a step and then another foot on the step above that one.....until I feel like I had crawled up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, but instead ...the entire crew for the shoot was atop the roof of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Lynn was able to stay and watch my interview, and luckily I was able to see her and her "thumbs up" signs of encouragement. Tim, the director, gave me hints about questions I might like to answer. All I could think of was "the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true" and then a crew member wanted to put a mike on me, and I asked him if he had a medical degree to be able to do that.

When he slipped the cord up the back of my jacket, I said " Oooh, that feels pretty good." The crew guys laughed, but I was still shaking inside.

A man walked up to me and told me where my mark was, and I was supposed to stand there without moving or shaking. Uh-huh. They let me sit my Diet Coke down on the rooftop close to my mark. I was already drying up. Then I was so nervous, I did my impression of Katherine Hepburn or Doris Day or somebody singing "Que Sera, Sera."

Then Tim presented ideas about my interests in classic film, and I tried to speak something that made sense. I was not ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille.

All of a sudden we were finished, and they all thanked me, and they all had been laughing. Lynn said everything went well. So one day interested viewers might see the finished product on Turner Classic Movies fan perspectives.

Then we went to the festival studio headquarters, and I saw HIM. Robert Osborne! Tah-Dah!

He was so nice to everyone.

Lynn was there to help introduce "The Magnificent Ambesons" with Robert Osborne, and she was so calm, cool, and collected. They both had a nice on-camera conversation about the film and I think, the festival.

I was still so nervous, so Lynn can probably fill in the gaps in my saga if she has a mind to. That is where I met two ladies from where I live in Texas, and none of us could believe we were all there together at the festival.

I also developed a crush on one of the crew members and struck up a very casual conversation, and informed him, by the way, that every hotel room comes with its own "Do Not Disturb" sign. Lynn, then pulled me away, and we went to Room 828 in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to unpack. I wanted to collapse from all the nervous energy and adrenalin. And I did.

Our next move was lunch at the In and Out Burger with friends from TCM City and the Silver Screen Oasis. More later, O.K.?

San Jacinto Day

I found this lovely photo on the Houston Chronicle Website:

April 21, 2010, 1:00AM

Smiley N. Pool Chronicle

The San Jacinto Monument is seen through a porthole aboard the tugboat Wesley A on the Houston Ship Channel. 

Well, this is the first San Jacinto Day I have not spent in Texas in two decades. Even though I dont usually go to every reenactment day, I still have a deep affinity for one of the monuments to Texas courage and bravery. My uncle, Boyd Elmore, was a carpenter who helped to build the monument back in the 1930's. According to family history, he actually helped to work on the platform, the base for the star atop the huge obelisk, and other aspects of construction. So every time I cross the San Jacinto River Bridge on Interstate 10, I look at that monument and think about what a wonderful man he was and how he loved his wife, my Aunt Dee Dee, and my family.

Some of the carpenters who worked the massive construction project banded together to create a loose consortium of guild members from the carpenter's union and helped each other build homes on 1/2 acre lots in Cloverleaf, near the Cloverleaf Baptist Church, on the east side of Houston, and many of these well-constructed homes are still standing and in relatively good shape due to the hard-work and dedication of these men.

So now I am driving to Los Angeles today from a friend's home in Victorville, California, to pick up my friend Lynn at the airport so that we both can attend the first Turner Classic Movies Fan Convention at the Historic Hollywood Hotel. I can't wait.

I'm making my coffee, and dreaming about all the fun!

Christy'sTurner Classic Movie Festival Travel Blog

This native Houstonian and oil-field brat has decided to attend the first Turner Classic Movies Fan Convention in Los Angeles, California, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Yes, I am a Baby Boomer.

Baby Boomer IQ Test:How can you be sure if someone is a Baby Boomer?

They must know at least seven dubious monikers that Endora,(on the television series Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery) bestowed upon Darrin right before she turned him into a frog, or put a spell on him that made him tell the absolute truth.

Get Ready...YaggazzoozieYaggazzoozieYaggazzooziezam...1..2...3...Derwood, David, Delbert, Donald, Dustbin, Darwin, and my all-time fave--Dobbin! Tinkletinkletink!

You can also spot a traveling Baby Boomer because we often read a hard copy of something called a "folding map," the precursor of the British lady that talks to you when you are lost and driving around in your car. We BB's were given secrets to the sacred directions of North, South, East, and West at birth, or shortly thereafter when we were able to read at the ages of 3 and 4.

So why did I develop a fondness for classic film? I was a very shy child, and my mother enrolled me in a progressive kindergarten to teach me to socialize (i.e., "Quit being so quiet!") where I was put on a television show in Houston called Romper Room. There I became the biggest canned ham in red cowgirl boots, and was often enlisted to help with the commercials. I was a good "Do-Bee." I also met Dan Rather there before his Hurricane Carla broadcast from the Flagship hotel sent him packing to bigger and better broadcast television opportunities. He was nice. He smiled at us.

My mother then made a huge fuss about this, and baked a chocolate pie.
So it had to be cool, right?

When my Dad often had to work shift work late at night, sometimes I was allowed to stay up late and watch t.v. with my Mom. The first film I can remember seeing on television with her was Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison with Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr. I felt so icky when I had to think about what I would do if I only had raw fish to eat in a cave. EEyuck. But those people were pretty neat.

But my Mom saw how upset I was and baked a coconut pie.
So it had to be cool, right?

So I had to come to the TCM Fan Fest. I flew to CA last week, and I have been in the high desert for a few days visiting friends and enjoying nonstop sunshine and no refinery pollution.

While planning my wardrobe , checking and rechecking travel details,and squirreling away Diet Cokes and healthy snacks to keep me at a peak energy level for all the fun, I thought I might chronicle my experiences, especially if I go to Grauman's and steal John Wayne's footprints.

Do I wear my Vera Wang Dangly Earrings with my Chinese silk dress with the Mandarin collar to the Red Carpet Festivities or should I wear the pink pearl studs? Shall I don my new cowgirl boots and Wranglers for the screening of The Big Trail? Will I need my water wings and flip-flops at the Neptune's Daughter poolside bash with Esther Williams and Betty Garrett? Deep down, like Ava Gardner once said, I guess I'm pretty shallow.

I have definitely made a big fashion decision. I will carry a pink balloon so that everyone from here recognizes me from my avatar.

It's exciting. I will actually be able to view classic films in theaters where they were meant to be shown. No letterbox. No scrunched down credits at the end of a film where an ad for Viagra or a reminder to watch reruns of The Ghost Whisperer make it impossible to see who played the second lead.

According the the TCM website and schedule of events for the festival, which begins on Thursday, April 22, and runs through the evening pf April 25, Anjelica and Danny Huston will discuss the Huston dynasty as they introduce The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, John Huston's classic film starring Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, and Walter Huston. Popular TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz will be on hand for the festivities, as well as The Essentials co-host, that laid back "wizard of cool," Alec Baldwin.

Tony Curtis will have some of his art for sale, as well as a book signing, and a couple of introductions to do. Remember him? Bernie Schwartz? "Come wit me to the castle of my fadduh?" Some Like It Hot will be one of the films he will introduce, and it is one of my favorites. He will also introduce Sweet Smell of Success.

Jerry Lewis was scheduled to attend and introduce The King of Comedy but he has canceled his appearance completely due to personal (health?) issues.

Luise Rainer, who is 100 years old, will attend a screening of Pearl Buck's masterpiece, The Good Earth. Rainer has won two oscars, one for The Good Earth, and another for The Great Ziegfeld. Rainer played Anna Held in The Great Ziegfeld and displayed her talents for singing, acting, and dancing in that film. A triple threat, just like Ginger Rogers. She was wonderful in both films.

What am I doing right this very minute? Being verrrrrry nervous. I can't wait to see some of my favorite classic films in a movie theater. Also, I especially want to attend a screening of Imitation of Life because Juanita Moore, a fantastic actress who began her film career in 1949 and has had a career spanning more than fifty years, will be at the festival, as well as Susan Kohner, who also had spectacular celluloid moments until she decided to relinquish her career so that she might be more devoted to her family. Both played moving roles in Imitation of Life, with Lana Turner.

Whom do I hope to meet? Robert Osborne, the host of Turner Classic Movies, and the main reason it's called "Classic" because he truly is. Good taste, informed comments, and the scuttlebutt is that is really is a nice guy!

More later!
Sincerely,
Christy
Christy's TCM Travel Blog

Some information from the festival website:
Special guests of the Festival

* Actor Jean-Paul Belmondo
* Editor and author Peter Biskind
* Film director and historian Peter Bogdanovich
* Film historian and author Donald Bogle
* Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine
* Actor, producer, director and writer Mel Brooks
* Producer and director Frank Capra III
* Noted filmmaker John Carpenter
* Author Cheryl Crane
* Actor Tony Curtis
* Producer and Director Stanley Donen
* Emmy-nominated actress Illeana Douglas
* Photographer, writer and editor Curtis Hanson
* Screenwriter and actor Buck Henry
* Actor, writer, director and producer Darryl Hickman
* Award-winning actress and director Anjelica Huston
* Award-winning actor Danny Huston
* Writer and editor David Kamp
* Editor and writer Sam Kashner
* Actor Martin Landau
* Actor, director and producer, Jerry Lewis
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regretfully announce Jerry Lewis has cancelled his appearance.
* Actor, producer and director Norman Lloyd
* Film historian and author Leonard Maltin
* Actress Nancy Olson
* Actress Luise Rainer
* Director, producer and writer Richard Rush
* Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint
* Academy-Award winning visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull
* Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight
* Actor Eli Wallach