MODA Entertainment

Tribute to Lena Horne

2010-05-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

Interview with Lena Horne's daughter: Gail Buckley - Listen @ www.modaentertainment.com

LENA HORNE

Kerry Washington … Naomie Harris … Sanaa Lathan … Angela Bassett … Hallie Berry ... Kimberly Elise …
To name but a few current actresses. Each talented. Attractive. Successful.
And black.

Not so many years ago, fewer perhaps than we’d care to think, this many women of color dominating movie screens would have been unheard of.

Not just unheard of. In fact, impossible.

Consider Lena Horne.

When this extraordinarily talented singer, actress was signed by MGM in the early 1940s, her future must have looked bright, indeed. Here she was, being directed by the likes of Vincente Minnelli. Appearing in films opposite Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Cyd Charisse.

But she was also black.

And therein lies a story Which Lena Horne’s daughter, Gail Buckley, discusses in depth on ICONS Radio Hour. Ms. Buckley explores her mother’s career, from her early days at The Cotton Club to all-black films in the late thirties and her years at MGM in the forties.

Did we forget to mention the House Un-American Activities Committee?

Gail Buckley doesn’t.

Nor does she forget Humphrey Bogart’s response when neighbors showed up at his door asking for his signature on a petition to stop Lena Horne from buying a home in their Hollywood neighborhood. Rick Blaine come to life.
Kerry Washington … Naomie Harris … Sanaa Lathan … Angela Bassett … Hallie Berry ... Kimberly Elise …
On the shoulders of giants, none more important than Lena Horne.

http://www.modaentertainment.com/

MODA Entertainment Announces "Learning To Love Green" By Carmen W. Gillespie To Honor Earth Day

2010-04-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

http://www.pr-inside.com/moda-entertainment-announces-learning-to-r1846774.htm

MODA Entertainment Announces “Learning To Love Green” By Carmen W. Gillespie In Honor Of Earth Day

MODA Entertainment launches new "Green" children's book and brand entitled "Learning to Love GREEN" written & illustrated by Carmen W. Gillespie to celebrate Earth Day 2010.
MODA Entertainment is proud to announce a new “Go Green” initiative campaign. The campaign focuses on the brand “Learning to Love GREEN” launching on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2010. The brand is driven by the children’s book “Learning to Love GREEN” written and illustrated by Carmen W. Gillespie. Initially, the “Learning to Love GREEN” book will be released as an e-book with an accompanying interactive website (learningtolovegreen.com) and hit stores, printed on recycled paper, Fall 2010.
“Learning to Love GREEN” is focused towards 3-6 year olds to build awareness on the importance of a “Green” environment and to show how wonderful “Green” really is.
“Learning to Love GREEN” has also spawned a merchandising and licensing line, which will be unveiled by MODA Entertainment’s LicenseBox in June 2010 at the Licensing Show. All products will be “Green” friendly and feature Gillespie’s main character Katie from the book.
About Carmen W. Gillespie:
Carmen W. Gillespie was born in Guelph Ontario, Canada. She is the ultimate “Renaissance Woman.” Carmen is an actor, singer, puppeteer, illustrator, writer and mother! Ms. Gillespie’s acting roles include Melissa Gardner in Love Letters, Doatsey Mae in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (for which she was nominated for a Thea award), and Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain, among others. She has appeared on television, short films and commercials, including as the 'new mom' in the comedic Hotels.ca commercial. She has done illustrations for everything from publications, to greetings cards to children’s books. Green was inspired by a certain well-loved green frog and began life as a high school English class assignment. It was finally made possible with the encouragement of her husband and the many young people (and the young-at-heart) from various community theatre groups in the Toronto area. Carmen actually likes green and had the opportunity to play her dream role: The Wicked Witch of the West, and ‘yes’ she was “all green.”

MODA Entertainment is a New York based multi-media entertainment company, consisting of four subsidiary companies that include production, publishing, merchandising & licensing, & public relations.

Happy Easter from MODA Entertainment

2010-04-04T09:00:00.003-04:00

HAPPY EASTER from MODA Entertainment!

Listen to MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour interview about the writers of "Easter Parade" Hackett & Goodrich with nephew David Goodrich.
http://www.iconsradio.com/hackgood.html

MODA Entertainment Launches New Corporate Website

2010-04-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

MODA Entertainment is proud to announce the launch of the new corporate website.

MODA Entertainment has just launched a new corporate website modaentertainment.com. The new site design provides online visitors with dramatic improvements in navigation, appearance and accessibility

Richard Zampella, CEO, states: “Entertainment companies, in order to stay successful, need to be in tune with the marketplace and not be afraid to tailor their services to the needs of their clients and business partners. With a strong and growing Classic Hollywood market, and the anticipated growth projected in the future, MODA Entertainment, Inc. has positioned itself as a unique multi-media entertainment company specializing in the “Golden Age of Hollywood, its ICONS, and films.”

MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. MODA's businesses include LicenseBox, MODA Productions, PublicityBox and MODA Publishing. MODA was founded in 1997.

Why MODA focuses on Classic Hollywood

2010-03-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

Why MODA focuses on Classic Hollywood
“Study the Past if you wish to Define the Future”

MODA Entertainment has a singular vision and unique passion: To bring back into the mainstream the legendary entertainment names of yesteryear – actors, directors, writers, producers defining for contemporary audiences both why and how these remarkable legends are still relevant in our fractious, highly charged and diverse world.
Classic Hollywood matters.

Yes, it’s been covered, exhaustively so; seven ways from Sunday, as they say.
And, certainly, it is well known indeed to its … limited (read: aging) audience. Those fabled stars, those legendary directors, producers, writers, editors, cinematographers, what possibly can they have to do with today? With CGI, hyper-editing, Imax, sex, violence, slasher, computer animation, the net, hell, the sheer global breadth of pop culture, what matters classic Hollywood?!?

Well, how about, say, without John Garfield, there’d be no DeNiro?

Watch Meg Ryan, Anne Heche or Reese Witherspoon, then watch Jean Arthur, Carole Lombard or Irene Dunne.

Want to understand whence came Pacino? Watch Cagney.

Meryl Streep? Bette Davis.

Without Gary Cooper, would there be Clint Eastwood (Who once asked his friend and biographer, Richard Schickel: “Think I’m Coop?” )?

And while we’re on Eastwood, check out his stately pacing as director, then watch the works of Fred Zinnemann, William Wyler and George Stevens.

Today’s feisty independent women – Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta Jones and Renee Zellwigger – are direct descendants of Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford and Myrna Loy.

And speaking of Stanwyck, what are femme fatales Kathleen Turner (Body Heat) and Linda Fiorentino (The Last Seduction) but mirrors of Stanwyck’s double-dealing femme fatale in Double Indemnity?

Check out 1957’s Zero Hour, and then watch Airplane.

Notting Hill = Roman Holiday.

Watch Gene Hackman, watch Spencer Tracy.

Gangsters: Before The Godfather I and II, there were Public Enemy, Roaring Twenties and White Heat.

Musical bios: Yankee Doodle Dandy and Walk The Line, while cultivating the same territory, both reflect the times they were made.

Before the remarkable Hugh Jackman, there was the remarkable Gene Kelly.

Without cinematographers Floyd Crosby and Ted McCord, would Jack Green and Janusz Kaminski be the artists they are?
Conjure up a John Williams score and then listen to the works of Dimitri Tiomkin, Victor Young and Miklos Rozsa.

Trend setters in fashion? Familiar with Katherine Hepburn, circa 1934?

Do films reflect their times? Watch 1940’s Pride And Prejudice and 2005’s Pride And Prejudice. Or, measure War Of The Worlds 1953 against War Of The Worlds 2005. To understand the existential urban loner of 2007, just watch Bogart from the 1940s. Want to define courage and masculinity in the face of impossible odds, 1952’s High Noon nails it like nothing else. How do we feel about war – Sands Of Iwo Jima (1949) vs. Flags Of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima (2007). To understand where the U. S. was in the late 30s, early 40s, with isolationists battling interventionists, study the making of 1941’s Sergeant York. Both versions of The Manchurian Candidate (1962, 2004) contain the same basic plot, yet both are crystal-clear reflections of the times they were made.

What do Scarface (32) and Scarface (83) say about who we are, where we are, what kind of world we live in?
Is Johnny Depp’s effete pirate a total original? Or the inevitable next step after Errol Flynn’s dashing Captain Blood in the 30s and Burt Lancaster’s openly comic Crimson Pirate in the 50s?

If today’s stars think they’re the first to be hammered by the tabloid press, perhaps a look at Errol Flynn’s career might enlighten them.

Classic Hollywood matters. Very much.

And MODA Entertainment’s explores why – seven ways from Sunday. For in exploring that so-called Golden Era from a refreshingly original prism of vision, MODA, through its various businesses in production, licensing, publishing, public relations and marketing also offer a fresh POV on today’s complex global era.

© & TM MODA Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
212.873.3324
info@modaentertainment.com

MODA Entertainment presents "Fat & Skinny: The Race" by Patricia Weichelt

2010-03-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

"Fat & Skinny: The Race" by Patricia Ann Weichelt
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27488630/MODA-Entertainment-presents-Fat-Skinny-Story-by-Patricia-Weichelt

MODA Announces Dracala the Un-Dead Official Store Launch in honor of Halloween

2009-10-31T22:00:00.005-04:00

Shop Now!
The Official Dracula the Un-Dead Online Store

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.

MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

Dracula Screening, Discussion & Book Signing with Special Guest Dacre Stoker at Cinema Arts Center

2009-10-31T18:11:00.006-04:00

MODA Entertainment photos from Dracula at The Cinema Arts Center on Halloween Eve

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Announces The HALLOWEEN Launch of the Official Dracula the Un-Dead Store

2009-10-31T09:00:00.002-04:00

Official Dracula the Un-Dead Store launches.
10/31/09 @ 10PM

http://www.draculatheundead.com/

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Announces A Once-in-a-lifetime HALLOWEEN EVENT! DRACULA

2009-10-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

Friday, October 30 at 7:30pm

FILM + DISCUSSION/READING + RECEPTION + BOOK SIGNING

Special Guests: DACRE STOKER, great-grandnephew BRAM STOKER,
and IAN HOLT, ALEXANDER GALANT & CARMEN GILLESPI,
with the book, Dracula The Undead, the official sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula

One of the earliest classic American horror films from Universal Pictures and the only adaptation to be sanctioned by the Stoker Estate, Dracula (1931) is a masterpiece. The special effects & set design are cutting edge, but the film belongs to Bela Lugosi, whose performance as the titular Count (reprising his role from the hit Broadway play) continues to shock, inspire & delight audiences worldwide. USA, 1931, 75 min.

About the book: Dracula The Un-Dead is a bone-chilling sequel based on Bram Stoker's own handwritten notes for characters and plot threads excised from the original edition. Written with the blessing and cooperation of Stoker family, Dracula The Un-Dead is a deeply researched, lovingly-crafted extension and celebration of one of the most popular novels in literature.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Announces "Dracula the Un-Dead" Book Signing at Borders Time Warner Center, New York City

2009-10-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

October 29, 7:00pm
Borders
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY
Author event and signing
with Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt

Featuring a book reading with Alexander Galant & Carmen Gillespi.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

Dracula the Un-Dead - A Dramatic Reading w/ Original Music premieres in Toronto

2009-10-28T09:00:00.002-04:00

October 28th, 8:00pm
Bathurst St. Theater
Toronto, Canada
Staged reading adapted, directed & produced by Alexander Galant,
featuring 18 actors in costume and Dacre & Ian as Narrators
http://www.draculatheundead.ca/

Book Signing and Reception follwed the performance.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Client Ian Holt co-author of "Dracula the Un-Dead" discusses the classic film "Nosferatu" at Cinema Arts Center

2009-10-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30pm
NOSFERATU
Guest Speaker: IAN HOLT, renown expert on Vampire folklore and
co-author (with Dacre Stoker, Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew)
of Dracula The Undead, the sequel to Dracula

Cinema Arts Center
423 Park Ave
Huntington, NY
11743-2803
(631) 423-7610

http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/CAC-Halloween.html#DRAC

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Announces the Launch of the Official Dracula The Un-Dead Platinum Visa® Rewards Card

2009-10-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

Click Here: Apply Now!

Coinciding with the October 13th launch of the new Dracula The Un-Dead novel by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt, MODA Entertainment, the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for Dracula The Un-Dead has announced the introduction of the official Dracula The Un-Dead affinity credit card – Dracula The Un-Dead Visa® Platinum Rewards Card.

Dracula is arguably one of the most popular characters in fiction, the first vampire horror novel and the inspiration for the current pop-culture phenomenon. For the first time since the film adaptation starring Bela Lugosi in 1931, the Stoker family has supported a soon-to-be-released sequel to the epic novel: Dracula The Un-dead (draculatheundead.com) written by Bram’s great grand-nephew Dacre Stoker and Dracula historian/screenwriter Ian Holt.

“Dracula The Un-Dead the official sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula is part of the vampire craze” said Shannon Mulholland, Chairman of MODA Entertainment. “The introduction of this limited edition credit card is another way for Dracula fans to feel part of the resurging interest in vampires and Dracula in particular.”

The new credit card is being launched by MODA Entertainment in conjunction with CardPartner, Inc., the marketing agent for UMB, and The Erlick Group, a leading New York sponsorship company representing leading entertainment properties in theatre, film, music, family and venues.

Dracula fans will have their choice of 3 distinctive card designs. The card comes with no annual fee, 0% APR for 6 months on purchases and balances transfers, a low ongoing APR along with rewards and Visa benefits. This new affinity credit card will have special appeal for those fans who want to show their passion for Dracula and “be part of the Dracula bloodline” said Doug Davis of CardPartner, Inc. Cardholders will also be able to save 10% on purchases of Dracula The Un-Dead related merchandise such as jewelry, clothing and Dracula The Un-Dead book novel.

To give the card even more uniqueness, MODA and CardPartner, Inc have decided to limit the number of cards issued to the first 10,000 qualified fans. “Dracula The Un-Dead fans are unique and we want to make sure that those carrying the card will be able to say they are part of an exclusive group” said Richard Zampella, CEO of MODA Entertainment.

Dracula The Un-Dead official brand is fully owned by partners Dacre Stoker, Ian Holt and Alexander Galant.

For more information about this new credit card visit Apply Now!

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.:
MODA Entertainment, headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt, amongst others. MODA's fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS. Visit www.modaentertainment.com

The Visa card is issued by UMB Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

MODA Entertainment Clients Dacre Stoker & Ian Holt At “Dracula The Un-Dead” Book Signing Oct 21 At 6pm In Philadelphia

2009-10-22T12:00:00.003-04:00

MODA Entertainment Clients, Alexander Galant & Author Dacre Stoker Give Preview of “Dracula The Un-Dead” Dramatic Reading & Book Signing in Montreal

2009-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

Click here to view MODA Entertainment E-INVITE

Join director Alexander Galant, actress Carmen Gillespie and author Dacre Stoker for a reading and book signing of “Dracula the Un-Dead” on Oct. 26th 2009 @ 6:30PM in Montreal, Canada. In honor of the new release of the novel, Dracula the Un-Dead, by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt, the official sequel to Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, Alexander Galant has adapted and directed a full length dramatic reading with original music of Dracula the Un-Dead (draculatheundead.ca).

The dramatic reading will premiere in Toronto, Canada on Oct 28, 2009 @ 8 PM at The Bathurst Theatre. The dramatic reading which features 18 actors in costume and visual effects is adapted and directed by Alexander Galant (who is also the historical researcher for the novel) and is narrated by co-authors Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt.

On October 26 @ 6:30PM at Librarie Paragraphe Bookstore in Montreal, Alexander Galant as Jonathan Harker, Carmen Gillespie as Mina Harker & Dacre Stoker as the Narrator will be performing excerpts from the full length dramatic reading. A book signing with Dacre Stoker & Alexander Galant of Dracula the Un-Dead will immediately follow the reading. For more information contact Librarie Paragraphe Bookstore, Montreal, Canada at (514) 845-5811

ABOUT
Alexander Galant (Director) has worked in almost every technical position in theatre and has directed several plays. He received the Adjudicator's Award for Innovation, for Incorporating Animation, Computer-Generated Effects and Film Sequences with live actors in The Wizard of Oz and received a similar Thea Award for Singin' in the Rain for which he made it rain across the stage. Other theatre directing includes: A Tribute to Judy Garland, Love Letters, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, The Odd Couple, is currently directing A Christmas Carol the Musical and just completed a successful run of Twelve Angry Men. Films directed by Alexander include: The Missing Piece currently on the festival circuit and recent “Silver Remi Award” winner for ‘Suspense Thriller’ - WorldFest Houston Film Festival; Moonlight Desire (a Dracula video) for which Mickey Rooney lent his voice as the character of Prof. Van Helsing; The Jigsaw Puzzle, which has been screened at film festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Salem and Milan, receiving the “Special Festival BUZZ Award” (most talked about film) from the New York International Independent Film Festival. His more “artsy” vampire film, First Light, has been screened in festivals all over the world, winning several awards including: the “Bronze Remi Award” from WorldFest Houston Film Festival, “Special Commendation” in the Festival of Fantastic Films (UK), “Best Music/Soundtrack” in the Toronto Online Film Festival, and Nominations for “Best Director” and “Best Technical Achievement” from the International Festival of Cinema and Technology (World Tour Film Festival). His short Star Wars spoof entitled Blasted Behavior was selected by George Lucas as one of the finalists in AtomFilms’ 2009 Star Wars Fan Film Competition. Alexander Galant has amassed endless hours of research of Dracula. Which led to his involvement as ‘historical researcher’ for the novel Dracula The Un-Dead. Alexander recently completed co-writing the story with Ian Holt for the film adaptation of Dracula The Un-Dead. In 1997, Alexander had also directed a similar dramatic reading with Dracula Re-Staged - A Re-Adaptation of Bram Stoker's Original Dramatic Reading.

Carmen Gillespie (Mina Harker) Dracula seems to pop up rather frequently in Carmen's life, which is interesting for a funny-girl who sings. She's had the opportunity to play Mina four times now: In a promo video for a TV series pitch, for a musical version, in the dramatic reading of the original novel Dracula for the centennial anniversary in 1997 and now for the dramatic reading for the official sequel. Other roles include Melissa Gardner in Love Letters, Doatsey Mae in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (for which she was nominated for a Thea award), Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain, and the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. She has appeared on television and short films and you may see her breaking something in a Canadian Tire commercial this Christmas.

Dacre Stoker (Author Dracula The Un-Dead, Narrator) is the managing partner for the Bram Stoker Estate and co-author of “Dracula the Un-Dead,” in stores October 13th, 2009, the sequel to Bram Stoker’s original classic “Dracula.” Dacre has appeared in numerous venues around the world, giving presentations and discussions on Bram Stoker, “Dracula” and “Dracula the Un-Dead.” Dacre was born in Montreal, Canada, August 23, 1958. He attended Bishops College School in Lennoxville, Quebec for high school and St. Lawrence University in Canton NY where he received a BSC in P.E. and Education. Stoker taught P.E., Health and Science at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada for ten years. Recently he taught P.E. and Lifeskills at Aiken Preparatory School in Aiken SC. During Dacre’s University and Appleby years he was extremely active in participating as an athlete and then coaching the Canadian National team in Modern Pentathlon. As an athlete, Dacre Stoker participated in three World Championships. Unfortunately, due to a political boycott, Dacre missed competing at the 1980 Olympics; however he got to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea as a coach of the Canadian men’s team. Dacre Stoker is the great grand-nephew of world renowned Dracula author Bram Stoker. Bram’s youngest brother, George was his great-grandfather. Dacre’s God-father is H.H.G. Dacre Stoker, the Irish commander of AE2, the Australian submarine, whose legendary tactics were instrumental in the battle of Gallipoli.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc. MODA Entertainment represents the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights to DRACULA THE UN-DEAD in all categories. MODA (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Announces “Dracula The Un-Dead” Book Signing With Co-Authors Dacre Stoker & Ian Holt Oct 21 At 6pm In Philadelphia

2009-10-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

Join co-authors Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt for a reading and book signing of “DRACULA THE UN-DEAD” at the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia on Oct 21st, 2009 @ 6PM.

“DRACULA THE UN-DEAD” is the official sequel to Bram Stoker’s original Dracula 1897 novel. “DRACULA THE UN-DEAD”, is a bone-chilling new sequel based on Bram Stoker’s own handwritten notes for characters and plot threads excised from the original 1897 novel. DRACULA THE UN-DEAD by Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew Dacre Stoker and Dracula historian Ian Holt, is the sequel that Stoker’s legions of fans have been waiting over a hundred years for…..the return of the real Dracula.

WHO:

Dacre Stoker:

Dacre Stoker is the managing partner for the Bram Stoker Estate and co-author of “Dracula the Un-Dead,” in stores October 13th, 2009, the sequel to Bram Stoker’s original classic “Dracula.” Dacre has appeared in numerous venues around the world, giving presentations and discussions on Bram Stoker, “Dracula” and “Dracula the Un-Dead.” Dacre was born in Montreal, Canada, August 23, 1958. He attended Bishops College School in Lennoxville, Quebec for high school and St. Lawrence University in Canton NY where he received a BSC in P.E. and Education. Stoker taught P.E., Health and Science at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada for ten years. Recently he taught P.E. and Lifeskills at Aiken Preparatory School in Aiken SC. During Dacre’s University and Appleby years he was extremely active in participating as an athlete and then coaching the Canadian National team in Modern Pentathlon. As an athlete, Dacre Stoker participated in three World Championships. Unfortunately, due to a political boycott, Dacre missed competing at the 1980 Olympics; however he got to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea as a coach of the Canadian men’s team. Dacre Stoker is the great grand-nephew of world renowned Dracula author Bram Stoker. Bram’s youngest brother, George was his great-grandfather. Dacre’s God-father is H.H.G. Dacre Stoker, the Irish commander of AE2, the Australian submarine, whose legendary tactics were instrumental in the battle of Gallipoli.

Ian Holt:

Ian Holt is a writer and Dracula Historian. He is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Ian studied creative writing, dramatic arts and acting with intensive character development and script theory under the late great Stella Adler. Seeking more creative control over his work, Ian left acting behind to pursue a career in screenwriting. A Dracula/Bela Lugosi fan since childhood, Ian acquired the rights to and developed a screenplay for the 1972 best-selling non-fiction book, "IN SEARCH OF DRACULA," by Fulbright Scholars Prof. Raymond McNally and Prof. Radu Florescu (Prince Dracula's descendant) that Francis Ford Coppola used to research his 1992 film, Bram Stoker's Dracula.

WHERE & WHEN:

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Time: 6PM

Place: Rosenbach Museum & Library2008-2010 Delancey PlacePhiladelphia, PA 19103

WHY:

When Dutton announced the acquisition of DRACULA THE UN-DEAD by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt (October 13, 2009; $26.95), it became clear that the world was ready for the return of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. The New York Times declared “Dracula Lives!” and The New York Post’s Page Six wrote “Drac is Back!” Simultaneously, hundreds of blogs immediately started posting information on this exciting project. DRACULA THE UN-DEAD is the true sequel to the original classic, bringing Bram’s creation back to life for the modern reader. Dacre Stoker, the great-grand nephew of Bram Stoker and Ian Holt, a screenwriter fascinated with Dracula since childhood have delivered an action packed, fast-paced thriller while paying homage to Bram’s original characters, and absolute attention to historical accuracy. Writer/Director, Alexander Galant did the historical research for the novel. The authors used Bram’s own notes for Dracula including unrealized plot threads and characters, and relying on the insight of the Stoker family members to explore Bram’s motivations in writing of this tale, DRACULA THE UN-DEAD.

DRACULA THE-UNDEAD picks up the story of all the surviving characters after the events of Bram’s Dracula, picking up in 1912, twenty-five years after Dracula “crumbled into dust.” Although they rid the world of “evil” decades ago, the surviving characters have never truly recovered. Jonathan and Mina Harker have their relationship strained to the breaking point. Arthur Holmwood is a bitter man, Ven Helsing is waiting for death, and the once brilliant Dr. Seward is a drug-addicted madman. When Quincey Harker, the son of Jonathan and Mina finds himself on the set of Dracula, a play being directed by Bram Stoker himself, he begins to realize that his parents and their friends have kept many terrifying secrets. As the band of heroes begin to die one by one, Quincey is thrown into the dark past of his parents and is forced to question everything he has ever trusted to be true. Who is behind these attacks? Is Dracula truly the “undead”? Or is there another, far more sinister force at work seeking ultimate revenge?

CONTACT:

For Dacre Stoker & Ian Holt:

PublicityBox: Shannon Mulholland

T: 212-873-3324

E: pr ( @ ) modaentertainment dot com

W: MODA Entertainment

MODA Entertainment Launches New Website for Client Alexander Galant

2009-10-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment's public releation's arm, PublicityBox is proud to announce the Official Website for Director, Alexander Galant!

www.alexandergalant.com

MODA Entertainment Client Presents "Dracula The Un-Dead" A Dramatic Reading With Original Music

2009-10-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

In Toronto, ON Canada on Oct 28, 2009 @ 8 PM, Dracula the Un-Dead, a dramatic reading with original music adapted from the official sequel to Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, adapted and directed by Alexander Galant. Actors bring 'The Un-Dead' to life. Dramatic reading with original music adapted from the newly released novel Dracula The Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt, the official sequel to Bram Stoker's original 1897 Dracula novel.

Dracula The Un-Dead picks up the story of all the surviving characters after the events of Bram's Dracula, beginning in 1912, twenty-five years after Dracula "crumbled into dust." Although they rid the world of "evil" decades ago, the surviving characters have never truly recovered. Jonathan and Mina Harker have their relationship strained to the breaking point. Arthur Holmwood is a bitter man, Ven Helsing is waiting for death, and the once brilliant Dr. Seward is a drug-addicted madman. When Quincey Harker, the son of Jonathan and Mina finds himself on the set of Dracula, a play being directed by Bram Stoker himself, he begins to realize that his parents and their friends have kept many terrifying secrets. As the band of heroes begin to die one by one, Quincey is thrown into the dark past of his parents and is forced to question everything he has ever trusted to be true. Who is behind these attacks? Is Dracula truly the "undead"? Or is there another, far more sinister force at work seeking ultimate revenge?

Q & A with director & cast immediately after the performance followed by a book signing with co-authors Dacre Stoker, Ian Holt and historical researcher Alexander Galant.

WHO:
Adapted and directed by Alexander Galant, Original Music by Kieren MacMillan, Costume Design by Alex Amini, Make-Up Design by Deborah Krymuza, Stage Manager- Lisa Ballantyne, Projection Consultant David August, Produced by Alexander Galant Entertainment, Asst Produced by Mike Scott & Adrian Gorrissen, Presented by The Penguin Group Canada and Alexander Galant Entertainment.

Narrators Dacre Stoker, Ian Holt. Featuring: J.P. Gedeon*, Elaine O'Neal, Ryan Whittal, Carmen Gillespie, Mark Chambers, Adrianna Prosser, Derek Faulconer, Chris Reid, David Cardinal, James Woods. Lada Darewych, Toby Malone*, Erik Buchanan*, Mike Woodbridge, A.J. Edmonds, Hilary Hart, J.P. Baldwin*, Kevin Robinson (* appears with special permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association)

WHERE & WHEN:
Date:
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time:
8:00 – 10:00 PM Reading
10:00 – 11:00 PM Q & A, Book Signing & VIP Reception
Place:
The Bathurst Theater 736 Bathurst Street Toronto, ON
Tickets: $10

WHY:
In 1897, Bram Stoker staged a dramatic reading of his new novel Dracula using actors from his theatre company to read as the various characters.

Alexander Galant has cleverly conceived this version to treat audiences to a similar event using costumed actors, live original music and visual effects for the launch of the official sequel Dracula The Un-Dead.

CONTACT:
For tickets call 1-888-222-6608
or Visit : Official Site: Dracula the Un-Dead: The Dramatic Reading

For Merchandising, Licensing & Marketing:
LicenseBox, A MODA Entertainment Company is the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for Dracula The Un-Dead. Email

MODA Entertainment Client Ian Holt At Border's Book Signing For Dracula the Un-Dead, Westbury, LI

2009-10-14T02:30:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment Launches New Website for The Dramatic Reading of Dracula the Un-Dead

2009-10-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment's public releations arm, PublicityBox, is proud to launch the Official Site for Dracula the Un-Dead - The Dramatic Reading adapted & directed by Alexander Galant.

www.draculatheundead.ca

MODA Entertainment Annouces Director Alexander Galant Brings "Dracula The Un-Dead" From Page to Stage

2009-10-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

One Night Only October 28, 2009 at 8PM a dramatic reading with original music of “Dracula The Un-Dead” - The Official Sequel to Bram Stoker's Novel “Dracula” at Bathurst Street Theatre, Toronto, Canada.

Director Alexander Galant has adapted and directed a dramatic reading of DRACULA THE UN-DEAD, the official sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The dramatic reading will be performed at the gothic Bathurst Street Theatre, Toronto, Canada with original music for one night only on October 28th, 2009 at 8PM. The evening is presented by Penguin Group Canada  in association with Alexander Galant Entertainment Inc.

DRACULA THE UN-DEAD the dramatic reading is homage to Bram Stoker’s original reading for his novel DRACULA in 1897. Alexander Galant also adapted and directed a staged reading of DRACULA for the 100th Anniversary in 1997.Alexander’s brilliantly adapted reading of DRACULA THE UN-DEAD (draculatheundead.ca) features original music by Kieren MacMillan, 18 actors in full costume and special effects. Tickets are: $10 and may be purchased by calling 1-888-222-6608 or by visiting Totix.ca

Immediately following the performance there will be an audience Q&A and book signing featuring director Alexander Galant, the cast and DRACULA THE UN-DEAD authors Ian Holt and Dacre Stoker.

About Alexander Galant:
Over the years, Alexander has worked in almost every technical position in theatre and has directed several plays. He received the Adjudicator's Award for Innovation, for Incorporating Animation, Computer-Generated Effects and Film Sequences with live actors in The Wizard of Oz and received a similar Thea Award for Singin' in theRain for which he made it rain across the stage. Other theatre directing includes: A Tribute to Judy Garland, Love Letters, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, The Odd Couple, is currently directing A Christmas Carol the Musical and just completed a successful run of Twelve Angry Men.

Films directed by Alexander include: The Missing Piece currently on the festival circuit and recent “Silver Remi Award” winner for ‘Suspense Thriller’ - WorldFest Houston Film Festival; Moonlight Desire (a Dracula video) for which Mickey Rooney lent his voice as the character of Prof. Van Helsing; The Jigsaw Puzzle, which has been screened at film festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Salem and Milan, receiving the “Special Festival BUZZ Award” (most talked about film) from the New York International Independent Film Festival. His more “artsy” vampire film, First Light, has been screened in festivals all over the world, winning several awards including: the “Bronze Remi Award” from WorldFest Houston Film Festival, “Special Commendation” in the Festival of Fantastic Films (UK), “Best Music/Soundtrack” in the Toronto Online Film Festival, and Nominations for “Best Director” and “Best Technical Achievement” from the International Festival of Cinema and Technology (World Tour Film Festival). His short Star Wars spoof entitled Blasted Behavior was selected by George Lucas as one of the finalists in AtomFilms’ 2009 Star Wars Fan Film Competition.

Alexander Galant is represented by MODA Entertainment (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

LICENSING Biz: Bram Stoker takes a bite out of LicenseBox

2009-08-24T15:00:00.000-04:00

LICENSING Biz:

Bram Stoker takes a bite out of LicenseBox

LICENSE Magazine: Moda Readies "Dracula" Author for Licensing

2009-08-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

License Magazine:

Moda Readies "Dracula" Author for Licensing

MODA Entertainment To Create Licensing Program For Original Dracula Author Bram Stoker

2009-08-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

LicenseBox, a wholly owned subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. has signed an exclusive agreement to represent the name and likeness of author Bram Stoker for merchandising and licensing worldwide.

MODA Entertainment’s licensing arm, New York based LicenseBox, is building a worldwide merchandising and licensing program inspired by the life and literature of Dracula author Bram Stoker.

LicenseBox plans to license the world renowned Dracula author in all categories worldwide. The program will look beyond Dracula into his fascinating life.

Abraham "Bram" Stoker (November 8, 1847 – April 20, 1912) the world renowned Irish novelist and short story writer is best known for his 1897 horror novel Dracula. Stoker wrote eighteen books before he died in 1912, including The Primrose Path, The Snake's Pass, The Watter's Mou', The Jewel of the Seven Stars, The Man (AKA: The Gates of Life) and The Lady of the Shroud, among others. Bram Stoker was also known in life for his love of the theater. During his years as a student at Trinity College in Dublin, Bram was the literary critic, mostly unpaid, for the Dublin Daily Mail.

In 1878, he married Florence Balcombe, the former fiancée of Oscar Wilde, and moved to London to become Secretary to the great Shakespearian actor Henry Irving and acting manager of Irving’s Lyceum Theater. Through his theatrical connections, Bram became acquainted with such notables as William Gladstone, Winston Churchill, and artist James Whistler. During his eight tours to America with the Lyceum, Bram forged friendships with such luminaries as Walt Whitman, Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Bram Stoker Estate is run by his great-grandnephew, Dacre Stoker, co-author of the sequel to Dracula entitled Dracula The-Undead, available in stores on October 13th, 2009 from Dutton Publishing, and his wife Jenne Stoker. Jenne & Dacre Stoker are also responsible for creating the Bram Stoker Trust, an organization which will help fund appropriate memorials for Bram Stoker’s contributions to literature, culture, sport and education.

“I am very proud, along with my family, to carry on the legacy of Bram Stoker to new generations. Bram did not invent vampires; through his research he masterfully merged international vampire traditions, folklore, and mythology available at the time into one character, Count Dracula. His Dracula began the vampire spin offs over the past century, leading to the present day pop culture frenzy.” says Dacre Stoker.

Jenne Stoker stated, “Bram was a gentleman of solid character and integrity, unassuming but never dull. We look forward to celebrating Bram Stoker, the author and the man.”

Richard Zampella, CEO of MODA Entertainment said, “We will unveil the exciting Bram Stoker merchandising and licensing program in November, in honor of the anniversary of the writer’s birth.”

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.
MODA Entertainment (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Announces Stoker's Dracula The Un-dead at Vampire-Con

2009-08-14T12:00:00.001-04:00

Dracula The Un-Dead, sequel to original classic officially sanctioned by the Bram Stoker family to exhibit at Vampire-Con. Dracula the Un-dead authors Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt join the panel discussion “Why We Love Vampires” on Sunday, August 16th, Hollywood, CA.

Vampire-Con the world’s first convention devoted to everything vampire has officially teamed up with Dracula author Bram Stoker’s Family. Dracula is arguably one of the most popular characters in fiction, the first vampire horror novel and the inspiration for the current pop-culture phenomenon. For the first time since the film adaptation starring Bela Lugosi in 1931, the Stoker family has officially sanctioned a soon-to-be-released sequel to the epic novel: Dracula The Un-dead (draculatheundead.com) written by Bram’s great grand-nephew Dacre Stoker and Dracula historian/screenwriter Ian Holt. Both authors will be joining the “Why We Love Vampires: A Brief History of the Undead” panel discussion, scheduled for 11:00 AM on Sunday, August 16th at The Music Box Theatre @ Fonda, Hollywood, CA. (vampirecon.com)

The book has spawned a major merchandising and licensing program represented by LicenseBox, A MODA Entertainment Company. Richard Zampella, CEO of Moda Entertainment states that “We see no limit to the opportunities available for Dracula The un-Dead merchandising and licensing program. We are very excited to represent the exclusive worldwide right for this exciting franchise.”

Dracula The Un-Dead is the bone-chilling sequel based on Bram Stoker's own handwritten notes for characters and plot threads excised from the original edition. The story begins in 1912, twenty-five years after Dracula "crumbled into dust." Van Helsing's protégé, Dr. Jack Seward, is now a disgraced morphine addict obsessed with stamping out evil across Europe. Meanwhile, an unknowing Quincey Harker, the grown son of Jonathan and Mina, leaves law school for the London stage, only to stumble upon the troubled production of "Dracula," directed and produced by Bram Stoker himself. Dracula The Un-Dead is deeply researched by historical researcher, Alexander Galant, rich in character, thrills and scares, and lovingly crafted as both an extension and celebration of one of the most classic popular novels in literature. The novel will be released on October 13, 2009 by Dutton.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.
MODA Entertainment (modaentertainment.com), headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Eartha Kitt, Duke Ellington, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Annouces Clients: Bram Stoker Estate/Dracula The Un-dead attend Comic-Con 2009

2009-07-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment signs Exclusive Worldwide Representation Agreement for Dracula the Un-Dead Merchandising & Licensing

2009-06-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

Now Available! Rare Duke Ellington Fine Art Prints From SONY Archives

2009-05-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment is proud to annouce rare Duke Ellington fine art prints from SONY Archives.

Click Here To Purchase

ALL ABOUT JAZZ: MODA Entertainment Announces Rare Fine Art Prints of Client Duke Ellington from Sony Music Entertainments Photo Archive

2009-05-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

ALL ABOUT JAZZ:

MODA Entertainment Announces Rare Fine Art Prints of Client Duke Ellington from Sony Music Entertainments Photo Archive

MODA Entertainment Announces Rare Fine Art Prints Of Client Duke Ellington from Sony Music Entertainment’s Photo Archive

2009-05-04T12:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment is proud to announce that Sony Music Entertainment has unveiled a collection of rare fine art prints of Duke Ellington in honor of the 110th anniversary of the jazz legend’s birth.

The Duke Ellington Estate is exclusively represented by MODA Entertainment for marketing, merchandising and licensing worldwide. In commemoration and celebration of cultural icon Duke Ellington, Sony Music Entertainment’s photo archive (Icon-Collectibles.com), has released a collection of fine art prints of the Jazz Legend from his tenure at Sony. The prints were unveiled at the press conference declaring April 29th, 2009 "Duke Ellington Day" in New York City in honor of the 110th anniversary of the jazz legend’s birth. The Duke Ellington collection of rare prints were on display and available for sale at the Borders Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center with a special appearance by Duke Ellington’s grandchildren that evening. The collection of rare prints are available online on the official Duke Ellington website (DukeEllington.com) or Icon-Collectibles.com.

Duke Ellington, one of the 20th century's most renowned musicians, is among the signature figures in the history of jazz. Whether as composer or band leader, Ellington transcended musical and racial boundaries. When asked what inspired him to write, Ellington replied, "My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people."

In his fifty-year career, Ellington played over 20,000 performances worldwide.
Duke Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement. He also was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the French Legion of Honor and the Pulitzer Prize. His image appeared on a US stamp in 1986. Ellington is the first African-American to solo on a U.S. coin. The Duke Ellington quarter was released in January of this year.
Ellington died on May 24, 1974, a month after his 75th birthday. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in NYC. His funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was attended by over 12,000 people.

Ella Fitzgerald nailed it for the world: "A genius has passed."

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.:MODA Entertainment, headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt, amongst others. MODA's fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Announces Ellington on Ellington At Borders Honoring Duke Ellington’s 110th Birthday

2009-04-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

Duke Ellington’s grandchildren Edward, Mercedes and Paul Ellington will discuss and host a Q & A about the legendary musician and cultural icon’s career, life and music at Borders Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center, April 29th at 7PM.
Borders Columbus Circle (in the Time Warner Center) in association with Legacy Recordings, ICON Collectibles and MODA Entertainment, is proud to present Ellington on Ellington on April 29th at 7PM in honor of Duke Ellington’s 110th Birthday. Ellington’s grandchildren Paul and Mercedes Ellington will speak and host a Q & A about the legendary musician and cultural icon’s career, life and music. Following there will be tribute performances of Duke Ellington music by special guests and members of the Duke Ellington Legacy Orchestra.

Newly released DUKE ELLINGTON Fine Art Prints by ICON Collectibles from the Sony Music Entertainment Archives will be on display and available for purchase.

WHEN: April 29th, 7-9PMWHERE: Borders Columbus Circle (in the Time Warner Center)
Newly released DUKE ELLINGTON Fine Art Prints by ICON Collectibles from the Sony Music Entertainment Archives will be on display and available for purchase.

DUKE ELLINGTON DAY - TAKE THE A TRAIN: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has declared April 29 Duke Ellington Day in honor of the 110thanniversary of the jazz legend’s birth. To commemorate his life, The Islands Of The Bahamas is sponsoring an April 29th, special run of the last surviving 1939 ‘A’ Train, made famous by Duke Ellington’s signature tune Take the A Train. Paul Ellington and the world famous Duke Ellington Orchestra will perform the iconic song on the mezzanine at 125th Street and St. Nicholas at 10AM. All musicians will then board and perform on the historic train as it travels out on regular service.

ABOUT DUKE ELLINGTON: Duke Ellington, one of the 20th century's most renowned musicians, is among the signature figures in the history of jazz. Whether as composer or band leader, Ellington transcended musical and racial boundaries. When asked what inspired him to write, Ellington replied, "My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people."

In his fifty-year career, Ellington played over 20,000 performances worldwide. Duke Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement. He also was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the French Legion of Honor and the Pulitzer Prize. His image appeared on a US stamp in 1986. Ellington is the first African-American to solo on a U.S. coin. The Duke Ellington quarter was released in January of this year.

Ellington died on May 24, 1974, a month after his 75th birthday. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in NYC. His funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was attended by over 12,000 people.

Ella Fitzgerald nailed it for the world: "A genius has passed."

SPONSORS:Borders Columbus Circle, The Islands Of The Bahamas, MODA Entertainment, Inc., Legacy Recordings, ICON Collectibles

LICENSE Magazine: Duke Ellington Day Declared on April 29

2009-04-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

LICENSE Magazine:

Duke Ellington Day Declared on April 29

J

MODA Entertainment Announces Mayor Bloomberg To Declare April 29th Duke Ellington Day in NYC

2009-04-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

In honor of the 110th Anniversary of Duke Ellington's birth, Mayor Bloomberg will declare April 29th, 2009, Duke Ellington Day in New York City.

MODA Entertainment is proud to announce that New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will declare April 29th, 2009 "Duke Ellington Day" in honor of the 110th anniversary of the jazz legend’s birth. The proclamation will be presented to Duke Ellington’s grandson, Paul Ellington. Paul is the executor of the Duke Ellington Estate and musical director/ leader of the world famous Duke Ellington Orchestra.

The Duke Ellington Estate is represented by New York based MODA Entertainment for marketing, merchandising and licensing. In honor of the 110th Anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth, MODA Entertainment is proud to present special events on “Duke Ellington Day” in New York City to coincide with the proclamation.

In commemoration and celebration of the legendary musician and cultural icon, The Islands Of The Bahamas is sponsoring an April 29th run of the last surviving 1939 “A” train. The inspiration for Duke Ellington's signature tune, Take the A Train, the historic and beautifully restored “A” train will depart 125th Street at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, making express stops through Manhattan and Brooklyn to Howard Beach in Queens. Open to the public, the festive round-trip runs will prove once again that taking the “A” train is still indeed the quickest way to Sugar Hill in Harlem.

Duke Ellington, one of the 20th century's most renowned musicians, is among the signature figures in the history of jazz. Whether as composer or band leader, Ellington transcended musical and racial boundaries. When asked what inspired him to write, Ellington replied, "My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people."

In his fifty-year career, Ellington played over 20,000 performances worldwide.
Duke Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement. He also was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the French Legion of Honor and the Pulitzer Prize. His image appeared on a US stamp in 1986. Ellington is the first African-American to solo on a U.S. coin. The Duke Ellington quarter was released in January of this year.

Ellington died on May 24, 1974, a month after his 75th birthday. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in NYC. His funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was attended by over 12,000 people.

Ella Fitzgerald nailed it for the world: "A genius has passed."

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.: MODA Entertainment, headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt, amongst others. MODA’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

LICENSE Magazine: Moda's LicenseBox to Represent Abbott & Costello

2009-03-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

LICENSE Magazine:
Moda's LicenseBox to Represent Abbott & Costello

News from Licensing International Expo:

Moda’s LicenseBox to Represent Abbott & CostelloIconic comedy duo Abbott & Costello have tapped Moda’s LicenseBox subsidiary as licensing agent. “We are extremely excited to be able to work on the ever-popular comedy duo Abbott & Costello,” says Richard Zampella, chief executive officer of Moda Entertainment. "We look forward to introducing this beloved American comedy team to a whole new generation through new media." Abbott & Costello collected a variety of work in radio, film and television between 1940 and 1956. They are featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame and were inducted this February into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. In addition to the duo, LicenseBox, a wholly owned subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, also represents such Hollywood greats as Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt and many others.

Moda Entertainment Launches Official Website For Film Legend Loretta Young

2009-03-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment’s public relations and marketing division, PublicityBox is proud to announce the launching of the new website for Academy Award winning classic film actress Loretta Young.

The newly launched Loretta Young website (lorettayoung.com) entitled Loretta Young: A Glamorous Lifestyle, features information on the beautiful and talented leading lady and her lifestyle. The site is launched to coincide with LicenseBox’s (MODA Entertainment’s licensing division) efforts representing and marketing the name and likeness of Loretta Young for merchandising and licensing worldwide, in all categories and media.

The Loretta Young website is a repository for multimedia, movie trailers, video, biographical data, trivia, photo gallery, quotes, and filmography, Official merchandise featuring the screen legend is available in the store section of the site.

Aside from Young’s illustrious acting career, off-screen her name and image are synonymous with luxury, elegance, style, beauty and sophistication. Loretta Young was a quiet humanitarian with deep moral convictions; she served as an eloquent volunteer for many philanthropic causes in her later years. Young was blessed with both stunning physical beauty and inner strength; she enjoyed an enviable career as one of the worlds most beloved and emulated movie stars of all time. Throughout her life, the public always viewed her as living a glamorous lifestyle.

ABOUT LORETTA YOUNG:Few celebrities have enjoyed the professional longevity of Hollywood actress Loretta Young, whose remarkable career stretched over seven decades. She attained star status as a romantic leading lady during Hollywood's Golden Age in such classics as “Along Came Jones,” “The Bishops Wife” and her Academy Award winning performance in “The Farmers Daughter.” Loretta Young moved into television as the host of her own dramatic series. The “Loretta Young Show” ran from 1953 through 1961. The Loretta Young Show won various industry awards, including three Emmys for Young as Best Actress.

ABOUT PUBLICITYBOX: PublictyBox a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a results orientated PR & marketing firm focusing on publicity and positioning for its clients to maximize image development, media placements and presence on the world wide web. PublicityBox focuses on Classic Hollywood legends, events, and films.

ABOUT LICENSEBOX: LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT: MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. Since its inception in 1997, MODA Entertainment has maintained the unique and singular vision to keep the legacy of Classic Hollywood alive and flourishing. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

LICENSING Biz: Now Licensebox adds classic comedy duo

2009-03-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

LICENSING Biz:

Now Licensebox adds classic comedy duo

MODA Entertainment Signs Agreement With Abbott & Costello – Famous Comedy Team

2009-03-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

LicenseBox, a wholly owned subsidiary of Moda Entertainment, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement to represent the worldwide licensing rights for the world famous and legendary comedy team, Abbott & Costello.

Abbott & Costello’s work in radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s. They made 36 films together between 1940 and 1956. Abbott and Costello were among the most popular and highest-paid entertainers in the world during World War II. Other film successes included Hold That Ghost, Who Done It?, Pardon My Sarong, The Time of Their Lives, Buck Privates Come Home, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man.

"We are extremely excited to be able to work on the ever popular comedy team, Abbott & Costello,” stated Richard Zampella, CEO of Moda Entertainment. "We look forward to introducing this beloved American comedy team to a whole new generation through new media and licensing opportunities."

Abbott and Costello first achieved national recognition when they performed their classic routines on their own radio program from 1941 to 1949. Their most popular routine “Who’s on First?” remains as well known today as the first time it was performed. The team is featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Abbott & Costello were one of the few teams to popularize a variety of different mediums in show business... in the 22 years of their partnership they went from burlesque to radio to films to performing on live stage. Lou Costello's famous high-pitched squeal "I'm a b-a-a-a-d Boy!" turned the phrase into what Liberty magazine called "a veritable laugh-cry of the nation that would be easily identified by millions." In 1942, Abbott and Costello were the top box office draw. They would remain a top ten box office attraction until 1952. In 1951, they moved to television as rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour. Each show was a live hour of vaudeville in front of a theater audience. Beginning in 1952, a filmed half-hour series, The Abbott and Costello Show, appeared in syndication on local stations across the county.
Abbot and Costello have been named "Legendary Performers" by the Smithsonian Institution and are part of their permanent collection. The comedy duo have also been recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of fame on Feb 2, 2009 along with Bon Jovi, Jerry Lewis, Phil Rizzuto and basketball great Shaquille O'Neal.

About LICENSEBOX:LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt, amongst others.

About MODA Entertainment:MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

LICENSING Biz: MODA's LicenseBox Purring Over Eartha Kitt Deal

2009-03-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

LICENSING Biz: MODA's LicenseBox Purring Over Eartha Kitt Deal

MODA Entertainment Signs New Client Iconic Performer Eartha Kitt

2009-03-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

Licensebox, a wholly owned subsidiary of Moda Entertainment has signed an agreement to represent the name and likeness of Eartha Kitt for merchandising and licensing worldwide.

The Estate of Eartha Kitt has entered into an agreement with Licensebox, a wholly owned subsidiary of Moda Entertainment for merchandising and licensing the name and likeness of the legendary icon in all categories worldwide, it was announced today by Kitt Shapiro, daughter of the late performer and Richard Zampella, CEO, of Moda Entertainment.Said Shapiro, “I know that my mother would be pleased that her likeness and legacy will remain in the eyes and heart of her fans worldwide. By entering into this agreement with Moda, I am confident that her image will be protected and positioned with dignity and respect.” "We are thrilled to have been granted representation of a special and unique lady – Eartha Kitt, who continues to delight a new generation of fans with her music" said Richard Zampella, CEO, MODA Entertainment. "We look forward to further developing what is already a strong name."

Eartha Kitt, one of the world’s most distinctive performers, purred and pounced her way into the hearts of millions to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality. She is only one of a handful of performers ever honored with three nominations and two Emmy awards, three Tony nominations and two Grammy nominations in a career that spanned six decades. Orson Welles’s called her “the most exciting woman in the world” after he cast her in his production of Faust. Her unique style and feline qualities made her synonymous with her role as ‘Catwoman’ in the 1960’s television series, Batman, and her version of the Christmas classic ‘Santa Baby’ can be heard around the world during the holiday season.Ms. Kitt’s honesty and independence came to the forefront in 1968 when she spoke out against the Vietnam war at a White House luncheon with Lady Bird Johnson. Her unapologetic anti-war opinions found Ms. Kitt criticized in certain quarters and embraced in others. Never sentimental, Ms. Kitt continually said that she shared her opinion because she was asked and would do so again regardless of the consequences.

In 1978, Miss Kitt returned to Broadway and received her second Tony nomination for her electrifying performance in Timbuktu. In 2000, she mesmerized audiences again and received her third Tony nomination for her incendiary performance in The Wild Party.

She continued to perform until shortly before her death in 2008, mesmerizing audiences of all ages with her many symphony concerts and recordings. Young people came to know her for her role in the Disney film ‘Holes’ and she won Emmy Awards in 2007 and 2008 (Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program) as the deliciously evil sorceress Yzma on ABC’s Emperor’s New School. Fans first met Yzma in the 2001 movie Emperor’s New Groove (the forerunner to the series) and heard her on the soundtrack that she recorded with Sting. Also in 2008, Miss Kitt released a DVD of her thrilling performance at Great Britain’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Her final interview History Makers Presents: An Evening with Eartha Kitt was conducted by journalist Gwen Ifill in September and has aired on PBS stations nationwide in 2009.

The legendary performer died Christmas Day, 2008.

ABOUT LICENSEBOX: LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Dexter Gordon, amongst others.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT: MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

DESIGN TAXI: Moda Entertainment Licenses Paper Studio Press For Greta Garbo

2009-03-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

DESIGN TAXI:

Moda Entertainment Licenses Paper Studio Press For Greta Garbo

MODA Entertainment Announces Licensing Deal With Paper Studio Press For Client Greta Garbo

2009-03-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment announced that its licensing arm, LicenseBox, a wholly owned subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc., has signed a licensing deal with Paper Studio Press for Screen Legend Greta Garbo.

LicenseBox completed the licensing deal on behalf of its client; Greta Garbo, with Paper House Press for a paper doll tribute to Classic Hollywood Icon Greta Garbo. It is scheduled to be published in Fall 2009 to be sold in specialty stores and catalogues.

“Paper Studio Press is delighted to be working with MODA Entertainment and Licensebox in creating a paper doll tribute to the glorious silver screen legend, Greta Garbo. MODA's enthusiasm and support has enriched our creative process and we look forward to presenting the finished paper doll book by the talented fashion illustrator, Norma Lu Meehan, later this year.” said, Jenny Taliadoros, owner of Paper Studio Press.

Greta Garbo, arguably the most beautiful woman to ever appear on the silver screen will become a paper doll book created by one of the outstanding artists of today, Norma Lu Meehan. Norma Lu's exquisitely detailed work has been the basis of several museum paper doll books and make the artist extremely well qualified to render Garbo’s costumes accurately and with true fashion flair. Famed Hollywood designer, Adrian, created Garbo’s film wardrobes in such famous films as Camille, Anna Karenina, Grand Hotel, Mata Hari and Ninotcha.

Garbo came from Sweden when movies were still silent and her incredible beauty and dramatic emoting made her a sensation. When she made Anna Christie the advertising campaign proclaimed “Garbo Talks” and she conquered talkies. The star famously shunned publicity with her famous tagline, “I vant to be alone,” and after her retirement from the movies in 1941, she spent the rest of her long life dodging the press.

Norma Lu’s Greta Garbo paper doll book will celebrate the great beauty and the glorious fashion image the legendary star created on the screen.

“We are so pleased with the work of Paper Studio Press which compliments and adds to the current Greta Garbo brand and program.” said Richard Zampella, CEO of MODA Entertainment, Inc.

ABOUT PAPER STUDIO PRESS:Paper Studio Press celebrates the style and glamour of paper dolls at the peak of their popularity during Hollywood's Golden Era through gorgeous reproductions of highly collectible vintage paper doll books, as well as new titles designed to fit in with the paper dolls of yesterday. Owner, Jenny Taliadoros, works with a team of top-notch illustrators and graphic designers to create an ever growing selection of paper doll books featuring movie stars, fashions through the years and nostalgic characters.

ABOUT LICENSEBOX: LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt amongst others.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT: MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Signs The “Loretta Young Show” To Existing Merchandisng & Licensing Representation Agreement

2009-03-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment signs agreement to represent the 1950s "Loretta Young Show" for distribution in new media worldwide.

MODA Entertainment has signed an agreement with the Estate of Loretta Young to represent the 1950s television series the “Loretta Young Show” for distribution through the internet. This agreement is an addition to MODA Entertainment’s existing agreement with the estate, representing the exclusive worldwide merchandising and licensing rights of the legendary film actress, Loretta Young in all categories, through its licensing division, LicenseBox.

Few celebrities have enjoyed the professional longevity of Hollywood actress Loretta Young, whose remarkable career stretched over seven decades. She began as a child extra during the Silent Era of motion pictures and attained star status as a romantic leading lady during Hollywood's Golden Age in such classics as “Along Came Jones,” “The Bishops Wife” and her Academy Award winning performance in “The Farmers Daughter.” A&E's biography summed up Miss Young as "a symbol of beauty, serenity, and grace.” Loretta Young moved into television as the host of her own dramatic series. The “Loretta Young Show” ran from 1953 through 1961. It is a drama anthology series hosted by Loretta Young. In addition to hosting the series, she played the lead in various episodes. The Loretta Young Show won various industry awards, including three Emmys for Young as Best Actress. It also was honored by numerous educational, religious, and civic groups. The series and its star were praised by these groups for promoting family- and community-based ideals in a rapidly changing postwar America.

Christopher Lewis, son of the late actress and representative of the family estate, says “his mother would have been proud of bringing her classic series to New Media. It was her idea to bring one positive idea into American households each week with the “Loretta Young Show,” now almost 60 years later those ideas can be shared by a whole new generation.”

"We are thrilled to have been granted the representation of this unique Classic Hollywood Icon and this historical television program.” said Richard Zampella, CEO of MODA Entertainment. MODA Entertainment is a unique New York based entertainment company specializing in promoting Classic Hollywood celebrity and entertainment properties. The company's mission is to successfully market clients as powerful commercial and cultural brands.

ABOUT LICENSEBOX: LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT: MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

DESIGN TAXI: MODA Entertainment Launches Website For Documentary High Noon Narrated By Frank Langella

2009-02-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

DESIGN TAXI: MODA Entertainment Launches Website For Documentary High Noon

INSIDE HIGH NOON
ON CAMERA PARTICIPANTS:

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
42nd President of The United States of America

PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO
Son of Grace Kelly

MARIA COOPER
Daughter of Gary Cooper

JONATHAN FOREMAN
Son of Screenwriter Carl Foreman

BRIAN GARFIELD
Author/Screenwriter

LEE CLARK MITCHELL
Princeton University

STEPHEN PRINCE
Virginia Tech

M.Z. RIBALOW
Fordam University

TIM ZINNEMANN
Son of Director Fred Zinnenmann

PRODUCTION CREDITS:

Writer/Director/ Producer
John Mulholland

Editor
Brian McNulty

Producers
Shannon Mulholland
Richard Zampella

Executive Producer
MODA Entertainment

In Association with
Paramount

Home Video Distributed by
Lionsgate Entertainment

MODA Entertainment’s Doc on Film “High Noon” narrated by Academy Award Nominee Frank Langella

2009-02-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment has launched new website for the documentary "Inside High Noon" written and directed by John Mulholland, narrated by Frank Langella.

MODA Entertainment has launched a website for the documentary “Inside High Noon” written and directed by John Mulholland and narrated by Academy Award Nominee Frank Langella. The documentary was released by Lionsgate on a Special Edition 2 disc DVD. The 1952 film classic High Noon was written by Carl Foreman, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.

“Inside High Noon” explores both the film and the story behind its troubled production. “The real-life story behind the making of “High Noon” is dramatic, suspenseful, gripping. Like the film itself, it’s a story of fear, heroism, and the very real danger of political abuse.” says Writer/Director John Mulholland, “When released, “High Noon” was seen as an attack on HUAC. However, this means little to an audience today. “Inside High Noon” examines with fresh insight what makes “High Noon” timeless, and why it works so powerfully still, almost 60 years after its release.”

The documentary features interviews with President Bill Clinton; Crown Prince Albert of Monaco; Gary Cooper’s daughter Maria, Carl Foreman’s son Jonathon, Fred Zinnemanns’s son Tim, Brian Garfield, Lee Clark Mitchell, Princeton University, Stephen Prince, Virginia Tech, M.Z. Ribalow, Fordham University.

The new official website (insidehighnoon.com) features background information, unused footage of interviews, an interview with the writer/director, and a blog. Mulholland stated that “What happens up on the screen is in many ways a metaphor for the extraordinary events behind the camera. But “Inside High Noon” also explores the film itself: why it has aroused controversy among critics, why its treatment of women was far ahead of its time, why its treatment of masculinity was far ahead of its time, why it has remained popular decades and decades after its release and, why “High Noon” is the masterpiece it is.”

Among John Mulholland’s other documentaries are: “Cooper & Hemingway: The True Gen,” a documentary exploring the friendship of two-time Academy Award-winning actor Gary Cooper and Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, “On MacBeth”; “Eastern European Composers”; “Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol”; “Of God & Country: Sergeant York,” narrated by Liam Neeson; “Liza Minnelli on Meet Me in St. Louis”; “Reflections on Gaslight,” and “As Time Goes By: The Children Remember Casablanca.” Mulholland has written for both newspapers and magazines.

“Inside High Noon” was produced by MODA Productions, A MODA Entertainment Company in association with Paramount and is available on DVD from Lionsgate.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT:
MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS. Since its inception in 1997, MODA Entertainment has maintained the unique and singular vision to keep the legacy of Classic Hollywood alive and flourishing.

MODA Entertainment Signs New Client Legendary Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Dexter Gordon

2009-02-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment's Licensebox, has signed a long term exclusive agreement with Dex Music to represent the name, likeness and music of Dexter Gordon, legendary jazz saxophonist, composer and Oscar-nominee, for purposes of marketing, merchandising & licensing.

Dexter Gordon, whose career spanned more than four decades (1940s-1980s), is highly regarded as one of the major innovators of modern jazz. The distinction and elegance of his persona can be seen in such classic visual works as Herman Leonard’s photo at the Royal Roost in New York City in 1948; and the magnitude of his influence can be heard throughout the many disparate styles that characterize American popular music and culture to date.

Gordon was born in Los Angeles, California in 1923. As a teenager, he joined the Lionel Hampton Band and soon after went on to perform and record with Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, and Dizzy Gillespie. In the 1960s, he lived and recorded in Europe, finally settling in Copenhagen, Denmark. Gordon also spent significant time living and performing in Paris, France (and also spoke and read in French). In the late 1970s, he returned to the U.S. and helped regenerate an interest in jazz amongst musicians and fans, and helped re-stimulate the jazz business as a result. In 1986, Gordon was nominated for an Academy Award in Round Midnight (Warner Bros. 1986) as Best Actor in his leading role as Dale Turner, a fictional character loosely based on the late Bebop pianist Bud Powell. The film co-starred French actor Francois Cluzet, with several appearances made by Martin Scorsese.

Gordon is one of the major innovators of modern saxophone playing. He is revered for his originality, his profound knowledge of melody and harmony, and his captivating sense of lyricism (Gordon knew all the lyrics to the tunes he played). His rich, vibrant sound, unique phrasing, and predilection for humorous quotations also combined to create a highly distinct and recognizable style. Gordon has had a direct influence on most of the major saxophonists who followed him, and most significantly - the two leading tenor saxophonists of the succeeding generation, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Gordon was later influenced in turn by Coltrane's use of the soprano saxophone and adopted it as a result. Dexter Gordon recorded for Savoy, Blue Note, Prestige and Columbia Records, he appeared in the film Awakenings with Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams, and received a feature role on Michael Mann's hit TV series Crime Story. He Gordon played a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone. He was named "musician of the year" by readers of Down Beat magazine in 1978 and 1980 and was elected into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1980
On behalf of Dex Music, the Dexter Gordon archive will be donated to the Library of Congress during mid-2009.

ABOUT LICENSEBOX: LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT: MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on and offline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Signs New Client Actress/Director IDA LUPINO

2009-02-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment's Licensing division, LicenseBox has signed Ida Lupino to a long-term agreement for the merchandising and licensing rights to her name and likeness.

Ida Lupino was a Classic Hollywood film actress, director, anda pioneer among women filmmakers. In her forty-eight year career, she appeared in fifty-nine films, anddirected nine others. She also appeared in episodic television fifty-eight times and directed fifty otherepisodes.

Now, in a major alliance announced today with estate representative Mary Ann Anderson, Licensebox, A Moda Entertainment Company has signed Ida Lupino to a long-term agreement for themerchandising and licensing rights to her name and likeness in all categories worldwide. Licensebox is very excited to add Ms. Lupino to the roster.

During her career as an actress, Lupino became known for her hard-boiled roles, and appeared in suchfilms as "They Drive by Night" (1940) and "High Sierra" (1941), both opposite Humphrey Bogart. Sheacted regularly and was in high demand throughout the 1940s.During the 1940s Lupino began studying the processes behind the camera. Her first directing job came unexpectedly when she first stepped behind the camera in 1949 for the film "Not Wanted." Lupino wenton to direct her own projects, becoming Hollywood's only female film director of the time. Lupino oftenjoked that if she had been the "poor man's Bette Davis" as an actress, then she had become the "poorman's Don Siegel" as a director.

Lupino continues to be the subject of renewed appreciation--not only for her incandescent acting but forher bold and prolific directing in film and television. The announcement of this alliance will perpetuatethe impact of Ms. Lupino's varied and significant career.

ABOUT LICENSEBOX: LICENSBOX a subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, Inc. is a broad-based merchandising and licensing company, which has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, Douglas Fairbanks, George Raft, Loretta Young, amongst others.

ABOUT MODA ENTERTAINMENT: MODA Entertainment, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a full service multi-media entertainment company involved in development, production, packaging, marketing, distributing, licensing in all on andoffline media. MODA Entertainment’s fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODAPublishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS.

MODA Entertainment Signs New Client Loretta Young

2009-01-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment Announces Licensing Deal for Client Dexter Gordon with Compass Learning

2009-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

MODA Entertainment Client Duke Ellington To Appear On Quarter

2009-01-16T09:00:00.003-05:00

MODA Entertainment announced today that Jazz legend Duke Ellington, a LicenseBox client, will be featured on the new commemorative Washington D.C. quarter.

LicenseBox, a wholly owned subsidiary of MODA Entertainment, is extremely pleased that the District of Columbia Quarter will be the first release of the 2009 DC & US Territories Quarter Program. This program is a follow up to the popular 50 State Quarters Program. The commemorative quarter is expected to bereleased later this month.

Duke Ellington Quarter Reuters Release

MODA Entertainment's Licensebox Inks Deal For Client Greta Garbo With Dolce & Gabanna

2009-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

MODA Entertainment's Licensebox Inks Deal For Greta Garbo With Dolce & Gabana

LicenseBox completed the licensing deal on behalf of its client, Greta Garbo,with Dolce & Gabbana for a limited series of Men`s and Women`s long and shortsleeve t-shirts. This is expected to be part of Dolce & Gabanna`s Fall/Winter 09Collection. The T-shirts will be sold worldwide by Dolce & Gabbana.

REUTERS: LicenseBox Signs Licensing Agreement

MODA Entertainment Announces Licensing Deal for Client Greta Garbo With Uniqlo Co. Ltd, Japan

2009-01-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents John Kerr: The Boy-Next-Door

2008-10-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

A sensitive, boy-next-door leading man of American films and television in the 1950s and 60s, John Kerr (who was the son of actors) made a big splash in the Broadway (1953) and film (1956) versions of "Tea and Sympathy". His best known TV roles were as lawyers, a profession he opted to pursue in 1970, retiring from acting except for occasional appearances.

John Kerr's first appearance was as the son of Ruth Chatterton in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" at Cape Playhouse in 1940. Kerr was educated at Phillips Exeter, and Harvard. During summers, Kerr became a junior fixture at Cape Playhouse, and appeared with the late Gertrude Lawrence in "O Mistress Mine" and "September Tide." Kerr entered Harvard in 1948 and he was a member of the Brattle Theatre Company. Kerr played in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Twelfth Night" and in Christopher Fry's "A Sleep of Prisoners."

Kerr made his Broadway debut just months after his 1952 graduation from Harvard in "Bernadine". The following year, he created what is perhaps his most memorable role, Tom, the prep school lad whom his classmates believe to be a homosexual and who is eventually bedded by the schoolmaster's wife "to save him" from such a life. Kerr earned a Best Supporting Tony for his work and was whisked to Hollywood. He made his feature debut playing a suicidal patient in a mental institution in Vicente Minnelli’s "The Cobweb" (1955). In "Gaby" (1956), he played a World War II soldier having an affair with Leslie Caron. That same year, he co-starred opposite Deborah Kerr in the film version of "Tea and Sympathy". Two years later, Kerr was the doomed Lt. Cable romantically paired with island girl France Nuyen in the musical "South Pacific". After these high profile features, he found himself by 1961 in the more modestly budgeted (to say the least) version of "The Pit and the Pendulum", produced by Roger Corman and co-starring Vincent Price. Kerr's film career effectively ended that year, although he played a few bit roles in features after receiving his law degree.

Throughout the years John Kerr has appeared in numerous television roles. Kerr had begun on the small screen in 1953, guest-starring on an episode of "Summer Studio One" (CBS). Throughout the 50s and into the 60s, he continued to appear in productions. He finally hooked onto a regular series with "Arrest and Trial" (ABC, 1963-64), a show that now appears to be a prototype for "Law & Order", splitting the action between the cops and the prosecutors, one of whom Kerr played. He again played a district attorney on "Peyton Place" (ABC), where his character was prosecuting Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) for murder. Since passing the California bar in 1970, Kerr has acted only occasionally.

He was in the TV-movie Western "Yuma" (ABC, 1971) and from time-to-time appeared on episodes of "The Streets of San Francisco" as a detective in one or two scenes. By the 80s, he was rarely seen, although one could catch him as a ferry captain in "Bay Coven" (NBC, 1987).

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Hugh O’Brian: Visionary and Legendary Humanitarian

2008-09-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

"I believe every person is created as the steward of his or her own destiny with great power for a specific purpose: To share with others, through service, a reverence for life in a spirit of love."

– Actor Hugh O'Brian

Though actor Hugh O'Brian has appeared in hundreds of television shows and movies through the decades, there is one role with which he is immediately identified: that of frontier lawman Wyatt Earp. O'Brian played the lead role in the "Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," a top-rated series aired on ABC television from 1955-61, catapulting him to stardom.

Born April 19, 1925 in Rochester, New York (as Hugh J. Krampe), O'Brian attended school at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, and Kemper Military School in Booneville, After a semester at the University of Cincinnati O' Brian, at 17, enlisted in the Marine Corps. He became the youngest drill instructor in the Corps' history, and during his four year service earned a Fleet appointment to The US Naval Academy. After passing the entrance exams, he declined the appointment, intending to enroll at Yale to study law.

Ida Lupino is credited with discovering his acting talent when she saw him on stage and signed him to play his first starring role in the film "Young Lovers" which Lupino directed. This brought him a contract with Universal Studios. O' Brian left Universal after three years to guest star in numerous television shows and in such films as "Broken Lance" and "No Business Like Show Business." His "big break" came when he was chosen to portray the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp on television. Shortly after the series debuted in 1955 as the "first adult western," it became the top-rated show on television.

O'Brian starred on Broadway in "Destry Rides Again," "First Love," and in the Broadway revival of "Guys and Dolls." He has been a guest on numerous television and radio shows including the Today Show, the Larry King and Jim Bohanan Shows, Charlie Rose's Nightwatch and The Pat Sajak Show. Recent credits include "The Shootist," "Killer Force," "Game of Death," "Twins," and numerous appearances on "Fantasy Island," "Love Boat," the T.V. series "Paradise," "Gunsmoke II," "Murder, She Wrote," "L.A. Law," and a Kenny Rogers Gambler IV movie, "The Luck of the Draw: The Gambler Returns," and “Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone” – a made-for-TV feature movie.

Hugh O'Brian has dedicated much of his life to the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY). The concept for HOBY was inspired in 1958 by a nine-day visit O’Brian had with famed humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa. Dr. Schweitzer believed "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves."

HOBY is a non-profit youth leadership development program that empowers 10,000 sophomores annually through its over 70 leadership programs in all 50 states and 8 countries. Since its inception in 1958, over 355,000 young people have been inspired by HOBY.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents POLITICS ON FILM

2008-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

“Wherever there is greatness, great government or power, even great feeling or compassion, error also is great. We progress and mature by fault.”

– Ben-Hur (1959)

From the earliest days of film, politics was infused in the medium. Major works like D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane addressed some of the most contentious social and political issues of their day. During the Great Depression, Warner Brothers released a string of musicals that were full-on endorsements of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. William Randolph Hearst’s Gabriel Over The White House featured the angel Gabriel guiding the President of the United States as he dismisses his Cabinet and cures the nation of unemployment and poverty.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) and Meet John Doe (1941), both directed by Frank Capra, dealt with government corruption and home-grown fascism.

Several pre-WW II films from WB took aim at the dangers of isolationism and Nazis in America, including Sergeant York and Confessions Of A Nazi Spy. World War II heralded a whole library of films produced with the politics of war in mind. In the film Sands of Iwo Jima, for example, John Wayne portrays Sgt. John Stryker, a gallant soldier heroically carrying forth the flag of American democracy (the film’s unsubtle patriotism was sliced-and-diced by two Clint Eastwood-directed films from 2006: Flags Of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima). And even seemingly unserious films such as Shirley Temple’s Bright Eyes and Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ Flying Down to Rio presented a clear response by Hollywood to the social malaise of the early 1930s.

Politics, it seems, is not new to Hollywood. Harvard Professor of Visual and Environmental Studies John D. Connor has argued that, “It’s only the conservative critics of the 1960’s who think that movies were once placid entertainment that got ‘politicized’ by radicals of various kinds.” The cinema may allow its audience to travel to worlds of fancy, but those worlds have always responded to issues in contemporary society.

The intense political polarization and radicalization brought on by the Vietnam War brought with it a new breed of explicitly political cinema. Characterized by a more serious questioning of the government itself, this new era saw films that undermined particular leaders (All the President’s Men) and asked questions about the nature of war itself (Apocalypse Now).

In this year 2008, amid the Presidential race between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain, politics in film is timely, indeed.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents PAT O’ BRIEN: THE IRISH IN HIM

2008-08-25T09:00:00.001-04:00

"Sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the breaks are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper..."
-Actor Pat O'Brien in Knute Rockne, All American (1940)

Whether playing second fiddle to his pals James Cagney and Spencer Tracy or starring in his own films, Pat O’Brien was one of the most enduring and endearing icons of Classic Hollywood. And, along with Barry Fitzgerald, the screen’s quintessential Irishman.

Offscreen he was known for his gift of blarney, which he would often use to charm boss Jack L. Warner when it came to contract negotiations. Or he would break into a favorite Irish tune that would bring tears to the eyes of Jimmy Cagney. He was a man completely free of pretense who was one of the best liked men and respected performers in Hollywood. Perhaps because what you saw of Pat O’Brien onscreen mirrored what he was like off-camera. A talented and extremely nice man.

O’Brien was one of Warner Brothers’ staples during the 1930s, appearing in a wide variety of roles that still, however, showcased his heritage. Whether playing a newsman, naval officer, aviator, cop or, most especially, a priest, he would come to be known as Hollywood’s “Irishman in Residence” a title of which he was proud.

O’Brien, though, was not born on the Emerald Isle. William Joseph Patrick O’Brien hailed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whence came another Irish lad, Spencer Tracy, with whom O’Brien would become friends when both attended Marquette Academy. Interestingly, both boys harbored early ambitions to join the priesthood, but another calling awaited them. After attending Marquette University and serving in the Navy during World War I, O’Brien set his sights on a career in the theater. It was his role of Walter Burns in the Broadway production of “The Front Page” that brought O’Brien to the attention of Hollywood, though a casting snafu occurred when the studio, confusing Burns with the other lead role, ace reporter Hildy Johnson, offered O'Brien the latter role assuming it was the one he had played onstage. Nevertheless, O’Brien took the job. O’Brien appeared in a number of rather forgettable films at various studios until he was signed to a contract by Warner Brothers. He appeared with Bette Davis in the programmer “Bureau of Missing Persons” (1933), and the next year made the first of nine movies where he would co-star with his close friend James Cagney: “Here Comes the Navy” (1934). The teaming instantly clicked with movie audiences who enjoyed the usual onscreen rivalry between the calm and authoritative O’Brien and the undisciplined and feisty Jimmy. (Although in real life, it was Cagney who was the quiet homebody and O’Brien the gregarious nightclubber). O’Brien also made impressive solo films, such as “Oil for the Lamps of China” (1935) where he played the rather unsympathetic role of Stephen Chase, an American employed by an oil company in the East who takes his job so seriously that he neglects all but his company’s interests. He played another initially unsympathetic character in the sentimental “The Great O’Malley” (1937). His Officer James Aloysius O’Malley is so “by the book” that he causes a desperate man (Humphrey Bogart) to become a criminal.

Of course O’Brien’s signature role was the real-life Notre Dame football coach “Knute Rockne, All-American” (1940), which co-starred Ronald Reagan as George Gipp.

His movie career entered a decline in the 1950s, though he worked frequently on television. His big hit of the decade was as Detective Mulligan, a cop hot on the trail of gangster George Raft in “Some Like it Hot” (1959). O’Brien remained active in films, television and even on the stage until his death in 1983. His final film role was a cameo in “Ragtime” (1981), which also proved to be Jimmy Cagney’s cinematic swan song – and their first appearance in the same movie in 41 years.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents JOHN WAYNE: SIMPLY “THE DUKE”

2008-08-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

“I want to play a real man in all my films, and I define manhood simply: men should be tough, fair, and courageous, never petty, never looking for a fight, but never backing down from one either.” – John Wayne

One doesn’t even have to know the famous marquee name. “The Duke” says it all. Still the biggest box office star of all time. Almost thirty years after his death, John Wayne remains one of the most recognizable and admired faces in the world. Millions continue to regard him as a national treasure, through movies that recognized old-fashioned values and simple yet true heroism – movies that are still popular both on television and DVD releases. Wayne was one of the first to admit that he was not a great actor, but he certainly possessed an abundance of what is known as “star quality” – that indefinable magic that graces only a unique few and transforms mere actors into larger than life personalities. And there is no question that John Wayne was larger than life. James Cagney once accurately summed up the Duke’s appeal: “A remarkable man. When one realizes he’s played virtually the same part over the years, wearing virtually the same clothing, and maintaining a very high status in the business, it’s clear that whatever John Wayne is, people love him, and that’s about the best recommendation I can think of.”

The screen’s quintessential Western hero entered the world on May 26, 1907 with the most unlikely name of Marion Morrison, the son of Iowa pharmacist Clyde Morrison and his wife Mary. Clyde’s health condition necessitated the family’s move to the warmer climate of California, where they eventually settled in Glendale. Young Marion was a bright student who excelled at sports, earning a football scholarship to USC. Marion’s plan was to study law, but when cowboy star Tom Mix got him a summer job as a prop boy at Fox studios, Marion soon met and became friendly with director John Ford, for whom he began doing bit parts in pictures. It was Ford who suggested his 23-year old protégé for the lead male role in Raoul Walsh’s upcoming screen spectacular “The Big Trail” (1930), a role that was planned for and rejected by Gary Cooper. Marion got the part, had his name changed to “John Wayne”, and then saw his promising career almost come to a halt when the picture flopped. Wayne managed to keep working – though in undistinguished “oaters” at lower-echelon studios, until John Ford again came to the rescue and offered Wayne the plum part of The Ringo Kid in the classic “Stagecoach” (1939). The picture made John Wayne a star and, just as importantly, solidified a close friendship with director Ford, who would go on to star Wayne in some of his most famous and enduring films, such as the cavalry trilogy: “Fort Apache” (1948), “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949) and “Rio Grande” (1950), and the beautiful and lyrical “The Quiet Man” (1952). Wayne became an extremely popular hero in World War II films, earning a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role as Sergeant John Stryker in “Sands of Iwo Jima” (1949). However, many consider Wayne’s best performance to be the complex Tom Dunson in Howard Hawks’ “Red River” (1948). Wayne remained consistently in the list of top ten box office stars throughout the 1950s and into the mid-70s, though he often met with criticism due to his staunch conservative political stance. But his political leanings never affected his popularity with his movie fans – not even when his political stand was reflected onscreen, as in “The Alamo” (1960) and “The Green Berets” (1968).

John Wayne endured serious health crises later in life: the removal of a cancerous lung and heart valve replacement surgery, but he kept working hard at his beloved craft, finally winning a much-applauded Oscar for his role as one-eyed sheriff Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit (1969). His last role ironically featured Wayne as a former gunfighter dying of cancer in “The Shootist” (1976). A poignant yet perhaps fitting end to a glorious career.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents RICHARD BURTON: A SUPREME TALENT

2008-08-20T20:22:00.001-04:00

“An actor is something less than a man, while an actress is something more than a woman.”
-Richard Burton

Welsh-born Richard Burton was one of the most magnetic performers ever to grace the stage or films. He possessed a presence that radiated throughout the theater and transcended the motion picture screen. Gifted with piercing good looks and a voice destined to quote Shakespear’s immortal sonnets, Richard Burton was truly an Actor’s Actor.

The young Richard Jenkins was born on November 10, 1925, in Pontrhydyfen, Wales, the son of a coal miner. A life of hard labor deep in the mines was not to the liking of the ambitious lad who received a scholarship to the prestigious Oxford University to study acting. Adopting the name “Burton” from his schoolmaster and mentor Philip Burton, Richard quickly gained a reputation on the stage before making his film debut in 1949 in “The Last Days of Dolwyn”. He appeared in other movies, but it was not until he played the lead in “My Cousin Rachel” (1952) that his on-camera career really gained momentum. He starred in the Cinemascope blockbuster, “The Robe”, in 1953 (for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor) and essayed the title role of “Alexander The Great” (1956). He also maintained his allegiance to the stage, performing in productions both in the UK and on Broadway.

Perhaps his finest motion picture appearance was as the disillusioned Jimmy Porter in “Look Back in Anger” (1959), for which he was nominated for both a BAFTA Film Award for Best British Actor and a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actor – Drama. Burton’s work continued to be acclaimed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic. He scored a major Broadway hit starring as King Arthur in the musical "Camelot" in 1961. He then provided a good bit as a wounded British soldier in the all-star “The Longest Day” (1962). but hit a snag when he appeared as Marc Antony in “the flop that almost sunk a studio”: “Cleopatra” (1963). Of course, it was on this film that Burton fell in love with Elizabeth Taylor, whom he would later marry – twice).

From this point on, Burton’s acting career seemed to take a back seat to his personal life with Miss Taylor. Their relationship was both passionate and stormy, and the tabloids provided their readers with plenty of copy on the marital exploits of “Liz and Dick”.

The couple appeared in several films together, but with the exception of the high-powered “Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf” (1966), their movies were neither critically nor commercially regarded. Where Burton continued to excel was when he appeared in pictures sans Liz, as in “Becket” (1964), “Night Of The Iguana” (1964) and, what some feel is the finest espionage film ever made, “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” (1965). One of his last great solo roles was his Academy Award-nominated King Henry VIII in “Anne of a Thousand Days” (1969).

Sadly, during the 1970s the once great classical thespian began appearing in movies where both he and the pictures themselves were panned by critics and audiences. “Bluebeard” and “The Assasination of Trotsky”, (both 1972) were disasters, as were “The Klansman” (1974), “Exorcist II: The Heretic” (1977) and “The Medusa Touch” (1978). It was speculated that the reason an actor of Burton’s caliber would submit to appear in such terrible movies was to keep up alimony payments on his four failed marriages. He briefly rallied toward the end of his life by delivering fine performances in the films “Ninety Eighty-Four” (1984) and in the TV mini-series “Ellis Island” (1984). Sadly, with his career once more looking on the rise and finally finding happiness with fifth wife Sally Hay, Richard Burton passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage at his at his home in Switzerland on August 5, 1984.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents GEORGE RAFT: HOLLYWOOD’S RELUCTANT GANGSTER

2008-08-20T09:00:00.008-04:00

“I must have gone through $10 million during my career. Part of the loot went for gambling, part for horses and part for women. The rest I spent foolishly.” – George Raft

During the filming of the 1952 movie “What Price Glory”, a bit player on the set overheard the film’s star James Cagney in discussion with actor Dan Dailey. What the bit player remembered from the conversation was how Cagney spoke with regret about the poor career choices his old Warner Brothers co-star and pal George Raft had made. Cagney lamented that if Raft had not turned down so many films that became classics, he could have become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

George Raft’s film career possesses all the elements of a Hollywood success story turned sour. At his height during the 1930s and into the mid-40s, Raft was one of the industry’s biggest and highest paid stars. During his years at Warner Brothers (1939-42) it was said that he was offered more movie roles than any other actor on the lot. The great director John Huston remembered: “Everything was intended for George Raft at the time.”

George Raft, of course, made his reputation in urban underworld roles. He was such a convincing hood that real-life gangsters, such as his pal “Bugsy” Siegel, attempted to emulate him – both in mannerism and in his style of dress. Less notorious figures like middleweight boxer Rocky Graziano likewise imitated the unique Raft image.

Yet sadly, Raft’s placement among the greats in movie history has been overshadowed by the missed opportunities that all but removed him from the pantheon of popular culture and relegated him to a virtual obscurity. The true tragedy is that it was George Raft himself who terminated his own career. Raft had scored many hits early in his career, from Scarface (1932) to Each Dawn I Die (1939), Souls at Sea (1937) to Spawn of the North (1938) and They Drive by Night (1940) to Manpower (1941). But by the late 1940s, Raft’s career was in trouble. His rejections of the films Dead End (1937), High Sierra (1941) and The Maltese Falcon (1942) pushed his rival Humphrey Bogart up the ladder to superstardom while Raft entered a decline from which he could never recover.

Nor could Raft be persuaded to take on the part of opportunistic insurance salesman in Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944) – Raft’s last chance to salvage his career. He had his own idiosyncratic reasons for turning down each of these projects, based primarily on his desire to be perceived by movie audiences as the “good guy” and, to a lesser extent, not to die onscreen.

To keep his career afloat and maintain his expensive lifestyle, Raft worked at lesser studios in formulaic pictures, frequently cast, at his insistence, as the “good guy”. To a public that preferred to see the actor in more sinister roles, this image quickly became tiresome and redundant.

The one-time movie legend spent his final two decades working in bits and cameos in pictures with his reputation tarnished by a slew of forgettable films and his notorious associations with the underworld.

But to audiences familiar with the screen image of George Raft, he remains perhaps the most authentic tough guy of them all.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.:
MODA Entertainment, headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. Key clients in this category include Abbott & Costello, Duke Ellington, Dexter Gordon, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, William Holden, Ida Lupino, George Raft, Loretta Young, Eartha Kitt, amongst others. MODA's fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS. Visit www.modaentertainment.com

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents ELI WALLACH - QUINTESSENTIAL METHOD ACTOR

2008-08-20T09:00:00.007-04:00

How did a Jewish guy from Brooklyn become the screen ideal in westerns as the swaggering, wise-cracking, mustachioed bandito with a huge sombrero?

Mention The Magnificent Seven and Eli Wallach’s nasty Mexican bandit, Calvera, pops to mind.

Bring up How The West Was Won, and it’s Wallach’s outsized train robber, the snarling Charlie Gant, which is immediately front-and-center in your mind.

Or, think of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, and Wallach’s deliriously captivating take on Tuco, The Ugly, is in your head.

In Ace High, a lesser known western of the “spaghetti” school, Wallach is Cacopoulos, once again a disarming villainous rogue. This time, though, the man from Brooklyn is Greek/Mexican.

But it wasn’t only westerns in which Wallach became the template for these foreign and ferociously charismatic villains.

How about The Moonspinners, in which Wallach is Stratos, another of his wicked villains. This go-around, though, he’s a Greek bad guy.

Or Lord Jim, where Wallach is the General, a vile, sadistic, cruel Asian warlord. Viewed one way, The General could be looked at as a forerunner to the later Tuco from The Good, the Bad & The Ugly; or, perhaps, the General is actually a more complex take on Wallach’s Calvera from the earlier Magnificent Seven.

Or both.

A lesser talent might well have become locked into this sort of scene-stealing role, typecast. But the man from Brooklyn is anything but a one-note talent. For Wallach played many other villains, all of a far different stripe.

Check out his bad guy performances in the following: Seven Thieves, as the rattled Poncho involved in a Monte Carlo jewel heist; The Line-Up, where his cold-blooded killer is also vulnerable, anxious, and even thoughtful; How To Steal A Million, in which his business tycoon, lusting after a sculpture, calmly breaks the law to own it. Nor has Eli Wallach confined himself to villains.

The man with the raspy voice, the man from Brooklyn, has proven himself a master in drama (The Misfits), surreal comedy (The Tiger Makes Out), sheer comedy (Movie Movie), noir (Zigzag), satire (Mistress), intense war drama (The Victors), crime (The Two Jakes), family epics (Godfather III), and the heart-warming (The Holiday).

And he’s still hard at it, making films. Wallach is currently shooting Tickling Leo, which will be released in 2008.

Tune in Sunday, June 29th 8 at PM ET, as Eli Wallach discusses his six decade career with ICONS Radio hosts Stephen Bogart and John Mulholland. With a disarming modesty, Wallach discusses his work with some of the most legendary people in Hollywood history: Gable, Monroe, Clift, McQueen, John Huston, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Audrey Hepburn, Peter O’Toole, Wyler, Clint Eastwood, Sergio Leone, Elia Kazan, Gregory Peck, Carl Foreman, Edward G. Robinson, Lancaster, Douglas, Nicholson, Coppola, Pacino; and, of course, Wallach's wife, the illustrious Anne Jackson.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents ROY ROWLAND - HOLLYWOOD'S UNDERRATED DIRECTOR

2008-08-20T09:00:00.006-04:00

While perhaps not the most recognized name in the history of legendary movie directors, Roy Rowland certainly was responsible for some of the best and fondly-remembered titles to come out of Hollywood during the 1940s and 50s.

While some directors specialized in - or became best known for - specific genres: John Ford: Westerns; Cecil B. DeMille: Costume spectaculars; Alfred Hitchcock: Suspense, Roy Rowland never concentrated his efforts to establish himself as a “brand name”. Throughout much of his career, he played the field, and as such, was renowned for his versatility. Consider the range of his more memorable cinematic achievements: the sentimental “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes” (1945), the boxing drama “Killer McCoy” ( 1947), the Red Skelton comedy “Excuse My Dust” (1951), the Westerns “Bugles in the Afternoon” (1952) and the 3D-lensed “The Moonlighter”, 1953 (which offered a reteaming of “Double Indemnity” co-stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray), the dark musical fantasy “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T” (1953), the suspenseful “Scene of the Crime” (1949) and “Witness to Murder” (1954), and the tough noir thriller “Rogue Cop” (1954).

Incredibly, with such a wide variety of films to his credit, Rowland was never given an Oscar nomination and, in fact, received only one nomination: A DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for “Meet Me in Las Vegas” (1956).

Rowland began his directing career in 1934 with the all-star comedy/musical “Hollywood Party”, which featured such celebrities as Laurel and Hardy, Jimmy Durante, the Three Stooges . . . and even an appearance by Mickey Mouse!

Throughout the decade and into the early 40s Rowland directed a number of 10-minute MGM short subjects, starring humorist and writer Robert Benchley. These were known to audiences as the “How To . . . ” series, similar to the later Joe McDoakes shorts featuring George O’Hanlon.

In 1943 Rowland finally returned to features with “A Stranger in Town”, a compact political drama starring Frank (“The Wizard of Oz”) Morgan and Richard Carlson. His next film was the intriguing “Lost Angel”, starring Margaret O’Brien as a child raised by scientists in a completely sterile and unemotional environment.

Many of Rowland’s subsequent films were programmers, but he was hardly a “journeyman” director as he tried to add a unique quality to each. “These Wilder Years” (1956), for instance, featured the offbeat casting of James Cagney as a wealthy businessman on a quest to find the son he never knew and Barbara Stanwyck (one of his favorite actresses) as a sympathetic social worker. He also directed and co-wrote “The Girl Hunters” (1963), with mystery writer Mickey Spillane playing his own character of Mike Hammer.

Rowland also took a hand at producing episodes of the popular TV series “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” starring Hugh O’Brian as the title character.

In the mid-60s, Rowland closed out his directing career by filming three Spanish-made Westerns – a genre in which he was particularly active. He died in 1995.

While his feature film output was not as prolific as many of his contemporaries, Roy Rowland was unquestionably a unique and gifted filmmaker whose many memorable film achievements stand as testament to his talent.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents ALAN LADD - HOLLYWOOD’S LITTLE GIANT

2008-08-20T09:00:00.005-04:00

“If you can figure out my success on the screen, you’re a better man than I.” – Alan Ladd

Though he stood only 5’7”, Alan Ladd loomed large on the silver screen. Or, as in such classic Westerns as “Whispering Smith” (1948) and especially “Shane” (1953), very Tall in the Saddle. Ladd’s short stature was compensated by his deep baritone voice and an onscreen presence that commanded attention. Cliché though it sounds, when Alan Ladd entered a scene, he dominated it. Hero, villain or everyman caught in extraordinary circumstances, Ladd convincingly filled the bill. Offscreen, Ladd was a modest, self-assuming man who was never affected by his stardom. He remained gracious to his fans, never refusing a request for an autograph. His professional kindness and generosity was noted when Ladd was twice awarded the Golden Apple (1944 and 1950) for Most Cooperative Actor. Yet sadly, Ladd suffered from his own personal demons borne of deep insecurities and a not particularly happy childhood. In a 1961 interview when Ladd was asked, "What would you change about yourself if you could?", he replied tersely: "Everything."

Yet onscreen there was rarely another actor who could convey such cool and complete confidence.

Alan Ladd first gained a reputation as a movie tough guy when he appeared fourth-billed as the hired gunman Raven in the noir classic “This Gun for Hire” (1942). His cold and calculated killer tracking down the men who betrayed him stole the show from the picture’s official stars. Following his success in that film, the previously struggling Ladd went under contract to Paramount where he became one of Hollywood’s biggest box office draws during World War II. His smooth, deep voice was also heard on many radio programs of the time, where after the broadcast he was often mobbed by fans. He was also one of the very few male celebrities whose cover photos sold movie magazines. In 1943, “Modern Screen" magazine ran sixteen stories on him in its twelve issues that year. So great was his popularity, in fact, that he held the unique distinction of being “starred” in a comic book series “The Adventures of Alan Ladd”. In his film work, Ladd was probably most noted for his pairings with the sultry and equally diminutive Veronica Lake, in such mysteries as “The Glass Key” (1942) and “The Blue Dahlia” (1946). After a career slump following too many routine roles in mediocre movies, like “Wild Harvest” (1947), “Saigon” (1948) and “Chicago Deadline” (1950), Ladd made a spectacular comeback as “Shane” in the film of the same name. His mysterious, ultra-cool former gunfighter who outdraws Jack Palance in the film’s famous climactic shootout became one of the foremost iconic figures of Western mythology. Ladd’s “comeback” was recognized when he was voted Most Popular Star at the 1953 Photoplay Awards. “Shane” proved a hard act to follow for the actor. While Ladd could never again recapture the success he enjoyed from that movie, he could take pride in the fact that he had created an unforgettable character through which his popularity continues to endure.

Ladd had his final screen triumph when he played the part of aging former cowboy Nevada Smith in “The Carpetbaggers” (1964). Fans and critics praised Ladd’s performance in the oft-panned film and predicted a new career for him as a solid character actor. Unfortunately, it was not to be as Alan Ladd died from an accidental overdose of alcohol and sedatives on January 29, 1964.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents EDWARD G. ROBINSON - RENAISSANCE MAN

2008-08-20T09:00:00.004-04:00

Born Emanuel Goldenberg in Bucharest, Romania in 1893, Robinson immigrated to the United States at the age of 9 with his family, settling in New York's Lower East Side. After earning his degree from City College of New York, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts on a scholarship. A noted linguist, he spoke 9 languages fluently and was an accomplished public speaker.

Robinson began performing using his new name in 1913. Over the next seventeen years, he appeared in 40 plays both on and off Broadway and was a member of the famed Theater Guild. In 1927, he captured the notice of Hollywood with his powerful performance in the Broadway play " The Racket." He also enjoyed a long run on the popular CBS weekly radio show, "Big Town," and made many acclaimed dramatic television appearances.

But he is probably best remembered for his work in the motion picture industry. His film debut was in the silent film "The Bright Shawl" (1923) and his first sound film was "The Hole in the Wall" (1929) with Claudette Colbert. Robinson won international fame for his vivid performance as Gangster Enrico Bandello in "Little Caesar" (1930), creating a prototype for American gangster portrayals. His last line, "Mother of Mercy, is this the end of Rico?" is one of the most famous lines in cinema history.

Robinson became one of the most sucessful leading men in the 1930's and early 1940's in such classics as "The Woman in the Window," "A Dispatch from Reuters," "The Sea Wolf'" "Double Indemnity," and his own personal favorite, "Dr. Erlich's Magic Bullet" (1940). He created another notable gangster in "Key Largo" (1948) opposite Bogart and Bacall, and co-starred in Frank Capra's "A Hole in the Head" (1959). He received the Cannes Film Festival award as Best Actor for "House of Strangers" (1949). Many feel he stole "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965) as the world-weary, experienced poker player who takes on Steve McQueen, and was deeply moving in his last film role, "Soylent Green" (1973).

A noted philanthropist, Robinson contributed to hundreds of relief and entertainment agencies and cultural and religious groups, and received the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award and the French Legion of Honor, being the first Hollywood star to entertain in France after the invasion of Normandy. As a patron of the arts, his collection of rare books and impressionist art was considered among America's finest.

In 1970, Robinson received the Screen Actors Guild "Lifetime Achievement" award and in 1973 was awarded a special, honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement and outstanding contribution to motion pictures. The inscription reads: "To Edward G. Robinson who achieved greatness as a player, a patron of the arts, and a dedicated citizen... in sum, a Renaissance man. From his friends in the industry he loves."

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents ALAN LADD - HOLLYWOOD’S LITTLE GIANT

2008-08-20T09:00:00.003-04:00

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents FRANK SINATRA : THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

2008-08-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

“You better get busy living, because dying's a pain in the ass.”
- Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert Sinatra was unquestionably one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century as well as one of its most fascinating personalities. From humble roots growing up on the streets of Hoboken, New Jersey, young Frankie was determined to make it in show business. He started out working in saloons, but eventually got work as a band singer, first with The Hoboken Four and then hitting the big time with Harry James and, later, Tommy Dorsey. In 1942 he embarked on his solo career and became a sensation with the bobbysoxers. Frank’s popularity brought him to the attention of MGM, where he appeared in some of the best-remembered musicals of the 1940s, often paired with Gene Kelly, as in “Anchors Aweigh” (1945) and “On The Town” (1949). Frank’s career began to slide as the 1950s began. Both his movies and records were losing popularity with the fans. His personal life likewise received negative press when his affair with Ava Gardner broke up his marriage to Nancy Barbato. While Frank’s subsequent marriage to Ava Gardner ultimately ended in divorce, his career hit a surprising high when the singer won the dramatically-charged role of of Maggio in “From Here to Eternity” (1953). Frank’s unforgettable performance of the cocky young soldier doomed to die at the hands of the brutal Sergeant “Fatso” Judson (Ernest Borgnine) garnered him an Oscar for best supporting actor. While many claimed that Frank never took his acting career as seriously as his singing, he continued to give strong and memorable performances in such films as “Suddenly” (1954) “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955), “The Joker is Wild” (1957) and, especially, “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962). Frank certainly proved his worth as an actor of dramatic ability, but as he entered the 1960s he concentrated mainly on lighter roles, having fun with his pals Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop in the “Rat Pack” movies, such as “Ocean’s Eleven” (1960” and “Sergeant’s 3” (1962). Frank kept himself extremely busy throughout the decade. Besides the movies, he had hit-after-hit recordings and sellout concert appearances all across the globe. While his film career closed out in 1984, Frank continued entertaining his millions of fans with his live performances until ill health forced him to stop. His death in 1998 left a void that can never be filled.

Many have said that Frank Sinatra was a complex individual, generous to a fault but prone to a quick temper. What no one can question, however, is the man’s incredible talent and the legacy he left the world. When it came to entertainment, Frank Sinatra truly was “The Chairman of the Board”.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents HARRY M. WARNER: HOLLYWOOD’S UNSUNG PIONEER

2008-08-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

"The history of Warner Brothers is the history of Hollywood itself.”

Their names were Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack. But it was through their adopted surname that they achieved immortality: Warner. As in Warner Brothers Pictures, one of the premiere motion picture studios of Golden Age Hollywood, and a name that even today, 90 years after its inception, remains instantly recognizable to a new generation of moviegoers.

Although perhaps not as well-known as his showman brother, Jack L., Harry M. Warner was the President of Warner Brothers and was responsible for overseeing the business operations of the company. In fact, if not for Harry, it’s fair to say there probably never would have been a Warner Brothers.

Entering the movie business as film distributors, the brothers eventually established a studio in Hollywood where they began producing their own pictures. But finances were often shaky for the enterprising Warners and they frequently found themselves at the verge of bankruptcy. It was in 1927 that the Warners’ fortunes changed. The studio’s 1927 production of The Jazz Singer introduced to the world the era of talking pictures, which would quickly revolutionize the movie business. When an enthusiastic Al Jolson blurted: “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet, folks, listen to this!” it was clear that movies with spoken dialogue were here to stay. The idea of adding synchronized sound to movies belonged to Sam Warner, who had to convince doubting Harry of their potential – and who, ironically, would not live to see his dream on the silver screen. The Jazz Singer was an enormous success, earning three-and-a-half million dollars and saving the studio from bankruptcy. A follow-up picture, again with Jolson, The Singing Fool (1928) brought into the studio’s coffers an astounding five million dollars and would remain the highest-grossing movie until Gone with the Wind in 1939.

Throughout the 1930s “A Warner Bros.–First National Picture” became a familiar sight to moviegoers, introducing such classic films as Little Caesar (1930), The Public Enemy (1931), I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) and They Won’t Forget (1937). Tough urban crime dramas and films dealing with social injustices proved extremely popular for the studio. So were the musicals: 42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933 and Footlight Parade (1933). And the swashbucklers: Captain Blood (1935), The Charge of the Light Parade (1936) and the Technicolor The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

Warners’ chain of successes continued into the forties with The Maltese Falcon (1941), Yankee Doodle Dandy, Casablanca (1942), To Have and Have Not, Mildred Pierce (1945) and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). The 1950s saw Warners experimenting with a new process known as 3-D in House of Wax (1953) and showcasing an exciting new screen performer named James Dean in two films dealing with teenage angst in East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause (1955). They also, finally and reluctantly, decided to enter into the medium of television.

Sadly, despite Warner Brothers’ numerous onscreen successes, there was often turmoil behind-the-scenes. Harry frequently clashed with his ambitious and volatile younger brother Jack and eventually suffered a final crushing blow when Jack double-dealed to gain total control of the studio. Harry suffered a stroke and never completely recovered – either physically or emotionally - from his brother’s betrayal, and died just two years later.

The story of Warner Brothers is a fascinating one – and at its core fans of great motion pictures have Harry M. Warner to thank. The enduring popularity of Warner Brothers movies stands as his ultimate legacy.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Sunday June 22nd @ 8PM - Interview with Cathy Wyler on her father William Wyler

2008-06-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

WILLIAM WYLER – CINEMATIC CRAFTSMAN

“It took a Jew to make a really good movie about Christ.” – William Wyler on Ben-Hur.

At the time of his death in 1981, famed Hollywood director William Wyler was considered by his peers as second only to John Ford as a master craftsman of cinema. During his lengthy Hollywood career, Wyler was nominated a record 12 times for an Academy Award and received three Best Director Oscars, second only to Ford's four. Among his other tributes are the Irving Thalberg Award, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences ultimate accolade for a producer. And he was the fourth recipient of the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the third director to be so honored, following John Ford and Orson Welles. Each of these tributes has been fitting amd well-deserved since it has been said that no director – not even Orson Welles – did as much to develop the basic principles of filmmaking technique than did Wyler.

His career spanned 45 years, beginning in the Silent era. While most of his output during the 1920s consisted of “B” Westerns for Universal, in 1929 Wyler directed his first "A" picture, albeit another Western: Hell’s Heroes (1930), Universal's first all-sound movie shot outside a studio. With the success of that film, “Willie” (as he would become known in the industry) was off and running. He directed both Counsellor at Law (1933) and The Good Fairy, 1935 (with his then-wife Margaret Sullavan) for Universal before moving on to begin a fruitful, if at times difficult, association with independent producer Samuel Goldwyn. The titles of his Goldwyn films stand as a roll call of some of Hollywood’s greatest achievements.

Just a few of William Wyler’s early pictures: These Three (1936), based on the Lillian Hellman play Dodsworth (1936), Dead End (1937), Wuthering Heights (1939), The Westerner (1940) and The Little Foxes (1941). On loanout to Warner Brothers, Wyler directed Jezebel (1938) and The Letter (1940), both of which featured Bette Davis in two of her best-remembered roles.

If Wyler was a true cinematic craftsman, he was also known in the industry as a hard-driving perfectionist, frequently requiring tens of takes for every shot in his films. This earned him the nicknanes '90-Take Wyler' and 'Once-More Wyler'. Actress Sylvia Sidney remembered that during the filming of Dead End it was not unusual for Wyler to do numerous retakes and even repetitions of the same dialogue or gestures until he got the “perfect” scene. Miss Sydney recalled that the cutting room floor would be covered with thousands of feet of unused footage.

Wyler was awarded his first Oscar for the classic Mrs. Miniver, 1942 (which also won the Best Picture Award). After serving in the Army Air Corps during WWII, where he filmed two propaganda documentaries, including The Fighting Lady (1944), which won an Oscar for Best Documentary, he directed what has probably become his most famous and endearing feature The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), an affecting and sympathetic look at the plight of returning servicemen. The film was a huge commercial and critical success and garnered for Wyler his second Academy Award, as well as a Best Picture nod for the movie itself. Other post-war successes included: The Heiress (1949), Detective Story (1951), Roman Holiday (1953), Friendly Persuasion (1956) and what is perhaps his crowning achievement, the multi-Oscar winner Ben-Hur (1959) – Wyler’s third Best director Oscar win. His career continued into the 1960s, where he remade his earlier These Three under its original title The Children’s Hour (1961), a more frank examination of Lillian Hellman’s exploration of lesbianism and helmed the dark psychological thriller The Collector (1965). He had his last box office hit with the Barbara Streisand-starrer Funny Girl (1968), for which the novice actress won an Oscar for her first leading role.

It is interesting to note that more actors won Academy Awards in Wyler movies: 14 out of a total of 36 nominations (more than any other two directors combined).

Perhaps the words that best define William Wyler are talented, creative, innovative, but also tough and demanding. But through his demand for perfection, William Wyler left as his legacy a series of classic films that continue to entertain, enlighten and stand the test of time.

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.:
MODA Entertainment, headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. MODA's fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS. Visit http://www.modaentertainment.com/

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Interview on JACK LEMMON with son CHRIS LEMMON

2008-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Interviewers John Mulholland & Meir Ribalow interview Chris Lemmon on his father
Sunday - June 15th, 2008 @ 8PM www.iconsradio.com

JACK LEMMON: AMERICA’S EVERYMAN

James Cagney wrote in his autobiography that after watching a young actor named Jack Lemmon play a role on live television where the actor performed every duty with his left hand, he was surprised to later discover that Jack was actually very right-handed and decided to reverse things just to give his performance a distinctive touch. Cagney said that he immediately knew that Jack Lemmon was a “thinking actor”.

Few actors were as versatile as Jack Lemmon. And few actors understood or could explore the human condition as well as he. From zany screwball comedy to intense, serious drama, Jack Lemmon could play it all. Throughout his almost 50 year motion picture career, Lemmon entertained audiences with performances that were both thoughtful and evocative. Humorous and tragic. His list of film credits is impressive, ranging from comedic turns in “Some Like it Hot” and Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” to powerful dramatic performances in “The Days of Wine and Roses” and “The China Syndrome” The key to Jack’s success and longevity in the business was that, no matter how outlandish or somber the role, he always projected that singular quality audiences could identify with: He was human. His characters could just as easily convey humor as they could sympathy, rage as equally as compassion. He could be neurotic. He could be heroic. It was all in the character. It was all in the man. He looked at life the way most people do: With bewilderment as well as amusement. Jack’s gift was that he could mirror onscreen our own experiences.

Jack’s talent was unique and sublime and he had ample opportunity to display it in some of Hollywood’s most popular movies. Cinematic gems such as Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment” (one of 7 films Lemmon would make with the great director), “Irma la Douce” and “Glengarry Glen Ross”. Consider the scope of Jack Lemmon’s abilities as best displayed in his two Academy Award-winning performances: The young and cowardly Ensign Pulver nervously dodging fierce captain James Cagney onboard a naval ship for fourteen months in “Mister Roberts”. And then a 180 degree turn as businessman Harry Stoner, suffering a midlife crisis and nearing the end of his rope in “Save the Tiger”. Two roles that were poles apart, yet Jack played both parts convincingly and with conviction. Because like all of us, Jack had his own faults and weaknesses. He understood. And understanding is one of the secrets behind great acting.

While Laurel had Hardy and Abbott had Costello, Jack found his perfect partnership with his close friend Walter Matthau. They became the comedic team from the 1960s up until Matthau’s death in 2000. They appeared together in a total of 10 movies beginning with the classic “The Fortune Cookie” and climaxing with “Out to Sea”. Lemmon would also star Matthau in his debut directorial effort,“Kotch”.

In his later years, Jack would return to television from whence he’d made his start, appearing in such quality telefilms as O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night”, “Inherit the Wind” and the touching “Tuesdays with Morrie”.

In his personal life, Jack Lemmon remained one of the most well-liked men in Hollywood. And he would be proud to know that he continues to be an inspiration to some of today’s most accomplished actors. Fellow two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey has openly acknowledged his gratitude to Jack Lemmon for his talent and generosity.

There is no question he has left us an unforgettable legacy.

DVD Beaver Review of MODA Entertainment's Documentary Inside High Noon Released by Lionsgate

2008-06-12T09:00:00.001-04:00

DVD Beaver - Review Inside High Noon - http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare/highnoon.htm

"What is new is a wonderful 50 minute Inside High Noon featurette by Moda
Entertainment. It's a nice overview with input from many - usually relations of
those involved in the original production - so it has a lot of 'nostalgia' value
to it. "

About MODA Entertainment, Inc.: MODA Entertainment, headquartered in New York City, is a multi-media entertainment company. MODA Entertainment has a particularly strong presence in the Classic Hollywood and Golden Age of Hollywood sectors of the entertainment market. MODA's fully owned subsidiaries include MODA Productions, MODA Publishing, LICENSEBOX, PUBLICITYBOX and ICONS. Visit http://www.modaentertainment.com/

MODA Entertainment's Documentary Inside High Noon Released by Lionsgate

2008-06-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

MODA Entertainment's Documentary Inside High Noon Released by Lionsgate.

Inside High Noon: Written & Directed by John Mulholland

MODA Entertainment's INSIDE HIGH NOON documentary released on special 2 disc HIGH NOON DVD by LionsGate

2008-06-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

INSIDE HIGH NOON was written & directed by John Mulholland, Narrated by Frank Langella and features on-camera interviews with President William Clinton, Tim Zinneman (son of director Fred Zinneman) , Jonathan Foreman (son of screenwriter Carl Foreman) , Prince Albert of Monaco, Brian Garfield, Lee Clark Mitchell, Stephen Prince and Meir Ribalow.
www.insidehighnoon.com

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Interview with actor Farley Granger

2008-05-04T09:00:00.001-04:00

Biography: Born January 1925 While still a teenager Farley Granger appeared in a Los Angeles little theater production, where he was spotted by a scout. Sam Goldwyn signed him to a film contract and he debuted onscreen as a Russian youth in The North Star (1943). Typecast as a troubled pretty boy or a vulnerable, sensitive, soulful young hero, Granger appeared in one more film and then served in World War II.

After the war, he returned to the screen as an intellectual thrill-killer in Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948) Early predictions that Granger would become a major star failed to come true, however; his career was mismanaged and he never lived up to his potential. After making a series of minor Hollywood films, he moved to Italy in the mid '50s and made one film there, then returned to Hollywood for two more movies before giving up his screen career in favor of work on stage and TV. In the late '60s Granger began to appear onscreen again, mostly in little-known Italian productions. Later he played a psychiatrist and head of a family on the TV soap opera One Life to Live, while still acting occasionally in films and on the stage. Trivia:One of the last of the Goldwyn contract players. Scored in short-lived comeback on Broadway in Ira Levin's "Deathtrap" in 1980. His long-time partner since 1963 is Robert Calhoun, who collaborated with Farley on his 2007 memoir "Include Me Out: My Life from Goldwyn to Broadway". On the audio commentary for They Live by Night (1948), he says that Alfred Hitchcock and Nicholas Ray were the best directors he ever worked with. In addition, his two favorite films of his own are Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951) and Ray's They Live by Night (1948). Where Are They Now:(April 2007) Accompanied by his longtime partner (43 years) and collaborator, Robert Calhoun held a sold out "Evening with Farley Granger" at the Film Forum Theater to promote his autobiography "Include Me Out".

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour returns on June 15th, 2008!

2008-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

ICONS Radio Hour returns on the air Sunday, June 15th @ 8PM ET. Goto http://www.iconsradio.com/ for up-coming schedule.

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Spy Thrillers: Discussion with John Mulholland & Meir Ribalow

2008-05-04T06:30:00.001-04:00

Espionage has been with us forever... What was Judas, but a double agent?The spy will "never" come in from the cold.Which is fortunate indeed, for Hollywood...and the legion of fans the world over who continue to make the spy thriller among the most popular of all genres.Sunday night, ICONS RADIO HOUR is proud to present part one of a two part discussion between John Mulholland, Stephen Bogart and Meir Ribalow where they will explore the history of the Spy Thriller. They will trace the origins of the Spy Thrillers through films such as; Mata Hari, Cloak & Dagger, The 39 Steps, North by Northwest, 13 Rue Madeleine, The Manchurian Candidate, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and many more!We invite you to listen to part two of this series this Wednesday evening, October 24th, at 8:00 PM EST. John, Stephen and Meir will continiue to trace the origins of the Spy Thrillers with films such as; The James Bond Franchise, Where Eagles Dare, The Matt Helm spoofs with Dean Martin, The Manchurian Candidate, Three Days of The Condor, and the Bourne Trilogy.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Interview with actress Jean Simmons

2008-05-04T06:29:00.001-04:00

Demure British beauty Jean Simmons was born January 31, 1929, in Crouch End, London. As a 14-year-old dance student she was plucked from her school to play Margaret Lockwood's precocious sister in Give Us the Moon (1944), and she went on to make a name for herself in such major British productions as Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), Great Expectations (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) , Hamlet (1948) (playing Ophelia opposite Laurence Olivier), The Blue Lagoon (1949) and So Long at the Fair (1950), among others.In 1950 she married actor Stewart Granger and that same year starred in the Frank Sinatra/Marlon Brando musical Guys and Dolls (1955) Simmons divorced Granger in 1960 and married writer-director Richard Brooks, who cast her as Sister Sharon opposite Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry (1960).That same year she costarred with Kirk Douglas in Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960) and played a would-be homewrecker opposite Cary Grant in The Grass Is Greener (1960).Off the screen for a few years, she captivated moviegoers with a brilliant performance as the mother in All the Way Home (1963), Life at the Top (1965), Mister Buddwing (1966), Divorce American Style (1967), Rough Night in Jericho (1967), The Happy Ending (1969) (a Richard Brooks film for which she was again Oscar-nominated, this time as Best Actress).Jean continued making films well into the 1970s. In the 1980s she mainly appeared in TV mini-series, such as "North and South" (1985) (mini) and "The Thorn Birds" (1983) (mini). Jean made a comeback to films in 1995 in How to Make an American Quilt (1995) co-starring Winona Ryder and Anne Bancroft, and most recently played the elderly Sophie in the English version of Hayao Miyazaki's Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004). She now resides in Santa Monica, California, with her dog Mr. Gates and her two cats, Adisson and Megan.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actress/singer Lena Horne with daughter Gail Buckley

2008-05-04T06:28:00.003-04:00

Kerry Washington … Naomie Harris … Sanaa Lathan … Angela Bassett … Hallie Berry ... Kimberly Elise … To name but a few current actresses. Each talented. Attractive. Successful. And black. Not so many years ago, fewer perhaps than we’d care to think, this many women of color dominating movie screens would have been unheard of. Not just unheard of. In fact, impossible. Consider Lena Horne. When this extraordinarily talented singer, actress was signed by MGM in the early 1940s, her future must have looked bright, indeed. Here she was, being directed by the likes of Vincente Minnelli. Appearing in films opposite Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Cyd Charisse. But she was also black. And therein lies a story Which Lena Horne’s daughter, Gail Buckley, discusses in depth this Sunday, 9/30, at 8 pm ET, on ICONS Radio Hour. Ms. Buckley explores her mother’s career, from her early days at The Cotton Club to all-black films in the late thirties and her years at MGM in the forties. Did we forget to mention the House Un-American Activities Committee? Gail Buckley doesn’t. Nor does she forget Humphrey Bogart’s response when neighbors showed up at his door asking for his signature on a petition to stop Lena Horne from buying a home in their Hollywood neighborhood. Rick Blaine come to life. Kerry Washington … Naomie Harris … Sanaa Lathan … Angela Bassett … Hallie Berry ... Kimberly Elise … On the shoulders of giants, none more important than Lena Horne.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Hour Presents Interview on director John Huston with author John McCarty

2008-05-04T06:28:00.002-04:00

John Huston was a man of many interests - painting, boxing, sculpture, gambling, fox-hunting, etc. An eccentric rebel of epic proportions, he reigned supreme as director, screenwriter and character actor in a career that endured over five decades. The ten time Oscar nominated legend was born John Marcellus Huston of Scottish and Irish heritage in Nevada, Missouri, on August 5, 1906. The son of acclaimed stage and screen star, Walter Huston, he early on displayed keen interest in the arts.Warners Brothers was so impressed with a young John Huston that he was signed on as both screenwriter and director for the Dashiell Hammett mystery yarn The Maltese Falcon (1941). The movie classic made a superstar out of Humphrey Bogart and is considered by critics and audiences alike--- 65 years after the fact--- to be the greatest detective film ever made. Hollywood glory came to him again in association with Bogart and Warner Brothers'. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), a classic tale of gold, greed and man's inhumanity to man set in Mexico, won John Oscars for both director and screenplay and his father nabbed the "Best Supporting Actor" trophy.With the momentum in his favor, John hung around in Hollywood this time to write and/or direct some of the finest American cinema made including Key Largo (1948) and The African Queen (1951) (both with Bogart), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), The Red Badge of Courage (1951) and Moulin Rouge (1952). Later films, including Moby Dick (1956), The Unforgiven (1960), The Misfits (1961), Freud (1962), The Night of the Iguana (1964) and The Bible (1966)An ardent supporter of human rights, he, along with actor Humphrey Bogart and others, dared to form the Committee for the First Amendment in 1947, which strove to undermine the House Un-American Activities Committee. Disgusted by the Hollywood blacklisting that was killing the careers of many talented folk, he moved to St. Clerans in Ireland and became a citizen there along with his fourth wife, ballet dancer Enrica (Ricki) Soma. The couple had two children, including daughter Anjelica Huston who went on to have a bravura Hollywood career of her own. Huston and his third wife split after a son (director Danny Huston) was born. Huston lived the macho, outdoors life, unencumbered by convention or restrictions, and is often compared in style or flamboyancy to both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles. This maverick of a man's man who was once called "the eccentric's eccentric" by Paul Newman, left an incredibly rich legacy of work to be enjoyed by film lovers for centuries to come.This Sunday, 10/7, at 8 pm, ET, author John McCarty - author of The Films of John Huston discusses the life and career of John Huston with ICONS radio hosts, Stephen Bogart and John Mulholland. The three discuss little known facts and off camera stories about John Huston. John McCarty is a life long fan of the films of John Huston and has contributed articles and reviews to film and other periodicals as diverse as TV Guide, Film Heritage and The Journal of British Film Institute. His laest book Bullets Over Hollywood: The American Gangster Picture from the Silents to "The Sopranos" (Da Capo Press, 2004), was produced as a major documentary by Hugh M. Hefner's Alta Loma Entertainment, for the Starz/Encore cable network; it aired in 2005 and 2006 and has been released on DVD by Image-Entertainment. The author of more than 20 non-fiction books of his own on film and entertainment subjects, Mr. McCarty has appeared in conjunction with his work on such cable network programs as Fox News Saturday, CNN's mid-day news, A&E's Biography, the Bravo network series Backspin, as well as on numerous major market radio stations across the country.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actress Greta Garbo with grand nephew Scott Reisfield

2008-05-04T06:27:00.001-04:00

“Garbo talks!”“Garbo laughs!”The clichés abound.“I vant to be alone” Not true, never said.Nor was MGM’s publicity juggernaut hardly above the fray. As its 1926 publicity release demonstrates:“Greta Garbo, discovered in stark(?!?) Sweden, is setting the heart of America aflame.”And yet, behind every cliché is a buried kernel. Greta Garbo did indeed set the heart of America aflame. From her first silent films: The Torrent and The Temptress, both in 1926, Garbo reigned. Her ability to convey emotion, inner turmoil, through her expression alone, signaled a new style of film acting (mirrored among male actors at the exact same moment by Gary Cooper). Garbo and Cooper were acting from the inside-out, letting their eyes reveal the inner truth. Decades later, this would become known as the Method, but Garbo and Cooper were first out of the starting gate. Which makes the fact that Cooper turned down Ninotchka opposite Garbo even more a shame. Cooper & Garbo in Ninotchka … now there’s a marquee. Garbo starred in so many films throughout the twenties and thirties:Flesh And The Devil, Love The Kiss, Anna Christie, Mata Hari, Grand Hotel, The Painted Veil, Anna Karenina, Camille, Queen Christina, Ninotchka. Each captures different aspects of her extraordinary screen presence. Yet, it is one of her lesser efforts that allowed Garbo to convey a myriad of emotions – mystery, tragedy, humor. It’s all there in Susan Lenox, Her Fall And Rise. Though perhaps among Garbo’s weaker films, it’s nonetheless a powerful example of her sweeping talent. A talent whose impact is felt very much today.To fully appreciate Garbo’s impact on today’s actors, catch Charlize Theron’s understated performance in the current The Valley Of Elah. Even when expressing frustration, disgust, outrage, Theron is under control. It’s all happening underneath, out of sight. Only through her eyes and steely expression are we aware of the roiling currents inside her character. This Sunday, 9/23, at 8 pm, ET, Scott Reisfield discusses his great-aunt’s life and career with personal anecdotes, Greta Garbo comes alive, as artist and woman.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actor David Niven with son Jamie Niven

2008-05-04T06:26:00.003-04:00

That David Niven landed in Hollywood in 1933 without any theatrical experience hardly proved an obstacle. Within a remarkably short period, he was appearing in supporting roles opposite such stars as Gary Cooper (Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife, The Real Glory), Errol Flynn (The Charge Of The Light Brigade, The Dawn Patrol), Ronald Colman (The Prisoner Of Zenda), and Laurence Olivier (Wuthering Heights).By 1939, Niven was himself starring – Raffles. If the role wasn’t particularly demanding – a gentleman thief – it nonetheless established the David Niven persona – urbane, suave, witty, and very much the British gentleman. Raffles was also the forerunner of one of Niven’s most popular roles -- Charles Lytton, gentleman thief -- in The Pink Panther (1963). Given the Peter Sellers stamp on the Inspector Clouseau series, it’s perhaps forgotten today, but David Niven was in fact top-billed in The Pink Panther.Niven was among the first British actors to return to England after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939. For the next six years, Niven served in the British Army, with time off twice to appear in morale-building British war films – Spitfire and Immortal Battalion. Splendid raconteur though he was, Niven rarely ever spoke about his harrowing WW II service.Perhaps nothing better sums up the man than his comment on why he never spoke of the war: “I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war."Niven hit the ground running in 1946 with his first post-war film, Stairway To Heaven. In this sublime British film, director Michael Powell revealed depths in David Niven’s acting about which earlier directors could only have dreamed. Stairway To Heaven was a British film, made in Britain. Rather than remain in England, Niven returned to Hollywood after production was finished. And, once again was cast in supporting roles (The Bishop’s Wife, Cary Grant), or in weak films unworthy of his talent. However, in 1950, the future suddenly appeared brighter. Michael Powell selected Niven to be Sir Percey Blakney, aka the Scarlet Pimpernel, in his new film, The Elusive Pimpernel. On paper, David Niven would seem the ideal Pimpernel. But things went disastrously wrong with this misguided production and the film was a resounding failure.After this devastating flop, good roles were few and far between. Mediocrity reigned: Soldiers Three, Happy Go Lovely, The Lady Says No, The Birds And The Bees, etc. Interspersed with these foul pops was an occasional two bagger, i.e., The Moon Is Blue, Court-Martial. It would be 1956 before Niven escaped the career doldrums, when director Michael Anderson guided Niven and an enormous roster of cameo stars through the very successful Academy Award-winning Best Picture, Around The World In 80 Days. And if Niven’s role as Phineas Fogg wasn’t much of a stretch, it nonetheless serves, even today, as a summation of the urbane, suave, witty David Niven persona. Audiences lapped it up.Taking advantage of his sudden perch at the top, Niven became more selective. Interesting parts came his way: Bonjour Tristesse, Ask Any Girl (Niven’s chance to go the older man/younger woman route that Cooper and Bogart, among others, had recently taken), and, most notably, Separate Tables.Niven’s performance as the ex-military officer in Separate Tables turns his urbane and witty British gentleman inside out. It’s a brilliant, understated performance. And, strangely, not truly appreciated even yet in certain circles.Niven continued his solid run throughout the sixties and seventies, starting with the hugely successful WW II adventure, Guns Of Navarone, followed by such films as: 55 Days At Peking, Bedtime Story, Paper Tiger, Death On The Nile, A Man Called Intrepid, and, in an underrated horror gem, Eye Of The Devil. This Sunday, September 9, at 8 pm ET, Jamie Niven, son of David Niven, discusses his father’s roller coaster of a career on ICONS Radio Hour. Jamie spent time on the sets of many of his father’s films (he was on set when the guns of navarone were actually blown up). Every bit the magnetic story-teller as his father, Jamie brings him to vivid life with delightful anecdotes about his films, his war years, and his father’s closest friends, including Deborah Kerr, Noel Coward, Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, and Errol Flynn.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents The Western: Discussion with John Mulholland & Meir Ribalow

2008-05-04T06:26:00.002-04:00

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actor Errol Flynn with daughter Rory Flynn

2008-05-04T06:25:00.001-04:00

Who says there’s no audience for old Black & White films, for Classic Hollywood? The World Entertainment New Network has awarded Errol Flynn the top spot in its 2007 Best Movie Pirates Poll. Flynn, star of such swashbuckling hits as Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk, beat out Johnny Depp’s Captain Sparrow, from the Pirates Of The Caribbean series, as the Number One Movie Pirate of all time. And yet, it might never have been. ROBERT DONAT as CAPTAIN BLOOD ??? Robert Donat was all set to play the title character in the 1935 WB pirate epic. But Donat inexplicably failed to appear as shooting was beginning. Turned down next by second choice Brian Aherne, a desperate WB turned to the frighteningly inexperienced 25 year-old Australian-born Errol Flynn. And the rest, as they say, is history. And what a history! Few, if any, actors have ever had a ten year run like Errol Flynn had from 1935 – 1945. Consider just some of the highlights: Captain Blood, Charge Of The Light Brigade, Prince And The Pauper, Adventures Of Robin Hood, The Dawn Patrol, Dodge City, The Private Lives Of Elizabeth And Essex, Santa Fe Trail, The Sea Hawk, They Died With Their Boots On, Desperate Journey, Gentleman Jim, Edge Of Darkness, Northern Pursuit, and Objective Burma. If, in the post-WW II years, Flynn rarely recaptured his earlier triumphs, there are success worth revisiting: The Sun Also Rises, the Roots Of Heaven, Kim, Master Of Ballantrae, and, in what might be considered art imitating life: Too Much, Too Soon, in which Flynn played John Barrymore. Inescapably, there is the tabloid Flynn: Boozer, womanizer, all-around hellion. Certainly, there is no denying this hell-raising Flynn, but there is a flip side to the man, a side which only someone who knew the man as a father could know. This Sunday, September 2, at 8 pm ET, on ICONS Radio Hour, Rory Flynn, daughter of Errol Flynn, discusses her father’s career, in all its wild fluctuations, and his very public and very private off-screen world. Without ignoring the tabloid image of her father, Rory Flynn brings to life another man entirely; a man passionately devoted to his children. Rory Flynn explores the sensitive, passionate man she knew, first and foremost, as her father.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actress Marlene Dietrich with grandson Peter Riva

2008-05-04T06:24:00.003-04:00

“It took more than one man to change my name to Shanghai Lily.”Marlene Dietrich, SHANGHAI EXPRESS

Indeed.Marlene Dietrich lived … truly lived.Berlin, the 1920s. Before Christopher Isherwood brought Sally Bowles to life in the pages of Berlin Stories, before Kander & Ebb put her to music in Cabaret, Marlene Dietrich lived it -- she was a cabaret performer in Berlin. Among her Berlin colleagues during that legendary decade: Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, Ernst Lubitsch, and Joseph Von Sternberg.Dietrich also made half-a-dozen silent films, and by the time the decade had closed, she was a popular film star in Germany. Moving to Hollywood, she became an immediate presence in the U. S. with the 1930 release of the deliriously romantic Morocco. Dietrich’s scenes opposite Gary Cooper, deftly challenging gender roles, are riveting, still erotically charged. Dietrich continued to challenge conventions and expand her repertoire of strong women throughout the thirties, in such films as: Shanghai Express, Dishonored, Desire, Garden Of Allah, Blonde Venus, and ,Destry Rides Again.Among her leading men, in addition to Cooper, were Cary Grant, Charles Boyer, James Stewart, and Robert Donat. By the time America entered WW II in 1941, Dietrich had long been an outspoken and vociferous opponent of Hitler and Nazi Germany, unlike many in the Hollywood community. Her work on behalf of the allies during the war years – getting refugees out of Germany, working with the OSS, troop appearances in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge! -- is worth a film in itself. Moving to New York after the war, Dietrich cut back on her film work. She even began performing a solo act in Las Vegas. Eventually, she would bring her one-woman act to Broadway, for a sold-out run. And though her film output was considerably less than during her pre-war years, Dietrich continued to work with some of the best directors -- Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Orson Welles, and Fritz Lang.But it wasn’t until1961 that Marlene Dietrich took on the most emotionally wrenching part of her entire career, in Stanley Kramer’s Judgment At Nuremberg.This Sunday night, Aug. 19, at 8 pm ET, on ICONS Radio Hour, Marlene Dietrich’s grandson, Peter Riva, discusses her career in front of -- and beyond – the camera. He also elaborates on her long friendship with Ernest Hemingway. Riva offers a revealing portrait of a complex woman, passionate about her art and passionate about life.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actor Boris Karloff with daughter Sarah Karloff

2008-05-04T06:24:00.002-04:00

“Sure, I remember Boris Karloff. He was the monster in Frankenstein.”Well, yes, but what about Scarface, one of the finest gangster films ever made, directed by Howard Hawks … and The Old Dark House, the granddaddy of all haunted house thrillers, directed by James Whale … and The Lost Patrol, the template for all the lost patrol films which followed, directed by John Ford? Not bad, not bad at all.“Boris Karloff, he was in that horror flick, Frankenstein, right?”For sure, for sure. But if it’s Karloff and horror, let’s not stop there. How about 1934’s The Black Cat, a wicked little gem which teamed Karloff and Bela Lugosi for the first time? Or 1935’s The Black Room, another nasty gem in which Karloff plays twins, one good and the other evil (and is he ever!)? Or The Raven, from 1935? Another Karloff/Lugosi delicious little horror thriller. These three solid thrillers work surprisingly well even today, 70 plus years after their releases.“Boris Karloff, Boris Karloff? Wasn’t he in Frankenstein? Played the monster, I think.”Certainly did, more than once. In addition to Frankenstein, he also played the monster in both Bride Of Frankenstein (1935) and Son Of Frankenstein (1939). In fact, there are those who say that his performance as the monster in Bride is the best of his career.“I know who Boris Karloff was, he had the screws in his forehead, in that monster flick, Frankenstein.”Sure did. But the screws were inside his head – and definitely not screwed too tight – in such enduring dark horror classics as The Body Snatcher ('45), Isle Of The Dead ('45) and Bedlam ('46). All three are Val Lewton productions, and each serves as a solid example of Lewton’s estimable work.“Karloff, he was always the same, wasn’t he? The Frankenstein monster.”Don’t tell that to Danny Kaye, who played opposite Karloff in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty; nor to Gary Cooper, who played opposite Karloff in DeMille’s Unconquered, both in 1947. Not a monster in sight, just a very, very fine actor named Boris Karloff.Or tell that to Broadway theatergoers, who caught Karloff in Arsenic And Old Lace and Peter Pan opposite Mary Martin and The Lark opposite Julie Harris.Or mention it to television viewers who caught Karloff’s Uncle Vanya on Masterpiece Playhouse, or his title role in Don Quixote or his King Arthur in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court or his turn as Father Knickerbocker in The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. “Karloff, Karloff? Why do I know the name. …? Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, he was the monster in all those Frankenstein movies.”Which Peter Bogdanovich used to great advantage in his first film, the wonderful Targets ('68). But Bogdanovich uses this as a mere springboard in this tight little thriller. Karloff plays a man not unlike himself, with his own film image as one of the film’s ironic driving points.This Sunday night, at 8 pm ET, Sarah Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff, discusses her father’s fascinating career on ICONS Radio Hour. Ms. Karloff offers first-hand anecdotes about her father’s approach to acting and, especially revealing, his feelings about his career in horror films
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actor Gene Kelly with daughter Kerry Kelly Novick

2008-05-04T06:23:00.001-04:00

Certain images of Gene Kelly are so indelible – dancing and singing in the rain, say … or hailing New York, New York at the Brooklyn Navy Yard – that we tend to forget, perhaps, the sheer joyous breadth of the man’s artistic accomplishments.Consider the astonishing “Alter Ego” number from 1944’s Cover Girl, in which Kelly dances and argues with himself. The entire brilliant number, still fresh and innovative even today, was designed, created and choreographed by Kelly.Or take “The Hat My Dear Old Father Wore Upon St. Patrick’s Day” from Take Me Out To The Ball Game in 1949. Kelly’s six-plus minute solo song-and-dance is as delicious a valentine to the Irish as has ever been put on film.The list goes on – I Got Rhythm and the Newspaper Dance and the Roller Skating number and the Tom & Jerry dance and the Rope dance –And on – Good Mornin’ and the Garbage Can dance and Moses Supposes and Gotta Dance and For Me And My Gal and Go Home With Bonnie Jean …And on. But Gene Kelly was not simply a great song-and-dance man, he was a very fine actor. Though often overlooked, Gene Kelly was an actor of depth and considerable subtlety.In the unfairly neglected Christmas Holiday, Kelly plays a murderer. He’s pitch-perfect, offering a multi-layered performance. Watch him in The Black Hand, with a solid Italian accent in a story of Italian hoods in early 20th Century NYC. Or in Inherit the Wind, as a cynical reporter. In the film’s ultimate scene, Kelly and Spencer Tracy put on an acting clinic.Or, watch Kelly in An American In Paris, as he explains why it’s difficult for a painter to give up his paintings, unlike a novelist or musician selling their works. He invests the scene with a depth of emotion which is rare indeed in the musical genre.As if singer, dancer, choreographer, actor, wasn’t enough, Gene Kelly was also a director. And if some of his directorial efforts fell short, one aspect of his directorial endeavors never fell short, his ability to elicit the best from his actors. One prime example, the early scenes in The Cheyenne Social Club, in which cowboy friends James Stewart and Henry Fonda are riding for days on end. That’s all, no action, no histrionics, no f/x. Just two old pros with some wonderful dialogue, a director who knew where to put the camera and when to give actors their head, and what you’ve got is a wonderful sequence. Tune in to ICONS Radio Hour this Sunday, August 12 – which happens to be Gene Kelly’s birthday -- at 8 pm ET, as Kerry Kelly Novick discusses her father’s remarkable career as singer, dancer, actor, choreographer, and director. Kerry also elaborates on her father’s liberal politics and his involvement with the hot-button issues of his times. Kerry knows her father’s career, but she also knows well the man behind the public song-and-dance man image, the man who was her father.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on director Delmer Daves with son Michael Daves

2008-05-04T06:22:00.003-04:00

What do the following actors (talk about a Hollywood Who’s Who) have in common?Cary Grant, John Garfield, Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, James Stewart, Alan Ladd, Charles Bronson, Richard Widmark, Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Rod Steiger, Jack Lemmon, Van Heflin, Karl Malden, George C. Scott, Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Dorothy McGuire, Maureen O’Hara, and Henry Fonda.All starred in films directed by Delmer Daves.Over a Hollywood career spanning five decades, Delmer Daves did it all: actor, writer, director, and producer. But it was as director that he left a lasting legacy, proving himself a master in everything from westerns to war, soap operas to suspense. Among his memorable films are: 3:10 to Yuma, Dark Passage, Destination Tokyo, The Hanging Tree, Jubal, The Red House, Broken Arrow, etc.This Sunday, July 29, at 8 pm EST, Michael Daves appears on ICONS Radio Hour to discuss his father’s fascinating career. Michael Daves is himself a Hollywood vet, having worked as assistant director on such films as Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf , In Harm’s Way, Goin’ South, etc. And as only an insider can, he offers a richly illuminating analysis of his father’s career, especially the remarkable westerns he directed in the late fifties.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview with producer A.C. Lyles

2008-05-04T06:22:00.002-04:00

How to nail the career of A. C. Lyles? Where to begin with a man who recently celebrated his 77th year with Paramount? That is right - 77 years! From office boy through publicity to producer, A. C. Lyles has covered all the bases.Drop a Paramount name, go back, all the way. To the start of talking pictures. Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Clara Bow, William Wyler, DeMille, Bob Hope, Claudette Colbert.Drop a Paramount name from the war years, the post-war years, Alan Ladd, William Holden, George Stevens, Frank Capra James Cagney? Spencer Tracy? Shirley Temple? Dana Andrews? Dorothy Lamour? John Wayne? Of course.Clint Eastwood? Natch. In fact, Lyles knew Eastwood before he was Eastwood. Lyles exec-produced the TV series, Rawhide.Ian McShane, of Deadwood? Well, since A. C. Lyles was script consultant on the HBO series, of course.And, most moving of all his compatriots, his six decade friendship with Ronald Reagan.Yet, beyond his unique and extraordinary career, there is another A. C. Lyles. There is A. C. Lyles the man. The very personification of the word, gentleman.A. C. Lyles, a gentle … man.
Tune in to ICONS Radio on August 5, at 8 pm ET, as A. C. Lyles explores both his professional and private life. Every bit the mesmerizing raconteur, A. C. Lyles spins tales as only one who has been in the business for seventy-seven years can. In other words, as he alone can.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on comedian Lou Costello with daughter Chris Costello

2008-05-04T06:21:00.001-04:00

Costello: You know the fellows' names? Abbott: Certainly! Costello: Well then who's on first? Abbott: Yes! Costello: I mean the fellow's name! Abbott: Who!!Costello: The guy on first! Abbott: Who! Costello: The first baseman! Abbott: Who! Among the funniest routines ever created, Who’s On First? has defined Abbott & Costello ever since they performed it in 1945’sThe Naughty Nineties. If they had done nothing else their entire careers but Who’s On First?, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello would still rank in comedy’s top tier. For this signature A & C piece – sheer genius – is one of the most influential comedy routines of all time. But A & C are known for far, far more, of course. Ask men or women of certain generations the scariest film they saw when young, and the answer, almost invariably, is Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein. Not some straight horror flick, but A & C Meet Frankenstein. Abbott & Costello. The two names are inseparable. Can’t have one without the other. But Lou Costello and Bud Abbott most definitely were not joined at the hip. Tune in to ICONS Radio Hour this Sunday, July 22, at 8 pm EST, as Chris Costello discusses her mercurial father. Not just the public Lou Costello, the legendary comedian. But the fascinating human being behind the public legend. Lou Costello as father, husband, private man.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview with actress Arlene Dahl

2008-05-04T06:20:00.003-04:00

Brains ... Beauty, and ... Talent. Arlene Dahl possesses all three. No matter the genre, whether a Fred Astaire musical (Three Little Words), a wild Red Skelton comedy (A Southern Yankee), film noir masquerading as period piece (Reign Of Terror), "chick flick" (Woman's World), western (The Outriders), romantic action/adventure (Desert Legion), dark film noir (Slightly Scarlet), or sci-fi fantasy (Journey To The Center Of The Earth), the "hat trick" that is Arlene Dahl showed through loud and clear. Tune in to ICONS Radio Hour this Sunday, July 8, as Ms. Dahl, deliciously dry and witty, explores her Hollywood career. With refreshing candor, she offers insight into the positives and the negatives of the studio years. Ms. Dahl also discusses the role she turned down in one of the greatest musicals of all time, and admits that, more than once, she has wondered, what if ...
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on screenwriters Hackett & Goodrich with nephew David Goodrich

2008-05-04T06:20:00.002-04:00

Pick a film genre. Musical: How about The Pirate, Easter Parade, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, In the Good Old Summertime? Comedy: How about Father Of The Bride, Father's Little Dividend, The Long, Long Trailer? Mystery: How about The Thin Man, After The Thin Man, Another Thin Man? Drama: How about The Diary Of Anne Frank – based on their own Tony-Award winning play, no less! and The Hitler Gang? Frank Capra created his own genre, so how about It’s A Wonderful Life. Husband/wife screenwriters Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich did it all. And though it might have been known as, say, a Spencer Tracy film, a James Stewart film, a Judy Garland film, or a Vincente Minnelli film, a Frank Capra film, a George Stevens film, it was also very much a Hackett/Goodrich film. For the buzzsaw wit and remarkable talent of Hackett/Goodrich was as dominant as any star or director. Tune in to ICONS Radio Hour at 8 ET on July 15, as their nephew, author David Goodrich, offers a fascinating, and ultimately quite moving, account of the enduring careers of Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich. These two originals stand as vital proof that the director as sole auteur surely needs a critical reassessment.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on producer David O. Selznick with son Daniel Selznick

2008-05-04T06:18:00.001-04:00

The name David O. Selznick is synonymous with the term producer. Neither before Selznick, nor since, has there been such a powerful producing presence. Personal producing presence. For it was Selznick’s personal vision, not necessarily the director’s, which defined a Selznick film. Whether we’re talking King Kong, David Copperfield, A Tale Of Two Cities, Prisoner Of Zenda, A Star is Born, Gone With The Wind, Rebecca, Since You Went Away, or Duel In The Sun, each of these films bears the Selznick stamp. Given today’s deification of the director above all others, David O. Selznick is an especially intriguing – and controversial – Hollywood legend. Tune in to ICONS Radio Hour as Daniel Selznick (himself a producer), son of David O. Selznick, discusses his father’s remarkable career.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on actor Glenn Ford with son Peter Ford

2008-05-04T06:13:00.001-04:00

Glenn Ford was the consummate leading man. In a career spanning an astonishing seven decades, Ford was the top box office star in 1958. He was equally at home in drama, noir, comedy, war, and the western. Too often nailed as an actor who only played himself, Ford in fact was one of the most versatile leading men in the history of Hollywood. Check out his seductively attractive killer in the masterful 3:10 To Yuma, his befuddled army officer opposite Marlon Brando in Teahouse Of The August Moon, his bitterly vengeful detective in the brilliant noir thriller The Big Heat, his naïve teacher in Blackboard Jungle, his small-time hustler in Gilda, his gentle Ben Hogan in Follow The Sun, his corrupt cop in The Money Trap, his con man in Pocketful Of Miracles, or his wily sheep herder in the very underrated comedy western, The Sheepman. These are not performances from a man who only played himself. Tune in to ICONS Radio Hour as Glenn Ford’s son, Peter, explores the rich legacy of his father’s remarkable career. Peter Ford also reveals the fascinating man behind the Hollywood persona, a man as interesting and versatile off-camera as he was on.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview with actress Joan Leslie

2008-05-04T06:12:00.003-04:00

How’s this for hitting the ground running? In 1941, at 16, Joan Leslie starred opposite Gary Cooper (Sergeant York) and Humphrey Bogart (High Sierra). At 17, opposite James Cagney (Yankee Doodle Dandy) and Henry Fonda (The Male Animal). And at 18? How about Fred Astaire (The Sky’s The Limit)? And two of Leslie’s co-stars, Cooper and Cagney, won Best Actor Oscars playing opposite her. Nor was she afraid to challenge her screen image as the sweet and supportive woman. Looking for richer roles, Leslie went the independent route in the late forties. In 1948’s Northwest Stampede, she plays the foreman of a ranch, every bit as tough as the men. In 1950, she worked with director Nicholas Ray in the underrated film noir, Born To Be Bad. Tune in to ICONS Radio this Sunday at 8PM ET as this luminous actress shares memories of her long and fascinating Hollywood career. Leslie worked with a who’s who of Hollywood royalty: Cooper, Cagney, Astaire, Fonda, Bogart, Robert Ryan, Ida Lupino, Joan Fontaine, Randolph Scott, Jane Russell, Sterling Hayden, and so many others.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview with producer Richard Shepherd

2008-05-04T06:12:00.002-04:00

Richard Shepherd is one man who truly has been around the entertainment block. Starting out as an independent film producer, Shepherd segued into studio production chief, only to step away to create his own agency, the Artists Agency. In producing such classic films as The Hanging Tree, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Fugitive Kind, and Robin And Marian, Shepherd worked with luminaries like Gary Cooper, George C. Scott, Audrey Hepburn, Patricia Neal, Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, and Richard Harris. As head of production at both Warner Brothers and MGM in the 1970s, he oversaw some of that decade's finest films. And as founder of the Artists Agency, Shepherd gained yet another perspective on the film business. Tune in to ICONS Radio as Richard Shepherd reminisces about his five decade Hollywood career. He has stories to tell, stories only an insider would know. And only one as candid as Dick Shepherd could tell.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview with actor Tab Hunter

2008-05-04T06:10:00.003-04:00

Interview with Tab Hunter, one of the most popular Hollywood stars of the 1950's. He worked with directors such as John Huston, Stanley Donen, George Abbott, and John Waters and starred opposite Hollywood legends including: Fred Astaire, Sophia Loren, John Wayne, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, and ... Divine!
- John Mulholland, Icons Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on screenwriters The Epstein Brothers with son/nephew Leslie Epstein

2008-05-04T06:10:00.002-04:00

Author Leslie Epstein, who has dealt with both the world of classic Hollywood and growing up in that world with such acclaimed novels as Pandaemonium and San Remo Drive, knows of what he writes. For he happens to be the son of Philip Epstein and the nephew of Julius Epstein, who just happen to have co-written such enduring classics as: Casablanca, The Man Who Came To Dinner, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Strawberry Blonde, Mr. Skeffington, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Leslie Epstein also happens to be the father of Theo Epstein, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, but that’s a topic for another day. Listen to Leslie Epstein’s fascinating first-hand account of growing up in Hollywood, during its Golden Era. He offers delightful anecdotes of his father and uncle – the legendary Epstein brothers. And many, many others. Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Jack Warner, Elizabeth Taylor, they’re all here front and center in Epstein’s witty and stimulating ICONS Radio interview. And if you’ve ever wondered why J. D. Salinger has refused to sell the film rights to Catcher in the Rye, tune in to the ICONS Radio interview with Leslie Epstein. He knows why.
- John Mulholland, ICONS Radio Hour Host

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview with film historian Robert Osborne

2008-05-04T06:08:00.001-04:00

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on writer/director George Stevens with son George Stevens, Jr.

2008-05-04T06:07:00.001-04:00

MODA Entertainment's ICONS Radio Presents Interview on producer Harold Hecht with son Duffy Hecht

2008-05-04T06:06:00.001-04:00