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

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

Moda Entertainment Launches Official Website For Film Legend Loretta Young

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.

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

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

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.

MODA Entertainment Signs New Client Actress/Director IDA LUPINO

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