Category Archives: announcements

Hiatus, part two.

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This is not the kind of post I ever wanted to write on this blog.

Hell. This is not the kind of news I ever wanted to receive, or have to share with anyone.

And I debated a long time about even writing this post, because it is a difficult subject.

Scratch that–it’s a shitty, shitty, SHITTY subject.

But as I’ve already shared the news on Twitter (because what doesn’t get shared on Twitter these days?), I figured I might as well go ahead and post it here as well.

A week ago, I learned that I have cancer.

I sat in a tiny exam room plastered with anatomically-correct diagrams of various lady parts and listened to the doctor who had performed my surgery five days prior explain to me, with tears in her eyes, that the biopsy had come back positive for adenocarcinoma.

The doctor cried. Then I cried. Copious tears, people. We’re talking steal-the-tissue-box-from-the-doctor’s-office level of eye flooding.

(I didn’t really steal the box of tissues. Just a lot of what was inside. Though, considering the news I had just received, I think a little tissue theft would have been justified.)

I called my mother from the exam room and told her the news. She didn’t believe me at first. Then she cried. And I cried some more.

And every single day since, I have cried. Sometimes multiple times a day. It hits me out of nowhere. Driving down the road? Sobs. Checking my email? Sobs. Watching Spongebob Squarepants? BAWLING.

And when I haven’t cried, I’ve been angry, ready to crawl inside my own body and kick this cancer’s ever-loving ass.

I am readying myself for more surgery. I am preparing for the possibility that later on, I will have to endure radiation or chemotherapy. And even though I am trying to remain as positive as possible, and am even joking about the diagnosis (to clarify for the gentleman driving down FL 231 who cut me off last Friday evening, what I yelled out the window at your inconsiderate and reckless ass was, “Motherfucker, don’t cut me off! I HAVE CANCER!”) … I am scared.

Still …

SCREW THIS SHIT.

AND SCREW CANCER.

You’re going down, diseased cells.

(Okay, well, actually, you’re going out … of me … through surgery … yeah.)

So, yes, I’m ready to fight. Don’t let the tears fool you.

(I’m entitled to them. I have cancer.)

There are a couple of positives to this entire crapfest of a situation, however–the main one being that, while I am flat on my ass recovering from surgery, I will have ample time to watch classic movies until my eyes cross and I start deliriously imitating Joan Crawford.

And perhaps I’ll even have the time to blog about those films at some point.

But for now, True Classics will continue to be on hiatus.

Thank you for your understanding.

We’ll see you soon.

Hiatus.

Posted on by under announcements

True Classics will remain on hiatus for the next two weeks as Brandie recovers from an unexpected emergency surgical procedure. As such, our Movie Memories event will now kick off in June.

Thank you for your understanding and well-wishes at this time. We’ll return to our regularly-scheduled blog programming soon!

State of the Blog: May 2013

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Is this month finally going to be the month in which True Classics returns to its regularly scheduled programming?

Um … here’s hoping.

We solemnly swear to be more diligent in our writing. Unless Clark Gable shows up. Then all bets are off. --the TC crew

We solemnly swear to be more diligent in our writing. Unless Clark Gable shows up. Then all bets are off.   –the TC crew

Life seems to be moving along at a brisk pace for all of us here at the site, whether we’re respectively wrapping up a semester of graduate work, zipping along at our big-person jobs, moving to a brand-new city to start a fresh chapter, or catering to the needs of a tiny new human (yes, we are busy gals). As we begin to return our focus to True Classics, here’s what we have on our collective plate for the month ahead.

 

More Movie Memories in May

Last May, we hosted a month-long event dedicated to movie memories–whether they were recollections of the first movie someone saw in the theater, a beloved childhood favorite, or a film that in some way significantly changed a person’s life. Altogether, we posted reminiscences from thirty-eight people, ranging in age from two-and-a-half years old to eighty (and one via a 1937 diary). It was a truly spectacular series of posts, and we were honored to have such great contributions from friends, family members, and other film bloggers, among others.

This month, we are revisiting the concept of “movie memories,” albeit on a smaller scale. Throughout May, we will post more film reminiscences, and for the first time, each of us in the True Classics crew will contribute our own movie memories for this event. We are very excited for this month’s lineup, and we hope you will enjoy reading these cinematic recollections as much as we do.

 

The Mary Astor Blogathon

Two of our favorite classic film bloggers, Dorian (Tales of the Easily Distracted) and R.A. Kerr (Silver Screenings), have teamed up to honor one of our favorite actresses, the great Mary Astor. I’ll be posting my contribution on May 9th, focusing on the great pre-Code Other Men’s Women (1931). For the full lineup, check out the page dedicated to the blogathon on Dorian’s site.

 

The Child Stars Blogathon

Hosted by Jessica of Comet Over Hollywood, this one is rather self-explanatory–it pays tribute to the great child stars of classic cinema. I intend to kick in an entry for this event, though I’m debating the topic at the moment. The blogathon is scheduled for May 24-26, and more information is available at the Comet.

 

Learning to Love … Westerns

My goal to explore the Western genre has thus far only borne small (yet entertaining) fruit, so it is my intention to revisit this series this month … and to possibly drag Carrie down with me, if I can. On the agenda: some John Wayne classics (because one simply must start with Mr. Wayne when exploring this genre, right?), particularly his films with Maureen O’Hara, which come highly recommended by Nikki (the lone Western fan among our crew).

 

Saturday Morning Cartoons

This month, a return to our series on animation pioneers is on the agenda, with a look back at some of the most influential figures in early cartoons. Additionally (hopefully), my ClassicFlix animation column will finally be debuting on that site sometime this month (a delay that is finally not my fault!), so I hope you all will check that out every month.

 

We have high hopes for a great May! Thanks for tuning in! (And now it’s about time for me to get back to packing.)

State of the Blog: April 2013

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Hard to believe it’s April already. Life doesn’t appear to be slowing down for any of the True Classics crew anytime soon, but we will do our best to continue updating the site on a semi-regular basis until things calm down. In the meantime, here’s a few things to look forward to this month and beyond.

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A number of classic film bloggers are hosting blogathons in the upcoming weeks–here’s a sampling of the events on tap.

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First up: we are signed up to participate in R.D. Finch’s Cagney-thon next week, in honor of versatile performer James Cagney. I will contribute a piece on the film The Bride Came C.O.D., a romantic comedy costarring Bette Davis. Check out R.D.’s dedicated page to the blogathon over on The Movie Projector.

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Later this month, Page from My Love of Old Hollywood and Rich of Wide Screen World are determined to scare the pee outta the blogosphere with their “Terror-thon,” focusing on some of the most frightening films of all time. For more details on how to participate in the scare-fest, check out Page’s announcement on her site.

Astorthon

In May, Dorian from Tales of the Easily Distracted and R.A. Kerr of Silver Screenings are paying tribute to one of the most fascinating (and sometimes underrated) actresses from the Golden Age, the lovely Mary Astor. I signed up to contribute a piece on Other Men’s Women (though now that I look, I do not see that listed on either blogger’s page as of yet, for whatever reason). If you are interested in participating, check out Dorian’s page devoted to the blogathon.

To wrap up the month, our pal Jessica from Comet Over Hollywood is hosting a shindig celebrating child stars from May 24th through the 26th. For more details on this just-announced event, check out the Comet and sign up to write about your favorite kiddie icon.

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Later this week, I will have the immense pleasure of traveling to Atlanta to visit friends, whereupon I will also sit down to break bread with some fellow classic film bloggers as well as our own Sarah and little Asa, the newest member of the extended True Classics family. Pictures and/or tales of debauchery/shenanigans soon to come, I’m sure. (Sarah, better get a babysitter!)

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Next month brings about another installment of our “Movie Memories in May” series. Last year, we featured a number of interesting “first film” experiences from friends, relatives, bloggers, and other acquaintances around the world, and we will continue the tradition this year with even more stories of early movie magic, including a few from some of our favorite classic film folks. This is quickly becoming my favorite time of the year around these parts, and I hope you’ll all enjoy the newest batch of cinematic remembrances we will have to offer.

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Last but not least, I’d like to present to all of you the newest addition to my household: Bette Davis.

bette davis

She is very much the diva, as you can likely tell, and quite lives up to her name.

We hope you’ll stick around for what will (fingers crossed!) be a much more productive month on the site!

State of the Blog: February 2013

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jean arthur

February in the world of classic movie blogging looks to be a jam-packed month, what with the heaping handful of blogathons being hosted by some of our favorite film writers on the web (you can find out more about those upcoming events here). Needless to say, there’s gonna be a whole lotta writin’ goin’ on–and if all goes as plan, you’ll find a good bit of it here in our neck of the woods! These days, we’re (still) trying to get back into our regular blogging schedule while also planning some interesting events of our own for later this year … which we’ll talk about more in-depth in future days (such teases, those TC gals). For now, though, here’s the monthly roundup of the doings and goings-on in these here parts.

  • I am very pleased to be joining the crew of the soon-to-be-revamped ClassicFlix website! For those of you not in the know, ClassicFlix is, for lack of a better description, a Netflix-ian kind of service solely dedicated to pre-1970s television and film. Our good buddy and ever-wise classic pop culture sensei Ivan G. Shreve, Jr. (also known as the head cowpoke of the venerable Rancho Yesteryear) graciously asked if I would be willing to contribute some regular pieces on classic animation, and I was all like, “Uh … uh … uh … I’m going to have to think about it for all of ten sec–HELL, YEAH!” So look for my barely-restrained, perhaps overly enthusiastic articles, DVD reviews, and general animated fan-girling over at ClassicFlix soon. And while you’re at it, make sure to sign up for their wonderful service ASAP and start getting the best of classic Hollywood delivered right to your door every month! (You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.)
  • Speaking of submissions to other awesome sites … I have thoroughly enjoyed contributing DVD reviews to Cinema Sentries over the past few months. Publisher Gordon S. Miller is utterly fantastic to work with, and I love reading the wide-ranging reviews on the site. I posted reviews of three very different DVD releases last month, so if you’d like to check those out, head on over to the Sentries and give them a look-see.
  • We are thrilled that Brandy of Pretty Clever Films named us her “Blog o’ the Day” yesterday! PCF is one of our very favorite film sites on the web, not only because of Brandy’s SUPER-AWESOME NAME, but also due to her enthusiasm and dedication to the classics. PCF is a truly lovely tribute to the films we all know and love, and if you’re not already reading it on a daily basis, you are seriously missing out. (So, you know, go fix that.)
  • Just a reminder: the window for membership in the Classic Movie Blog Association is still open, so if you are interested in becoming part of a great group that includes some of the best classic film bloggers on the web, contact CMBA now!

As the month goes on, look for a few new-to-us reviews as well as new posts in several of our recurring series, including the ongoing “Learning to Love Westerns” experiment and Pioneers of Animation, as well as a Maudlin Mondays treat from Sarah.

Happy blogging, folks!

Blogathons? Yeah, we need some stinkin’ blogathons!

Posted on by under announcements, blogathon

Ask and ye shall receive. The classic film blogging community has several special events coming up in the next few months, and we’re rounding up some of them for you here.

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31 Days of Oscar Blogathon, hosted by Outspoken & Freckled, Paula’s Cinema Club, & Once Upon a Screen
February 1-March 3

In concurrence with TCM’s annual celebration of all things Oscar, the three bloggers who brought you last fall’s “What a Character!” blogathon have once again teamed up for another event. This time, it’s all about the Academy Awards–and it’s not just limited to classic film, either. For more information, check out Aurora’s post on the event at Once Upon a Screen.

 

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CMBA’s Fabulous Films of the 40s
February 17-22

The first of the Classic Movie Blog Association’s two annual blogathons will focus on a broad topic–the movies of what was arguably Hollywood’s most creative decade (feel free to challenge that in the comments), the 1940s. We will be kicking in our two cents with a piece on the 1942 George Stevens classic The Talk of the Town. More information is available on the CMBA site.

Note: this particular blogathon is only open to CMBA members.

 

blogathon banner kitty packard

The “I Totally F***ing Love This Movie” Blogathon, hosted by The Kitty Packard Pictorial
February 22-24

The lovely Carley, proprietress of the Pictorial, is hosting a blogathon to celebrate what she calls “those movies”–the ones you love unconditionally, the ones you turn to when you need a boost, the ones you’re sometimes embarrassed to admit fit that bill. More details will be forthcoming next week, so keep an eye on the site for more information about how to participate in this one.

 

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John Garfield Centennial Blogathon, hosted by They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To
March 1-4

New CMBA inductee Patti is hosting her first-ever blogathon in honor of actor John Garfield’s 100th birthday. In recognition of Garfield’s achievements and his varied filmography, Patti is looking for contributors to each tackle a different film or interesting aspect of Garfield’s career. You can find more details and sign up to participate at They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To.

 

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Fashion in Film Blogathon, hosted by The Hollywood Revue
March 29-30

It’s baaaack … Angela’s popular Fashion in Film event from 2011 makes a triumphant return this spring. Posts about any aspect of fashion, style, and costume design in the movies are welcome–and are not restricted to the world of classic movies. For more information, check out the Revue (and Angela’s nifty video announcement of the blogathon!).

 

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Cagney-thon, hosted by The Movie Projector
April

R.D. Finch is hosting a celebration of gangster/hoofing icon James Cagney at The Movie Projector in April. Exact dates are unavailable, as he is still making arrangements and signing up contributors. If interested in participating, contact R.D. through the site.

 

Have we forgotten to list any upcoming events here? Let us know in the comments!

And to conclude, just a heads-up: since the winter/spring slate is pretty full, we here at True Classics are planning our own event for sometime this summer. We’ll have more details in a couple of months, as it gets closer to show time (and yes, there will likely be prizes of some sort. We know why you really come here, people).

New year, new beginnings.

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After a sporadic couple of months, we here at True Classics are (finally) ready to usher in the new year!

2012 was True Classics’ best year ever: we added a new member to our crew (the lovely Sarah), introduced new features, hosted some great contests and giveaways, watched the classic film blogging community grow with talented new bloggers, and reached the mind-blowing milestone of half a million page hits. Here’s hoping that 2013 will be just as amazing here in our little slice of the blogosphere!

Here’s a little peek at what’s to come in the months ahead:

As we move back into regular postings, we’ll be revving up our Pioneers of Animation and Saturday Morning Cartoons series once again, focusing on some of the early creative geniuses whose work influenced and paved the way for some of our favorite classic cartoons. Some of the topics we’ll be tackling in the upcoming months include Paul Terry and his innovative “Terrytoons;” the kooky, inventive minds that shaped UPA’s colorful cartoon output; and the brilliant extended filmography of the Fleischer brothers (whose work with Paramount we’ve touched on previously).

But for us, this year is not just about continuing our favorite recurring features on the blog–it’s about new discoveries. And in that vein, this year we’re introducing a new feature: Learning to Love ____. The focus of this series is to educate and expose ourselves to genres, stars, and directors we either do not like or may have been avoiding (for various reasons) up until now. And the first entries in this series will deal with a topic that most of us (save Nikki) are pretty unfamiliar with: Westerns. For the next few months, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most notable entries in the Western genre, films with which we should, as good classic movie fans, be familiar. Learning to Love Westerns may not be easy after years of purposely avoiding those movies, but we’re determined to give it a shot! Look for the first entry in this series toward the end of January.

Last spring, we had a blast with our “Movie Memories in May” event, in which we published the early cinematic reminisces of bloggers, friends, family members, and other movie fans from around the world. So this year, we’re doing it again–May will be filled with remembrances of film-going experiences past, from friends old and new.

We’re bringing all of this plus other recurring features like Sarah’s Maudlin Mondays, Carrie’s Therapy Thursdays, random film reviews, blogathons, and who knows what else. We hope you’ll stick around for another year of classic movie indulgence, and as always, we thank you wholeheartedly for your readership and your kind comments, links, and compliments throughout the past three years!

 

And now, a final look back at 2012 here on True Classics, with some of our most popular posts from the past year:

1. Pioneers of Animation–Winsor McCay (thanks to last fall’s fantastic Google Doodle honoring the pioneering animator, this post received 35,000 hits in a single twenty-four hour period alone!)

2. Animated Naughty Bits, or: This Ain’t Your Kids’ Cartoon (lots of people looking for pornographic animation out there …)

3. Bobby Driscoll: The boy who never grew up (written for Comet Over Hollywood’s “Gone Too Soon” blogathon last spring)

4. Pioneers of Animation: Ub Iwerks (The Early Years)

5. “Queering” Disney (written for Garbo Laughs’ “Queer Blogathon” last June)

Also: even though the series ended in 2011, our Saturday Morning Cartoons posts on the classic Disney canon/Disney Renaissance continue to bring in insane amounts of traffic, particularly our posts on The Lion King, Snow White, and Fantasia.

 

Quick addendum: the Classic Movie Blog Association is now voting on new membership for 2013! If you are interested in joining the crew, check out the guidelines at the CMBA site.