Tag Archives: announcements

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.

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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.

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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

Posted on by under announcements

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.

 

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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).

There once were some winners who …

Posted on by under announcements, celebration, giveaways

… wrote some pretty frickin’ sweet limericks!

Before we (finally) announce the winners of our third-anniversary contest, I just want to thank all of the participants–we had a wide range of entertaining submissions to judge, and it was really difficult to narrow it down to our favorites! I also want to apologize for the delay in announcing the winners; I was unexpectedly called out of town for several days on a personal matter, and blogging unfortunately had to take a back seat to settling some affairs.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge my co-authors: Carrie, Nikki, and Sarah. Three years, over four hundred and fifty posts, and nearly half a million hits later, it’s still nothing short of pure, unadulterated FUN to write reviews, plan out events, host giveaways, and just completely fangirl out over our favorite movies. I hope there are many more years of blogging awesomeness in our collective future. :D

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Okay, now on to why you’re all REALLY here–you want to know who won those delicious, delicious prizes! (Mmm … winning.)

Without further ado …

In third place, with her lovely take on a Preston Sturges screwball classic, is Natalie from In the Mood!

Once was a Lady named Eve
With many a trick up her sleeve.
The sucker did fall,
When he heard her sweet call,
And then, of his senses, took leave.

Natalie wins her choice of either a year’s subscription to Now Playing or a copy of the TCM Classic Movie Trivia book!

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In second place, with a delightfully creepy limerick honoring the delightfully creepy Vincent Price, is Becky of ClassicBecky’s Brain Food!

The crazed Dr. Phibes, played by Price,
Loved to kill with creative device.
He was mad as a hatter,
But what does that matter?
His methods were all so precise!

Becky wins a copy of the utterly fantastic Kino Buster Keaton Short Films Collection on DVD!

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And last but certainly not least, the winner of the BIG CLASSIC FILM ENCHILADA (aka the $50 gift card to TCM Shop) is … none other than the woman with whom I (sometimes) share my secret lover, Cary Grant–Jill of Sittin’ on a Backyard Fence! Her ode to Gene Kelly’s posterior garnered the most accolades from the judges (i.e. the lustful-minded gals of this blog) by far:

The man Kelly was known for his class
for women he bowed when he’d pass
When he yelled “Gotta Dance!”
All fell in a trance
Admiring his luscious firm ass.

Congratulations to Jill, Becky, and Natalie, and again, many thanks to everyone who participated and helped spread the word about this contest!

Brief update.

Posted on by under announcements

Just a quick note to let our readers know that we are still here and kicking–albeit much more slowly than normal. I had to make an unexpected road trip to Miami and have only been able to access email, etc. through my phone, which is not exactly conducive to maintaining a blog …

We have received all of your wonderfully brilliant (and some wonderfully smutty) limericks for our third-anniversary contest, and have begun judging them now. We’ll announce our winner in the next couple of days! It’s going to be very difficult to just choose three winners, because seriously–y’all are some damn talented poetical-type folks.

I’ll be back Monday (hopefully) with the “state of the blog” post for December!

Feeling limerick-al? Win a prize! (Anniversary Contest Reminder)

Posted on by under announcements, celebration, giveaways

Our third-anniversary limerick contest ENDS on Thursday at midnight … and we’ve had exactly one entry so far. Now, I know a lot of you folks out there are veritable EMPERORS of procrastination like myself–but c’mon, guys and gals, put on your poetical hats and get those limericks posted pronto so we can give away these awesome prizes!

Since it’s hardly fair that we ask you to contribute without throwing out a few of our own efforts, here’s a couple of limericks from the dubious talents of your True Classics crew …

Everyone in Frisco, it seems
Seeks the jeweled bird that gleams.
But in the end, it’s for naught
For the thing they all sought
Is only the stuff of dreams.

(The Maltese Falcon, 1941)

 

An overnight mother is driven
To return the baby she’s given
But the babe is appealing,
And maternal, she’s feeling,
So she keeps it–AND David Niven!

(Bachelor Mother, 1939)

 

Okay, so this last one, revolving around one of the most famous lines in movie history, is … well, it’s pretty damn raunchy (and yes, it came directly from the not-so-beautiful mind of yours truly). And because of that, I’ve whited it out so as not to offend anyone who might not care to read it. Just highlight the white space below and you’ll be able to see it. (And if you’re offended after the fact, well, that’s not my fault, because I just warned you!)

“Rosebud,” they said in the obit,
Was the last word his voice ever writ.
They all searched in vain
For the secret of Kane,
Not knowing they all sought a clit.

(Citizen Kane, 1941)

(For those wondering what this means, this article explains it pretty well.)

So now it’s YOUR turn … give it your best shot, and get rhymin’! Entries must be posted by midnight on November 29th. And make sure to send us an email or leave a comment on this post once your entry is complete!

Edward Lear would be so proud. (Or not.)

Posted on by under announcements, celebration, giveaways

There once were four bloggers who sought
To host a fun contest, and thought,
“Haikus have been done,
And though they’re much fun,
it’s LIMERICKS we’d like to see wrought!”

I think you know what’s coming …

Yes, boys and girls, we’ve decided to have a good time with this year’s anniversary contest (cue the diabolical laughter), and ask you to put on your creative thinking caps to WOW us with a custom-crafted classic movie limerick!

The rules for this contest are simple: write a limerick that is related to classic film in some form or fashion (for the purposes of this contest–and to allow a wider choice of topics–we will define a “classic” film as anything released in or prior to 1982). Post the limerick on your blog and include a link to this page. Then let us know about your entry by either emailing us the link, leaving a comment on this post, or tweeting the link to @trueclassics.

Your limerick can be funny or moving, clean or obscene (as, let’s face it, most good limericks are). Just have fun with it! There are no limits to your creativity with this contest–well, except for the ones set by the form itself (if you need a refresher on what constitutes “limerical form,” so to speak, the Wikipedia entry on the style is helpful).

There’s no limit to the number of limericks you can submit for this contest, so feel free to let your inner poet loose as many times as you like. After all, more entries = greater odds that you’ll win a prize!

And speaking of prizes, you may be asking yourself, “Self, what do you suppose those loopy True Classics gals will give me, should I create the awesomest classic film-related limerick in all the land?”

Well, here’s what’s up for grabs!

Our first-place winner will receive a $50 gift card to the TCM Shop, just in time for Christmas shopping! (Of course, you could always just spend all of that on yourself. We won’t tell.)

Our second-place winner will receive a copy of the fantastic Buster Keaton–The Short Films Collection: 1920-1923 DVD box set from Kino! (This set is an awesome–and necessary–addition to any film fan’s collection.)

And for our third-place winner, we have a choice of either a copy of the TCM Classic Movie Trivia book OR a one-year subscription to Now Playing! (Both are must-haves for the modern classic movie fan!)

[Note: in order to win a prize, you must be a resident of the United States or Canada.]

All entries must be posted on your blog by midnight CST on November 29th, and any links should be emailed/posted/tweeted to us by that deadline. The judging period will last from November 30th to December 2nd. The winners will be announced on our site on Monday, December 3rd!

If you have any questions about this contest or the rules, leave a comment on this post or email us at trueclassicsblog (at) gmail dot com.

Thanks in advance for helping us celebrate three years of blogging here at True Classics!

 

Win tickets to see To Kill a Mockingbird on the big screen!

Posted on by under announcements, big-screen viewings, giveaways

As we announced a couple of weeks ago, the TCM Event Series continues next Thursday, November 15th, with a screening of To Kill a Mockingbird in theaters nationwide. NCM Fathom joins TCM and Universal Pictures in bringing this newly restored classic to the screen for its fiftieth anniversary, as part of Universal’s own 100th anniversary celebration this year. The screening, hosted by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, will be preceded by a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, featuring archival interviews with some of those involved in the movie’s production.

Screenings start at 7PM local time, and some theaters may feature matinee showings–check your local movie listings for more details. To find a participating theater near you, check out the Fathom website.

As part of this event, Fathom is hosting a To Kill a Mockingbird trivia contest on its site. Enter for the chance to win a copy of Harper Lee’s novel AND a copy of the film on Blu-ray! The contest runs through next Thursday evening, so get your entries in ASAP.

And in the meantime, True Classics is giving away three pairs of tickets to next week’s theater screenings, courtesy of NCM Fathom! To enter our drawing, simply send an email to trueclassicsblog (at) gmail dot com with the subject line, “I want TKAM tickets!” Entries must be received by TOMORROW, November 8th, at noon CST. Winners will be notified immediately by email and will have twenty-four hours to respond before another winner is drawn. Contest only open to residents of the United States. Please make sure there is a participating theater near you before entering the contest!