0 So Many Events, So Little Time

Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

There are so many events coming up it's getting hard to find time for them all. Here are a few on my radar.

Beginning April 27 and running through May 1, is the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival. If you are a fan of movie Westerns this event might be for you. Legendary director, John Ford, will be inducted into Santa Clarita's "Walk of Western Stars," which is similar to the Hollywood stars along the streets of Hollywood. There will also be a screening of the classic Ford film, Stagecoach, outside on the Main Street of Melody Ranch, an active movie studio lot where many Westerns have been filmed. Other activities include chuckwagon dinners, live western music, tours of the Melody Ranch, Street Shows, and many other activities.

Melody Ranch (c) discoverLosAngeles.com

To see full details for the Cowboy Festival visit the official site at: www.cowboyfestival.org.

TCM Classic Film Festival 2013

I'm sure every classic film fan is already aware that the second TCM Classic Film Festival is just around the corner. April 28 through May 1, TCM will be taking over Hollywood Boulevard for four nights of classic movie screenings, discussions with Hollywood celebrities and film experts, and the chance for classic movie fans to connect with their movie loving peers. When I attended last year it really felt a little like comic con for the classic film geeks. TCM recently posted the festival schedule which you can view at their official site, along with ticket information and all the other nitty gritty details. Click here to learn more. Last year I made a short video from my visit to the festival which you can watch here.

Errol & Olivia

Larry Edmunds bookstore in Hollywood is hosting two special book signings later this month. The first, on Thursday, April 14, author Robert Matzen will be in town to sign his engaging read, Errol & Olivia: Ego & Obsession in Golden Era Hollywood. 

Glen Ford: A Life

The second book signing is with author Peter Ford who will be signing his new book Glen Ford: A Life. This signing will be held at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and is being tied in with the Noir Film Festival which is running now. To find out more about both book signing visit Larry Edmund's Bookshop. To learn more about the Noir Film Festival visit the American Cinematheque. Laura over at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings has also been writing some reviews from her ongoing visits to the Noir Film Festival. Check Laura's blog out here.

Vincentennial

This last event which kicks off in May, I unfortunately will not be able to attend, but it is on my wish list of events and I will be attending in spirit. Cinema St. Louis will be presenting "Vincentennial," The Vincent Price 100th Birthday Celebration. Vincentennial willl be held in Price's hometown of St. Louis and will run from May 19-28. There will be many screenings of Vincent Price films along with many special guests in appearance to do interviews, discuss films, present lectures and introduce films. Longtime Price collaborator, Roger Corman will be in attendance to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Victoria Price, Price's daughter, will also be participating in the Vincentennial.  There will be exhibits of Vincent Price artifacts, artwork and memorabilia, live theatrical performances of the Vincent Price film, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, as well as other Price related events. Visit the Cinema St. Louis official site to learn more about Vincentennial.

Will you be attending any of the upcoming events? I'm especially curious about the Vincentennial celebration. If anyone attends please report back and let us know how it went!

Detail: So Many Events, So Little Time

0 Santa Anita Race Track In The Movies

Santa Anita Park in California

Since Santa Anita Park opened back in 1934, the horse race track has been featured in numerous films, including A Star is Born (1954), Bob Hope's The Lemon Drop Kid, the Marx Brothers film A Day At The Races and National Lampoon's Vacation to name just a few. To celebrate the race track's many appearances on the silver screen Santa Anita Park, on opening day, December 26, 2012, will be giving away a free wall calendar featuring films that have used Santa Anita as a film location. The calendar is free with paid admission - and guess what - admission is only $5! What a bargain.

Santa Anita Park has not only been popular with Hollywood as a film location, but as a destination for relaxation during time off. Fred Astaire, Pat O'Brien, Louis B. Mayer, Harry Warner, the Marx Brothers,  Jack Benny, Spencer Tracy, Errol Flynn, Bing Crosby and of course many others would come here to enjoy the races - many of whom even owned their own horses.

The grounds around the race track are absolutely beautiful and very nice to stroll around between races. At just $5 it is such a bargain to come see the grounds, watch the horses, bet (or not) on the races, enjoy some snacks and just relax like the Hollywood stars.

Lately, the new HBO television show Luck, featuring Dustin Hoffman, has been filming at Santa Anita Park.  The race track is a primary location for the show.

Below is a home video I made last year when I was at the Santa Anita race track for a friend's birthday. It gives you an idea of what the grounds look like.

Detail: Santa Anita Race Track In The Movies