James Fitzgerald, a Hollywood publicist and manager who represented his wives Jane Powell and Erin O’Brien as well as Rock Hudson, Louella Parsons, Chuck Connors and Howard Keel, has died. He was 91.
Fitzgerald died Sunday of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Canoga Park, his son Greg Fitzgerald told The Hollywood Reporter.
Fitzgerald also assisted the careers of John Raitt, Engelbert Humperdinck, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Jimmy Van Heusen and The Burgundy Street Singers, among others. And when he was promoting the Sammy Cahn song “High Hopes” — a big hit for Frank Sinatra that won an Oscar in 1960 — he got to meet Eleanor Roosevelt, who performed the lyrics during an interview with him, as she did here.
Fitzgerald was married to singer-actress O’Brien (77 Sunset Strip, Onionhead) from 1951 until their 1963 divorce and to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers standout Powell from 1965 until their 1975 divorce (he was the third...
Fitzgerald died Sunday of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Canoga Park, his son Greg Fitzgerald told The Hollywood Reporter.
Fitzgerald also assisted the careers of John Raitt, Engelbert Humperdinck, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Jimmy Van Heusen and The Burgundy Street Singers, among others. And when he was promoting the Sammy Cahn song “High Hopes” — a big hit for Frank Sinatra that won an Oscar in 1960 — he got to meet Eleanor Roosevelt, who performed the lyrics during an interview with him, as she did here.
Fitzgerald was married to singer-actress O’Brien (77 Sunset Strip, Onionhead) from 1951 until their 1963 divorce and to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers standout Powell from 1965 until their 1975 divorce (he was the third...
- 8/21/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Diversity has historically been slow to come to the highly filmed stretch of Orion Avenue in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley known as Cameron Woods. But the same throwback suburban qualities that have long brought film crews to its spacious ranch-style homes and Cape Cods — it’s called “The Leave It to Beaver Street” for a reason — are drawing new residents who look more like the surrounding city.
Cameron Woods residents are still mostly white, a contrast to the rest of Van Nuys where it’s situated and heavily Latino. Traditionally, the 30 or so homes on this upscale stretch of Orion Avenue between Victory Boulevard and Erwin Street rarely came up for sale, instead passing to family members or the children of neighbors. But as more of those homeowners have been “aging out” or otherwise moving on, the increased turnover is bringing greater diversity.
While there are still few if any Latino residents here,...
Cameron Woods residents are still mostly white, a contrast to the rest of Van Nuys where it’s situated and heavily Latino. Traditionally, the 30 or so homes on this upscale stretch of Orion Avenue between Victory Boulevard and Erwin Street rarely came up for sale, instead passing to family members or the children of neighbors. But as more of those homeowners have been “aging out” or otherwise moving on, the increased turnover is bringing greater diversity.
While there are still few if any Latino residents here,...
- 3/2/2023
- by Brenda Gazzar
- The Wrap
New superlatives are needed to express just how good is this wonderful Americana musical from the 1950s boom years. The Broadway creator tapped Hollywood’s most qualified (and creative) director of musicals for the stage to screen conversion, retaining much of the original New York talent. Doris Day is a sensation as Babe Williams, whose romantic and labor problems play out at a sleepwear factory. The color design is a delight, every song is a keeper, and the talent on view makes one want to clap, sixty-five years later.
The Pajama Game
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1957 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 101 min. / Street Date January 26, 2021 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Doris Day, John Raitt, Carol Haney, Eddie Foy Jr., Reta Shaw, Barbara Nichols, Thelma Pelish, Jack Straw.
Cinematography: Harry Stradling Sr.
Film Editor: William H. Ziegler
Art Direction: Malcolm C. Bert
Choreography: Bob Fosse
Musical Supervision: Ray Heindorf
Songs by: Richard Adler,...
The Pajama Game
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1957 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 101 min. / Street Date January 26, 2021 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Doris Day, John Raitt, Carol Haney, Eddie Foy Jr., Reta Shaw, Barbara Nichols, Thelma Pelish, Jack Straw.
Cinematography: Harry Stradling Sr.
Film Editor: William H. Ziegler
Art Direction: Malcolm C. Bert
Choreography: Bob Fosse
Musical Supervision: Ray Heindorf
Songs by: Richard Adler,...
- 1/16/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
I was saddened to learn this morning that Betty Garrett, the great star of stage, screen, and TV, passed away yesterday at the age of 94 after suffering an aortic aneurysm.
Garrett was one of those rare people — like, say, Jack Valenti — who happened to be a witness to and/or participant in a remarkably high number of historic events of the 20th century. She was a member of Orson Welles’s famed Mercury Theatre company, and was with him on the night that he shook up America with his infamous radio broadcast of “The War of the Worlds” (1938); she was Frank Sinatra’s leading lady in two of the earliest great M-g-m musical-comedies, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” (1949) and “On the Town” (1949); her career was greatly hurt by the Hollywood Red Scare after her husband, the Oscar nominated actor Larry Parks, refused to name names before the House Committee...
Garrett was one of those rare people — like, say, Jack Valenti — who happened to be a witness to and/or participant in a remarkably high number of historic events of the 20th century. She was a member of Orson Welles’s famed Mercury Theatre company, and was with him on the night that he shook up America with his infamous radio broadcast of “The War of the Worlds” (1938); she was Frank Sinatra’s leading lady in two of the earliest great M-g-m musical-comedies, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” (1949) and “On the Town” (1949); her career was greatly hurt by the Hollywood Red Scare after her husband, the Oscar nominated actor Larry Parks, refused to name names before the House Committee...
- 2/13/2011
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
"The Wizard of Oz", L. Frank Baum's family friendly fantasy in which a young Dorothy travels over the rainbow after a twister hits her Uncle's farm, is one of the most popular stories of all time due to the iconic film version. While the film celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, the stage version of the musical based on the movie claims The Media Theatre stage as its home this holiday season (Nov. 24, 2009-Jan. 10, 2010).
The Media Theatre will produce The Royal Shakespeare Company's version of the musical, which includes all of the well-known songs from the film ("Over the Rainbow", "If I Only Had A Brain", "Follow The Yellow Brick Road") and a number cut from the original movie ("Jitterbug"). Temple University's Peter Reynolds, who directed Media's popular "Altar Boyz" last season, will take the helm for "Oz".
Kim Carson, a Barrymore Award winning actress who was seen last...
The Media Theatre will produce The Royal Shakespeare Company's version of the musical, which includes all of the well-known songs from the film ("Over the Rainbow", "If I Only Had A Brain", "Follow The Yellow Brick Road") and a number cut from the original movie ("Jitterbug"). Temple University's Peter Reynolds, who directed Media's popular "Altar Boyz" last season, will take the helm for "Oz".
Kim Carson, a Barrymore Award winning actress who was seen last...
- 11/25/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
CityListen® Audio Tours announces the release of Walkin' Broadway, hosted by Elliott Forrest. The tour takes listeners on a journey through Broadway past and present,mixing a historic walk through New York's theater district with fascinating anecdotes and recollections from over a dozen exclusive interviews with a veritable who's who of the theater, including James Naughton, Ossie Davis, Stephen Schwartz, John Raitt and Hal Prince.
- 9/25/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Masterworks Broadway celebrates the unparalleled Rodgers & Hammerstein catalogue and makes available these gems on all digital service providers and on CD exclusively through ArkivMusic.com Carousel - 1965 Broadway Revival Cast Recording Oaklahoma! - 1952 Studio Cast Recording Rodgers Conducts Rodgers The 1965 Music Theater of Lincoln Center recording of Carousel, featuring its original star John Raitt, is extended with tracks from Raitt's 1952 studio recording of excerpts from Carousel, as well as a 1955 studio recording of the musical with opera stars Robert Merrill and Patrice Munsel, led by one of Broadway's most authoritative maestros, Lehman Engel. Digital booklet to include exclusive rare recording session photographs shown for the first time.
- 2/10/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
John Raitt, the father of singer Bonnie Raitt, died Sunday from complications of pneumonia. He was 88 years old. Raitt, who co-starred with Doris Day in the musical The Pajama Game, shot to fame in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals Oklahoma and the original 1945 New York production of Carousel. Raitt died at his home in Pacific Palisades, California. His daughter Bonnie Raitt says in a statement, "His life and monumental contribution to the history of Broadway musical theater will be an inspiration always. (He was) the most loving, wonderful father to us kids, husband to his wife and the greatest singer I've ever heard."...
- 2/22/2005
- WENN
Howard Keel, the deep-voiced baritone associated with the classic movie musicals of the 50s, died Sunday of colon cancer at his home in Palm Springs, CA; he was 85. A naturally gifted singer who had what he described as a "terrible, rotten childhood," Keel first came to prominence onstage, discovered by legendary composers Rodgers & Hammerstein no less, who hired him to replace John Raitt in the original Broadway production of Carousel. After a successful stage career in both New York and London, he was signed to a contract with MGM, and his first film for the studio, Annie Get Your Gun, immediately shot him to stardom. Throughout the 50s he re-created a number of his stage roles for film, and his impressive string of hits included Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate, Kismet, Calamity Jane, Jupiter's Darling, and the actor's personal favorite, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Once MGM abandoned large-scale musicals, Keel went back to the stage, traveling in a number of productions. Though he worked in television off and on throughout the 70s, Keel found himself on another career high with the TV show Dallas, in which he played Clayton Farlow, the second husband to Barbara Bel Geddes' Miss Ellie. Hired in 1981 after the death of Jim Davis, who played patriarch Jock Ewing, Keel stayed with the show through the rest of its run until 1991. Keel was married three times, first to actress Rosemary Cooper, then dancer Helen Anderson, with whom he had three children; both marriages ended in divorce. His third and final marriage was to former flight attendant Judy Magamoll in 1970, with whom he had a daughter. He is also survived by ten grandchildren. --Prepared by IMDb staff...
- 11/8/2004
- WENN
Monty Python star Eric Idle lead a host of Canadian mountie lawmen into Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl over the weekend - as part of the opening ceremony of the venue's summer season. Idle represented the Monty Python troupe as he joined Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt and John Raitt in being inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame. Funnyman Robin Williams presented his pal Idle with the honor. Idle explained his other group members' absence, joking, "John Cleese is unfortunately finishing a film - which has to back at Blockbuster tonight. Graham Chapman sadly can't be here because he's still dead. Unfortunately Terry Gilliam is still alive." Wonder also contributed to the entertainment by singing a selection of his soul classics including Superstition and Ma Cherie Amour.
- 7/3/2001
- WENN
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