Friday, August 23, 2013

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown.... Garry Marshall & Fred Willard Present Films at Stanley Kramer Centennial Film Series.... Billy Wilder Theater

Garry Marshall is greeted by Kat & Karen Sharpe Kramer....  Photo by Bob Delgadillo

Shannon Kelley, Kat Kramer, Garry Marshall, Karen Sharpe Kramer & Fred Willard... Photo by Bob Delgadillo

Harrison Held, Garry Marshall, Lois Aldrin & Fred Willard....  Photo by Bob Delgadillo

A great time was held by all last nite at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood as "Champion: The Stanley Kramer Centennial" continued with comedy masters Garry Marshall & Fred Willard on hand to introduce the films. Garry, a New York native introduced Mr. Kramer's first film "So This Is New York" & Fred, who starred in the Steve Martin film "Roxanne" introduced Mr. Kramer's third film "Cyrano de Bergerac" which garnered Jose Ferrer an Academy Award for Best Actor.  The special centennial series continues through the end of September when Stanley Kramer would have turned 100.  For more information visit www.ucla.edu or call 310-206-FILM (3456)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown... The Brazilian Hour Celebrates 35th Anniversary.... Grand Performances @ California Plaza

Grand Performances @ California Plaza...    Photo by Christopher Alvarez

Grand Performances @ California Plaza...  Photo by Christopher Alvarez

Arice da Costa, Leonardo Valverde head of the Cultural Sector, , Sergio Mielniczenko, Ambassador Bruno Bath Consul-General of Brazil.... Photo by Christopher Alvarez

Sergio Mielniczenko greets a guest at The Brazilian Hour's VIP reception...  Photo by Christopher Alvarez

Guitarist Rafael Moreira

Fashion designer Iliana Duboisnblanc (right) & guests enjoying the Brazilian Hour 35th anniversary VIP reception at Grand Performances


Delicious catering by the Omni Hotel



Concert goers enjoy their picnics before the show


I had a great time at the VIP reception & concert for international radio show The Brazilian Hour's 35th anniversary hosted by radio personality Sergio Mielniczenko at the beautiful outdoor California Plaza downtown.  The entertainment featured the upbeat sizzling show  "A Tale of Two Nations: Nacao Estrela Brilhante & Nation Beat".  Maracatu Nacao is based on cultural events in northeast Brazil from 400 years ago & Estrela Brilhante was founded in 1906 showcasing colorful & vibrant rituals of ancient Carnival Art from that region too.  The talented entertainers & musicians were colorful, vibrant & energetic and as you can see in the pictures above their costumes were beautiful.  Next weekend  Grand Performances concludes with Lorca, Child of the Moon, Friday August 23rd at 8pm & Fared Shafinury, Saturday August 24th at 8pm also.  Concerts are free and open to the public....  Enjoy!  Thank you to publicist Lynn Tejada for the invitation to this terrific event & to photographer Christopher Alvarez for his great photography!  HH







Saturday, August 10, 2013

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown.... Spectacular "Champion: The Stanley Kramer Centennial"... Billy Wilder Theatre

Philip Berk, Kat Kramer, Karen Sharpe Kramer & Stuart Nash

Zach Miller, Kat Kramer, Karen Sharpe Kramer & Andrea Miller


Larry King introduces "Death of a Salesman"  photo: Bob Delgadillo

Mickey Rooney is greeted by Kat Kramer & Karen Sharpe Kramer   photo: Bob Delgadillo


Theodere Bikel greets Sidney Poitier while Karen Sharpe Kramer looks on   photo: Bob Delgadillo

Zach Miller, Kat Kramer, Karen Sharpe Kramer, Andrea Miller & Harrison Held   photo: Bob Delgadillo

George Chakiris & Guest   photo:  Bob Delgadillo

Ed Lozzi & Laurie Douglas

Harrison Held & Francine York   photo: Robert Uher

Marvin Paige


I had a great time tonite as a special guest of the Kramer family at "Champion: The Stanley Kramer Centennial" at the beautiful Billy Wilder Theatre in Westwood.  The very classy event featured the newly restored riveting filmed production of Arthur Miller's classic "Death of a Salesman" starring Frederic March, Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell & Howard Smith, directed by Laslo Benedek and produced by Mr. Kramer in 1951.  Kudos to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Film Foundation,  presented by the UCLA Film and Television Archive,  on their excellent restoration of the film. Celebrities & VIP's in attendance included the late great director/producer's wife Karen Sharpe Kramer, daughter Katharine 'Kat' Kramer, Larry King, Arthur Miller's grandson Zach Miller & his wife Andrea, Sidney Poitier, Mickey Rooney,  Mark Rooney, Lou Gossett, Jr., Terry Moore, Piper Laurie, Foster Hirsch, Marvin Paige, Francine York, Anne Jefferies, Jennifer Ahn, Donna Anderson, George Barris, Cara Williams Barrymore, Philip Berk & wife Ruth, Theodore Bikel, Dan Bucantinsky, George Chakiris, Barrie Chase, Tim Cogshell, Grover Crisp, Janice Simpson, James Curtis, Ken & Ellen Davitian, Rona Edwards, Harrison Engle, Richard Erdman, Stan Freeberg, Jeff Garlin, Gregory P. Goeckner, Pete & Madelyn Hammond, Jan-Christopher Horak, Marsha Hunt, Geri Jewell, Marvin Kaplan, Shannon Kelley, Councilman Tom LaBonge, Judi Levine, Ben Lewin, Ed Lozzi, Mother Love, BarBara Luna, Shelley Markham, Andrea Marcovicci, Kate McCarthy, Ajay Mehta, Bill Mumy, Stuart Nash, France Nyugen, Rick Overton, Dr. Lawrence D. Piro & wife Judy Piro, Don Roos, Mark Rydell, Beege Barkette, Teri Schwartz, John Herman Shaner & wife Madelyn, Gary Takesian, Ron Truppa, Glynn Turman, Ret Turner & Suzette Ervin, Robert Uher and Marc Vahanian & wife Lauren. Councilman Tom LaBonge declared August 9, 2013 Stanley Kramer day.  Stanley Kramer's "The Defiant Ones", "The Wild One", "The Caine Mutiny", "Home of the Brave", "So This Is New York", "Cyrano De Bergerac", "Champion", "The Men", "Pressure Point", "Bless the Beasts & Children", "Ship of Fools", "On the Beach", "The Secret of Santa Vittoria",  will be shown over the 7 weeks cultimating with the classic "High Noon" on Sunday, September 29th which would be Mr. Kramer's 100th birthday. Stanley Kramer's films were nominated for over 85 Academy Awards & in 1961 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences bestowed Mr. Kramer the Irving G. Thalberg Award, their highest honor, in recognition of consistent high quality of work.  I'm eagerly looking forward to the rest of this very special centennial series which will include many special celebrity guests.  For more information visit www.cinema.ucla.edu/programs/ticketing-information, www.cinema.ucla.edu or call 310-206-FILM (3456).  The Billy Wilder Theatre is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard on the courtyard level of the Hammer Museum.  Parking is $3 on weekdays after 6 p.m. and all day on Saturdays & Sundays. I'd like to thank my friend Bob Delgadillo for his beautiful additional photography & the Kramer family for inviting me to this very special once in a lifetime event....  HH

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Harrison Held's SceneAroundTown..... "The Ghosts of Mary Lincoln".... Theatre 40

MIchele Tauber as Mary Lincoln.... photo credit: Jess Block

I thoroughly enjoyed the new workshop production of "The Ghosts of Mary Lincoln" by an award winning team now playing at Theater 40 in Beverly Hills.  Michele Tauber is excellent in this one woman show as troubled first lady Mary Lincoln.  The play is well written by Tom Dugan & well directed by Jenny Sullivan.  I loved Ms. Sullivan's production of "Tea at 5" starring Stephanie Zimbalist as Katharine Hepburn a few years ago at the Falcon Theater so I was eager to see her latest & I was not disappointed for a moment.  The play takes place on a dark stormy nite in the attic of Mary Lincoln's sister Elizabeth where Mary was ensconced towards the end of her life.  Ms. Tauber skillfully & magically takes the audience on the colorful life journey of the often misunderstood first lady breathing life into the historical & sometimes hysterical multi dimensional woman.  Following shows audiences are welcome to give feedback to playwright Tom Dugan as he prepares the production for it's premiere mid October at the Townsend Arts Center at the University of West Georgia.  I think you'll enjoy this elegant, educational & entertaining show. The production values are first rate also.  For more information call 310-364-3606.  HH