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