Tag Archives: popular culture

Robert Bloch: From Pulp to Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho is based on a novel by Robert Bloch. It is the story of Norman Bates, a lonely motel caretaker who is seething with psychotic rage due to his mother’s domination. Robert Bloch was an author of … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptations, Authors and literature, found in the archive, motion picture history, Pop Culture, popular culture, science fiction, Screenwriting, Uncategorized, writers and poets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lost Episode of Golden Age of Television Dramatic Series “Star Tonight” Found and Identified

From 1955-56 on ABC, a live TV series titled Star Tonight offered the chance for young up-and-coming New York actors to star in a show opposite established players. The known stars included: Buster Crabbe, Neva Patterson, Theodore Bikel, and June … Continue reading

Posted in announcements, Archival Film, Digital collections, Edmund C. Rice papers, found in the archive, Motion picture actors and actresses, popular culture, Student projects, television history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jean Howard and Charles Feldman: From Ziegfeld Follies to Movie Moguls

What do you get when you combine a stunning starlet, a savvy talent broker, and a bunch of famous friends? The answer is Jean Howard and Charles Feldman, the ultimate party planners of old Hollywood. The story of Jean Howard … Continue reading

Posted in found in the archive, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, Photographic collections, popular culture, Uncategorized, women's history | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Old-Time Saloon – Just History

Prohibition is little discussed today except in history classes. But if you’re interested in the still relevant political arguments that led to Prohibition in the first place, read the 1931 book The Old-Time Saloon: Not Wet, Not Dry—Just History by George … Continue reading

Posted in Authors and literature, cartoons, Holidays, Journalism, Politics, Prohibition, rare books, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Attack of the Killer…Shrews?

With it being the Halloween season, it seems appropriate to take note of a gruesome creature of movie land that may have haunted our dreams, or is kitschy enough to have  made us roll our eyes in disbelief. You’ve heard … Continue reading

Posted in Current events, events, Fantasy, Holidays, Horror, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, Pop Culture, popular culture, science fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Friendship Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick and Gerald Fried

Gerald Fried, a Julliard trained composer for television and film, began performing music in his Bronx neighborhood during the 1940s. There he met Stanley Kubrick, who would go on to become a celebrated film director, screenwriter, and producer. Kubrick and … Continue reading

Posted in Composers, found in the archive, motion picture history, music, Pop Culture, popular culture, science fiction, Stanley Kubrick, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Spotlighting Communism & Hollywood in the papers of Sesame Street’s Mr. Hooper

One of the most recognizable figures of the first thirteen years (1969-1982) of PBS’s Sesame Street was Mr. Hooper the grocer, played by veteran actor Will Lee. He was one of the four original human characters on the show. Before … Continue reading

Posted in Blacklisting, Cold War, Communism, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, Political history, Politics, popular culture, Social justice, television history, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Orphan to Icon: The Remarkable Journey of Barbara Stanwyck

The astounding and legendary life and career of Barbara Stanwyck began in Brooklyn, New York. The youngest of 5 children born to common laborers, Stanwyck was originally known as ‘Ruby Stevens.’ She became orphaned by the age of 4. After … Continue reading

Posted in Biography and profiles, Film History, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, popular culture, television history, Women in Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The June Vanleer Williams Story

African-American journalist and editor June Vanleer Williams is not necessarily well-known, but what a rich life she led. Williams was an actress, a casting director, a journalist, a playwright, a poet, and an active member in Karamu House, which is the … Continue reading

Posted in African American history, Authors and literature, Current events, found in the archive, Journalism, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, popular culture, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, women's history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

David Brown and Steven Spielberg: Through Thick and Thin

Film producer David Brown (1916-2010) began his career in 1951 heading the story department at Twentieth Century Fox. His success began early through his involvement with The Robe, an American Biblical epic film that received an Oscar nomination for Best … Continue reading

Posted in Film History, found in the archive, motion picture history, Pop Culture, popular culture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment