Article Writing Jobs ~ Movies, Music and Books: That's My Entertainment! (UPDATE)

Unfortunately, this writing site shut down.  

The content was republished and the links below are updated or go to the archived web copies of my articles.  

Apologies for the inconvenience.

I enjoy writing and sharing my entertainment articles around the web.  Several articles have been published at Article Writing Jobs.  Here's the links.  Enjoy!

My Top 5 Picks for Contemporary Female Violinists  ✔ 

Five (5)British Mystery TV Series Worth Watching (and Re-watching)   ✔  

NewlywedMoms Should Read Romance Novels   ✔  

Four (4) Recommended Authors of Books Written for Young Adults   ✔  

Music Appreciation: The Harmony of Human Voices   ✔  

Life of Pi - Actor Suraj Sharma   ✔  

My 3 Favorite Cary Grant Movies   ✔  

Come WithMe on My Star Trek Adventures   ✔  

My Pick for a Classic Warren Beatty Film: "Splendor in the Grass" (1961)

Thought the Clutter is an entertainment blog that published a List of 28 Warren Beatty Movies, Ranked Best to Worst.  I have never been a huge fan of Warren Beatty.  There is no denying he was tall, dark, and handsome.  But frankly, I really admired his sister; the enormously talented actress Shirley MacLane.  However, giving credit where credit is due:

"Warren Beatty is an American actor and filmmaker who is the second person to be nominated for 'Academy Awards' for acting in, directing, writing, and producing the same film – which he achieved twice for the fantasy-comedy film 'Heaven Can Wait' (1978) and for the historical epic 'Reds' (1981). Of his total 14 'Oscar' nominations, he won the award for 'Best Director' for 'Reds' (1981)."

Posterazzi Splendor In The Grass Warren Beatty 1961 Photo Poster Print, (16 x 20)

That quote/fact was lifted from the TTC article list mentioned above.  Kudos to Mr. Beatty for his achievements.  Even so ... his movies never made it to my 'Oh I'm dying to watch or re-watch this list!"  However, if I were going to pick a classic film starring Warren Beatty, it would have to be “Splendor in the Grass” (1961).   Yes, the fact that Natalie Wood was the leading lady had a lot to do with it.

Warren Beatty | Biography, Movies, Sister, Wife, & Facts | Britannica ~ https://t.co/xGejmb6Toa
*Img: #WarrenBeatty & #NatalieWood in a promotional photograph for Splendor in the Grass (1961), directed by Elia Kazan. © 1961 Warner Brothers, Inc. #classicmovies #Entertainment pic.twitter.com/iajOol40BC

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) May 5, 2022

War Movie Classics: The Dirty Dozen

If you are making a list of greatest war movies, The Dirty Dozen (1967) has to go on that list.  All-star cast. All-star action!  “The Dirty Dozen” is a war movie classic. 

Image credit.

This is my movie review.

Traditionally, in the United States, around Independence Day (4th of July), Memorial Day (celebrated the last Monday in May), Veterans Day (November 11), etc. television stations air military movies that are supposed to foster American patriotism. At one time FoxNews.com published a list of “The 30 Greatest War Movies of All Time”. Some of the movies I picked were on their list. Some were not. But they're still on my list for great war movies.

The Dirty Dozen (1967) is one of them. 

This is a great movie about 12 convicts being given a second chance to start life over if they serve their country on a military mission and of course if they survive. I still enjoy it every time I watch it. These two lines are the ones I still remember. 

*** (Background for the scene: There was an obvious commotion coming from the room; the definite sound of men fighting, or rather … settling their differences in the only way men know how.)

- Sergeant Clyde Bowren: [as Major Reisman exits the room ] : Whats going on, sir?

- Major John Reisman: Oh, the gentleman from the South had a question about the dining arrangements. He and his comrades are discussing place settings now.

***
Cracked up (laughed) when the major said that. Some say the movie Inglorious Basterds was inspired by this movie. Well it may have been inspired but it was nowhere near as good as this classic starring some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few. They tried to do sequels but they are not as good as the original. 

No argument that it's a classic.  But some say the movie “Inglourious Basterds ” was inspired by this movie. Inspired?  Perhaps.  Better than?  Not even close!!  Have no doubt Quentin Tarantino, the Director of "Inglorious Basterds", would say "Amen!" to my comparison.  This classic film starred some of my favorite actors: Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Jim Brown, to name a few.

Original source

 * * * * * * * * IN MEMORY OF * * * * * * * * 

Remembering the stars who are no longer with us. 

* Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924 – August 29, 1987) 

* Charles Bronson (November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) 

* Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) 

* Jim Brown  (February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023)

***

Childhood Memories : Favorite TV Shows and Entertainers: Comedian Red Skelton

When I was a child, some kind person gave our family a TV set. We couldn't afford to buy one. Television was the Internet back in my day. A technological marvel and with it you could reach the world! If you grew up in my generation then you probably had certain shows you watched religiously. One of the shows that I never missed was "The Red Skelton Show". I loved that show! I loved that man! I loved it when he used to say “Good night and may God bless”. I especially loved the character Freddie the Hobo. I found a quote today that made me wonder. I had never thought Red Skelton in any other light than a successful (wealthy) comedian; a popular but humble celebrity who everybody loved. I couldn't imagine him as a man who struggled and had a hard life. Maybe that's why the hobo character was so easy for him to play. Maybe it was him. This quote makes me see him in a brand new light and now I admire and like him even more! "I left home because I was hungry." ~ Red Skelton (1913 - 1997) ( via @BrainyQuote )

Richard Red Skelton (July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997)

Visit the Official Red Skelton page

* Original source

In Memory Of: Prince (1958 – 2016) ~ It's the 21st century. Do Record Stores Still Exist?

If I were to sing "My Favorite Things", the song made popular by Julie Andrews in the movie "Sound of Music", the song would have to have a lyric about going to record store.  LOL. ☺ One of my favorite things that I really used to enjoy when I was growing up (from my childhood, age 10, into my adulthood when I was about 30-something) was going into a record store. 

My kids can't relate to that. My older kids would find their music online and burn a CD. My younger kids would find music online and create MP3 playlists. 

Do record stores still exist?  

Does anybody go to record stores any more?  

Evidently some people still do. Of course, you have to give people a reason to come and physically shop there. Like promise that a certain artist will be there on a certain day to sign copies of discs or vinyl record albums. Some stores offer live performances of Indie artists.  There is one record store that has a claim to fame that no other record store can boast.

* * *

Do you know the last record store that Prince visited?

Image credit:  Prince., "Controversy" ~ Amazon.com

Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, MN, was the last record store that the legendary American singer-songwriter-musician Prince ever visited. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (Source: ABC News)

Another little bit of trivia about this record store? The Jimi Hendrix Experience released their third and final album, Electric Ladyland, the same year this record store opened its doors to the public: 1968.  They have no intentions of going out of business. But they do have an official website for online shopping. 

So in response to the question "Do record stores still exist?", the answer is "Yes!"

The 10 Greatest Record Stores in the United States SPIN

In Memory Of:

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) 

His death was the result of an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

Hit n Run Phase Two is the thirty-ninth and final studio album by American recording artist Prince and the last to be released within his lifetime.

HITNRUN Phase Two by Prince ~ https://t.co/FWTkovzkGI via @amazon ... This was the last album released before his death in 2016. @amazonmusic #music #musiclovers #PrimeDay ... * Prince Rogers Nelson (1958 - 2016) pic.twitter.com/k36bOrMidV

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) June 15, 2021

The Beautiful Ones by Prince ~ https://t.co/0vtL8nmyF6 via @amazon ... #books #audiobooks Editor's Pick for Best #Biographies & #Memoirs #giftideas #primeday
Free with Audible trial. Listen to sample. @audible_com #musiclegends #musicicons @prince pic.twitter.com/kZUtaKCyrO

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) June 15, 2021

Goodfellas: REMASTERED - Ending Scene | My Tribute to Ray Liotta (1954-2022)

I am in the habit of checking my Twitter account every day. It is usually the first online in the morning. I don't use Twitter as my reliable news source. But every once in a while they will tweet a bona fide fact about a current event that blows me away like the death of Ray Liotta (pronounced "Lee-oh-ta"). Only 67 years old. 

I once heard him say in an interview that he was adopted. ("Due to extreme poverty, the biological parents abandoned Ray immediately after his birth. ..." ~  Source)  That me think: So? Is he really Italian or was he just raised Italian? I know.  It's a stupid thought. But hey! Don't we all think stupid thoughts? No matter his biological heritage, it looks like his parents, Mary and Alfred Liotta, raised him to be a real good guy; not a fictional "Goodfella". Although ... I must say that he played the part of a gangster quite well. He was cast as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's movie "GoodFellas" (1990). In my humble opinion, it's his most memorable role.  It's a cult classic and won 6 Academy Awards.

Image credit

 

In Memory of: Raymond Allen Liotta (1954-2022)

American actor and producer

RELATED LINKS:

• Ray Liotta Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements | The Famous People
• Ray Liotta - Early Life, Movies & 'Goodfellas' | Biography
• Ray Liotta Biography, Life, Interesting Facts | Sun Signs

Throwback Thursday: Vanessa Williams: The Right Stuff ...

Remember Vanessa Williams? 1st African-American Miss America who had to give up her crown like the next day to the 1st runner up who also conveniently happened to be an African-American. 

Ms. Williams was Miss New York and the other girl whose name nobody really remembers was Miss New Jersey. Ms. Williams had to relinquish her crown when nude photos of her were published in Penthouse. Booo! Booo!! Whatever! That contest was rigged anyway. That's my opinion and you're not going to change it with facts.

Anyway … after all the brew ha ha died down, the young lady had gotten married and her husband … at the time … was instrumental in helping her get an album released. Here is one of the most popular songs. Sharing the YouTube video because it's a great pick for throwback or Throwback Thursday. Enjoy!!

Vanessa Williams - Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years

The Best Of Vanessa Williams 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection by Vanessa Williams for $6.99 https://t.co/YtyA4STNbe #music #musiclovers #entertainment #throwback #throwbackThursday #musicstreaming #MP3 #MissAmerica #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/ql1QkXmCL8

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) (@cmoneyspinner) February 20, 2020

#oldmovies #watchlist https://t.co/TzFSDUu7ho

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) (@cmoneyspinner) February 20, 2020

Vanessa Williams - The Right Stuff - 7" Vinyl 45 Record by Vanessa Williams https://t.co/wKkPoafS6x #vinylrecords #throwback #vintage @goshoppingbees

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) (@cmoneyspinner) February 20, 2020

Entertainment: Music: Throwback: Vanessa L. Williams : The Right Stuff (1988) https://t.co/qDHyAflSFc via @cmoneyspinner #giftsformusiclovers #ThrowbackThursday #topalbums https://t.co/SnUEQt8xdA pic.twitter.com/N4k8XeQ3pP

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 20, 2020

Young Accordionists Carry on the Conjunto Musical Tradition

Even though Weird Al Yankovic made the accordion a cool musical instrument, I still don't know many musicians who play. Especially, not young kids. However, it was no surprise for me to find young accordion players in Texas! 

Christopher Ramirez and Ashly Nicole Molina. (Pictured)

Learn about their musical journey.

Read more: Texas’s Best Young Accordionists Carry on a Conjunto Legacy– Texas Monthly 

German settlers brought the accordion to Texas and northern Mexico in the mid-1800s. The Mexicans quickly adopted it and used to make their own style of music; a music genre called “conjunto”. Ramón Ayala is known as the “King of the Accordion". He inspired a generation of youngsters to carry on this musical tradition.

RamónAyala - Un Rinconcito en el Cielo 

In Memory Of: Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020)

Today is August 29, 2020, and I was not expecting this shocking news.  A brilliant talent has departed this life far too soon. Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020). He chose his acting roles carefully. No doubt he will be remembered for being the first black superhero portrayed in American films. He was Black Panther.

Other roles he played he chose likely because they were people he admired and praised: 

• Thurgood Marshall (first African-American Supreme Court justice), 
• James Brown (known as the hardest working man in show business and the godfather of soul), and 
• Jackie Robinson (first African American to play in Major League Baseball).  

Mr. Boseman suffered quietly for 4 years but in the end, lost his life to colon cancer. "Deaths from colorectal cancer. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined. It's expected to cause about 53,200 deaths during 2020." (Source: Colorectal Cancer Statistics | How Common Is Colorectal Cancer?)  

As expected tributes to this young man are pouring in via Twitter.

Chadwick Boseman quote worth remembering:  "press on with pride and press on with purpose.”

pic.twitter.com/aZ2JzDf5ai

— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2020

During his commencement speech at our beloved Howard, my friend Chadwick Boseman said, "press on with pride and press on with purpose.”

In his name, let’s keep fighting. pic.twitter.com/HU8Q6yQaJ4

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020