Peter Bogdanovich, RIP -- January 6, 2021

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Peter Bogdanovich has died. He was probably the first contemporary filmmaker I knew about. I read his interviews with older filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Howard Hawks. I saw Targets on Creature Features. 

The Last Picture Show was a big hit and it had Cybill Shepherd. I loved What's Up, Doc? and the scene with the window glass was shot down the street from where I grew up.  Paper Moon also did well. 

After that, he made some flops. I wish Nickelodeon had been a better movie. I didn't see many of his later movies. I was not impressed by The Cat's Meow. 

He had a busy career as an actor. I liked his appearances on TCM. 

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George A Romero, RIP -- July 19, 2017

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Director George A Romero has passed on.  I expect a plethora of zombie jokes. 

I first saw Night of the Living Dead on Creature Features, a late night horror show on KTVU Channel 2.  The movie scared the heck out of me, but also impressed me with its rough-hewn style.  It may have been the first independent film that I saw. 

Frankenstein -- October 29, 2015

I think Boris Karloff is the greatest interpreter of Frankenstein's Monster, in the 1931 Frankenstein and the 1935 Bride of Frankenstein.  I had a small reproduction of this poster in my room when I was growing up. I first saw both movies on Creature Features, a late night horror show on KTVU Channel 2, hosted by Bob Wilkins. 

George A Romero 75 -- February 4, 2015

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Happy 75th birthday to director George A Romero, who was born on 04-February-1940.  I first saw Night of the Living Dead on Creature Features, a late night horror show on KTVU Channel 2.  The movie scared the heck out of me, but also impressed me with its rough-hewn style.  It may have been the first independent film that I saw. 

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The Crimson Kiss of Dracula Will Thrill Them to the Core -- October 31, 2014

Moving Picture News, 06-December-1930

Happy Halloween, everyone.  Note that this ad for Dracula does not mention or show Bela Lugosi.  It does show one of my favorite character actors, Dwight Frye, who played Renfield. 

I think I first saw Dracula on Creature Features, a late night horror show on KTVU Channel 2.  Edward van Sloan's speech before the curtain made an impression on, as did Lugosi's performance.  It made me want to see more Universal horror films. 

Francis Ford Coppola 75 -- April 7, 2014

Francis Ford Coppola was born 75 years ago, on 07-April-1939.  I think the first movie of his that I saw was Dementia 13 on Creature Features, a late night horror show on KTVU Channel 2. 

I was too young to see The Godfather when it came out, but I read the Mad Magazine version over and over again. 

The first movie of his that I saw in a theater was The Conversation.  It was on a double bill with something totally unrelated.  I can't remember where I saw it. 

I saw Apocalypse Now  at the Strand, a Market Street house that was very popular with homeless people.  It seemed appropriate, especially when a character mentioned the unspeakable things going on in Kurtz's compound. 

I saw Hammett, which Coppola mostly reshot after Wim Wenders left the project, at the Metro on Union, I think.  I liked the book better. 

We saw The Cotton Club at the Bridge on Geary.  I liked it.  My then-fiancée, who tap dances, liked it.  Critics did not like it. 

I don't know how many times we saw "Captain EO", with Michael Jackson, at Disneyland. 

I've seen his other movies, including the three Godfathers on television.  I would like to see Godfather and Godfather Part 2 in a theater. 

We went to see Abel Gance's Napoleon, with a score by Coppola's father Carmine, at the Opera House. 

Coppola opened a restaurant in the Sentinel Building in North Beach.  Boss Abe Ruef had his office in the building. 

The photo of Coppola with his Godfather Academy Awards and the poster are from www.listal.com.