Eddie Bracken 100/Pinocchio 75 -- February 7, 2015

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Comic actor Eddie Bracken was born 100 years ago today, on 07-February-1915.  He was a member of director Preston Sturges' stock company, appearing in The Miracle of Morgan Creek and Hail the Conquering Hero.  I remember being surprised to see him in Baby's Day Out in 1994. 

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75 years ago today, Walt Disney released his second animated feature, loosely based on Carlo Collodi's  Pinocchio.  Notice that the poster mentions the Multiplane, developed at the Disney studios. 

Educational -- Inspiring -- Clean -- Thrilling -- Historical -- April 28, 2014

On 25-March-1916, heavyweight champion Jess Willard, the Pottawatomie Giant, defended his title against Frank Moran, the Fighting Dentist at Madison Square Garden.  Willard won in 10 lifeless rounds.  This ad is from the 08-April 1916 Moving Picture World. 

Willard, a cowboy who didn't start boxing until he was 27, was, at the time he won the title from Jack Johnson in 1915, the oldest (33), tallest (6' 6 1/2") and heaviest (235 pounds) heavyweight champ.  There was some suspicion that Johnson might have thrown the fight, but no firm evidence. 

Willard lost the title to Jack Dempsey in 1919.  After a short retirement, Willard returned to the ring and fought well until 1923. 

After Moran left the ring, he became an actor.  He was a member of Preston Sturges' stock company, appearing in most of his movies. 

From the New York Evening World, 27-March-1916.

Stanford Theater #2 -- January 8, 2014

The Stanford Theater on University Avenue in Palo Alto is one of the few surviving repertory movie theaters left in Northern California.  In November and December 2013, they held a Preston Sturges and Marx Brothers festival with several interesting combinations, like The Lady Eve and Monkey Business. 

I moved this movie theater series over from my other blog, The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion.  Here are the entries from this series on that blog.