Tom's Jimmy Stewart Blog

"The Shopworn Angel" to air on TCM this Saturday

Monday, May 19, 2014 7:29 PM Posted by Tom
, 8 comments

This Saturday, the Turner Classic Movies channel will be airing a little gem of a film called The Shopworn Angel (1938) starring Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, and Hattie McDaniel.

I wrote about this movie in the recent James Stewart Blogathon, and if you haven't seen the film, this Saturday's your chance!

The movie is scheduled to air at 7:30 AM (Eastern) / 4:30 AM (Pacific), which is kinda early. So you might want to set your DVRs or VCRs to record it.

Check out the Jimmy Stewart blogathon now underway

Monday, April 14, 2014 7:13 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Blogathons , 0 comments

There is a great blogathon underway this week - check out all the entries in The James Stewart Blogathon all this week hosted by the Classic Film & TV Cafe.

You can view the complete blogathon schedule here

Haitus

Sunday, May 26, 2013 11:43 AM Posted by Tom
, 0 comments

Dear Readers and Subscribers,

I'm sorry I haven't been posting too often on the blog regularly.

I did not forget Jimmy Stewart's birthday but I was not able to work on a post last week.

Don't worry - there are no plans to abandon this blog!

If anyone has any ideas for a post or would like to be a guest blogger please let me know.

Cheers,

Tom

Jimmy Stewart in Boise, Idaho

Yesterday on her blog, Patti shared some interesting history about Jimmy's time in Boise.

In 1943, Jimmy was an Army Air Corp instructor at Gowen Field in Boise. During his time there, he played the organ for the Egyptian Theater's silent film showings and - possibly - watched some movies.

Courtesy: http://boiseclassicmovies.com

Below is a photo of how the Egyptian originally looked when it opened in 1927.

courtesy: http://www.egyptiantheatre.net/about/

The theater had numerous names over the years such as The Fox theater and The Ada theater.

Here's how the theater looks today, sans the vertical sign.

courtesy: http://www.egyptiantheatre.net/about/

Patti noted that she will be attending a screening of Casablanca tonight (Nov 1) at the Egyptian.

Could she be sitting in the very seat that Jimmy Stewart once sat?

Sight & Sound names "Vertigo" as Top Film of All Time

Sunday, August 5, 2012 9:40 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Vertigo , 5 comments

Though I'm a little surprised that Citizen Kane didn't top the list (as it did almost every time they've taken the poll), I'm not complaining either. After all, Vertigo stars none other than Jimmy Stewart!!!!!

Here's what classic movie writer Shawn Dwyer had to say about this on About.com's Classic Movie blog today:

Every ten years since 1952, the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound magazine has published its Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time. And every list published featured Orson Welles' Citizen Kane as its top film. Until now.

The poll, which saw over 800 critics, academics and film industry personnel vote, has now picked a new number one: Alfred Hitchcock's dark psychological thriller, Vertigo (1958), starring James Stewart and Kim Novak.

Now many will argue over the merits of the poll and endlessly debate why Welles' reign finally ended. Perhaps Citizen Kane fatigue finally set in, or maybe people finally realized Citizen Kane is technically brilliant, but emotionally distant.

Of course, Hitchcock's film has its share of detractors, namely among more feminist-minded critics who decry the film as flaunting male obsession with women. And there are those - including yours truly - who don't even consider Vertigo to be Hitchcock's best work, let alone the best film of all time (I'd vote for Rear Window myself)

Also included in Sight & Sound's top ten are Stanely Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), John Ford's The Searchers (1956) and Federico Fellini's 8 1/2 (1963).

So yeah, even though I'd probably rather see Rear Window top the list before Vertigo, I'm definitely not complaining!!! Congrats!!

Tony Martin (1913-2012)

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 6:09 AM Posted by Tom
, 0 comments

I was saddened to hear of the passing of singer/actor Tony Martin via Laura's blog (her tribute is here). He lived a very long and full life of 98 years, and left us with some wonderful songs and movie memories, including a memorable performance from Ziegfeld Girl (below clip)

Filmography:
1936 Follow the Fleet (uncredited minor role)

1936 Back to Nature

1936 Sing, Baby, Sing (with Alice Faye)

1936 Pigskin Parade

1936 Banjo on My Knee

1937 The Holy Terror

1937 Sing and Be Happy

1937 You Can't Have Everything (with Alice Faye)

1937 Life Begins in College

1937 Ali Baba Goes to Town (with Eddie Cantor)

1938 Sally, Irene and Mary (with Alice Faye)

1938 Kentucky Moonshine (lead role)

1938 Up the River (with Preston Foster)

1938 Thanks for Everything (with Jack Haley)

1939 Winner Take All (with Gloria Stuart)

1940 Music in My Heart (with Rita Hayworth)

1941 Ziegfeld Girl (All-star cast, including Jimmy Stewart)

1941 The Big Store (with the Marx Brothers)

1946 Till the Clouds Roll By (All-star cast)

1948 Casbah (lead role)

1951 Two Tickets to Broadway

1953 Here Come the Girls (with Bob Hope)

1953 Easy to Love (with Esther Williams)

1954 Deep in My Heart

1955 Hit the Deck (All-star cast)

1956 Quincannon, Frontier Scout (lead role)

1957 Let's Be Happy (with Vera-Ellen)

Mr. Martin is being remembered as: "Singer", "Crooner", "Dapper Entertainer", and "Star of Records, Radio, TV, & Movies".

Singer Tony Martin dies at age 98 (Reuters)

Crooner Tony Martin dies at 98 (Associated Press)

TONY MARTIN — STAR OF RECORDS, RADIO, TV & MOVIES — DEAD AT 98 (Studio Briefing)

Tony Martin, dapper entertainer whose records sold millions in 1940s and ’50s, dies (The Washington Post)

RIP Tony Martin (Boot Hill)

Review of Magic Town (Link)

Monday, July 16, 2012 8:10 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Magic Town , 0 comments

Jeff from Did You See That One? reviews Magic Town--

Check out the review here.

http://didyouseethatone.com/2012/07/11/jimmy-stewart-magic-town-1947/

A great review of "Call Northside 777"

Monday, March 26, 2012 8:35 PM Posted by Tom
, 1 comments

Patti has a great review of this movie on her blog today. Check out the post here:

http://classicmoviesnippets.blogspot.com/2012/03/call-northside-777-1948.html

Ben Gazzara (from Anatomy of a Murder) passes away

Friday, February 3, 2012 6:17 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Actor: Ben Gazzara , Anatomy of a Murder , 2 comments

Stage and screen actor Ben Gazzara has passed away at the age of 81.

A Broadway veteran originating the lead roles in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and A Hatful of Rain, he was also an Emmy winning television actor.

Perhaps his most memorable film role was in Anatomy of a Murder, where his character is defended by the lawyer played by Jimmy Stewart.

His other film credits include They All Laughed (1981), Husbands (1970), Capone (1975), The Spanish Prisoner (1997), and Paris je t'aime (2006).

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/movies/ben-gazzara-actor-of-stage-and-screen-dies-at-81.html
RIP

Events for It's a Wonderful Life's 65th Anniversary

Saturday, December 3, 2011 10:37 PM Posted by Tom
, 2 comments

Seneca Falls, New York is having its annual IAWL fest.

Events start this week; more information here:

http://www.therealbedfordfalls.com/events.php

Later this month, Karolyn Grimes will be in the Chicagoland area screening IAWL at Hollywood Palms Theater
http://www.hollywoodpalmscinema.com/events/2011/12/16/special-events/live-in-person-karolyn-zuzu-bailey-grimes-hosting-it-s-a-wonderful-life/

Jimmy Stewart films at the Stanford Theater (Palo Alto, California)

Sunday, November 6, 2011 7:39 PM Posted by Tom
, 2 comments

In the next two months the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto California will be showing a number of Jimmy Stewart films on the big screen. Source: Stanford Calendar

November 9-11

Winchester '73 (1950) 7:30

Call Northside 777 (1948) 5:30, 9:15

November 19-20

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

3:05, 7:30

December 21-23

The Shop Around the Corner (1940) 7:30

December 24

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

9:00

Reading Icons: James Stewart

Saturday, October 22, 2011 12:57 PM Posted by Unknown
Labels: Belles Bookshelf , icons , Jimmy Stewart , LIFE magazine , reading , 2 comments

This is a great post re-blogged from Belle's Bookshelf:

Belle's Bookshelf: Reading Icons: James Stewart:

"I'd like people to remember me as someone who was good at his job and seemed to mean what he said." - James Stewart

Happy Birthday Ginger Rogers!

Saturday, July 16, 2011 8:09 AM Posted by Tom
Labels: Ginger Rogers , 1 comments

Hooray! Today is the 100th anniversary of Ginger's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

She was born on July 16 1911

Jimmy Stewart co-starred with her in Vivacious Lady in 1938, a great movie if you haven't seen it!

Check out a baby photo of Ginger here at Dawn's blog

Events at the Jimmy Stewart Museum

Friday, May 20, 2011 6:01 AM Posted by Tom
Labels: Museum , 5 comments

The JS museum has some really neat events coming up. (see the events page of the museum's site)

In addition to next month's Jimmy Stewart Festival, there is a new exhibit at the museum:

"Happy Birthday Jimmy" focuses on the Indiana Community's celebrations and the visit to Indiana of Mr. Stewart in May of 1983 for the dedication of the statue in his honor. Many local people are pictured in the photo essay. (from the press release)

Also, a new audio tour:

The Museum is also pleased to launch it's new Orpheo Audio Tour. This audio tour has been funded by the Indiana County Endowment and the Stewart Family Foundation of California.

The hand-held units guide visitors through a highlighted four of the Museum lasting about 45 minutes. The voice of the tour is Shannon Engemann, noted voice artist. Ms. Engemann and Mr. Gregg Paul, long time counsel to the Stewart Family attended the opening event over the weekend. The audio units will rent for $5. In addition to the regular admission. (from the press release)

I wish I were able to attend but if you are close to the Indiana Pennsylvania area I would check it out!

Farley Granger (1925-2011)

Monday, March 28, 2011 10:15 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Farley Granger , Rope , 1 comments

Farley Granger, Jimmy Stewart's co-star in Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, has passed away at the age of 85. A Hollywood star since the early 1940s, he was best known for Rope and Strangers on a Train, two of Hitchcock's best films.
(News article from CBS-Los Angeles)

an autograph from Mr. Granger from 2006

Mr Graner's other film credits include the WWII dramas The North Star (1943) and The Purple Heart (1944), both with Dana Andrews, Small Town Girl (1953) with Jane Powell, O.Henry's Full House (1952), and Hans Christian Andersen (1952) with Danny Kaye.

Thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.

Jim Carrey impersonates Jimmy Stewart on Saturday Night Live

Sunday, March 20, 2011 4:32 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Jimmy Stewart impressions , Saturday Night Live , 3 comments

Jim Carrey hosted the final show of the 1995-96 season, the 21st season. The show aired on Saturday May 19, 1996, just one day before Jimmy's 88th birthday.

The sketch where Carrey impersonates Jimmy occurred during the "The Joe Pesci Show" sketch, which was a reoccurring "talk-show" type sketch featuring Jim Breuer impersonating Joe Pesci's character from Goodfellas. Most of the humor from these sketches involves the talk show host's "mob connections" and penchant for stabbing people, just like the character from Goodfellas. All of these sketches - including this one - usually contain several uses of Italian stereotypes, which I don't find very funny. Here's how the sketch went:

At the start of the sketch, Joe Pesci announces that his first guest is his "boyhood idol" Jimmy Stewart.

Jim Carrey walks out as a frail Jimmy.

"Hello, Johnny", says Jim Carrey (as Jimmy)

Jim Carrey then pulls out a piece of paper and announces he has a poem to recite, just like Jimmy Stewart used to do on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show.

I didn't think anyone in the audience would remember that, but I guess they did because there were huge laughs at this and throughout the sketch.

Then Joe Pesci announces his next guest is Jim Carrey, and out comes Mark McKinney impersonating Jim Carey's "Ace Ventura" character, in costume. It's funny to see the Ace Ventura character next to Jim Carrey and how they interact.

"Smoke alot of dope, do you, son?" asks Jimmy Stewart of Ace Ventura.

Ace Ventura then does a mean-spirited impression of Jimmy Stewart which causes Joe Pesci to take out his baseball bat and clobber him. Jimmy Stewart says he doesn't like "gratuitous violence" and Joe Pesci responds by clobbering him over the head, too.

He gets up, and Pesci attempts to hit him again but Jimmy grabs the bat.

"Hey Harvey! Get Him!", shouts Jimmy Stewart.

"Who's Harvey?" says Joe Pesci, looking around.

Jimmy Stewart then clobbers him with a baseball bat several times,

including once in the crotch.

Then he comes after the cameraman, hits the camera, and says,

"Never underestimate the power of the elderly!"

and he walks off the set singing "Happy Birthday to me!"

--------------

I remember watching the show back then (and I was a huge Jimmy Stewart fan even back then) and was really surprised that he was mentioned on the show. It's kind of a stupid sketch, really. And vulgar (I don't think Mr. Stewart would like it) I supposed kudos could go to the writers for giving Jimmy a little nod and letting the public know he was still around. Also I always like seeing Jim Carrey do Stewart. He did him once before on In Living Color.

Jimmy passed away the following year in 1997.

Robert Wagner impersonates Jimmy on "What's My Line?" (1957)

Friday, January 7, 2011 9:16 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Jimmy Stewart impressions , Robert Wagner , TV Shows , 3 comments

I just watched this funny clip off of You Tube - from "What's My Line" from 1957. Robert Wagner was the mystery guest and he disguises his voice (as Jimmy and other stars) as he answers the panelist's questions.

Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 25, 2010 8:18 AM Posted by Tom
, 2 comments

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas season

(Above: autographed photo from Ms. Karolyn Grimes "Zuzu" , who
appeared in person at a screening and
Q&A on 12/19/10 in a Chicagoland theater)

Saturday Night Live spoofs "It's A Wonderful Life" again

Monday, December 20, 2010 7:53 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: It's A Wonderful Life , Jimmy Stewart impressions , Saturday Night Live , spoofs , 4 comments

This past weekend Saturday Night Live had another funny spoof of It's A Wonderful Life that featured Jewish characters and set at Hanukkah.

You can watch the entire program here from Hulu.
The spoof comes in close to the end. Set the marker to 36:25 and play from there.
(you have to sit through some commercials)

Jason Sudeikis as Jimmy Stewart/George Bailey

Paul Brittan, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig

Guest Star Jeff Bridges as the Rabbi

Abby Elliot, Jason Sudeikis, Nasim Pedrad

Jimmy Stewart on Larry King in 1996

Saturday, December 18, 2010 9:29 PM Posted by Tom
Labels: Interviews , Larry King Talk Show , 0 comments

Well, the other day, Larry King's last program aired on CNN. His talk-show had been on CNN for 25 years. He had on many world leaders, news makers, and entertainment celebrities.

I remember Jimmy Stewart was on in the summer of 1996. I don't remember the date or month. But I know it was in 1996. This may have been Jimmy's final interview, and Larry King took some calls. I never saw the episode, but I heard clips of it on a local Chicago radio program the next day.

I'm not sure if it was a full hour interview or just a half hour. I didn't have cable or CNN so I would not have seen it anyway.

This was in the days before You Tube and digital recording, so it has been hard to find this episode on You Tube.

The local Chicago radio host was playing clips of the program because a prank caller called in at least two times during Jimmy's appearance, which really made me mad (and still does).

Larry King took some callers and a young prankster (probably a college frat boy 19 years old) was let on the air and asked, "Jimmy, you're so old, do you think you will ever die?". Then Larry King said, "I didn't hear that" and quickly moved on to the next caller. It was a really sick thing to do to a legend.

To make matters worse, the radio host was even laughing hysterically at the prank, too. I didn't like him for doing that because I love Jimmy Stewart so much.

That's my memory of Jimmy when he was on Larry King in 1996. Does anyone else remember this??

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