Tag: Broadway

Jan312013 by Chris Holmes2 Comments
GFS Home Movies: Dames (1934)

GFS Home Movies: Dames (1934)

Movies
I have made no secret of the fact that I don't care for movie musicals. But I think what I'm discovering over the years is that there's a certain type of musical I don't like. I can't put my finger on it yet, but there has to be some sort of connection between the musicals I do like -- Chicago, Singin' in the Rain, and now Dames. I came across Dames (Warner Bros., 1934) while researching a piece of Popdose on the Flamingos' version of "I Only Have Eyes for You." Turns out that the song -- composed by Harry Warren and Al Dubin -- was introduced in Dames as one of the film's showpiece musical numbers. And man, what a showpiece it is! More on that in a bit. (more…)
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Jun142012 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
Time Capsule: “That Crazy Bop Joke Craze” (Life Magazine, 1952)

Time Capsule: “That Crazy Bop Joke Craze” (Life Magazine, 1952)

Capsules, History
In its September 29, 1952 issue Life magazine ran a piece on a new fad called "bop jokes," which sounds absolutely awful. When you think of the popular cultural image of bebop jazz fans of the early '50s (some of which went on to become the first Beatniks), you imagine someone really hip and into swingin' tunes, but sort of detached and reserved at the same time. I guess dignity is implicit. But not so much here. From the article, with photography by Yale Joel: From the world of jazz musicians and bebop players has come a new brand of humor: the bop joke. Until the last few months bop jokes have been limited, perhaps mercifully, to people in show business. But now bop humor is becoming something of a fad, and Life, feeling its readers should be warned of this wayward form of wit, offers a...
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Oct262011 by Chris Holmes2 Comments
Watching Glee has become reverse porn for me

Watching Glee has become reverse porn for me

TV & Radio
Yeah I watch Glee, so what? YOU CAN'T JUDGE ME! I've been a fan since the pilot episode, although I want to make it clear that I am not a Gleek. When those plucky New Directions kids busted out Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" at the end of that episode even a cynical bastard like me felt good about it. Those good feelings carried through for most of the first season and I enjoyed the show's mix of humor, darkness, and unabashedly hammy musical performances. But as the second season wore on, I found myself losing interest in the musical numbers. I'm not that big a Broadway fan to begin with, and my tolerance for movie musicals is only slightly higher. After awhile I just feel worn down by the over-the-top earnestness of Broadway music, and it all just feels so corny. So that's a pro...
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Sep132011 by Chris Holmes1 Comment
Pop Culture Capsule — Superman through the Years

Pop Culture Capsule — Superman through the Years

Capsules, Featured Posts, History
Since his debut in 1938, Superman has become an American icon and has appeared in countless media adaptations. Well not countless, but a lot. More than I count. To show the evolution of Superman, here's a photo/image gallery representing how the Last Son of Krypton has appeared over the decades. Action Comics #1, June 1938 (art by Joe Shuster) Superman Fleischer Studios animated films (1941 - 1943) Superman, serial film starring Kirk Alyn (1948) Adventures of Superman, TV series starring George Reeves (1952 - 1958) Superman (Vol. 1) #99, August 1955 (art by Al Plastino) It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, Broadway musical starring Bob Holiday (1966) Super Friends, animated TV series (1973) Superman, film starring Christopher Reeve (1978) Lois &a...
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Jun152007 by Chris HolmesNo Comments
The guilty pleasures of Staying Alive

The guilty pleasures of Staying Alive

Movies
How can you tell the difference between a simply bad movie and a guilty pleasure? Well for one, when watching a guilty pleasure you may experience at least one out-of-body moment where you scream at yourself, "Dude, what the hell?! There has to be something better on TV right now. Infomercials, Leave It to Beaver reruns...anything!" And yet, objectivity is lost and you keep watching anyway. Such was my dilemma as I stayed up way too late in my hotel room last night watching the 1983 John Travolta magnum opus Staying Alive. I was conscious of watching a terrible film yet powerless to stop myself. I'm not sure what was most compelling - the cheesy dialogue, the horribly dated dance moves and costumes, or the fact that Frank Stallone not only dominated the soundtrack but actually had...
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