Chinese Theater to Close for Re-model

The Iconic Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. is closing tomorrow for an overhaul that will make it the largest I-Max theater today. The theater was built by showman Sid Gauman opened on May 18, 1927. The first movie was Cecil B. DeMille's "King of Kings". The art deco masterpiece has been the spot for Hollywood premieres for decades and was once the home of the Oscar's ceremony which now takes place at the theater next door. The theater's most famous feature is the forecourt when the stars have put the hand and foot prints in the cement. There is also a nice little collection of classic Hollywood costumes and props in the large Chinese inspired lobby.

The Pornographer's Daughter

Liberty Bradford Mitchell has a story to tell and its a wild one. Liberty tells her story on stage in her one woman or so show "The Pornographer's Daughter". The gist of the show is her dad was Artie Mitchell one of the infamous Mitchell Brothers.  Liberty grew up surrounded by the porn industry like it or not. She often didn't like it but she has been able to recognize that her past has made her who she is today.
The story of the Mitchell Brothers is the story of the sexual revolution. They started off making short nudie films but realized there was a void and they filled it. Their ground breaking movie "Behind the Green Door" changed the way pornography was perceived; to a point. These guys had lots of nerve and entered their film into the Cannes Film Festival and it was accepted.
During this time Artie Mitchell was married and had three kids with his Ivy league Boston Brahmin wife. Their oldest child was Liberty. Life with the Mitchell's was not like that of their neighbors in the suburbs. Booze, drugs and sex were just part of the business of being a Mitchell brother. These are also the same things that eventually had detrimental effects on the Mitchell Brothers' family. Liberty's parents eventually divorced and Liberty came to realize that life was not "Little House on the Prairie". The teenage years reinforced her feelings of being an outsider and she started using her mother's surname to hide the fact she was a Mitchell from the kids at school. She further removed herself from the family by going to a prep school on the east coast.
When it was time to go to college Liberty returned to California and to the Mitchell family fold. Times and the business at the Mitchell Brothers' O'Farrell Theater had changed. Drinking and drugs had taken their toll on the brothers' lives. There was paranoia and gold digging surrounding them. This eventually came to a tragic and shocking end. Jim Mitchell shot and killed his younger Artie.
This was not the end of Liberty's story. She and her family had to face a trial and the relentless press coverage. Behind all of the melodrama was a family shattered and feelings of hatred and betrayal.
Liberty tells her story with the assistance of a band "The Fluffers" and  archival film projections. "The Pornographer's Daughter" is a multi-media experience that allows the viewer a look behind the Mitchell's door.

Dial M for Marlene

A new play is opening in Hollywood written by Gary LeGault. "Dial M for Marlene" is a farce set in the Park Ave. apartment of a fading glamorous star. Based on a possibly actual event this comic play about two movie queens has lots of laughs. Is it true or is it a fantasy? Who is to say.
The hostess "Marlene" is performed by Victoria Valentino. A classically trained actress Ms Valentino first came into the national spot light as Playboy Magazine's Miss September 1963. The guest of honor in "Dial M for Marlene" is "Marilyn" performed by up and coming actress Ariane Bellamar. Ms. Bellamar is one of the stars of the upcoming ABC Family Channel's "Beverly Hills Nannies". These iconic blonds drink champagne and expose themselves to each other and the audience with tongue in cheek performances.
The play also has the supporting cast of Sophie Brabenec, Peter Cluff, Bruce Culpepper and Jeremy Ebenstein playing a variety of roles.
"Dial M for Marlene" opens on June 28th for a limited run ending July 15th. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved via phone at: (310) 360-7064.

Dark Shadows at Grauman's Chinese

Its Memorial Day weekend and Hollywood is packed. Sidewalks are filled to the curb with wandering tourists. This seemed like a good day to go to the movies. It was a great day for the Chinese Theater. The movie playing was Tim Burton's Dark Shadows; perfect movie for the Grauman's Chinese. Parking was going to be abominable but we had a trick up ours sleeve. There are little side streets tucked away off of Hollywood Blvd. your run of the mill tourist would never know. Score! Eureka a free spot and its a free spot! Off we go into the fray. The two and a half blocks to the theater from the car were an adventure. On a sunny Saturday in the summer season all humanity stops by for some fun. We wove our way over Charlie Sheen, Dolores Hope and Marin Sheen's sidewalk stars until we met Spiderman. He was right outside of the forecourt being photographed by people no longer interested in footprints. Naturally, we greeted him and passed on to the box office. $26 later we had our tickets in hand and charged head first into the fray of the forecourt towards the doors. The nice ticket guy tore our tickets and welcomed us into the lobby of Grauman's. Ornate is a mild word to describe the lobby of the theater. Over the top is a more apt phrasing. There is a lot of red and gold and oriental je ne sais quoi to take in. On either side of the candy counter are alcoves that lead to double doors. In the alcoves displayed in cases are costumes and jewelry from classic films. Bette Davis' dress and Elizabeth Taylor's jewels from Cleopatra. We entered and went down the stairs into the main theater selecting aisle "C".  The interior is even more elaborate and ornate. Lush one might say is a good description. A high, no a very high ceiling painted to the teeth covers the auditorium. The screen is covered by a lotus and bamboo drapery that parts when the previews start. The room went dark and "Dark Shadows" started. A fun Hollywood movie in the palace of Hollywood what better way to start the summer.