Happy Birthday Alice Faye

Alice Faye was born on May 5, 1915 in Hell's Kitchen, New York.  She is a favorite of mine.  I love her movies from the 30s and 40s.  My personal favorite is HELLO FRISCO HELLO.  I also love ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND.  She is stunning in LILLIAN RUSSELL.

The stories of most of her movies are simple.  I explain them like this.  Faye falls for a guy--often John Payne or Don Ameche.  They are too stupid to fall for her and they go for someone else that completely takes advantage of them.  Faye's character saves the guy from himself.

Despite, or maybe because of the simple plot, I love her movies.  Faye is beautiful and has even a more beautiful voice.  She sings songs from Irving Berlin, Gershwin, and Cole Porter. 

Tonight TCM is showing one of her films--ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE.   They don't show her films often.  Take advantage.

As to any Nebraska connection, she worked for Fox Studios under Zanuck.  He ended up treating her badly in FALLEN ANGEL, and she quit.  Zanuck sent her gifts, such as cars, but she wouldn't return. 

Another Nebraska connection is that Henry Fonda co-starred with her in LILLIAN RUSSELL.

Nebraska Nellie

Parry Lodge

I'm staying at Parry Lodge in Kanab.  Kanab calls itself Little Hollywood.  Many TV and movie stars have stayed here and the rooms are named after some of the stars that have stayed here.  I'm in the Peter Lawford room.  Last fall I stayed in the Julie Newmar room.

The lobby is filled with photos of its movie star and TV star guests.  Gunsmoke was filmed near here.  I saw some of the old site this morning.  I also saw the remains of the town in the valley at the end of Westward the Women--one of my favorite movies.

This is a great way to make my way to the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival this week.  Jane Fonda, Mitzi Gaynor, and many others will be there.  Go to www.tcm.com/festival for more information.  There will be photos and video as the festival  occurs.

Nebraska Nellie

Bryce Canyon National Park

This morning I left Kanab and drove north  77 miles to Bryce Canyon National Park.  This entire area of the state is beautiful.  The highest point of Bryce is 9100 feet above sea level.                                                                                                                                                                            

Ordinarily, there is a $25 charge to go to the park, but this is National Parks Week and admission is free.

There are 18 view points and they are beautiful.  I have lots of photos.  My favorite spot was the Natural Bridge.  It reminds me of Arches National Park.  I have also been to Zion National Park.  This state has 5 national parks and many more national monuments and forests.

Nebraska Nellie

Monument Valley

Sunday, I drove from Tucumcari, New Mexico to Kanab, Utah.  I took an out of the way route and went through Monument Valley.  Many westerns have been filmed there.  John Wayne and John Ford   did several.

I took a lot of photos and plan to post  a number of them tomorrow.  Utah is an amazing state and the red rock formations were fabulous.  You can see why Ford chose that location for his films.

Nebraska Nellie

TCM film festival adventure begins today!

For the fourth year, I am heading to Hollywood for the film festival.  More  films and movie stars to see.  I left Lincoln this morning and drove through Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and I'm staying in Tucumcari, New Mexico in the Historic Route 66 Motel.  Nothing fancy but the price is great.   I just need a bed and a shower and I'll be set to head on to Monument Valley to see where many great westerns were made in the past.  Can't wait to see it.

The weather was in the 20's when I left Lincoln but was in the 60's this afternoon as I drove through Dodge City, Kansas.  I finished my LA Noir audiobook on the history of LA from about 1915 to 1978 covering the criminals and the police.   Very interesting.

Now I'm listening to a book about the informal history of the 1920's.

I hope to have some great photos of Monument Valley then on to Kanab, Utah for a couple of nights.

Nebraska Nellie

Happy Birthday, Harold Lloyd.

Lloyd was born 120 years ago today in Burchard, Nebraska.  What wonderful silent films he made for us.

A Gentle New Year to All

One of my dear friends wished me a gentle new year and it seems so appropriate.  For so many of my close friends and family, 2012 had many challenges.  I want to start 2013 on a positive note and wish you all a gentle new year.  I'm sure we'll all have new things that trouble us but I have often felt that the end of a year is a cut off point that can give us a fresh start. 

Nebraska Nellie