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This piece was originally published in Issue 5 of Notebook magazine as part of a broader exploration of the instructional form. The magazine is available via direct subscription or in select stores around the world.On October 18, 1962, Twa flight 801 from Rome touched down at New York’s Idlewild Airport. Among the passengers was an actress by the name of Dolores Hart, and she was more anxious on the ground than she was in the air. Hart was the star of MGM’s forthcoming sex romp, Come Fly With Me, about three airline hostesses looking to score rich husbands. The film had wrapped in Vienna in August, and Hart was scheduled for a grueling cross-country promotional campaign. But that wasn’t what had her anxious. Just days before her 24th birthday, Hart was wrestling with the idea of ditching the film industry and—despite smooching Elvis Presley in Loving You, defending a...

Until recently, the oldest entertainment program known to survive on color videotape was NBC’s An Evening with Fred Astaire, broadcast live on October 17, 1958.

But now, a rare color videotape of the Kraft Music Hall Starring Milton Berle that predates the Astaire special by nine days has been discovered. The tape will be shown at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum in Westwood on Saturday, February 24th at 7:30 Pm in a program that is free and open to the public.

“The Berle Kraft tape is the oldest known color videotape of an entertainment program,” said Mark Quigley, the John H. Mitchell Television Curator at the UCLA Film & Television Archive. “Entertainment” is a key distinction. The oldest known color tape is of the NBC Washington studios dedication ceremony on 05-22-1958.

“With the introduction of videotape technology in the broadcast industry starting in 1956, one of...

Marisa Pavan, the Italian actress and twin sister of Pier Angeli who received an Oscar nomination for her performance as the daughter of Anna Magnani’s seamstress in the 1955 drama The Rose Tattoo, has died. She was 91.

Pavan died Wednesday in her sleep at her home in Gassin, France, near Saint-Tropez, Margaux Soumoy, who wrote Pavan’s 2021 biography, Drop the Baby; Put a Veil on the Broad!, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Pavan also portrayed the French queen Catherine de’ Medici in Diane (1956), starring Lana Turner; an Italian girl who had an affair years ago with a corporate exec (Gregory Peck) in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956); and the love interest of a former cop (Tony Curtis) investigating the murder of a priest in the film noir The Midnight Story (1957).

In Paramount’s The Rose Tattoo (1955), an adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play that won four Tony Awards, including best play,...

Elvis Presley’s handlers found the formula that would keep his stardom solvent through the 1960s in this well-confected, calculatedly vacant star vehicle that Everybody liked and enjoyed in 1961. The coolest celeb in America ended up in some of the squarest, least-hip films of the era. Why do we like it so? Cutting through the fog of nostalgia reveals the appeal. The Hawaiian scenery is a knockout, plus there’s good support from Joan Blackman and especially Angela Lansbury, who humbles herself to play an idiot mother caricature for Mister ‘Rock-a-Hula.’

Blue Hawaii

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Paramount Presents

1961 / Color/ 1:85 widescreen / 101 min. / Street Date November 15, 2022 / Available from / 39.99

Starring: Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury, Nancy Walters, Roland Winters, John Archer, Howard McNear, Steve Brodie, Christian Kay, Iris Adrian, Hilo Hattie, Jenny Maxwell, Pamela Austin (Kirk), Darlene Tompkins, Jose De Vega, Frank Atienza, Ralph Hanalei, Gregory Gaye.

Cinematography: Charles Lang...

Batgirl Yvonne Craig. Batgirl Yvonne Craig dead at 78: Also featured in 'Star Trek' episode, Elvis Presley movies Yvonne Craig, best known as Batgirl in the 1960s television series Batman, died of complications from breast cancer on Monday, Aug. 17, '15, at her home in Pacific Palisades, in the Los Angeles Westside. Craig (born May 16, 1937, in Taylorville, Illinois), who had been undergoing chemotherapy for two years, was 78. Beginning (and ending) in the final season of Batman (1967-1968), Yvonne Craig played both Commissioner Gordon's librarian daughter Barbara Gordon and her alter ego, the spunky Batgirl – armed with a laser-beaming electric make-up kit “which will destroy anything.” Unlike semi-villainess Catwoman (Julie Newmar), Batgirl was wholly on the side of Righteousness, infusing new blood into the series' increasingly anemic Dynamic Duo: Batman aka Bruce Wayne (Adam West) and Boy Wonder Robin aka Bruce Wayne's beloved pal Dick Grayson (Burt Ward). “They chose...

The sitcom and feature writer, who was married to Hal Kanter for 70 years, has died. Doris Kanter died last month in Encino after a brief illness, the WGA said today. She was 95. Her writing credits include Chico And The Man, Night Court and the 1980 Beau Bridges sitcom United States. She also designed the colorful opening title credits for her husband groundbreaking 1968-71 series Julia, starring Diahann Carroll. A native of NYC, Doris Kanter started out working at Parents magazine in the 1930s. She married Hal Kanter in 1941 after he had been drafted into the Army. She also helped her husband in writing and editing – mainly comedy– for television and film. He died in 2011. Doris Kanter is survived by her three daughters, Lisa Shafer, Donna Kanter — a writer-director-producer who owns the Kanter Company — and Abigail Jaye; her granddaughter Kaleigh Shafer; and sons–in-law Anthony Shafer and Michael Jaye.

It was a very funny, sometimes touching, but mostly uproarious tribute Sunday afternoon at the Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills. The WGA West and the Writers Guild Foundation along with the Kanter family held a well produced and attended memorial for one of their most illustrious members, Hal Kanter, who passed away in November at age 92. The three-time Emmy winner (and seven time nominee) was also believed to be the only person ever to win all three of the Guild’s prestigious special honors – the Morgan Cox award for service to the WGA, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award, the Valentine Davies Award. And why not? As was very evident from this memorial, Kanter was one of the most versatile and productive comedy writers ever. He belonged to a golden era when that was possible. It’s hard to imagine a young writer today forging the same kind of long-lasting career Kanter,...

Emmy-winning comedy writer Hal Kanter, who passed away last November at age 92,  will be celebrated at a memorial tribute by the Writers Guild of America West on Sunday, May 6 in the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.  Kanter wrote for the Academy Awards for 33 years as well as the Emmys and for numerous radio and TV shows in his long career. He also was M.C. or spoke at such industry events as the Writers Guild and Directors Guild awards for many years. Kanter was also the creator of the TV show Julia, the

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'In Memoriam' montage also pays tribute to Steve Jobs, Sidney Lumet, Jane Russell and more fallen stars.

By Ryan J. Downey

Whitney Houston honored at the 84th Annual Academy Awards

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Billy Crystal introduced this year's "In Memoriam" montage with personal, heartfelt words about two Academy Awards producers who passed away in 2011, one of whom was Laura Ziskin, who produced on films like "Spider-Man" and "As Good as It Gets."

Esperanza Spalding, backed by the Southern California Children's Choir, sang a restrained and powerful version of "What a Wonderful World" as the clips played. The audience was asked to hold their applause until after the montage concluded, which they respectfully abided by. This prevented the morbid "applause-meter" phenomenon of years past, which seemed to unwittingly measure one fallen industry person's popularity against another.

The montage included a number of producers, costume designers, sound technicians and other departed industry folks,...

'In Memoriam' montage also pays tribute to Steve Jobs, Sidney Lumet, Jane Russell and more fallen stars.

By Ryan J. Downey

Whitney Houston honored at the 84th Annual Academy Awards

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Billy Crystal introduced this year's "In Memoriam" montage with personal, heartfelt words about two Academy Awards producers who passed away in 2011, one of whom was Laura Ziskin, who produced on films like "Spider-Man" and "As Good as It Gets."

Esperanza Spalding, backed by the Southern California Children's Choir, sang a restrained and powerful version of "What a Wonderful World" as the clips played. The audience was asked to hold their applause until after the montage concluded, which they respectfully abided by. This prevented the morbid "applause-meter" phenomenon of years past, which seemed to unwittingly measure one fallen industry person's popularity against another.

The montage included a number of producers, costume designers, sound technicians and other departed industry folks,...

When my wife and I moved to Los Angeles in 1983, and began to attend events around town, we had to pinch ourselves to realize that we were chatting with people whose work we’d admired for most of our lives. Two of them left our midst in December, and I haven’t had a chance to write about them until now. Hal Kanter, who lived to be 92, was one of the deans of comedy writers in Hollywood, a man with a résumé as long as it was diverse. He devised scripts for Crosby and Hope and Martin and Lewis. He helped write Bing Crosby’s radio show, created and produced TV series for George Gobel and Diahann Carroll (the ground-breaking Julia). He directed a handful of...

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Director and comedy writer known for his Elvis films and the hit TV series Julia

The director and writer Hal Kanter, who has died aged 92, was one of the great wits of Hollywood. He made his reputation as one of Bob Hope's principal writers, and for many years scripted the annual Oscar ceremonies (he shared Emmy awards in 1991 and 1992 for his work on the shows). He was also a huge influence on writers who followed him. He ended his 1999 autobiography, So Far, So Funny, with this: "If any of my work over the past 60 years has inspired, encouraged or motivated any young person to write comedy for radio, motion pictures or television, I apologise."

He wrote or co-wrote films including Once Upon a Horse ... (1958) for Rowan and Martin; The Road to Bali (1952) for Hope and Bing Crosby; Move Over, Darling (1963), starring Doris Day; and Frank Capra's Pocketful of Miracles...

Hal Kanter, the Emmy-winning comedy writer behind the groundbreaking series Julia, has died. He was 92.

Kanter died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at California's Encino Hospital, his daughter, Donna Kanter, told the Los Angeles Times.

See the celebs we lost this year

"What a dear man," friend Carl Reiner said. "He was considered one of the wits of the industry; there's no question about it. Any time he ...

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Los Angeles — Hollywood comedy writer Hal Kanter has died in Los Angeles at 92. He wrote for Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, directed Elvis Presley in "Loving You" and created the landmark "Julia" TV show.

The Writers Guild of America says Kanter died on Sunday. Daughter Donna Kanter tells the Los Angeles Times ( ) he died from pneumonia complications at Encino Hospital. http://lat.ms/vXH8Ck

Kanter wrote for the Oscars show for decades and was among show writers who shared Emmys in 1991 and 1992.

He created the 1968 NBC-tv series "Julia" starring Diahann Carroll, the first sitcom to feature a black actress as a professional woman rather than a domestic worker.

Kanter also wrote the 1952 Hope and Crosby movie "Road to Bali" and Presley's 1957 movie "Loving You," which he also directed.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com...

Emmy Award-winning comedy writer Hal Kanter has died at the age of 92.

Kanter passed away at California's Encino Hospital on Sunday after suffering complications from pneumonia, his daughter Donna tells the Los Angeles Times.

Kanter shared an Emmy in 1955 for Best Written Comedy Material for his work on The George Gobel Show, but he is perhaps best known for creating the 1960s series Julia.

The show made history for featuring an African-American actress, Diahann Carroll, playing a professional employee rather than a domestic worker, and ran for three seasons.

Kanter also worked on Academy Awards broadcasts for more than 30 years, and his screenwriting credits include Bob Hope & Bing Crosby's Road to Bali, and Pocketful of Miracles, which starred Glenn Ford and Bette Davis. He also wrote and directed Loving You, starring Elvis Presley.

Actor Carl Reiner has paid tribute to his pal, saying, "What a dear man. He was considered one of the wits of the industry; there's no question about it. Any time he was called upon, he always could make the audience laugh. He was a funny elder statesman, and there's nothing better than having a witty elder statesman."...

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Veteran writer/director Hal Kanter has died at the age of 92. Kanter is best known for his work with some of the biggest names in entertainment. He wrote the 1952 comedy 'Road to Bali,' starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, as well as the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis films 'Money From Home' and 'Artists and Models.' In 1957, he directed and co-wrote 'Loving You,' starring Elvis Presley.

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Hal Kanter (see photo), creator of the groundbreaking television series Julia, starring Diahann Carroll (photo) as a nurse, died Sunday, Nov. 6, of complications from pneumonia at Encino Hospital in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino. Kanter was 92. Julia (1968-71) marked the first time a black actress had an important role in an American television series playing something other than a maid (e.g., Ethel Waters and Louise Beavers in the 1950s series Beulah). As quoted in the Los Angeles Times obit, Kanter said he didn't want to make profound political statements with each Julia episode. But political statements were made all the same, as Kanter explained: There is a fallout of social comment. Every week we see a black child playing with a white child with complete acceptance and without incident. One of the recurring themes in the thousands of letters we get is from people who thank us for...

Veteran screenwriter, producer and director Hal Kanter died Sunday of complications of pneumonia in Encino, his daughter Donna Kanter told the Los Angeles Times. He was 92. “He was considered one of the wits of the industry,” said Carl Reiner, upon learning of Kanter’s death. ”He was a funny elder statesman, and there’s nothing better.” In a career that spanned several decades, Kanter worked in radio, TV and movies. He wrote for Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Kanter directed Elvis Presley in Loving You which he co-wrote and he wrote the screenplaly for Blue Hawaii. He even collaborated with Tennessee Williams on the 1955 movie version of The Rose Tatoo. Among other movie credits were George Cukor’s Let’s Make Love, with Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand and Frank Capra’s Pocketful of Miracles. His numerous TV credits included creation of the landmark sitcom Julia,...

Prolific screenwriter and producer Hal Kanter has died. He was 92 years old.  The cause was complications from pneumonia, his daughter Donna Kanter told the Los Angeles Times. In a career that spanned six decades, Kanter wrote the screenplays for a number of memorable films such as "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961), "Let's Make Love" (1960), and the Elvis Presley vehicle "Blue Hawaii" (1961).  He mixed comedies and dramas, and also adapted Tennessee Williams' play "The Rose Tattoo" (1955) into an acclaimed feature film and wrote one of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby's signature "Road"...

With the threat of picketing writers having faded, Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and producer Gil Cates are now busily burnishing their upcoming Oscar telecast, promising a bright and starry night.

Host Jon Stewart is expected to arrive Saturday in Hollywood, bringing his writing team with him for an intensive week of Oscar prep. The Academy also has engaged veteran Oscar scribes Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, Jon Macks and Bruce Vilanch.

"We are now full-steam ahead", Ganis said Thursday at a news conference at Academy headquarters in Beverly Hills, where he unveiled a list of presenters on board for the 80th Annual Academy Awards broadcast, set for Feb. 24.

"The writers are writing furiously or furiously writing," he added. Cates said no writing had been done while the strike was in effect. "We are behind, but we will catch up," he said. "Instead of writing eight hours a day, they are writing 12-13 hours a day."

Normally, the Academy rations out the Oscar show's star power, three or four names at a time. But this year, while the strike was taking place, Cates quietly set about booking the show, with the stars' participation contingent on whether a picket line would be in place.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced the winners of its 20th annual Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. This year's winners are Morgan Read-Davidson from Downey, Calif. for The Days Between; Seth Resnik of West Hollywood and Ron Moskovitz from Los Angeles for Fire in a Coal Mine; Michael D. Zungolo from Philadelphia for No Country; Colleen Cooper De Maio of Los Angeles for Pirates of Lesser Providence; and Gian Marco Masoni of Santa Monica for Ring of Fire. The winners were selected from nearly 6,000 scripts submitted for this year's competition. Final judging was conducted by writers Susannah Grant, John Gay, Fay Kanin and Hal Kanter, cinematographers John Bailey and Steven Poster, editor Mia Goldman, actor Eva Marie Saint, executive Bill Mechanic, producers Gale Anne Hurd, David Nicksay and Buffy Shutt, and agent Ron Mardigian. The winning writers will receive the first installment of their $30,000 prize money at a dinner in Beverly Hills on Nov. 10. Academy Award-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman will be the keynote speaker. Since the program's inception in 1985, 93 fellowships have been awarded. Previous winners include Grant, Raymond De Felitta and Ehren Kruger.