Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Happy birthday Glenn Ford
()
One week ago LAist went to the American Cinematheque to celebrate the 90th birthday of actor Glenn Ford. He starred with Bette Davis, Debbie Reynolds and Rita Hayworth; he played good guys in Westerns, bad guys in noirs, and Christopher Reeves' farmer dad in the 1978 Superman. The Cinematheque screened Gilda, one of Ford's best-remembered films (due in no small part to Rita Hayworth's stunning beauty). Those of us who had hopes of seeing Glenn Ford in person had to settle for watching him again on video; he wasn't quite well enough to travel so he sent a taped a birthday greeting.
What we did get were brief intros and tributes from a short parade of his co-stars. Jamie Farr, whose first film was Blackboard Jungle with Glenn Ford, started things off. He's as tan as George Hamilton, and full of energy. Next up was Martin Landau, who appeared with Ford in The Gazebo in 1959; Landau is a man with a dry, dry sense of humor, which we loved. Then came Shirley Jones, who was the courtee in The Courtship of Eddie's Father (Ford was Eddie's father; Eddie was little Ronnie Howard). LAist couldn't help but note that while all three actors were in films with Ford, they were all icons of the 70s TV reruns: "M*A*S*H*", "Space: 1999" and "The Partridge Family." Our cheesy inner TV baby was very happy.
Then came Debbie Reynolds, bounding down the aisle in a red dress, and our reverie was blown. She started doing Vegas-style schtick (or maybe Reno-style), making jokes about how everyone had come downtown, and things had changed, and we'd all had to bring guns. Now last time we checked Hollywood Blvd wasn't downtown, and since there had been a peaceful march of 400,000 that afternoon we're not sure how she meant things were changing, and personally LAist can think of places more self-protection worthy than the historic Egyptian Theatre. She barely managed to squeeze in a happy birthday to Glenn Ford, and it sounded entirely fake. Her tone-deafness for the tone of the event (respectful, celebratory) was cringe-worthy — we have new sympathy for Carrie Fisher.
Support for LAist comes from
But that was just a few minutes and it all happened a week ago. What does remain are the DVDs of Glenn Ford's amazing work. Netflix him; you'll be glad you did.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist