Robert J. Avrech - Page 2

Skillfully written screenplays are frequently structured around a series of setups and payoffs. The most rudimentary example is, of course, the pistol in the desk drawer: revealed in Act I, and then in Act II, the gun is used to

Several days ago, I was invited by One Jerusalem, to attend a private briefing by Dore Gold, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., whose important new book, The Rise of Nuclear Iran: How Tehran Defies the West, has just been

Esther Ralston, at the height of her Hollywood stardom in the 1920’s. They called her: The American Venus. She lived in a Hollywood mansion with a staff of servants. Her chauffeur drove a limited edition limousine. But she ended her

Offspring#2 steps into our bedroom and says: “Do you know what’s going on in New York?” My wife Karen and I look at each other, baffled. “Better turn on the TV,” says Offspring#2. Black smoke is rising from one of

I have to go to the post office. Last week, In New York, we dropped by my Aunt Ethel’s apartment in Long Beach where I saw an old family photo of my paternal grandmother, Miriam, with my father and his

Hedy Lamarr’s perfectly arched eyebrows emphasize her symmetrical features. Considered the most beautiful woman in Hollywood, Lamarr was also incredibly bright, co-inventing, in 1941, a “frequency-hopping device that now serves as the basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology.” That quote

Ava Gardner had rich lustrous hair, but in this glamor photo from the 50’s, Ava is transformed into a sensual bird of prey. Step into an Orthodox synagogue on Shabbat, the Sabbath, and you’ll notice that married women cover their

Every Independence Day, L.B. Mayer (1884 – 1957) would shut down production at MGM and celebrate twin holidays: America’s birth, and the birthday of L.B. Mayer. Flags and bunting graced every building and sound stage. There was band music and

My father, Rabbi Abraham Avrech, reached his 90th year two weeks ago. Born in Poland, he came to America with his mother and older brother Chaim, when he was 4-years old. My grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel Avrech was a shochet, ritual

[youtube LVZeLgs2aTs nolink] — Hollywood stars Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts, with their two children Samuel, 6, and Alexander, 1, recently visited Israel. Schreiber said his grandfather was a strong Zionist who had always begged him to go to Israel.

I’ve been looking at portraits of Hollywood stars from the 50’s, a time when the studio system was finally collapsing, and I noticed a few things. The quality of studio portrait photography was dismal. The images are, for the most

John Wayne walks the walk in Hondo, 1953. It’s in the walk. Think of Mae West, hands caressing her Rubenesque hips, head tilted, not just sauntering, but oozing forward, the exaggerated female. Elbows cocked and angled at his hips, moving

In 1965, a frail old man in a wheelchair appeared in the no-budget western, The Bounty Killer. It is, for those of us who love movies–especially westerns–a deeply bittersweet moment in which the man who invented the western movie hero,

During this Memorial Day Weekend Big Hollywood pays tribute those who have fallen, and those who sacrifice so much in the cause of freedom. Remember when Hollywood celebrities flocked across the globe to entertain and support American troops? Remember when

Jimmy Cagney smashes a grapefruit in Mae Clarke’s face, The Public Enemy, 1931. Most actors are remembered for their unique personae. Clark Gable was a man’s man. The humorous gleam in his eye sent daggers to the knees of women

Carrie Prejean, Miss California “So, what do you make of this whole Miss California thing?” “Buncha hysterical queens.” I’m having lunch with a well known film producer, a lever-pulling Democrat. We’ve known each other for over 20-years and in spite

Yours truly first laid eyes on my wife, Karen, when we were both nine-years-old, students in Yeshiva of Flatbush elementary school. Thus began a love affair that defined and continues to define my existence. The time has come to introduce

Ava Gardner, publicity photo for The Killers The love affair–and I’m using that term loosely–between Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra was doomed from the start. Both stars were emotionally immature with little impulse control. Both were alcoholics, and both had

The great twin tragedies of the fate of silent films in the modern era is indifference and ignorance. And for those who have seen clips from silent films, they invariably view muddy, degraded prints projected at the wrong speed, hence

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote: “I was the spark that lit up Flaming Youth, Colleen Moore was the torch. What little things we are to have caused all that trouble.” In 1923, Colleen Moore’s starring vehicle, Flaming Youth was an international

“Thing is, he’s going to kill me.” “Have you gone to the police?” “Yes, of course I have.” “And what happened?” She shakes her head from side to side, wraps her arms protectively around her chest. “I got a restraining

In 1918, Theda Bara was one of three great stars in Hollywood. Leading in popularity and box office appeal was Mary Pickford. Charlie Chaplin came second. And not far behind these two giants of the silver screen, Theda Bara. She

Note: Links to previous chapters at end of this article. “Attack, always attack.” My friend, the heroic Israeli tank commander, told me that in the first few days of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, both fronts, The Sinai and The

I have to protect my family. I’m pretty sure the mob outside is dead serious about breaking in and getting down to some serious violence. Not to mention liberating some pretty major karats. At the reception, I noticed huge diamonds

Hollywood is burning. Karen and I lock every door in the house, shut tight the windows, we move through the house switching off all the lights. L.A. Burns. Not a SFX scene from a movie. Gazing from our bedroom window,

Note: Links to previous chapters can be found at the end of the article. “My ladies will probably try and slip you some letters, ask you to mail them on the outside. Do not do that. It is contraband, you

Hope Emerson, “Caged” 1950 Note: Links to previous chapters can be found at the end of this post. EXT. PRISON YARD – DAY The Screenwriter and the Corrections Officer are chatting about the list of prison movies Robert has promised

Treat my Karen induced bruises. You know who’s elegant? Heidi Klum. Bye all. Thanks so much.

Is Big Hollywood elegant?

Is that code for, ahem, homosexual? Who knew?

The lovable Nazi pedophile.I’m out of here.

is the most morally confused film out of Hollywood ever. It erases the difference between mass murderer and victim. It’s the first attempt to justify genocide–based on illiteracy. There will be more to come. I guarantee it. In short: Kate

One word: guh-ross.

I’m waiting for Anita Page…

Thank G-d Waltz didn’t win. Down go Israel’s left.

I just sighed. Deeply. Karen kicked me again. I’m black and blue.