Archives for 2013

BULLITT 45th ANNIVERSARY EVENT

May 21, 2013 By tonypiazza Leave a Comment

As film historian, I will be sharing my movie memories about being on the set of “Bullitt” and meeting and eventually working with STEVE MCQUEEN. The occasion is the 45th Anniversary of the film “Bullitt” which will be taking place in the bay area June 20- 23. Chad McQueen will be present, a car show is planned, and many more other surprises in store- all through Hoondog Events. Read about it on the link below. McQueen, Mustang, and Bullitt fans alike, take notice, and consider joining the events! See link below:

http://bullittevents.com/2013/05/18/movie-memories-event-announced/

Allso, please consider buying Bullitt Points, my e-book, whose purchase benefits The Boys Republic charity.

At http://www.bullittpoints.com/ or at Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.

Marion Davies by Tony Piazza

May 8, 2013 By tonypiazza 3 Comments

Actress/comedienne MARION DAVIES (Jan. 3, 1897- Sept. 22, 1961). Davies was mistress to newspaper tycoon, WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST. She was hostess at many of Hearst’s parties, including those at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. Guests at these affairs usually included such notable actors as CHARLIE CHAPLIN, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, and MARY PICKFORD. Hearst micro-managed Davies early career, and in doing so, making such erroneous misjudgments as casting her in lavish historical dramas instead of comedies where she demonstrated her real talent. And regarding those parties: One particular one ended in scandal. It involved the death of early film pioneer, Thomas Ince aboard Hearst’s yacht, and was the subject of a 2001, Peter Bogdanovich film, The Cat’s Meow. There were rumors that he was mistakenly shot by Hearst, and the accident covered up. Incidentally, my first job in the industry, was with What’s Up, Doc? – another film by Bogdanovich.

William Randolph Hearst

Thomas Ince

Charlie Chaplin

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Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His second novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was next released early 2012, and in July of 2013, his latest Tom Logan Mystery, “A Murder Amongst Angels” was published and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. A new Tom Logan novel has been completed and is scheduled to be released in 2015. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden. His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Tony Piazza is a member of three prestigious writer’s organizations: Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the SLO NightWriters.

NEW! COMING SOON!

The novel that started it all. The first in the Tom Logan mystery series- read by actor James Romick,will be available on Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

Also: Watch for the new Tom Logan mystery thriller published soon by Amazon!

Due out Fall-2015!

Also:

My earlier bestselling novels, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” and “Anything Short of Murder” now joins “A Murder Amongst Angels” on Amazon’s Kindle at a new, low price of $2.99. Now you can have hours of adventure, thrills, mystery, and romance for the price of a cup of coffee- and just as stimulating! Look for it on Amazon. Print versions have also been reduced.

Also: The new Tom Logan mystery thriller, A Murder Amongst Angels is discounted for e-book.

Find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. Also available for $2.99 on Kindle.

Author Tony Piazza Speaks at AAUW Author’s Forum

May 7, 2013 By tonypiazza Leave a Comment

(L. to R.) Rober L. Piccioni, Melinda Palacio, Louise Laemmlen, & Tony Piazza

Surprise Celebrities in the Family by Tony Piazza

April 24, 2013 By tonypiazza 6 Comments

Myrtle Gonzales (my wife’s second cousin)

You’ll never know what you’ll dig up when you start exploring the roots of your ancestral tree. This tree isn’t mine however, but the paternal side of my wife’s family. Incidentally, I’m afraid to trace my roots. My father’s side originated in Sicily, and I may find out that I’m related to Don Corleone. But, returning to the subject: my wife’s sister, Kathleen has been intrigued by their family history- as well she should be- she’s traced it back seven generations in Los Angeles history. Kathleen has spent three years researching their family background and dug up some interesting facts. Their ancestors were of the first families who settled in what was then called Pueblo de Los Angeles. The Avila’s and Pelanconi’s are all ancestors of their family, and adobes bearing those names can be found on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. Another branch, which I’ll be talking about are the Cooke’s. My wife’s father’s mother’s family name was Cooke, and they were a multi-talented family of ten children who became musicians, singers, and actors (both in theater and eventually film).

My wife, Susan in front of the Pelanconi Warehouse building on Olvera Street

Sign outside the Pelanconi House

Avila Adobe on Olvera Street

In Kathleen’s searches, she discovered that they were related to two silent screen actors, Myrtle Gonzales and John J. Cook(e).

Mytrle Gonzales “The Virgin White Lily of the Screen” was born September 28, 1891 to Manuel George Gonzalez and Lillian L. Cook(e) in Los Angeles, California. Her father was a native Hispanic Californio of Spain and her mother’s family was of Ireland, County Cork. He was a grocer, and she a former opera star. Myrtle obviously inherited the “talent gene” from the Cooke side, because from early childhood she acted and sang in many local events. The Merced Theatre near the plaza on Arcadia Street is a site where she had performed.

As an adult she transitioned into silent pictures working for both Vitagraph and Universal Studios. In five of her films (1913-1914) she worked with William Desmond Taylor, one of which was called “The Kiss” and interestingly enough, clips of this film can be seen in the opening sequence of the film “The Spiral Staircase” starring Dorothy McGuire from 1946.

Link to YouTube video of “The Kiss”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNepyCE9w2U

She was married briefly to James Park Jones, and had one child, and then to Universal director/actor Allen Watt until her death.

Myrtle is regarded as Hollywood’s first Latin and Hispanic movie star actress. She made a total of 80 films- all silent. Most were considered shorts, such as “The Thief of the Desert” and “The Gambler”, but others like “The Greater Law”, “The Girl of Lost Lake”, and “The Secret of the Swamp” were full features.

Myrtle’s life was all too short however. She died October 22, 1918 at the age of 27 from the Spanish flu- a worldwide pandemic which struck that year.

Trivia:

William Desmond Taylor

Her co-star of five films, William Desmond Taylor was murdered in 1922- shot to death in his bungalow. In 1964 Taylor’s co-star Margaret Gibson shortly before her death confessed to having murdered him, but this has never been proven to be true.

Margaret Gibson

NEXT TIME I’LL BE LOOKING at my wife’s other famous relative, John J. Cook(e). I hope you’ll stop by.

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Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His next novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was released early 2012 and is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden. His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it where fine books are sold, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Tony Piazza is member of three prestigious writer’s groups: Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writer’s of America, and SLO NightWriters.

Look for my Tom Logan mystery thrillers on Amazon!

Book three due out end of 2015!

Also: The new Tom Logan mystery thriller, A Murder Amongst Angels .

Find them all on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. Also available for $2.99 on Kindle.

amongstangelsfront cover 3

Karl Malden's Joke by Tony Piazza

April 15, 2013 By tonypiazza 6 Comments

This is a short memory, but a fond one. We (the crew of “The Streets of San Francisco”) were shooting a scene for an episode near Ghirardelli Square. As with most location shooting, we were attracting a crowd. And with this being a Friday night and a popular tourist spot, even more so than normal. People were everywhere. Areas were roped off on a grassy knoll in an effort to separate the onlookers from the shooting location. It was a chaotic night. Some friends stopped by to surprise me- old buddies from school. They said that they just wanted to come by and say hello, but I suspect it was more likely to impress their dates. They kept telling me how lucky I was to be able to work on a television show. Sure. Six days a week, and a minimum of twelve hours a day- in other words, no social life at all. In truth I envied them, with a pretty girl on their arm and a free evening to enjoy courtship- of course I didn’t tell them so. However, on the flip side, I’d made friends on “Streets” with such wonderful people as KARL MALDEN, and MICHAEL DOUGLAS; and Director of Photography, MICHEL HUGO, and Director VIRGIL VOGEL. So on second thought; it had its advantages. I was part of a unique family, and what social life I did have, revolved around co-workers and those moments in-between shooting. That was the reality of working on a film or television project. Karl Malden, more than anyone realized this, and tried to keep the atmosphere around the set always warm, fun, and friendly. For example, I’ll return to that Friday night. As I’d just mentioned, there was a large crowd of fans rubber-necking to see the action, and especially the stars. Karl was not in any of the scenes that evening, and had it off. His wife, Mona was visiting, and so they decided to use the time for sightseeing and shopping. Whether it was on purpose, or not, I’m not certain, but somehow they crossed paths with the production company. Karl and Mona were now standing behind the ropes among the fans looking in on our activity. Karl was not in his trademark dark suit, maroon vest, and gray hat. In fact, he was out of make-up and dressed in a tan leather jacket, comfortable slacks, and shirt opened at the collar. Fans hadn’t realized he was standing among them. They were too busy looking for him and other stars on the opposite side of the ropes. I spotted him however, and watched with amusement as he asked some of the gawkers with a gleam in his eye, “What’s going on here? Are the filming something?” Eventually a few caught on, and when they did, he and his wife disappeared. Karl was a great deal of fun, and I miss him, and those glorious days tremendously.

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Also: Watch for the new Tom Logan mystery thriller published soon by Amazon!

Due out mid-2013!

Victor Mature and the Lion. By Tony Piazza

February 22, 2013 By tonypiazza 8 Comments

Mature with Hedy Lamarr in Samson and Delilah

CECIL B. DEMILLE and VICTOR MATURE was the subject of a story told by CUBBY BROCCOLI in his excellent autobiography, “When the Snow Melts.” My wife’s uncle, worked for DeMille as a groundskeeper at his Paradise Ranch in Little Tujunga Canyon. I met Broccoli, as you may remember from my earlier blog, and was impressed by his down-to-earth, kind personality. He came from Italian Long Island farmers and never forgot his roots.

My picture of Cubby on location with Moore for “A View to a Kill”

His story goes:

Victor Mature in character

Victor Mature was built like a brick you- know- what, but when it came to taking risks he was more mouse than tiger. During the filming of Samson and Delilah with co-star HEDY LAMARR he had to wrestle with a lion. The studio was going to use a young lion that was to be tied down by the back paw (hidden of course from the camera). However Mature wasn’t too keen on the idea. He agreed to do it only if they got another, tamer lion. DeMille got Leo, the old M.G.M. mascot and had a man waiting in the wings with a gun in case the cat got out of hand. The camera started rolling and DeMille shouted, “Action!”

Cecil B. DeMille

Mature approached the animal, but it was apparent by his actions that the closer he got, the increasingly more frightened he became. DeMille witnessing this from his director’s seat eventually reached his boiling point, and shouts impatiently at the actor,

“For crying out loud, Victor it’s an old lion and toothless!”

Studio Portrait of Victor Mature

To which Mature responds,

“Look, you bald-headed *****, I don’t want to be gummed to death either!”

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I highly recommend Broccoli’s autobiography. Aside from the Bond years, it is filled with wonderful in-sights into early Hollywood and a personal look at some of Cubby’s celebrity friends such as HOWARD HUGHES, CARY GRANT, ALAN LADD, and many others.

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Also: Watch for the new Tom Logan mystery thriller published soon by Amazon!

Due out mid-2013!