2018 Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, Part II: The Films

Here are three movies I attended at the Festival.

Wow! Much of the cast was on-hand to present the movie. Starting second from left, Neidermeyer, Babs, Hoover, D-Day, Otter, "Charming guy with guitar", a studio executive, and John Landis. I bumped into John Landis on the stairs!

The Lee Marvin classic, "Point Blank". This movie has been remade several times without the same stellar results.

Hot damn! This is a movie you see on the big screen. However, I was not around in 1968 to see it. To see San Francisco in '68 and the high-octane car chases on the big screen really was a great experience.

2017 Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, Part I: Exploring LA

The first stop after we land is In-N-Out Burger. Fortunately there is a location just outside of LAX. I alway order number #1. My order is top and my wife's is on the bottom as she likes the sauce on her fries. 

We met friends Robby and Zinnia Cress for dinner. Robby suggested Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. Midway through the meal, he tells me they shot a part of Heat here! It's the scenes where Don Breedan shows up to work as part of his parole and when Neil recruits him to drive the getaway car. 

The world famous record store, Amoeba Records. I went in, "just to look around", and walked out with 4 Blu-rays. 

The Griffith Observatory is the sight of many movies and tv shows. Oh, and you can learn about about the cosmos, if you are into that thing.

The Observatory also has amazing views of the city. 

Shhh! Don't tell my wife...

Did she or didn't she?

Larry Edmunds Bookshop 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

My wife and I both hard core bibliophiles and cinephiles. So whenever we visit Los Angeles, we make it a point to visit Larry Edmunds. She always picks up a several books for research and pleasure. I have purchased a few books myself, mostly about the local history of Los Angeles. One cannot underscore the depth of material within the four walls. Not only do they sell books and vintage posters, they hold readings, screenings, and book signings. The shop has been open for 82 years and has been frequented by scores of actors, producers, and directors.  

Charlie Chaplin's old studio is now the home of Jim Henson's Company.

Kat Von D's Tattoo Parlor

Cantor's Deli

Season seven, episode one of Mad Men was filmed here. Don was, "visiting", California and met Pete here for lunch. 

Drinking Herradura Tequila at the infamous rock and roll bar, The Rainbow Bar and Grill, with cousins, Nick and Rod. 

More alcohol consumption with Nick. This one hooked me on Micheladas so now everytime I eat at a Mexican restaurant I order one. Here we are at Oscar's downing 25 ouncers. 

Galbi King Los Angeles

Nick suggested Galbi King Korean BBQ in Westside Plaza for dinner. I haven't this good Korean BBQ since my San Francisco days. 

Best Western Hollywood Hills

Best Western Hollywood Hills

6141 Franklin Ave

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 464-5181

Image Source

My wife and I went to LA for the TCM Film Festival. One of her friends, Jill, recommended this hotel near Hollywood Blvd.  This hotel is geared towards a movie buff. It was built in 1948, went through a few remodels and is still standing.

Upon check-in we were immediately impressed. The entire lobby is covered with photos of movie stars mostly past and some present. They also had personal correspondence and cancelled checks from some of the stars. They also had an old-time light they would use on set in the lower lobby. Even a few famous movie lines are paved into one of the parking lots!

The lower lobby. The door on the right leads to the diner.

A letter from Frank Sinatra

A letter from Jimmy Stewart

Desi and Lucy Arnez

Jack Lemmon

                                    

                                                                                              

Joey Bishop

Francis Ford Coppola

                     

Burt Lancaster

Edward G. Robinson

               

Kirk Douglas

Paul Henreid

Sydney Greenstreet

I had to take a picture of this! There were hundreds of movie star pictures along the walls. I chose some of my favorites.

When we entered our room we were greeted with more photos of stars from the past. My wife chose the bed with Tyrone Power and I was "stuck" with Orsen Wells. There were several pictures of Marilyn Monroe and a picture of Barbara Eden with one her cancelled checks.

This is inside of the elevator. That is Joan Crawford on the right and Gregory Peck on the left. The two other stars not pictured are Lucille Ball and Natalie Wood.

This is the pool which I intended to use several times. Unfortunately due to the hectic schedule of the TCM Film Festival, I used it exactly once!

Equally impressive was the coffee shop, 101 Coffee Shop. It is named as such because it was your last opportunity to drink a cappuccino before hitting the 101 highway. It was once much smaller and was a drug store. Then it was changed into the diner it is today. The food was moderately priced and very good. I was surprised how tasty everything was. I was expecting bland diner food. We had a very cool waitress, Marissa. I had to ask her which famous persons have eaten there. She mentioned several and noted Drew Carey was a regular and a very good tipper. The movie "Swingers" was filmed there. One morning I was eating breakfast and I saw Johnny Knoxville. On our last day there my wife saw Josh Radnor from, "How I Met Your Mother". It's difficult to tell that is him from this shot. She recognized him before he sat down. 

I was pleasantly surprised how friendly everyone was, the quality of the rooms, and the decor. I would not hesitate to stay in this hotel again. Derrick, one of the gentleman behind the front desk, was kind enough to answer my questions about the history of the hotel and mentioned a video on YouTube chronicling the hotel. I watched it and here it is:

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