The Making of Donald Trump is a 2016 biography of the American businessman, property developer and politician Donald Trump by the American investigative journalist David Cay Johnston. Continue reading
Category Archives: film
(REPOST) 1/11/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Roots – Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody
The Roots perform Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around from the 2014 soundtrack of the film For A Revolution. In this clip, which juxtaposes black and white footage of 20th-century Civil Rights protests with color footage of the band performing in a recording studio. Continue reading
8/21/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Lady Sings The Blues (1972)- Excerpts
Lady Sings The Blues– excerpts from the 1972 film starring Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor. 1) The Man I Love 2) Them There Eyes 3) Good Morning Heartache 4) My Man 5) God Bless the Child. Continue reading
10/31/16 O&A NYC HALLOWEEN HOLLYWOOD MONDAY ENCORE: Grace Jones- The Vamp
Vamp, starring Grace Jones and Chris Makepeace is a 1986 comedy horror film directed by Richard Wenk, and co-written by Wenk and Donald P. Borchers. Continue reading
10/31/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Addams Family- The Mamushka!
In The Mamushka!- Dance of Brotherly Love Gomez (Raul Julia) dances with fake Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd). Continue reading
10/30/16 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher (1932)
Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher cartoon begins with actual film footage of Cab Calloway dancing a slow and sensuous dance in front of his orchestra as they perform the Prohibition Blues. This is the oldest known film footage of Cab.
The haunting and beautiful instrumental, Prohibition Blues, is an old Missourians piece that was recorded by them in early 1930, right before Cab took over as leader of their band. This cartoon has the only recording of the piece with Cab Calloway. By early 1932, when this cartoon was produced, the group had been renamed Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, but in this film, they are still wearing their old Missourians uniforms.
Cab Calloway And Betty Boop- Minnie the Moocher (1932)
10/26/16 O&A NYC DANCE ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Banda (excerpt) Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade (Repost From 10/3/14)
Geoffrey Holder’s Banda dance debuted in the 1954 Truman Capote/Harold Arlen musical House Of Flowers. Holder the Baron of The Cemetery (based on the Haitian Loa of Death Baron Samedi) and received both a performer and choreographer credit in the program. The Broadway musical takes place somewhere in the West Indies during Mardi Gras weekend. Continue reading
10/25/16 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Sylvie Guillem- Mademoiselle Non (1993)
Sylvie Guillem joined the corps de ballet of the Paris Opera at age fifteen. A dance superstar whose breathtaking technique ranks her beside the likes of Nureyev and Baryshnikov the program centers on film of Guillem rehearsing and performing a range of pieces, both contemporary and classical, which display her astonishing virtuosity. Continue reading
(repost) 5/1/23 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Carmen Jones- Gypsy Song – Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum
In the groundbreaking black version of Carmen Jones there is a wonderful club scene Gypsy Song -Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum featuring three sepia divas, Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll. But there are at least three more present and future stars in the scene. As Carmen enters the club, the stunning woman with the pony-tail is famous beauty/dancer Carmen De Lavallade. Next two are fabled drummer Max Roach, and albeit just for a couple of seconds, Alvin Ailey! Continue reading
10/23/16 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Quincy Jones – Listen Up The Lives Of Quincy (1990)
Quincy Jones – Listen Up The Lives Of Quincy (1990) a documentary that presents a unique look at the legendary musician, arranger, composer and producer offers a collage of memories, sounds and intimate interviews with musical greats in a rousing showcase. Continue reading