(Repost) 10/9/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Sammy Davis Jr.- The Original Triple Threat

Shall We Dance

Sammy Davis Junior

Samuel George “Sammy” Davis, Jr. was born on December 8, 1925. He was an African- American entertainer who broke many barriers and paved the way for entertainers in all  disciplines. Davis was primarily a dancer and singer, but he also received acclaim as an actor of stage and screen, musician, and impressionist. Davis died at age 64 in 1990, after spending 61 years in the profession he loved.  Continue reading

Hollywood Monday: Aaliyah- Queen Of The Damned

Hollywood Mondays

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Queen of the Damned is a 2002 vampire horror film and a loose adaptation of the third novel of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series, The Queen of the Damned, although the film contains many plot elements from the latter novel’s predecessor, The Vampire Lestat. It stars Aaliyah as the vampire queen Akasha, and Stuart Townsend as the vampire Lestat. Queen of the Damned was released six months after Aaliyah’s death and is dedicated to her memory. In addition to the film clip Out and About NYC Magazine presents a behind the scene video and a deleted scene.  Continue reading

(Repost) 7/29/20 O&A NYC MILESTONES: Happy Birthday Samuel L. Jackson

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Happy Birthday Samuel Jackson! In honor of this milestone we present this great video super cut by Huffington Post’s Ben Craw and Oliver Noble/ The clip features Samuel L. Jackson and every single time he has said, uttered or shouted “motherfucker” in his movies. Using the term 171 times across 24 movies, there’s no doubt that the foul-mouthed expression is Samuel L. Jackson’s catch-phrase. Continue reading

O & A This Week: Tuesday, August 12 through August 18, 2014- Art, Dance, Film, Music and Theatre

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We are midway through August and the arts are in full “summer swing”. There are art events abounding throughout the city many are outdoors and free to the public. Here are a few of the many arts events happening in the city that never sleeps guaranteed to keep you Out and About. Continue reading

1/9/16 O&A NYC (REPOST) Bambi and Thumper – Diamonds Are Forever featuring Trina Parks- The First African American Bond Girl

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Trina Parks was born on December 26, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father Charles Frazier, was a renowned tenor saxophonist with Cab Calloway’s orchestra. Parks majored in modern dance at the New York High School of Performing Arts. She also studied with Katherine Dunham and subsequently joined Dunham’s professional dance company in 1964. Additional concert dance credits include Donald McKayle, Anna Sokolow, Talley Beatty, Geoffrey Holder, Eleo Pomare and Rod Rodgers. Parks performed in numerous Broadway productions as a vocalist and dancer, including a lead role in the 10th anniversary touring production of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies. She was the first African- American Bond girl Thumper in the 1971 James Bond classic Diamonds are Forever. Continue reading

Shall We Dance Friday: Katherine Dunham and her Dance Company in Casbah

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In 1948, Dunham and her company appeared in the Hollywood movie Casbah, with Tony Martin, Yvonne de Carlo, and Peter Lorre. The film was the cinematic debut of Eartha Kitt.  Continue reading

O & A This Week: Tuesday, August 5 through Monday, August 11, 2014 Art, Dance, Film, Theatre … And More

By Walter Rutledge
Evan_Joseph_NYC34The first week of August is the height of the summer, and the same is true for the arts. This week an old master of modern art returns to midtown, while an up and coming dance company debuts in Central Park. Here are a few of the many events taking place in the city that never sleeps guaranteed to get you Out and About. Continue reading

Hollywood Monday: Vin Diesel – Multi-Facial (1995)

Hollywood Mondays Multi-Facial_DVD_coverMulti-Facial is the movie that launched Vin Diesel’s career. The 1995 short film was directed, written, produced, scored by and starring Vin Diesel.  It had a budget of $3,000, which he paid for himself.

The story depicts the professional and emotional issues faced by Mike (Diesel), a multiracial (Italian and African American) actor. The film was noticed at the Cannes Film Festival by director Steven Spielberg, who remembered Diesel’s performance and cast him in the 1998 Oscar winning film Saving Private Ryan.

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Hollywood Monday: Chicago- Cell Block Tango and When You’re Good To Mama

Hollywood Mondays

Chicago

Chicago (2002) is an American musical comedy-drama film adapted from the satirical stage musical of the same name. Both the movie and the stage play explore themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz Age Chicago. The film stars Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta-Jones and also features Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Christine Baranski, Taye Diggs, Colm Feore, Mya Harrison and Desmond Richardson.  Continue reading