TheFrontPageOnline.com A & E

Massaging the Medium with Marshall McLuhan

Frederik Sisa — 2013-05-17

Review of McLuhan for Beginners by W. Terrence Gordon, with illustrations by Susan Willmarth. A book like McLuhan for Beginners, then, is a timely wakeup call to take a moment and consider one of the 20th century’s foremost media and culture theorists even if that consideration reveals...

Middle School Troupe Will Improvise 4 Times Over the Weekend

Geoff Maleman — 2013-05-16

The Culver City Middle School Comedy Improv troupe will deliver four performances this weekend, on Saturday at 3 and 7. Andf Sunday, at 1 and 4, at the Willows Community School Theater, 8520 Warner Dr., Culver City. Each performance will feature a different group of students.

Science Fiction’s Forget-Me-Not

Frederik Sisa — 2013-05-03

Like Lucifer, only without the theological trappings of sin, Joseph Kosinski set out to bring some light into the normally dimly-lit visions of Hollywood science fiction. It’s a logical step. His work on Tron: Legacy was entirely rooted in the play of light on dark in an agile, design-driven cinematography of contrast.

Oz the Mostly Great and, Surprisingly, Powerful

Frederik Sisa — 2013-03-29

A review of Oz the Great and Powerful. I cannot say...that the renewed interest in the land of munchkins and yellow bricks road did anything to revise my rather lukewarm relationship to anything Oz-related.

Poetry for St. Patrick's Day by Culver City's Poet Laureate

Dr. Janet Hoult — 2013-03-15

Editor’s Note: Dr. Hoult, the Poet Laureate of Culver City, never allows a holiday to slip by unrewarded, especially St. Patrick’s Day.]

For Kerr, ‘South Pacific’ Was a Hit That, Oddly, Helped No One

Ross Hawkins — 2013-02-13

Actor John Kerr, who died on Feb. 2 at the age of 81, told me the film he enjoyed making the most was "The Pit and The Pendulum," directed by Roger Corman and co-starred Vincent Price. He recalled that Corman was an excellent director and Price kept him laughing during the entire production. In 1958, Kerr played...

John Kerr, South Pacific Star and ‘Culver City-The Reel Hollywood’ Narrator

Ross Hawkins — 2013-02-12

Actor John Kerr, who won a Tony Award for his role in the Elia Kazan stage production of "Tea and Sympathy," died on Feb. 2. He was 81 years old. I first met Mr. Kerr 35 years ago, in 1978, when...

Les Miserables: Victory Over Revenge

Frederik Sisa — 2013-02-01

I never did get the chance to see the theatrical production of Les Miserables; such are the vagaries of the calendar. Fortunately, there is this magnificent film from the director of the superlative crowd-pleaser, The King’s Speech.

Peering Into Windows 8 (Part 2)

Frederik Sisa — 2013-01-25

After almost two weeks of working with Windows 8, I’ve gained enough experience to reinforce my suspicion that critics of the OS are either operating with a bias against Microsoft or are simply old dogs whimpering at new tricks. An unfair characterization, no doubt, but I remain baffled at the hostility towards Windows 8. In my experience, Windows is just like Windows 7, only with a Start screen instead of a Start menu.

The Day a Cowboy Legend Ended in a Crash

Ross Hawkins — 2013-01-22

A little old lady was being interviewed by the host. Seems that when she was an aspiring actress in the 1920s, one of her earliest assignments had been to ride double with the famed cowboy Tom Mix when he performed a stunt at a hotel in Santa Monica. She rode behind Mix while his horse actually climbed four flights of stairs, to the top of the hotel, and then he – they? – plunged into...

Peering Through Windows 8 (Part 1)

Frederik Sisa — 2013-01-18

If you believe the tech trades and the various opinionators who lurk in the articles’ comments section, Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 8, is the second coming of the much-maligned Windows Vista or, if you really want to give yourself the heebie-jeebies, Microsoft Bob...After a week working with Windows 8 on my office workstation, I'm gaining enough experience to reach a verdict of my own. Thus, the questions: Is Windows 8 a win or a fail?

An Unexpected Pleasure

Frederik Sisa — 2013-01-11

Review of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' - Time has passed since Jackson first materialized Middle Earth in a trilogy of films that made pure fantasy fashionable again, although I’ll stick with the Harry Potter films as the superior accomplishment. My opinion of Tolkien’s work hasn’t changed – imagination and exhaustive attention to detail put to the service of a dull and shallow narrative – yet I’ve come to appreciate that imagination and detail through Jackson’s breathtaking rendition of Tolkien’s universe.

Samad Sad That Activism Has Dried up in the Black Community

Ari L. Noonan — 2013-01-02

How Have Radical Societal Changes Affected Black Community?

Ari L. Noonan — 2012-12-31

Two Days When the Marx Brothers Taught Thalberg Lessons

Ari L. Noonan — 2012-12-28

Saturday afternoon’s 3 o’clock screening of the Marx Brothers’ “A Night at the Opera” at the Vets Auditorium, to mark Culver City’s 95th birthday, is yet another hometown story for the Heart of Screenland.

Samad Inspects Our Changing State Through ‘Real Eyez’

Ari L. Noonan — 2012-12-28

No matter where you are sitting or standing, regardless of whether you are black, white or Other, before you read more than a page of Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad’s latest book, you will be scootching around, trying to find a comfortable landing while digesting the cultural fireworks he ignites, paragraph by paragraph.

It Is a Fairy Tale – Rosemary’s New Book

Ari L. Noonan — 2012-12-11

[Editor’s Note: Award-winning author Dr. Rosemary Hartounian Cohen will discuss her newest book “Anoush, the Daughter of King Shen” and exhibit her 43 original illustrations from the book on Saturday afternoon, from 2 until 6, at a private home, 1611 Melwood Dr., Glendale. RSVP to rosemary@atelierdeparis.com]

An Introduction to ‘Celluloid Cowboys and Cowgirls’

Ross Hawkins — 2012-11-30

Instead of producing The Backlot Film Festival this year, I am devoting my time to completing the initial chapter of "Celluloid Cowboys," a documentary mini-series about the history of Western movies.

AVPA Art Student, Kate Johannesen, Wins First Place

Geoff Maleman — 2012-11-28

Senior Kate Johannesen, from the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School, has been awarded first place by the LegiSchool Project’s Visual Arts: California State Park Art Contest” for her painting of “Leo Carrillo State Beach.”

It Is Not Exactly All About Ali

Ari L. Noonan — 2012-11-20

Re “The Ali You Don’t Know Nearly Enough About”

The Ali You Don’t Know Nearly Enough About

Ari L. Noonan — 2012-11-16

Shlepping a suitcase full of color, charm and controversy, Najee Ali, salesman, at the zenith of his latest rebound, is my nominee for The Most Interesting Personality in Los Angeles.

What’s in a Name?

Art & Entertainment — 2012-11-08

[Editor’s Note: Culver City’s noblest poetess went to the zoo with her husband Charlie, and this is what they observed.]

AVPA Presents American Classic Play Our Town

Art & Entertainment — 2012-11-06

The next two weekends, Thursdays through Saturdays, the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts of Culver City High School will stage Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town.

Why Measure Y????

Art & Entertainment — 2012-11-01

[Editor’s Note: Culver City’s noblest poetess burnishes her gleaming laurels with this rhythmic perspective on Tuesday’s single hometown ballot proposition.]

Coastal Cleanup Volunteers Can Earn EarthFest Tickets at West L.A. College

Art & Entertainment — 2012-08-28

The first 100 people who volunteer to work at Heal the Bay’s annual Coastal Clean-Up event on Saturday, Sept. 15, will earn a free ticket to the upcoming Jazz for the Environment concert at EarthFest L.A. 2012 being held later the same day at West Los Angeles College.

One More Concert – Closing Night Has Arrived

Art & Entertainment — 2012-08-02

Summer only is 50 percent gone, and after tonight’s farewell concert, Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival will be all the way gone for this season.

SkitCo, Culver City Collegiate Actors, Returns with Two Weeks of Shows

Art & Entertainment — 2012-07-30

Showtime almost is here, this week and next.

Benefit Concert on Monday for ‘Bring Back Jobs to Hollywood’

Art & Entertainment — 2012-07-27

A benefit concert for the Bring Hollywood Home Foundation – a two-year-old non-profit effort to bring industry jobs back to Hollywood – will be held Monday evening, 6:30, at Candelas/Leonardos La Brea, 831 S. La Brea Ave., Hollywood.

Next-to-Last Summer Concert Brings the Sounds of Motown

Art & Entertainment — 2012-07-26

Are summers getting shorter?

Jazz Is the Star Tonight at the Summer Festival

Art & Entertainment — 2012-07-19

All that jazz you have wanted to hear live comes to life tonight at 7 when the second round of Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival becomes airborne in the Courtyard of City Hall.