Month: November 2024

“WOMEN or WAX?” – This SOLD OUT Film Geeks SD/Digital Gym Cinema, pre-code, Michael Curtiz, horror/comedy event featuring DOCTOR X (1932) and THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933) in glorious two-strip Technicolor…with intros and book signings by film historian, author, programmer, Alan K. Rode, and the mad scientist, gastronomic alchemy of Beth Accomando…was a smashing success!!! “Don’t forget your synthetic flesh!”

Two gorgeous, two-strip Technicolor, pre-Code horror films from Michael Curtiz (director of Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, White Christmas, The Egyptian, Mildred Pierce…)!!!

Victoria Mature, Alan K. Rode, Beth Accomando (programmer Film Geeks SD, KPBS Film Critic, Cinema Junkie podcaster), and Jemma Rode
Beth Accomando and her mad scientist alchemy
Alan K. Rode enthralls audiences with his scintillating introductions
The mad scientist herself, Beth Accomando
These weren’t just for show…we drank these!
Alan and Victoria hamming it up…again
Beth’s gastronomic delights: flask shortbread cookies
Beth’s radioactive shortbread

“The Shanghai Gesture” – Arthur Lyons’ Palm Springs Film Noir Festival – Introduced by Nicholas von Sternberg, Victoria Mature, and Alan K. Rode

Fresh from Broadway, where he starred in Lady in the Dark – (a musical play by Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin, and Moss Hart) – here, Victor Mature smolders as the Rubaiyat reciting Dr. Omar, “Doctor of Nothing”, in THE SHANGHAI GESTURE directed by Josef Von Sternberg and co-starring Walter Huston, Gene Tierney, Ona Munson, Phyllis Brooks, Albert Bassermann….and Michael Dalmatoff as The Bartender (my second favorite character in the picture;-)
Victoria Mature (daughter of Hollywood’s Original Hunk, Victor Mature) – Camelot Theatre – Palm Spring Cultural Center
Alan K. Rode (programmer and presenter – Arthur Lyons’ Film Noir Festival), Victoria Mature (daughter of Golden Age of Hollywood leading man, Victor Mature, and Nicholas Von Sternberg (cinematographer, and son of Josef Von Sternberg)

Alan K. Rode (film historian, author, and the programmer and presenter of the Arthur Lyons’ Film Noir Festival) and Victoria Mature – outside the Camelot Theatre – Palm Springs Cultural Center –
The Von Sternbergs, a fine poster from historian, Brian Light’s collection, Alan K. Rode, Victoria Mature
Assistant director, Louis Race (profile), Nicolas Von Sternberg, Todd Weiner, Victoria Mature, Alan K. Rode, Stephen – Camelot Theatre – Palm Springs Cultural Center
The Von Sternbergs and Victoria pose with one of historian, Brian Light’s fine film posters – Camelot Theatre – Palm Springs Cultural Center
Victoria and Alan ham it up after the screening at The Tropicale in Palm Springs
Dr. Omar and “Poppy” (Victoria Charteris) in one of their infamous exchanges

Behind the scenes view of the lovely Gene Tierney from the Camelot Theatre’s projection booth….

Mother Gin Sling – Ona Munson