“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

Victor Mature Classic – Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club – Started by Mature in 1981, the golf tournament has always benefited the employees of the RSF Club

My Mom, Loretta, and I were proud and honored to attend the Victor Mature Classic at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club on Mother’s Day weekend! The tournament has always benefitted the club’s employees, and was started by my Dad (VM) back in 1981!
Wonderful to hear Victor Mature stories from Chuck Courtney and Sandy, and from so many other members and employees (past and present) who came out to cheer on the players’ shenanigans, and to celebrate my Dad’s memory, his passion for playing golf, and his legacy of helping people!

A special “Thank You” to Michael Jack, Director of Golf, and to everyone who helped make this year’s Victor Mature Classic happen!

“Film Noir Road Trip” – Cinema Junkie podcast – Beth Accomando – KPBS – Arthur Lyons’ Film Noir Festival

Cinema Junkie takes a film noir road trip to Shanghai and the Old West by way of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs. Can’t make it? Then just use this as a roadmap for your own noir journey.
Victor Mature’s daughter Victoria will talk about her dad’s career and specifically his exotic performance in “The Shanghai Gesture,” while film historian and author Alan K. Rode will introduce us to a noir western with Robert Mitchum.

https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/cinema-junkie/film-noir-road

Victor Mature as Dr. Omar, “Doctor of Nothing” and Gene Tierney as “Poppy” star in The Shanghai Gesture (1941) – directed by Josef Von Sternberg

“When Stanley Kubrick Went Noir, and More: Palm Springs’ Annual Film Noir Festival Returns With More Black-and-White Larceny” – Arthur Lyons’ Film Noir Festival – Variety – by Chris Willman

“When Stanley Kubrick Went Noir, and More: Palm Springs’ Annual Film Noir Festival Returns With More Black-and-White Larceny – James B. Harris, the 94-year-old producer of Kubrick’s 1956 breakout film ‘The Killing,’ will be on hand for a discussion on the opening night of the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival…

…an extremely rare showing of director Josef Von Sternberg’s “The Shanghai Gesture,” a talk with Nicholas Von Sternberg, the filmmaker’s cinematographer son, and singer Victoria Mature, the daughter of one of the movie’s stars, Victor Mature.” hosted by programmer and film historian, Alan K. Rode…

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/palm-springs-film-noir-festival-stanley-kubrick-arthur-lyons-alan-rode-1235605910/

Victor Mature as Dr. Omar, “Doctor of Nothing” and Gene Tierney as “Poppy” star in The Shanghai Gesture (1941) directed by Josef Von Sternberg

Broadway World – “Looking Back at Some of Our Favorite San Diego Theatre Experiences in 2022” – DIDO AND AENEAS – BODHI TREE CONCERTS

Victoria Mature and Evan White in DIDO AND AENEAS – Bodhi Tree Concerts

“This short opera, performed in an intimate space, featured fantastic vocals, striking choreography, and beautiful music – what more could you want in a show?”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-diego/article/Feature-Looking-Back-at-Some-of-Our-Favorite-San-Diego-Theatre-Experiences-in-2022-20221228

Broadway World – “Review: DIDO AND AENEAS at Bodhi Tree Concerts is filled with ‘Music, Love, Magic, And Tragedy'” by E.H. Reiter

Victoria Mature and Evan White in Dido and Aeneas

“Dido (Victoria Mature) is the widowed Queen of Carthage…Mature as Dido has a lovely presence and her performance of Dido’s lament is beautiful.”

“Stage Directed by Vanessa Dinning the show has moments of sweetness, suspense, and humor as the story comes together, while also painting some vivid visuals on stage. Especially evocative is a moment with Dido in a sheet that calls to mind both a shroud and Cupid’s wings.”

“Choreography by Michael Mizerany is very effective ranging from Regency ballroom to modern rock, and in between. The sharp delineation between the movements of the mortals versus the Sorceress and those in the witch’s magical thrall is striking”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Review-DIDO-AND-AENEAS-at-Bodhi-Tree-Concerts-is-filled-with-Music-Love-Magic-And-Tragedy-20220924

San Diego Story – “Bodhi Tree Concerts Presents a 21st-Century ‘Dido and Aeneas’ at Bread & Salt” – by Ken Herman

“Victoria Mature presented a compelling Dido, her dramatic soprano infusing the queen with an adroit mixture of dignity and compassion. She glided through her upper range gracefully, but the richness of her mezzo range developed the deep pathos of her famous final aria “When I am laid in earth.”

Bodhi Tree Concerts Presents a 21st-Century ‘Dido and Aeneas’ at Bread & Salt

Broadway World – “Interview: Vanessa Dinning Brings The ‘Ancient and the Present Day Together’ in DIDO AND AENEAS at Bodhi Tree Concerts” – by E.H. Reiter

Victoria Mature and Evan White as Dido and Aeneas

https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-diego/article/Interview-Vanessa-Dinning-Brings-The-Ancient-and-the-Present-Day-Together-in-DIDO-AND-AENEAS-at-Bodhi-Tree-Concerts-20220917