Happy New Year!!!

The Artist reading.

I am not sure when it began, but it has long been a tradition that if I don't have any plans, I will watch The Poseidon Adventure. I am talking the original with Shelly Winters, Stella Stevens, Pamela Sue Martin, Carol Lynley, Red Buttons, Jack Albertson, Eric Shea, Roddy McDowell, Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine.

What I liked about the disaster movies of the 70's is that it put the actors of old Hollywood back in the light. At least that is how I perceive it now. Stars like Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and Lorne Greene to name a few.

(VHS copies of Mahogany and The Mack. The Mack was always a favorite, but it wasn't until I became an adult and interested in fashion that Mahogany became a part of the collection. It has some great photography sequences.)

I had remember seeing some of them when I used to watch movies as a kid with my mother's mother. Mostly religious themed movies, but from time to time something would pop up. I have collected quite a few movies that feature the actors of old Hollywood. I enjoy watching programs of interviews and behind the scene stories. I am that person that watches the special features on a DVD when they are included.

In 2022 I will focus on watching movies with a predominately black cast or if there is a film in which a black actor has a pivital role such as Dorothy Dandridge in The Decks Ran Red. There are many rare films and movies I am trying to get my hands on or at least view. One such movie is the original Porgy and Bess with Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr and Sidney Poitier to name a few. I will also be watching two films with Josephine Baker that I added to my collection over 20 years ago. Princess Tam Tam and Zou Zou. I will also be looking at a documentary on Oscar Micheaux who was known as the Black Czar of Hollywood. The fims he created are even more rare to find. Several years ago I had an opportunity to buy a DVD and I didn't do it when I saw it and I have never seen it again. It was a collection of black films including Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather. I think one of the reasons is because I had both of these films on VHS and I wasn't familiar with the other titles or actors. It really shouldn't have matter, I just should have made the purchase.

There is a new station I discovered during the pandemic called the grio. They show films and movies that feature black actors so I was happy about that. There just isn't a lot of content available because they show the same movies too often. I know there are many reasons whey certain things aren't being shown in this time of black lives matter. The art form of movies and television suffer because of this. It's part of history. The films and movies reflected the times, but there are some that were just about artistic freedom and the perception of the writer and filmmaker.

I will also be looking at some of my VHS tapes. No need to replace them until I no longer have a device to play them on. The thing about having a collection is that you get to watch what you want when you want. You don't have to rush to see something because it's going to be leaving a streaming service. Between my collection and the library, I have been able to watch a lot of films and movies. There is also Movies TV Network where they show a lot of classics as well as films and movies from the 60's and 70's.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.