Once Upon a Screen celebrates its 4th anniversary this week and there’s a lot to be thankful for…
To start – It’s still here!
For that alone I thank…
- everyone who visits this blog
- the community that has embraced it
- those I now call friends due to my ramblings here…
To help commemorate this milestone…
I honor tradition and the gifts appropriate for a 4th anniversary – flowers or fruit (or in this case Tootsie Fruitsy)
And… a gallery of fabulous, classic fours…
Highlights…
An anniversary is a great time to reflect on the previous year to see what I most enjoyed and to remind myself why it is that I blog. The why is simple – I still love these darned movies and movie stars and enjoy sharing my thoughts and fabulous images on this blog. I do it or myself. The bottom line is always the enjoyment factor, the escape and learning more about the films, filmmakers and players. Knowing that people appreciate and/or enjoy what I post is icing and reward enough. Believe me. But it’s also quite nice to be mentioned by fellow classics fans and bloggers who surprise me every once in a while with a lovely recognition.
The following came from the membership of the Classic Movie Blog Association for my post on Eddie Cantor submitted to the ‘Forgotten Stars’ Blogathon, a fantastic event. Thank you!
Once Upon a Screen was also honored with a couple of Liebster Award mentions, which are great. Thanks to Theresa at CineMaven’s Essays from the Couch and Steve at Movie Movie Blog Blog for the lovely mentions.
I (obviously) didn’t attend to the duties required of Liebster Awards, which include nominating other bloggers, answering questions and the dreaded sharing facts about myself in a timely manner. Well, I’m not about to do most of those now either. I’ve been lucky to receive these awards in the past and have shared more facts about myself than anyone cares to read. But I did choose three movie-related questions each from Theresa and Steve, questions I’ve never addressed (sort of) that are fun to consider. So here goes…
From Theresa…
1. On your perfect viewing day, what five films would air back-to-back on TCM?
(These are my choices today… they may well be different tomorrow)
Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights (1931)
Charles Walters’ Summer Stock (1950)
Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954)
Billy Wilder’s Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Something just hit me as I consider my proposed line-up – my supposed favorite movie decade, the 1940s, is not represented. Hmmmm.
3. Name an underrated film that you’d recommend?
Sidney Lumet’s Fail Safe (1964) – a terrific cast in a memorable thriller that doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
8. Name one thing you believed as a child that turned out not to be true.
HARSH realization that I can’t run into any of these people randomly breaking into song and song on the streets of New York…
From Steve…
1. “All-time favorite movie” is too tough. What is your favorite genre, and what is your all-time favorite movie in that genre?
I shouldn’t have chosen this.
I think…that…if my life depended on it…I would have to go with…Comedy. And the film I never tire of watching that also happens to be a near perfect specimen of the genre is…
Leo McCarey’s The Awful Truth (1937)
2. “Theatrical” is too easy. What’s your all-time favorite TV-movie?
Fielder Cook’s The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
3. You have your favorite movie actor or actress to yourself for 24 hours to do with what you will. Name, please.
No name needed. And I’m not sharing my supposed planned itinerary either.
Next I thought I’d bring attention to the posts from this past year that I had the most fun with. There were actually quite a few, including commentaries on new-to-me movies, which is always fun. But I’m narrowing this down to absolute blasts…
- Spending time considering The A-B-Cs of Cary Grant was dreamy
- Reminiscing about the Social Affair that is TCMFF was fantastic
- Considering Mel Brooks’ connections to Classic Movies was a hoot
- Making a case for Elvis’ Clambake is the Citizen Kane of Beach Party Movies was a fun stretch of the imagination
- Commenting on Attack of the 50-Foot Woman was a lot of fun
- I loved discussing Hitchcock Scenes on Trains
- Perhaps not necessarily popular, but the Hispanic Heritage Blogathon was special to me plus I thoroughly enjoyed writing on both of the topics I chose, The Conga Line and Velia Martinez
- With that I must at least mention the fabulous bloggers – and friends – with whom I co-hosted blogathons this past year: Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled, Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club, Fritzi of Movies Silently and Ruth of Silver Screenings – all too good for the likes of me.
The last bullet point brings me to the final part of this post and a mention of what I’d like to change going forward. That is – I need to take a step away from blogathon participation. I will still host and/or co-host the events planned for 2016 and perhaps another one or two if time permits. But I severely overextended myself with blogathon deadlines this year and need to dedicate more time to…
- visiting other blogs
- exploring more new-to-me films
- being more creative with movie-related topics
- And…
…dedicating time to classic movies and more, a project I am working on with friends and fellow fans Annmarie of Classic Movie Hub and Rob Medaska.
I leave you with best wishes, gratitude, a lot of excitement and a teaser…
Once upon a screen... 
It’s a pleasure to read your posts, unlike other blogs that need proofreading and fact checking.
I appreciate that. Thank you! 🙂
I’m not kidding about blogs with errors. There’s one movie blog that shall remain nameless where the writer never proofreads his work. He’s so bad he misspelled an actor’s name a few times while including movie posters where it’s spelled correctly. People should learn the basic rules of grammar and proofread their work or let someone do it before posting and don’t depend on a spell check program to do brain work Why bother to create a nice looking blog only to have it spoiled by careless writing? Not only that, it’s disrespectful to the work being covered. We’re all guilty of an error or two and i fix mine when I’m notified. In a nutshell: Bad writing reflects poorly on the writer and the blog or organization it’s promoting. Good writing is everyone’s business!
I agree wholeheartedly! I’ve certainly made mistakes before, but address them immediately should someone bring it/them to my attention. I’ve pointed out a couple of minor errors on other people blogs thinking I’m just being helpful and have been met with terrible attitudes in response. I try to keep this blog as reflection of me and my love for these films and people that I also have great respect for. If anyone ever noticed an error in fact, etc. I’d want them to let me know. Thanks again for your comments! AND – what’s your blog, by the way?
Aurora
I don’t have a blog, but I post film and film book reviews in FB film groups (mostly for three German groups covering old German films), Amazon (under John C), and one DVD site – Rarefilmsandmore.com. I noticed I didn’t capitalize an “i’ on my previous comment, but this damn print is too small. lol As for writing errors, I appreciate you asking to be notified and I have done it with you in the past and your response was most gracious. I’ve also had my fights with bloggers and authors I’ve corrected and who now hate my guts. lol
LOL. Well, none of that here. As I said, I’m a fan and this is for enjoyment. I’m glad to “meet” and discuss film, film history and all else with you any time. The best part by far is that the learning never ends. 🙂
Aurora
Congratulations and here’s to your next four years!
Can’t wait to hear more about Classic Movies and More!
Nice to see you highlighting Summer Stock. Not too many blogs ( including my own) talk much about musicals.
Thank you, Vienna!! Also appreciate your support for this blog!! 🙂 Hoping it turns out to be enjoyable. More to come! I need to dedicate a few more posts to musicals. Love ’em! 🙂
Happy anniversary! Your blog is one of my favorites! I can’t wait to see what you have in store.
THANKS, Michaela!! More to come! 😉
Is your blog of FB?
I have a FB page, “Citizen Screen” and a personal account at ‘Aurora Desmond’.
OOOPS I meant *on. Time to get my eyes examined as well as my head! lol
LOL. We can set up twin appointments.
Congrats on Four Fab Years, Aurora! The teaser is intriguing and I’m looking forward to finding out more!
Thanks so much, Ruth! Appreciate all your thoughtful comments. Yes, more to come. 🙂
Congratulations on your 4th! When I stumbled onto your blog, I knew I found something extraordinary and felt very drawn to your writing because it triggers that excellent feeling of nostalgia, the way you use your sharp wit like an épée and how much we have in common in terms of our sweet tooth for the little gems like Columbo. You’re an asset to the blogging community, there would be a huge void if you ever stopped writing. The slide show is amazing BTW and in my book you’ll always be Tootsie Fruitsy and the cat’s pajamas! Thank you for always be so accessible and embracing other people’s work and just plain being an all around wonderful person… Cheers kiddoe-
Congrats, Aurora! Yours is one of the cinema treasures I most enjoyed reading. Here’s to many more. 🙂
Thanks so much, Michael. Means a lot. You’re true blue!
Happy 4th, Aurora! You’re always entertaining to read. And thanks for (finally!) acknowledging my Liebster questions! :>
Thanks, Steve!! That “finally” is why I have to lay off blogging at some point. Can’t keep up. 🙂
Congratulations on your four years of classic movie blogging Aurora. Here’s to many more. Oooh, how intriguing is that trailer of yours. Whoa! Can’t wait. Again…congratulations!
THANKS, Theresa!! 😀
Congratulations on four years! And “Fail Safe” is so far the scariest movie I have ever seen.
THAT ENDING!! I just don’t understand why it’s rarely mentioned. Anyway, many thanks for stopping in!! 🙂
Happy Anniversary and keep up the good work! 🙂
Congratulations on four years of hard work and dedication. I usually feel refreshed after visiting one of your posts. While I don’t always comment, I almost always appreciate. Thanks for the excellent work over the four years you’ve been doing this.
Happy Anniversary Aurora! Here’s to many more 🙂
THANKS, Annmarie!! 😀
Four years and you continually inform and entertain. This is easily one of my favourite places to visit on the internet.
I loved your “fabulous four fotos”!
Thank you, Paddy!! It was fun searching for fab fours to display!
Happy blogiversary!
Thanks ever so, Terry!
“Congrats” on four years of doing something you obviously respect and enjoy. I’m a retired school administrator who now has the time to give in to my desire cinema things. Your blog is one of the absolute best of my indulges. Thanks for all you create and do.
My gosh, Aurora, has it only been 4 years? Seems like you have been around much longer. Yours is one of the best blogs on the net, and I’m proud to belong to the CMBA with you.
That means a lot to me, Becky!!