The Global Film Village

The Shadow knows!

// September 2nd, 2010 // Comments Off // Comic Books

by Marc Halperin

The Shadow was one of the first great pulp magazine heroes.  The one night performance of The Shadow at the Sierra Madre Playhouse commemorates its 80th anniversary of premiering on radio having originally debuted on July 31, 1930.

From its days in the pulp magazines to radio, comic strips, comic books, movies and a television series the character has captured the imagination of generations and millions of fans. The mysterious detective also known as Lamont Cranston had the power to “cloud men’s minds.” (more…)

Greater Tuna: a classic village comedy

// August 26th, 2010 // Comments Off // Stage Play

by Marla Lewin

Brett Perkins and Friends Concert Exceeds Expectations

// February 15th, 2010 // Comments Off // Live Music

Everything Divine poster circa 2000

The Valentine’s Day concert by Brett Perkins and Friends at the Sierra Madre Playhouse was a truly exceptional way to spend the holiday. What we were treated to was a series of snapshots of musicians lives and how they intersected. The night was led off by Brett Perkins, who played four songs and then introduced each of the other musicians with anecdotes about how they met or played together in other bands. We listened to three solo performances from each artist which gave us a sample of their style and artistry. The second half of the show was mostly group performances by the original members of The Edited Trio, and Everything Divine. The unifying factor was that Brett played in both bands. While each of the individual performers are highly talented in their own right the reuniting of Everything Divine was truly impressive. The melding of these individual talents was a perfect way to end the evening.

Brett told me they had only run through the songs once together before the show. It had been at least 7 years since they had all performed together. Everything Divine had never released an album of their songs and only 7 songs were ever recorded as a demos at the time. Those songs are available on the link above. Based on the packed theatre and the positive response from the audience they are hoping to do this again next year if everyone can be rounded up from all over the globe. (more…)

Brett Perkins and Friends in Valentine’s Day Concert in Los Angeles area

// February 9th, 2010 // Comments Off // Live Music

by Marla Lewin

Brett Perkins, winner of both the Great American Song Contest Pop Category & Australian Song Competition International Category this year is finishing up his U.S. concert tour before returning to Europe for an extensive tour there. Brett will perform in concert for one night only at Sierra Madre Playhouse on Sunday, February 14 at 7 p.m. Appearing on the same bill will be musical guests Amalie Riis,  Bright Blue Gorilla,  David Zink, Mark Davis, Tim Tedrow and Terry Vreeland, Barry Schwam, The Edited Trio, and Everything Divine. (more…)

Fibber McGee and Molly are back for One Night Only at Sierra Madre Playhouse 

// December 30th, 2009 // Comments Off // Stage Play

by Marla Lewin

Fibber McGee and Molly was one of the longest-running comedies in the history of the Golden Days of Radio. The show’s most famous running gag was the overstuffed hallway closet, which would burst with a cacophonous downpour of stuff when anyone opened it. The shows enormous popularity and cultural impact was similar to the Seinfeld show of recent years.

Fibber McGee and Molly was developed by a husband-and-wife team James “Jim” Jordan and and Marian Driscoll who were Chicago area radio performers. Through a series of shows working with Harry Lawrence and Donald Quinn they refined the characters and situations and created Smackout which ran for 4 years, the last 2 years ran nationally on NBC. Each of the shows revolved around a like-able husband who couldn’t help himself from telling little white lies to get himself out of everyday situations that would escalate to fibs of epic proportions.

Their next effort in 1935 was  Fibber McGee and Molly (more…)