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| | The Hollywood & Politics: Then & Now Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | Views: 893 | | Jun 26, 2006 11:24 pm | | Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # | 
Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Hi Folks:
I'd like to get some activity going here. Why don't we start w/introductions? Who will start? Chat up your background, where you live, what you do for a living. Why are you interested in film & the connection to politics?
Any takers?
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander
Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexanderPrivate Reply to Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Jun 27, 2006 12:57 am | | re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # | 
Debra Shiveley Welch | | I am Debra. I live in Central Ohio with my husband, Mark, and my 14 year old son, Christopher.
I was brought up in such a way that I decided that I was going to adopt instead of giving birth, and that is what I did. I am crazy about my son and I think he kind of likes me to. :-)
I am finally a published author! Published at the ripe, young age of 52. I am now 53 and am in the final editing of a novel I co-authored with my cousin. This will be my second book and my son has published as well.
Why do I love the movies? I grew up very poor and very neglected. One of my means of escape was to sit in a beautiful theater and watch movies. I would sell as many pop bottles as I could to buy a ticket to watch Doris Day or William Holden, Bette Davis or Joan Crawford, Spencer Tracy or James Cagney. It was thrilling and for a few hours (we had double features and cartoons, thank you very much) I was someone else besides the neglected waif I had to be most of the time.
Politics in movies: I don't understand much of it. I cringe every time I think of the McCarthy years. I still don't see how he got by with it.
I love to cook and I sincerely believe God made snap dragons, rosemary and old movies, just for me! Private Reply to Debra Shiveley Welch | | Jun 27, 2006 1:59 am | | re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Debra:
Thx for posting! I've enjoyed your posts elsewhere & am happy you're w/us.
I saw a story on 60 Minutes last night. A couple decided they wanted kids but because there were so many homeless, they wanted to only adopt. They found twins from Russia, kids who because of neglect were given little chance to live. The real story came when they learned the twins had TWO sets of twin siblings in Russia. Parents didn't think twice about supporting them. They returned & convinced a judge to let them bring the 4 other kids to America as theirs. I admire folks like them -- & you.
Congratz on your publication, as well as your son's. I know that wonderful feeling!
I love your visual about how you bought movie tickets for stolen moments of alone time. That's the magic of film. The political aspect has gone on since forever, yet the magic was so well done we saw only what they wanted us to see.
McCarthy was extreme, rabidly determined to get rid of communism. He did the concept a disservice w/his methods. The threat of communism was seen as real by many more sane-minded folks -- politicians & artists alike.
This is the point where our discussions take root. The start of any thought as to what effect politics -- right, left, middle -- have had on film.
Example: in 1943 Robert Taylor starred in "Song of Russia." He didn't want to make it. It was studio-directed & Taylor felt it catered to the communist bent. He was under contract, though, & an obedient actor. In 1947, it became part of the House Un-American Activities Committee investigation, accused as being propoganda as to how wonderful life was in Russia. To this day, it's a film that doesn't show up for sale as do others of that period.
Many films were touched by specific departments created between the US gov't & filmdom to cater films to specific sensibilities -- pro & con communism.
You sparked many great thoughts. Thx for introducing yourself & your thoughts, Debra!
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander
Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexanderPrivate Reply to Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Jun 27, 2006 4:22 pm | | re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Debra Shiveley Welch | | I'm very happy to be here!
First, I do not deserve any admiration. I did what I wanted to do (how many people can say that?)and it has brought me more joy than I could have imagined. For one, I love my son dearly. He is so much like me that it's eerie but he is beyond that. Not only is he a terrific person, he has made me a better person as well. Secondly, through mothering my son, I was able to mother myself and heal many old wounds. I not only broke the circle of abuse, I sent it to The Phantom Zone! (Figured I'd use something from the movies here LOL.)
I cannot wait to see some of the discussions here. I know very little about Hollywood politics and find the subject fascinating. I am an eager student!Private Reply to Debra Shiveley Welch | | Jun 27, 2006 11:07 pm | | re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Debra:
I believe people who adopt are a special breed. That's not to say mothers w/natural-born children aren't as motherly (after all, I'm one of those!). Just that there's a very conscious decision made to adopt that isn'talways as intentional for natural birth. Any parent should be able to say their child/ren made them better people. That's what parenthood is all about, IMHO. I know I'm better for having had 2 wonderful sons.
Let's hope we have more people step up to the plate here & tell us about themselves.
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander
Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexanderPrivate Reply to Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Jul 10, 2006 1:29 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # | 
Glenda Lowery | | It is funny how a chain of events, or in this case mouse clicks, can bring you to a destination.
It started with reading and article about a talk show host who hung up on Ann Coulter, a woman I had never heard of. I just had to find out why it was newsworthy that this woman had a phone slammed in her ear. After reading several articles on Ms. Coulter I now feel Ms. Coulter is not deserving of my time to write anymore about her,but it did spur an interest on what political views may be discussed on Ryze. That is how I came to be on this site.
And now about me;
My name is Glenda Lowery, I live in South Central Missouri with my husband of 33 years (will be 33 years the 28th of this month.) We have 3 grown children and four adorable grandsons who range in age from 5 to 12. I have been a hairstylist for over half my life and now have my own small salon on my property, which I love.
I have mixed emotions abot "some" celebrities either lending their name to political events or throwing their hats into the political arena. We can discuss more about that later.
I am an avid reader and I love old movies. The old movies had real stories and did not have to use gratuitous sex and nudity, profanity, or extreme violence to make it big at the box office. While some of the celebrities of that time may have had lifestyles that we did not approve of, or may have found offensive, they (probably the studios) had the good sense to make sure it was kept out of the headlines.
I did not realize or maybe just had forgotten that Robert Taylor had political aspirations. I did not know that he and Ronald Reagan (a president who will go down in history as being one of if not the best president we have had)were best friends.
I find the topic of this network to be very interesting and look forward to reading more and commenting as time permits if I feel I have something to contribute to the conversation.
Glenda Lowery
Founding Consultant
Basic Mineral Make Up
http://www.basicmineralmakeup.comPrivate Reply to Glenda Lowery | | Jul 11, 2006 12:26 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Glenda:
Thx for joining -- & your wonderful post! I admit, this is my 1st go-round as a forum moderator so I appreciate your advice on the ins & outs. I have followed suit!
Old films have a mystique, a sense of story. Current offerings MIGHT have that, but more often go for special effects or sexual connotation or, for me even worse, violence.
Love your Ryze bio, Glenda. I thought the story of your generous husband building you your salon was so sweet. Your family sounds lovely & very grounding.
The Ann Coulter thing is outrageous. I came to much the same opinion about her, well, her opinions. Makes me wonder how certain people become "newsworthy." Bottom line boils down to how over-the-top & often offensive the opinion. The more so, the more widely circulated, especially in our media-saturated world. But that brings to the forefront why such a forum as this is intriguing. Is it just the fact that someone becomes a recognizable name that gives her a right to say just about anything? A "celebrity" may, or may not, be qualified to act as an expert.
But folks may say that about any of us on places such as here. So. . . . : >
Robert Taylor was fascinating. I've had Taylor-itis for years. I remember as a young girl seeing his face on "Death Valley Days" when he took over for Reagan. His movies often had subtle political themes. "Three Comrades" & the one that was used in the hearings, "Song of Russia" immediately come to mind. Funny, but that one seems not to be found anywhere for purchase these days.
And people don't realize how political Reagan was, waaaay before he ever went out of the Hollywood arena. He, Taylor, Stanwyck, others of their day built organizations to help filmdom's working class, which is much of what led to their involvement on the other side of the HUAC cameras.
I hope you'll stick around. We're just ramping up.
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander, Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexander
HOLLYWOOD & POLITICS - http://hollywoodpolitics-network.ryze.com/Private Reply to Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Jul 13, 2006 10:18 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Glenda Lowery | | What little I read about Ann Coulter she puts me in mind of a female version of Howard Stern. It took only about 10 minutes of listening to him before I turned him off never to tune in again.
Glenda Lowery
Founding Consultant
Basic Mineral Make Up
http://www.basicmineralmakeup.comPrivate Reply to Glenda Lowery | | Jul 13, 2006 11:41 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Glenda:
What bothers me about Howard Stern is his overwhelming ability to shoot himself in the foot. Yes, he's always insulting others & using an outrageous opinion to say whatever comes into his brain but I always heard a second voice during the few times he wasn't being outrageous.
I dunno. Maybe I just always try to find a softer side but I DID see that in Howard Stern. He always cut out of it real quick, as soon as he had a sense he'd "oops'd" that way.
Don & Mike -- national in some markets, usually drive-time talk radio -- are like that, though maybe not as brutal. I interviewed Don's wife years ago & asked her how she could live w/a man like that. She was such a sweet, common-sense lady; it made no sense. She said listeners had to understand that what we heard wasn't the real person -- a lot of that was the bravado created to sell radio.
Maybe like an actor?
Unfortunately, Freda, his wife, died in a head-on car crash about a year ago. Some of Don's fans left about the same time, it would seem. Guess they saw her as his "softer side." W/her gone, that was gone, too.
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander, Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexander
HOLLYWOOD & POLITICS - http://hollywoodpolitics-network.ryze.com/Private Reply to Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | Jul 14, 2006 1:26 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Glenda Lowery | | I don't know if Howard has a softer side or not, I can't stand listening to him long enough to hear if it comes out. LOL
Don't you find those that have a more infamous type of celebrity have a tendency to shoot themselves in the foot on a more regular basis?
People who come across like this remind of the child who throse a temper tantrum to get attention. Their tanrums are just of a different kind.
Glenda Lowery
Founding Consultant
Basic Mineral Make Up
http://www.basicmineralmakeup.comPrivate Reply to Glenda Lowery | | Jul 14, 2006 2:19 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Hello -- Let's Introduce Ourselves | # |
Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | "People who come across like this remind of the child who throse a temper tantrum to get attention. Their tanrums are just of a different kind."
That's a great comparison, Glenda. Just about sums it up, I think. If we were to look into their childhood (& no, I'm not a psychiatrist, but I stayed in a Holiday Inn once), I think we'd find kids who didn't get the attention they needed, or didn't feel as if people thought much of what they had to say.
So, when they get the chance to say something important, profound, they may say it . . . & then add their own brand of idiocy as almost an aside, to brand them into what they've become known for. And that's when they ruin all possible good they may have started.
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander, Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexander
HOLLYWOOD & POLITICS - http://hollywoodpolitics-network.ryze.com/Private Reply to Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net | | |
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