This purpose of this blog is to put together a virtual list/collection of memorable (if fleeting) references to the cities of Wilkes-Barre, PA or Scranton, PA in movies/TV/music/Broadway/books (in the script, setting, lyrics, etc).
We'd like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support and suggestions for the Entertainment blog. I'll continue adding these as blog entries as time permits.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day today!
For the first time in a few years, I decided to catch the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade and, wouldn't you know it, there was a very funny reference to Scranton, courtesy of one of the stars of The Office.
Kate Flannery (Meredith) and Oscar Nunez (Oscar) were briefly interviewed on the sidelines of the parade. When asked by the host what they thought of this morning's festivities, Kate cheerfully replied, "It's almost as big as the Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade. Almost."
Even when it's only yet-another-one-of-the-numerous-references-to-The Office references, I must admit I still get giddy when I see Scranton mentioned in my favorite magazine, Entertainment Weekly.
This time, Scranton was mentioned on page 9 of EW in the popular section called The Bullseye, which rates the pop culture news stories of the week ala a game of Darts (humorously, several events nobody cares about--usually those involving Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt--often miss the bullseye and the arrow lands two pages ahead).
On tonight's episode, titled Frame Toby (Season 5, Episode 8), Michael Scott is absolutely livid that former HR rep and his eternal arch nemesis Toby is back from Costa Rica and back at his old job at Dunder-MifflinScranton...and Michael will do anything in his power to get rid of him--including planting marijuana.
Michael approaches a couple of deliverymen from Vance's Refrigeration and asks if he could "buy some weed" from them. Though they don't really have any to sell, they offer to sell him some anyway for $500. When Michael reaches into his wallet for the money, inside the front card sleeve on full display is his library card from the Lackawanna County Library System. Oh, and the pot they end up selling to Michael is the salad Michael himself threw away that afternoon.
The legendary film noir actress Lizabeth Scott was born Emma Matzo in the PineBrook Section of Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 29, 1922. Emma attended Central High School and Marywood College (nowMarywood University).
After moving to New York City while only in her late teens, Matzo attended the Alvienne School of Drama. She also worked as a model.
Her first big break came in 1942 when she was hired to understudy the legendary actress (with a legendary acid tongue) Tallulah Bankhead in Thorton Wilder'sThe Skin of Our Teeth; unfortunately, Bankhead never missed a performance and Matzo never had the opportunity to perform. However, Matzo took over the lead in the play from Bankhead's ill replacement Gladys George and garnished rave reviews--the next night, Matzo was no longer needed.
Matzo's luck was forever changed when renowned Hollywood producer Hal Wallis discovered her in 1945 and offered her contract in Hollywood; however, Matzo put Hollywood stardom on hold when she was offered the lead in the Boston production of The Skin of Our Teeth. it was in Boston where Emma Matzo took the stage name Lizabeth Scott.
After moving to Hollywood, Scott made a total of 21 films between 1945 and 1957--her main studio was Paramount and her main producer was Hal Wallis. She made her film debut in 1945's You Came Along, directed by John Farrow (father of Mia). Her most famous film role was the femme fatale Toni Marachek in the film noir the classic The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Van Heflin. Scott acted alongside some of the best actors in Hollywood--her other notable films include: 1947's Dead Reckoning with Humphrey Bogart; 1947's Desert Fury with Burt Lancaster and Mary Astor; 1949's Easy Living starring Lucille Ball and Victor Mature; 1949's Too Late For Tears with Dan Duryea; 1950's Dark City with Charlton Heston (whom she also starred with in 1953's Bad For Each Other); and 1951's The Racket with Robert Mitchum.
Lizabeth Scott was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1624 Vine Street).
Her last screen appearance was in the role of Princess Betty Cippola in 1972's Pulp, directed by Mike Hodges and co-starring Michael Caine and Mickey Rooney.
For nearly forty years, Scott has mostly stayed out of the public eye.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day today!
