Gasland Part II, Directed By Wayne County Native Josh Fox, To Premiere on HBO Monday, July 8th

Gasland Part II, directed by Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox, will have its television premiere Monday, July 8th at 9 PM on HBO.

Fox is a native of Wayne County; his original 2010 documentary Gasland was a Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature and won an Emmy Award winner in 2011 for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming.  

"Remembering the Scranton Sirens" Documentary Wins Emmy

Congratulations to the creative team behind the documentary Remembering the Scranton Sirens, which recently won an Emmy award for Best Documentary.  The documentary, produced by WVIA and directed by Scranton native Gregory Matkosky (Stories From the Mines), won the award at the 30th Annual Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Ceremony, held in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 22nd in Philadelphia.

Click here for more information on The Scranton Sirens.

Click here to read more about the Emmy win.

Much thanks to Evelyn Gibbons for this reference.

Wayne County Native Josh Fox Wins Emmy For Directing Gasland

Congratulations to documentary filmmaker and Wayne County native Josh Fox for winning an Emmy for Outstanding Direction for Nonfiction Programming for his film Gasland.

In Gasland, Josh Fox received an offer to drill for natural gas under his property in Pennsylvania; in response, he did what few landowners think to do--he conducted his own research into the drilling process. The film won the 2010 Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

To place a hold on the DVD of Gasland, click here.

www.gaslandthemovie.com

Wilkes-Barre Native Douglas Carter Beane Recieves Tony Writing Nod for Broadway's Sister Act

We would like to wish a big congratulations and good luck to Wilkes-Barre native Douglas Carter Beane, who received a Tony nomination (his 3rd) this past Monday for Best Book of a Musical (shared with authors Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner) for the new Broadway musical Sister Act. Beane contributed additional text to the original book of the show, which originally debuted on London's West End in 2009.

Beane was previously nominated twice for Tony awards -- 2007's Best Play for The Little Dog Laughed and 2008's Best Book of a Musical for Xanadu.

The Tony Awards will air live on CBS on Sunday, June 12th at 8 PM.

For a complete list of this year's Tony nominees, click here.

For a previous blog entry on Douglas Carter Beane, click here.

www.tonys.org
www.SisterActBroadway.com

NEPA Represented With Oscar Nods for Blue Valentine AND Gasland

Northeastern Pennsylvania was represented in the nominations for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, announced this morning.

Michelle Williams received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Cindy in Blue Valentine, which was filmed in Scranton, Honesdale, and Carbondale.

In addition, Wayne County native Josh Fox was honored with an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature for his film Gasland (now available to borrow on DVD from Albright Memorial Library).

For a complete list of this year's Academy Award nominees, click here.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards air live on Sunday night, February 27th on ABC.

Wilkes-Barre native Santo Loquasto Nominated for TWO 2010 Tony Awards

UPDATED 5/14/2010

Congratulations to Wilkes-Barre native Santo Loquasto for his TWO (count 'em, TWO) 2010 Tony Award nominations, one for Best Costume Design for a Musical for the revival of Ragtime on Broadway, and the other for Best Scenic Design for a Play for the revival of Fences.

For more information on Santo Loquasto, click here.

We'll be rooting for you, Santo, when the 2010 Tony Awards air Sunday, June 13th on CBS!

UPDATED 5/14/10 It has been announced that Mr. Loquasto's nomination for Best Costume Design for Ragtime has unfortunately been withdrawn. According to sources, Loquasto's designs for the revival were deemed too similar to the original Broadway production of Ragtime, which were also designed by Loquasto. For more information, click here.

Kingston Native Brad Gooch Nominated For National Book Critics Circle Award

The Reference Department would like to congratulate Kingston native Brad Gooch for his National Book Critics Circle nomination. His first work of nonfiction--the critically-acclaimed Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor--has been nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography.

To place a hold on Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor, click here.

For a previous entry on Brad Gooch, click here.

For a list of all National Book Critics Circle Award nominees, click here.

Congrats, Brad! We'll be rooting for you!

David Lepore, Set Designer and Emmy Winner for "Come On Over"

David Lepore of Wilkes-Barre recently won an Emmy Award from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The Emmy was for Best Graphic Arts-Set Design for the regional children's show Come On Over, filmed and televised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lepore shares the award with co-set designer Bob Phillips.

Come On Over won a total of 5 Emmy Awards on June 7th,

Click here to read the article from the Citizens' Voice.

Congratulations, David. Well done!

Thank you to Evelyn Gibbons for this reference.

Wilkes-Barre native Douglas Carter Beane nominated for "Best Book of a Musical" Tony Award for Xanadu

Updated Monday, May 19th, 2008

Congratulations to playwright and Wilkes-Barre native Douglas Carter Beane, who was nominated this morning for a Best Book of a Musical Tony Award for the surprise hit Xanadu.


Xanadu was nominated for a total of 4 Tonys, including Best Actress (Kerry Butler), Best Choreography (Dan Knechtges), and Best Musical.


The Tony Awards air Sunday, June 15th at 8 PM on CBS. For a complete list of 2008 Tony nominees, click here.


For more information on Douglas Carter Beane from a previous blog entry, click here.


Good luck, Douglas!!!!! We're all rooting for you.


And don't miss Xanadu on Broadway! It's an excellent show (I'm going to see it for the THIRD time at the end of May--YES, IT'S THAT GOOD!!!).

www.XanaduOnBroadway.com

Updated Monday, May 19th, 2008: Last night, Douglas Carter Beane won the award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for Xanadu at the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards. For a complete list of last night's winners, check out the Official Drama Desk Awards site. Congratulations, Douglas!!!!

Michael Patrick King, Sex & The City (Director/Writer/Producer) (1954- )

Scranton native Michael Patrick King, center, is the Director/Writer/Executive Producer of the highly anticipated summer movie Sex & the City: The Movie. The film stars (from left) Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon. Sex & the City: The Movie opens nationwide May 30th.

This reference is from my longtime friend and colleague Evelyn Gibbons, who called me tonight all excited to give me this info:

Check out the Summer Movies (MT) section of this past Sunday's (May 4, 2008) New York Times and, on page 4, you will find a lengthy profile of the upcoming Sex and the City: The Movie. The article features both a profile of and an extensive interview with the movie's director/writer/producer Michael Patrick King, a native of Scranton.

Michael Patrick King was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 14th, 1954. In the 1980s he moved to New York City, where he worked as a playwright and stand-up comedian.

King's impressive career in television spans over two decades. He first worked as executive producer of a 1989 show called The Sweet Life, which featured host Rachel Sweet introducing short clips of movie comedies. Of interesting note is that The Sweet Life aired on a new and fledgling network called The Comedy Channel, which only years later morphed into Comedy Central.

In the early 1990s, King served as writer for the hit sitcom Murphy Brown. He went on to write and executive produce several episodes of Will & Grace. He also served as writer/director/executive producer of the short-lived HBO show The Comeback starring Lisa Kudrow.

King is best known for his work on the smash HBO series Sex & the City, which he served as writer/director/executive producer from 1999 to 2004. He was won a Best Director Emmy Award for the episode The Reel Me in 2002.

Sex & the City: The Movie, one of the most highly-anticipated movies of the Summer 2008 movie season, opens nationwide Friday, May 30th, 2008.

The New York Times article, written by Ginia Bellafante, is titled Back to the City, for More Than Just Sex. To read the article, click here.

Also of note is that the bottom of the first page of the Summer Movies section reads:

4

HIS OWN VELVET ROPE

How Michael Patrick King got

himself from Scranton

to "Sex and

the City."

Seasons 1-6 of Sex & The City are available to borrow from libraries throughout the Lackawanna County Library System.

Muchos gracias to the phenomenally groovy Evelyn Gibbons for this reference.

UPDATED May 10th: Someone Meeboed me a question regarding Mr. King:

" I just found your blog after reading the NY Times article about Sex and the City. Do you know which "small college in Pennsylvania" Michael Patrick went to?"

After a little digging, I discovered that Michael Patrick King attended Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA, according to GoErie.com

Marion Lorne, Actress (1883-1968)

West Pittston native Marion Lorne appears as Aunt Clara opposite Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York in an episode of the classic 1960s sitcom Bewitched. Lorne won a posthumous Emmy Award for her role 10 days after her death in 1968.

She was a gifted and lovable star of the Broadway stage, the "brand new box" called television, and the silver screen. She was directed by Hitchcock in her film debut. She was the aunt of a loveable witch on one of TV's best-loved sitcoms. And to top it all off, she was a friend of that infamous cougar Mrs. Robinson in a film classic. She is Marion Lorne and she's a native of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.

Marion Lorne MacDougall was born in West Pittston on August 12, 1883.

After studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she made her Broadway debut as Marion Lorne in 1905's Mrs. Temple's Telegram. She appeared in many other plays in the early days of Broadway.

She married playwright Walter Hackett (Captain Applejack; The White Sister) and moved to London, where they founded the Whitehall Theater. Following Hackett's death in 1944, she returned to the US and starred as Vera in the original Broadway production of Harvey.

Lorne's film debut came at the young age of 68 in 1951's Strangers On A Train, directed by legendary Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock; her character was Mrs. Anthony. Following the film's success, she turned to television in the recurring role as the lovable-but-hopelessly-confused Mrs. Gurney on the sitcom Mister Peepers from 1952 to 1953. She also appeared in the 1955 Rosiland Russell vehicle The Girl Rush, also starring Fernando Lamas.

Follwoing a number of guest appearances on various television shows, Lorne was cast as the doorknob-obsessed, lovable witch Aunt Clara on the wildly popular 1960s sitcom Bewitched, co-starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York. The show was a phenomenal success and helped Lorne reach a whole new audience.

In 1967, Lorne appeared as Miss Dewitte, a friend and party guest of Mrs. Robinson's in Mike Nichols's 1967 film debut The Graduate, starring Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman. The film was a huge hit and ushered in the "film school generation" of directors.

Sadly, during the fourth season of Bewitched, Marion Lorne suffered a heart attack and passed away in New York City on May 9, 1968 . She was 84 years old. Ten days after her death, Lorne was posthumously awarded the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role on Bewitched--her friend and colleague Elizabeth Montgomery accected the award for the late actress.

Several items featuring Marion Lorne are available to borrow from the Lackawanna County Library System--including the first 3 seasons of Bewitched, the VHS or DVD of The Graduate, and the VHS or DVD of Strangers on a Train. Click on any of these links to place a reserve.

Much thanks to the savvy Michele L. for this reference. And thanks to Erin from Childrens for the correction :-) I originally incorrectly identified Elizabeth Montgomery as Barbara Montgomery :-(

The Office Nominated For 5 Emmys

The hit NBC show The Office, which takes places at the ficticious Dunder-Mifflin paper distribution company in Scranton, PA (and has included several local references throughout its two seasons) has been nominated for 5 Emmy Awards, including Best Comedy Series and Best Actor in a Comedy for star Steve Carell.

A Letter To Three Wives (1949)

My wonderful brother J.R. told me some time ago of a reference to the city of Wilkes-Barre in the 1949 Academy Award-winning film A Letter To Three Wives, written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Mankiewicz, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, also wrote the screenplay to All About Eve, which also included a reference to Wilkes-Barre in the dialogue (All About Eve was also the inaugural entry in this blog). Coincidentally, both A Letter To Three Wives (1949) and All About Eve (1950) won back-to-back Oscars for Best Screenplay (as well as Best Director) for Mankiewicz, the only such occurrence in the history of the Academy Awards. This distinction gives Wilkes-Barre, PA an ultra-rare (though unnoted until now) historic footnote in the history of cinema—city references included in two screenplays by the same author that won two consecutive Oscars.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on February 11, 1909. He began his career in film as a translator of intertitles for Paramount in Berlin. Upon returning to Hollywood, he worked as both a screenwriter and producer throughout the thirties and forties; he also produced several films starring Joan Crawford (including 1942's Reunion in France, which features several references to Wilkes-Barre). After directing his first film Backfire in 1946, Mankiewicz went on to direct such classics as The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Now Way Out, Guys and Dolls, Cleopatra and, of course, All About Eve—which still holds the record of the most Academy Award nominations (14) in film history (tied with Titanic).

A Letter to Three Wives stars Jeanne Crain (State Fair, Cheaper By The Dozen), Linda Darnell (Mankiewicz’s No Way Out, Unfaithfully Yours) and Ann Sothern (Lady in the Lark, The Whales of August) as three friends in an affluent neighborhood. As they are boarding a ship to chaperone a school trip, a mailman delivers a letter addressed to the three of them from their friend (and town floozy) Addie Ross. Addie writes that she is leaving town for good and taking one of their husbands as a momento—neglecting to reveal exactly whose husband she stole. Though they display a brave front and a nonchalant attitude, each of the three women spends the day reminiscing about the ups and downs of her marriage -- wondering if hers is the husband who has flown the coop.

The Wilkes-Barre reference occurs during the flashback of “wife” Rita Phipps (played by Ann Sothern), a writer for radio shows. As she is having dinner with her possibly straying husband George (Kirk Douglas) and her radio show’s sponsors, a commercial for a breath mint begins playing during the radio show “Confessions of Brenda Brown.”

Announcer:

Euclid Street. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. What a thrill it was to hear my little girl say, “Mother, it’s much fun to have you read to us, now that you use Baby’s Breath.”

On the audio commentary on the DVD of A Letter To Three Wives (at 48:00), Joseph Mankiewicz's son Christopher explains that his father "never missed a chance in any screenplay that he wrote to pay homage to his city of birth and get it in the script."

A Letter to Three Wives is available for loan on DVD from the Lackawanna County Library System. To place a hold on the DVD, click here; to reserve the VHS, click here.

Much thanks again to my fantastic brother J.R. for this reference.

Ned Washington, Songwriter (1901-1976)

"When You Wish Upon A Star" and "Give A Little Whistle" from 1940's "Pinocchio." Jazz standards such as “The Nearness Of You,” covered recently by Norah Jones, and “Wild Is The Wind” by Nina Simone. Pop classics like “A Town Without Pity.” The theme to TV’s "Rawhide.”

All of these songs were written by Scranton native Ned Washington (August 15, 1901-December 20, 1976).

Washington was born in Scranton on August 15, 1901, one of nine children. He attended Charles Sumner School in West Scranton and, later, Scranton Technical High School. He was a newspaperboy for the Scranton Times during his youth and also contributed poems to the local newspaper. Eventually, his family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where he continued to publish his poems and stories in newspapers and even in national magazines.

Washington moved to New York in 1922. After working on the vaudeville circuit as a booking agent, master of ceremonies and occassional material writer, he moved to California in 1928. His first famous compostion for motion pictures (a collaboration with Herb Magidson) was "Singin' in the Bathtub."

Washington returned to New York 1930 and, for the next few years, worked as a freelance songwriter. His first standard, "I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You," was recorded by Thomas Dorsey in 1932 and eventually became the theme song for his orchestra.

Washington returned to Hollywood in 1935 and continued writing songs for films for many years. He won two Academy Awards in 1940--the first for Best Original Score for Walt Disney's Pinocchio and the second for Best Original Song for "When You Wish Upon A Star." Washington won a third Oscar in 1952 for "Do Not Forsake Me," the theme to the classic Western "High Noon." Washington would eventually receive a total of 13 Academy Award nominations throughout his prolific career in Hollywood.

Other Washington notables are "Baby Mine" (introduced in Walt Disney's "Dumbo" and, in 1988, sung by Bette Midler in the classic tearjerker "Beaches"), "Stella By Starlight," "Smoke Rings" and the Billie Holiday standard "(I Don't Stand a) Ghost of a Chance."

Washington died at his Beverly Hills home on December 20, 1976 from a heart condtion; he was 75 years old. But for those who love movies and classic Disney, Washington's music and legacy will live on forever.

Disney inducted Washington into their Disney Legends Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Local History Vertical File for "Music" includes several articles on Ned Washington.

MULTI GRAMMY WINNER JOHN LEGEND HAS A LOCAL CONNECTION

Did you know that John Legend, who won three Grammy Awards this week, has a connection to Scranton?

From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Legend held a nine-year tenure as choir director, pianist and head of the music department at Bethel AME Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania (716 North Washington Ave).

He left his position in 2004 to work on his major label debut solo album Get Lifted, which has sold over one million copies.

On Wednesday, February 8th, 2006, Legend won the Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Male Performance.

Excellent job, John!

Thanks to Judi for the info.

UPDATE: Scranton Times/Tribune Josh McAuliffe wrote an article about John Legend that includes interviews with his former choir members and others who knew him when he was at Bethel AME Church in Scranton. The article appears in today's (Friday, February 10th, 2006, pages A1 and A5) issue of the Scranton Times/Tribune. Read the full-text of the article by clicking here.

MICHAEL FINE FROM LAKE ARIEL NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY AWARD

Wednesday night, you can bet that all of us at Albright Memorial Library will be cheering for Lake Ariel resident Michael Fine, who is nominated for the Grammy Award for Classical Producer of the Year. The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be handed out live on Wednesday night (February 8th) at 8 PM and will air LIVE on CBS (locally on WYOU).

Michael and his wife Tammy own Fine Sound Productions in Lake Ariel, PA; Fine Sound Productions offers recording production services, consulting and career counseling.

Mr. Fine, who was also the recipient of the 1992 Grammy Award for Classical Producer of the Year (he was also nominated in 1990), has produced artists such as Cecilia Bartoli and Andrea Bocelli. Several albums he has produced have also won Grammys and other numerous awards.

The Scranton Times-Tribune has published an article about Mr. Fine titled Grandpa Behind Grammy in Tuesday's issue. Click here to read the full text of "Grandpa Behind Grammy."


The Reference Department congratulates Michael Fine on his Grammy nomination for Classical Producer of the Year and wishes him the best of luck at Wednesday night’s Grammy Awards.

An extra special thanks to Mr. Michael Fine for allowing me to use his photo in our blog.

LOCAL AUTHOR SUSAN CAMPBELL BARTOLETTI WINS PRESTIGIOUS NEWBERY HONOR BOOK AWARD

UPDATED 7/26/07

Susan Campbell Bartoletti of Moscow has won the prestigious Newbery Honor Book award from the American Library Association for her book Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow.


Hitler Youth tells the story of a generation of German young people - one group of youths devote all their energy to the Hitler Youth and the propaganda that gave Hitler his power, and the other group of youths resists the Nazi movement.


Ms. Bartoletti is also the author of the critically-acclaimed A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska, 1896; Kids on Strike! and Growing Up in Coal Country.


The Reference Department congratulates Ms. Bartoletti for this amazing recognition and honor.

Much thanks to Susan Campbell Bartoletti for
permitting me to use her photo in our blog.

http://www.scbartoletti.com/

UPDATED 7/26/07 Susan was profiled in this week's Electric City discussing the upcoming Gathering Symposium and her upcoming book. To read the article, click here.

Migration by W.S. Merwin (2005)

W.S. MERWIN:
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST
IS A SCRANTON NATIVE

Poet W.S. Merwin, who grew up in Scranton, PA, has been nominated for the 2005 National Book Award for Poetry for his collection Migration: New and Selected Poems. This is the eighth National Book Award nomination for W.S. Merwin, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner (1971 for The Carrier of Ladders and again in 2009 for The Shadow of Sirius) whose career as a poet and translator spans five decades.

As a boy, Merwin lived in Scranton before his family moved to Union City, NJ. He attended West Scranton High School and Abraham Lincoln public school in the city of Scranton. He has said many of his poems were drawn from his childhood here. Merwin returned to Scranton in 1983 to read from his works in a poetry series sponsored by the Friends of the Scranton Public Library.

We have several of Mr. Merwin's poetry collection listed in the library catalog. Our Local History collection in the Reference Department includes a newspaper clippings file on Mr. Merwin, including a 1994 Scranton Times article detailing his winning a $100,000 Tanning Prize from the Academy of American Poets.

The Reference Department staff wishes Mr. Merwin the best of luck in his nomination for the National Book Award.

UPDATE: W.S. Merwin has been awarded the National Book Award for poetry.

The Reference Department congratulates Mr. Merwin on his award. Also, check out the display in the Reference Department lobby.

Visit here for W.S. Merwin's page on the official National Book Award site.

To place a hold on W.S. Merwin's Migration, click here.

That Championship Season (1973)

In 1973, playwright and Scranton native Jason Miller won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as the Tony Award for Best Play, for That Championship Season.

Set in Scranton, PA, the plays tells the story of four friends and their former basketball coach as they reveal themselves and are honest with each other for perhaps the first time in their lives. By the end of the evening, they are reminiscing about their 1957 championship basketball season.

THE 1973 PLAY

The play opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on September 14, 1972 and played for nearly two years, closing April 21, 1974.

Besides Miller, TCS also won a Tony Award for director A.J. Antoon, as well as nominations for actor Paul Sorvino, lighting designer Ian Calderon and scenic designer Santo Loquasto (Santo himself is a Wilkes-Barre native).

THE 1982 FILM VERSION

In 1982, Hollywood came to Scranton, PA, where they made the film version of TCS. Written for the screen and directed by Jason Miller, the film starred Paul Sorvino (the only actor from the original stage play to recreate the same role in the film version), Stacy Keach, Bruce Dern, Robert Mitchum, and Martin Sheen.

THE 1999 TV REMAKE*

In 1999, Paul Sorvino directed (and starred as the coach in) a made-for-TV remake of TCS, starring Vincent D’Onofrio, Gary Sinise, and Tony Shalhoub.

To place a hold on the text of Jason Miller's original 1973 play, click here. To borrow the DVD of the 1982 film (shot in Scranton), click here. The 1999 remake is also available; click here to reserve the DVD or click here to reserve the VHS.

A big holla and thanks to Elizabeth Davis for the suggestion.

*The 1999 remake of That Championship Season will be screened Friday, August 19th at 7:45 at Nay Aug Park. Click here for details. (NOTE: This event has passed and it remains listed here strictly for archival purposes.)

All About Eve (1950)

Ah, the classic 1950 Best Picture winner (tied with Titanic for the film with the most Academy Award nominations ever with 14).

The director, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, was born in Wilkes-Barre and has written and/or directed several classic movies, including Guys & Dolls, No Way Out, Cleopatra, and, of course, All About Eve.

Below is a section of dialogue, near the end of the film, in which Margo Channing (played by Bette Davis) mentions Wilkes-Barre:

MARGO

There goes Eve. Eve evil, Little Miss Evil. But the evil that men do - how does it go, groom? Something about the good they leave behind - I played it once in rep in Wilkes-Barre...

BILL

You've got it backwards. Even for Wilkes-Barre.

All About Eve, the film in VHS and DVD formats, and the original screenplay by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, is available to borrow from libraries throughout the Lackawanna County Library System. To place a hold on the DVD, click here; to reserve the VHS, click here. To reserve the original published screenplay by Wilkes-Barre native Joseph L. Mankiewicz, click here.