John Gilbert biography offers look at real-life inspiration for ‘The Artist’
Even casual movie fans probably know something of the rags-to-riches-to-ruin story of silent era matinee idol John Gilbert because “The Artist,” the popular, Oscar-winning homage to Hollywood’s golden age by French director Michel Hazanavicius, was in part inspired by Gilbert’s glamorous but tragic career.
Gilbert once rivaled Rudolph Valentino as the silent cinema’s “great lover,” and he became one of the biggest stars of the day after starring in King Vidor’s “The Big Parade” in 1925. Gilbert appeared opposite some of the silver screen’s great beauties, including Norma Shearer in “He Who Gets Slapped,” Mae Murray in “The Merry Widow” and Lillian Gish in “La Boheme.” And like Valentino, his career faded with the onset of the talkies and he died an untimely death.
“John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars” (University Press of Kentucky, $39.95) is author Eve Golden’s finely detailed and gracefully written effort to set the record straight about this forgotten movie star whose life and career have become shrouded in myths and, according to the author, in half-truths.
While it has been widely assumed that Gilbert failed to make the leap from silent films to talkies because he possessed a high-pitched voice that didn’t project well on screen, Golden questions that narrative and offers other possibilities for his downfall (perhaps his public problems with drinking, his four marriages and his high-profile affairs with numerous actresses, his career-long feud with MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer that was rumored to have led to fistfights).
Golden, a veteran researcher who has also written about the ultimate Ziegfeld girl Anna Held and early show-biz figures Kay Kendall and dancers Vernon and Irene Castle, works diligently to separate fact from fiction as she traces the actor’s life from a childhood spent traveling with vagabond acting troupes to the peak of his fame.
Along the way, she relates many colorful anecdotes involving figures such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich (Gilbert’s final lover) and his own mother, silent screen beauty Leatrice Joy. Much source material is derived from interviews with Gilbert’s daughter, Leatrice Joy Gilbert Fountain, who herself has written an insightful biography of her father titled “Dark Star.”
While Golden’s book doesn’t necessarily mine any startling new information about this suave, handsome man in slicked-back hair and pencil moustache, it does, with its abundance of trivia, insights into relationships, sharp analysis of his many screen roles and 62 black-and-white photos, paint a complete and compassionate portrait of a star who blazed onto the screen and sank under the burden of his own fame.
Just as “The Artist” was fine, juicy melodrama to feed our silver screen dreams, so John Gilbert’s life was one of triumph and tragedy that it seems could only be imagined and lived in Hollywood.
- Dennis King
Miranda Lambert’s Mutt Nation Foundation assisting with pet rescues in the wake of Oklahoma tornadoes
Miranda Lambert’s Mutt Nation Foundation, the donation-supported organization working to end pet suffering and homelessness that the country music superstar founded with her mom, Bev, is aiding in pet rescue operations in the wake of this week’s devastating Oklahoma tornadoes.
North Shore Animal League America, in collaboration with the Bella Foundation and MuttNation Foundation, has deployed one of its Mobile Rescue Units to Moore to help the families and pets who have been affected by this tragedy, according to the league’s website.
“I’m so proud that MuttNation Foundation can help even a little,” Lambert, who lives in Tishomingo, said on Facebook.
The North Shore Animal League’s Emergency Rescue Team and Mobile Rescue Unit arrived in Oklahoma on Wednesday. The organization is working with the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Division to identify shelter animals to transport back to its Port Washington, N.Y., headquarters so the Oklahoma shelter can house animals newly displaced by the tornado until they can be returned to their owners.
While her foundation is helping with pet rescue efforts, Lambert herself is joining her husband, fellow country music star Blake Shelton, at his telethon “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert” set for Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W Reno.
As previously reported, Oklahoma natives and Country Music Hall of Famers Reba McEntire and Vince Gill will join the couple during the benefit show. Additional guests for the concert will be announced shortly, according to a news release.
The concert will be televised live at 8 p.m. on NBC. It also will air on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25, with a limit of eight per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com.
“Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,” Shelton said in the news release. “This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.”
The event will raise funds for the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Working with their local community partners, United Way of Central Oklahoma will use the fund for immediate, intermediate and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma following the tornadoes that devastated Moore earlier this week.
Born and raised in Oklahoma and currently residing in the city of Tishomingo, the recent tragedy that struck the state this week hit close to home for Shelton. The one way the country singer knew he could help immediately would be through the “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert” aiding the United Way of Central Oklahoma.
This isn’t the first time Shelton has reached out to those in the wake of tragedy in Oklahoma. In 2011, Shelton and longtime friend Reba went back home to Oklahoma to host the “Tornado Relief Concerts” for victims affected by the Atoka County tornadoes. The two-sold out concerts, which featured special guests and over two hours of entertainment, raised $500,000 for the Oklahoma victims.
For more information, go to www.chesapeakearena.com.
-BAM
Howard Dean’s foot in mouth disease
When Howard Dean sought the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, a National Review cover famously declared, “Please nominate this man.”
Dean showed why Republicans wanted him to be the face of the Democratic Party when, in a recent TV appearance, he proclaimed, “Benghazi is a laughable joke.” When a Republican National Committee spokesman pointed out that the death of four Americans didn’t seem funny, Dean responded, “Oh, stop it.”
As we now know, the Obama administration insisted on claiming the Benghazi attack was a protest of a YouTube video, not a terrorist attack, long after the administration knew better. Whether that was politically motivated incompetence or something worse remains to be seen, but this should be beyond debate: The murder of Americans serving overseas is no laughing matter.
Dean’s comments show how out of touch he remains, and why Republicans may soon demand: “Please make this man Obama’s press spokesman.”
Cheaper by the dozen
When causes and bladders collide: Actor Matt Damon said he asked a fellow thespian for advice on how to play a gay man when Damon was considering the role of Liberace’s lover in the film that became “Behind the Candelabra,” airing at 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO. The response from Heath Ledger, who left the straight and narrow for a part in “Brokeback Mountain,” was to drink 12 beers.
That was in 2007. This year, Damon pledged to avoid using the bathroom in a satirical stunt designed to call attention to worldwide water and sanitation concerns. Drinking even two beers would make the toilet-avoidance pledge difficult to keep for even an hour.
Damon might have needed a second six pack when considering the tremendous flop his most recent theatrical movie was. It was called “Promised Land,” a fictional treatment of some of the same themes covered in a 2010 “documentary” called “Gasland.”
We’ll avoid relating that title to Damon’s bathroom pledge except to say that cheap celebrity stunts are often full of sound and fury, signifying little or nothing.
Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill to join Blake Shelton at “Healing in the Heartland” Oklahoma tornado benefit
Blake Shelton
Ada native Blake Shelton has assembled an all-star team of fellow Oklahoma country music stars to join his telethon “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert.”
His Grammy Award-winning wife and fellow Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, as well as Oklahoma natives and Country Music Hall of Famers Reba McEntire and Vince Gill will perform alongside Shelton at the benefit show. Additional guests for the concert will be announced shortly, according to a news release.
Shelton, a celebrity coach on NBC’s hit reality show “The Voice,” has organized and will headline the telethon, which will take place Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W Reno.
The concert will be televised live at 8 p.m. on NBC. It also will air on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25, with a limit of eight per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com.
“Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,” Shelton said in the news release. “This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.”
The event will raise funds for the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Working with their local community partners, United Way of Central Oklahoma will use the fund for immediate, intermediate and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma following the tornadoes that devastated Moore earlier this week.
Love’s Travel Stops is underwriting the concert cost. The Oklahoma City-based company previously announced it was earmarking $1.5 million of a $3 million total donation to fund a benefit event.
R.A. Clark, who produces the Academy of Country Music Awards, is executive producer for the televised event.
This isn’t the first time Shelton has reached out to those in the wake of tragic tornadoes in his home state. In 2011, Shelton and longtime friend Reba went back home to Oklahoma to host the “Tornado Relief Concerts” for victims affected by the Atoka County tornadoes. The two-sold out concerts, which featured special guests and over two hours of entertainment, raised $500,000 for the Oklahoma victims.
For more information, go to www.chesapeakearena.com.
-BAM
Edmond Jazz and Blues Festival postponed due to weather issues
Watermelon Slim
EDMOND – The Edmond Jazz and Blues Festival scheduled for this weekend at Stephenson Park has been canceled due to the weather events in the state this week, reports The Oklahoman‘s Sarah Hussain.
Festival spokesman Jason Gilliam told Sarah that because of the forecast for potentially dangerous weather this weekend, and out of respect for the families that have lost so much in the wake of this week’s deadly tornadoes, organizers decided to postpone the festival.
Festival sponsors have been consulted and were encouraged to use their funds and resources in support of the relief efforts instead, and organizers plan to reschedule, Sarah reports.
The two-day festival was to feature live jazz and blues by Watermelon Slim, Equilibrium, The Jeremy Thomas Quartet and more Saturday and Sunday at the Edmond park.
For more information, www.Edmondjazzandblues.org.
-BAM
Joe Jonas volunteering with Convoy of Hope in Moore today to assist with tornado recovery
Joe Jonas (AP file)
In the wake of Monday’s devastating EF5 tornado, singer Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers is visiting Moore today with the with the relief organization Convoy of Hope.
Jonas is visiting with the Convoy of Hope team to raise awareness that everyone can help in some way, according to a news release. He will be assisting Convoy of Hope with the distribution of relief supplies to the community as well as working with debris removal teams.
The Jonas family have been friends of Convoy of Hope since first partnering with the organization in 2009. In addition to raising awareness, the Jonas Brothers’ Change For the Children Foundation has awarded several grants to Convoy of Hope both in times of disaster and to support children’s feeding initiatives in nine countries around the world over the last four years.
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based nonprofit that was founded in 1994. According to ConvoyofHope.org, it has served more than 55 million people around the world through international children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.
-BA
Best Bets for May 24-27, 2013: Lauren Mann, Sunny Side Up, B.B. King, Chuck Wagon Gathering
Lauren Mann
Here are the Best Bets for entertainment in Oklahoma this holiday weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com:
1. Hear indie folk/pop band Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk at 8 p.m. Friday at the Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market, 311 S Klein Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: 232-6506 or www.okcfarmersmarket.com.
2. Celebrate the release of Oklahoma City ska-rock band Sunny Side Up’s debut album at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at The Conservatory, 8911 N Western Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Information: www.conservatoryokc.com.
3. NEWKIRK — Listen to B.B. King at 8 p.m. Saturday at First Council Casino, 12875 N U.S. 77. Information: www.myfirstwin.com or www.ticketstorm.com.
4. Take in outdoor cooking, children’s activities and live Western music at the Chuck Wagon Gathering and Children’s Cowboy Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63. This year’s event has been moved indoors. Information: 478-2250 or www.nationalcowboymuseum.org. For more Memorial Day weekend festivities, click here.
-BAM
First Sooner Softball Player Honored As Academic All-American Since 2007
Oklahoma pitcher Michelle Gascoigne was named an Academic All-American on Thursday. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman Archives
An elementary education major, Gascoigne was officially named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division I Second Team.
The honor makes her the first Sooner placed on the Academic All-American since Norelle Dickson was named to the second team in 2007. Gascoigne is now the seventh player in Oklahoma history to be named to the list.
Gascoigne has collected this season. She has already been named second-team All-Central Region, All-Big 12 Second Team and Academic All-Big 12. In addition, she was tabbed as one of the 10 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award.
Sporting an 18-3 record, Gascoigne leads the country with her 0.92 earned run average. She has struck out 198 batters and walked just 29 in 129.0 innings of work. She sits fifth in the nation with 10.6 strikeouts per seven innings and is ninth with 3.96 hits allowed per seven innings.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook ranked seventh
There are many ways to rate NBA players. Statistically is one way. Voting is another. The all-NBA teams give us an excellent gauge of how NBA media judges players.
I thought Russell Westbrook had a chance to make first-team all-NBA. I didn’t really think he’d make it — I thought Kobe would edge him out — and I was right. But I thought Westbrook had a shot. And Westbrook ended up seventh overall in the voting. Here is the way the votes went:
1. LeBron James 595 points
2. Kevin Durant 555
3. Chris Paul 537
4. Kobe Bryant 521
5. Carmelo Anthony 397
6. Tim Duncan 392
7. Russell Westbrook 306
8. Marc Gasol 295
9. Tony Parker 273
10. James Harden 253
11. Dwight Howard 203
12. Dwyane Wade 145
13. Blake Griffin 132
13. Brook Lopez 132
15. David Lee 79
16. Paul George 73
17. Stephen Curry 72
18. LaMarcus Aldridge 62
19. Chris Bosh 59
20. Joakim Noah 56
21. Zach Randolph 45
22. Al Horford 31
23. Paul Pierce 24
24. Al Jefferson 20
25. Tyson Chandler 19
26. Roy Hibbert 9
27. Luol Deng 8
27. Kevin Garnett 8
27. Ty Lawson 8
30. Josh Smith 7
31. Deron Williams 6
32. Pau Gasol 4
32. Serge Ibaka 4
34. Omer Asik 3
34. Kenneth Faried 3
34. Raymond Felton 3
34. Kyrie Irving 3
38. Carlos Boozer 2
38. Mike Conley 2
38. David West 2
41. Rudy Gay 1
41. J.J. Hickson 1
41. Andre Iguodala 1
41. Dirk Nowitzki 1
41. Nikola Pekovic 1
41. Rajon Rondo 1
41. Nikola Vucevic 1
A few thoughts on the voting:
* The voting is skewed. Voters are asked to vote by position, even though positions are largely disappearing from the NBA. Every lineup has a point guard, some lineups have a center and then it’s a crapshoot. The notion of picking teams by position seems antiquated. That’s how Duncan made first team, sending Carmelo to second team.
It seems likely that Westbrook would have out-pointed Duncan, had voters not been asked to pick a center. But Westbrook still fell behind Anthony, so it’s reasonable to assume that Westbrook was the No. 6 player in the voting.
* That positional stuff is what dropped Harden to third team. Harden actually had almost twice as many votes as Griffin, but the forward voting was so spread out — no one knew who to vote for — that Griffin rose to second team with a low vote total.
* Going back to the last three all-NBA teams, here are the most decorated players: James, Durant, Kobe, Paul and Howard would be the first team, and Howard and CP3 barely edge out Westbrook. Westbrook would lead the second team, with Wade, Griffin, Parker and then your choice of Carmelo, Derrick Rose, Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki.
* Brook Lopez got seven first-place votes and finished with 132 points, but that was only fourth among centers — Duncan, Marc Gasol, Dwight — and thus was honorable mention. So Lopez and Griffin had the same number of votes, yet one was second-team and the other honorable mention.
* Wow. Deron Williams and Pau Gasol have fallen far. Gasol was second-team all-NBA in 2011; Williams was second-team in 2010.
* Kevin Love and Andrew Bynum were second-team all-NBA last season and didn’t get a single vote this year, for injury reasons. Also without a vote was Rose, because he didn’t play, but pay attention to Rose. He was first-team in 2011, when he was NBA MVP, but didn’t make any of three teams last season, when he played just 39 games. Counting playoffs, Rose has played 40 of a possible 182 games the last two seasons.
* Someone voted for Raymond Felton. Someone voted for Rudy Gay. Someone voted for J.J. Hickson. I pray that it was all the same person and we don’t have three goofballs on the panel.
* Undervalued in the voting: Paul George, Steph Curry.
