Michael's Musings
DICK POWELL
by Michael B. Druxman on 02/01/19
February 1, 2019
I am pleased to announce the publication of DICK POWELL, the latest and 20th addition to THE HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS Collection of stage plays.
Dick Powell made a career of reinventing himself.
Born
in Arkansas, the young tenor played horn, banjo and sang with various
dance bands and orchestras in Pittsburgh and elsewhere before he was
brought to Hollywood where he sang opposite Ruby Keeler and others in
such classic Busby Berkeley musicals as 42ND STREET, FOOTLIGHT PARADE,
GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935 and the Al Jolson film, WONDER BAR.
In
the mid-1940s, Powell played Philip Marlowe in MURDER, MY SWEET, which
began his period of doing "tough guy" roles in films like CORNERED,
JOHNNY O'CLOCK and CRY DANGER.
His
astute mind for business led him to invest in real estate and, in the
early 1950s, he moved his show business interests into producing and
directing. Along with David Niven and Charles Boyer, he formed Four Star
Productions, one of the most prolific production companies in
television.
Powell was married three
times. His second wife was actress Joan Blondell and his third, actress
June Allyson, twelve years his junior.
DICK POWELL is a one-person play that looks in on the
actor at two different periods in his life: during the mid-1940s when he
is struggling to reinvent his career from singer to dramatic actor, and
the mid-1950s, as he deals with billionaire Howard Hughes, producer of
director Powell's ill-fated (and deadly) John Wayne-epic film, THE
CONQUEROR.
DICK POWELL, a one person play, is available in paperback and Kindle editions via Amazon or your local bookseller.
If the link below doesn't work (as usual), please copy the address to your browser and you'll be taken to the site.
Happy Holidays!
by Michael B. Druxman on 12/15/18
December 15, 2018
I can't believe that I haven't posted here since July.
Maybe because there's not much going on that I can talk about.
It's a contractual agreement, but if it happens you will be one of the first to know.
In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season.
Michael
GOIN' UP THE MISSISSIPPI
by Michael B. Druxman on 07/17/18
July 17, 2018
I know I haven't been around much lately, mainly because there hasn't been a lot to report.
A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I flew to New Orleans; stayed for a day or so, then took a one week riverboat (paddlewheel) ride up the Mississippi to Memphis. It was a fun, relaxing trip. We visited several towns, old Southern mansions; toured the Vicksburg battlefield.
Great entertainment on board. We even lunched with President and Mrs. Lincoln; became acquainted with General and Mrs. Grant.
I'll let you ponder that one.
Sandy and I are now thinking about our next trip.
You have a creative week.
Michael
