Leonard Maltin News

Leonard Maltin, curator of the DVD release of the Silly Symphony series, said "Walt Disney was a visionary.  He used his Silly Symphonies to expand the medium of animation to the limits of his imagination.  They are among Walt's greatest achievements and deserve to be seen and enjoyed by a new generation."

BroadwayWorld is deeply saddened to report the passing of the legendary Carol Channing. Channing died at 12:31am on Tuesday, January 15th, 2019, at home in Rancho Mirage, CA of natural causes.

Executive Producers Pam Carter and The Cliplight Theater, in conjunction with Amanda Cooper/ALC Management, are pleased to announce the world premiere of Maverick, co-authored by Frank Beacham and George Demas. A dramatization of co-author Beacham's real-life experience collaborating with Orson Welles in the months leading up to his death, Maverick begins previews at The Connelly Theater (220 E. 4th St., between Ave. A & Ave. B) on February 6, with opening night set for February 13 for a limited run through March 2. Tickets, priced $30-$50, are available at www.mavericktheplay.com.

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the honorees of AFI AWARDS 2018, celebrating the year's most outstanding achievements in the art of the moving image — with 10 films and 10 television programs deemed culturally and artistically significant.

Glenn Close is set to receive the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the 34th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the festival announced today.  Close will be honored on Saturday, February 2nd for her longstanding contributions to the film industry, most recently gracing the silver screen in Sony Pictures Classics' The Wife. Leonard Maltin will return for his 28th year to moderate the evening.

Jewish Life Television (JLTV) will broadcast Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services held at Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre, coast-to-coast on the Eve of Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre), Tuesday, September 18, 2018 (5779) from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET and 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. ET and on Yom Kippur, Wednesday, September 19, 2017 (5779) from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET and 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Rabbi David Baron of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre announced today. The services will also be broadcast coast to coast via DIRECTV, Comcast, Spectrum and other video providers, as well as on the ARMED FORCES NETWORK, reaching 177 military bases and embassies globally. The broadcasts will also be webcast continuously throughout the days on September 18th and 19th on www.bhtota.org

Rabbi David Baron of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 announced today his Yom Kippur Eve (Kol Nidre) guests on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 will include: Ryan Deitsch, a survivor of the Parkland, FL massacre at Marjory Stoneman High School on February 14, 2018, who is a Student Activist Against Gun Violence, a leader of the March For Our Lives Demonstration in Washington, D.C. and an organizer of the #NeverAgain MSD Movement; Justin and Laura Reiner, a Los Angeles Police Department Officer and his wife, survivors and concertgoers of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada; and Dr. Judea Pearl, father of the slain Wall Street Journal journalist, Daniel Pearl, who will speak about the death of his son at the hands of terrorists in Pakistan and a global music day in his son's memory.

Blasting off the festival in its 14th year will be the U.S. Premiere of David Gordon Green's razor-sharp new contribution to the HALLOWEEN canon with legendary actor Jamie Lee Curtis—along with HALLOWEEN producers Malek Akkad, Jason Blum and Bill Block in attendance! Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Reelz Announces Fall 2018 Slate with New Series, New Specials and New Episodes of Returning Series

REELZ today announced its summer 2018 programming slate including six new documentary specials, new true crime series Sex, Lies & Murder and premiere dates for six new and returning series. The new specials include the fascinating story of a pop idol in George Michael's Lonely Life along with three new Behind Closed Doors specials with host Natalie Morales showing viewers the incredible stories of Phil Hartman, Paul Walker and the wildly popular movie musical Grease which marks its 40th anniversary in June. Additional specials include a never-before-seen look at daring prison breaks in Alcatraz: The Greatest Escapes and the two part Ted Bundy: Serial Monster about the riveting real story behind the madman who some experts estimate had more than 100 victims.

REELZ today announced its summer 2018 programming slate including six new documentary specials, new true crime series Sex, Lies & Murder and premiere dates for six new and returning series. The new specials include the fascinating story of a pop idol in George Michael's Lonely Life along with three new Behind Closed Doors specials with host Natalie Morales showing viewers the incredible stories of Phil Hartman, Paul Walker and the wildly popular movie musical Grease which marks its 40th anniversary in June. Additional specials include a never-before-seen look at daring prison breaks in Alcatraz: The Greatest Escapes and the two part Ted Bundy: Serial Monster about the riveting real story behind the madman who some experts estimate had more than 100 victims.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (WBSTH) announced a new addition to the Studio Tour in celebration of Warner Bros.' 95th Anniversary. Beginning May 4, 2018, the Classics Made Here tour and exhibit will take guests back to Hollywood's Golden Age with a tour focused on award-winning titles that have shot on the iconic Warner Bros. Studios backlot throughout the ages. Each tour is led by a specially trained guide, whose passion for TV and filmmaking includes extensive knowledge of Warner Bros.' classic library titles ranging from Casablanca, My Fair Lady, Rebel Without a Cause and TV shows such as Maverick, The Waltons and Batman plus many more. The two-hour intimate tour concludes at Stage 48: Script to Screen, where guests enjoy exclusive access to never-before-seen costumes and props from some of their favorite movies in the Classics Made Here exhibit.

The El Capitan Theatre presents "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" celebrating the film's 80th Anniversary from February 2 to 7, 2018.  Snow White herself will make a live appearance on stage before every show.  Legendary Disney Producer Don Hahn ("Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King") will be in person at The El Capitan Theatre on Saturday, February 3 to introduce the film at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

The Second Step, a nonprofit organization serving and supporting survivors of domestic violence, hosts its 26th annual Celebrating Success Gala on Wednesday, March 28, at Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton. 

2018 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Program Announced

Gary Oldman is set to receive the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 33rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the festival announced today.

REELZ today announced that the groundbreaking documentary, JFK: THE SMOKING GUN, will return to the network Monday, November 6 at 6pm ET/3pm PT.

Jewish Life Television (JLTV) will broadcast Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services held at Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre, coast-to-coast on the Eve of Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre), Friday, September 29, 2017 (5778) and on Yom Kippur, Saturday, September 30, 2017

The 10th annual Neustadt JAAMM Festival, a celebration of Jewish arts, authors, movies and music, will be presented at Denver's Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center starting October 26th and running through November 12th, 2017.

ELZ today announced original programming for summer and fall 2017 including five new original series, new episodes of three returning viewer favorites and a never-before-seen Elvis special hosted by Natalie Morales.