Trapped by Television
@loulumenick.bsky.social
Everything you wanted to know about the twisted history of theatrical movies on TV between (mostly) 1939-1984 and so much more. Happy to answer your questions!
Despite his doctors' advice, Lubitsch managed to complete just one more film as a director, the delightful CLUNY BROWN, before his death in 1947. He suffered a fatal heart attack after starting THE LADY IN ERMINE, completed by an uncredited Preminger. (4 of 5)
October 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Despite his doctors' advice, Lubitsch managed to complete just one more film as a director, the delightful CLUNY BROWN, before his death in 1947. He suffered a fatal heart attack after starting THE LADY IN ERMINE, completed by an uncredited Preminger. (4 of 5)
AFI database notes on WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?: "Lubitsch glares at [time-traveling star Fred MacMurray] and asks -- 'who did you think I was, Christopher Columbus?' Although photographs of Lubitsch in costume on the set exist, the gag was not included in the finished film.'' (3 of 5)
October 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
AFI database notes on WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?: "Lubitsch glares at [time-traveling star Fred MacMurray] and asks -- 'who did you think I was, Christopher Columbus?' Although photographs of Lubitsch in costume on the set exist, the gag was not included in the finished film.'' (3 of 5)
Lubitsch writes in a December 1944 syndicated newspaper column about returning to work after his first heart attack, producing the Preminger-directed A ROYAL SCANDAL (he and Mankiewicz had a falling out over DRAGONWYCK) and filming his first movie appearance in 30 years for his pal Ratoff. (2 of 5)
October 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Lubitsch writes in a December 1944 syndicated newspaper column about returning to work after his first heart attack, producing the Preminger-directed A ROYAL SCANDAL (he and Mankiewicz had a falling out over DRAGONWYCK) and filming his first movie appearance in 30 years for his pal Ratoff. (2 of 5)
Otto Preminger, director Gregory Ratoff, producer William Perlberg and Ernst Lubitsch on the set of Ratoff's WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (1945). Preminger and Lubitsch filmed cameos, but only Preminger's (as a Hessian officer) made it into final cut of wacky World War II time-travel musical (1 of 5)
October 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Otto Preminger, director Gregory Ratoff, producer William Perlberg and Ernst Lubitsch on the set of Ratoff's WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (1945). Preminger and Lubitsch filmed cameos, but only Preminger's (as a Hessian officer) made it into final cut of wacky World War II time-travel musical (1 of 5)
If you liked THE SILVER CORD, don't miss Mary Morris in her only (and unforgettable) film role, recreating her Broadway triumph as a sadistic Fifth Avenue matriarch. Creepy late pre-code opened 5/4/34. NY TV debut 6/5/61. Never repeated. youtube.com/watch?v=qQEB...
October 4, 2025 at 12:53 AM
If you liked THE SILVER CORD, don't miss Mary Morris in her only (and unforgettable) film role, recreating her Broadway triumph as a sadistic Fifth Avenue matriarch. Creepy late pre-code opened 5/4/34. NY TV debut 6/5/61. Never repeated. youtube.com/watch?v=qQEB...
Ad for a Manhattan art house that operated from 1931 to 1987 on Manhattan's Upper West Side appeared 86 years ago in the New York Times.
September 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Ad for a Manhattan art house that operated from 1931 to 1987 on Manhattan's Upper West Side appeared 86 years ago in the New York Times.
New York Times 3/18/43. JOURNEY INTO FEAR, which was debuting in fairly wide release, was also playing at Times Square's RKO Palace on a double bill with Monogram's SILVER SKATES starring Kenny Baker, Patricia Morison and Belita (Jepson-Turner).
July 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
New York Times 3/18/43. JOURNEY INTO FEAR, which was debuting in fairly wide release, was also playing at Times Square's RKO Palace on a double bill with Monogram's SILVER SKATES starring Kenny Baker, Patricia Morison and Belita (Jepson-Turner).
Times Square, 2/22/33. Watch Buster Crabbe as a "Naked White Giant with his civilized sweetheart in his arms!'' youtube.com/watch?v=XRu6...
July 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Times Square, 2/22/33. Watch Buster Crabbe as a "Naked White Giant with his civilized sweetheart in his arms!'' youtube.com/watch?v=XRu6...
NY TV debut 6/24/60 at 11:15 pm on WCBS' "The Late Show.'' Junior produced as well as starred in black-and-white swashbuckler that arrived 2/25/49 in Times Square.
June 24, 2025 at 9:18 PM
NY TV debut 6/24/60 at 11:15 pm on WCBS' "The Late Show.'' Junior produced as well as starred in black-and-white swashbuckler that arrived 2/25/49 in Times Square.
NY TV debut 6/24/50 at 10 pm on WCBS' "Premiere Playhouse.'' Tay Garnett's comedy whodunit bowed 5/16/40 in Times Square, with Ruth Terry also appearing in person. On same day, it was supporting BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940 at Loews Metropolitan in Brooklyn. Public domain www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHei...
June 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
NY TV debut 6/24/50 at 10 pm on WCBS' "Premiere Playhouse.'' Tay Garnett's comedy whodunit bowed 5/16/40 in Times Square, with Ruth Terry also appearing in person. On same day, it was supporting BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940 at Loews Metropolitan in Brooklyn. Public domain www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHei...
My piece was picked up around the world. It sent GWTW to the top of Amazon's sales charts for two solid weeks. But more important, public showings became less frequent. And when it's shown or streamed these days, GWTW's problematic subtext is usually discussed. I'm proud of that.
June 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
My piece was picked up around the world. It sent GWTW to the top of Amazon's sales charts for two solid weeks. But more important, public showings became less frequent. And when it's shown or streamed these days, GWTW's problematic subtext is usually discussed. I'm proud of that.
My boss nixed a proposal for a GWTW takedown for its 75th anniversary a few months earlier, but talk of relegating confederate flags to museums provided a news peg for my column. Which did NOT advocate "banning" GWTW, though it was widely interpreted that way by culture warriors.
June 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
My boss nixed a proposal for a GWTW takedown for its 75th anniversary a few months earlier, but talk of relegating confederate flags to museums provided a news peg for my column. Which did NOT advocate "banning" GWTW, though it was widely interpreted that way by culture warriors.
My most controversial -- and influential -- review was posted at my former employer's website ten years ago today, just hours after it was written. There were originally hundreds of comments appended, almost all of them negative. nypost.com/2015/06/24/g...
June 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
My most controversial -- and influential -- review was posted at my former employer's website ten years ago today, just hours after it was written. There were originally hundreds of comments appended, almost all of them negative. nypost.com/2015/06/24/g...
NY TV debut 4/21/65 at 5 pm on WCBS' "The Early Show.'' And the boys meet Anita Ekberg and young Harry Shearer! No kidding. Lower half of 4/24/53 Brooklyn double bill.
April 21, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NY TV debut 4/21/65 at 5 pm on WCBS' "The Early Show.'' And the boys meet Anita Ekberg and young Harry Shearer! No kidding. Lower half of 4/24/53 Brooklyn double bill.
NY TV debut 4/21/55 at 7:30 pm on WOR's "Million Dollar Movie.'' Orson Welles' adaptation, independently produced by Charles K. Feldman and distributed by Republic Pictures, opened 12/27/50 at a Manhattan art house.
April 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
NY TV debut 4/21/55 at 7:30 pm on WOR's "Million Dollar Movie.'' Orson Welles' adaptation, independently produced by Charles K. Feldman and distributed by Republic Pictures, opened 12/27/50 at a Manhattan art house.
NY TV debut 4/21/50 at 11:15 pm on WPIX's "Night Owl Theater.'' Tay Garnett directed Pathe thriller made before studio's merger with RKO. 2/22/30 at Manhattan's fabled 5,140-seat Hippodrome, which was reduced to showing minor features along with an RKO vaudeville bill on stage. Demolished in 1939.
April 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
NY TV debut 4/21/50 at 11:15 pm on WPIX's "Night Owl Theater.'' Tay Garnett directed Pathe thriller made before studio's merger with RKO. 2/22/30 at Manhattan's fabled 5,140-seat Hippodrome, which was reduced to showing minor features along with an RKO vaudeville bill on stage. Demolished in 1939.
Back in 1983, the Empire State Building decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of KING KONG with a giant rubber replica attached to the building for a week. What could go wrong? Watch these hilarious vintage TV clips! www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWXs...
April 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Back in 1983, the Empire State Building decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of KING KONG with a giant rubber replica attached to the building for a week. What could go wrong? Watch these hilarious vintage TV clips! www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWXs...
NY TV debut 4/20/60 at 5:30 pm on WCBS' "The Early Show.'' Finally arriving on the tube more than three years after Channel 2 began rolling out its "pre-'48" MGMs, J. Walter Ruben's well-cast gangster drama opened 6/7/35 at Loews' Manhattan flagship.
April 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
NY TV debut 4/20/60 at 5:30 pm on WCBS' "The Early Show.'' Finally arriving on the tube more than three years after Channel 2 began rolling out its "pre-'48" MGMs, J. Walter Ruben's well-cast gangster drama opened 6/7/35 at Loews' Manhattan flagship.
NY TV debut 4/20/40 at 8:30 pm on NBC's "experimental'' W2XBS, first US station with regularly scheduled programs. Future Mr. and Mrs. James Mason in a Hitchcockian thriller directed by her then husband Roy Kellino and produced by the three of them. 10/1/39 at Manhattan's 55th Street Playhouse.
April 20, 2025 at 10:03 PM
NY TV debut 4/20/40 at 8:30 pm on NBC's "experimental'' W2XBS, first US station with regularly scheduled programs. Future Mr. and Mrs. James Mason in a Hitchcockian thriller directed by her then husband Roy Kellino and produced by the three of them. 10/1/39 at Manhattan's 55th Street Playhouse.
2/19/52 at 4 pm on WJZ/7's "Hollywood Movietime.'' Poverty Row adaptation of 1930 Broadway play opened 9/27/32 at the Gates and several other Loews neighborhood houses in Brooklyn that previously offered vaudeville bills. NY TV debut 9/28/49 on WPIX. youtube.com/watch?v=68Nh...
April 20, 2025 at 9:49 PM
2/19/52 at 4 pm on WJZ/7's "Hollywood Movietime.'' Poverty Row adaptation of 1930 Broadway play opened 9/27/32 at the Gates and several other Loews neighborhood houses in Brooklyn that previously offered vaudeville bills. NY TV debut 9/28/49 on WPIX. youtube.com/watch?v=68Nh...
When even vaudeville and a Laurel and Hardy short isn't going to be enough to put over the new movie at your 5,200-seat Manhattan movie palace on 9/22/33, a miracle or two won't hurt.
April 20, 2025 at 9:44 PM
When even vaudeville and a Laurel and Hardy short isn't going to be enough to put over the new movie at your 5,200-seat Manhattan movie palace on 9/22/33, a miracle or two won't hurt.
NY TV debut 3/8/65 at 12:55 am on WCBS' "The Late Late Show.'' Lavish musical vehicle for transatlantic stage star Laye opened 1/8/31 in Times Square. It was just another Goldwyn antique buried in the wee hours by the time it hit TV 34 years later.
March 8, 2025 at 10:58 PM
NY TV debut 3/8/65 at 12:55 am on WCBS' "The Late Late Show.'' Lavish musical vehicle for transatlantic stage star Laye opened 1/8/31 in Times Square. It was just another Goldwyn antique buried in the wee hours by the time it hit TV 34 years later.
NY TV debut 3/8/65 at 11:20 pm on WCBS' "The Late Show.'' Roy Ward Baker's forgotten noir opened 10/1/52 in Times Square before supporting Howard Hawks' MONKEY BUSINESS as both films began rolling out on the theatre circuit on October 17.
March 8, 2025 at 10:57 PM
NY TV debut 3/8/65 at 11:20 pm on WCBS' "The Late Show.'' Roy Ward Baker's forgotten noir opened 10/1/52 in Times Square before supporting Howard Hawks' MONKEY BUSINESS as both films began rolling out on the theatre circuit on October 17.
NY TV debut 3/8/60 at 7:30 pm on WOR's "Million Dollar Movie.'' Producer Mark Hellinger's greatest triumph, a prototypical noir (directed by soon-blacklisted Jules Dassin), opened in Manhattan 3/5/48 -- two months after Hellinger's premature death from heart failure at the age of 44.
March 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
NY TV debut 3/8/60 at 7:30 pm on WOR's "Million Dollar Movie.'' Producer Mark Hellinger's greatest triumph, a prototypical noir (directed by soon-blacklisted Jules Dassin), opened in Manhattan 3/5/48 -- two months after Hellinger's premature death from heart failure at the age of 44.