Thursday, May 9, 2013

TCM Classic Film Festival 2013--Opening Day at the Roosevelt Hotel and on the Red Carpet


This year's TCM Classic Film Festival took over Hollywood April 25th through the 28th and, as always, opening day was a rush of events.  There are so many, in fact, that seeing movies does not really enter my schedule this early in the festival.  It was even more the case this year once TCM granted me VIP status and asked me to host two movies.  Friday I would introduce A Foreign Affair (1948) with Marlene Dietrich and Saturday was Flying Down to Rio (1933) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, which also included my chat with Cybill Shepherd before the live audience.  And adding to all the excitement was that BFF Karen (Kay) Noske of Movie Star Makeover invited me to bunk with her at the center of everything at the iconic Roosevelt Hotel.

The Roosevelt is one of my favorite places in the world.  Founded by Hollywood royalty Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Louis B. Mayer in 1927, you always feel like you're walking on sacred ground when you're there.  For one, the Academy Awards were first held in the hotel's Blossom Room in 1929.  Along with Sid Grauman's Chinese and Egyptian Theaters, there are few places that are so central to the history of Hollywood as the Roosevelt Hotel.  It is where literally everyone has come to eat, drink, and be very merry.  It's still a Hollywood hot spot.  Though I didn't see the ghosts of Montgomery Clift or Marilyn Monroe--former residents who allegedly still haunt the hotel--I can attest that the place does have quite the spirt.


My time in Hollywood began Tuesday night when I moved into the Roosevelt...with enough luggage to accommodate all the wardrobe changes I would be making over the next week.  Bright and early Wednesday morning was a press conference with TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz as well as their Head of Programming Charlie Tabesh and Festival Director Genevieve McGillicuddy.  It was so great to see everyone again and hear about some of the exciting projects on the horizon, such as the move toward TCM streaming movies online.  And opening day Thursday kicked off with an even bigger TCM panel and the opportunity for everyone at the festival to meet the talented people behind the network.

Thursday included a lot more fun, too, such as the Vanity Fair party and covering the red carpet for the premiere of the newly restored Funny Girl (1968).  Star after star appeared before me and Kay (who was enjoying her first media credentials), but not surprisingly I was most dazzled by two Hitchcock heroines--Tippi Hedren and Eva Marie Saint--and a few fiesty femmes from my beloved film noir.  All were Special Guests of the festival and introducing their films to appreciative audiences.  Mitzi Gaynor and France Nuyen were also lovely on the red carpet as well as deeply entertaining when we headed back over to the Roosevelt for a poolside screening of South Pacific (1958) at sunset.

As you'll see in the photographs, the weather was perfectly gorgeous for the festival.  Fan of the water that I am, I began and ended my time in Hollywood alongside the Roosevelt Hotel pool (just as Marilyn did, above).  Stay tuned for coverage of even more of my festival fun.  Thanks to everyone at both the hotel and of course TCM for making the entire experience so amazing!


In 1960s hot pink silk shantung at one of my favorite places--poolside at the historic Roosevelt Hotel, 
which TCM takes over to tape fan interviews


Here's BFF Kay Noske charming host Ben Mankiewicz on air...
in bare feet, no less, per his request



Preparation for the poolside premiere of South Pacific that night




Inside the Roosevelt Hotel's Blossom Room--site of the first Academy Awards banquet--
transformed once again into Club TCM with more great photos of classic cinema stars



TCM host Robert Osborne talks to the press


The always popular "Meet TCM" opening day panel with insights from team behind the network,
including VP of Studio Production Sean Cameron (speaking below)



Next I was on my way to Grauman's (now TCL) Chinese Theater for the red carpet,
eyeing all the signage showing how our TCM Classic Film Festival takes over Hollywood



At the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood
for the red carpet and premiere of the newly restored Funny Girl (1968)



Working both on and off the red carpet...
thanks to friend Christian Esquevin for the photo below



Friends and familiar faces--Christian and Kay (above)
as well as dapper film historian and critic Leonard Maltin, who I met at last year's festival



VP of Original Programming Tom Brown charmed the growing crowd
and interviewed stars who graced the red carpet, which included both Hitchcock heroines and femmes fatale


Tippi Hedren of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963) and Marnie (1964)




Eva Marie Saint of Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959) 
doing a cheer for fans (above) and posing with Anne Jeffreys on the red carpet




Then there were many femmes of film noir
starting with Anne Jeffreys of Riffraff (1947)...



Coleen Gray of Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956)...



...and Jacqueline White of The Narrow Margin (1952)



Finally, I share the beautiful France Nuyen of South Pacific (1958)
who stopped to pose for our cameras in Pucci
(thanks to Luanne Withee for the photo below)





Raced back to the Roosevelt Hotel for a poolside screening of South Pacific,
which began with Polynesian performers juggling and swallowing fire
(thanks to TCM photog Adam Rose for incredible picture below)




The act was nothing compared to the fire Ben had to juggle in his interview
with France and the very frisky Mitzi Gaynor
(thanks again to Adam Rose for photo below)




The Vanity Fair party was the last mad dash of the day...
couldn't take photos, so I include one of the 1960s mint mini I wore and one from TCM photog Edward M. Pio Roda


13 comments:

Marline said...

Well, I'm happy I can be the first to say "Oh, how wonderful!" about this sunny, blue-sky-filled report. Your words and images bring back all the excitement of our time steeped in the glamour of old Hollywood. GREAT job, Kimberly. And I was honored to be your wingwoman and best friend during this star-studded event! Hooray for Hollywood--and Kimberly!

Joel Williams said...

Great post! Loved all the glamorous pictures on the red carpet...felt like I was there.

That mint dress is a knockout! Hope to see you next year at TCMFF.

Joel Williams said...

Oops, forgot to mention that I also loved the gold Asian-inspired top that Kay's wearing in one of your photos.

Equal-opportunity style praise :)

Kimberly Truhler said...

Thanks Kay! It was such an incredible experience from beginning until end. Loved doing so much of it with you!

Kimberly Truhler said...

LOL Thanks Joel! And Kay thanks you, too. ;) Glad to bring you along on the red carpet with these photos...it was really something to be there. So glad to have met you and your sweet wife. Look forward to seeing you again next year!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post Kimberly, you brought it all to life and the photos are fabulous! You and Kay both look stunning! Loved seeing snapshots of all the action poolside for South Pacific, too.

Congratulations on your TCM intros, that must've been a lot of fun.

Continued success!!

Linda

Christian Esquevin said...

Super post Kimberly! I loved seeing your photos, which were of several of the scenes that I missed. It was all so much fun, especially having dinner Wednesday night with a couple of knowledgeable beauties!

Kimberly Truhler said...

Thanks Christian! LOVED spending time with you at the festival, especially our dinner Wednesday night. So much fun. Glad I was able to capture some things that you missed. That's what makes the festival so remarkable...everyone ends up having different experiences there!

Kimberly Truhler said...

Thanks Linda! So glad you enjoyed the photos and I'm sure Kay has shared some of our many adventures with you. :) Had a wonderful time with the intros...everyone at TCM was so great. Hope you're doing well! xo

Silver Screenings said...

Wow - these are amazing photos. They make us readers feel like we're there, too.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and photos, and for giving us a real behind-the-scenes look at the festival.

Kimberly Truhler said...

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy the photos, Silver Screenings! It's always my intention to make you feel like you were there and a part of it all. :)

DorianTB said...

Kimberly, sorry I didn't have an opportunity to check out your TCM Classic Film Festival fun and frolic with your fab co-host Kay Nospe sooner (so many deadlines, so little time), but I'm glad to have caught up with you gals via the magic of the Internet, and it was worth waiting for! What a wonderful cavalcade of stars at this swanky event! Thanks for sharing the fun with us readers and bloggers, and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Kimberly Truhler said...

Thanks Dorian! Wish you had been there, but so glad you enjoyed the virtual visit with me and Kay. :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...