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Yesteryear Ballyhoo Revue

Yesteryear Ballyhoo Revue

Laughs and Lessons from Hollywood’s Golden Age

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  • 28 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 2 hr 30 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • September 25 · 3 hr 2 min

    Ep. 184: Holiday (1938) or ‘Ayre-Heads’

    Zach welcomes back film blogger Zoë Kaperonis (The Film Around the Corner)to unpack the emotional baggage of the Seaton family as the duo tackle George Cukor's 1938 comedy melodrama, HOLIDAY! Pull up a chair and pour a drink for yourself & a stuffed giraffe as they learn more about the life of George Cukor, argue in defense of his directing style & brilliance, wrestle with the approach to the material and how it triumphs over its 1930 counterpart, get lost in Lew Ayres' sad eyes, and then finally settle upon the legacy of the film and its impact on us today. —--- Be sure to follow Zoë’s Golden Age Hollywood journey through her fabulous blog, THE FILM AROUND THE CORNER: https://thefilmaroundthecorner.substack.com And give her a follow on Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefilmaroundthecorner?igsh=MWFjcXZvMDVyZDVsZw== Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/zgkap.bsky.social

  • September 18 · 3 hr 12 min

    Ep. 183: Some Like It Hot (1959) or ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ (Special Guest: Jon Ekstrom)

    Zach welcome welcome welcomes back Jon Ekstrom (Podcaster, ‘Off The Clock with Jon Eks’) for a trip to the Seminole Ritz in Florida where the booze is bootleg, the sexual freedom is abound, and the music is hot as the duo unpacks Billy Wilder’s groundbreaking 1959 classic, ‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’ Follows along with the duo as they unpack the intriguing production history of the film, reckon with the behavior of Billy Wilder to Marilyn Monroe during production, revel in a script so funny and so FAR FAR FAR ahead it’s time, find appreciation in a final line, and then settle upon the many ways the film has been influential to this day. PLUS: Osgood Fielding is the face of Woke and we are so here for it! —------------------------------------------------------ Be sure to follow Jon with his work on Off The Clock: The Blog: https://www.otcjon.com/blog The Podcast: https://www.otcjon.com/ (Listening Options Available From There The Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoATPod/mentions/ The Threads Account: https://www.threads.com/@otcjon The Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otcjon/

  • September 14 · 2 hr 32 min

    Ep. 182: All Through The Night (1942) or ‘Operation: Cheesecake’

    Zach and return guest Rob Stroude (Ballyhoo Correspondent) were on the town and waiting for a cheesecake from Miller's Bakery that never arrived, which leads them on a merry Nazi-Punching chase through New York as the duo unpacks the 1942 Gangster WWII Comedy, ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT! Prepare yourselves for a deep dive into this hybrid genre gem as the boys unpack the production hostory of the film, navigate the wacky but beautiful plot moment by moment, marvel at the comedy chops of Bogart & Co., marvel at the number of Hollywood legends stuffed into the film, and then finally settle upon why the film is a must watch. PLUS: Was George Raft's career merely a front for Bogart getting roles? The film discussed today, 'All Through The Night, is available to rent on digital OR to buy on a new BluRay restoration courtesy of Warner Archive MovieZyng Link For BluRay: https://moviezyng.com/products/all-through-the-night-1?_pos=1&_sid=5193084cd&_ss=r?variant=46452639662230 Amazon Link for BluRay: https://a.co/d/0doJyOV1 Be sure to follow Rob's adventure covering all the Mickey Mouse theatrical shorts with his brand new Substack, 'My Year With Mickey' : https://myyearwithmickey.substack.com/p/my-year-with-mickey His latest post marking his return can be read here: https://myyearwithmickey.substack.com/p/more-like-2-years

  • September 4 · 3 hr

    Ep. 181: Casablanca-esque Vol. 2- Background To Danger (1943), The Conspirators (1944) & Passage To Marseille (1944) (Special Guest: Sterling Cook)

    Zach & Sterling Cook (Filmmaker & Ballyhoo Corespondent, 'Tour de Tati') return for PART 2 of their massive conversation unpacking the films that try to capture cinema magic off the back of Casablanca with a closer look at Background To Danger (1943), The Conspirators (1944) & Passage To Marseille (1944) Tune in to learn about the making of these films, the similar ingridients to Casablanca they hold, and whether or not they can capture that same serendipitous magic from Rick's Cafe. To Hear Sterling and Zach extrapolate Jacques Tati on the 'Tour de Tati'series , please visit YBR PRESENTS at https://anchor.fm/ybrpresents . Subscribe and Enjoy! and follow the journey of Sterling & Matt Cassani's upcoming project, 'Pleasure Chest' on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasurechestmovie?igsh=cWo2d3c3MzY4MWc1 and Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pleasurechestmovie?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

  • August 28 · 2 hr 19 min

    Ep. 180: Casablanca-esque Vol. 1- To Have & Have Not (1944) & Macao (1952)(Special Guest: Sterling Cook)

    Zach welcomes back Sterling Cook (Filmmaker & Ballyhoo Corespondent, 'Tour de Tati') for part 1 of a journey through the same old story played again and again as they unpack films trying to capture the essence of Casablanca with a closer look at TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944) & MACAO (1952) Tune in to learn about the making of these films, the similar ingridients to Casablanca they hold, and whether or not they can capture that same serendipitous magic from Rick's Cafe. To Hear Sterling and Zach extrapolate Jacques Tati on the 'Tour de Tati'series , please visit YBR PRESENTS at https://anchor.fm/ybrpresents . Subscribe and Enjoy! and follow the journey of Sterling & Matt Cassani's upcoming project, 'Pleasure Chest' on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasurechestmovie?igsh=cWo2d3c3MzY4MWc1 and Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pleasurechestmovie?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

  • August 21 · 1 hr 43 min

    Noir Mondial- Ch. XVIII: Jerichow (2008)

    Rashmi & Zach take a trip to Germany on their Noir odyssey where the Cain ‘Postman’ story of doomed love reaches the new millennium as the duo unpack Christian Petzoldt’s 2008 noir-ish thriller, JERICHOW Tune in to learn how Petzold’s grasp on the film carries flourish of Noir learned while weaving together a version that finds a new path on an old story

  • August 14 · 2 hr 11 min

    Ep. 179: Othello (1951) or ‘The Bard and The Boy Wonder Part II’ (Special Guest: Brad Haag)

    This week Zach welcomes back filmmaker and pod-pal Brad Haag (Reel Nerds Podcast) for a trip through many locations over three years with the legendary Orson Welles’ and his 1951 independent film epic, OTHELLO. Join the duo as they unpack the production of Othello and it’s many ups and downs all while bringing into conversation the many ways Welles’ methodology or production inspire the modern trends of DIY filmmaking, what lessons can be learned from his triumphs and failings, and how the film stands as a piece of entertainment in spite of the uphill battle to get it made. Be sure to listen to Brad each week on REEL NERDS PODCAST https://reelnerdspodcast.com and watch his plethora of amazing short films at his website: https://www.nebulusvisions.com and be sure to visit THE BUG THEATER, host of today’s recording and the site of fabulous shows all nestled in a cozy historic landmark of the arts community in Denver go to https://www.bugtheatre.org/ to find shows and events to delight your days!

  • August 7 · 2 hr 13 min

    Ep. 178: The Two C(a)esars: A Chat with Samuel Garza Bernstein About LGBTQIA+ in Golden Age Hollywood

    This week Zach is joined by author & screenwriter Samuel Garza Bernstein to chat about the subject of LGBTQIA+ creatives in the Golden Age of Hollywood and the impact of two of his subject, Roddy McDowell & Cesar Romero. Join them as the two talk at length about the importance of these stories being brought to the front, how actors and directors navigated their sexual preference in in thee Old Hollywood system, how the content of film managed queer coded material before the production code, and finally shoot the breeze with candid chat about film from the credits of Romero and Roddy. Be sure to pick up Sam’s two books discussed in today’s episode! Cesar Romero: The Joker is Wild- https://a.co/d/07bgFnPl Roddy McDowell: An Actors Life- https://a.co/d/062q36Vr and visit Samuels website to learn more about his prior and upcoming projects!— samuelgarzabernstein.com and give him a follow on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samuel.bernstein.31/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samgbernstein/

  • July 24 · 2 hr 8 min

    Noir Mondial- Ch. XVII: Ossessione (1943)

    Rashmi and Zach continue with the ‘Doomed Lovers’ theme of Noir with a trip to Italy for a look at another adaptation of ‘Postman Always Rings Twice’ as they unpack Luchino Visconti’s 1943 film, OSSESSIONE! Tune in today to learn more about this Visconti debut, what it does from a Noir & Melodrama angle to stand out, and how the film was almost lost entirely!

  • July 3 · 3 hr 39 min

    Ep. 177: Grant-A-Thon – A Cary Grant Top 10 Special (with Special Guest: Ryan Frost)

    The Grant-A-Thon Has Arrived! Join Ryan Frost (Reel Nerds Podcast) & I as we get CARY-d away in unveiling our Top Ten Cary Grant Performances in Grant-A- Thon! Will someone like Only Angels Have Wings more than Bringing Up Baby? Will Mr. Lucky make the cut? And who lives the Hitchcock collabs more? Tune in to find out all that and more! Plus: A Sneak Peak At Our Next Top Ten Special! Listen to Ryan each and every week on REEL NERDS PODCAST Website: https://reelnerdspodcast.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reel-nerds-podcast/id442184939 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NMZkh3WRDuIgIGuFRraEV and Follow the Reel Nerds on Social Twitter: https://twitter.com/reelnerds Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReelNerdsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelnerds/?hl=en

  • June 26 · 2 hr 19 min

    Noir Mondial- Ch. XVI: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

    Rashmi & Zach begin their next Noir Unit, Doomed Lovers, with a journey back to 1946 for the all-time Noir classic, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE! Tune in today to learn more about the stories long journey to the screen, how its rich characterizations sets the tone for Noir romance to come, and how it affected the film world at large!

  • June 19 · 1 hr 38 min

    Ep. 176: It’s A Wise Child (1931) or ‘Marion Davies & The Mystery of the Pre-Code Pregnancy’ (with Special Guest: Lara Gabrielle)

    Zach welcomes back Lara Gabrielle (Author/Historian, 'Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies) for a chat surrounding a Pre-Code Marion Davies film buried for decades until recently as they unpack the laughs & heart in the 1931 film IT'S A WISE CHILD. Hop into one of Mr. Cohen's cars and live the screwball life at a mile a second as the duo catch up with Marions life following her sound debut, walk through the plot and the ways it showcases Davies' range as an actor, fawn over the supporting players from Marie Prevost to James Gleason, unravel the story of why the film remained unseen for decades until the recent Warner Archive Blu-Ray release, and finally ponder over the ways the film shines a light on Davies' talents and gives her a long overdue spotlight. PLUS: Another Jack Benny/Marion Davies connection! Be sure to pick up your copy of Lara's book CAPTAIN OF HER SOUL: THE LIFE OF MARION DAVIES Website: https://mariondaviesbook.com/ Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Her-Soul-Marion-Davies/dp/0520384202 or look for the book at your local bookstore! You can hear Lara talk more about Marion Davies on our previous episode covering 'The Hollywood Revue of 1929' here: https://ballyhoorevuepodcast.com/ep-132-the-hollywood-revue-of-1929-or-marion-davies-the-mystery-of-the-phantom-screen/ And be sure to follow Lara on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads by searching the handle @backlotsfilm

  • June 6 · 2 hr 23 min

    Ep. 175: YBR TV- Adventures of Superman (1952 – 1958) or ‘Maybe I’m A Superman’

    Zach welcomes back Paul Kovit (Director/Editor, ‘No Soap Radio’ ) on a marathon in Metropolis as they dive into the classic Superhero TV series, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN! Get ready to take flight with the guys as they unpack the origins of the show, demystify the casting of its cast & how they felt being part of the show, marvel at special effect & stunt snafus & successes, break down 5 episodes of the show that stand out in the first two seasons, & then finally mull over the many ways Reeves’ outing as Superman stands tall in the legacy of Superman & Superhero television at large. PLUS: Find out exactly how Zach sounds at the mention of terrible studio chiefs. —------- Check out Paul’s amazing work at NO SOAP RADIO Website: https://nosoapradioplayers.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nosoapradiorecreations?si=U8ee4YMPuXK3iXw0

  • May 29 · 1 hr 43 min

    Ep. 174: The Sign of the Film Maven- A Chat with Kristen Lopez about ‘Popcorn Disabilities’

    This week Zach is joined by author & film journalist Kristen Lopez to dive into a subject matter oft neglected in film discourse as they chat about her new book 'Popcorn Disabilities: The Highs and Lows of Disabled Representation in the Movies' Join them as they discuss how the book came to be, examine a slate of Golden Age Hollywood films and how they handle dramatizing disabled stories & finding space for disabled creatives, analyze the pitfalls that can befall films and filmmakers with lack of disabled participation, and settle upon how these stories and images are vital talking points to both engage in proper film literacy & understanding the disabled community. To Buy POPCORN DISABILITIES, head over to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Popcorn-Disabilities-Disabled-Representation-Movies/dp/149308633 Barnes and Nobles:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/popcorn-disabilities-kristen-lopez/1147523323 Or at Bloomsbury Publishing: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/popcorn-disabilities-9781493086344/ To follow Kristen’s journalism endeavors, check out and consider signing up at THE FILM MAVEN https://thefilmmaven.com/ Kitten Sale for Yearly Subscription: https://thefilmmaven.com/kitten-sale (Ends at the end of May) You can also check out Kristens Film Podcast, Ticklish Business wherever you get your podcasts Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ticklish-business/id1129352801 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2v9YsVqLuXnwAoXSlIAAVc You can also support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TicklishBiz And follow her many adventures on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenlopez88?igsh=MWh1OTQ4ODRwbGswbg== Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kristenlopez88?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/kristenklopez.bsky.social

  • May 15 · 2 hr 1 min

    Ep. 173: Pardon Us (1931) or ‘Another Fine F***ing Mess’

    Zach welcomes back Robert Stroude (Ballyhoo Correspondent/ Blogger, ‘My Year With Mickey) to review the parole request of Laurel & Hardy as they break in and break down their very first feature film, the 1931 comedy PARDON US. Join the duo as they examine the odd route the Boys & Hal roach took to expand the group from shorts to feature films, unpack the way the film both has feature strength & where the film feels needlessly stretched out, wrestle with the films far too long (like way too f***ing long) sequence involving blackface, and finally settle upon the way the film influenced both the careers of the Boys and what the film has to say about taking any short IP and expanding it into a feature film. The film discussed today, 'Pardon Us (1931), can be viewed on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlNOOQtRmmA Be sure to follow Rob's adventure covering all the Mickey Mouse theatrical shorts with his brand new Substack, 'My Year With Mickey' : https://myyearwithmickey.substack.com/p/my-year-with-mickey His latest post marking his return can be read here: https://myyearwithmickey.substack.com/p/more-like-2-years

  • May 8 · 2 hr 21 min

    Noir Mondial- Ch. XV: Only The River Flows (2023)

    The police unit of Noir Mondial reaches its conclusion with a trip to China where Moonlight Sonata is set to the atmosphere of crime in the 90's with the 2023 Wei Shujun crime film, ONLY THE RIVER FLOWS. Tune in tomorrow as Rashmi & I dive deep into this compelling & trippy tale of murder against the backdrop of a changing landscape in China, and how it uses Noir elements & principles to drive that home.

  • April 17 · 3 hr 14 min

    Noir Mondial- Ch. XIV: Memories of Murder (2003)

    The Police Unit on Noir Mondial finds itself sifting through the history and pain therein of a notorious killer through the eyes acclaimed director Bong Joon-Ho as Rashmi & Zach unpack his 2003 crime masterpiece, MEMORIES OF MURDER. Tune in tomorrow to hear us examine the ways Director Bong manages to utilize Film Noir tropes and expand upon them to create this true crime classic.

  • April 10 · 2 hr 30 min

    Ep. 171: One Two Three (1961) or ‘Coca-Cola Presents- The Testament of Billy Wilder’

    Zach welcomes back historian and writer Craig Shemin (Sam & Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show) for a trip to post-war Germany where neither East or West Berlin can contain the Madness and Mayhem of Billy Wilder's 1961 Comedy Classic, 'ONE TWO THREE' Join the duo as the unpack the history surrounding the films production, take a stab at deconstructing Wilders approaches on everything from humanism to capitalism to communism, ponder over this being James Cagney's penultimate motion picture, and settle upon the ways the film has influenced the cinema of today. If You are in New York and want to laugh along with Craig and the Marx Brothers Council, join them April 12th at the Museum of the Moving Image for a screening of 'Horse Feathers' followed by a live podcast! Tickets at https://movingimage.org/event/horse-feathers/ Be sure to pick up a copy of Craig's books on the history of Sam & Friends for a deeper look into its history. Sam and Friends: The History- https://www.bearmanormedia.com/products/sam-and-friends-the-story-of-jim-henson-s-first-television-show-hardback?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=6d26e85f2&pr_rec_pid=7098182500386&pr_ref_pid=10048318570798&pr_seq=uniform Sam and Friends: The Script Book- https://www.bearmanormedia.com/products/the-sam-and-friends-script-book?_pos=3&_sid=c8df6b30d&_ss=r&variant=51040633487662 Visit https://www.samandfriendsbook.com for ways to purchase & how to get even more swag from your book purchase! And be sure to follow Craig's talents as a writer by watching his two original Jack Benny scripts as performed by NO SOAP RADIO ( https://nosoapradioplayers.com ) Watch Here- "This is Your Life, Jack Benny" : https://youtu.be/vSQAHnpTg1E?si=9lE-Q19oHwKZY_ex " Jack Visits the Apollo 11 Launch" : https://youtu.be/Xytm4gByVUw?si=jZV6KRk1IG4RebdF ------

  • March 28 · 2 hr 4 min

    Ep. 170: It’s All True (1942 & 1993) or ‘It’s STILL All True’

    Zach welcomes back podcaster, historian, & film lover Jack Hanley (Blindspotting: A Film Discovery Podcast) to the show where the two will journey to South America in search of the many truths captured by Orson Welles & his camera in 1942 as they unpack his incompleted 1942 film IT'S ALL TRUE and the 1993 documentary/re-assembly of the found footage... named... IT'S ALL TRUE. Settle in for a unique chat as the duo unpack the context surrounding Welles' reasons for being in South America, learn more about the Brazillian government during the 40's and how it's filmic desires were subverted by Welles and his teams decision to capture inequalities over stylistic travelogue, trace the journey of the footage from historic dustbin to resurrection, and finally settle upon the ways this lost masterpiece works as both lost art and political statement by Orson. PLUS: Was Orson the inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond? No, but its fun to think he was. Production & Research Notes can Be Accessed On Our Website Here: https://ballyhoorevuepodcast.com/research-page/ The film 'It's All True' can be rented or purchased in the following places Amazon Prime Rental: https://www.amazon.com/Its-All-True-Orson-Welles/dp/B009SI99V6 Apple Rental: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/its-all-true/umc.cmc.1t4tyd8icb7wmoweufzsyftm9 DVD (Through Amazon): https://a.co/d/05jb5K3A Be sure to check out Jack's Amazing Podcast Work! Blindspotting: A Film Discovery Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blindspotting-a-film-discovery-podcast/id1587516521 They Did It: A Conspiracy Podcast- https://www.audible.com/pd/They-Did-It-A-Conspiracy-Podcast-Podcast/B09VCV6LH3 The Superlatives- https://thesuperlativesfilmpodcast.podbean.com/ And follow the journey of both Jack and Zach and their work with the Reel Weird Horror Collective! https://www.facebook.com/people/Reel-Weird-Horror-Collective/61567604516749/ https://reel-weird-horror-awards.ghost.io/

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