Category Archives: Memory Lane

The time Jack Palance winked at me

Posted on February 18, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Jack Palance, who was born on this day in 1919 and died on Nov. 10 2006, had one of the scariest physiognomies in movies but my favourite memory of him is of a wink.

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My interview with rock star Gene Vincent did not go well

Posted on February 11, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Rockabilly star Gene Vincent, who was born on this day 80 years ago and died on Oct. 12, 1971, had a huge influence on my musical tastes with ’50s tracks such as “Be-Bob-a-Lula” and “Right Here on … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , | Comments Off on My interview with rock star Gene Vincent did not go well

Peter Cook’s pact with the devil for Dudley Moore

Posted on January 9, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett There’s a general view that comic genius Peter Cook, who died 20 years ago today, was a bitter and unhappy man who resented the film success of his former partner Dudley Moore. That’s not how he appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Television, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Peter Cook’s pact with the devil for Dudley Moore

How Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower

Posted on December 27, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower for $64, bombed Moscow and shot up ships and planes in both world wars, and got away with it. Dunn, whose birthday was 110 years ago today, was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , | Comments Off on How Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower

When Ricardo Montalbán killed off Frito Bandito

Posted on December 4, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Chris Rock’s question “Is Hollywood Mexican enough?” in his essay about race in the current edition of The Hollywood Reporter reminded me of what the late Ricardo Montalbán told me a long time ago about the image … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rock Hudson and the Hollywood AIDS scare

Posted on November 17, 2014 by admin

Rock Hudson, who would have been 90 years-old today, had a more significant impact on Hollywood when he died than in a long acting career that included “Giant” (pictured), 1960s comedies with Doris Day and TV series “McMillan & Wife”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Television | Tagged , | 2 Comments

TIFF 2014: A tale of three Equalizers

Posted on September 7, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett File under “it’s a small world”: I’m at my old pal Ron Base’s place in Milton for a Sunday brunch chatting with another guest, Hans Gerhardt, who ran the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto when it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Television, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF 2014: A tale of three Equalizers

My dinner with Richard Attenborough

Posted on August 25, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett I met Lord Richard Attenborough, who has died aged 90, at the Ghent Film Festival in 2004 and it was a memorable encounter that included Sir George and Lady Martin. At a Ghent restaurant, Lady Martin sat … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on My dinner with Richard Attenborough

When Duane Eddy played in a supper club band

Posted on May 12, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Duane Eddy, who turns 65 today, is celebrated rightly as one of the top rock ‘n’ roll guitarists of all time but there was a period after his first string of major hits that his career slumped … Continue reading →

Posted in Memory Lane, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on When Duane Eddy played in a supper club band

Raymond’s Revue Bar and the music of Henry Mancini

Posted on April 28, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett For all I know, the late London land baron Paul Raymond might have been the “porn king” of Soho but what I recall is that he published innocuous nudie magazines and ran a strip club called Raymond’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Raymond’s Revue Bar and the music of Henry Mancini