Watching Classic Movies Podcast: Classic Film Travel--The James Dean Museum with Curator Dorothy Schultz

This season of Watching Classic Movies Podcast I'm going to be interviewing people from the places I write about in my new book, The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide: Over 500 Attractions for Road Trips and Online Exploration.

My first guest of the season is Dorothy Schultz, curator of the James Dean Museum.

We had a great talk about this thriving tribute to an actor who burned bright in his short life and left an enduring legacy. The museum is home to the largest collection of Dean artifacts and attracts visitors from around the world. It is also deeply loved and supported by the surrounding community, which includes Dean’s family. Dorothy shared stories about the museum and the annual festival it hosts, tips about how to make the most of a visit, and what Dean means to her as an artist and influential figure.

 

You can learn more about The James Dean Museum and check out their gift shop here

 

James Dean Museum on Instagram

  

We talked a lot about the famous photos Dennis Stock took of James Dean. There's a great gallery of them here.

The James Dean Museum is included in my book, The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide: Over 500 Attractions for Road Trips and Online Exploration

  

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I Wrote a Book! Check out The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide: Over 500 Attractions for Road Trips and Online Exploration

 

You know that Toni Morrison quote "If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it?" Well I took that to heart and wrote a travel guide tailored to my greatest interest, classic movies! 

I am delighted to announce the publication of The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide: Over 500 Attractions for Road Trips and Online Exploration. 

Check out the book trailer!

I started this project in the early days of the pandemic with the goal of having a guide for myself and perhaps my friends once everything opened up again and it made more sense to travel. However, the more I learned, the more I realized I needed to go further with my research. I connected with hundreds of great people who run these places and saw how much they could use a little publicity after being shuttered for so long. 

The result was this book, a true labor of love. I've written The Classic Film Fan USA Travel Guide to cater to both people who can hit the road and those who cannot travel, but wish to experience what they can of these attractions. There are a surprising number of ways that these places can be enjoyed online, many of them permanent holdovers from the early days of the pandemic. 

Starting next week on Watching Classic Movies podcast, I'll be sharing some great interviews I had with several of the people who run these venues. It was so much fun to talk to these folks; their passion for classic film is enormous! 

Find out where to buy the book here.

Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: March Round-Up

It was an especially illuminating month of podcast listening. Lots of great variety. All episode titles link to the show: 

Teenage Golden Age 

Women’s History Month: Katharine Hepburn 

March 8, 2023 

I love this teen-hosted classic film podcast. Elsie is a natural at hosting. She shares some fascinating insights about Hepburn and her place in a male-dominated industry. The show brough back great memories of discovering classics as a teen myself, though I wasn’t half as good at analyzing what I saw.

The Movies That Made Me 

Allison Anders 

March 3, 2023 

This is a repost of a classic episode of the podcast. Anders knows so much about movies. She tells some great stories here about some of the best filmmakers to step behind a camera. Content Warning: extensive discussion about SA in the first 24:00.

Pure Cinema Podcast 

Video Store Sampler 

March 6, 2023 

Elric and Brian never fail to dramatically expand my to watch list with each episode. I had never even heard of several of their picks in this video store-themed show. The discussion really did evoke the feeling of walking the aisles, checking out the art on this rows of VHS boxes.

The Treatment 

Willem Dafoe, Farran Nehme and Daniels 

March 18, 2023 

The segment with Farran Nehme aka Self-Styled Siren begins at 29:00, she talks about her writing, including a piece she did about John Wayne, Sacheen Littlefeather, and a notorious moment at the Academy Awards 50 years ago. She does a good job unpacking the incident and how, as always, she carefully researched what happened to ensure she had the facts.

Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: February Round-up

These are interesting, evolving times for film fans. That was reflected in my podcast listening this month. Episode titles link to the show: 

Cinema Junkie 

Celebrating TCM Underground 

February 24, 2023 

While I wasn’t surprised to see TCM Underground cancelled after its programmer Millie de Chirico was laid off in December 2022, it was still sad to realize there would be no more exciting discoveries to be found from this fascinating program. I felt a bit better after listening to this conversation with de Chirico. Not only is she still out there ready to share more films, she has co-written a great book about cult movies that will endure.

The Video Essay Podcast 

Adam Tinius (Entertain the Elk) 

February 16, 2023 

I love how honest this YouTuber is about the ups and downs of making a living creating video essays. It’s interesting how he’s balanced his work between popular topics and more soul stirring projects.

Maltin on Movies 

Jamie Lee Curtis 

February 24, 2023 

Jamie Lee Curtis has a lot of interesting insights to share about her famous parents Tony Curtis and Janet Lee in this open-hearted conversation. It’s a bit amusing how she still doesn’t seem to understand the full array of ways that being a nepo baby has helped her career. I think she means well and truly isn’t able to get it from her perspective. Still, it was funny how she insisted she’d never used her parent’s connections only to share several minutes later that she did just that to get a literary agent.

Pop Culture Happy Hour 

How to Be a Better Movie Watcher 

February 15, 2023 

There’s a great appreciation for all kinds of movies here, from strictly thrills to arthouse, and acknowledgement that the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. I also loved the tips about how to watch movies, the most valuable information for me being how to stay awake for the full running time after a long day.

On YouTube---Jayne Mansfield: Beyond the Squeals

 

Jayne Mansfield was no dumb blonde, but to become a star she played one. Unfortunately she became trapped in that image and was never able to share everything she had to offer as a performer. However, she did do a lot more varied work than is commonly believed. She wasn’t all about the squealing. I talk all about that in my new video:

YouTube Video: Black in Classic Film Fashion

 

Lately I've been fascinated by the power of color in classic film fashion. It can almost be a character in itself. I made a video about how black is used in vintage film costumes. Yes, it isn't technically a color, but it is one of the most powerful hues for making a memorable garment. I make some commentary to tie it all together, but my focus here is on displaying the clothes and their amazing variety.

Podcasts for Classic Film Fans: January Round-up

The release of the Sight and Sound poll results was typically dramatic and led to some great podcast episodes. Two of my favorite responses to the list are in this month's roundup. 

Unspooled 

Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles 

January 11, 2023 

This is the perfect discussion about Jeanne Dielman…, which was recently the subject of controversy when it topped the Sight and Sound pool. It taps into what makes this lengthy, often challenging film so mesmerizing. I love how thoroughly the hosts research each topic episode; I always learn so much from them.

I Saw What You Did 

Dirtbag June (Ali, Fear Eats the Soul [1974] and Harold and Maude [1971]) 

January 17, 2023 

Millie and Danielle are such phenomenal podcast hosts. They’ll have you snort laughing with their free-form opening conversation and then get you emotional when they get to the film discussion. I found their discussion of Ali, Fear Eats the Soul and Harold and Maude to be especially sensitive and revealing.

Pure Cinema Podcast \

Decade by Decade Pure Cinema Canon 

January 9, 2023 

Brian and Elric respond to the Sight and Sound list with their own picks for the cinematic canon. I love their choices because the films tend to be both immensely entertaining and great cinema. Many great entry points for those new to exploring movies, but I also found some new viewing ideas in addition to realizing there were a few films I wanted to rewatch.

Forgotten Hollywood 

Author Jeff Keene II on His Book Under The Rainbow 

January 22, 2023 

It’s wild to me that the 2005 and eventual recovery of a pair of ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz (1939) is still being discussed. This is an interesting discussion about some of the ins and outs of the incident with the author of a book about the case.