‘Morning Glory’ revisits former glories

By Susan JAMES If you think you’ve seen this movie before, you’re right. Director Roger Michell’s good-natured new comedy, “Morning Glory” revisits the hottest romantic formula of the last five decades, the love affair between a girl and her career. Ever since Marlo Thomas flew her kite across the screen in the 1960s TV show […]

An epic ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 1’

By Susan JAMES ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1’ starts with a bang and ends with a lightning bolt. The beginning of the end for an epic magical journey, this film is a satisfying step along the road.  When we last saw our hero, played with panache by Daniel Radcliffe, he was at […]

GPO dazzles with its season premiere

By Ted AYALA While other cities around the country have been losing artistic and musical institutions in this difficult economy, Glendale has been an exception. Despite the sour economy, the city continues to enjoy the services of quite a few excellent musical ensembles – among the finest would be the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO). Beginning […]

Eastwood’s ‘Hereafter’ is more of an afterthought

By Susan JAMES If you’re looking for an upbeat way to spend a rainy afternoon, Clint Eastwood’s meandering meditation on the afterlife isn’t it. Punctuated by a handful of wrenchingly acted scenes, the script by Peter Morgan buries these in a slow paced porridge of existential proportions. Matt Damon plays George Lonegan, a man tormented […]

Unnaturally awful – ‘Paranormal Activity 2’

By Charly SHELTON The 2007 film “Paranormal Activity” was made on the cheap with no “real” names to speak of. When it first came out audiences across America believed that it was real, documented footage of a paranormal haunt – a demonic presence in a condo that terrorizes young couple Micah and Katie. It was […]

Last chance for Flemming

By Mary O’KEEFE “You Can Call Me…. Flemming,” a play by Sam Bodrick, is in its last week at Pasadena City College Sexson Auditorium. The play follows Henry Flemming who has a successful business that he hates. For reasons only a middle aged man can understand he sells his lucrative business and buys a questionable […]

“Turangalîla Symphony” perfected in hands of L.A. Phil

By Ted AYALA Special to the CV Weekly If the ultimate worth of a work of art is measured in the amount of criticism it arouses, then Olivier Messiaen’s “Turangalîla Symphony” must be regarded as one of the immortal masterworks of Western music. Premiered in 1949 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of […]

Then & Now | Verdugo City

Then » In this photo from the ‘40s the town center of Verdugo City is a thriving business district. The beautiful brick Roger’s Pharmacy building takes center stage, and there are dentist and doctors’ offices above. Located here as well are a grocery store, gas station, auto repair and post office. This is the view […]

Disneyland Halloweentime

By Charly SHELTON Every year all the theme parks across Southern California as well as across the nation, maybe the world, host an annual Halloween celebration. This celebration usually consists of haunted houses, haunted ride-throughs, and Halloween-themed merchandise. Disneyland, being the hub of family-friendly entertainment, cannot do scary themed attractions. The majority of the Disneyland […]