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Friday, October 2, 2015

Announcing the Universal Pictures Blogathon!

UPDATE : The blogathon has begun and you can view all of the links of the posts down below or head on over to Universal Pictures Blogathon : The Guests Arrive to view the entries day by day. Enjoy!

Universal Pictures turned 100 years old this year, and to celebrate this landmark film studio's centennial we are hosting The Universal Pictures Blogathon beginning Oct. 29th. Carl Laemmle would be proud.


Boys and ghouls, this will be a mad monster bash taking place the week of Halloween so invite your friends, your enemies, your daddy, your mummy, and all the spooks in your life to attend. Any one, any age, is welcome and...children of the night, any topic you vant to write about is fine with us!  

Universal Pictures distributed some of the most iconic motion pictures in Hollywood's history including a castle-full of delicious monster classics. 


What kind of articles could you write about for this event? You can cover a film, a series of films, a profile of a Universal contract player, a director, behind-the-scenes personnel, or the history of the studio itself. You've got a Universe of topics to choose from, but in case your brain went stiff for the moment, here are some suggestions to spark the flames of inspiration : 

Stars : Lon Chaney, Deanna Durbin, Laura La Plante, Rock Hudson and Doris Day, Abbott and Costello, Sandra Dee, Lana Turner, Audie Murphy, Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, David Niven, Hoot Gibson, Don Knotts, Mae Murray, Harry Carey, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Basil Rathbone, Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, Mae West, Jon Hall, Maria Montez, Burt Lancaster, Irene Dunne, James Stewart, Tony Curtis. 


Films and Series : The Phantom of the Opera, Show Boat, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Mummy, Cohen and Kelly, Sherlock Holmes, The Black Cat, Three Smart Girls, My Man Godfrey, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Torn Curtain, Tammy and the Bachelor, Destry Rides Again, Spartacus, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Ma & Pa Kettle, The Chalk Garden, Francis the Talking Mule, The Bank Dick, Shadow of a Doubt, The Birds, Marnie, The Killers, Harvey, The Glenn Miller Story, All That Heaven Allows, Imitation of Life,  The Incredible Shrinking Man, Touch of Evil, Back Street, To Kill a Mockingbird,  Munster Go Home. 

Behind-the-Scenes : Carl Laemmle, Tod Browning, Alfred Hitchcock, Clarence Brown, Erich von Stroheim, Lois Weber, Douglas Sirk, Ross Hunter, Jean Louis, Mervyn LeRoy, Jack Pierce, Walter Seltzer, Frank De Vol, Elmer Bernstein, Delbert Mann, Henry Koster. 


Did you know that thirteen of the classic Hammer Horror films were released through Universal Pictures too? 

If you are new to blogathons, let us explain the rules of the party : 

  • All platters are served on a first come, first serve basis. 
  • If you don't post your post within the posting time, we'll miss your post and it won't be posted until our next post. 
  • Please park your carriage in the gate-house behind the castle. 
  • Listen to your host, especially since she has the longest fangs. 
  • The deadline for accepting walk-in invitations is midnight on Halloween - a bewitching time, don't you think? 
We know you vant to bite into this event, so what are you vaiting for? Drop a comment in the comment box below, or use the Contact Us tab at the top of the site to send us an email with your choice, then grab yourself a banner - or two or three - and help us spread the news. 

We hope you can join the party, we're going to have a howling good-time!


 

 

 


The Master List of Guests

                                   Correspondence from Carl Laemmle - Stars and Letters
The Invisible Man ( 1933 ) - Reel Distracted
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break ( 1941 ) - Mildred's Fat Burgers

81 comments:

  1. Okay, I'm calling dibs on Bride of Frankenstein! The blog is A Shroud of Thoughts http://mercurie.blogspot.com/

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    1. The Bride is all yours, Terence. Thanks for joining!

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  2. October birthday boys Henry Hull and Warner Oland star in my choice, "Werewolf of London".

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    1. Birthday boys...how sweet of you to celebrate them. And a great choice too!

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  3. May I please take "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930)?
    My blog: Back to Golden Days (http://back-to-golden-days.blogspot.pt/)

    -Cátia.

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    1. One of Universal's best films.....thanks for joining!

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  4. "Creature From the Black Lagoon," please.
    http://widescreenworld.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. I was hoping someone would pick the swamp man, and I'm so glad it was you, Rich!

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  5. Hi, this is Dan from The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog. I'd like to write a post on "Here Come the Co-Eds" with Abbott & Costello and Lon Chaney Jr.

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  6. Is "Francis the Talking Mule" taken? If not, I'd love to snap it up.

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    1. The Mule is yours for the taking, Ruth! Do you plan on covering the series or just the first film? ( so few bloggers want to tackle Mickey Rooney's outing in Francis in the Haunted House ).

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    2. Just the first film. Francis is so fab, he can be shared by lots of folks. :)

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  7. I'd like to do "So Goes My Love" (1946) starring Myrna Loy & Don Ameche.

    Phyl - http://phyllislovesclassicmovies.blogspot.com/

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  8. Count on me! And give this blogger Destry Rides Again, please!
    Kisses!
    Le

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  9. I just sent you an email but I was wondering if I could cover Oh! Doctor! ? My schedule changed for this month and I would love to join you if you will still have me!

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  10. Hi! I have a friend who's a huge Universal Monsters fan and would love to do a guest post on my blog. BUT his choice is The Wolf Man, which is already spoken for by the fabulous Becky. Before I tell him no - are you accepting repeats?

    Aurora

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    1. Aurora, since there were so many Universal films, we're not accepting duplicates, but if he can put a different spin on the topic we will ( eg. Lon Chaney as The Wolf Man, or The Universal Wolf Man Series, Behind-the-Scenes with The Wolf Man, etc ). Anything like that would be fine. :-)

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  11. Hi..
    I'd love to contribute a post on The Black Cat. the 1934 film.

    Mike of Mike's Take on the Movies.

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  12. Hi there Silver Screens - I'd like to tackle two Universal films with your permission. One is schlock...but the other is a bonafide classic. If it's okay with you, I'd like to write about "Cult of the Cobra" starring the fabulous Faith Domergue. ( That covers the schlock. ) For the classic, may I please write about "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man"? Even your rules were a hoot to read.

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    1. Cult of the Cobra - it wouldn't have been a truly Universal blogathon without that film included. We're glad to have you join the event, and two titles are always better than one!

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    3. Thanks for including me. And my deep apologies for mis-naming you. You are SILVER SCENES ( not Screens! ) I'm so sorry about that.

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    4. No problem....we forget the name of our blog ourselves sometimes!

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  13. Hi. I knew this blogathon was happening a few days after mine because you told me over email.

    I would love to do: Imitation Of Life ( 1934 ), My favorite of the two versions. Let me know if that's ok?

    My blog is: In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood

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    1. Great choice, Crystal! I'm hoping someone might cover the remake version as well....Ross Hunter just can't be overlooked in Universal's history.

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  14. How about... Touch of Evil for The Stop Button?

    Thanks!

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    1. Thanks for joining! We got you down for Touch of Evil.

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  15. Can't believe I only just discovered this blogathon! Please could I take The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
    Thank you!

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    1. Vicki, we're glad you discovered this event, unfortunately, that version of The Phantom of the Opera is being covered already, but the Claude Rains remake is up for grabs...or if you want to cover Lon Chaney silents in general that's okay too. ( On a side note, the 1950s is being neglected, if you have a favorite in that decade that would be swell...otherwise any secondary choice will be welcome! )

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  16. May I claim Blind Husbands (1919)?

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    1. Thanks for joining, Nitrateglow! You picked a rarity, and we're always glad to have rarities.

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  17. Hey. I'm wondering if I could change my pick from "The Imitation Of Life". I've noticed that there are not many 50s movies being chosen, which is a shame, so if I could I would like to claim two titles: Could I do: "There's Always Tomorrow" ( 1956 ) and "All I Desire" ( 1953 ) both with Barbara Stanwyck?

    My blog: In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood

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    1. No problem, and thanks for adding to the 1950s decade!

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  18. Oh that's nice! :) I'd like to write about Harvey please :)
    My blog is The Wonderful World of Cinema
    https://thewonderfulworldofcinema.wordpress.com

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    1. A fabulous choice, we were hoping someone would pick Harvey! "Oh good, nobody here but people!" Love that film.

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  19. Hey Sisters! Joey here at The Last Drive In... I'm in for The Universal Blogathon with Universal Television's groundbreaking anthology series starring that screen legend Boris Karloff! Yes, I'm talking about THRILLER, one of THE best tv shows that incorporated elements of classical horror, suspense and even film noir.. Thanks for the invite, See you soon!

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    1. How Thrilling! And we couldn't agree with you more, it was indeed one of the best horror tv shows made. Thanks for digging into your archives, Jo!

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  20. Hello! Michaël from Le Mot du Cinephiliaque (cinephiliaque.blogspot.com) and I would like to write about The Birds. Thank you!

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    1. Hurrah! It wouldn't be a Universal Blogathon without The Birds being covered. Thanks for joining!

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  21. Am I too late? If not, may I have Shadow of a Doubt?

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    1. You're not late at all, Marsha and thanks for picking such a great film to cover.

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  22. I'd like to do Hold That Ghost for LA Explorer (www.la-explorer.com)

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    1. The best entry! We love that film. Thank you for joining!

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  23. Hi guys,

    Can I bag The Incredible Shrinking Man?

    Giles

    Sometimes They Go To Eleven
    http://www.gogilesgo.com/eleven/

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    Replies
    1. Start Shrink-wrapping your post....the film is all yours to cover!

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  24. I'd like to do His Butler's Sister, if that's okay.

    https://popculturereverie.wordpress.com/

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    1. Universal would have folded up if it were not for Deanna Durbin, thanks for putting one of her films in the blogathon!

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  25. I'd like to do His Butler's Sister, if that's okay.

    https://popculturereverie.wordpress.com/

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  26. How did I miss this announcement?! The funny thing is I was planning on writing about Lady on a Train for October 26th, and now this blogathon pops up! I would love to cover the Deanna Durbin flick for this! My blog is Love Letters to Old Hollywood.

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    1. Fantastic! Two Deanna Durbin submissions in one day. We're lucky people. Thanks for joining Michaela, Lady on a Train is all yours.

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    2. My post is up! Here's the link:
      http://loveletterstooldhollywood.blogspot.com/2015/10/deanna-durbin-juggles-murder-and.html

      Thanks for hosting this!

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  27. I know it's not horror or anything, but may I do NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK (1941)?

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    1. Thank you for joining! We're accepting all Universal films...I just need to know the name of your blog...I'm not sure which Beth you are! ( Mildred's Fat Burgers or Spellbound by Movies? )

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    2. Oops! I'm sorry. I'm Mildred's Fatburgers, and thank you!

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  28. Hi,

    Would it be OK if I did The Spoilers (1942), starring Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne?

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  30. If it's not too late (and a newbie on the block is OK: I just recently re-inaugurated mine), I'd like to get in. My blog, The Midnite Drive-In, is going to have a format of two movies each post (just like the drive-ins of old), so I'd like to lay claim to Son of Dracula and Dracula's Daughter, if I may. The link is:

    http://midnitedrive-in.blogspot.com/

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    1. Two great choices! We got you down now. And congratulations on starting your own film blog. Once three months has passed, and you are still happily writing, then you may want to check out joining the Classic Movie Blog Association ( clamba.blogspot.com ).

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    2. Am I supposed to let you know I published it? I just did. Thanks for the blog-a-thon.

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    3. Thanks Quiggy! And thank you for participating in the Universal Pictures Blogathon!

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  31. In the spirit of the season, I'd like to take "The Mad Ghoul". Your beautiful David Bruce-- Deanna Durbin banner is awesome, by the way! My blog is "David Bruce Appreciation Society" at https://waynemorganfan.wordpress.com

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    1. A David Bruce apprecation society, how fascinating! Glad to have you join the event!

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  32. Say hello to my furry friend: http://www.caftanwoman.com/2015/10/the-universal-blogathon-werewolf-of.html

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    1. Thanks CW! We'll have the link up tomorrow. Friday is Monster Night.

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  33. Post on ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) up at Another Old Movie Blog here: http://anotheroldmovieblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/abbot-and-costello-meet-frankenstein.html

    Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

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  34. My post on the The Mummy for Old Hollywood Films is wrapped up and ready to go: http://www.oldhollywoodfilms.com/2015/10/the-mummy.html

    Thanks for hosting!

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  35. The Mad Ghoul is staggering at https://waynemorganfan.wordpress.com.

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  36. Here's my post on Hold That Ghost - http://la-explorer.com/abbott-and-costellos-hold-that-ghost/

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  37. This was an awesome blogathon. Thanks so much for hosting it! I'm still making my way through the terrific reviews.

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  38. I am so sorry Mildred's Fatburgers flaked out on you. Everyone in my house got sick this weekend! Next time I'll write it in advance. My apologies for missing the train. Great entries though!

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