The Century Plaza

In August 2008, I spent one night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. Situated on property that was once the 20th Century-Fox lot, it originally opened in 1966 (without the “Hyatt Regency” in the name).



The hotel was host to a glittering list of stars and politicians, including Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Walt Disney, Ronald Reagan, and Richard Nixon. At the time I stayed there, it was two years into its ownership by Hyatt Hotels. Sold off in December 2008, the new owners planned to demolish the building but were thwarted because of its historic designation. Instead, they renovated the hotel and converted some of the floors to condos.



From 2016-2021, the hotel was closed for a $2.5 billion renovation, reopening on September 27, 2021 as the Fairmont Century Plaza.



I don’t remember much about my stay; it was only 24 hours, and most of that time was spent in Hollywood for “Wicked” at the Pantages Theatre.



Sharp-eyed movie viewers will recognize the curved façade of the hotel from the 1980 movie “9 to 5,” specifically the scene where Doralee (Dolly Parton) gets a phone call from Missy Hart (Marian Mercer) inadvertently letting her know that her husband Franklin (Dabney Coleman) is now on the loose.



Like I mentioned, I was mostly at the Pantages on Hollywood Boulevard:



These behind-the-scenes shots were taken during a tour of the theatre and show the sets for “Wicked.”







I was more impressed with the interior of the theatre itself than “Wicked”; I fell asleep mid-show, just like I did when I saw it on Broadway. The songs did not resonate with me and the story seemed contrived.



See more Century City photos at my main website.

Working Nine to Five

"9 to 5" (1980) is one of those comic gems that you can watch over and over again. It has all of the elements that I love in a movie: a tight script, fab casting, and laughs that continue to build as the plot progresses. Dolly Parton burst onto the screen with her typical charm, making a very impressive film debut that catapulted her into the number one spot for Female Box Office Draw of 1981-1982.



Take a look at the office equipment on Dolly's desk:



At times, "9 to 5" seems a bit dated, as (thankfully) women have come a long way in the business world since this movie was made. On the flip side, the antiquated machinery adds a bit of nostalgia while the film shows us just how far equality has progressed in the last 30+ years.



When the three girls forge a friendship and join forces in a dive bar, the film really starts to hum.



Fonda steals the show as scorned housewife Judy; her progression from scared and flustered secretary to confident independent businesswoman is totally believable.



I was able to catch one of the initial performances of the stage musical version back in 2008; although enjoyable, without the original cast of Parton, Tomlin, Fonda, and Dabney Coleman, it lost a lot of its punch. Over the years, the three lead actresses have mentioned their interest in doing a sequel...oh the possibilities!

See more "9 to 5" photos on my Movie & TV photo web page.

DOLLYPOP! The Exhibit

Last Saturday, Sept. 12 was the spectacular opening night reception for the World of Wonder’s latest exhibit, “Dollypop!”. As you can imagine, the front display windows were busting out with cool Dolly decor:





Co-curators Marc Malkin (1st pic) & Steven Corfe (2nd pic standing with me in front of my "9 to 5" painting) deserve much credit for a fantastic collection of over 30 artists who used a wide-range of materials (from bubble gum to sand to paint) to celebrate the beloved Country Western Diva.





Guests sipped pink champagne (last time I had pink champagne was probably back in college) while perusing the collection.



Dolly didn’t make opening night, however, the next best thing was available and more than happy to pose with all the guests:



Here are three of my faves from the evening:







If you are in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check out the Dollypop! exhibit at World of Wonder on Hollywood Boulevard until October 8th! Meanwhile, just a hop skip and a jump away in downtown Los Angeles, the new musical "9 to 5" has just opened before its big splash on Broadway next spring. Somewhat skeptically, I purchased tickets for today’s matinee and LOVED it! Dolly did an incredible job with the songs/score, and the cast is top notch. Megan Hilty steals the show as Doralee Rhodes (played by Dolly in the original film). Marc Kudisch gives Dabney Coleman a run for the money as Franklin Hart, the sexist egotistical lying hypocritical bigot of a boss in the pink collar ghetto.



To see more of my art, visit my regular website.

Dolly, Warhol, and 9 to 5, Pt. 6

Moving along...Dolly & Jane are now taking shape as Lily has been completed. Here’s a shot of my revised “Dolly of the Caribbean”:



Be sure to make your way to World of Wonder on Hollywood Boulevard on September 12! To see more of my art, visit my regular website.

Dolly, Warhol, and 9 to 5, Pt. 3

9 to 5 is taking shape; much more to come tomorrow (I hope!), now that my half marathon is over. Be sure to make your way to World of Wonder on Hollywood Boulevard on September 12! To see more of my art, visit my regular website.

Dolly, Warhol, and 9 to 5, Pt. 1

Painting #2 has begun; this morning I sketched out my Warhol/9 to 5 creation, 36" x 36". Be sure to make your way to World of Wonder on Hollywood Boulevard on September 12! To see more of my art, visit my regular website.