Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2014 June 2

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June 2

Old reviews

Is there a way to electronically access reviews of movies and other works from the pre-Internet age? Theskinnytypist (talk) 00:44, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

There are some sources. There's an application for Leonard Maltin's movie guide, with its paragraph-long summaries of pretty much every theatrical or TV movie ever made. Basically an electronic version of his book, which he first began publishing well before the internet. Some old reviews are going to be available on captures of old newspapers, such as the N.Y. Times, which I suspect would require a subscription fee. For any given movie, you can google it plus the word "review" and see if anything turns up. I think Roger Ebert's archive of reviews might be available, though I haven't checked for it lately. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:54, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

• Ebert's website is still up, and his reviews seem to be there for the most part. I just cited both of his reviews of Departures last week. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 01:20, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

• Some of the big city papers (some small ones too no doubt) will have online archives avaiable. Here is the one for the NYTimes. It seems to be free but I only checked 4 reviews so I don't know if they will ask for a fee later. MarnetteD | Talk 03:20, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Your local library should have local newspaper archives. Check with them to see if there is internet access, or if you have to be at the library to read them. SemanticMantis (talk) 15:15, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

The Brady Bunch (question revisited)

I asked this question on this Entertainment Reference Desk seven years ago, back on June 30, 2007. (See here: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2007 June 29#The Brady Bunch.) This is still bugging me, so I am asking it again. Here is the question. It is common knowledge that the casting department cast two sets of children. The first set had blonde girls and brunette boys. The second set had blonde boys and brunette girls. The final casting choices for the two parental roles would subsequently dictate which set of child actors to ultimately cast. On a TV special, I saw a publicity photo of the "second set" of child actors (the ones who eventually were not cast in the roles). I have looked all over the internet to see that (or other) photos again, but have had no luck. Can anyone direct me to a source that has photos of the "second set" of (uncast) child actors? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 01:26, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

I don't know, but the other children probably remained unknown. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 01:54, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Yes, they certainly remained unknown. Hence, the difficulty in finding these photos, or even finding any references to the alternate six child actors. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 03:18, 3 June 2014 (UTC)

Sad to read that Ann B. Davis passed away today. Have you tried any fansites? As I went through them this one looked like it might have some possibilities. If you have already checked with them there might be others out there that I did not find. Good Luck. MarnetteD | Talk 03:13, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Very sad, indeed. Rest in peace, Ann B. Davis. Yes, I have checked all over the internet; I can't seem to find a thing. But, in the documentary/TV special, it was quite prominent. I can still see the photo in my head. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 04:10, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Oops I realize that I wasn't clear about what I was suggesting. I meant "check" as in contact them with this question. That site looked to have a number of users who new a ton about the series. Now maybe you have already done that too so my apologies for not having any better ideas for you. Cheers. MarnetteD | Talk 04:29, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Good idea. I might try that route. Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 03:19, 3 June 2014 (UTC)

Thanks, all. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 18:48, 9 June 2014 (UTC)

tv from the 1970s

Why are most tv shows from the 1970s considered racist today? FrightBindering (talk) 10:56, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Short answer, most are not. There were a few shows that revealed attitudes to race that were different in those days, Mind Your Language being one particularly notorious example. --Viennese Waltz 12:32, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

In the US, overtly racist shows were earlier, like Amos 'n' Andy, although the 1970s show All in the Family parodied racism. StuRat (talk) 12:47, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

The disappearance of Amos 'n Andy is controversial. Some see it as necessary, others as accomplishing nothing except to remove a show starring black people from the airwaves. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:26, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

Better to judge for yourself.[1] The most obvious problem is the reliance on exaggerated stereotyped accents, as was done (by whites) on the radio. A more subtle feature: Whites and blacks mingling freely in obviously integrated seating at the stadium. And cornball humor. This could just as easily have been an episode of The Honeymooners. Nit-picky note: Intermingling of stock footage, some from Yankee Stadium, some from the Polo Grounds. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:37, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

movie & actor?

http://z0r.de/824

What movie & actor is that? :) 31.209.150.192 (talk) 19:09, 2 June 2014 (UTC)

It's Lewis Arquette as a Catholic cardinal in the film Little Nicky. --Canley (talk) 04:28, 3 June 2014 (UTC)