Citizen Staff Writer
Entertainment

Entertainment news about personalities and events with an Old Pueblo connection.

Fourkiller Flats host CD

release party at Plush

It’s a comeback. Tucson’s Southern rock group Fourkiller Flats were on their way a few years ago, but imploded on the trip. Now they’ve put together some new material they’ve been playing around, and here’s the new CD, “Treasure and Trash” to support that. When: 9:30 a.m. Friday Where: Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Price: $5 Info: 798-1298, www.plushtucson.com

Local authors Gunn, Hayes

sign their new books

Mostly Books hosts a book signing for Southwest Crime Ink members Elizabeth Gunn and J.M. Hayes.

Gunn has a new Sarah Burke novel, “New River Blues,” a sequel to “Cool in Tucson” with a downtown reconstruction project as a backdrop to a double murder.

Hayes has a new Mad Dog and Englishman mystery called “Server Down,” with murder and bombings tied to a computer fantasy game that brings light to election fixing and police corruption. When: 1-2 p.m. Saturday Where: Mostly Books, 6208 E. Speedway Blvd. Price: free Info: 571-0110

Desert Sons celebrate

release of new CD

First off, happy 20th to the Desert Sons!

For two decades, the band has performed its blend of contemporary and traditional Western music, and now it’s time for CD No. 5, “Songs Along the Trail.”

The band has made a name for itself emulating the silver screen’s “singing cowboy” style made popular by the likes of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Arizona’s own Rex Allen. Advance tickets available at Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave., and Plaza Liquors, 2642 N. Campbell Ave. When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave. Price: $15 advance, $18 at the door Info: 319-9966, www.rhythmandroots.org

‘Supernanny’ on the hunt for bad Tucson-area kids

Attention, Tucson parents: ABC TV wants you and your unruly kids.

The network is casting families for its “Supernanny” and “Supermanny” shows in which Jo Frost and Mike Ruggles, respectively, help frazzled and desperate parents regain control of themselves and their out-of-control children.

Interested moms and dads can apply online at www.supernanny.com or call 877-626-6984 for more information.

Singer-songwriter back

after 4-year hiatus

Longtime Tucson singer-songwriter Austin Counts played with Club Gotham’s house band, Union 5, back in the day. Internal strife eventually broke up the band, leading Counts and his acoustic act to go solo.

After a four-year hiatus from the music scene, he follows his 2004 CD, “Acoustic Skeletons” with his new “You Are the Scene.” The party will be in Plush’s lounge. When: 9:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Price: free Info: 798-1298, www.plushtucson.com

Send submissions to calendar@tucsoncitizen.com.

Citizen Staff Writer
Movies

OTTO ROSS

ottoross@tucsoncitizen.com

A little over a year ago Amanda Shauger, host of KXCI-FM’s “30 minutes,” was covering Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s meeting with the Ladies Auxiliary organization at the Sheraton Hotel in Tucson.

After Arpaio finished addressing the media and went inside, Shauger says she was approached by local law enforcement and told in a “firm” and “disconcerting” manner that she needed to leave the property immediately.

“It was kind of frightening,” Shauger says.

It wasn’t until she noticed a member of Pan Left Productions with a video camera documenting the incident that Shauger’s mind was put at ease.

“I felt safe,” she says. “I just thought, ‘Wow, I would always like Pan Left to be in the community, documenting as many situations like that as possible. What can I do to help?’ ”

A couple of weeks later Shauger was an active member of Pan Left Productions, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month.

The company is a local nonprofit film collective dedicated to creating movies about social issues as well as assisting and promoting liberal film makers and artists. The organization was started in 1994 by Jeff Imig and Lisa Wise, two University of Arizona film students who were looking to make a difference in their community.

“Lisa Wise and I decided we wanted to do something with the skills we were learning that could actually help people and help various organizations we were involved in. The result of that was Pan Left,” Imig says.

Fifteen years later, the collective both creates documentaries and offers guidance and equipment to the public for a small fee or in exchange for work time within the studio. The group also organizes various media classes at local school and libraries.

“We strive to put the tools of production in the hands of people that are often disenfranchised from mainstream media,” Imig says. “We provide both equipment and a system of support for media producers to produce work that has a message or in some way challenges the status quo.”

One of the many filmmakers who got their start through Pan Left is Daniela P. Ontiveros. In 2001, Ontiveros approached Pan Left and proposed a documentary about her hometown of Cananea, Mexico. The small mining town was on the verge of financial ruin when the mine was at risk of closing.

“This was a documentary that would not only teach me a lot about my roots, but hopefully let other people in the world see the impact of globalization in small mining towns,” Ontiveros says.

Pan Left not only allowed Ontiveros to use its equipment but it also helped her acquire a small grant to fund her project. The undertaking would have been too overwhelming without the help of Pan Left, she says. After she completed the documentary, Ontiveros continued to volunteer with Pan Left and has been a member of the collective for nine years.

Over the past 15 years, Pan Left has produced about 30 to 40 documentaries and has assisted filmmakers who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to create movies.

“We believe that everybody has a voice but that it is not always equally represented in the media. So our importance is to give representation to voices that don’t often get heard and stories that you wont see in the mainstream,” says Mary Charlotte Thurtle, executive director of Pan Left.

To celebrate its “quinceañera,” Pan Left has had ongoing events over the past few weeks. The group on Friday will host an art show and auction at Dinnerware Gallery, and Saturday local music icon Calexico will play a benefit show for Pan Left at the Rialto Theatre.

“Many of us have known a number of the folks in Calexico for a long time,” Imig says. “They’re one of the great bands right now and it’s a real joy to have them in Tucson. They’ve always been supportive of us letting some of our folks use their music.”

While Imig says that it has sometimes been a struggle to keep the lights on over the past 15 years, he is confident that as long as people have stories to tell and the ambition to tell them, Pan Left will continue to serve the community for many years to come.

Imig says “(15 years) is a testament to the dedication of dozens of filmmakers that have come through here and donated their time and sweat to making videos that they hope will tell important stories, maybe change the world, maybe just change the way some people view the world. It’s hard work, but it’s always been rewarding.”

IF YOU GO

What: Represent! Our Collective Body Art Show and Auction

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: Dinnerware Artspace, 264 E. Congress St.

Price: admission is free

Info: 792-9171, www.panleft.org

What: Pan Left benefit concert featuring Calexico and Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

Price: $20-$26

Info: 740-1000, www.rialtotheatre.com

Freelance
Shopping

With an economic downturn, a war on two fronts and Americans tightening their belts, it’s not a surprise that family vegetable gardens are making a comeback.

The trend has even reached the White House. Several weeks ago, ground for a vegetable garden was broken on the South Lawn, the first vegetable plot since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden during the early 1940s. With the popularity of growing home vegetables, the demand for “back-to-basics” cookbooks also has increased. Especially popular with collectors are cookbooks from the 1930s and ’40s that feature lean recipes and sugar-free desserts.

Examples include “Prudence Penny’s Coupon Cookery,” which was published in 1943 by Murray and Gee. “Prudence Penny” was a West Coast home radio show that ran for around two decades, showcasing a fictional home economist who served up household hints and recipes, all accommodating wartime shortages and rationing. In addition to network radio, columns by Penny were published in several regional newspapers, including both the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and San Francisco Examiner. The “Prudence Penny” recipe collection could be purchased for about $10 until just recently when its value began to climb. It currently sells in the $25-$50 range, depending on condition.

Other popular cookbooks from the war-era are “The Woman’s Home Companion Cook Book,” 1942-46, $50-$100; “The Settlement Cookbook,” 1942, $25-$50; “The Good Housekeeping Cook Book,” 1944, $65-$100; “The Joy of Cooking” by Irma S. Rombauer, 1943, $75-$125; and “The New American Cook Book” by Lily Haxworth Wallace, 1941-44, $65-$110.

As with most collectibles, values vary from region to region and depend on several factors, including scarcity, demand and condition. Cookbooks with original dust jackets always sell at a premium.

A cookbook signed by the author can dramatically increase the value of a collection. Handwritten recipes in a book by the original owner not only establishes provenance, it often makes the collection more desirable to collectors.

One of the better price guides is Antique Trader Collectible Cookbooks by Patricia Edwards and Peter Peckham. Published by Krause, the guide is fully illustrated and features values for nearly 1,000 cookbooks. Edwards and Peckham are the creators of oldcookbooks.com, one of the largest online bookstores specializing in vintage, hard-to-find and rare cookbooks.

LARRY COX

Freelance
Shelf Life

‘Colonias in Arizona and New Mexico: Border Poverty and Community Development Solutions’

By Adrian X. Esparza & Angela J. Donelson (University of Arizona Press, $19.95)

Half a million people live in 227 officially designated colonias in southern Arizona and New Mexico. These communities are characterized by poor-quality housing, a lack of infrastructure, adequate water, sewer systems and electricity. Esparza is an associate professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Arizona. Donelson is president of Donelson Consulting, a group that assists nonprofit organizations and local governments with housing and community development. They provide the first comprehensive overview of regional colonias, with the aim of increasing their visibility and promoting community development. This is a seminal work that merits our attention.

‘Wings in the Desert: A Folk Ornithology of the Northern Pimans’

By Amadeo M. Rea (University of Arizona Press, $70)

In this account of the O’odham tribes of Arizona and northwest Mexico, Rea, an adjunct professor in the department of anthropology at the University of San Diego, explores the tribe’s rich ornithology about the birds that are native to their region. Through highly detailed descriptions and accounts that reflect Native voices, this is the definitive study of folk ornithology and a valuable asset for scholars of linguistics and North American Native studies.

‘La Clinica: A Doctor’s Journey Across Borders’

By David P. Sklar (University of New Mexico Press, $26.95)

Sklar, an Albuquerque, N.M., emergency room physician on the verge of burnout, leaves New Mexico to accept the challenge of becoming a doctor in the foothills of the Sierra Madre in Mexico. In this primitive region, he occupies his time performing such duties as pulling teeth, tending to sick babies, comforting a woman who is convinced she has a frog in her stomach, and caring for the ill and dying. While at his clinic, he experiences an array of emotions including fear, excitement, anticipation, and, of course, the unknown.

In this first volume in the new Literature and Medicine Series from the University of New Mexico Press, Sklar takes us behind the scenes of his Mexico practice in a memoir that is fascinating and enlightening.

‘Early Tucson’

By Anne I. Woosley and the Arizona Historical Society (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99)

Woosley, an executive director of the Arizona Historical Society, selected rare materials from the group’s photographic archives for this remarkable new book, the latest in the Images of America series. In addition to photos, there are maps and a crisply written text that help tell the stories of individuals and cultures that transformed a sleepy 19th-century frontier village into a bustling 20th-century American city. Of special note are the so-called Fergusson Map of 1862 (Tucson’s earliest street map), the interior of Charles O. Brown’s Congress Hall Saloon, and a Steinfeld’s Department Store window decked out for the Christmas holidays.

‘Love in an Envelope: A Courtship in the American West’

Edited by Daniel Tyler with Betty Henshaw (University of New Mexico Press, $34.95)

In 1871, Leroy Carpenter moved from his home in Iowa to the newly settled community of Greeley, Colo., where he planned to pursue farming. Remaining behind was Martha Bennett, a young lady he had become quite fond of. Over the next 16 months, they exchanged letters and a friendship blossomed into love. They would eventually marry. This compilation of 54 letters is more than just the correspondence of two people. They are personal documents that provide a rare glimpse into a 19th-century, middle-class, rural American courtship.

‘Pioneer Cemeteries: Sculpture Gardens of the Old West’

By Annette Stott (University of Nebraska Press, $36.95)

Stott, a professor of art history at the University of Denver, documents the cemeteries of the American West, from the unkempt “boot hills” of the mining camps and cattle settlements, to the more refined “fair mounts” of the cities that featured Italian marble statues and other impressive tributes. Illustrated with more than 80 photographs, this highly readable book shows how the pioneer cemetery emerged as a site of public sculpture. A municipal park, if you will, honoring the dead. As the author points out, each carved or molded monument was like a page in a history book in that it recorded the community’s past and values while memorializing individuals and events.

‘Tucson’s Most Haunted’

By Katie Mullaly & J. Patrick Ohlde with photography by Mikal Mullaly (Schiffer, $14.99)

According to the authors, Tucson is one of the most haunted towns in America. They cite as an example that one of the city’s neighborhoods is built on plots formerly used as a cemetery. Mullaly and Ohlde document 30 local tales of possible supernatural shenanigans and even reveal the “symptoms” of a haunted house. The rock throwing ghost at Fort Lowell, strange happenings at the Carrillo-Fremont House, the ghost at Z Mansion, and even a scary laundry are just a few of the mysterious stories in this collection.

‘Making Peace with Cochise: The 1872 Journal of Captain Joseph Alton Sladen’

Edited by Edwin R. Sweeney with a foreword by Frank J. Sladen, Jr. (University of Oklahoma Press, $29.95)

During the autumn of 1872, Brigadier Gen. Oliver O. Howard and his aide-de-camp, Lt. Joseph Alton Sladen, found themselves in the Dragoon Mountains of southern Arizona in search of the elusive Chiricahua Apache chief. Their goal was to find Cochise and broker a peace. During this pivotal, turbulent period, Sladen kept a journal. His first-person account, first published in 1997, is engrossing, candid, and, yes, essential to our understanding of this period in our national history.

‘The Best in Tent Camping in Arizona: A Guide for Car Campers who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos’

By Kirstin Olmon and Kelly Phillips (Menasha Ridge Press, $14.95)

This nifty little book provides all of the information campers need to find the perfect camp site in Arizona. Olmon and Phillips selected 50 of the sites in our region that are best suited for tent camping, both for the first-timer as well as the car- camping veteran. Driving directions and GPS coordinates are included, in addition to ratings for beauty, privacy, noise, security, spaciousness, and cleanliness of each site. There also is an camping-equipment checklist and useful sidebars on facilities, parking, pets and fees. This is an indispensable guide written by two Tempe-based campers who have camped throughout our state for more than two decades.

‘Pueblos, Spaniards, and the Kingdom of New Mexico’

By John L. Kessell (University of Oklahoma Press, $24.95)

Kessell, professor emeritus of history at the University of New Mexico, has written the first narrative history devoted to the tumultuous 17th century in New Mexico. Vividly describing the Pueblo world that was first encountered by Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate, the book brings this period and place into sharp focus for, perhaps, the first time. Insightful and engaging, this is the definitive account of one of our region’s most volatile eras.

Books of regional interest

Citizen Staff Writer
Entertainment

Entertainment news about personalities and events with an Old Pueblo connection.

Local band Beautiful Bird releases debut CD

Here’s a band with no real rules except those imposed by the instruments they choose to play with – and we mean play in every sense, as this experimental Tucson trio creates everything from abstract sound collages to songs offering up melodies you can hook into.

Noah Thomas, a former member of local bands including Giant Sand and Fashionistas, wields trumpet, theremin, melodica, keys and turntables; Kelly Michaelis sings (sometimes, as Beautiful Bird does instrumentals as well) and incorporates samples; and Vicki Brown plays violin and viola. Beautiful Bird presents its new songs in Plush’s lounge. When: 9:30-11:30 p.m. Monday Where: Plush, 340 E. Sixth St Price: free Info: 798-1298 plushtucson.com

Local actor receives Buffalo Exchange Arts Award

Actor Brendan Guy Murphy is the recipient of the 2008 Buffalo Exchange Arts Award.

The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona earlier this month awarded the $10,000 prize at a reception at Davis Dominguez Gallery.

Murphy, a graduate of the University of Arizona, also directs and writes in theater and film. He recently founded his own film production company, Murphy Speaking, and is producing its third film, according to a news release.

Murphy earned high praise from the selection committee.

He is “making films which are imaginative and inventive, creating opportunities for many Tucson actors and production personnel,” judge Cynthia Meier said. “Instead of leaving town to join a corps of actors and filmmakers in Los Angeles or New York, Brendan is attempting to create art here in Tucson, the place (where) he grew up.”

Buffalo Exchange owners Kerstin and Spencer Block established the award in 1994 to encourage creativity, innovation and excellence in the arts.

Author Slauson tries her hand at romance novel

Tucson author Eula Slauson’s latest book is a romance novel set in the Old Pueblo.

Released by PublishAmerica, “Love at First Fight” is about what happens when two real estate brokers from Tucson are forced to share a hotel room for a week while attending a franchise real estate convention for member brokers.

“Love at First Fight” is Slauson’s follow-up to “Memoirs of a Woman: a Portrait in Poetry,” which was published last year.

Send submissions to calendar@tucsoncitizen.com.

Tucson Talents

Citizen Staff Writer
Cover story

This year’s crop of celebrities behaving badly didn’t escape the wrath of our Turkey Awards committee. We just decided to hand out the citations later this year and rename them our Holiday Turkey Awards. The honorees of 2008′s dubious achievements in entertainment include familiar faces and impressively obnoxious newcomers who our esteemed Calendar staff felt worthy of such low praise.

TURKEY OF THE YEAR

JOE THE PLUMBER

The pipe dream image of Joe the Plumber has gone down the drain. Turns out Samuel J. Wurzelbacher was a fraud on several levels. For starters, he wasn’t even a plumber and had no license to work as such. As a so-called “American icon,” he was a fake. His book and recording contracts show just how bankrupt our society has become. Joe/Sam’s latest profound thoughts came last week, when he trashed John McCain during a radio interview. Add to his list of shortcomings: disloyalty to his “friends.” Joe/Sam could pull his image from the crapper, however, were he to use any money made during his 15 minutes of fame to pay down those delinquent taxes.

HALL OF SHAME

NAOMI CAMPBELL

It’s the same sorry story every year: Tempestuous Supermodel (and cage fighter wannabe) Naomi Campbell loses her temper and physically attacks those who try her patience. After pleading guilty to kicking, spitting and swearing at police officers on a plane at Heathrow Airport in April, she was sentenced to community service and a fine. Last year she also did community service, for “reckless assault” after hurling a mobile phone at her housekeeper. She apparently has issues with her servants. In 2000, she beat an assistant and pleaded guilty in Toronto to assault. Girl, get yourself to some anger-management classes – pronto!

TURKEYS

PHIL SPECTOR

Having just read the record producer’s biography, “Tearing Down the Wall of Sound,” we know Phil Spector is a go-to guy for eulogies. The funerals for Lenny Bruce, John Lennon and plenty of others saw Spector at the lectern. So it wasn’t a surprise when he gave songwriter- musician Ike Turner a send-off late last year. What was shocking is how Spector reportedly saw the funeral as an appropriate time to dismiss Tina Turner’s stories of abuse. Spector rambled as he’s known to do, so hopefully most attendees just nodded off.

PLAXICO BURRESS

Football players have a bad rep these days, but one New York Giant takes the cake. Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh. At a nightclub. With a gun that was illegal. Then, in the city where he’s a star with the Super Bowl champs, he gave a false name at the hospital. And as a result of his idiocy, he missed a game in Washington, D.C., which honored Redskin safety Sean Taylor, fatally shot by an apparent intruder in his home a year earlier. Oh, and Plaxico did all this in the company of former Wildcat Antonio Pierce. We’re so proud.

OLIVER STONE

Maybe if “Frost/Nixon” wasn’t such a brilliant film, if Frank Langella hadn’t given such a powerful performance as Richard Nixon arrogantly estimating he could manipulate British talk show host David Frost, it would be possible to cut Oliver Stone some slack for making “W.” Not since Gus Van Sant remade “Psycho” shot for shot in 1998 has there been a more pointless film than ‘W.” Film critics were unanimous in agreeing Stone’s film regurgitated on the big screen every threadbare fact of George W. Bush’s life as the party animal who met Jesus and became the 43rd president of the United States. The predictability was like reading those old Holiday Inn advertisements boasting of the hotel chain’s conformity: “Where the best surprise is no surprise.”

TV SHOW WRITERS

We sometimes love and sometimes love to hate television writers. On our hit list are those on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Heroes.” After the writers strike, both these shows seemed to replace their writers with monkeys. Or perhaps the producers felt they would fit the bill. Either way, the shows took horrible turns for the worse. Plots twisted, characters lost motivation and, in some cases, changed altogether. Why is it that the things we love always have to change?

SHIA LABEOUF

Youth isn’t all that is wasted on the young. So is fame. Actor Shia LaBeouf gets a Turkey Award (sans lucky wishbone) for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence in a 3 a.m. collision in west Hollywood last summer – all while his next starmaker movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” was in production. Injured when his pickup rolled, LaBeouf needed surgery for his left hand and the megamillion-dollar sequel had to hold up shooting for a month, costing an estimated $200,000 every day. There’s a reason why fame is considered fleeting. The 22-year-old actor should stop reading his celebrity news items and take another look at his lame performance in the latest Indiana Jones sequel, which also came out last summer. Or maybe he did take a look, which would explain such erratic behavior.

CHRISTOPHER CICCONE

Stop the presses! News flash: Madonna is egotistical!! Or so claims her brother, Christopher Ciccone, in a book he co-wrote with Wendy Leigh. There’s nothing like trashing your sister for a few bucks. Unfortunately, there’s really nothing new between these covers, if you get our drift. The bottom line is that if Madonna is the original Material Girl, her nasty little brother is a snake out of the same nest. Can you say “opportunist,” boys and girls?

KANYE WEST

While being photographed at LAX airport in September, our beloved and talented Kanye West flipped his lid, grabbed the photographer’s $10,000 camera and smashed it into bits on the floor. The best part about the incident was that the entire ordeal was caught on another, less-destroyed, camera. Then later in the year, the rapper called himself “the voice of his generation” and described his latest CD as “great art.” We knew humility was not his strength, but if Kanye doesn’t watch it, Webster’s will have his photo accompanying the entry for “megalomaniac.”

JERRY LEWIS

Yes, the actor-comedian has done a lot of good with tireless work on his annual muscular dystrophy telethon. In fact, in February he is set to receive an Oscar for his humanitarian efforts. Correct us if we’re wrong, but one of the qualities of a humanitarian is showing tolerance and good will toward all people, including gays. Lewis has insulted the gay community not once, but twice. Last year during his telethon he called a cameraman an “illiterate faggo” before stopping himself. He later apologized. But then this year while in Australia, he referred to cricket as “a fag game.” As far we can tell, he never expressed regret about the remark. Jerry, get a clue: Homophobia is not funny.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ

Fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez and first lady-to-be Michelle Obama both are praised widely for their modern takes on classic looks. But what was he thinking when he transformed that sexy little black and red number into a knee-length shift for her? She gets some blame for “grandma’ing” it with that little black cardigan. Still, it was not a flattering look for her. At least the dress had some color, unlike virtually all of the rest of his 2009 spring collection. If he’s creating her inauguration gown, let’s hope he gives it some thought and has her try it on a few times throughout the process. He shouldn’t be a “yes” man.

LAME AWARDS SHOWS

Has Hollywood forgotten how to entertain us? Awards shows – with their glitz, glamour and star power – are supposed to be fun. But this year’s Oscars and Emmys were snoozefests. Not even charming host Jon Stewart could save the three-hour-plus Oscars telecast from sinking into painful tedium. As far as the Emmys, not only were they boring and long, they were also stupid thanks to the rotating hosts of reality-TV honchos. The unfunny and obnoxious emcees even had the stars taking digs at them. Note to Oscar and Emmy planners: short good; reality-TV bad.

ARETHA FRANKLIN

We think “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin realized her mistake as soon as she released her stilted and whiney statement criticizing Beyoncé for calling Tina Turner “The Queen” in introducing her during this year’s Grammy Awards. Aretha knows that there was never a time in her life when she could have pulled off the silver lamé crop pants and vest outfit Tina did and dance like Tina did at age 68. And, Aretha couldn’t muster even a hint of diva ‘tude, ending her statement with “love to Beyoncé anyway.” The controversy Aretha created took away both from Beyoncé’s well-spoken praise of legendary women singers – including Aretha – and Tina’s AWESOME performance.

ALAN STOCK

People, people, don’t you know that hypocrisy will land you a Turkey Award every time? Cinemark’s chief executive contributed $9,999 to the anti-gay-marriage Yes on Prop 8 campaign in California, yet his company (which owns Century Theaters, among others) is screening “Milk.” As Alan Stock well knows, the film is about Harvey Milk, the openly gay San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated. You have your choice of seeing the film locally at either Cinemark-owned El Con or Harkins.

REPEAT OFFENDERS

O.J. SIMPSON

Americans throughout the country wept like children when O.J. Simpson was cuffed and taken away to the slammer this month in Nevada. The former NFL star-turned-actor told the rather dour-looking judge, he had no idea he had done anything wrong or illegal. Doesn’t everyone charge into motel rooms with guns drawn? The real tragedy isn’t that The Juice will spend at least the next nine years of his life as a guest at the Graybar Hotel, it’s that Simpson’s search for the “real killer” of former wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman,will have to be suspended.

AMY WINEHOUSE

We know it’s not fair to kick someone when they’re down, but we would be remiss if Amy Winehouse’s 2008 downward spiral weren’t mentioned. After being caught on film smoking crack, the singer didn’t provide the theme song to “Quantum of Solace” because she was too stoned, too confused, too hospitalized. A mini-Turkey goes to estranged husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who now claims he introduced her to heroin and crack. But still, folks, personal responsibility. Amy, please, tuck this Turkey Award in your beehive so you can pull it out whenever you need: Pretend it’s a microphone and get back to doing what we all knew you for in the first place.

“THE VIEW”

Let’s face it, intelligent discussion on “The View” has gone down the drain. The luster of offering “a female perspective on current issues” has been dimmed by the “hear me roar” attitude of its bickering hosts, especially polar opposites Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Not long ago, Big Cheesette Barbara Walters was a journalist in a league of her own, interviewing some of the most influential people in the world. Now she’s sunk to the same level as the show’s sharp-tongued hosts, whose catfights and disses have stolen the spotlight from the real issues facing women today. Come on, girls., get back to basics and present a fresh view – one of caring, not tearing.

BOY GEORGE

Do you really want to hurt me? If you ask former gender-bender Boy George, his answer just might be a resounding “yes.” The former lead singer of Culture Club last week was convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort in April. According to The Associated Press, Norwegian hustler Audun Carlsen said he was handcuffed to a wall hook in the Karma Chameleon’s London apartment for an hour after a naked photo shoot and that the singer swung a metal chain at him when he freed himself and fled. George O’Dowd said he restained the escort until he could determine whether Carlsen had tampered with his computer.

Whatever. Georgie Boy, we don’t care if you get freaky – just make the sure the other guy is a willing participant.

This isn’t the singer’s first brush with the law. In 2006, he did community service for falsely reporting a burglary of his New York home, where investigating police found cocaine.

Freelance
Shopping

Q: I have inherited several dozen teacups from a distant cousin and am not certain what to do with them. Even though they are attractive, I have no idea of what they are worth or even if I want to keep them. Is this a viable hobby? – Karen, Tucson

A: Collecting teacups can be fun and, yes, it can be a viable hobby. As you find out more about each piece, you’ll soon discover that they can be nothing less than an educational tool. Where a cup was made and when can also bring out the detective in you.

If you decide to keep your collection, you should invest in several reference books. I recommend three. “Dictionary of Marks – Pottery and Porcelain” and “Kovels’ New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain 1850 to the Present,” both by the late Ralph and Terry Kovel and published by Crown are user-friendly and informative. A third book is also essential and is my personal favorite: “Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Mark on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay” by Louis Lehner (Collector Books, $24.95).

A quick check of eBay revealed several dozen teacups and saucers available for about $10 each by makers including Jon Roth & Company, Lefton, Royal Albert, Royal Gregg, Royal Vale, and Nippon. Sets are also available in Tucson at various shops, generally priced in the $10-$25 range, depending on scarcity, condition and demand.

Q: I purchased an odd piece of Royal Doulton at a garage sale in Green Valley. Even though I paid $10 for it, I suspect it is worth much more. It is a mug with two handles, trimmed in silver, and with the incised image of a donkey. What do you think? – Joan, Tucson

A: I think you have a good eye. I found your mug in the Antique Trader Royal Doulton Price Guide edited by Kyle Husfloen (Krause, $24.99). It was crafted in about 1880, decorated by Hannah Barlow, and – are you sitting down? – valued at $2,500.

Q: I have about a dozen older padlocks and wonder if they have any value. – Steve, Tucson

A: To find out current values, I suggest you contact the American Lock Collectors Association, 8576 Barbara Drive, Mentor, OH 44060. Two experts who might also be helpful are Richard Hubbard, 162 Poplar Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601, and Mark Lyons, 6020 Paseo Del Norte, Suite B, Carlsbad, CA 92009.

E-mail questions to contactlarrycox@aol.com

FIND OF THE WEEK

Midcentury designs are becoming more and more popular throughout the country.

This pair of classic Feldman light fixtures from the 1950s is $325 at Tom’s Fine Furniture and Collectibles, 5454 E. Pima St.

Citizen Staff Writer
First Look: CDs

CHUCK GRAHAM

Tucson Citizen

“YFZ (Yearning For Zion)” (Little i Music)

If energetically unusual sounds are a favorite, you gotta hear this band.

Though the official category is avant-garde/free jazz, this emotional recording will thrill anyone who has ever suffered through a free jazz brain freeze concert of over-indulgent noise making. We are more tempted to believe this kind of joyful exuberance was heard in many traditional jazz jam sessions down South after the Civil War. Although the tempo of these nine tracks varies from funereal to manic, each one throbs with the fevered abandon of uninhibited musicians.

The core group of Jeff Lederer on reeds, Jamie Saft on keyboards, Chris Lightcap on bass and Allison Miller on drums – enhanced by screaming, moaning vocals from Mary LaRose and Miles Griffith – commands the spirit of pure passion to appear.

Which she absolutely does.

Drawing from religious history, these Shakers n’ Bakers seek the fervor of speaking in tongues while shouting out bold messages with their instruments. Chords are almost accidental. But there are definitely melodies, sometimes haunting ones, cresting such heartfelt outpouring of desire for that moment of sweet release that shedding a tear would not be unexpected.

Find it at cdbaby.com

Shakers n’ Bakers find the spirit of jazz

Citizen Staff Writer

CHUCK GRAHAM

cgraham@tucsoncitizen.com

As all of us grow older, James Bond, like a vampire in the prime of life, stays the same age. We love that quality about Bond . . . James Bond.

But it scarcely means he hasn’t changed. He was born on the far side of America’s cultural upheaval called The Sixties and miraculously still conveys on this side of that great divide an equally impressive sense of what it means to be a man.

In the beginning – that would be 1962 when Sean Connery sipped his first James Bond martini in “Dr. No” – it took several Bond girls to get Agent 007 through a single movie. Only the charming basketball player Magic Johnson had a busier social life.

Some 46 years later in “Quantum of Solace,” our 21st-century Bond barely gets one Bond girl. He doesn’t get to drink and drive, either.

All the joyfully excessive qualities that Ian Fleming valued as Bond’s creator have been stripped away. The well-equipped spy has been moved from his exotic automobile in the superfast lane to a harsh Spartan warrior lifestyle closer to the mythic cowboy actor John Wayne.

In a time machine, if today’s flinty-eyed Bond was transported to the western ramparts of Fort Apache, he would thrive. The cowboys Wayne played never wore tailored suits or worried if their wine was properly chilled. Their choice of fine leather was buckskin. Women were not a big part of Wayne’s world, either.

Although Fleming would be the last person to believe James Bond could exist in real life, the pop culture that delighted in Bond’s irreverent indulgences back in 1962 has become intimidated enough to strip Bond of all worldly pleasures but one. That would be violence.

Maybe Bond can’t make love much anymore, but he can maim, mutilate and kill as many people as he wants.

Citizen Staff Writer
First look: CDs

“Rhapsody in Gershwin” (Missing Records)

Jazz

For several years, singer/pianist Susan Artemis has been pleasing local audiences with her concert concept of Gershwin On Gershwin. She has arranged a show that presents 10 popular songs by George and Ira Gershwin woven into George’s more serious composition “Rhapsody in Blue.” The songs are “S’Wonderful,” “Someone To Watch Over Me,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “Embraceable You,” “They All Laughed,” “The Man I Love,” “How Long Has This Been Going On,” “Our Love Is Here To Stay,” “But Not for Me” and “I Got Rhythm.”

It is a substantial list delivered in her straightforward manner, warming the words as she cares for the phrasing. This unadorned approach shows great respect for the Gershwin brothers’ melodies and imagery. Artemis is also kind enough to include those less familiar verses introducing each song.

She welcomes equally sparse accompaniment by bassist Mike Levy and drummer Alejandro Canelos. What makes the magic work is giving the classic material so much room to breath in such a seamless presentation. Spreading out all those familiar hooks from Gershwin’s “Rhapsody,” Artemis can make a single hook sound downright haunting when she lets it dangle in the air between two intimate vocals.

Find copies at cdbaby.com/ cd/sartemis3

CHUCK GRAHAM

Tucson Citizen

Citizen Staff Writer

Entertainment news about personalities and events with an Old Pueblo connection.

Dissard releases debut CD produced by Joey Burns

French chanteuse Marianne Dissard is spending a month in her adopted hometown, promoting her new CD, before embarking on a European tour with fellow Tucsonan Andrew Collberg.

Her debut album, “L’entredeux,” was co-written and produced by Calexico’s Joey Burns. The French-language disc features contributors John Convertino (Calexico) on drums; Rob Burger (Tin Hat Trio) on piano, accordion, orchestrion, cimbalom and organ; Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson) on harmonica; Naïm Amor and Sammy Decoster (Tornado) among others.

According to Dissard’s Web site, “the lyrics to ‘L’entredeux,” tender and biting vignettes of love and other little lies, were written by Marianne in the fall 2004, in a borrowed bedroom in the barrio of Tucson, following the tumultuous meltdown of her marriage to longtime collaborator and fellow expatriate Amor (who contributed three songs to the CD).”

The title, Dissard explains, is “The “between two,” the interspace. Two countries, two languages, two loves maybe? ‘L’entredeux’ is the space where one hand lets go and floats free of the old.”

Dissard’s Tucson fans can hear selections from the new album during two performances this weekend. When and Where: 6-8 p.m. Friday at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Price: no cover When and Where: 8 p.m. Saturday during Club Crawl at The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Price: $10 Info: www.mariannedissard.com

Artemis invites fans to sing along with her

Local singer Susan Artemis is celebrating the release of her new CD, “Rhapsody in Gershwin,” with a party and a Gershwin Sing-Along.

“I was inspired to do a singalong after seeing Hershey Felder’s one man show, ‘George Gershwin Alone,’ at the Arizona Theater Company last fall,” Artemis writes in an e-mail. “In it, Hershey impersonated George Gershwin in words and music.”

“Towards the end, he told of how George would rush to the party after whatever show he was working on (there would always be a party, of course) and take his position at the piano bench where he would lead a singalong,” she continues. “In honor of that memory, Hershey then proceeded to lead a singalong with the audience after the show.” When: 4-6 p.m. Saturday Where: Colors,5305 E. Speedway Blvd., Price: no cover Info: 323-1840, www.susanartemis.com

Send submissions to calendar@tucsoncitizen.com.

Citizen Staff Writer

There are few things more magical when done right than Mexican ballet folklórico.

Full of color, pageantry, beauty and life, it is an art form that captures the sweeping cultural panorama of Mexico’s states and regions, along with the pride and heritage of the country’s many subcultures.

It’s not surprising, given Tucson’s reputation as the home of the mariachi in America, that the Old Pueblo should have a bumper crop of folklórico dancers as well. Among the best is Tucson’s Ballet Folklórico Tapatío. This group’s artistry, grace, costumes and peerless mastery of the many regional styles are outstanding. But this ensemble goes deeper still, expanding its repertoire to flesh out the story lines of famous Mexican corridos (ballads) with a degree of drama, pathos and love that’s on a level with the finest theater this city has to offer. It is no wonder that this group was chosen to be the featured dance troupe at the 2008 Tucson International Mariachi Conference.

On Saturday, Tapatío celebrates its 11th anniversary with a showcase at the Tucson Convention Center featuring its young, intermediate and master dancers, as well as the music of partners Mariachi Tesero de Tucson, Mariachi Cielo de Mexico and Nogales-based singing sensation Zayra Frausto.

Four nights a week from early January until Christmas, the group’s studio on Fourth Avenue and 31st Street is packed with dancers diligently working at their craft. The action spills out onto the sidewalk where young kids, fresh from their own rehearsals, mimic the graceful moves of the masters group inside, and await their chance to be part of the 12 couples that represent Tapatío professionally. The studio was built by upholsterer Eduardo Baca as a place for his kids to practice the dance they’d fallen in love with as children.

“When I started I said, ‘These kids are going to be out on the streets one of these days,” Baca recalls. “We want these kids to do something else. When I see all these kids, my heart goes boom, boom, boom, boom. It makes me very happy.”

Baca enlisted choreographer/director Sergio Valle from Guadalajara, who instilled the professional work ethic that sets this group apart. Currently, Baca’s son, Jose Luis, leads the group as its assistant director while Valle is in Mexico.

“The dancers work hard,” Jose Luis insists, dripping with sweat during a break from rehearsal. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of commitment.” There are 150 members, from small children through college age.

Of being a featured performer at the mariachi conference, Jose Luis says, “It took my breath away. It was overwhelming. It was something that I had been dreaming about since Tapatío started.” Maestro Rafael Zamarrippa, who comes up from Mexico to teach the workshops at the conference, offered Jose Luis and his dancers some good advice. “He told us all, ‘Just smile, do your show. Have fun onstage and don’t get nervous. Make sure your pants are tight on, boys, so they don’t fall off,’ and he told the girls just to have fun and to be beautiful.” Mission accomplished.

Marisa Gallegos, a sophomore and education major at the University of Arizona, fell in love with folklórico dance when she was a sixth-grader at Valencia Middle School. To her, the best part of being a member of this group is “The friends that you make, the community that you build with your dancers and partners, meeting new people at performances and just being able to show the community your culture.”

Eduardo Baca beams with pride at what they have built. “When they kick the floor, they kick it with all their heart in it,” he says.

IF YOU GO

What: Puro Tapatío!, a showcase of Tucson’s Ballet Folklorico Tapatío

Where: Tucson Convention Center Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.

When: Saturday, 3 p.m. (Los Tapatíos Juveniles); 7 p.m. Grupo Oficial

Price: $10 (tickets valid for both performances) through the TCC Box Office

Info: www.dancingtapatio.com

Citizen Staff Writer

Movie-related events in the Old Pueblo

At the Fox Theatre

The Summer Movie Series at the Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., includes:

Friday: “Woodstock,” a chronicle of the 1969 music festival. 7:30 p.m.; $6, $7

Saturday: “The Blob,” 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 22: “Across the Universe.” Beatles tunes are the backdrop for a musical romance between young lovers (Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess). Julie Taymor directs. 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 23: “A Kiss Before Dying,” the 1956 version with Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward. 1 p.m.

Admission to morning shows is $5 general, $1 students. Evening screenings are $8 general, $6 for students and seniors.

Info: 624-1515, foxtucsontheatre.org

At Cinema La Placita

Enjoy films under the stars Thursdays at Cinema La Placita, 260 S. Church Ave. Admission is free for the sunset screenings (around 7:30 p.m.), but a $3-to-$5 donation at the popcorn table keeps the films rolling through the end of October. Here’s what’s coming up:

Thursday: “Captains Courageous,” starring Freddie Bartholomew and Spencer Tracy in this 1937 telling of the Rudyard Kipling story about a spoiled boy who is rescued at sea by a fisherman.

Aug. 21: The 1968 Neil Simon comedy “The Odd Couple,” with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as the mismatched roommates.

Aug. 28: Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones and Rod Steiger star in the film version of the Broadway musical “Oklahoma” that is part of the Shot in Tucson series.

Info: 326-5282, cinemalaplacita.com

At the Loft Cinema

This week’s events at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Friday: “Priceless” stars Audrey Tautou (“Amelie”) in this French twist on the Hollywood classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Think diamonds, laughter and pearls on the French Riviera. Various times; regular admission.

Friday: “Animation #4″ continues the search by Mike Judge (the creator of Beavis and Butt-Head) for the world’s most daring and defiant animated short films. Definitely not for children. Various times; regular admission.

Friday: “A Hard Day’s Night” puts the Beatles back on the big screen, reminding us how their early moptop innocence vanished much too soon. Various times; regular admission.

Friday and Saturday: “The Monster Squad” is this weekend’s Cult Classic, an irreverent 1980s campfest that asks the pressing question, “You know who to call when you have ghosts, but who do you call when you have monsters?” 10 p.m.; $5.

Saturday: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” always has room for more virgins . . . both genders included. Midnight; $5.

Monday: Way back in 1970, the governor of California made his film debut as “Hercules in New York.” Enjoy a double-Arnold combo when our man Schwarzenegger bangs heads with comedian Arnold Stang (remember him?) playing a sleazy pretzel-seller in Central Park. 8 p.m.; $2.

Wednesday: “Atomik Circus” is the movie portion of the local Some French Friends Festival, a weeklong program showcasing desert-Gallic performances of gritty French fare with a decidedly Tucson flavor. 7:30 p.m. $5 general admission; $4.75 Loft members.

Info: 322-5638, loftcinema.com

OTHER FILM EVENTS

LOEWS: Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features a romantic “under the stars” movie every Friday night. The event, designed for couples, offers a “Date Night Dinner Special” in the Flying V Bar & Grill, which includes shared ribs, guacamole and dessert for two for $38. Here’s the schedule: • Aug. 15: “Father of the Bride” • Aug. 22: “Hope Floats” • Aug. 29: “The American President”

When: Movie begins after sunset Where: Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive Price: Movie admission is free. Info: 299-2020

911 TRUTH TUCSON GENERAL MEETING: This month meeting includes a screening of “The Reflecting Pool,” written and produced by Polish- born independent filmmaker Jarek Kupsc. When: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday Where: Ward 6 Meeting Center, 3202 E. First St. Price: free Info: 624-9710, www.911truthtucson.org

DOCUMENTARY VIEWING AND DISCUSSION FEATURING WARREN BUFFET: A new economics documentary explores rising gasoline, food and health care costs and offer solutions to the ever-growing financial challenges being faced today. On Aug. 21 theaters across America will become community town halls as five of the nation’s most notable financial leaders and policy experts engage in a 45-minute live, one-night only panel discussion following the viewing of “I.O.U.S.A.” Panelists Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway; William Niskanen, chairman of the CATO Institute; Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP; Pete Peterson, senior chairman of The Blackstone Group and chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation; and Dave Walker, president & CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former U.S. Comptroller General engage in an informative panel discussion from Omaha, Neb. The discussion will explore the growth of the national debt and what can be done to make the nation more fiscally sound. Questions will be taken from the audience in Omaha and through www.IOUSATheMovie.com For a complete list of theater locations and prices, please visit the Web site (theatres are subject to change). Tucson’s theaters are: • Century 20 El Con, 3601 E. Broadway • Century 20 Park Place, 5870 E. Broadway When: Call 800-326-3264 for times and costs Info: www.FathomEvents.com

Citizen Staff Writer
Cover story

In TV world, a holiday seems to beget lots of marathons of “Project Runway” and “The Hills.” And while we support staying out of the heat, we aren’t concerned with Heidi Klum and Lauren Conrad here. What we have listed are fireworks specials and shows Friday that have more than a little bit of American flavor.

POLLY HIGGINS

phiggins@tucsoncitizen.com

Note: All times and channels are for Cox cable.

“Food Paradise” shows

When: beginning at 10 a.m.

Where: Travel, Channel 65

Why watch: This marathon sees a full day of episodes of “Food Paradise” that focus on American favorites. Learn about top places around the country for barbecue, steak, hot dogs, ice cream, fried food, doughnuts and pizza, as well as the best all-you-can-eat restaurants and diners.

“American Muscle Car”

When: 5-8 p.m.

Where: Speed, Channel 27

Why watch: This series centers around American-made cars, and July 4 it’s all about the Corvette Sting Ray, with six 30-minute episodes looking at various aspects of the gorgeous car that the U.S. first saw in 1963.

“4th of July Live”

When: 6-6:30 p.m.

Where: Travel

Why watch: This is a condensed, fireworks-focused version of the festivities in D.C. To watch the full program, see “Capitol Fourth.”

“Born on the Fourth of July”

When: 8 p.m.

Where: HBO2, Channel 201

Why watch: Part of being American is having the freedom to question the system, and this 1989 Oliver Stone flick does just that. Based on Ron Kovic’s biography, Tom Cruise stars as Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam vet who became an ardent activist against the war.

“Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular”

When: 8-9 p.m.

Where: ABC, Channel 9

Why watch: Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber host as Manhattan’s annual fireworks display bursts in the background. There’s also a full lineup of performers including Natasha Bedingfield, Gavin DeGraw, Kenny Chesney and “American Idol” alum Katharine McPhee and Jordin Sparks. The New York Pops offers up patriotic and classic dance songs.

“Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular”

When: 9-10 p.m.

Where: CBS, Channel 13

Why watch: Holidays are all about tradition, right? And Friday marks the 35th year for this program.

It’s also getting a little bit country, with Rascal Flatts performing some of their better-known songs along with The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. The orchestra will also perform favorites such as Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

CBS dips into its roster to schedule Craig Ferguson (“The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”) as host for the second year in a row.

Expect the final 23 minutes of the special to be commercial-free.

“Capitol Fourth”

When: 9-10:30 p.m.

Where: KUAT, Channel 6

Why watch: A fireworks display can take on a much more patriotic tone when the Washington Monument is part of the scenery.

Hosted by Jimmy Smits, this celebration of the country’s 232nd birthday is broadcast from the West Lawn of the Capitol. The National Symphony Orchestra performs, as do Huey Lewis and The News, Taylor Hicks (“American Idol”) and stars of the classical world, Hayley Westenra and Vittorio Grigolo.

As “1812 Overture” is performed, the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery will fire canons.

“Mabe in America”

When: 10 p.m.

Where: CMT, Channel 52

Why watch: What’s more American than a hidden-camera show? Likely lots of things, but we do love updates of “Candid Camera,” don’t we?

Hosted by Tom Mabe, the season opener includes a bit where he gets back at telemarketers. Could be cathartic.

“George Lopez: America’s Mexican”

When: 11 p.m.

Where: Comedy Central, Channel 46

Why watch: Lopez filmed his HBO special in Phoenix’s Dodge Theatre and even though it’s available on DVD, you can watch it on Comedy Central for free. Lopez riffs on being Mexican-American, with some of the material decidedly not kid-friendly.

Citizen Staff Writer
Cover story

You want to stay in air-conditioning on the Fourth, but aren’t really down with watching fireworks on TV? Fine, fine: There are plenty of July 4-related and patriotic movies to rent. Here are 10 suggestions from our staffers from the serious to the satirical:

“Red Dawn” (1984, PG-13) – Teens (Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Charlie Sheen) band together to protect their country from the Soviets. Wolverines!

“Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942, unrated) – Based on the life of composer and entertainer George M. Cohan – James Cagney won an Oscar for his portrayal – the film includes many of the famous songs Cohan penned, including “Over There,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and the title tune.

“1776″ (1972, PG) – The screen adaptation of the Broadway musical that sings and dances its way through events before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“Rocky” (1976, PG) – Our hero (Sylvester Stallone) has a dream: to fight opponent Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) on July 4.

“Sergeant York” (1941, unrated) – Gary Cooper snagged an Oscar for his portrayal of decorated WWI hero Alvin York.

“The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946, unrated) – This winner of seven Oscars directed by William Wyler follows three veterans as they struggle to adapt to small-town life after WWII.

“Team America: World Police” (2005, unrated) – “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone go from cartoons to marionettes to skewer the war on terror, among many other things.

“Forrest Gump” (1994, PG-13) – An over-the-top run through American history that garnered Tom Hanks an Academy Award.

“All the President’s Men” (1976, R) – Based on the book by journalists Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford), it’s a compelling reminder of why we need freedom of the press and that even our leaders are held accountable for breaking the law.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962, unrated) – Southern lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck, who won an Oscar for the role) puts his belief in the Constitution to the test – what could be more inspiring as our nation celebrates its 232nd birthday?