St. John's Confidential File

HELLO AMERICA!—From the very first time meeting one of the first ladies of the motion picture industry, BETTE DAVIS, she immediately took on the responsibility of giving me a graduate course of Hollywood survival. Being a rather tenacious young 18-year-old dreamer of what I might achieve in the business, whenever there was a problem, question or something I needed to know...

HELLO AMERICA!—So many people come to Hollywood with merely a dream to keep them alive or even believing what the outcome might be. But Richard Eick, a young filmmaker, actor, writer arrived fully prepared to take on any task which might come his way in making it to the top. Our young Mr. Eick began his career at eight years old by...

HELLO AMERICA—A young lad living in a foster home in Oakland during the early 80s is suddenly faced with a major decision to leave his easy life in Palm Desert for the glitter and fantasy life of Hollywood. George Jovan, painter, musician, sculptor has been making quite a name for himself living and socializing among the rich and famous...

HELLO AMERICA!—The famous Beverly Hills Theatre 40 is currently highlighting the Terence Rattigan play Flare Path. It is a teaser of a story that keeps one wondering how the main respective characters will survive their personal predicament. The one-set war time story takes place at the Falcon Hotel on the Lincolnshire coast where there is a RAF base. When the...

HELLO AMERICA!—It doesn't matter how ABC's "The View" tries to keep up a team-friendly front involving Whoopi Goldberg as the leading host, it is extremely apparent she feels because of her status as the only Oscar winner, that it gives her automatic power as the only panelist who has anything worth listening to, no matter what the subject matter...

HELLO AMERICA!—Recently, I have been receiving so many messages concerning current actors of color portraying old concepts and views of themselves as a people in this country. Betty Hamilton, a third-grade teacher, and listener of my radio WLMR radio show and reader of this column from Boston inquired why so many potentially fine actors, especially black female artists believe...

HELLO AMERICA!—For so many years going to school and universities, hungering to understand life and my place in it, most of my teachers and professors had no genuine experience in survival themselves. Everything referenced was based on books or classes they had read or discussed during their respective journey, attempting to find a place in the sun. Somehow, this...

HELLO AMERICA!—We all wondered when it would happen, and it did! A member of The White House former Trump tribe has made a multimillion-dollar deal to let it all hang out for a production based on his life as a member of the Trump gang beginning in New York. The agreement to let it all hang out was based...

HELLO AMERICA!—When speaking with artist Dr. Ronald Scott McDowell, one cannot but be impressed with his obvious, even religious dedication to life and all of its intriguing and mysterious forms. His commissioned art adds life and energy to public spaces. Birmingham stakeholders commissioned him to sculpt a statue honoring the beloved Nina Miglionico. Also in a Birmingham city park,...

HELLO AMERICA!─If my late friend, James Dean, was aware of how many actors are clamoring to portray him in a possible film, based on the book “Hollywood Through the Back Door,” he would be amused, to be sure. He would first smile, turn his head in a very awkward twist and then whisper, “Why? Hell, they don’t know who...