Publications & Presentations

Monthly Columns: 

• Hometowns to Hollywood Monthly Columnist for TCM Backlot (Jan. 2018-Present)
  • “June’s Star of the Month: Ann Sheridan” (June 2020).
  • “May’s Star of the Month: Edward G. Robinson” (May 2020).
  • “April’s Star of the Month: Jane Russell” (Apr. 2020).
  • “March’s Star of the Month: Joe E. Brown” (Mar. 2020).
  • “Una Merkel: Hollywood’s Best Friend” (Feb. 2020).
  • “January’s Star of the Month: Particia Neal” (Jan. 2020).
  • “December’s Star of the Month: Joan Blondell” (Dec. 2019).
  • “November’s Star of the Month: Bette Davis” (Nov. 2019).
  • “October’s Star of the Month: Paul Muni” (Oct. 2019).
  • “September’s Star of the Month: Sidney Poitier” (Sept. 2019).
  • “Summer Under the Stars: James Stewart” (Aug. 2019).
  • “July’s Star of the Month: Glenn Ford” (July 2019).
  • “June’s Star of the Month: Jane Powell” (June 2019).
  • “May’s Star of the Month: Paul Newman” (May 2019).
  • “April’s Star of the Month: Greta Garbo” (Apr. 2019).
  • “March’s Star of the Month: Fredric March” (Mar. 2019).
  • “The Academy Awards and Plenty of Hope” (Feb. 2019).
  • “January’s Star of the Month: Kathryn Grayson” (Jan. 2019).
  • “December’s Star of the Month: Dick Powell” (Dec. 2018).
  • “November’s Star of the Month: Glenda Farrell” (Nov. 2018).
  • “October’s Star of the Month: Rita Hayworth” (Oct. 2018).
  • “September’s Star of the Month: Dean Martin” (Sept. 2018).
  • “Summer Under the Stars: Dana Andrews” (Aug. 2018).
  • “July’s Star of the Month: Steve McQueen” (July 2018).
  • “June’s Star of the Month: Leslie Howard” (June 2018).
  • “May’s Star of the Month: Marlene Dietrich” (May 2018).
  • “Susan Hayward: The Brooklyn Bombshell” (Apr. 2018).
  • “March Star of the Month: Elizabeth Taylor” (Mar. 2018).
  • “Wings (1927): When Best Picture Took Flight” (Feb. 2018).
  • “January’s Star of the Month: Charles Boyer” (Jan. 2018).
• Classic Movie Travels Monthly Columnist for Classic Movie Hub (July 2017-Present)
  • “Ruby Keeler–NY and CA” (July 2020).
  • “Frank McHugh” (June 2020).
  • “Dorothy Dare” (May 2020).
  • “Cliff Edwards” (Apr. 2020).
  • “June Knight” (Mar. 2020).
  • “Gale Storm” (Feb. 2020).
  • “Nell O’Day” (Jan. 2020).
  • “Burl Ives–Illinois, Los Angeles and Valley Forge” (Dec. 2019).
  • “Marion Stadler” (Nov. 2019).
  • “Hal LeRoy–New Jersey” (Oct. 2019).
  • “Adriana Caselotti” (Sept. 2019).
  • “June Haver” (Aug. 2019).
  • “Mae Busch–Melbourne, Australia” (July 2019).
  • “Rosalind Russell–Connecticut and San Francisco” (June 2019).
  • “Leslie Caron” (May 2019).
  • “Fay Bainter–Los Angeles, CA, and Provo, UT” (Apr. 2019).
  • “Dolores Del Rio–Mexico City and Hollywood” (Mar. 2019).
  • “Bert Lahr–New York, NY, and Seattle, WA” (Feb. 2019).
  • “Mel Torme–Chicago” (Jan. 2019).
  • “Danny Thomas–Toledo and Memphis” (Dec. 2018).
  • “Toby Wing” (Nov. 2018).
  • “Ray Bolger–Boston, NY, and LA” (Oct. 2018).
  • “Vivian Blaine–New Jersey, New York” (Sept. 2018).
  • “Billie Burke–New York” (Aug. 2018).
  • “Donald O’Connor” (July 2018).
  • “Jeanette Loff–Idaho, Minnesota, Saskatchewan, Oregon, California, New York City” (June 2018).
  • “Robert Young–Chicago, Seattle, Pasadena, Los Angeles” (May 2018).
  • “Glenda Farrell–Wichita, San Diego, and NY” (Apr. 2018).
  • “Josephine Hutchinson–Seattle, Washington and New York City” (Mar. 2018).
  • “Jobyna Ralston and South Pittsburg” (Feb. 2018).
  • “Jeanne Crain–Inglewood and Los Angeles, CA” (Jan. 2018).
  • “Betty Garrett–Missouri, Washington State, and New York” (Dec. 2017).
  • “Gower Champion, Geneva, Illinois” (Nov. 2017).
  • “Spencer Tracy and Milwaukee, Wisconsin” (Oct. 2017).
  • “Barbara Hale, Chicago, Illinois” (Sept. 2017).
  • “Jane Powell, Portland, Oregon” (Aug. 2017).
  • “Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle” (July 2017).

Television Appearances:

• TCM Backlot Interview for Turner Classic Movies (June 2016).
• Interview with Ben Mankiewicz for Turner Classic Movies (July 2015).

Books: 

• The Ida Lupino Files (2020) for Cine Suffragette. 
• Femme/Homme Fatales of Film Noir (2019) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• Outlaws: Depictions of Outlaws in Classic Film (2019) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• Banned and Blacklisted: Too Hot for Hollywood (2018) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• Underseen and Underrated: Celebrating Lesser-Known Classic Films (2017) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• Words! Words! Words! Essays on Writing and Writers in Classic Film (2016) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• Hollywood on Hollywood: Essays on Ten Films About Tinseltown (2016) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• The Fabulous Films of the 30s (2015) for Classic Movie Blog Association.
• Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: Classic Films on the Move (2015) for Classic Movie Blog Association.

Periodicals:

• Hindsale Living Magazine: 
  • “Laugh With Me” (2020).
• Laurel and Hardy Magazine:
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Mae Busch,” v. 11, no. 4 (2020).
• Nostalgia Digest:
  • “Rochester” (2019).
  • “Little Miss Sunshine: The Story of Frances Langford” (2019).
  • “The Wilde Ones: Lyn and Lee Wilde” (2016).
  • “Blondie: From Strip to Screen” (2012).
• The Dark Pages:
  • “Glenn Ford: Canadian Star of Noir” (2020).
  • “Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney in Laura (1944)” (2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Lana Turner” (2017).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Quarterly Columnist for Silent Film Quarterly (2016-2017):
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Buster Keaton” (Summer 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Colleen Moore” (Spring 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Oliver Hardy” (Winter 2016).
• Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine:
  • “The Auburn-Cord Deusenberg Museum: It’s a Deusy!” (2014).
  • “Fashion and Jewels of the Jazz Age Sparkle in Gatsby Film” (2013).

Guest Blogger Articles:

• Classic Movie Hub:
  • “I Am Max: A Max Linder Docudrama Film” (Oct. 2018).
• “Classic Movie Hub: Classic Movie Travels” (2015):
  • “Classic Movie Travels: Lana Turner, from Wallace, Idaho, to Hollywood, California” (Dec. 2015).
  • “Classic Movie Travels: Francis Farmer, from Seattle to Indianapolis” (Oct. 2015).
  • “Classic Movie Travels: Newton, Massachusetts, and the Great Jack Lemmon” (Sept. 2015).
  • “Classic Movie Travels: The Great Katharine Hepburn of Fenwick, Connecticut” (Aug. 2015).
• “Park Ridge Library: The Rediscovered” Film Series (2014):
  • “Irene Dunne: Introduction” (2014).
  • “The Key (1934): Introduction” (2014).
  • “Remembering Mickey Rooney” (2014).
• “Park Ridge Library: Screen Deco” Film Series (2012):
  • “Forever Dancing: A Preview of Swing Time (1936)” (2012).
  • “Style is Eternal” (2012).
  • “A Screen Deco Reflection” (2012).
  • “The Face of Deco: Dolores Del Rio” (2012).
  • “Sheer Heaven: The Rhythm of Fred and Ginger” (2012).
• “Park Ridge Library: Legends of Laughter” Film Series (2011):
  • “Smile” (2011).
  • “The Legends in Our Modern Time” (2011).

Interviews with Annette:

• “Regina Dominican film festival to mark 60th year” for the Chicago Tribune (Apr. 2019).
• “Classic Movie Bloggers Association” Interview for Classic Movie Blog Association (Feb. 2017).
• TCM Backlot Interview for Turner Classic Movies (June 2016).
• “Stardust Melodies” Interview  for Stardust Melodies (Mar. 2016).
• Interview with Ben Mankiewicz for Turner Classic Movies (July 2015).

Press Mentions: 

• Chicago Tribune:
  • “Afternoon At the Oscars” (Jan. 2020).
  • “St. Charles Public Library Presents A Night at the Oscars” (Jan. 2020).
  • “Regina Dominican film festival to mark 60th year” (April 2019).
  • “Arcada offers silent film series” (Dec. 2018).
• Daily Herald:
  • “Palatine library event March 2 explores ‘The Irish in Hollywood'” (Feb. 2020).
  • “See Buster Keaton as “The Navigator” Jan. 7 at the Arcada” (Jan. 2020).
  • “Horror classics to bring spooky thrills to silent film series” (Oct. 2019).
  • “See silent horror-comedy film Oct. 8 at the Arcada” (Oct. 2019).
  • “Silent film fundraiser to benefit Catlow Theater in Barrington” (April 2019).
• Kane County Chronicle:
  • “St. Charles Public Library to present ‘A Night at the Oscars'” (Jan. 2020).
  • “‘A Night at the Oscars’ Lecture by Film Expert” (Jan. 2020).
• The Wilmette Beacon:
  • “Regina Dominican Film Fest Celebration” (April 2019).

Presentations:

• Arcada Theater Silent Film Festival, Arcada Theater,  (2018-Present)
  • “The Goat (1921); Sherlock Jr. (1924)” (Mar. 2020).
  • “Girl Shy (1924)” (Feb. 2020).
  • “The Navigator (1924)” (Jan. 2020).
  • “Kid Boots (1926)” (Nov. 2019).
  • “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)” (Oct. 2019).
  • “The Cat and the Canary (1927)” (Oct. 2019).
  • “Buster Keaton in Three Ages (1923)” (Sept. 2019).
  • “Buster Keaton in Our Hospitality! (1923); Laurel & Hardy in Liberty (1929)” (April 2019).
  • “Douglas Fairbanks in The Nut (1921)” (Mar. 2019).
  • “Harold Lloyd in Safety Last (1923)” (Jan. 2019).
  • “Laurel & Hardy in Big Business (1926); Buster Keaton in The General (1926)” (Dec. 2018).
  • “Silent All-Stars Night: Charlie Chaplin in A Day’s Pleasure (1919); Buster Keaton & Fatty Arbuckle in The Bell Boy (1918); and Harold Lloyd in High and Dizzy (1921)” (Nov. 2018).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, CJE SeniorLife: 
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: The Marx Brothers” (July 2020).
  • “Jack Benny: An Illinois Original” (June 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Cook Memorial Public Library District:
  • “Ladies of Laughter: Great Comediennes” via Zoom (May 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Westmont Public Library:
  • “Ladies of Laughter: Great Comediennes” (Mar. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Glenview Public Library:
  • “The Irish in Hollywood” (Mar. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Naperville Public Library (95th St. Library):
  • “An Afternoon at the Oscars” (Feb. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Chestnut Square at The Glen:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Winnetka Women’s Exchange:
  • “An Afternoon at the Oscars” (Jan. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Helen Plum Library:
  • “Based on the Book: From Page to Picture” (Jan. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Roosevelt University:
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (Jan. 2020).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Film Series, Arlington Heights Memorial Library (2015-2019):
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Bob Hope and The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    (Oct. 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe & Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)” (Aug. 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Eleanor Powell & Born to Dance (1936)” (Apr. 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: The Marx Brothers & A Night at the Opera (1935)” (Aug. 2018).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy & Sons of the Desert (1933)” (June 2018).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Bing Crosby & White Christmas (1954)” (Dec. 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: June Allyson & Good News (1947)” (Aug. 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Jane Powell & Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)” (July 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Red Skelton & Bathing Beauty (1944)” (June 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: James Stewart & It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)” (Dec. 2016).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Myrna Loy & The Thin Man (1934)” (Nov. 2016).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Frank Sinatra & High Society (1956)” (May 2016).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Lana Turner & Ziegfeld Girl (1941)” (Apr. 2016).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Katharine Hepburn & Bringing Up Baby (1938),” (Apr. 2016).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Tyrone Power & Love is News (1937)” (Nov. 2016).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Carole Lombard & My Man Godfrey (1936)” (Oct. 2015).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Irene Dunne & The Awful Truth (1937)” (Sept. 2015).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Des Plaines History Center:
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (Sept. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Polish American Cultural Club:
  • “Pola Negri: The Polish Femme Fatale” (Sept. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Patty Turner Center:
  • “Bombshells: Hollywood’s Leading Ladies” (Jan. 2020).
  • “Hedy Lamarr: A Brilliant Beauty” (Aug. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Oak Brook Public Library:
  • “Fred and Ginger: Forever Dancing” (Aug. 2019).
• Red Skelton Festival, Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy:
  • “Introduction: DuBarry Was a Lady (1943)” (July 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Bernard Weinger JCC of Chicago:
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (July 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Mary Lubko Center:
  • “An Afternoon at the Oscars” (Feb. 2020).
  • “Bombshells: Hollywood’s Leading Ladies” (July 2019).
• The Catlow Theater and Silent Film Society of Chicago Collaborations, Catlow Theater:
  • “Laurel and Hardy in Do Detectives Think? (1927); Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925)” (May 2019).
  • “Buster Keaton in The Haunted House (1921); Charlie Chaplin in The Kid (1921)” (April 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Film Series, Barrington Area Library (2018):
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Leslie Caron & An American in Paris (1951)” (Apr. 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Hugh Martin & Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)” (Dec. 2018).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, North Shore Senior Center:
  • “Bad Boys & Girls: The Characters We Love to Hate” via Zoom (May 2020).
  • “Ladies of Laughter: Great Comediennes” (Jan. 2020).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Laurel and Hardy” (Oct. 2019).
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (July 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Elmwood Park Public Library:
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (June 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Wilmette Public Library:
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Judy Garland” (June 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Palatine Public Library District:
  • “The History of the Hollywood Musical” via Zoom (May 2020).
  • “The Irish in Hollywood” (Mar. 2020).
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (Aug. 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: The Silent Clowns; Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd” (May 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: The Marx Brothers” (April 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Laurel and Hardy” (Mar. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Lincolnwood Public Library:
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (April 2019).
  • “Silent Clowns: Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd” (June 2018).
• Regina Celebrates Reel Women Film Festival, Regina Dominican High School:
  • Theodora Goes Wild (1936) Introduction and Panel Discussion Moderator (April 2019).
  • After Parkland (2018) Panel Discussion Moderator (April 2019).
  • Wadjda (2012) Introduction and Panel Discussion Moderator (April 2019).
  • The Trouble With Angels (1966) Introduction and Panel Discussion Moderator (April 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Lake Bluff Public Library:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2020).
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (Sept. 2018).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Cary Area Public Library:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2020).
  • “Based on the Book: From Page to Picture” (Sept. 2019).
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, St. Charles Public Library:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Jan. 2020).
  • “1939: Cinema’s Greatest Year” (Oct. 2019).
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Algonquin Area Public Library:
  • “Dynamic Duos: Classic Comedy Partnerships” (July 2019).
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Park Ridge Public Library:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Jan. 2020).
  • “An Afternoon at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Fremont Public Library:
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Niles-Maine District Library:
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Prospect Heights Public Library:
  • “Jimmy Stewart: Hollywood’s Everyman” (Dec. 2019).
  • “Chicago: The First Hollywood” (July 2019).
  • “A Night at the Oscars” (Feb. 2019).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: The Marx Brothers” (Dec. 2018).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Indian Trails Public Library District:
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor” (June 2019).
  • “Jack Benny: An Illinois Original” (Sept. 2018).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Mount Prospect Public Library:
  • “Jack Benny: An Illinois Original” (July 2018).
• Hometowns to Hollywood Presentations, Arlington Heights Women’s Club:
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: June Allyson” (Oct. 2017).
  • “Hometowns to Hollywood: Frank Sinatra” (Sept. 2016).
• Chicago Art Deco Society:
  • “Fashions and Jewels of the Jazz Age” (May 2013).

To book Hometowns to Hollywood for a presentation, please visit this page for more information. Thank you for your interest and continued support.