Movies Are Magic with Jennifer: Recent Episodes
Jennifer Churchill
It’s the bee’s knees, the cat’s meow, and totally keen! Tune in live each week at 7 pm on Sundays on KSVY 91.3 Sonoma and via this podcast for the gal who makes classic movies fun. “Movies Are Magic with Jennifer” features a weekly review of one classic movie as if it were new, interviews with famous folks in the classic film world, and snippets of fascinating classic movies and music from the coolest films of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Join our minxy host for a captivating hour that is lively, engaging and makes classic film fun!
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, we are going to the Florida Keys, to Key Largo, specifically.
The other night, I saw my friend Eddie Muller, the Czar of Noir himself, at the gorgeous Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland for the 20th anniversary kickoff of Noir City, a film festival dedicated to screening film noir in movie palaces around the country. I was there for a screening of the 1948 film KEY LARGO. Key Largo is atmospheric, fascinating and was the last time we got to see Bogey and Bacall on screen together. So the film stars Humphrey Bogart, Edward G Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore and Claire Trevor. Clare Trevor won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of an aging alcoholic.
In honor of seeing that fabulous film in a grand theatre palace of the past, tonight on Movies Are Magic with Jennifer, we’re going to hear from the iconic Lux Radio Theatre. This one-hour radio version of KEY LARGO aired in November 1949, about a year after the film was released. Apparently they couldn’t get Bogey and Bacall for this episode, but several of the film cast are here.
According to the Old Time Radio Researchers Group, Lux Radio Theatre was the biggest, most important, most expensive drama anthology program on radio. Ever. It ran 1934 until 1955, then continued on television as Lux Video Theatrefor a couple of years after that. In total, about 926 episodes were broadcast.
Lux Radio Theatre was always broadcast live, with a studio audience and a full orchestra accompanying the performance and providing musical transitions between scenes. Edward G. Robinson stars as gangster Johnny Rocco, returning to the United States to start his rackets once again. Also starring Claire Trevor, Dan Seymour, Edmond O'Brien, and intermission guest seventeen-year-old Debbie Reynolds. Here’s KEY LARGO, the Lux Radio Theatre version from 1949.
This episode of Movies Are Magic with Jennifer originally aired live on KSVY 91.3 FM Sonoma on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, we're going to go back in time for some holiday magic. Get ready to experience the Lux Radio Theater's version of the film Miracle on 34th Street. The film was released in June 1947. A radio show version aired later the same year, - in December with the entire cast – and then - the version you’re going to hear now – it aired live again on December 20, 1948. Miracle on 34th Street was released in 1947 by 20th Century Fox. It stars the gorgeous Maureen O'Hara, John Payne as her suitor, Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, and the adorable 8-year-old Natalie Wood, who - as many locals may already know - grew up in Santa Rosa. Miracle on 34th Street is about a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa, and is full of old-school sentimentality but I love it. We watch the film version every year at our house. Miracle on 34th Street won three Academy Awards: Gwenn as Kris Kringle won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Valentine Davies won for Best Writing, Original Story, and George Seaton won for Best Writing, Screenplay. The film was also nominated for Best Picture.
According to the Old Time Radio Researchers Group, Lux Radio Theatre was the biggest, most important, most expensive drama anthology program on radio. Ever. It ran 1934 until 1955, then continued on television as Lux Video Theatrefor a couple of years after that. In total, about 926 episodes were broadcast.
Lux Radio Theatre was always broadcast live, with a studio audience and a full orchestra accompanying the performance and providing musical transitions between scenes. So cozy up by the radio just like millions of folks did when this aired live in 1948 – and enjoy MIRACLE ON 34th STREET.
This episode of Movies Are Magic with Jennifer originally aired live on KSVY 91.3 FM Sonoma on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, meet local documentary filmmaker Marc Shaffer, who somehow landed Gary Oldman to be in his documentary film about one of the most unbelievably fascinating characters in film history, Eadweard Muybridge. Muybridge is that guy in the late 1800s who captured those iconic series of still images of horses in motion. Shaffer's documentary Exposing Muybridge (2021) screened at theSonoma International Film Festival in early 2022. Interview originally aired on Sunday, December 11, 2022, on KSVY 91.3 FM in Sonoma.
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, experience the 1936 Lux Radio Theater's version of The Thin Man movie. This is the real deal with the stars from the film on-air – the brilliant William Powell and the adorable Myrna Loy. This radio show version aired June 8, 1936, just about two years after the Thin Man film was released in May 1934.
It's the famous detective duo Nick & Nora, and the film is one of my favorite movies of all time. In both the movie and this radio show you’ll be hearing tonight, William Powell plays retired detective Nick Charles, and Myrna Loy plays his wealthy wife, Nora. When the “thin man” of the title – an old pal of Nick’s – disappears, the hesitant duo gets dragged into helping the local police solve a murder mystery. The chemistry and hilarious banter between Nick & Nora make this so fun. And this radio show includes a fascinating interview with W.S. VanDyke – who everyone on the show calls simply “Woody,” the director of The Thin Man, who notes some stars in the audience (silent film star Theda Bara even chats on-air at the end!) and sings the praises of his stars, including some inside scoop on VanDyke’s thoughts on his fabulous film. As a long-time fan of his work, it’s fun hearing his voice.
According to the Old Time Radio Researchers Group, Lux Radio Theatre was the biggest, most important, most expensive drama anthology program on radio. Ever. It ran 1934 until 1955, then continued on television as Lux Video Theatre for a couple of years after that. In total, about 926 episodes were broadcast.
Lux Radio Theatre was always broadcast live, with a studio audience and a full orchestra accompanying the performance and providing musical transitions between scenes. So grab your martini – Nick Charles can show you how to make the perfect one – and curl up by the radio just like millions of folks did when this aired live in 1936 – it’s THE THIN MAN starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic with Jennifer, experience the infamous Orson Welles hoax of the century, the approximately one-hour radio show “War of the Worlds” which aired in 1938. The original novel, “The War of the Worlds” is a science fiction story about a war between Earth and Martians from outer space. It was written by H.G. Wells in a serialized form in 1897. The War of the Worlds tale has been made into several movie versions, comic books, TV shows and of course radio shows. The most famous of which we’re sharing with you here on Movies Are Magic, the 1938 radio program directed by and starring Orson Welles that is said to have freaked out some of the radio-listening audience who thought the events unveiling throughout the radio hour were actually happening. This radio version was broadcast live on October 30, 1938, over the CBS Radio Network. Listen for yourself, and think about whether YOU might have been fooled by this portrayal of War of the Worlds starring Orson Welles.
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this special mini-episode of Movies Are Magic with Jennifer, author Luis I Reyes and I talk about his recent visit to Lone Pine Film Festival, his new book "Viva Hollywood," and his friendship with actor Jimmy Smits. Hispanic Heritage Month is from Sept 15 to Oct 15 each year, and the 2022 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month was “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” Luis I. Reyes is a renowned scholar and author, and you can explore the rich history of the Latin and Hispanic community of Hollywood with his new book, new to the TCM Library. The book is titled “Viva Hollywood: The Legacy of Latin and Hispanic Artists in American Film.”
SPECIAL GUEST: Luis I. Reyes
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
Welcome to this special episode of Movies Are Magic with Jennifer. Jennifer spends an intimate hour with the Czar of Noir and the host of Noir Alley on Turner Classic Movies himself, Mr. Eddie Muller. Classic film fans around the globe are grateful for the spotlight Eddie Muller has shone on film noir, for the work he's done to rescue and restore these old movies, and for just being a cool guy to sit around with, drinking martinis and talking film. Curl up to the radio with a cocktail of your choice – you can look up Eddie’s martini recipe online – and let's take a walk on the noir side. This episode originally aired on KSVY Sonoma 91.3 FM on Sunday, October 16, 2022, + streaming at http://ksvy.org.
SPECIAL GUEST: Eddie Muller
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, host Jennifer chats with the perfect October guest - Julian David Stone, author of "It's Alive!" - a new novel set in 1931 Hollywood against the backdrop of the making of the classic Universal horror film, Frankenstein. She also checks in with the new 'Knives Out' opening night of the Mill Valley Film Festival. Episode originally aired on Sunday, October 9, at 7 p.m. on 91.3 FM in Sonoma and streaming live at ksvy.org.
SPECIAL GUEST: Julian David Stone
SPOTIFY MUSIC PLAYLIST THAT AIRED WITH THIS EPISODE: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vmoJNSyF5WFrsLcCVgKxT?si=cabc4a246f394951
Movies Are Magic with Jennifer host Jennifer Churchill also hosts Classic Films For Kids on The Film Detective. Check out her children's book Movies Are Magic: The Director’s Cut.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, host Jennifer shares classic movie birthdays, highlights her visit to see Nick Rossi & his band at Top of the Mark in San Francisco, and showcases that beautiful icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood, the captivating AVA GARDNER and the Ava Gardner Festival in October with her guest, the lovely Lora Stocker. Show originally aired on Sunday, October 2, 2022, 7 pm PST on KSVY Sonoma 91.3 FM + streamed live @ ksvy.org #classicmovies #AvaGardner #Hollywood #ClassicMovies #Ava100
SPECIAL GUEST: Lora Stocker
SPOTIFY MUSIC PLAYLIST TO ACCOMPANY THIS EPISODE: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1wJOWZAEFxLjGfcgRwl2jP?si=be29b513db584a71
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, host Jennifer celebrates National Silent Movie Day (Sept. 29, 2022); and yes, it's a real thing! She'll share her experience with the Invincible Czars' multi-city tour screening the 100th anniversary of Nosferatu (1922), and have a fun and enlightening conversation with the multi-talented silent film accompanist, film historian and producer Ben Model. From the original show as aired live on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at 7 p.m. PST on the dial at 91.3 FM in Sonoma and streaming live anywhere in the world at ksvy.org.
For the music portion of the show paired with Jennifer's introduction you hear at the end of the recording, just visit the Spotify Playlist link here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Yq7JKImp8QjLkVBAp8P75?si=b5c3216bb0c948fe
SPECIAL GUEST: Ben Model (pictured here at TCMFF with Movies Are Magic host Jennifer)
For 58 years now, die-hard cinephiles have gathered over Labor Day weekend at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival. On this episode of Movies Are Magic, Jennifer visits Hollywood devoting the entire show to #Cinecon. She was at the center of this historic event in person, hobnobbing with film archivists, authors, collectors, historians and film fans during five days of classic film screenings, special programs, and celebrity guests - including the highlight of this episode Mitzi Gaynor. This episode features songs from Mitzi's star vehicle "Anything Goes" and a snippet from an episode of the Frank Sinatra Show from the 1950s featuring Mitzi as his guest. During this weekend jaunt to Hollywood, Jennifer also saw John Williams - age 90 and in exceptional form! - conducting at the Hollywood Bowl as the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra played his iconic show tunes at his direction: from Sunset Boulevard, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Schindler's List and so many more. What an experience of a lifetime. She also saw a Harry Potter film at an outdoor screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (after taking the morning cemetery tour with Karie Bible and meeting CloseUp the Cemetery Cat the day before!), met up with Kat Lively and stayed at the hotels of classic movie and today's stars: the Fairmont Century Plaza in Beverly Hills and the Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica. Show originally aired Sunday, September 4, at 7 p.m. PST on the dial at 91.3 FM @ksvy_svtv and streaming live globally at ksvy.org.
SPECIAL GUEST: Mitzi Gaynor on the Frank Sinatra Show
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, host Jennifer looks toward the upcoming Cinecon Classic Film Festival event in Hollywood taking place over the Labor Day weekend, and chats with film historian and author Paul Castiglia about the science-themed Kids' Comic Con happening in September and his upcoming book "Scared Silly" about vintage horror-comedies such as "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein." Jennifer highlights Noir City Chicago 2022, TCM's Big Screen Classics, Roger Rhoten's 30th anniversary celebration happening in September at the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma, Charles Boyer's birthday and offers a mini-review of "Love Affair" from 1939. Originally aired on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at 7 p.m. PST, on the dial at 91.3 in Sonoma, California, and streaming live at ksvy.org (https://ksvy.org/movies_are_magic/).
SPECIAL GUEST: Paul Castiglia
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, I will look into what's going on at the Noir City film festival at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and chat up action movies and stunt work with Scott McGee, the Turner Classic Movies: TCM Senior Director of Original Productions and author of the new book DANGER ON THE SILVER SCREEN. We also pay homage to silent sex symbol Rudolph Valentino, who died tragically at age 31 in 1926. Show originally aired on Sunday, August 21, at 7 p.m. PST, on the dial at KSVY Sonoma 91.3 FM and streaming live everywhere in the world at ksvy.org.
SPECIAL GUESTS: Alan K. Rode, Scott McGee, and My Silent Boyfriend
This BONUS mini-edition of Movies Are Magic pays homage to silent sex symbol Rudolph Valentino, who died tragically at age 31 in 1926. My new friend Joanna is the curator and creator of the social media channels "My Silent Boyfriend" and talks with me here about what's happening on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, to celebrate and honor this talented and intriguing star who died way too young.
On this episode of Movies Are Magic, Jennifer takes a trip to that icon in the Hollywood Hills -that landmark with the great acoustics and distinctive white-arched bandshell – the Hollywood Bowl. She chats with film historian Mary Mallory, who delves into its decades of music and performance history as the Hollywood Bowl celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2022. Show originally aired on Sunday, August 14 at KSVY Sonoma 91.3 and at ksvy.org.
SPECIAL GUEST: Mary Mallory, film historian
In this episode of Movies Are Magic, host Jennifer puts the spotlight on everyone's favorite caricature of a flapper, celebrating a birthday in August: Miss Betty Boop! Jennifer talks with Kami & Chris aka the "Classic Couple," who are Betty Boop aficionados. And rounds out the hour with some Betty-Boop-inspired musical selections. Aired live on Sunday, August 7, at 7 p.m. PST, on the dial in Sonoma and streaming at ksvy.org.
This episode of Movies Are Magic, host Jennifer gives us the lowdown on some hip classic film festivals in the works, and talks with Sonoma International Film Festival Executive Director Kevin McNeely about the 2022 SIFF Summerfest plans in Sonoma, California. Jennifer asks some tough questions of Kevin about a certain world-famous Mouse featured in a documentary during the festival called "MICKEY The Story of A Mouse," released in 2022. She also shares her experience attending the Transcendence performance at Jack London State Park of "Hooray for Hollywood." She'll round out the hour with some classic-movie musical selections inspired by TCM's Big Screen Classics celebrating milestone anniversaries of movies starring Ricardo Montalban, Sidney Poitier and more. Intrigued? Listen now! And tune in Sundays at 7 p.m. PST, on the dial in Sonoma and beyond at 91.3 FM or streaming live at ksvy.org for more "Movies Are Magic with Jennifer."
Get to know your host of "Movies Are Magic," by listening to the inaugural episode! Jennifer will be live on KSVY 91.3 FM Sonoma each Sunday night 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 91.3 FM on the dial in Sonoma or streaming LIVE online at ksvy.org. And afterward, shared on any and all podcast platforms that will accept her. This first episode features an interview with Jennifer's dental hygienist aunt Michelle Cunningham (!), some clips from her show Classic Films For Kids brought to you by The Film Detective, some great music + a hilarious clip from 1934's "The Thin Man."
It’s the bee’s knees, the cat’s meow, and totally keen! Tune in each week LIVE to KSVY 91.3 FM on Sundays at 7 p.m. PST and on this podcast for the gal who makes classic movies fun. “Movies Are Magic with Jennifer” features a weekly review of one classic movie as if it were new, interviews with famous folks in the classic film world, and snippets of fascinating classic movies and music from the coolest films of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Join our minxy host for a captivating hour that is lively, engaging and makes classic film fun!