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Lauren Bacall Delivered “The Look” and the Goods at the Nasher Salon Series

When Hollywood was legendary and the studio system was turning out the likes of Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Cary Grant, a teenage Lauren Bacall was catapulted to film royalty thanks to her captivating looks, one-of-a-kind voice, sultry acting, and marriage to Humphrey Bogart, the leader of the infamous Holmby Hills Rat Pack (predecessor to Frank Sinatra‘s Rat Pack).

Last Thursday she held court at the Nasher Sculpture Center as part of the Nasher Salon Series. Arriving for a lunch with a full room of guests, she surprisingly was upstaged by her companion — Sophie, (pictured with, from the left, Lauren Bacall, Jeremy Strick, and Michael Cain) an adorable and extremely well-manned Papillion. But, no fear of female jealousies. Bacall actually enjoyed the attention that Sophie received. Once seated at Table #1 with Nasher Director Jeremy Strick and old friends Karla and Liener Temerlin (pictured with Nancy Nasher Haemisegger in center),  Sophie sat in her owner’s lap and never raised her nose above the table. Obviously, this wasn’t Dakota-living Sophie’s first rodeo. However, later as Bacall talked to the room of guests, Sophie (pictured) decided that Jeremy was her lap of choice and sat patiently. That Jeremy just has a way about him.

Leave it to the Nasher folks to set the luncheon up perfectly. With B&W movies from Bacall’s past on two of the walls and framed pictures of the lady on each table, it almost made you wish you had brought your autograph book. One table of enthusiastic fans insisted on having their group photographed around the picture centerpiece.

But once she arrived and sat down, everyone controlled their enthusiasm and made it through lunch waiting for her discussion with Dallas Film Society Chairman of the Board Michael Cain.

Poor Michael was just a tad bit apprehensive about the chat. Seems that he had gone a couple of rounds with the sharp as a tack lady when she was in town a couple of years ago for the AFI Dallas International Film Fest. Like Harriet Hubbard, the lady suffers no fools. (more…)

Go On the Carpet for the Resource Center Now!

You know it’s always more fun to watch the Academy Awards, the annual Super Bowl of celluloid, with a crowd of film lovers. If you hurry, you can still make it to “On the Carpet” to watch the distribution of the Oscars tonight. The annual fund raiser for the Resource Center is taking place at the Rose Room. General admission is $10 and VIP tickets are $25.

Co-hosts for the soirée include CW 33′s Roni Proctor, Dallas Morning News style master Jason Sheeler, and Kraddick Foundation – Kidd’s Kids and board chair Beaux Wellborn.

What can you expect? According to Resource Center’s Rafael McDonnell, how about –

Hosted by master of ceremonies Paul J. Williams and honorary event chair Hector Garcia, attendees will enjoy a night of fun, games, laughs and memories from the best movies of the year. Williams is an award-winning actor/comedian who has made his mark on scores of theater, cabaret and stand-up comedy stages across Texas, as well as New York City, Provincetown, Aspen, Key West and other cities. Garcia, a well-known Dallas restaurateur, also held a series of legendary Academy Award ©-watching parties in the 1980s and 1990s. They were held first at his home, then in Fair Park and finally the Lakewood Theater. At times, the parties also gathered food and donations for the Center’s food pantry. Garcia held the last of these parties in 2002.

$200,000 Challenge is on the Table for The Dallas Film Society with a Deadline

Since the Academy Awards are this Sunday, it’s a perfect time for some local good news for the celluloid set. An anonymous donor has issued a challenge grant for The Dallas Film Society — raise $200,000 and it will be matched.

But there is a catch. The money must be raised by April 1.

So far, $50,000 has already been raised. There are 31 days left to get the remaining $150,000. That’s a lot of popcorn, but if it translates into a total of $400,000.

Why not pass the hat at your Academy Award-watching party? Make sure it’s a big hat.