TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

The entertainment world lost two truly singular stars last week. Dolly Parton and Tim Curry both died last week on August 25 at the age of 80, leaving behind careers that stretched across decades, genres, and generations. They were both beloved  At first glance, Parton and Curry may seem like very different performers. One became the rhinestone-covered queen of country music, while the other built a career playing some of film and theater’s strangest, funniest, and most unforgettable characters. But both shared something that made them impossible to imitate: they understood the power of being completely, unapologetically themselves! Few entertainers have ever been as universally beloved as Dolly Parton. Born in rural Tennessee in 1946, Parton transformed her beginnings in the Smoky Mountains into a career that made her one of the most successful singer-songwriters in history. Songs like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You” became classics, while...

The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of Christmas and Holiday movie marathons . Holiday films are an integral part of Christmas; they help set the tone for the holidays, foster community, and provide humor, warmth, and comfort during these cold winter months. Over the years, we have seen quite a transformation in holiday films, from the first-holiday film, a silent British film titled Santa Claus (1898) , directed by George Albert Smith, to the action-packed Violent Night (2022) that reimagines Santa Claus as a gritty, action-hero protector, holiday films are ever-evolving. Over the years, Christmas movies have seen significant changes , so let’s take a moment to explore how the genre has evolved. The wholesome, timeless classics like the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol , known as Scrooge , and 1994’s Miracle on 34th Street , reinforced belief in the spirit of Christmas, Santa, and magic, the importance of kindness and community. These films have become cherished traditi...