Sweetheart of the Month- Bela Lugosi

Wed, 10/18/2006 - 12:22pm by Maxine

Friday, October 20 is the birthday of Bela Lugosi, classic horror hero who stole our hearts in the original film production of Dracula. Lugosi was born on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary. Most of his acting career was in Germany before he came to the U.S. in 1921. Best known for his roles in horror movies, Lugosi started out playing more traditional roles, including Shakespeare.

Check out our great horror movie collection at AADL for a truly spooky Halloween night.

Animanga Club Vintage Night!

Tue, 10/17/2006 - 4:52pm by lola

Spend your Friday night watching Anime, and playing DDR. October 20th from 7-8:30pm, we will be celebrating Vintage Night in the Multipurpose room at the Downtown library. On the docket so far are Urusei Yatsura and Kimagure Orange Road. Give a shout out for your favorite oldies but goodies and we can watch them. There will be a DVD and a VCR player set up, so there will be no discrimination of technology. Plus, the laminator is coming out to make all your best manga drawings into cool bookmarks and signs to decorate your bedroom.

The Play Ground

Thu, 10/12/2006 - 1:41pm by Albert

The Play Ground loved Escanaba in the Moonlight. We, who can barely kill an ant, warmed to this hunting story that spun a hilarious tale of humor and horror. Now, Jeff Daniels has created a prequel, Escanaba in Love, set forty years before the original. Meet the love of young Albert Soady Jr.’s life, Big Betty Baloo - the woman destined to become the mother of Reuben and Remnar Soady - along with a whole new cast of wacky Yoopers. The Purple Rose Theatre Company, September 28 - December 23, 2006. (734) 433-ROSE (7673).

Steampunk Anime

Thu, 10/12/2006 - 9:51am by joy k

Are you a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist wondering what to watch next? Consider checking out some of the other steampunk anime—stories set in an alternate past with advanced technology, or that combine magic and machinery—in our anime dvd collection:

Steamboy
Last Exile
Howl’s Moving Castle
Escaflowne

What do opera and bebop have in common?

Tue, 10/10/2006 - 5:55pm by Maxine

Not much, except that today, October 10, is the birthday of both Thelonious Monk and Giuseppe Verdi. Thelonious Monk, born in North Carolina in 1917, is best known as one of the prime inventors of bebop, a kind of jazz that uses repitition of sound to create a jumpy, irregular phrasing out of standard tunes. Monk played music with the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane. His two most popular albums are Brilliant Corners and Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane.

Giuseppe Verdi was born in Parma, Italy in 1813. His first opera, Oberto, performed at La Scala, was a modest success. After the tragic death of his wife, Verdi vowed he would never compose again but after reading the brilliant libretto of Nabucco, he changed his mind. Verdi wrote a total of 26 operas, his most famous, Rigoletto, La Traviata and Falstaff.

Stormbreaker opens in theaters October 13

Tue, 10/10/2006 - 11:28am by K.C.

The film, Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker opens this Friday nationwide. A teen who saw it in England told me it is great. Based on the first Alex Rider book, Stormbreaker, by Anthony Horowitz, it's the story of Alex Rider, a teenager with unusual talents, who is recruited by the British Secret Service to carry out a dangerous mission following the mysterious death of his uncle. Check local theaters for the AA release.

"Daughters of the Dust" at the Michigan Theater

Mon, 10/09/2006 - 11:54am by jillean

Eli Peazant: "What're we supposed to remember, Nana? How, at one time, were we able to protect those we loved? How, in Africa world, we were kings and queens and built great big cities?"

Nana Peazant: "Eli, I'm trying to teach you how to touch your own spirit. I'm fighting for my life, Eli, and I'm fighting for yours. Look in my face! I'm trying to give you something to take north with you, along with all your great big dreams."

Originally released in 1991, Daughters of the Dust tells the story of the Peazant family, an early 20th century African American family trying to make the difficult decision to migrate north or remain on the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia where they have maintained their Gullah language and culture. Director Julie Dash creates a stunning portrait of three generations torn between maintaining tradition and the prospect of a new life. Daughters of the Dust won the Sundance Film Festival award for Best Cinematography in 1991. It will show at the Michigan Theater this Thursday, October 12th at 7:15pm and again Sunday, October 15th at 6pm.

Martha Graham Study Club here Tuesday night

Mon, 10/09/2006 - 9:28am by amy

If you're planning to attend the October 13 or 14 UMS performance of the Martha Graham Dance Company, you don't want to miss the study club here at AADL Tuesday night. Peter Sparling, UM Professor of Dance and former principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, will talk about Ms. Graham's life and legacy in the world of American modern dance and present rare archival footage and demonstration. This event is open to the public and will take place on Tuesday, October 10, 7-8:45 p.m. in the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room. Meanwhile, the Martha Graham Dance Company is also featured on the DVD Martha Graham in Performance, "...among the two or three successful dance films ever made." (Clive Barnes).

Buck O'Neil, A Baseball Legend Dies

Sat, 10/07/2006 - 1:52pm by K.C.

John "Buck" O'Neil, age 94, passed away in a Kansas City hospital Friday night. A player and manager for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues as well as the first black baseball coach when hired in 1962 by the Chicago Cubs, O'Neil was known not only for his love of baseball but also for life.

Buck was a fabulous storyteller and was "discovered" in his 80's when he appeared in Ken Burns series, Baseball. Read some of those stories like why baseball great, Satchel Paige called him "Nancy" in the Kansas City Star.

New Youth DVD's

Sat, 09/30/2006 - 11:15am by fletch

There are so many new Youth DVD's. There is a new Bob the Builder DVD, called Bob the Builder. Help is on the way! where Bob is has to build a stand for the flower show, builds a movie theater, and has other adventures. The new Curious George with Drew Barrymore, Will Ferrell, and Dick Van Dyke is now available. Disney has released a DVD version of The Little Mermaid, that has special features available on two discs. For all of you Pokémon fans Pokémon Advanced Challenge volumes 5-10 are now available to be checked out!