Front Row Classics: A Hollywood Golden Age Podcast

Born to Dance. Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome authors Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère to discuss their latest book, “Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance”. The book chronicles Powell’s life and work but is mostly is a testament to finding your personal gifts and nurturing them as best you can. Brandon, Paula and Lisa … Continue reading Ep. 174- Eleanor Powell: Born to&#1...

Mack the Black!. Front Row Classics is proud to welcome back Patricia Ward Kelly for her fourth appearance. Patricia is the widow and biographer of Gene Kelly. Brandon and Patricia discuss a film that both feel needs to garner more attention: 1948’s The Pirate. Alongside Gene, the film stars Judy Garland and features a score … Continue reading Ep. 173- The Pirate with Patricia Ward&#16...

Say It’s Only a Paper Moon. Front Row Classics is celebrating the 50th anniversary of a true gem of 1970’s cinema. We’re taking a look at Peter Bogdonavich’s Paper Moon from 1973. Matt Duffy from Reel Gold Rundown joins Brandon to discuss this road comedy-drama. The hosts discuss the tremendous chemistry between real life father … Continue reading Ep. 172-Paper Moon &...

Hollywood History. Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome actor and social media personality, Brandon Johnston this week. We discuss his early love of classic film and how it had influenced his life and career. We also take a little time to discuss the current actor & writer’s strike. The advent of social media has … Continue reading Ep. 171- Interview with Brandon Johnston...

Where Were You in ’62?. We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the seminal films of the 1970s. American Graffiti took audiences back to a more innocent era of malt shops and sock hops. Brandon is joined by Meghan Lowder-Paul and Jacqueline Keysear of “I Think You’re Gonna Like This” to break down this … Continue reading Ep. 170-American Graffiti &#8594...

I Want to Be Alone. Front Row Classics is taking a look at the Best Picture winner of 1932, Grand Hotel. Emmett Stanton, once again, joins Brandon to discuss what may just be the very first all-star movie. MGM pulled out all the stops for this glamorous melodrama featuring the likes of Greta Garbo, Lionel … Continue reading Ep. 169-Grand Hotel →

Welcome Karie Bible. Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome Karie Bible to the podcast this week. Karie is a film historian, author and in-house tour guide for Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Brandon and Karie discuss her background and love for classic film. We discuss her experience as tour guide for Hollywood Forever Cemetery as well … Continue reading Ep. 168- Interview with Karie Bi...

Our Victory Over the Dark. We’re taking a look at another great film from 1939 this week on Front Row Classics. Dark Victory is one the great triumphs in the career of Bette Davis. Brandon is joined, once again, by author and film historian Sloan De Forest to discuss this classic tear jerker from Warner … Continue reading Ep. 167- Dark Victory →

Dance Fools, Dance!. We’re celebrating the 70th anniversary of one Brandon’s favorite films this week on Front Row Classics. The Band Wagon is one of the crown jewels of the Arthur Freed unit at MGM. Author and film historian, John DiLeo also counts the musical comedy as one of his favorites. Brandon and John recount … Continue reading Ep. 166 – The Band Wagon →

I’ll be there. Front Row Classics celebrates one of the most acclaimed films of the 1940’s, The Grapes of Wrath. Brandon and Emmett Stanton take a look John Ford’s celebrated adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel. The hosts pay tribute to the legendary performance of Henry Fonda as Tom Joad. We also discuss Gregg Toland’s … Continue reading Ep. 165- The Grapes of&#16...

Celebrating B Movies. Brandon recently had a chance to sit down for the fourth time with ,author and historian, Jeremy Arnold. On this special bonus episode, they’ll be previewing Jeremy’s latest stint on Turner Classic Movies. Jeremy, along with Ben Mankiewicz, will be presenting twenty B Movies every Thursday evening in July. Jeremy hand picked … Continue reading BONUS-TCM Spot...

A Little Game of Solitaire . It’s July 4th and Front Row Classics is taking a not-so-nice look at American government & politics. 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate was an oddity when it was released. Yet, the ensuing decades have proven it to be eerily relevant and timeless. Ryan Lootens and Steve Sykes join Brandon to … Continue reading Ep. 164- The Manchurian Candidate (...

Hooray for TCM! Front Row Classics is delighted to welcome Turner Classic Movies’ host, Alicia Malone to the podcast for the first time. Alicia has been a long time wish list guest and she was worth the wait. She and Brandon discuss he classic film origin story as well as he background in media. We … Continue reading Ep. 163- Interview with TCM’s Alicia Malone →

Battleground . Front Row Classics is celebrating one of the finest war films ever made this week. Brandon is joined by Jessica Pickens to discuss 1949’s Battleground. Jessica is the creator of “Comet Over Hollywood” a website and blog dedicated to celebrating classics film. Brandon and Jessica discuss the impressive ensemble cast of reliable MGM … Continue reading Ep. 162-...

Curated Cocktails . Front Row Classics is thrilled to welcome back the Czar of Noir himself, Eddie Muller. Brandon and Eddie discuss his latest book, “Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir”. The book  highlights 50 film noir film favorites. Each are carefully paired with a cocktail that perfectly highlights the film … Continue reading Ep. 161- Noir Bar- Inte...

Walls of Jericho . Front Row Classics is taking a look at the Best Picture winner of 1934, Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night. Brandon is joined by Lauren Van De Vendel to pay tribute to the original romantic comedy. Lauren is the creator of her own Instagram account, Polka Dots and Moonbeams, which pays … Continue reading Ep. 160- It Happened One Night →

I already know how to drink . Front Row Classics is celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Sting. The Best Picture winner of 1973 is a perfect concoction of casting, direction and writing. Brandon welcomes back Reel Gold Rundown’s Matt Duffy to discuss all aspects of the movie. We highlight the incomparable chemistry of Paul … Continue reading Ep. 159- The Sting →

You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet! Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome Mark Vieira to the podcast this week. Brandon and Mark discuss his latest book, “Warner Bros: 100 Years of Storytelling”. The book is the official centennial history of arguably the greatest studio in Hollywood’s history. The complete Warner Bros story is chronicled through … Continue reading...

Put the Blame on Mame, boys! “Put the blame on Mame, boys”. Front Row Classics welcomes Ben Burke of The Hollywood Babylonians podcast. Brandon and Ben discuss Gilda from 1946. This film noir classic cemented Rita Hayworth as one of the true icons of the 1940s. The movie, directed by Charles Vidor, was a rarity … Continue reading Ep. 157- Gilda →

Life is a Cabaret! “Life is a Cabaret” this week on Front Row Classics. We’re taking a look at 1972’s Cabaret as Emmett Stanton returns to discuss Bob Fosse’s musical masterpiece. Brandon and Emmett break down the legendary performances of Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey and the rest of the impressive cast. Topics also include:  the … Continue reading Ep. 156- Cabaret...

Let’s chat with George! Many past Front Row Classics guests were in attendance at the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival. Two-time guest, George Stevens Jr. was on hand to present his father’s 1941 film, Penny Serenade. The film was presented alongside director, Alexander Payne, in a brand new restoration. Brandon got to sit down with … Continue reading Bonus Interview: TCM Film Fest...

Brandon is back! Brandon is back from Hollywood and ready to recap his time at the Turner Classic Movies’ Classic Film Festival. Craig McFarland joins Brandon to recall the memorable experiences and screenings he experienced. Being around so many other classic film devotees, including several Front Row Classics guests, made for one memorable four-day festival. … Continue reading Ep. 15...

Let’s chat with Ben! Brandon is heading to the TCM Classic Film Festival! Earlier this week, he sat down with TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz for a preview of what is to come. Topics include the opening night presentation of Rio Bravo, Warner Brothers’ 100th anniversary celebration and some of Ben’s favorite aspects of the festival. Ben Mankiewicz … Continue reading Bonus Inte...

Brandon is heading to Hollywood! Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome Scott McGee back to the podcast. Scott is the Senior Director of Original Programming for Turner Classic Movies. Brandon and Scott discuss his journey up the ranks at TCM and the many projects he has been involved with including the TCM Classic Film … Continue reading Ep. 154 – TCM Film Festival with Scott M...

Download the episode A big thank you to all of our loyal listeners of Front Row Classics. Brandon is giving us a look at what’s ahead for the next couple weeks on the podcast. He also announces an exciting change to win a bundle of digital movies in conjunction with Warner Bros. 100th anniversary. FEATURING: … Continue reading Updates from Brandon →