Sydney, Dec.10, 2020
Former Variety bureau chief in Sydney, Blake Murdoch, passed away last Tuesday, December 8 in Sydney, aged 58, after a lengthy illness. Blake joined weekly Variety in 1984 and later became the Aussie and Australasian Bureau Chief of the paper. He ankled Variety in 1993.
(more…)Hollywood, Dec. 7, 2020
A column made famous by former Daily Variety mugg, Army Archerd, which was a “must read” in the pre-corporate days of the sheet, “Just for Variety” is back.
Variety’s signature column, which first appeared in Daily Variety 75 years ago and ran until 2005, returned as a weekly print and digital franchise starting on December 2. Written by senior culture editor Mark Malkin, the column focuses on industry dish from both behind and in front of the camera, industry personalities, social and philanthropic activities and trends in the creative community.
Launched in October 1945, the daily column became synonymous with the legendary Army Archerd, who took it over in 1953. Archerd penned “Just for Variety” for more than 50 years before his retirement in 2005.
“I am so excited for my next chapter at Variety,” Malkin said. “I am honored to continue the tradition of ‘Just for Variety’ while also introducing the column to a new generation of Hollywood insiders and Variety readers. This is one reboot I’m hopeful everyone will get behind.”
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by Bob Marich
Dec. 2, 2020
Variety served up its history with a retro cover for its Nov. 18, 2020 print cover date edition. The old-fashioned cover art ties to a story inside about a Netflix movie titled Mank dramatizing the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz (who is portrayed by Gary Oldman). Of course, the real Mankiewicz shared the 1941 Oscar for best original screenplay with Orson Welles for Citizen Kane.
(more…)Hollywood, Sept. 24 2020
Some 90 years to the month after launching, the Hollywood Reporter (THR) is being absorbed by Variety. Variety owner Penske Media (PMC) is setting up a joint venture, which includes its online-only news platform Deadline.com, that combines with Hollywood Reporter, it was announced yesterday. What’s happening is that loss-making THR is being unloaded by its owner MRC (explained later).
(more…)