Following are some of the tidbits we have culled from various muggs over the past few days:

Mark Adams now writing for Screen International in London… Deborah Young just finished her fourth stint as director of the Taormina Film Festival in southern Italy. She’s also still writing reviews for The Hollywood Reporter… Sandy Campomanes has shifted to a job with a new mag, Interior Design… John Dempsey ankled Variety about two years ago after umpteen years on the sheet, but we have no info where to locate him now… Todd McCarthy is now writing for the Indie Wire website, a film industry and filmmaker resource for independent and documentary film news, film festivals and awards. He’s no longer connected to Variety… David Stratton was recently a member of the Grand Jury at the Karlovy Vary film festival. “It was good to relax with an undemanding program in summer weather plus lots of delicious Czech food,” he writes us. David may be coming through Madrid at the end of August.

Ted Clark still living in his idyllic village on the French Riviera. He writes us that his only activity, other than keeping the village bistros in profit, is on the committee of an association that a few years back established a medicalised bi-lingual retirement home for the numerous foreigners who live in the south of France and for local French oldies who fancy an international atmosphere…

Jim Robbins checked in and said he’s no longer with “Fed”, whatever company that was… Liz Guider has been editor of The Hollywood Reporter for three years, and sez it’s been “interesting, fun, challenging, exhausting, and humbling”. She attended Cannes last May, and caught glimpses of some of the former muggs… Liz writes that Jack Loftus retired from Nielsen about three years ago, but no one seems to know his present whereabouts… Jay Blickstein touched base with us; he is now managing editor of Broadcasting & Cable… Pat Watkins is moving house next month, but plans to remain in Birchington, the charming English seaside village where she lived so many years with Roger.

“Old Variety” mugs, those who worked for Variety / Daily Variety prior to the 1988 sale and to whom this website is dedicated, usually don’t turn up as film festival heads.
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After many years of research, Peter has finally managed to get out his new book about Madrid’s oldtime inns. The new tome is monickered “A History and Anecdotes of the Inns of Old Madrid“, and is now on sale in major outsets in Spain, including major bookshops and department stores.
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On December 31, Hy Hollinger ended a 36-year trade journalism career, perhaps the longest and most influential in modern-day show biz.
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Feb. 24, 2009

Good evening everybody.

Mike, Paul, what the heck?

Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen, for that warm accolade. But please hold your applause, I’ve only got a minute here before the orchestra cranks up.

It is again my distinct pleasure to stand before you holding this lovely statuette. Wow, two years in a row. How is it possible, you ask, that I continue to display such a profound and uncanny perspective of the film world? Could it be my deep roots in the entertainment industry as Variety’s D.C. mugg, a position I continue to hold after 30-plus years as a freelancer? Or the direct pipeline to Hollywood from the annual recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors who are constantly badgering me to have lunch?

Oh gosh, I have so many people to thank. I just scribbled down some names on a roll of toilet paper in the men’s room back stage – oh, here it is.

But first, I just have to say this. Oh Jennifer, you continue to be a class act. Why, just look at you sitting there right behind Brad and Angelina as if absolutely nothing were amiss. Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is acting. There needs to be a special award here tonight to honor her – but I digress.

First, I want to thank my parents, without whom this evening would not be possible. And of course my agent, Virginia Michie, who has stuck with me throughout the highs and lows of my long, long, long, long career.

And I guess I should say a few kind words about my wife, Karen, who is my spiritual advisor in all things Hollywood and ever-so-slightly more than just a bit player in this tawdry act.

Oh, and yes, please hold onto that winner’s check, as you did last year without any prompting. The honor of addressing this august gathering is its own reward.