VIRGINIA BEACHBetty and Thomas Jones struggled to provide for their seven children. Betty worked the graveyard shift at a coal mine in the southwest Virginia town of Big Stone Gap, one of the state's most impoverished places .Thomas also worked in the mines, but his full-time job was taking care of the kids. A former radio broadcaster, he encouraged his children to learn five new words every day, to read the front page of the newspaper and take homework and chores seriously.Their sacrifice paid dividends. All seven kids graduated from college, and their oldest son, Thomas, became a star – first on the football field, then on the big screen.Jones was an All-American running back at the University of Virginia, then ran for nearly 11,000 yards in 12 NFL seasons. He has since embarked on a successful second career as a Hollywood actor and producer and has become, he admits reluctantly, something of a heartthrob. Now known as Thomas Q. Jones, he will be … [Read more...] about How former U.Va. star Thomas Jones went from coal country to the NFL and Hollywood
Hollywood
The fallout since the Weinstein scandal first rocked Hollywood
It's been six months since the man once synonymous with Hollywood inadvertently caused a seismic shift and one of the most important conversations in the industry's history — and even beyond the entertainment world.What began with a few brave women coming forward about mistreatment at the hands of Oscar-winning producer Harvey Weinstein has emerged into a movement against abuse that has reverberated across industries.In just half a year, dozens of once powerful men have been held accountable for mistreatment, thousands of people have raised their voices to say, "me too," and at least one industry -- people hope, anyway -- will never be the same.Again, it's happened in six months.As it stands, the allegations against Weinstein range from harassment to rape, include the stories of more than 80 women and span several decades. (Through a spokesperson, Weinstein has repeatedly denied "any allegations of non-consensual sex.") Below is a timeline of how the Weinstein scandal … [Read more...] about The fallout since the Weinstein scandal first rocked Hollywood
Experience the life of a true Hollywood legend
Kick off the spring season with a trip to North Carolina and visit the museum that honors the life and career of local Hollywood legend Ava Gardner. The Ava Gardner Museum is home to an incredible collection including original scripts, photos, costumes, and personal effects of screen legend Ava Gardner—a true Hollywood “Cinderella” story. Johnston County Visitors Bureau/for PhillyVoiceThe exterior of the Ava Gardner Museum.Experience her rise to fame from a local country girl to one of Hollywood’s film goddesses. Born near Smithfield, Ava’s husbands included Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra. She starred in movies with several film icons, such as Clark Gable, Grace Kelly and Gregory Peck. The museum features her relationships with other stars with artifacts from Sinatra, Kelly, Peck, John Huston and others. Her grave site is located in nearby Sunset Memorial Gardens, approximately two miles from the museum. Mark your calendar for a brand-new … [Read more...] about Experience the life of a true Hollywood legend
Hollywood pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr
Stars of the new Hollywood film, [Acrimony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrimony(film))_, have paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr who died 50 years ago on 4 April 1968. The civil activitist, Baptist minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner was standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, when he was assassinated. … [Read more...] about Hollywood pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr
Could film studio plans turn Dagenham East into the UK’s Hollywood?
PUBLISHED: 17:15 01 November 2017 | UPDATED: 17:15 01 November 2017 Alex Shaw How the new film studios in Dagenham East could look. Picture credit: LBBD Archant Plans for a sprawling film studio fit for Hollywood in Dagenham East were today backed in a study co-commissioned by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (right) with Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell (Picture: Caroline Teo) The proposed 18.7-acre site in Rainham Road South represents a “rare chance” to build the first new TV and film production studios in London for a quarter of a century, it said. The feasibility study, unveiled by Khan and council leader Darren Rodwell, estimates the world-class facility will create 780 jobs and bring £35 million to the national economy. Mr Khan said: “London is a global capital for film - from Bond to Bridget Jones, and Star Wars to Paddington - our capital is world-renowned for its film industry and has at least 40 crews … [Read more...] about Could film studio plans turn Dagenham East into the UK’s Hollywood?