TCM Recognition

[Dianne]

I just received my copy of TCM's "Now Playing" magazine for August. Although I was told by their senior vice president of programming several months ago that Bob Taylor would not be included in "Summer Under the Stars" (for the 7th year in a row; nor to my knowledge, was he given the honor of being selected "Star of the Month" at any time during the 6 years I have been able to receive TCM), I was still shocked to see some of the names that were selected, including Sterling Hayden, Merle Oberon, Dirk Bogarde, Claire Bloom, Marion Davies, Miriam Hopkins, Gloria Grahame & James Coburn.

Charles Tabesh, TCM's SVP of programming, responded by email to my third request (letters written in 2005, 2007 & this January to hosts Osborne & Mankiewicz), for Taylor to be featured, promising to honor him next year. I hope he is able to keep this promise (& his job, because a successor could easily change these plans).

After all these years of neglect,& because TCM has so many of his movies in their library, I think Bob should be featured as a Star of the Month. This month, Stewart Granger has that honor. Taylor was every bit as big a star as Granger was in the 1950s, was bigger in the 1930s and 1940s, and got first billing in the 2 films they made together. I have nothing against Mr. Granger and always liked him, but this just goes to show the network bias against Bob Taylor, and I can think of no reason other than the fact that he had the courage of his convictions, which were unlike those of most of the increasingly liberal Hollywood establishment.

I recommend that every Taylor fan on this site write to Mr. Charles Tabesh, Senior Vice President of Programming, Turner Classic Movies, 1050 Techwood Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Or email [e-mail]. A nice, polite message, I'm sure would be the most effective.

[Dianne]

Mr. Tabesh told me in an email that he would honor Robert Taylor next year (2010) by either making him a star for a day in August or a star of a month. After all these years of not giving him any special recognition, I think star of the month would be more appropriate. They could show many more of his movies on multiple days & if he is only given one day in August there is a good chance that some of his fans would not be able to watch &/or record on that particular day. So if you haven't already sent your email, I suggest you point out that fact.

[Margaret Gaffney]

You are so right about TCM not honoring Robert Taylor. When I got the schedule for next month I was surprise with some of the stars being honored. They do show his movies during the year so why not give him a month or day in August. maybe we have to wait for his 100 birthday in 2011 for me that is too long a wait. I will be sending an e-mail to Charles Tabesh at turner to let him know how I would love to see them honor Robert Taylor.

[Alejandra]

Thanks Dianne for letting us know the way to contact Mr. Charles Tabesh. We can also request that TCM schedule his movies:
United States: http://www.tcm.com/suggestamovie/index/
TCM España: http://www.canaltcm.com/sugerir
TCM UK: [e-mail]
TCM Deutschland: [e-mail]
TCM France: http://tcmcinema.fr/suggerer-un-film/
TCM Latinoamérica- español:
http://www.tcmla.com/es/general/about.html
TCM Latinoamérica- português:
http://www.tcmla.com/pt/general/about.html
TCM Australia, New Zealand, Asia Pacific:
[e-mail]
Di

[Birdy]

Thank you, Dianne, for directing our attention to this. I seriously think about to write a message there although I have no access to TCM (I could have, but it costs extra...). In any case it's worth to think about it. (and about my access.. LOL)

I still can't believe, that his political convictions shall be the only reason for literally "blacklisting" him... I mean, as for me I didn't know much about the whole HUAC-issue (only in connection with Chaplin a bit) and about Bob's involvement there at all, only later when I started to become further interested in him. Is it only my ignorance or isn't this the main reason for neglecting his ouvre in Europe (except from "Ivanhoe" and "Quo vadis?") anyway?

By the way: on the German wikipedia there is written even an untruth about the HUAC-issue. There is written, that he was suspected to be a communist himself and that's why was questioned there... nonsense......Grrrrrrh! semi-knowledge and prejudices everywhere...