Burroughs Graduate Ron Howard

By: Shelley Rizzotti

AKA Ronald William Howard

Born: 1-Mar-1954
Birthplace: Duncan, OK

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor, Film Director, Film/TV Producer
Party Affiliation: Democratic

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Richie Cunningham on Happy Days

Ron Howard’s father was a writer for The Flintstones and an occasional actor who would bring his son onto the set with him. In Frontier Woman, an abysmal western featuring the elder Howard, young Ron made his film debut at the age of one. He was famous playing Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, and remembers that even at the age of six or seven, the program’s producers welcomed and incorporated his suggestions. Later child acting included The Music Man with Robert Preston and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father with Glenn Ford.

As a young man, he starred as a hick opposite John Wayne in The Shootist, as an everykid in American Graffiti, and as Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. Still, when Howard first said he wanted to direct, it was generally taken as an unintentional joke. Howard made a deal with low-budget producer Roger Corman, agreeing to star in Corman’s Eat My Dust if he could star and direct the subsequent Grand Theft Auto.

Eat My Dust made money, as most of Corman’s films did, but Grand Theft Auto made more, and its success allowed Howard to direct several television movies during Happy Days breaks. After the sitcom ended, he directed Night Shift, which made Michael Keaton a star, Splash, which did the same for Tom Hanks, and Cocoon, which made Howard’s name as a director. Virtually all of his previous work had been in comedy, but Cocoon — science fiction with an all-star cast of Hollywood elderlies — was unexpected. Howard’s best accolades have come for Parenthood with Steve Martin, Apollo 13 with Hanks and Bill Paxton, and A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe. Howard received the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars for A Beautiful Mind.

Howard makes enjoyable popcorn movies that do not insult an audience’s intelligence. His “controversial” adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, which infuriated Opus Dei and was called sacrilegious by the Catholic Church, was a harmless spy thriller, and even Howard’s critical failures, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, tend to do well at the box office, while his box office duds like Cinderella Man at least earn good reviews.

His films often feature roles for his brother, Clint Howard, their father, Rance Howard, and Howard’s wife, Cheryl. There was even a part for Corman in Apollo 13. Still active on television, Howard produced 24 with Kiefer Sutherland and Arrested Development with Jason Bateman.

Father: Rance Howard (writer-actor, b. 17-Nov-1928)
Mother: Jean Speegle Howard (actress, b. 31-Jan-1927, d. 2-Sep-2000)
Brother: Clint Howard (b-movie actor)
Wife: Cheryl Alley Howard (dated in high school, m. 7-Jun-1975, three daughters, one son)
Daughter: Bryce Dallas Howard (b. 1981)
Daughter: Jocelyn Carlyle Howard (twin, b. 1985)
Daughter: Paige Carlyle Howard (twin, b. 1985)
Son: Reed Howard (b. 1987)

High School: Burroughs High School, Burbank, California
University: University of Southern California (dropped out)

Academy of Achievement (1997)
Hillary Rodham Clinton for US Senate Committee
John Kerry for President
Obama for America
Emmy 1998 for From the Earth to the Moon
Oscar for Best Director 2002 for A Beautiful Mind
National Medal of Arts 2003
Hollywood Walk of Fame 6838 Hollywood Blvd.

TELEVISION
Arrested Development Narrator (2003-06)
Happy Days Richie Cunningham (1974-84)
The Smith Family Bob Smith (1971-72)
The Andy Griffith Show Opie Taylor (1960-68)
Dennis the Menace Stewart (1959-60)

FILMOGRAPHY AS DIRECTOR
Angels & Demons (7-May-2009)
Frost/Nixon (15-Oct-2008)
The Da Vinci Code (17-May-2006)
Cinderella Man (3-Jun-2005)
The Missing (26-Nov-2003)
A Beautiful Mind (13-Dec-2001)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (8-Nov-2000)
Ed TV (26-Mar-1999)
Ransom (8-Nov-1996)
Apollo 13 (30-Jun-1995)
The Paper (18-Mar-1994)
Far and Away (22-May-1992)
Backdraft (24-May-1991)
Parenthood (2-Aug-1989)
Willow (20-May-1988)
Gung Ho (14-Mar-1986)
Cocoon (21-Jun-1985)
Splash (9-Mar-1984)
Night Shift (30-Jul-1982)
Skyward (20-Nov-1980)
Cotton Candy (26-Oct-1978)
Grand Theft Auto (16-Jun-1977)

FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Tell Them Who You Are (11-Sep-2004) Himself
Osmosis Jones (7-Aug-2001) [VOICE]
Welcome to Hollywood (27-Oct-2000) Himself
The Independent (12-Mar-2000) Himself
Return to Mayberry (13-Apr-1986)
Bitter Harvest (4-May-1981)
More American Graffiti (3-Aug-1979)
Grand Theft Auto (16-Jun-1977)
The Shootist (11-Aug-1976)
Eat My Dust! (1976)
The Spikes Gang (8-Jul-1974)
The Migrants (3-Feb-1974)
Happy Mother’s Day, Love George (17-Aug-1973)
American Graffiti (11-Aug-1973)
The Wild Country (15-Dec-1970)
Village of the Giants (20-Oct-1965)
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (6-Mar-1963)
The Music Man (19-Jun-1962)
Door-to-Door Maniac (7-Dec-1961)
The Journey (19-Feb-1959)

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Burbank’s Annual Festival

By: Shelley Rizzotti

In order to work more closely with cities that share a common interest, Burbank and Glendale may shift alliances away from regional government coalitions and focus on recently formed San Fernando Valley Council of Governments. Last week, the Burbank city council agreed to withdraw from the Arroyo-Verdugo subcommittee for the Southern California Assn. of Governments.

The move comes several months after Burbank and Glendale joined the new San Fernando Valley Council of Governments. Officials say they can save roughly $10,000 per year.

For Glendale, the shift would eliminate an administrative burden, as the city provides support for the Arroyo-Verdugo committee meetings and agendas. So far, this month’s meeting of the Arroyo-Verdugo committee was canceled because of a scheduling conflict. The next meeting date has not been set.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Shelley Rizzotti

Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank is one of the best nights out in Burbank. I found these photos on the Burbank leader and thought I would show them just to give everyone a little taste of this cool burbank comedy club.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Classic car show in Burbank

By: Shelley Rizzotti

On Magnolia Blv between Hollywood Way and California Street, get ready for an afternoon of singing, dancing, eating and, of course, car showing. On Saturday, August 21st from 3pm-9pm, soak up the sun and watch as 200 pre-1972 cars get chosen for the following prizes:

• Burbank Mayor Award for most
All-American car
• Police Chief Award for the
coolest car
• Fire Chief Award for the hottest car
• Magnolia Park Partnership Award
for the most “vintage” car
• Jay Leno Award for the funniest ca

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Hot BBQ on Magnolia Blv in Burbank

courtesy of burbank leader

By: Shelley Rizzotti

The weekly cookout at the Handy Market has become more of an event over the last years as the customers seem to plan their week around the sizzling BBQ. Handy Market also provides exclusive catering for the summer concerts at the Starlight Bowl, in the hills overlooking Burbank. If you’re looking to get some massive portions of BBQ chicken, baby-back ribs, beef ribs, tri-tip and turkey drumsticks, this is the place to go.

They also sell have fabulous BBQ sauce made by “D’s” based in Sylmar. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and tart, with essences of anchovies, tamarind and celery added to the expected tomato paste, distilled vinegar and molasses. They sell it the sauce inside for $4.95 per 19.5-ounce jar.

Where: 2514 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank

When: 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday only

Prices: Meat sold by the pound, grilled corn $1 per ear

Phone orders: (818) 848-2500

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Gene Autry Museum in Griffith Park is opening a research and resource center in Burbank

By: Shelley Rizzotti

Hoping to establish a museum quality storage space, the Autry National Center purchased a facility on Victory Blv to house a new research center. Hoping to offer 2 research libraries and house 500,000 artworks and artifacts, the goal is to enrich Burbank with more artistic opportunities. By the end of 2013, Autry plans to complete the project. Following the projects completion, they plan to add a second story to the existing building designed by Chu + Gooding Architects – an LA based firm who worked on the Getty Center, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Hammer Museum.

The $75-million, seven-year project will also include an increase and modernization of the gallery space in the existing Griffith Park campus.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Shelley Rizzotti

Considered some of the worst roads in Burbank, Buena Vista Street and Empire Avenue are undergoing resurfacing construction which will tie these roads up until early August, reports suggest. Both roads were rated “very poor” during a citywide survey of roads in 2005. Stretching from Jeffries Avenue to the alley south of San Fernando Blv, this is the final phase of the $824,000 project. The funds are coming from 2 places — $600,000 from city redevelopment funds and the second from state gasoline-tax revenue.

Most of Buena Vista construction will be complete by July 24th where Empire Avenue will remain open. The final touches on Empire Avenue will take place through next week during the late night, early hours.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Shelley Rizzotti

The National Night Out is a one night rally where Burbank citizens and law enforcement join forces to bolster community spirits and police-community partnerships. This 27th annual event is a time to celebrate with your neighbors on your block. Many participants are known to plan block parties, bbq’s and cook-outs.

For more information, contact Peter Eirich at 818 283 3235.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Mary Alice O’Conor

By: Shelley Rizzotti

A true Fairy Godmother passes away at the age of 93 peacefully at her home. She has been a pillar in the Burbank community stemming from volunteer work that dates back to World War II. Most people associate Mary as the inspiration for Disney’s animated “Cinderella” Fairy Godmother, and wife of Ken O’Connor, Disney’s renowned artist…but she should also be remembered as a devoted volunteer. Her accomplishments were well spread throughout her life.

Among her contributions was the involvement as a school board member, her role in leadership for Burbank’s Tournament of Roses as well as being part of the Friends of Burbank Library and Historical Society. One of her dearest accomplishments was being a key player in the reopening of the Burbank Starlight Bowl in the early 1990’s. The Mary O’Conor Family Center carries on her life lessons in that they offer educational enrichment programs in addition to child care services. Her life was spent volunteering to help others which lives on through individuals who follow in her footsteps.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.