Latest news with #TheAfricanQueen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Huston's Former L.A. Ranch Has a Miniature Disney Railroad, and It Just Listed for $20 Million
All aboard: A one-of-a-kind ranch in Tarzana, California, with its own fully operational miniature train, has just popped up for sale. The charming abode, which is on the market for $20 million with David Kramer of Compass and Paul Czako of Gussman Czako Estates, was originally built in 1941 for Academy Award-winning actor-director John Huston. The late Hollywood legend, famous for The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, lived at the private estate back when the San Fernando Valley still had a Wild West vibe. He welcomed many big-name 'cowboys' into his digs, including famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. More from Robb Report A 2,000-Acre Montana Ranch With 20 Private Ski Runs Lists for $24 Million Bill Koch's World-Class Wine Collection Just Sold for a Record $28.8 Million at Auction Inside a Luxe New Resort and Spa That Just Opened on the Greek Island of Crete RELATED: Late TV Legend Bob Newhart's Longtime L.A. Home Is Up for Grabs at $10.5 Million The 4.44-acre estate offers more than just an A-list pedigree, though. In 1959, the gated compound was snapped up by Gordon and Holly MacLean, friends of Disney and die-hard train collectors, who added one truly unique feature. With Disney's input, the MacLeans built the Tunnel, Cut & Trestle Railroad: a 7.5-inch gauge track that allows a tiny train to wind through the grounds. The circuit includes bridges, turntables, road signs, and a 240-foot tunnel that is long enough to make you briefly forget you're in Los Angeles. The dual-track system is no toy—it's engineered to run steam, electric, and propane-powered engines, giving the new owner plenty of options for trains. Over the years, the railroad has become a neighborhood legend, hosting community rides and drawing in fellow rail buffs from the L.A. Live Steamers Museum in Griffith Park. Each owner has kept the tradition alive—and yes, a mini-train is included in the sale. RELATED: Former Celtics Co-Owner Jim Pallotta Lists His Sprawling Massachusetts Estate for $38 Million The rest of the estate is just as over-the-top. There's a 12,170-square-foot, three-story main house with six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and nine fireplaces. A stone-lined pool flows partially under the house. A reimagined red barn—once a utilitarian structure, now an entertaining lodge—adds another 2,775 square feet, plus a kitchen, bar, bedroom, and loft. Toss in an 807-square-foot guest cottage, a nearly 2,000-square-foot train depot, and a storage wing, because why not? All up, eight bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and 11 fireplaces are spread across more than 17,000 square feet of living space. Outside, the grounds feel like a private park, with koi ponds, stone paths, rolling lawns, a tennis court, a dog run, and a children's play area. You could hike up the hills, host a wedding, or fire up the steam engine for a spin around the trestle—whatever takes your fancy. The Tarzana compound is equal parts film set, fantasy camp, and legacy property, making it a great addition to any of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Prizzi's Honor' at 40: How John and Anjelica Huston made history together with his penultimate picture
John Huston directed some of the best movies in film history. From his pathbreaking noirs like The Maltese Falcon and The Asphalt Jungle to The African Queen or The Man Who Would Be King, Huston was nominated for 14 Oscars, winning two for The Treasure of Sierra Madre (Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay). Huston directed his final film, The Dead, while ill with emphysema, and died months before the film's release. His penultimate film, the black comedy organized crime film Prizzi's Honor, was easily one of his best — and that's saying something. Based on Richard Condon's 1982 novel, Prizzi's Honor was released 40 years ago, on June 14, 1985. The film centers Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a mob hitman for the Prizzi family, who falls for Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner). The two become romantically entangled before the situation gets messy: he discovers Walker was married to a man Charley killed for stealing from the mob. That's a problem Irene and Charley can get through, but there are further problems in store. First, estranged Prizzi daughter Maerose (Anjelica Huston) has a past with Charley and ambitions of her own. Second, is the reveal that Irene's secretly an assassin, too, and the Prizzi family hired the duo to take each other out (in the murderous way, not the dating way), in an ever-shifting set of alliances and romantic entanglements. More from GoldDerby 'The Diplomat's' David Gyasi weighs in on a Dennison and Kate romance: 'Eventually something's gotta give' Vote for the 2025 Gold Derby TV Award nominees now! 'How to Train Your Dragon' flies to a franchise-best $83.7 million debut, dethrones 'Lilo & Stitch' There's an obvious resemblance here to 2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith, where a loving married couple live secret double lives as killers, and one day are ordered by rival agencies to kill each other. Where Smith plays such a premise for ironic action-comedy, Prizzi's Honor highlights Charley's struggles between his duties to the family and to his love. It takes the dangers of mob life seriously, but the made men themselves are treated with humor (referring to protagonist Charley, Huston reportedly told Nicholson repeatedly to 'remember, he's stupid'), setting up an enjoyable parade of double-crosses and complex situations with a hint of tragic irony. The film was a surprise sleeper hit, finishing in the top 30 in a stacked movie year, and it was Anjelica Huston's big break. In Watch Me: A Memoir, Huston notes that no talent agency would bring her aboard before the Yvette Bikoff Agency. Huston was hired on for the SAG minimum, and she convinced Bikoff to negotiate for pay above scale. As Huston recounted in her memoir, the producers weren't thrilled, saying: 'You want more money for Anjelica Huston? You must be kidding. … We'd like nothing better than to see her dropped from the film. She has no talent. Her boyfriend is the star and her father is the director, that's the only reason we are even having this conversation.' 20th Century Fox courtesy of the Everett Collection At the 58th Academy Awards, The Color Purple and Out of Africa received a leading 11 nominations each, with Witness and Prizzi's Honor next with eight apiece. Out of Africa was the night's biggest winner with seven statuettes, while Purple was entirely shut out. Despite prestigious nominations including Best Picture (John Foreman), Best Director (John Huston), and Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Prizzi's won only one. Anjelica Huston collected the film's only Oscar, for Best Supporting Actress, a well-earned accomplishment given what she went through to land the role. Though he didn't win Best Director, the film still made history for John Huston, who became the oldest person to receive a Best Director nomination at 79 for the film (now eclipsed by Martin Scorsese who was 81 in 2024 when Killers of the Flower Moon received a nomination). It also made John Huston the only person to have directed both his parent (Walter Huston, who won Best Supporting Actor for The Treasure of Sierra Madre) and his child to acting Oscars. Prizzi's Honor is a stunner of a black comedy that still holds up, and a testament for John Huston's ability to find levity even in dark moments. Best of GoldDerby 'It almost killed me': Horror maestro Mike Flanagan looks back at career-making hits from 'Gerald's Game' to 'Hill House' to 'Life of Chuck' Stephen King movies: 14 greatest films ranked worst to best 'The Life of Chuck' cast reveal their favorite Stephen King works, including Mark Hamill's love of the 'terrifying' 'Pet Sematary' Click here to read the full article.
ITV News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Invasive parakeets now 'unstoppable' as population size doubles in ten years
New figures show a steep rise in the population of parakeets now living wild in the UK, with experts warning of a "green invasion." Figures given to ITV News by the British Trust for Ornithology show 'an astronomical rise,' which researchers have said is now 'unstoppable'. Originally from India and Pakistan, the ring-necked parakeets are officially 'an invasive species,' but the emerald, green parakeet has thrived in cities from Plymouth to Aberdeen - reaching much of Wales and even parts of Northern Ireland. This spring, tens of thousands of ring-necked parakeets are nesting in the UK - leading to concerns from some ecologists. Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology told ITV News: 'It's basically going up and up and up, it seems kind of unstoppable. 'Since 1995 we've seen an increase of more than 2000%." She added that the population has not only doubled in the last 10 years, but also went up by "almost a third in the last five years.' In Belfast, some conservationists want all the birds to be trapped and put into captivity. Parakeets compete with native birds such as starlings and sparrows for nesting holes and food. Conor McKinney, Chairman of Wild Belfast, told ITV News: 'We could be looking at exclosures for instance. We could also be looking at mist netting. 'These are nets that are put up, they are practically invisible to birds and then we could collect them by hand. 'The opportunity is here, the time is ripe, we need to do something about these birds before it gets out of control.' Many myths have grown surrounding how the parakeets got here. Some believe the species became established in 1950 after birds were released from the jungle set of 'The African Queen', built in the London area. Another theory is that the recording artist Jimi Hendrix released a pair in Carnaby Street in 1966. Professor Tim Blackburn, an expert in invasive species from University College London, told ITV News: 'There was a disease called Psittacosis, colloquially known as parrot flu. 'And it seems likely that this scare caused people who had parakeets as pets, or other parrots as pets, to let those parrots go.' There is little evidence of damage from the parakeets, but experts say they are being carefully monitored amid fears they will spread into farming areas. Meanwhile, there's no doubting their public popularity in gardens and parks across the UK.
STV News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Invasive parakeets now 'unstoppable' as population size doubles in ten years
New figures show a steep rise in the population of parakeets now living wild in the UK, with experts warning of a 'green invasion.' Figures given to ITV News by the British Trust for Ornithology show 'an astronomical rise,' which researchers have said is now 'unstoppable'. Originally from India and Pakistan, the ring-necked parakeets are officially 'an invasive species,' but the emerald, green parakeet has thrived in cities from Plymouth to Aberdeen – reaching much of Wales and even parts of Northern Ireland. This spring, tens of thousands of ring-necked parakeets are nesting in the UK – leading to concerns from some ecologists. Multiple myths exist over how the parakeets first came to the UK. / Credit: ITV News Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology told ITV News: 'It's basically going up and up and up, it seems kind of unstoppable. 'Since 1995 we've seen an increase of more than 2000%.' She added that the population has not only doubled in the last 10 years, but also went up by 'almost a third in the last five years.' In Belfast, some conservationists want all the birds to be trapped and put into captivity. Parakeets compete with native birds such as starlings and sparrows for nesting holes and food. Conor McKinney, Chairman of Wild Belfast, told ITV News: 'We could be looking at exclosures for instance. We could also be looking at mist netting. 'These are nets that are put up, they are practically invisible to birds and then we could collect them by hand. 'The opportunity is here, the time is ripe, we need to do something about these birds before it gets out of control.' Many myths have grown surrounding how the parakeets got here. Some believe the species became established in 1950 after birds were released from the jungle set of 'The African Queen', built in the London area. Another theory is that the recording artist Jimi Hendrix released a pair in Carnaby Street in 1966. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. Professor Tim Blackburn, an expert in invasive species from University College London, told ITV News: 'There was a disease called Psittacosis, colloquially known as parrot flu. 'And it seems likely that this scare caused people who had parakeets as pets, or other parrots as pets, to let those parrots go.' There is little evidence of damage from the parakeets, but experts say they are being carefully monitored amid fears they will spread into farming areas. Meanwhile, there's no doubting their public popularity in gardens and parks across the UK. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know… Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tropical parakeets ruffle feathers at Belfast park
Amateur wildlife photographers have been flocking to a north Belfast park to spot a tropical new arrival. Bedecked with emerald green feathers and a rose-red beak, the ring-neck parakeets have become the star attraction at the Waterworks Park. Originally from the Himalayas, the Indian sub-continent, and parts of Africa, ring-necked parakeets are regularly spotted across the UK, with large populations in London and the south-east of England. It's estimated that about 15 of these parrots have found a new home in the foothills of Cavehill. The RSPB describes ring-necked parakeets, sometimes known as rose-ringed parakeets, as the UK's only naturalised parrot. Dot Blakely, a bird expert who teaches bird-watching courses at Belfast Metropolitan College and Queen's University Belfast (QUB), said she brings students to the park to study the new residents. "The parakeets are likely to have come over from London," she said. "It's likely they moved across to the Republic of Ireland before moving up." "We're seeing more birds come across because of climate change, so many birds that we wouldn't have seen here before. "People still think of it as a tropical bird but it has adapted." Ms Blakely told BBC News NI she thinks there are about 13 to15 parakeets living in the park, which indicates they are getting enough food to sustain a small colony and are likely to be breeding. "There are lots of berries around the area, but lots of locals are leaving seed out for them," she added. "Sometimes you'll see the birds right up at people's windows waiting to get fed." The brightly coloured birds have been attracting amateur photographers to the park. Sharon Gregg, who took up photography after being diagnosed with a rare illness, told BBC News NI spending time in nature and watching the birds has had a positive effect on her wellbeing. "When I first heard about the birds last month I would say: 'I'm away to look for the parrots.' "People would think I was mad," she said. Ms Gregg has photographed eight parakeets in one sitting before. "I think the parakeets are such wonderful, special little birds and a lot of people don't even realise they are in the trees up above them," she said. "They are really comical, cheeky wee things, and they are just a pleasure to watch." Michael Latham, from Bangor, is a keen twitcher, someone who goes to extraordinary lengths to see new bird species. He has travelled to the area to see the birds a number of times over the past few years. "The number has grown a bit over the last while," he said. "There have been reports of breeding, but we think there is only one male." There has been a longstanding rumour that rock legend Jimi Hendrix is responsible for the parakeets coming to the UK. The guitarist supposedly released a pair of the birds into the wild while living in Carnaby Street in London in the1960s. There have also been rumours that the birds escaped across the country during the wrap party for the 1951 film The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. However, a study published in the Journal of Zoology quashed these rumours. It suggests that the birds establishment is more likely to be a consequence of repeated releases and introductions. As for why they have moved from London across the UK, Ornithologist Professor Emily Shepherd said: "Urban and suburban parks are their typical environment, so as soon as one area becomes too over-populated or competitive they seem to fly around in search of somewhere else which looks quite similar. "They thrive in urban and suburban environments. They need people nearby who will either discard or deliberately leave out food for them," she said. "They are big, tough birds, who are quite capable of bullying even jackdaws and crows out of the way of feeders, and in areas with plentiful food supplies they can survive sub-zero temperatures if they can put on enough winter fat." Parakeets are a non-native bird so they are classed as an invasive species. Conor McKinney, the chair of Wild Belfast said: "Parakeets may seem like a novel addition to our wildlife, but really they are pose a great risk to birds, bats, and to agriculture. "Parakeets have the ability to out-compete native cavity nesting species, such as starlings, and have even been known to evict bats from their roosts," he said. "Preventing the further dispersal of this species is possible, but it needs to happen soon. "We call on Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to return the birds to captivity and negate any potential risks of further spread." Hendrix in the clear over parakeet fever 'Most northerly' parrots cause flap in park Parakeets: nature's great invaders
