CMBA Member Profile: Kristen Winiarski of Hoofers and Honeys

Meet new CMBA member Kristen Winiarski of Hoofers and Honeys. As an introduction to our group, Kristen answered a few questions from board member Maddy Langham so we could learn more about her. Read on and check out her blog to read her insights on classic movies.

Tell us more about your site, Hoofers And Honeys, and what led you to begin blogging?

The name Hoofers and Honeys was inspired by my introduction into classic film, which was through musicals. I also love alliteration, so I loved how it sounded together. I've been writing since I was a kid, so that piece of blogging is something I've always loved and came naturally to me. I wanted to write about classic film because I'm a huge fan of finding out the background trivia of every single movie I watch, and the blogging gave me an outlet to share that with others. The craziest trivia is my favorite.

The blog went through some evolution before I got to the name Hoofers and Honeys. Before that was official, I also did some posts about being a writer and then being a mom as well. After that, I focused on the classic movie piece because that was what I wanted to write about the most. 

How did you become a classic film fan?

I have a very strong memory for this. I was home sick once as a kid, and my dad borrowed some VHS movies from his coworker for me as entertainment. One of them was Singin' in the Rain, and I was hooked. That film is stunning in so many ways from the dancing to the costumes. Plus, it's funny. From there, I branched out into more films with Gene Kelly, which led me to more of Judy Garland and also Frank Sinatra. It all snowballed from there!

You also host a classic film podcast called Frankly, My Dear, Classic Hollywood Was Bananas, tell us a bit more about it and what led you to set it up?

I had wanted to start a podcast for years. I thought it would be really fun to have an additional outlet to talk about classic movies, so I finally jumped into this in February. I had the room in my schedule and just went for it, so the timing couldn't have been better. My topics focus mostly on pre-1970s films, much like my site, but there are occasionally theme episodes as well, such as Mermaids throughout Cinema History that included 1980s films. I also am planning an upcoming one about vampires in cinema that I'm really looking forward to. 

Most of the episodes have a guest co-host. I find this really fun because then I have someone to talk to who can share additional insight or who maybe came across some information about the film that I didn't know. I do occasionally have episodes where it's me solo, but I enjoy the guest episodes a lot. I'm having a lot of fun networking with other authors and classic movie fans!

Why should people care about old films today?

There are plenty of things to appreciate in older films. They give us such a rich history and look into the past, either giving us a glimpse into what life was like then or taking us into a complete fantasy. People have always loved being told stories. We find lessons in them, learn from them, escape into them, are comforted by them, and are entertained by them. They paved the way for so much that we see today, building on the skills and techniques that people learned back then. The progression of technology alone is fascinating. I love learning about how things were done in these films that couldn't rely on computers. These films show how creativity had to be forefront to get the effects they wanted.

Also, many movie stars from the Classic Movie Era had a spark. There are plenty of talented people out there today, but these people often had to be successful in multiple mediums, especially when we're talking about musicals. So many had to sing and dance as well as act. Judy Garland is a prime example of this supreme talent. She is someone that even people now can study and learn from to improve their craft. She is also a cautionary tale about how this system treated people back then, which is important to recognize to avoid making the same mistakes. 

Finally, they're just fun to watch. Sometimes you want a light and fun musical, sometimes you want a film noir, and sometimes you want to be freaked out by Vincent Price or Alfred Hitchcock. There are options in this era no matter what types of films you enjoy most, but I find myself watching them all.

Is there a classic film hidden gem that you love and think more people should see?

I have to say, The Man with the Golden Arm from 1955, starring Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, and Eleanor Parker, doesn't get enough attention. This Otto Preminger film is so well done. I am a huge Frank Sinatra fan, but I'd started with his musicals. Those are great, but I also love seeing an actor go against type or breaking from being typecast. He doesn't sing in this one, but he is still absolutely brilliant. This shows his versatility as an actor and that he can perform dramatic roles. It is hands down one of his best roles. I think that people now just view him as a singer, but he was a great actor too. I would love for people to remember that piece.

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