:: Academy to Pay Tribute to Mel Brooks

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a tribute to comic legend Mel Brooks on Friday, July 24, at 8.00pm at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills. Hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin, the evening will feature Brooks in person, along with numerous film clips and stories from his artistic collaborators and friends. Special guests will include Richard Benjamin, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner, Tracey Ullman and Lesley Ann Warren (schedules permitting).

A noted comedian, writer, producer, director, composer and actor, Brooks won an Academy Award for the original story and screenplay of the 1968 version of “The Producers.” He also earned nominations for the adapted screenplay of “Young Frankenstein,” with Gene Wilder, and for the lyrics to the title song from “Blazing Saddles.” In addition, “The Critic,” for which he provided the narration, won an Oscar for Cartoon Short Subject in 1963.

Born in Brooklyn, Brooks began his career in New York with standup comedy and a writing gig on Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” in the early 1950s. He has since left his comedic and musical mark on numerous feature films, including “The Producers,” “The Twelve Chairs,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Silent Movie,” “High Anxiety,” “History of the World – Part I,” “To Be or Not to Be,” “Spaceballs,” “Life Stinks,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It,” two of which have spawned Broadway adaptations.

Brooks is one of only 12 individuals to have won all four major show business awards – the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony. His genius in the creation of the TV series Get Smart already made him a legend.

Tickets for “A Tribute to Mel Brooks” are sold out, however, standby tickets will be made available on the day of the event. Please visit here for details.

Tickets are $US 5 for the general public and $US 3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Doors open at 7.00pm. All seating is unreserved. The Samuel Goldwyn Theatre is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.