PTC Mourns the Passing of Robert Osborne

Our late Honorary Chairman, Steve Allen, believed that Hollywood could be a force for good in the world. Having worked in the movie, television and music industries in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, he had seen first-hand how movies could lift the spirits of the nation in time of war, how television programs could communicate timeless lessons to the families that gathered around their sets to watch together. Much of that has unfortunately been lost over the years. As host of Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne kept alive that little spark of wholesome, family-friendly entertainment that Hollywood produced during those golden years, while introducing new audiences to some of the greatest films of that era. A fan as well as film historian and actor who enjoyed close personal friendships with some of the brightest stars in Hollywood, Osborne's love for classic movies was contagious; and he had a knack for making the familiar seem new again. Robert Osborne passed away this week. His gentle, kindly presence on TCM will be sorely missed. As will his personal stories and anecdotes about some of the biggest names from Hollywood's Golden Age. TCM will be running a two-day tribute to Robert Osborne, March 18th and 19th that will feature his very first film introduction for MGM's 1939 classic, "Gone with the Wind," as well as some of his interviews and reminiscences.