In the Spotlight with.. Caproni

[Ome]

Up in the spotlight, this week is

@Caproni

Telly Talk Member 7​

Caproni joined the forums in September 2013.

Once known as Classy Co and though I could be wrong, I’ve convinced myself he had a different name before the crash of 2016.

Caproni’s contributions to forums such as Screen Icons and Classic US TV is incredibly impressive.

There is no denying he is a loyal and reliable fan of these forums, but if you're not a visitor to these forums, Caproni could be someone you've never spoken to before, here's hoping all that is about to change.

What else do we know about Caproni and what don’t we know?


Please take this week to ask as many questions as possible you have for Caproni including any follow-up questions that might arise during the week.

Enjoy your week in the spotlight.​

I will start with one question that intrigues me with everyone.

Caproni, if you were to take part in Mastermind (a quiz show) what would be your specialist subject. In other words, what subject would you excel in the most?

 

[Karin Schill]

I hope you will enjoy your week in the spotlight @Caproni

I will start with asking a few questions.

1. How did you become interested in classic movies, tv-series and stars?
2. What's your interests?
3. How old are you?

 

[ClassyCo]

Up in the spotlight, this week is

@Caproni
View attachment 27129
Telly Talk Member 7​

Caproni joined the forums in September 2013.

Once known as Classy Co and though I could be wrong, I’ve convinced myself he had a different name before the crash of 2016.

Caproni’s contributions to forums such as Screen Icons and Classic US TV is incredibly impressive.

There is no denying he is a loyal and reliable fan of these forums, but if you're not a visitor to these forums, Caproni could be someone you've never spoken to before, here's hoping all that is about to change.

What else do we know about Caproni and what don’t we know?


Please take this week to ask as many questions as possible you have for Caproni including any follow-up questions that might arise during the week.

Enjoy your week in the spotlight.​

I will start with one question that intrigues me with everyone.

Caproni, if you were to take part in Mastermind (a quiz show) what would be your specialist subject. In other words, what subject would you excel in the most?

I am so excited! I've always wanted to take part in a questionnaire-style conversation like this one. I love talking about my interests and I am excited that this week is mine.

You are correct, Ome. When I originally joined Soap Chat (as was the site's name then) back in 2013, I was known as Belflower97. I thought that name was so bland and basic, so I changed it to ClassyCo when the site crashed and the new one was generated. I became Caproni after I tired of ClassyCo; the new username coming from the family of FALCON CREST characters.

If I were guest on MASTERMIND, what would my specialist subject be? This is kind of a tough one. My interests have multiplied over the years, and I'd hardly call me a specialist at anything anymore. If I were to pinpoint something/someone, however, I'd go with my specialist subject being Marilyn Monroe. I've studied the most about her personal and professional lives, and I'd feel confident going into a discussion based solely on her. If you want a more broad answer, I'd probably say classic movies and movie stars.​

 

[ClassyCo]

I hope you will enjoy your week in the spotlight @Caproni

I will start with asking a few questions.

1. How did you become interested in classic movies, tv-series and stars?
2. What's your interests?
3. How old are you?

1. That is a fairly easy question to answer. My interest was initiated with Marilyn Monroe. My older brother had a wallet-sized photo of Marilyn on his closest door (amidst hundreds of other photos) and I swiped it. I was intrigued by her and I begin studying her. After that, my interest spilled over into those women that were "created in her image", and eventually it just spilled over into other areas of Old Hollywood movies and television. It's been like a domino effect. I feel like I am constantly added to what I do like (and what I don't like).
​

This is the picture of Marilyn Monroe that started it all.
​

2. My interests? That's a tougher question. Basically, I am fascinated with classics movies, movie stars, television shows, and almost anything in between. I like glamour movies, Westerns, romances, romantic comedies, sitcoms, dramas, police procedurals, soap operas.... all of it pretty much. Of course, there are some Old Hollywood actors and actresses, movies, and television shows that have never "clicked" with me. Everything isn't my cup of tea, but I do often have interests or likes that are not always shared among others in similar communities.

3. I am young enough that I didn't see any of the movies or television shows that I like on the TV or in theaters. I was born in 1997 and I am currently twenty-three years old.​

 

[Angela Channing]

Hello @Caproni, I hope you enjoy your week in the spotlight. I have a few questions for you, if that's ok?

1. I've always been intrigued why you chose Caproni as your user name. Out of all the names you could have chosen from Falcon Crest why did you pick that one?
2. What is your favourite Falcon Crest storyline?
3. Who are your favourite actors and actresses from the golden age of Hollywood?
4. What is (or are) your favourite film(s) of all time?

 

[ClassyCo]

Hello @Caproni, I hope you enjoy your week in the spotlight. I have a few questions for you, if that's ok?

1. I've always been intrigued why you chose Caproni as your user name. Out of all the names you could have chosen from Falcon Crest why did you pick that one?
2. What is your favourite Falcon Crest storyline?
3. Who are your favourite actors and actresses from the golden age of Hollywood?
4. What is (or are) your favourite film(s) of all time?

1. Well, that is an interesting question. FALCON CREST is full of interesting names, especially surnames. I honestly just found "Caproni" to be the most appealing to the hear; it also looks the best on the computer screen (at least to my eyes anyway). I toyed a little bit with other usernames, but FALCON CREST seemed to be so under-used here, so I went with what I liked best.

2. I have yet to finish FALCON CREST, so my spectrum is limited. Of what I have seen, I really liked Lana Turner's arc as Jacqueline. The season two cliffhanger was one of my favorites of the cliffhangers given to us by the Big Four. It was very well done, and very soapy. I ate it up.

3. Marilyn Monroe, naturally. But there are others. I am especially fond of actresses from the thirties and forties: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, and others. I'm not as well-versed on the classic-era male actors, but I do like John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. All good actors.

4. This is a VERY difficult question. When asked this question, I almost always say CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, the 1958 big-screen melodrama that was based on the Tennessee Williams play. The movie is very intriguing, but perhaps most appealing because of the lead actors: Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, Jack Carson, Judith Anderson, and Madeleine Sherwood. I understand that it is not the perfect movie, but it my go-to answer. I could watch that movie once a week and never tire of it. There are other movies I could easily say as well: GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, SOME LIKE IT HOT, BRINGING UP BABY, and a few more.

Good questions!​

 

[bmasters9]

3. I am young enough that I didn't see any of the movies or television shows that I like on the TV or in theaters. I was born in 1997 and I am currently twenty-three years old.​

I am that way myself-- I'm only 40 (born in 1981), but many of the shows I like were from way before I was born (there is at least one show I have on DVD from each of four decades [the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s] that I have seen in full [and two have at least two]):

50s: Have Gun Will Travel, M Squad, The Untouchables, Wanted: Dead or Alive
60s: O-R NBC Star Trek
70s: The Bob Newhart Show, Barney Miller, The Streets of San Francisco, Petrocelli
80s: Riptide

 

[ClassyCo]

I've been bumming off my wife's Amazon Prime account and watching HERE'S LUCY, which can show you were my tastes lies. Every time I watch that show now it makes me think about how @Crimson called it the "stalest show ever", or words to that effect.

Of course, I won't try to justify any notion that HERE'S LUCY is superior entertainment, but I enjoy it.
​

​

 

[ClassyCo]

Caproni’s contributions to forums such as Screen Icons and Classic US TV is incredibly impressive.

And there is a reason for why I frequent these threads more than the others.

I get into terrible viewing slumps concerning the soaps. I watched the first eight seasons of DALLAS, and then I've.... ummm.... "misplaced" my DVDs. So I probably may not ever finish that show. I watched all of DYNASTY, minus the 1991 reunion. I've watched almost twelve seasons of KNOTS LANDING, and just over four seasons of FALCON CREST.

My interests have shifted towards classic films.​

 

[Angela Channing]

Thanks for answering my previous questions, I have a few more for you if I may:

1. Who has been the most famous person you have met and what did you think of them?
2. Who would you chose to play you in a film?
3. What period of your life would make the most interesting film?
4. Which famous person would you most like to meet and what would you like to talk about with them or what question would you ask?

 

[ClassyCo]

Thanks for answering my previous questions, I have a few more for you if I may:

1. Who has been the most famous person you have met and what did you think of them?
2. Who would you chose to play you in a film?
3. What period of your life would make the most interesting film?
4. Which famous person would you most like to meet and what would you like to talk about with them or what question would you ask?

These are some more interesting questions. I'll do my best to answer them.

1. The most famous person I've ever met was Donna Douglas, who played Elly May on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. My father and I met her together at Benton Lee's, which is a steakhouse about an hour-and-a-half away from where we lived at the time. She was a very sweet woman. When we got there she was watching the football game on the TV, and she was very into what was going on. I got an autographed photo of her, which is tucked away somewhere in a box, and I personal photo of her and I together. It was a pretty fun evening.

2. I really don't know who I would cast as me in a movie. I would like to say someone like Tom Hanks, but his looks are way... way off. Going on looks, it would probably be someone like Chris Farley or maybe John Candy as an older, lovable me, minus the drugs and obscenities.

3. I have had a very colorful life, but there are a few different time periods that might back for some good dramatization. My mother's third husband (the one after my father) was more than crazy. He was a rough man and there were a lot of incidents that he was involved in that I'd prefer not to go into detail about. Either this era in my life, or the conversion I made when I gave my life to Jesus. The whole aftermath of finding Jesus and giving myself over to His will and way, and finding the love of my life: My Wife.

4. There's really nobody alive today that I would probably want to meet. About the only people I would like to meet would probably be Donna Mills, most famous as Abby Ewing on KNOTS LANDING, or probably Susan Sullivan, known as Maggie Gioberti on FALCON CREST. They are two of my favorite soap land characters. I'd probably ask both of them how they liked their character, which story lines they liked best, and if they would be interested in a reboot of their hit show. If they were interested in a reboot, I'd ask them where they thought their character would be now. And yes I am well aware that Maggie died, but a retcon could easily bring her back.

Thanks for the questions!​

 

[ClassyCo]

Okay, I just changed my profile picture because I literally just realized @Gioberti84 and I had the same one.

Here's to my new one!

​

 

[Crimson]

@Caproni I enjoy your discussions in both the classic film & TV sub-forums, and we share many similar tastes.

1. At 23 and a member since 2013, you joined Soapchat pretty young; how'd you find your way here?
2. Which classic film actors are you not familiar with but would like to explore?
3. Which classic actors/actresses have you explored that you didn't care for?
4. Have you seen any classic films re-released on the big screen?
5. Do you collect physical media (DVD/Blue-Ray) or digital/streaming?
6. What are you favorite books on classic films and TV?

 

[ClassyCo]

@Caproni I enjoy your discussions in both the classic film & TV sub-forums, and we share many similar tastes.

1. At 23 and a member since 2013, you joined Soapchat pretty young; how'd you find your way here?
2. Which classic film actors are you not familiar with but would like to explore?
3. Which classic actors/actresses have you explored that you didn't care for?
4. Have you seen any classic films re-released on the big screen?
5. Do you collect physical media (DVD/Blue-Ray) or digital/streaming?
6. What are you favorite books on classic films and TV?

These are some very good questions, and I have noticed through our discussions that you and I do share some of the same interests in tastes in movies and television.

1. I joined Soap Chat (as was the forum's brand at the time) in September 2013 just a month before I turned sixteen years old. I've always been an old soul, which was initiated with my Marilyn infatuation when I was maybe nine or ten. A domino effect ensued, and I eventually stumbled across the night-time soaps that swept the TV landscape in the eighties. I started with DYNASTY, then drifted into KNOTS LANDING and FALCON CREST, before I finally bought the first two-season bundle of DALLAS at a yard sale. I was browsing the web one day merely to find somewhere to discuss the soaps I had become interested in. After a few missteps, I stumbled upon Soap Chat, and the rest is history. Overtime, I realized this site was used to discuss classic movies, movies stars, and TV shows as well. I was more than thrilled. It gives my an internet soapbox where I can spill my guts and talk about what interests me.

2. Well, there are many I have tried to dive into over the years, but I've given up on. As much as I say I don't like Barbara Stanwyck, I really want to re-watch some of her movies to give her another shot. There is so much hype about her, and it's not that I think she is overrated, she just has never "clicked" with me. I haven't completely written her off, so there's still a chance she might eventually win me over. I would like to explore Marlon Brando and Cary Grant more, and probably actresses like Irene Dunne, Constance Bennett, and Luise Rainer. I could probably even put Garbo and Dietrich on this list because, despite my love for them, I have seen relatively little of their filmography. I'd like to see more from Montgomery Clift, Clark Gable, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, and Judy Garland. I want to see more of Audie Murphy too. Of the musicals, I'd like to see more from Betty Grable, Alice Faye, and June Haver. I'm really not opposed to diving into anyone at anytime really.

3. Calling back to the second question, I've yet to see the greatness in Barbara Stanwyck (but I'm going to revisit her movies to see if that changes). I tried to generate a fondness for Norma Shearer, but that has fallen flat; I only like her in THE WOMEN that I've seen so far. I am not a very big William Powell or Myrna Loy fan, even though I've tried to watch their THIN MAN movies. LIBELED LADY was the only picture of theirs that I liked, and that was more because of Jean Harlow. Ava Gardner has never appealed to me that strong, but THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA remains a favorite Old Hollywood glossy of mine. I do not really like Veronica Lake, Van Johnson, June Allyson, and a few others.

4. I have never seen a classic more rereleased on the big screen. It has long been on my bucket list to do so, but it has yet to happen. I would love to see SOME LIKE IT HOT or THE SOUND OF MUSIC or something grand rereleased in theaters. Maybe one day.

5. I like to collect the discs, whether it be DVD or Blu-ray. I like having them to physically hold in my hands, and I really like to see the prints on the covers. I know it really isn't the norm anymore to collect the discs, but it is something I am holding on to. I do not own anything digitally. I might move that way in the future, but it will be a long time coming.

6. There's a couple of books I have that I really like: Great Movie Actresses (by Phillip Strick) and Leading Ladies (by Don MacPherson and Louise Brody). My main exposure to books concerning these time periods are biographies on the actors and actresses that I like personally. There has been times that I have skimmed through books written about TV shows. I like the Soap Opera History book (by Mary Ann Copeland) and the different books I've read on DALLAS and GILLIGAN'S ISLAND to name a few.​

 

[Karin Schill]

Thank you for answering my questions.

Wow you are really young and married already. Now I am curious, how did you meet your wife?

Also you mentioned something about finding Jesus, can you tell us a bit more about how you come to faith?

I get into terrible viewing slumps concerning the soaps. I watched the first eight seasons of DALLAS, and then I've.... ummm.... "misplaced" my DVDs. So I probably may not ever finish that show. I watched all of DYNASTY, minus the 1991 reunion. I've watched almost twelve seasons of KNOTS LANDING, and just over four seasons of FALCON CREST.​

I think a lot of fans stopped watching Dallas when Bobby died. But I can strongly recommend you to watch season 9 and 10 at least. The dream season is a lot better than people say and season 10 is the final great season of Dallas. It almost has a classic Dallas vibe to it as it's very much back to basics.

Also which out of the four 80s prime time soaps would you say is your favorite and why?

 

[ClassyCo]

Thank you for answering my questions.

Thank you for asking them. It was a pleasure to answer them. I enjoy these questionnaire discussions.​

Wow you are really young and married already. Now I am curious, how did you meet your wife?

My wife is actually my pastor's daughter. She is the second of five children; four girls and one boy. She is a very talented and anointed young lady. I am truly blessed to have her in my life.​

Also you mentioned something about finding Jesus, can you tell us a bit more about how you come to faith?

I should be more specific and say Jesus found me. I had been raised in and out of different churches as a kid, but as a matured into a teenager, any notion of attending church left my mind. My parents divorced when I was ten, and we all drifted away from Jesus and church in general. We never left the notion that Jesus is real and that He played a part in our lives, but we just never spent anytime with Him whatsoever.

I started going to church again in 2015 when my father started dating this woman that is now my Bonus Mom (we don't do the step thing at our house). The church we started attending was her family's home church. It is a small, but spiritually powerful Apostolic Holiness church. I originally had no interest whatsoever. It was at a local tent revival, where my pastor was preaching, that I finally relented and repented, asking Jesus to forgive me of my sins. I was baptized in the only saving name of Jesus shortly thereafter, and I have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

That is a basic summary of it all.​

I think a lot of fans stopped watching Dallas when Bobby died. But I can strongly recommend you to watch season 9 and 10 at least. The dream season is a lot better than people say and season 10 is the final great season of Dallas. It almost has a classic Dallas vibe to it as it's very much back to basics.

In all honesty, I'll probably never finish DALLAS. The first six years were great and I enjoyed it. I'm almost positive that I've thrown what DVDs I had in the trashcan when I moved.​

Also which out of the four 80s prime time soaps would you say is your favorite and why?

KNOTS LANDING is my favorite. It is the most grounded, and I find the characters the most interesting. Abby Ewing and Valene Ewing are two of the best female characters on prime time soap operas (at least in my opinion). The storytelling and acting was top-notch, and I connect well with the likability of the cast.

In saying that, I've yet to finish it.​

 

[Crimson]

As much as I say I don't like Barbara Stanwyck, I really want to re-watch some of her movies to give her another shot.

Stanwyck is one of my favorites, preferring her over Hepburn, Crawford or Davis. I'm particularly fond of her in comedy (THE LADY EVE; BALL OF FIRE). But not every performer 'clicks' with everyone. I'm fairly ambivalent about Bette Davis and Liz Taylor, which other classic movie fans are often aghast about.

I have never seen a classic more rereleased on the big screen. It has long been on my bucket list to do so, but it has yet to happen.

Depending on your accessibility to theaters, both distance and quarantine, I highly recommend the experience. Fathom Events hosts TCM Big Screen Classics at least monthly. Through the years, I've seen SOME LIKE IT HOT; KING KONG; THE WIZARD OF OZ; A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE; IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE; WHITE CHRISTMAS; MIRACLE ON 34th STREET; and 5 episodes of I LOVE LUCY. Seeing these classic films (and TV show) on a big screen with an audience is a great experience.

I do not own anything digitally. I might move that way in the future, but it will be a long time coming.

I switched to digital nearly a decade ago. Not physically owning the item is a drawback, but also a benefit. I have 570 movies in my classic collection alone. I'd hate to think how cluttered my place would be if those were all DVDs.

 

[ClassyCo]

Stanwyck is one of my favorites, preferring her over Hepburn, Crawford or Davis. I'm particularly fond of her in comedy (THE LADY EVE; BALL OF FIRE). But not every performer 'clicks' with everyone. I'm fairly ambivalent about Bette Davis and Liz Taylor, which other classic movie fans are often aghast about.

And see that statement alone makes me want to dive into Stanwyck's work again. Hepburn, Crawford, and Davis are three of my top favorites, and for you to say that you prefer Stanwyck over those three is definitely saying something. I have heard a lot of hype about her comedy work, and I honestly think the first movie of hers I'll retry will be BALL OF FIRE, primarily because you said Lucille Ball had been touted for that part at one point in time.

On different occasions, I've come to like another actress after learning she had taken over a role that was once meant for another. For instance, the first Doris Day movie I watched was MOVE OVER, DARLING, which I only bought because it was a rebranded version of SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE, the ill-fated Marilyn Monroe vehicle that was canned after Monroe's untimely death. MOVE OVER, DARLING was such a delight and to this day it remains one of my favorite Doris Day movies.

I'll also say that it is odd that you are not too crazy about Bette Davis. She had so many good roles in A-list pictures for a really long time. She's often considered The Actress of Classic Hollywood. I love her, but I can honestly understand your distaste for Elizabeth Taylor. While I do enjoy her work (heck, CAT ON A HOT TI N ROOF is one of my favorite movies), I can see where she might not be everyone's cup of tea. After she and Richard Burton married, she coasted along her popularity and often turned in some weak and lazy performances. Still, I like her and wished she would have popped up on DYNASTY or FALCON CREST at some point in time.​

Depending on your accessibility to theaters, both distance and quarantine, I highly recommend the experience. Fathom Events hosts TCM Big Screen Classics at least monthly. Through the years, I've seen SOME LIKE IT HOT; KING KONG; THE WIZARD OF OZ; A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE; IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE; WHITE CHRISTMAS; MIRACLE ON 34th STREET; and 5 episodes of I LOVE LUCY. Seeing these classic films (and TV show) on a big screen with an audience is a great experience.

It is definitely on my bucket list to see a classic movie in theaters. My wife has toyed with the idea of renting a theater to make this wish of mine come true. We'll see what my birthday holds this year.​

I switched to digital nearly a decade ago. Not physically owning the item is a drawback, but also a benefit. I have 570 movies in my classic collection alone. I'd hate to think how cluttered my place would be if those were all DVDs.

The only thing I don't like about owning the discs is the storage. I'd love to have them displayed, but because of our limited space, that just isn't going to happen. They are all boxed away, but still easily to get my hands on.​

 

[Angela Channing]

I would love to see SOME LIKE IT HOT or THE SOUND OF MUSIC or something grand rereleased in theaters.

The Sound of Music is one of my favourite films and I've seen it many times, more times than any other film. On the 40th anniversary of its release they had a screening of it in a cinema in central London so I was able to I saw it on a big screen for the first time and it was a very difference experience. The print was vibrant and the sound was incredible so the songs and music never sounded better to me. The opening shot where they go from the Austrian landscape to closing in on Maria singing the title song looked even more spectacular on a big screen. Also, I never before realised the film had an interval and after Maria returns to the abbey there is a break in the film and they play bits of the film score while you can go for a pee or buy an ice cream.

If you get a chance to see it in a cinema it will be a worthwhile experience.

 

[Angela Channing]

Some great answers so far @Caproni. I too am a Christian so I was very interested to read how you found your faith. I have a few more questions, if I may:

1. What do you think has been the best thing that has come out of living though the covid pandemic, either to you personally or to society as a whole?
2. What has been the best and the worst job that you've had?
3. What would you do if had enough money to not need a job?
4. What do you miss about your life 10 years ago?
5. What do you like but are usually embarrassed to admit?