Mystery photo |

Los Angeles Times file photo

Some people have asked for another clew. Fair enough, how’s this?

I thought I’d take a break from the obscure starlet genre. Who is he? (And in response to a frequent question, if nobody guesses the mystery man/woman, the picture goes into the pile to be posted again in a few months. Of course, I could simply reveal whom these folks are, but what fun is that?)

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Edgar Bergen? I’m afraid not.

Joseph Cotten? Sorry, no.

Dashiell Hammett during a brief period without a mustache? I’m afraid not.

Franchot Tone? Alas, no.

Erle Stanley Gardner? The case of mistaken identity, I’m afraid.

Harpo Marx? Interesting guess. But no (and a hard-boiled egg).

Ralph Bellamy? Alas, no.

Bing Crosby? Sorry, no.

Lloyd Bridges? I’m afraid not.

Lon McCallister? Alas, no.

Paul Newman? Sorry, no.

Vin Scully? I’m afraid not.

Frank Lovejoy? Alas, no.

Johnny Carson? Here’s Johnny–not.

Merv Griffin? Sorry, no.

Lawrence Welk? The lovely Lennon Sisters say, I’m afraid not.

Frederic March? Alas, no.

Rudy Vallee? Heigh-ho, everybody, alas, no.

Leslie Howard? Sorry, no.

Roddy McDowall? Sorry, no.

Danny Kaye? I’m afraid not.

Freddie Bartholomew? Alas, no.

William Holden? No, he was only after our wire cutters.

Robert Montgomery? Sorry, he was expendable.

George Murphy? Sorry, no.

Larry Adler? I’m afraid not.

Is that Ann Sheridan on the left wearing the hat? (Rotter) Yes it is! Very good.

40 Responses to Mystery photo

NewsboyAZ says:

July 28, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Lon McAllister? Or maybe a young Lloyd Bridges?

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DH says:

July 28, 2008 at 2:37 pm

Bing Crosby?

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MichaelRyerson says:

July 28, 2008 at 2:40 pm

Well, if his eyes were a little more wide set and if his hair weren’t quite so curly and if he had a deep cleft in his chin, I’d say Clifton ‘Bobby’ Young. But that’s just me.

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Mary says:

July 28, 2008 at 3:55 pm

I don’t know, but I love his hair!

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rotter says:

July 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Carl Esmond

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casey clow says:

July 28, 2008 at 6:56 pm

A young Edward Everett Horton.

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MG says:

July 28, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Leslie Howard

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Tim Ahern says:

July 29, 2008 at 7:51 am

Leslie Howard?

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Vincent says:

July 29, 2008 at 8:15 am

Rudy Vallee?

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Arye Michael Bender says:

July 29, 2008 at 8:33 am

Looks like he could later grow up to be Cliff Robertson. But clothing and hair style probably places him in an era too early to be the esteemed actor.

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Arye Michael Bender says:

July 29, 2008 at 12:41 pm

And BTW: Edward Everett Horton never was young.
He was one of those great character actors like Sam Jaffe and many others, who were ‘OLD when they were young’. In that way, they never seemed to age on screen.
Although until recently, I would have put Franklin Pangborn on that list. Leave it to Larry Harnisch to explode that particular myth.

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Carol says:

July 29, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Looks like Johnny Carson to me………

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M. Herren says:

July 29, 2008 at 3:23 pm

Could it be a young Fredric March?

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Jeff says:

July 29, 2008 at 7:25 pm

Larry Adler?

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Carol Gwenn says:

July 30, 2008 at 9:22 am

George Murphy…and the Wampas Baby Stars????

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Katie says:

July 30, 2008 at 9:30 am

William Holden?

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Arye Michael Bender says:

July 30, 2008 at 9:36 am

If his mouth were to double in width, he could morph into Joe E. Brown.
Brown uttered perhaps the most famous comedy end line in the history of film: “Well, nobody’s perfect” (‘Some Like It Hot’)

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rotter says:

July 30, 2008 at 9:46 am

Is that Ann Sheridan at left wearing hat?

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Barbara says:

July 30, 2008 at 9:55 am

Robert Montgomery?

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Leland Bard says:

July 30, 2008 at 10:12 am

Freddie Bartholomew?

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Michael Ryan Collins says:

July 30, 2008 at 10:32 am

Danny Kaye?

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Gary Alexander says:

July 30, 2008 at 10:42 am

Roddy McDowall?

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Alex says:

July 30, 2008 at 11:34 am

I don’t know but he is very cute.

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Ronald R says:

July 30, 2008 at 12:03 pm

it looks kinda like Joel Grey

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Larry says:

July 30, 2008 at 12:08 pm

Kirk Douglas?

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mg says:

July 30, 2008 at 5:40 pm

Gig Young/Byron Barr

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Leland Bard says:

July 30, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Ah ha – Errol Flynn? Films usually showed him in period wigs or pirate gear or Robin Hood kit so a suit and pinky ring are an unfamiliar look — ?

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fracas says:

July 30, 2008 at 8:30 pm

Alan Young or Lew Ayres

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Gary A. says:

July 30, 2008 at 8:49 pm

The wife says, “Robert Young”?

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william S. says:

July 30, 2008 at 10:56 pm

jack haley

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andrea says:

July 31, 2008 at 1:47 am

Is it Red Buttons?

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Mike Tidmus says:

July 31, 2008 at 7:29 am

I think it’s Allen Ludden.

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Diana says:

July 31, 2008 at 9:44 am

I think he looks a lot like Alan Young also.

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Arye Michael Bender says:

July 31, 2008 at 11:55 am

Another shot in the dark: Dennis. Dennis Day? (as the extraordinary Jack Benny used to call out his name).

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Leland Bard says:

July 31, 2008 at 7:33 pm

I concede – I think Andrea is correct in stating it’s Red Buttons. But ‘ya gotta admit – he looks like Errol Flynn in the second pic!

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Gerrit says:

August 1, 2008 at 4:29 am

Could it be a young Willie Shoemaker?

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Arye Michael Bender says:

August 1, 2008 at 11:12 am

Red Buttons had tight, frizzy hair. “Ho ho, he he. Strange things are happening”
Billy Crystal did a great riff largely based on Red Buttons in ‘Mr. Saturday Night’. Would have been a fine film, had the make-up not ambushed it. The idea of a youngish man (Crystal), made up as an older man trying to look young, required so many layers that the character simply looked big headed.
– Arye

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annie frye says:

August 2, 2008 at 8:15 am

Is it Adrian, the designer?

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fracas says:

August 3, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Hugh O’Brian

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Rance Ryan says:

August 4, 2008 at 8:02 am

Douglas “Wrong Way Corrigan

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