Movie star photo mystery

Posted on August 13, 2008 by lmharnisch




 
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Los Angeles Times file photo


Who is this week’s star? Hint: She’s was better known on the stage than in pictures.

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Los Angeles Times file photo

No correct guesses so far. Here’s another clew.

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Photograph by the Los Angeles Times

And another clew. Isn’t that a great railing?
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About this mystery picture. Nobody guessed who the artist was, so here it is for another 15 minutes of fame. There were some great guesses but, alas, none of them was right.

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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27 Responses to Movie star photo mystery

  1. Don's avatar Don says:
    August 11, 2008 at 8:54 am

    So, I’m just wondering about the August 6, 1938 reference to the “unknown movie star” in the article about 7 bathing beauties. Two people thought it was Gwen Verdon, but Claire James was Miss Hollywood in 1938 and was in a number of movies in the 1940s.

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  2. Eve Golden's avatar Eve Golden says:
    August 11, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Is today’s Mystery Movie Star Judith Wood?

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  3. KateNonymous's avatar KateNonymous says:
    August 11, 2008 at 11:19 am

    Helen Hayes?

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  4. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    August 11, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    Mrs. McArthur, Helen Hays?

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  5. Newsboyarizona's avatar Newsboyarizona says:
    August 11, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    How ’bout Ethel Merman?

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  6. Anne B.'s avatar Anne B. says:
    August 11, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    Is the picture of the movie star who is better known for stage work Mae West?
    Is the dog portrait painted by Doris Day?

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  7. Louis D'Elia's avatar Louis D'Elia says:
    August 11, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    It is Billie Burke, wife of Broadway showman Florenz Ziegfeld?

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  8. Louis D'Elia's avatar Louis D'Elia says:
    August 11, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    OK. For the dog painting, was it done by Phyllis Diller? I know she likes to paint, and this doggie picture is fairly wack.

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  9. Vincent's avatar Vincent says:
    August 11, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Is the star Mary Martin?

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  10. Jeff's avatar Jeff says:
    August 12, 2008 at 5:38 am

    Marilyn Miller?

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  11. Carol Gwenn's avatar Carol Gwenn says:
    August 12, 2008 at 9:13 am

    Aline MacMahon of “Once in a Lifetime”?

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  12. Nancy's avatar Nancy says:
    August 12, 2008 at 10:04 am

    Fanny Brice ?

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  13. Tom Page's avatar Tom Page says:
    August 12, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Ina Claire?

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  14. Richard Heft's avatar Richard Heft says:
    August 12, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    Una Merkel?

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  15. deirdre del re's avatar deirdre del re says:
    August 12, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Marion Davies, William Randolph Hearst’s long-time mistress

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  16. mg's avatar mg says:
    August 12, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    A photo of Betty Hutton?

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  17. Joe D's avatar Joe D says:
    August 13, 2008 at 7:01 am

    Is it Jeanne Eagles?

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  18. ATriana's avatar ATriana says:
    August 13, 2008 at 9:55 am

    ugh! the dog painting! I know its not Xavier Cugat because he painted characatures… Did anyone suggest Edward G Robinson yet? Or Vincent Price?

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  19. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:
    August 13, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    Wow, some of these guesses are not even in the same era as some of the people they’re naming!!
    Looks like the 30s guys.

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  20. mg's avatar mg says:
    August 13, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Peggy Conkln / Eleanor Schwank

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  21. Sam's avatar Sam says:
    August 14, 2008 at 8:13 am

    Eva Tanguay?

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  22. Nancy's avatar Nancy says:
    August 14, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Monica Bannister

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  23. Carol Gwenn's avatar Carol Gwenn says:
    August 14, 2008 at 10:09 am

    I’ll make another stab at this: is it Peggy Wood?

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  24. Bob Zwolinski's avatar Bob Zwolinski says:
    August 14, 2008 at 11:04 am

    The dog?
    I think that only Zsa Zsa Gabor could do something of the artistic merit.

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  25. Charlie's avatar Charlie says:
    August 14, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    Funny, my initial instinct was Zsa Zsa Gabor, but I think that’s only because she resembles the dog in the painting!

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  26. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    August 16, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Another stab from the shadows… There is a resemblence to Stella Adler, the first lady of Yiddish Theatre and master acting teacher later in her career.
    Could it be?

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  27. Alex's avatar Alex says:
    August 18, 2008 at 9:22 am

    could two of the actors (besides Micky) be Rudy Valley and Ralph Bellamy, sorry I can’t indentify the fourthe one.

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