Movie Star Mystery Photo



2009_0309_mystery_photo


Photograph by Bruce H. Cox / Los Angeles Times

Phyllis Kirk and George Eckstein at the Hollywood Bowl, September 1951.

Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday. To keep the mystery photo from getting lost in the other entries, I move it from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday, etc., adding a photo every day.

I have to approve all comments, so if your guess is posted immediately, that means you’re wrong. (And if a wrong guess has already been submitted by someone else, there’s no point in submitting it again). If you’re right, you will have to wait until Friday. There’s no need to submit your guess five times. Once is enough. The only prize is bragging rights. 

The answer to last week’s photo: Betty Bronson. A Daily Mirror reader named Pat has scanned in some stills from Betty Bronson’s "Peter Pan."  Recall that The Times’ library only had one photo of Bronson in her most famous role–and it was heavily repainted.

Update: This is, as many Daily Mirror readers guessed, Phyllis Kirk. Congratulations! For some reason, her photo file at The Times doesn’t have any pictures
from "House of Wax," which many Daily Mirror readers recalled fondly.

2009_0310_mystery_photo

Los Angeles Times file photo
Here’s another photo of our mystery woman (sorry about the line through the middle. One of The Times’ photo librarians folded the oversize print in half to get it in the envelope–quite typical).

Please congratulate Claire Lockhart, Dru Duniway, Paul Cardinal, LC, Steven Bibb (half credit, our fellow isn’t Ring Lardner Jr.), Lou Zogby, Sonny King, Carmen and Marty Wasserman for correctly identifying her.

Phyllis Kirk in a 1952 publicity photo with Aldous, named after Aldous Huxley.

2009_0311_mystery_photo

Los Angeles Times file photo

Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell and Phyllis Kirk in "Two Weeks With Love."

Here’s another photo of our mystery woman. This should make it easy. Please congratulate Alexa Foreman, Don Danard, Dewey Webb, Nancy Price, Michael Ryerson, Betsy Palmer, "Laura" fan Waldo Lydecker, E. Perman, Jill Scrivner, Kai, David P. Nelson,  Eileen/Joe/Ludie Jeff Hanna, Rosalyn, Plankbob, Joan Compagno Wright and Annie Frye for correctly identifying her.
2009_0312_mystery_photo

Los Angeles Times file photo

Phyllis Kirk and Peter Lawford
in "The Thin Man" TV series.

Here’s another photo of our mystery woman and a mystery companion, with the background thoughtfully painted out by The Times’ art department.  Please congratulate Eve, Cold in Phx, Pat, R. Ahuna, Wilson Smith, rdare, Edward Cradduck, Marilyn Johnson and her mother, Tony Lucia, Lee Ann Bailey, Gary Martin, William, Craig Deco and Stacia for correctly identifying her.

Check back tomorrow when we reveal the mystery woman’s identity!

2009_0313_mystery_photo

Los Angeles Times file photo
Phyllis Kirk, above in "Two Weeks With Love," and at left in a 1959 publicity photo for an interview about her problems with hypertension. Kirk died in 2006 at the age of 79.
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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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132 Responses to Movie Star Mystery Photo

  1. Eve's avatar Eve says:

    Darnit, ya did it. Ya stumped me. I love a gal who shows up to court in a mink stole, though!

    Like

  2. Nathan's avatar Nathan says:

    The Hollywood Bowl! Oh, wait, you want the people. No idea. Uh…Giselle MacKenzie and Bill Cullen, off the top of my head.

    Like

  3. Claire Lockhart's avatar Claire Lockhart says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  4. Ken Odessky's avatar Ken Odessky says:

    Ryan O’neal

    Like

  5. John Parry's avatar John Parry says:

    I never get it right but here it goes… Evelyn Keyes?

    Like

  6. Scarlett Parry's avatar Scarlett Parry says:

    Laraine Day?

    Like

  7. Allison Berntsen's avatar Allison Berntsen says:

    I don’t know the guy, but is the girl Jane Wyman?

    Like

  8. carole griffiths's avatar carole griffiths says:

    Nora Eddington

    Like

  9. Carolyn Crowe's avatar Carolyn Crowe says:

    Jane Wyman

    Like

  10. Carolyn Crowe's avatar Carolyn Crowe says:

    Jane Wyman

    Like

  11. Dru Duniway's avatar Dru Duniway says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  12. Paul Cardinal's avatar Paul Cardinal says:

    PHYLISS KIRK

    Like

  13. Paul Cardinal's avatar Paul Cardinal says:

    PHYLISS KIRK

    Like

  14. Anna Harmon's avatar Anna Harmon says:

    is it Ida Lupino?

    Like

  15. Mary Mallory's avatar Mary Mallory says:

    Is the man Ring Lardner, Jr.?

    Like

  16. LC's avatar LC says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  17. Allison Berntsen's avatar Allison Berntsen says:

    Glynis Johns?

    Like

  18. Allison Berntsen's avatar Allison Berntsen says:

    Glynis Johns?

    Like

  19. Steven Bibb's avatar Steven Bibb says:

    The guy is Ring Lardner Jr., the girl looks like it might be Phyllis Kirk.

    Like

  20. Lou Zogby's avatar Lou Zogby says:

    I believe its Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  21. pat's avatar pat says:

    I’m enclosing a link to the seven pictures I’ve scanned from a copy of Peter Pan, which I believe belonged to my Grandmother. The book is copyrighted 1911, but obviously was published later, as it includes photos from the 1924 Paramount Picture. As last weeks Mystery Photo was Betty Bronson I thought you may be interested.
    I spend much more time than I should here on a daily basis- keep up the good work!

    Like

  22. Sonny King's avatar Sonny King says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  23. Carmen's avatar Carmen says:

    Hi Larry!
    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  24. Nathan Benedict's avatar Nathan Benedict says:

    Julie Andrews???

    Like

  25. Jervis Hill's avatar Jervis Hill says:

    Peggy Ann Garner and Richard Hayes?

    Like

  26. Whitney's avatar Whitney says:

    Ingrid Bergman?

    Like

  27. Nancy Price's avatar Nancy Price says:

    Barbara Rush and Robert Q Lewis

    Like

  28. Brian's avatar Brian says:

    I was going to post Glynis Johns, but, there it is already. Look at the eyes.

    Like

  29. Tony's avatar Tony says:

    A young Barbara Hale (later played Della Street)?

    Like

  30. rebecca Owen's avatar rebecca Owen says:

    I think it’s Kathryn Hepburn,

    Like

  31. Rory Hayden's avatar Rory Hayden says:

    Clearly Julie Andrews. Look at the shape of the face and the mouth. Has to be.

    Like

  32. nancy's avatar nancy says:

    I think the mystery actress is Vivian Vance.

    Like

  33. Marty Wasserman's avatar Marty Wasserman says:

    I Think it is Phyllis Kirk.

    Like

  34. Rob Marshall's avatar Rob Marshall says:

    Patricia Hitchcock

    Like

  35. David Warheit's avatar David Warheit says:

    Sure looks like Joyce Grenfell, but what would she have been doing in LA. Okay, her mother was American, but still.

    Like

  36. duckfan's avatar duckfan says:

    I don’t know who they are, but they are at the horse races. They are sitting in the boxes and she is holding a program.

    Like

  37. Ajay's avatar Ajay says:

    Susan Hayward

    Like

  38. Lee Rivas's avatar Lee Rivas says:

    Jeanne Crain??
    By the way Eve, It appears to be the Hollywood Bowl and not a Courtroom…

    Like

  39. leonard macaluso's avatar leonard macaluso says:

    Betsy Blair, tho i’m impressed by Rob Marshall’s response.

    Like

  40. Lee Ann Bailey's avatar Lee Ann Bailey says:

    Good morning. Is it Piper Laurie?

    Like

  41. Kate's avatar Kate says:

    Ella Raines?

    Like

  42. Kate's avatar Kate says:

    Barbara Lawrence?

    Like

  43. Bumble Bee's avatar Bumble Bee says:

    Would it be Susan Sarandon? Sure looks like her.

    Like

  44. Chris's avatar Chris says:

    Kate Winslet or Nicole Kidman. Oh wait it’s old? I thought black and white was just a style thing.

    Like

  45. Kevyne Baar's avatar Kevyne Baar says:

    This would be Ring Lardner, Jr. and his wife Frances Chaney. Thanks for the photograph.

    Like

  46. Bob Duvall's avatar Bob Duvall says:

    Janet Blair

    Like

  47. Marco Capalbo's avatar Marco Capalbo says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  48. Dewey Webb's avatar Dewey Webb says:

    Phyllis Kirk (I sent thisin yesterday/email must be fouled up)

    Like

  49. Nancy Price's avatar Nancy Price says:

    Phylis Kirk

    Like

  50. gerald mccann's avatar gerald mccann says:

    Cecile Aubry

    Like

  51. A Mom's avatar A Mom says:

    Shelley Winters?

    Like

  52. Judy's avatar Judy says:

    Phyllis Thaxter?

    Like

  53. paul amato's avatar paul amato says:

    Julie Andrews

    Like

  54. Al Shelton's avatar Al Shelton says:

    Is the mystery actress Shirley Temple?

    Like

  55. michaelryerson's avatar michaelryerson says:

    It’s Phyllis Kirk. Or Jarmila Novotna (this part is a joke)

    Like

  56. Betsy Palmer's avatar Betsy Palmer says:

    Aha! It’s Phyliis Kirk!
    Don’t know who the gent is but suppose it could be Warren Bush?

    Like

  57. waldo lydecker's avatar waldo lydecker says:

    How about Phyllis Kirk?

    Like

  58. E. Perman's avatar E. Perman says:

    Looks like Phyllis Kirk to me.

    Like

  59. Sharon's avatar Sharon says:

    I could have sworn from the first photo it was Jane Wyman, but now that I look at the second photo, I think it is Eileen Heckart.

    Like

  60. Jill Scrivner's avatar Jill Scrivner says:

    I think it’s Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  61. Kai's avatar Kai says:

    I believe it’s Phyllis Kirk, who was in House of Wax as an unfortunate victim of Vincent Price’s crazy statue-making (a young Charles Bronson was in this one also, as Igor, the lab assistant). She also played Nora Charles in the ’50s TV series The Thin Man.

    Like

  62. Gabriel Cazes Boezio's avatar Gabriel Cazes Boezio says:

    Is she Deborah Ker?

    Like

  63. David P. Nelson's avatar David P. Nelson says:

    Is it Phyllis Kirk?

    Like

  64. Eileen/Joe/Ludie's avatar Eileen/Joe/Ludie says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  65. Mary's avatar Mary says:

    Tippi Hedren?

    Like

  66. rdare's avatar rdare says:

    Gloria DeHaven?

    Like

  67. Jeff Hanna's avatar Jeff Hanna says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  68. rosalyn's avatar rosalyn says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  69. Whitney's avatar Whitney says:

    Fances Farmer?

    Like

  70. Minnesota snow's avatar Minnesota snow says:

    Maureen O’Sullivan?

    Like

  71. Joan Y. Compagno's avatar Joan Y. Compagno says:

    Leslie Caron?

    Like

  72. iKnowForRealThisTIme's avatar iKnowForRealThisTIme says:

    Bette Davis??

    Like

  73. Tony's avatar Tony says:

    Gene Tierney?

    Like

  74. annie frye's avatar annie frye says:

    I say she is Phyllis Kirk, a wonderful, beautiful actress

    Like

  75. annie frye's avatar annie frye says:

    I’m pretty sure it’s Phyllis Kirk.

    Like

  76. Tony's avatar Tony says:

    Myrna Loy ,perhaps?

    Like

  77. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:

    Well, she could grow up to be Miss Kitty… the actress, not the animal. Amanda Blake?

    Like

  78. jany's avatar jany says:

    PHYLLIS THAXTER

    Like

  79. Unknown's avatar plankbob says:

    Phyllis Kirk.

    Like

  80. Joan Compagno-Wright's avatar Joan Compagno-Wright says:

    Phyllis Kirk?

    Like

  81. annie frye's avatar annie frye says:

    She is Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  82. Whitney's avatar Whitney says:

    Bette Davis??

    Like

  83. Eve's avatar Eve says:

    Hmmm, is it Phyllis Kirk?

    Like

  84. Cold in PHX's avatar Cold in PHX says:

    It’s Phyllis Kirk, isn’t it?

    Like

  85. pat's avatar pat says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  86. MARY BROWN in the U.K.'s avatar MARY BROWN in the U.K. says:

    I THINK IT IS VIRGINIA GIBSON —– THE LAST PICTURE WAS FROM SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

    Like

  87. Jake's avatar Jake says:

    It has to be Bea Arthur.

    Like

  88. Rahuna's avatar Rahuna says:

    Phyllis Kirk. And the chap in the glasses is George Eckstein. Don’t cha hate show-offs?

    Like

  89. Gregory Moore's avatar Gregory Moore says:

    Aha…Gloria DeHaven…

    Like

  90. Wilson Smith's avatar Wilson Smith says:

    Yeah, that made it easy, I thought it was her from the second photo but the still from House of Wax clinched it:
    Phyllis KIrk

    Like

  91. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:

    Jane Fischer?

    Like

  92. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:

    Dolores Starr?

    Like

  93. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:

    Virginia Gibson?

    Like

  94. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:

    Nancy Kilgas?

    Like

  95. rdare's avatar rdare says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  96. Dru Duniway's avatar Dru Duniway says:

    You may add Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell to my previous Phyllis Kirk submission.

    Like

  97. Edward Cradduck's avatar Edward Cradduck says:

    The new photos look like Phyllis Kirk.

    Like

  98. Marilyn Johnson's avatar Marilyn Johnson says:

    I showed the Tuesday picture to my mom (Marilyn Johnson) and she gave it a squint. After a couple minutes she said she thought it was Phyllis Kirk, but wasn’t totally sure because of the light hair. I then brought her the Wednesday picture along with Monday’s, and she wasn’t as sure. But, what she was sure of was the movie from which the Wednesday still was taken–“Two Weeks with Love.” So, we looked that up and yes indeedy, she was right to begin with: Phyllis Kirk. Final Answer.

    Like

  99. Tony Lucia's avatar Tony Lucia says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  100. Whitney D.'s avatar Whitney D. says:

    Vivian Leigh?

    Like

  101. Lee Ann Bailey's avatar Lee Ann Bailey says:

    Is it Phyllis Kirk?

    Like

  102. Gary Martin's avatar Gary Martin says:

    The actress is Phyllis Kirk…is the man a mystery as well? Looks like a young Bill Cullin. Gary (The still from Two Weeks with Love was a great help.)

    Like

  103. william's avatar william says:

    phyllis kirk

    Like

  104. CraigDeco's avatar CraigDeco says:

    Phyllis Kirk. The third photo features left to right- Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell and Phyllis in MGM’s ‘Two Weeks With Love’ from 1950.
    Love this column! I look forward to reading it every day! Thanks so much!

    Like

  105. CraigDeco's avatar CraigDeco says:

    Phyllis Kirk. The third photo features left to right- Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell and Phyllis in MGM’s ‘Two Weeks With Love’ from 1950.
    Love this column! I look forward to reading it every day! Thanks so much!

    Like

  106. CraigDeco's avatar CraigDeco says:

    Phyllis Kirk. The third photo features left to right- Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell and Phyllis in MGM’s ‘Two Weeks With Love’ from 1950.
    Love this column! I look forward to reading it every day! Thanks so much!

    Like

  107. Stacia's avatar Stacia says:

    Oh hey, it’s Phyllis Kirk. I knew she looked familiar. I love movies but am notoriously bad at putting names to faces.

    Like

  108. Stacia's avatar Stacia says:

    P.S. The movie that 2nd photo is from is called “Two Weeks with Love”.

    Like

  109. Bob Duvall's avatar Bob Duvall says:

    June Haver ?

    Like

  110. herb nichols's avatar herb nichols says:

    phyllis coats

    Like

  111. Victor H. Brown.....over the pond in England.'s avatar Victor H. Brown.....over the pond in England. says:

    In the last photo she looks like Gloria Graham with Peter Lawford.

    Like

  112. michaelryerson's avatar michaelryerson says:

    Well, as I already said, it’s Phyllis Kirk and here she’s shown with Peter Lawford, her co-star in the tv series The Thin Man (1957-59). This still appears to be from that series, most likely season 2, episode 33 ‘Bat McKidderick’ which had a western theme.

    Like

  113. Dennis Aimino's avatar Dennis Aimino says:

    Phyllis Kirk?

    Like

  114. Carolyn Crowe's avatar Carolyn Crowe says:

    Joanne Dru

    Like

  115. Cynthia Keillor's avatar Cynthia Keillor says:

    Jennifer Jones?

    Like

  116. GdG's avatar GdG says:

    Jeanne Crain and Peter Lawford

    Like

  117. Pamela Porter's avatar Pamela Porter says:

    Phyllis Kirk

    Like

  118. Anne Papineau's avatar Anne Papineau says:

    Phyllis Kirk!

    Like

  119. Anne Papineau's avatar Anne Papineau says:

    Phyllis KIrk!

    Like

  120. Mary Mallory's avatar Mary Mallory says:

    I’m stumped on the woman because she looks like so many of the actresses of the 1950s-1960s, nothing out of the ordinary. Peter Lawford is the man in the last photo and could it be Ross Hunter in the first photo.

    Like

  121. Tony's avatar Tony says:

    June Allyson

    Like

  122. Tony's avatar Tony says:

    Okay, so now I am confused, it looks even more to be Phyllis Kirk but the western garb has thrown me.

    Like

  123. Lee Rivas's avatar Lee Rivas says:

    Phyllis Kirk???

    Like

  124. Barry Creyton's avatar Barry Creyton says:

    PHYLLIS KIRK

    Like

  125. ATriana's avatar ATriana says:

    I should have known George Eckstein- a producer of
    The Fugitive on television!! Without the eyebrows, I didn’t recognize Phyllis-! Thanks again! AT..

    Like

  126. Tony C's avatar Tony C says:

    Thanks for a great feature. I shall bookmark this place and start every day right here. I am a little embarrassed that it took the thin man to get me there but there is always next week. Yes?

    Like

  127. Tony C's avatar Tony C says:

    I wonder if it was the photographers in the day. You could have easily convinced me that the last photo you just put up was of Loretta Young. There are so many actresses of that era so similar that I can’t differentiate.

    Like

  128. Mike Newton's avatar Mike Newton says:

    Phyllis Kirk did some advertising promotion for Burry’s Cookies about 1953, while she was making House of Wax. I have seen pictures of her in that little prim hat and outfit she wore in the movies, sitting at a table with a Burry’s Cookie box and drinking coffee. Movie Star News of NYC shows these pictures in their catalogue.

    Like

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