This week’s mystery movie was the 1946 film Breakfast in Hollywood, with Tom Breneman, Bonita Granville, Ray Walburn, Beulah Bondi, Billie Burke, Edward Ryan, Zasu Pitts, Hedda Hopper, Andy Russell, Spike Jones and His City Slickers and the King Cole Trio.
Original story and screenplay by Earl Baldwin.
Photography by Russell Metty, production manager Harold Lewis, edited by Bernard W. Burton, production design by William Flannery, dialogue direction by Dixie McCoy, makeup by Mel Berns, hairstyles by Carla Hadley, assistant director Harold Godsoe, sound by Max Hutchinson.
Produced by Robert S. Golden.
Directed by Harold Schuster.
Breakfast in Hollywood lapsed into public domain and exists in many lousy prints. The one on Amazon Prime, for example, is dreadful. This marginal print was from the streaming channel Film Detective, which provides crummy copies of public domain films. Also available on DVD from TCM.
I picked Breakfast in Hollywood because, like last week’s Gildersleeve’s Bad Day (oh Leee-royyy!!), it was adapted from a popular radio show and because Tom Breneman’s has a Black Dahlia connection. It’s worthwhile for vintage shots of Hollywood…
… like this one, proving that I’m a sucker for anybody wearing a newsboy cap, especially a newsboy.
And you just know the New York Times hated it; if it even bothered to review the film.
I’m guessing Bosley Crowther pushed this film off on one of the stringers….
Indeed, it falls to A.W. (July 15, 1946):
List among the purely American curiosa the habit of women who arise at an absurdly early hour to attend a radio program conducted by Tom Breneman from his restaurant in Hollywood. Mr. Breneman apparently is a card who rocks his audiences by genial joshing and modeling some of the ladies’ most ludicrous bonnets. So the producers of Breakfast in Hollywood, which came to the Globe on Saturday, were not entirely unaware of the programs reported 12,000,000 listeners when they fashioned the film version of the air show. But this adaptation with variations is more melancholy than funny and no more substantial than its title or its radio counterpart.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Anna Le Seur, Joan Crawford’s mother.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent. His companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear later.
Update: For “Aha Thursday,” we add our mysterious companion.
Update: This is Oscar Moore, left and Nat “King” Cole.
Also for Tuesday, we have this mysterious gent.
Update: This is Andy Russell.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have mystery guests with varying degrees of mysteriousness.
Update: This is Minerva Urecal, Tom Breneman and Byron Foulger.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we also have these mysterious guests.
Update: This is Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guests, plus mystery guest cropped out due to lack of mysteriousness), Ed Casey (Tuesday’s mystery singer), Gary (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious movie star’s mom and Tuesday’s mystery singer) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious movie star’s mom and Tuesday’s mystery singer).
Also for “Aha Thursday,” we have these musical guests.
Update: This is Red Ingle, Spike Jones and probably Helen Grayco, Jones’ wife. I’m fairly certain that it’s not Aileen Carlisle, who recorded Glow Worm (being performed here) with the City Slickers.
We have this mystery woman, who does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Billie Burke.
Finally, we have this mystery woman.
Update: This is Beulah Bondi as Annie Reed, who doesn’t let being hit by a car prevent her from seeing Breneman’s radio show. She’s in her 50s here, playing an 82-year-old woman.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, all mystery guests), Floyd Thursby (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious milquetoast and mysterious ladies’ man), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious movie star’s ma, Tuesday’s mystery singer and companion cropped out for insufficient mysteriousness and Wednesday’s mystery columnist and mystery milquetoast), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Beach Gal (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Michael Ryerson (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery singer and Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery gents), Alexa (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery movie columnist), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Patrick (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and David Inman (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
Note to Mary: Thanks!
Note to David: You noticed. Excellent!
For Friday, we have these mystery women and my goodness what a festive mystery hat.
Update: This is Hedda Hopper and Zasu Pitts.
And finally, our mysterious couple, who have a tough time getting together.
Update: This is Edward Ryan, last seen in the mystery movie The Fighting Sullivans, and Bonita Granville.
Brain Trust roll call: Sarah (mystery movie), Mary Mallory (mystery male singer, mystery bandleader, mysterious upset wife and mysterious old lady), Diane Ely (mysterious movie columnist), Beach Gal (mysterious jazz pianist and Thursday’s mystery guests, peering into the crystal ball to see Friday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests), Earl Boebert (mystery movie and Thursday’s mysterious jazz pianist and bandleader), Charles Kjelland (mystery movie, mystery jazz pianist and mysterious bandleader), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mysterious jazz pianist and Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Richard Wegescheide (mystery jazz pianist and mysterious bandleader), Gary (mystery jazz pianist), Bruce (Thursday’s mysterious bandleader), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Anna Le Sueur in BREAKFAST IN HOLLYWOOD (1946)
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This image looks like it is set in someplace other than the USA.
Are you still on a 1943 exploration?
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This week’s mystery movie is solidly in the U.S.A. I’m done with 1943 — for now.
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Oscar Moore, Nat ‘King’ Cole; Andy Russell.
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Tuesday is Andy Russel
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Stand by for a Tuesday win: Andy Russell and Anna Le Suer in Breakfast in Hollywwood.
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That hat! I know I’ve seen it before! Argh!
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Anna Le Seuer for Monday and Andy Russell for today make this BREAKFAST IN HOLLYWOOD.
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I knew I knew that hat! It’s BREAKFAST IN HOLLYWOOD. Not only have I seen it, I have a copy on DVD. I also have booklets of Breakfast in Hollywood and Breneman, I will scan something for you for Saturday. Lois January Monday, Irving AShby with Nat King Cole BOTH Tuesday, and Edward Ryan. Tom Breneman with Byron Foulger today along with Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper.
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Anna Le Seuer Monday and Andy Russell as the singer Tuesday.
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For Wednesday we have Byron Foulger and Raymond Walburn. The movie is “Breakfast in Hollywood.”
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Breakfast in Hollywood
Mon – Anna Le Sueur
Tues – Andy Russell, (Is cropped out guy Nat King Cole?)
Wed – Hedda Hopper, Byron Foulger
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Breakfast in Hollywood, 1946
Monday: Joan Crawford’s mother, Anna Le Seur
Tuesday: I think it’s Irving Ashby, and next to him would be Nat King Cole
The next singer is Andy Russell
Wednesday: Minerva Urecal, Tom Breneman, and Byron Foulger.
Next are Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper.
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Monday – Anna La Sueur
Movie is Breakfast in Hollywood
Tues singer is Andy Russell
Wed Byron Foulger, Tom Breneman and might that profile belong to Minerva Urecal? — Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper
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Tues guitar player/singer is Oscar Moore next to checked shirt wearing Nat King Cole. Oscar was part of Nat’s trio.
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Minerva Urecal, Tom Breneman, Byron Foulger; Raymond Walburn, Hedda Hopper.
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Looks like Breakfast in Hollywood (1946) filmed at Tom Breneman’s joint out on Vine Street just above Sunset. People would line up for the better part of a block to get in the place. Andy Russell on Tuesday, Minerva Urecal and Brian Foulgar sitting together. Hedda Hopper (as herself) and Raymond Walburn fidgeting with his hat. Looks like fun.
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Sorry that’s Byron Foulgar, not Brian.
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Well there’s Byron Foulger and Raymond Walburn; could there be a Preston Sturges on the set?
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Hedda!
Breakfast in Hollywood
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What a lineup! Anna Le Sueur, Oscar Moore, Andy Russell, Minerva Urecal, Tom Breneman, Byron Foulger, Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper.
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Oh, it’s “Breakfast in Hollywood”
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Byron Foulger, Raymond Walburn, Hedda hopper, Tom Brenneman and Minerva Urecal.
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Raymond Walburn & Hedda Hopper have Breakfast in Hollywood.
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Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper have Breakfast in Hollywood.
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Breakfast in Hollywood (1946) Bonita Granville, Beulah Bondi, Billie Burke, Hedda Hopper, Byron Foulger, Minerva Urecal, Andy Russell, Raymond Walburn, Nat King Cole, Spike Jones, Tom Breneman…
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Anna Le Sueur, Oscar Moore, Andy Russell, Minerva Urecal, Tom Breneman, Byron Foulger, Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper in Breakfast in Hollywood from 1946.
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Our movie is Breakfast in Hollywood. Monday’s guest is Anna Le Sueur. Tuesday’s guests are Oscar Moore and Edward Ryan. Today’s guests are Minerva Urecal, Tom Breneman, Byron Foulger, Raymond Walburn, and Hedda Hopper.
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Tom Breneman, Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper today, making this “Breakfast in Hollywood,” and our second week of Movies from Other Mediums.
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It’s Breakfast in Hollywood (1946).
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Red Ingle, Spike Jones, the real Alice Cooper?, Billie Burke and is that Zasu Pitts in the background, and Beulah Bondi.
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Mary Field instead of Alice Cooper.
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The woman in the next-to-last photo (following the musical guests) – Hedda Hopper sans one of her famous hats?
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Thurs – Red Ingle with Spike Jones and possibly Charlotte Tinsley
Thurs – Billie Burke
Thurs – Beulah Bondi
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Thurs – Tues reveal of Nat King Cole next to Oscar Moore
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Fred Ingle, Spike Jones, Billie Burke, Beulah Bondi
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Spike Jones, Nat “King” Cole having Breakfast in Hollywood.
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Fri we should see Bonita Granville, Edward Ryan and Zasu Pitts
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Spike Jones today, and Nat Cole on Tuesday. Is it Breakfast in Hollywood?
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On Thursday, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, Billie Burke and Beaulah Bondi
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Nat King Cole, Spike Jones, Billie Burke, Beulah Bondi.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY ANSWERS FROM YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!
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Ah-ha Thursday of course brings enlightenment.
“Breakfast in Hollywood” 1946
Mon – Joan Crawford’s mom, Anna Le Seur. I’m guessing that the hand she’s grasping belongs to Tom Breneman. Somewhere nearby is Alice Cooper, Gary Cooper’s mom.
Tues – 1) Nat King Cole and part of his trio. I think the foreground guitarist is Oscar Moore but I’m not sure. He was with the trio at this time. Left in ’47 and someone else stepped in 2) I think our singer is Andy Russell, but that’s just a guess.
We’d – 1) Tom Breneman with the mic, I think the woman is Minerva Urecal, the guy is Byron Foulger
2) Raymond Walburn and Hedda Hopper
Thurs – my guides to the movie, 1) Spike Jones and his City Slickers (not sure if the couple is part of the group), 2) Billie Burke, 3) Beulah Bondi
That leaves for Friday: Zasu Pitts, Bonita Granville and Edward Ryan. I wonder how many other ‘star’ mums appeared in the movie? Hope that you know.
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Nat King Cole uncovered today, then Ish Kabibble(Mervin Bogues-I believe) and Spike Jones on Thursday. Don’t know the movie.
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I was so pleased with myself for recognizing Andy Russell that I forgot to mention Two of The Nat King Cole Trio…which should ever be overlooked!
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Spike Jones for Thursday.
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Spike Jones and his City Slickers, Billie Burke, and Beulah Bondi
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Spike Jones and His City Slickers; Billie Burke; Beulah Bondi.
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Fri – We have Hedda again with Zasu Pitts. Edward Ryan and Bonita Granville.
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Hedda Hopper, Zasu Pitts, Edward Ryan, Bonita Granville
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I hadn’t noticed that you added Nat King Cole on Tuesday. Hedda Hopper and Zasu Pitts, and Andy Russell and Bonita Granville.
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Thursday: George Rock
Friday: Hedda Hopper, Zasu Pitts; Edward Ryan, Bonita Granville
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Hedda Hopper, Zasu Pitts, Ed Ryan and Bonita Granville.
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I see Hedda Hopper, Zasu Pitts, and Bonita Granville
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