Category Archives: Film

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 26, 1960

Diana Barrymore was in love with Tennessee Williams and wanted to marry him, the Mirror's Earl Wilson says.  We Quiz Quiz Guy Who Blew $64,000       Al Einfrank isn't exciting news copy.  Not any more.     Three years ago, … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 26, 1964: Hedda Hopper’s profile of Evadne Baker was far more interesting than I expected. A quick check of imdb reveals that she died Jan. 17, 1995 … but wait. She was born Nov. 27, 1897? That would … Continue reading →

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Diana Barrymore Dies at 38

  Nice headline – does that make the nun a college girl? And I guess Kennedy isn’t a headline name yet. Jan. 26, 1960: The trial of Dr. R. Bernard Finch and Carole Tregoff in the killing of Barbara Jean … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, JFK, Obituaries, Politics, Stage | Comments Off on Diana Barrymore Dies at 38

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

It’s Walter Neff and Betty Schaefer in “Son of Flubber!” Jan. 25, 1963: Will somebody please send Hedda Hopper some Frostilla? Thank you!

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The ‘Onion Field’ Remembered [Update]

Photograph by Don Cormier / Los Angeles Times March 11, 1963: Jimmy Lee Smith returns to the crime scene to reenact the “Onion Field” killing with Sgt. G.H. Bates, left, as Officer Ian Campbell; Sgt. Danny Galindo, center, as Officer … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1963, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 7 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 24, 1962: Hedda Hopper says Buster Keaton's going to tour Germany, Austria and Switzerland with some of his films and gives another slam to Charlie Chaplin … and Marilyn Monroe is getting ready to do “Something’s Got to … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 23, 1960

Mash Notes and Comment     (Press Release)  "As far as space travel is concerned, a big bosom is a bust — according to an article in the new issue of Look magazine.     "Although pulchritude may be an asset here … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Dolores del Rio is at the Million Dollar Theater! Jan. 23, 1961 – Hedda Hopper says: “She's 19, beautiful, a student at Northwestern University in Chicago, and made her debut singing with George Burns in Las Vegas. Her name … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

     Jan. 22, 1960 – Hedda Hopper says: “Jerry Wald's finally got his "Return to Peyton Place" players all set: Joan Crawford plays the mother-in-law who plans the murder of her daughter-in-law, Carol Lynley, who gets wind of the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

     Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This week’s mystery star is Sally Eilers, shown in a photo dated Dec. 14, 1929. Jan. 7, 1978: Sally Eilers dies at the age of 69.  In case you’re wondering, I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 25 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 21, 1959 – I think this is the most vitriolic Hedda Hopper column I’ve found so far: “It took some scratching and digging on my part, but I finally learned why Charlie Chaplin settled tax problem — so … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 20, 1958: Hedda Hopper says John Wayne’s next movie will be a western called “Warlock.” Well, not quite. It actually stars Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda and Anthony Quinn.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 19, 1957: Hedda Hopper writes that Elvis Presley has "taken the entire top floor of the Knickerbocker Hotel to house himself and his pals he brought with him from Tennessee. I asked if there were any girls along. … Continue reading →

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Plot Alleged in Finch Killing

    Donald Williams testifies about a murder-for-hire plot in the Finch killing. Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn.) challenges Vice President Nixon to a series of debates with potential Democratic candidates.   “Cash McCall” is opening in Los Angeles. Jan. 19, 1960: … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 18, 1956: Hedda Hopper goes on a junket to see the new Hilton hotel in Dallas. Biggest complaint? The local newspaper doesn’t carry “Dick Tracy.”

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 17, 1955: Hedda Hopper writes, “While in New York I learned why TV will not move to the West Coast. Gen. David Sarnoff has bought 10 square blocks of Lower East Side property and will build a great … Continue reading →

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Eisenhower Demurs on Endorsing Nixon

On the frontiers of medicine … Above, a news analysis of President Eisenhower’s refusal to make a formal endorsement of Vice President Richard Nixon in the presidential race. Below, Eisenhower’s comments from the Jan. 14, 1960, Times. The Times announces … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 16, 1954: "Many scenes in the picture [‘Babylon Revisited’ or ‘The Last Time I Saw Paris'] concern pseudo-intellectual American writers who think there is no freedom or culture except in Europe; they go there to write but cannot … Continue reading →

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Library May Remove Books on Making Liquor

  William C. De Mille’s “The Tree of Knowledge” and Fatty Arbuckle’s “The Garage” are at the Million Dollar Theatre.   Jan. 16, 1920: With the advent of Prohibition, the library board of directors will discuss removing all books that … Continue reading →

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Movie Star Mystery Photo

     Los Angeles Times file photo Update: “Listening to the heavenly music of Larry Lee and his orchestra in the beautiful Florentine Room of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel recently was John Carroll, film player, and Steffi Duna, film actress,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 62 Comments