Category Archives: Hollywood

Movieland Mystery Photo — [Updated]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As everybody realized, this is from “Meet John Doe” … ] Here’s another old, beat-up print from our file of movie sets. Let’s take a closer look….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 15 Comments

Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 12, 1941

        Jan. 12, 1941: Fantasound — by its own name or any other name — is here to stay, and Walt Disney is going right ahead with plans for it. I had a long talk with him … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — [Updated]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As most people realized, this is “The Conqueror” on location in St. George, Utah. Original caption information on the jump….] Here we are on a mystery location shoot….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 11, 1941

        Jan. 11, 1941: When Orson Welles resigned as director of Connecticut's Stony Creek Theater, he was succeeded by one William Castle, a very young man with definite ideas of Art, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — [Updated]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying our mystery woman! This is Dorothy Phillips in 1925, apparently working on “Every Man’s Wife.”  Keep reading for more.] Here’s today’s mystery photo…. more … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 12 Comments

Dashiell Hammett Dies, Jan. 11, 1961

        Jan. 11, 1961: Dashiell Hammett dies at the age of 67. A Times editorial the next days wonders about a “slight odor of Communist mentality” in “The Maltese Falcon.” No, really! Also from The Times’ editorial … Continue reading

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 10, 1941

       Jan. 10, 1941: HOLLYWOOD AFTER DARK: Aviation enthusiasts Bob Taylor and Jimmy Stewart sketching proposed air excursions on a Brown Derby tablecloth, Jimmie Fidler says.

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From the Vaults: ‘The Eyes of Laura Mars’ (1978)

Like all right-thinking people, I cherish "The Empire Strikes Back," and was saddened by the death of director Irvin Kershner. But I didn't realize until reading his one of his obits that he also directed the acclaimed thriller "Eyes of … Continue reading

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 9, 1941

           Jan. 9, 1941: Sailor Pedro V. Rodriguez met Eva J. Sandstrum at a San Pedro cafe and after being invited to her home, had several drinks. However Rodriguez got tired of her repeated questions about … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Second Update]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Here’s a little more information. The photo was published June 21, 1936, in The Times rotogravure section, which wasn’t microfilmed, so I can’t refer to the original. The occasion was … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 19 Comments

Hollywood Pays Tribute to an Ailing Gary Cooper

       Jan. 9, 1961: A testimonial by the Friars Club was one of the many tributes Gary Cooper received in the months before his death. His deteriorating condition from cancer was not widely known until April, when he … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Europe, Jan. 8, 1941

        Jan. 8, 1941: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, the “perfect lovers,” had an out-loud row just before sailing for Europe — and almost went in opposite directions, Jimmie Fidler says.  Keeping reading for more on the … Continue reading

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Hollywood at War

        Studio executive Walter Wanger (d. 1968) describes how World War II is affecting the motion picture industry in this Nov. 15, 1942, article. He notes that movie audiences are increasing, and suggests that because of gas … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 7, 1941

        Jan. 7, 1941: Jimmie Fidler has an intriguing item about "poison pen notes" being planted in the pockets of workmen on "North West Mounted Police" and "The Great Dictator," which were found by the men’s wives … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As many people realized, this is from “There’s That Woman Again.” I expected most people to recognize Melvyn Douglas, but some of the responses were quite detailed. Please congratulate Mary … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 19 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 6, 1941

        Jan. 6, 1941: Times artist Charles H. Owens gives his interpretation of the crash of a Navy DC-2 into White Mountain, 25 miles southeast of San Diego.   “In 30 years of incessant searching for new screen … Continue reading

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 6, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Our mystery woman has been identified as Miss Dupont. Congratulations to Mike Hawks! To see the information on the back of the photo, keep reading.]   This truly is a mystery … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 12 Comments

The Loud Family, Seven Years After TV Series

        Jan. 6, 1980: Years before there was MTV’s “The Real World” (or MTV, for that matter), there was Craig Gilbert’s “An American Family,” the story of the Loud family of Santa Barbara, which aired on PBS … Continue reading

Posted in #gays and lesbians, broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Television | Comments Off on The Loud Family, Seven Years After TV Series

Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 5, 1941

          Jan. 5, 1941: There’s no Jimmie Fidler column today, so here’s Philip K. Scheuer’s Town Called Hollywood. Marriage, it may be, is just what Bette Davis has been needing. An almost spinsterish quality crept into … Continue reading

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is a still from a Deanna Durbin film with the working title of “Forever Yours” and released as “The Amazing Mrs. Holliday.” The original caption information is on the … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 5 Comments