Category Archives: Hollywood

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 18, 1940

Posted on October 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Oct. 18, 1940: Lana Turner and Tony Martin (tab it serious) giving the Cocoanut Grove dance team, Georges and Jaina, pointers on Arthur Murray's "Lanapalooza," the dance Lana herself inspired, Jimmie Fidler says. 

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From the Vaults: ‘Cat People’ (1982)

Posted on October 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Remake time! Although apparently director Paul Schrader ("American Gigolo"; also the writer of "Taxi Driver") insisted that he didn't intend "Cat People" as a remake of the 1942 film. Still, it's got main characters named Irena, Oliver and Alice, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 17, 1940

Posted on October 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Oct. 17, 1940: Wally Beery, a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve, is putting business affairs in order in anticipation of an early call to active duty, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Here’s our weekend mystery chap. I like to keep things more informal on the weekend, so I’ll post comments as they come in. This week’s mystery photos showed the apartment of William Desmond Taylor!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 8 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 16, 1940

Posted on October 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Oct. 16, 1940: One look at Desi Arnaz's post-vacation contours and RKO execs ordered him on a strict reducing diet twixt now and his next picture's starting date, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 15, 1940

Posted on October 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Tom Treanor files a story on a military parade in Hungary. There were no bands in the parade. “Machine guns play the tune in a modern army,” he says.   Oct. 15, 1940 — CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNIQUE … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on October 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Well, this should be fun – for me, anyway. What’s the mystery? That’s for you to figure out. A typical room of a certain era, eh? [Update: Oct. 13, 10:56 a.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 14, 1940

Posted on October 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

        A Mass celebrated by then-Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen at the Coliseum marks the centennial of the Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Oct. 14, 1940: Hollywood After Dark: Franchot Tone unsuccessfully attempting to rescue Peggy … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay – Billy Wilder

Posted on October 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

You may know that film director Billy Wilder was an avid art collector but have only a vague notion of what he owned. Toward the end of his life, he put much of his artwork up for sale. The catalogue … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Film, Hollywood, Second Takes | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Billy Wilder

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 13, 1941

Posted on October 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Oct. 13, 1941: “Hattie McDaniel's first extravagance after winning an Academy Award was the purchase of an up-to-date washing machine as insurance against the collapse of an enjoyable, but undependable, career,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 12, 1940

Posted on October 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Oct. 12, 1940: If Hollywood wants to please fans in EVERY section of America (which it must do or else take a severe licking now that remunerative foreign markets are lost) it must get back to fundamentals of good … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 11, 1940

Posted on October 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Oct. 11, 1940: “Dyed-in-the wool moviegoers don't like war, propaganda and politics on the screen. Leave such things to the newsreels, they chorused, and let feature films provide entertainment only,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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From the Vaults: ‘Cat People’ (1942)

Posted on October 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

I really didn't plan a cat theme, but someone mentioned this movie a few months ago and I thought "hm, if I ever ditch the idea of sticking to movies from specific years, I will have to write about that … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 10, 1940

Posted on October 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Oct. 10. 1940:  “Vine Street headquarters for candidate Wendell Willkie, frequently panned as the representative of big money interests, displays a 1906 flag with only 45 stars — because the campaign chest lacks funds for an up-to-date model,” Jimmie … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 9, 1940

Posted on October 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Oct. 9, 1940: "Cecil B. De Mille will lend his schooner Seaward to Paulette Goddard for a week's cruise following her current New York appearance at 'The Great Dictator' premiere. Meanwhile rumors of a rift in the Chaplin … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   I found one picture of our mystery gent, so this will be the only clue there is. Maybe you’re thinking “Oh, that guy.”   I like to keep things more informal … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 4 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 8, 1940

Posted on October 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor has left Rome and files a story on the train from Belgrade to Budapest. Oct. 8, 1940: “Hear Katharine Hepburn's very social family frowns on her romance with director Garson Kanin but that he'll probably win 'em … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five pictures; sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 31 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 7, 1940

Posted on October 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 7, 1940: Funniest sight of the week: Jimmy Stewart, in his mosquito-sized monoplane, coming in for a landing at Clover Field in the midst of a squadron of giant Douglas bombers, Jimmie Fidler’s staff says.

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John Hurt and the Elephant Man

Posted on October 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 7, 1980: Roderick Mann interviews John Hurt about filming “The Elephant Man.” On the jump, Hurt says he turned down “Gandhi” but chose “Heaven’s Gate.” … and female mud wrestling at Chippendales.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Roderick Mann | 2 Comments