Category Archives: Hollywood

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 14, 1940

Posted on August 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

In wartime Rome, Tom Treanor interviews a young woman about her career and her expectations for marriage and a family.  Aug. 14, 1940: Ha! Negro theaters down South advertise Rochester in letters a foot high, while Jack Benny gets three-inch … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 13, 1940

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Tom Treanor writes about wartime Italy’s attempts to increase the birthrate, visits a home for unwed mothers and a day-care center.  Aug. 13, 1940: According to Martin Dies, Hollywood backstabbers have swapped their old-fashioned knives for hammers and sickles, Jimmie … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Los Angeles Times file photo  Look what I found! Think this photo was ever published in The Times? Not! Cover thyself, mystery guest!   Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 21 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 12, 1940

Posted on August 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor files a report from Rome about daily life in the midst of wartime regulations. Aug. 12, 1940: Mrs. John Garfield has had a nose bob and is thinking of a movie career, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 11, 1941

Posted on August 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 11, 1941: Robert Cummings, puzzler: Mr. Cummings, currently working in two pictures — "King's Row," in which he wears his hair parted on the right, and "It Started With Adam," for which he parts it on the left — … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Aug. 10, 1960

Posted on August 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 10, 1960: People who like music are honest and rarely write bad checks, Matt Weinstock finds. CONFIDENTIAL TO CHRIS: Get off the farm once in a while. You won't find a bride in the Sears and Roebuck catalogue, … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 10, 1940

Posted on August 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor files a column from wartime Rome that’s just about perfect.   Aug. 10, 1940: Jimmie Fidler’s staff says, Did you hear about golfer Chico Marx making a hole in one at Hillcrest the other day? Unfortunately, it was … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 9, 1940

Posted on August 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times, decides that four weeks in Lisbon is enough and manages to get on a plane for Rome. Aug. 9, 1940: "Orson Welles is far ahead of shooting … Continue reading →

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From the Vaults: ‘My Favorite Wife’ (1940)

Posted on August 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

Returning to earlier themes of Cary Grant and wife-swapping, this week we have "My Favorite Wife," a screwball comedy. As usual with this genre, your mood will determine whether you find the antics hilarious or simply trying. So if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo Los Angeles Times file photo For Sunday, our mystery guest has some mystery companions. Here’s our weekend mystery guest. I like to keep things more informal on the weekends so I’ll post all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 6 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 6, 1940

Posted on August 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 6, 1940: Height of swank: Jane Withers' new radio-equipped bike, Jimmie Fidler says. 

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 6, 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 … Continue reading →

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

Up From an X-Rated Past

Posted on August 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 6, 1980: The Times profiles Kristine De Bell/DeBell, who starred in the soft-core 1976 film “Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy” and by 1980 had appeared in “Meatballs” and “Main Event.” "Someday I'll get my chance," she … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 4, 1941

Posted on August 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 4, 1941: Beverly residents are watching the hand-in-hand strollings of Paulette Goddard-Director Anatol Litvak along seldom-traveled avenue, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 3, 1940

Posted on August 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 3, 1940: Jimmie Fidler’s staff says: Have you seen Jeanette MacDonald's new custom-built jalopy, upholstered in the MacDonald plaid and rigged with a horn that tootles "The Campbells Are Coming?"

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 2, 1940

Posted on August 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times, gets a “silent interview” with the Duchess of Windsor.  Aug. 2, 1940: Ha! Gladys Swarthout, arriving in slacks, quickly rolled them to her knees under her mink … Continue reading →

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De Palma’s ‘Home Movies’

Posted on August 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 2, 1980: Brian De Palma’s “Dressed to Kill” is a runaway hit. His film “Home Movies,” which is also in release, not so much.  “Home Movies” is not on Netflix, but you can find the VHS version on … Continue reading →

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From the Vaults: ‘The Watcher in the Woods’ (1980)

Posted on August 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

Well, "Watcher in the Woods"  is certainly an odd film. Starring Bette Davis and the radiant, fresh-off-of-"Ice Castles" Lynn-Holly Johnson, it hails from an era of vaguely dark and weird Disney films: "The Black Hole" had come out the previous … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo Los Angeles Times file photo March 18, 1929: Robert Ober to direct at MGM. Update: Our weekend mystery guest is Robert Ober (d. 1950). Saturday’s picture shows him in “A Reno Divorce” with May McAvoy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography | 6 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, July 31, 1940

Posted on July 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times,  interviews Salvador Dali in Lisbon. July 31, 1940: Gilbert Roland and Peter Lorre are off on a hunting trip, Jimmie Fidler says.

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