Category Archives: Hollywood

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 8, 1940

  June 8, 1940: “No wonder Patricia Morison can't lose weight despite doctors' prescribed diets. She eats what they order at meals, then sneaks two and three hunks of chocolate cake when they're not looking,” Jimmie Fidler's staff says.

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From the Vaults: ‘First Spaceship on Venus’ (1960)

Well, "First Spaceship on Venus" is quite the odd little movie: a vintage space epic filmed in East Germany and co-produced with Poland. It features an international team of characters and a strong anti-nuclear message! Released in German as "Der … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood, Science, UFOs | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 6, 1940

  Another war map by Charles Owens! June 6, 1940 — Jimmie Fidler has a little story that begins: “Franz Waxman, the composer who scored 'Rebecca,' has a newly acquired Chihuahua pooch.”

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 5, 1940

  June 5, 1940: “MGM's new Adonis, who'll be given a romantic tint, is Cliff Anderson, ex-Ciro's waiter, who was studying civil engineering while tray-pushing,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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Movieland Mystery Photo

     Los Angeles Times file photo    Update: As most people realized, our mystery guest is Hollywood nightclub owner Earl Carroll, who died in 1948 plane crash. In the above photo, he’s the young fellow with Elbert Hubbard (sorry, folks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Stage | 26 Comments

Cheryl Crane Escapes

  June 5, 1960: Cheryl Crane and two other inmates escape from El Retiro School for Girls, where she had been committed for killing Johnny Stompanato. "This was a big change from the meek and mild little girl who came … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler, June 4, 1940

  June 4, 1940: “Well, it's come more quickly than I expected! For months I've warned Hollywood producers against the peril of anti-Nazi films,” Jimmie Fidler says. Variety says: “Belief is strong in some circles that Uncle Sam will crack … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 3, 1940

    June 3, 1940: Tip to ladies: Ida Lupino smears honey on her face before retiring — says it's tops as a beauty aid, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 2, 1941

June 2, 1941: “Carmen Miranda's bruises shocked the 20th Century-Fox execs into ordering her off surfboards while she's in a picture,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Suicide | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 2, 1960

  June 2, 1960: Paul Coates catches up with former Floradora Girl Evelyn Nesbit, whose millionaire husband, Harry K. Thaw, killed architect Stanford White in a jealous rage during a rooftop performance at Madison Square Garden in June 1906.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Paul Coates, Stage | 1 Comment

William A. Fraker, 1923 – 2010

William A. Fraker In my two-story career as a freelancer for American Cinematographer, I interviewed the late William Fraker on location in Florence, Ariz., for the 1985 James Garner-Sally Field movie "Murphy's Romance," directed by Martin Ritt. For my previous … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Photography | 1 Comment

Fantasia!

  June 2, 1980: Yes, young persons, “Fantasia” came back in 1980 as a “head film” (note the smoke and mushrooms).  In 1982, in an attempt to improve the audio quality, Disney had a pickup orchestra and conductor/composer Irwin “Chitty … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, classical music, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 1, 1940

  June 1, 1940: "We hear that Lana Turner's constant bickering with MGM heads is not prompted by Artie Shaw at all but by a wardrobe girl who's been giving Lana a lot of bad advice,” Jimmie Fidler’s staff says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 31, 1940

  Without access to news photos, The Times publishes Frederic Eddy’s drawing of what the evacuation of Dunkirk might have looked like. May 31, 1940: “Bells to Billie Burke for her campaign to lower the cost of Los Angeles dog … Continue reading →

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From the Vaults: ‘The Mummy’s Hand’ (1940)

Back to vintage horror this week, with a classic from the Universal vaults… although "The Mummy's Hand" is more of a remake (or re-imagining!) of the 1932 classic "The Mummy" starring Boris Karloff. Not quite a sequel but definitely not … Continue reading →

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

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Update: Yes, this is George Raft and Bugsy Siegel from a 1944 hearing on bookmaking charges. OK, this may not be much of a mystery, but it’s too cool not to post. Finding a … Continue reading →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 30, 1940

The Times publishes another map by Times artist Charles Owens. May 30, 1940: Carole Landis' "chic" in "One Million B.C." clearly proves the skill of Pleistocene hairdressers, Jimmie Fidler says. 

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Charles Champlin on Cannes, May 30, 1980

May 30, 1980: Charles Champlin takes an overview of the downbeat films at the Cannes Festival, which included “All That Jazz” and “Kagemusha.” “This year, there was hardly a title among the 22 in competition that could accurately have been … Continue reading →

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Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and ‘Easy Rider’

    Aug. 10, 1969: Charles Champlin on “Easy Rider.” "Fonda and Hopper, it should by this time go without saying, give immense performances: Hopper as the more traditional 'Hey, man' Rider impatient, self-indulgent, fearful of anything that looks like … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 29, 1940

May 29, 1940: “Lyle Talbot gave N.Y.ers a sample of Hollywood by dating seven lovelies on as many Broadway nights,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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