Category Archives: Hollywood

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Feb. 12, 1950: William Holden tells Hedda Hopper, "It's up to the producers. You know stars are made by them before they're made by the public. And stars are broken by producers before they're broken by the public. Thus it's … Continue reading →

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Movie Star Mystery Photo

      Los Angeles Times file photo  Update: Virtually everyone recognized our mystery guest as Louise Beavers. Oct. 27, 1962: Louise Beavers dies at the age of 60.  Nov. 2, 1962: Services for Louise Beavers include her favorite gospel song, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 76 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 11, 1949: Wedding bells for Clark Gable and Joan Crawford? Hedda Hopper says no.

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Charles Champlin on ‘Cruising’

      Feb. 10, 1980: Charles Champlin writes, “The principal complaint, artistically, about 'Cruising' is that it is not very clear at the rudimentary level of exposition of character and event. The problem, as with [William] Friedkin's 'Sorcerer,' which … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Film, 1965

  Now showing, a Peter Cushing double feature: “Curse of Frankenstein” and “Horror of Dracula.”  Feb. 10, 1965: Also opening, “Two on a Guillotine.” Directed by William Conrad!

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Recalling the Days of Payola

  I was  "blown away" today to see my dad on the front page of the Mirror News. My dad, Norm Prescott, was a big DJ in Boston and New York. We all moved to Los Angeles in 1966. The … Continue reading →

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Strongheart, Dog Sheik of the Movies

  Aug. 2, 1925, Strongheart, the dog sheik of the movies.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

     Feb. 9, 1947: Hedda Hopper says, “During his marriage days, I've seen Jack [Carson] wipe the grease paint off after a hard day's shooting and say, 'Well, now I've got to go home and put on $1,000 worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

     Feb. 8, 1946: Hedda Hopper writes, "Twentieth is readying 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' for Rex Harrison's next."

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 7, 1945: Hedda Hopper says John Wayne is replacing Robert Taylor in “They Were Expendable,” based on a book by W.L. White.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 6, 1944: Hedda Hopper profiles Louis Mayer, who was marking 20 years at MGM. Notice that she mentions Selig’s studio on Mission. And she says she was in Mayer's first picture, “Virtuous Wives.”

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Stuntman Dies in Fall From Plane

  “The Days of Real Sport,” by Clare Briggs. Feb. 6, 1920: A ghastly story. Stuntman Earle (or Earl) Burgess  dies after performing stunts on the wing of a plane. He was clinging to the left landing skid when he … Continue reading →

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

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 5, 1943: As usual, the World War II papers are hard to read. Hedda Hopper says Erich von Stroheim and Zasu Pitts, who worked together in “Greed,”  saw each other for the first time in years.

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Mystery Photo

      Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This is Blossom Seeley and Benny Fields in a photo stamped July 8, 1923. Their lives were made into the 1952 film “Somebody Loves Me” with Betty Hutton and Ralph Meeker. Aug. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography, Stage | 17 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  The dark ages of crossword puzzle construction: Look at all those two-letter answers! Marian Anderson performs at Philharmonic Auditorium in a recital of works by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff and Gretchaninoff, who is not a composer I recognize. Anderson … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 3, 1941 – Hedda Hopper praises Dalton Trumbo. Yes, that Dalton Trumbo: “Those chronic fault-finders, who are always screaming about bad adaptations of best sellers, must be gnashing their teeth over 'Kitty Foyle.' All praise to Dalton Trumbo … Continue reading →

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‘Queen for a Day’ Host Jack Bailey Dies

  Feb. 3, 1980: Al Martinez wrote a very clever obituary on TV host Jack Bailey, who died at the age of 72.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 2, 1940: Now here’s an interesting line from Hedda Hopper, who is normally a real flag-waver.  “Gold Star Mothers are steering clear of 'The Fighting 69th.' Most of them won't see the picture, even on a pass, saying … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 1, 1939: Hedda Hopper gives five bells to “Gunga Din,” but says "Joan Fontaine’s beauty and ability were thrown away in a bit" part.

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Nixon, the ‘Indispensible Man’

“You Remember Her?”     NBC used to have an opera company. Amazing, no? Although I can’t say I’ve ever heard of Virginia Copeland (Gordoni), David Poleri or Chester Ludgin. “Goliath and the Barbarians” in Colorscope!  Paul Zimmerman takes a … Continue reading →

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