Category Archives: Hollywood

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Gladys Rosson, DeMille’s Right-Hand Woman

Gladys Rosson in the Salt Lake City Tribune, 1940. Larger than life film director Cecil B. DeMille surrounded himself with intelligent, strong women at home and work to keep his empire running. Impressed with his mother’s thoughtfulness and drive, a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1938 MGM picture Listen, Darling, with Judy Garland, Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon, Alan Hale, Scotty Beckett, Barnett Parker, Gene Lockhart and Charley Grapewin.

Posted in 1938, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 60 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Erte and the Movies

Nov. 3, 1925: Romain de Tirtoff — also known as Erte — with Carmel Myers. Note: This is an encore post from 2011. In 1925, Romain de Tirtoff, better known under the pseudonym Erte, was one of the most highly … Continue reading

Posted in 1925, Art & Artists, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1933 Universal picture The Kiss Before the Mirror, with Nancy Carroll, Frank Morgan, Paul Lukas, Gloria Stuart, Jean Dixon, Donald Cook, Charles Grapewin, Walter Pidgeon, Wallis Clark, May Boley, Christian Rub and Reginald Mason.

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Mabel Fairbanks, Wonder Girl of the Ice

Mabel Fairbanks in the California Eagle, Nov. 8, 1945. Knockout African American ice skater Mabel Fairbanks wowed audiences from the 1940s through the 1960s. A true natural, she exuded joy and happiness twirling and gliding upon the ice. While extremely … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1930 film Her Man, with Helen Twelvetrees, Phillips Holmes, Marjorie Rambeau, James Gleason, Ricardo Cortez, Harry Sweet, Slim Summerville, Thelma Todd, Franklin Pangborn, Stanley Fields, Mathew (often Matthew) Betz and Mike Donlin. (Yes, James … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 57 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Hollywood’s Architect | The Paul R. Williams Story’ – A Moving Portrait of Renowned Black Leader

Courtesy of KCET/PBS SoCal. Note: This is an encore post from 2020. The documentary is online here. Long renowned for its excellent documentaries and intelligent programming, KCET PBS SoCal premieres another strong work with its moving portrait of pioneering African … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1955 RKO Superscope production Underwater! with Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland, Richard Egan, Lori Nelson, Robert Keith, Joseph Calleia, Eugene Iglesias and Ric Roman.

Posted in 1955, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 51 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – United Artists Theatre

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Los Angeles and Hollywood have been the Mecca and Medina of movies, where their acolytes came to worship, work and learn in the teens and 1920s.  After making movies, reverent places of … Continue reading

Posted in 1926, 1927, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation, Religion, Theaters | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – United Artists Theatre

William Desmond Taylor Shot!

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Mary Mallory points out that this is the 90th anniversary of William Desmond Taylor’s death. I did several posts when the Daily Mirror was at The Times: William Desmond Taylor, Mystery Guest … Continue reading

Posted in 1922, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo – William Desmond Taylor Crime Scene Edition

Note: This is an encore post from 2010. 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?

Posted in 1922, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo – William Desmond Taylor Edition

Note: This is an encore post from 2010. [Updated Oct. 30, 8:58 a.m. Yes, these are more photos from the William Desmond Taylor photo file. Above, a photo of Taylor from “Iconoclast.”]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

On the Frontiers of Fashion – William Desmond Taylor

Photos Courtesy of Steven Bibb. Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Daily Mirror reader Steven Bibb sent these photos from a recent tour of Paramount. Keep reading for more details….

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 MGM film The Search, with Montgomery Clift, Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna, Wendell Corey, Ivan Jandl, Mary Patton, Ewart G. Morrison, William Rogers, Leopold Borkowski and Claude Gambier.

Posted in 1948, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: On the Frontiers of Businesses Run and Owned by Women

At a time when women faced enormous hurdles and obstacles in the workplace, possessing fewer opportunities and earning lower wages than men, the progressive and woman-owned and operated Averill Morgan Co. recognized the strength of working women and immigrants by … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 Twentieth Century-Fox film Day-Time Wife (sometimes Daytime Wife, watch the hyphen), with Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Warren William, Binnie Barnes, Wendy Barrie and Joan Davis.

Posted in 1939, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 51 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – ‘Auction of Souls’

Photo: June 23, 1919, “Auction of Souls.” Credit: Los Angeles Times Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Los Angeles has long been a haven for refugees and artists, particularly those fleeing political and militaristic struggles.  As early as … Continue reading

Posted in 1915, 1919, Brain Trust, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – ‘Auction of Souls’

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: A Dash Through Downtown L.A. in 1926 Film Backing Raises for Police, Firefighters

A compelling form of advertising from its beginnings thanks to its emotional power and ability to manipulate, film has been employed to sell and brand products as well as educate audiences on social, cultural, and educational issues virtually since its … Continue reading

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, LAPD, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1931 RKO picture Smart Woman, with Mary Astor, Robert Ames, John Halliday, Edward Everett Horton, Noel Francis, Ruth Weston, Gladys Gale, Alfred Cross and Lillian Harmer.

Posted in 1931, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie was the 1950 Twentieth Century-Fox Film No Way Out, with Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally, Sidney Poitier, Mildred Joanne Smith, Harry Bellaver, Stanley Ridges and Dots Johnson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 65 Comments