Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 19, 2017 by lmharnisch

June 24, 2017, Mystery Photo
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1957 MGM film “Until They Sail,” with Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Charles Drake, Sandra Dee, Wally Cassell, Alan Napier, Ralph Votrian, John Wilder, Tige Andrews, Adam Kennedy and Mickey Shaughnessy.

The screenplay was by Robert Anderson from a story by James A. Michener, with music by David Raksin and typical schlocky 1950s title song by Sammy Cahn, performed by Eydie Gorme. The film was photographed in CinemaScope by Joseph Ruttenberg, with art direction by William A. Horning and Paul Groesse (Groesse scouted the New Zealand locations) and set decorations by Edwin B. Willis and Henry Grace. The film was produced by Charles Schnee and directed by Robert Wise.

The film is available on DVD from Warner Archive for $19.99.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 43 Comments

Black Dahlia: Don’t Spend Money on the FBI Files

Posted on June 14, 2017 by lmharnisch

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Every so often, some EBay vendor gets the clever idea of selling the FBI’s files on the Black Dahlia case. In this instance, it’s someone in the UK selling Part 1 | and Part 2.

Of course, you can download the file for free from the FBI.

That is for free.

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Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Tennis Club, Society Racket

Posted on June 12, 2017 by lmharnisch

 

The Los Angeles Tennis Club, Modern Screen
The Los Angeles Tennis Club, Modern Screen, 1931-32.

 

 

Long a favorite activity of high society, tennis has been a way to fashionably exercise and enjoy time with friends for centuries. Los Angeles “in crowd” flocked to tennis, especially in the 1920s when it began to rise in popularity around the world. Seeking to become a world class home for the game, the Los Angeles Tennis Club constructed an elegant Spanish Revival building and courts at its current 5851 Clinton Street location in 1920. Designed by preeminent Southern California architect Sumner Hunt, the refined location has hosted top athletes and motion picture stars for over 97 years.

The “popular” club itself seems to have begun in 1889, per listings in the Los Angeles Times and Herald, with its first courts opening Friday, September 20, 1889 at Ninth and Pearl Streets, per the September 22, 1889 Los Angeles Times. It hosted men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles, and even mixed doubles in its first tournament. While small, the club hosted teas, tournaments, and events through 1897, when all mention of it in the newspaper disappears until showing up again in 1919, when the Red Bluff Daily News reported that the newly formed club intended to build a $25,000 clubhouse with 20 courts, after talking about it for years.

Hollywood at Play, by Donovan Brandt, Mary Mallory and Stephen X. Sylvester is now on sale.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 12, 2017 by lmharnisch

The Half-Breed

This week’s mystery film has been the 1916 picture “The Half-Breed,” with Douglas Fairbanks, Frank Brownlee, George Beranger, Sam De Grasse, Jewel Carmen, Tom Wilson, Alma Rubens, Winifred Westover and Elmo Lincoln. It was directed by Allan Dwan, production supervisor was D.W. Griffith, photography by Victor Fleming, scenario and titles by Anita Loos, based on Bret Harte’s short story “In the Carquinez Woods.”

This film was the first to be restored by the San Francisco Film Festival and was shown at the festival in 2013.  As far as I can tell, the unrestored version is available on DVD, but I can’t find a DVD of the 2013 restoration.

'The Half-Breed'
We first see Fairbanks in this establishing shot.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 25 Comments

Hollywood Heights / Mary Mallory: San Francisco Silent Film Festival Travels the Globe

Posted on June 7, 2017 by lmharnisch

 

San Francisco Silent Film Festival

The Twenty Second Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival concluded Sunday, June 4, after screening an eclectic slate of entertaining and challenging films from around the globe. The festival’s films covered a diverse variety of themes, examining exploration of the land and heart, father figures and daughters, moral choices, and girl power, while coming to life through the magic of live accompaniment.

Harold Lloyd’s “The Freshman” kicked things off Thursday, June 1, a rousing tale of football team water boy makes good. With the climatic football game featuring footage of Memorial Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, and Berkeley’s Memorial Coliseum, likable Lloyd runs to victory, winning the girl and the game. The student group Berklee Silent Film Orchestra provided accompaniment.

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ALLIES INVADE FRANCE! JUNE 6, 1944; Complete Radio Coverage

Posted on June 6, 2017 by lmharnisch

June 7, 1944, D-day

June 7, 1944, D-Day Map

The headline and map by Charles Owens from The Times.

June 6, 1944: Complete radio coverage of the D-Day Invasion. This was pool coverage using correspondents from various news organizations. By 10 a.m., CBS had resumed regular programming with news bulletins, so I’ll only post up to noon. The full day is at archive.org.

It’s worth noting that German radio was the source for most of the information in the early hours of the invasion. The eyewitness accounts are vivid and it’s worth listening to Quentin Reynolds’ analysis on how the Allies learned from disastrous surprise invasion at Dieppe in 1942.

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Posted in 1944, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 5, 2017 by lmharnisch

June 10, 2017, Mystery Photo
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1932 RKO film “Bird of Paradise,” with Dolores del Rio, Joel McCrea, John Halliday, Richard “Skeets” Gallagher, Bert Roach, Creighton Chaney, Wade Boteler, Arnold Gray, Reginald Simpson, Napoleon Pukui, Agostino Borgato and Sofia Ortega. The screenplay was by Wells Root, Wanda Tuchock and Leonard Praskins, suggested by a play by Richard Walton Tully. Music by Max Steiner, art direction by Carroll Clark, photography by Clyde DeVinna, Edward Cronjager and Lucien Andriot, with photographic effects by Lloyd Knechtel. The executive producer was David O. Selznick, the director was King Vidor.

“Bird of Paradise” is available on DVD from Amazon.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nigel De Brulier — Soothsayer From the East?

Posted on June 5, 2017 by lmharnisch

Nigel de Brulier Nigel de Brulier, courtesy of Mary Mallory.

Note: This is an encore post from 2014


For decades, Hollywood typed actors for their looks, personality, temperament, a shorthand telling audiences what they could expect whenever the actor appeared. Some personalities like Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, and Cary Grant rocketed to fame through their megawatt looks and charm, deep talent, or fierce drive. Others like Franklin Pangborn, Ned Sparks, Edna May Oliver, and Thelma Ritter provided tart flavor to films as prominent character actors, adding zesty spark, comic interludes, or high energy with their strong characterizations.

Gaunt, imploring Nigel de Brulier, a live version of an El Greco painting, added a note of mysticism or fanaticism to silent films with his impassioned clerics or wild-eyed madmen. His characters often seemed to inhabit their own spiritual worlds. Tall, lean, gaunt and possessing piercing eyes, de Brulier endured ill health and work struggles as a young man, bringing realistic fervor and devotion to his roles.

Corrections: This post changes the year De Brulier declared an interest in U.S. citizenship from 1909 to 1899 and notes that he was in the second screen version of “Ramona,” the first being made in 1910.

Mary Mallory’s “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found” is available for the Kindle.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 29, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie has been the 1946 Monogram Pictures film “In Fast Company” with the Bowery Boys.  Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 44 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: San Francisco Silent Film Festival Salutes World Cinema

Posted on May 29, 2017 by lmharnisch

 

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For those who find it difficult to get to Bologna’s Cinema Ritrovato or Pordenone’s Le Giornate del Cinema Muto, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, scheduled June 1-4) highlights classics of silent film the world over right here in California. Showcasing everything from Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fairbanks, Clara Bow, Lois Weber, Wallace Beery, and Anna Pavlova to Polish, Italian, Swedish, Russian, and Japanese silent films, the festival covers virtually every genre and emotional gamut, all with moving live accompaniment. And who knew that Beery and Rupert Julian would lead the pack for most films over the festival?

The weekend features several recent restorations rarely shown on the big screen. The Library of Congress recently restored the Clara Bow/Buddy Rogers’ film “Get Your Man,” a story of a flirty, confident shopgirl who finally lands her handsome blue blood. Directed by one of the rare female directors of Hollywood’s sound era, “Get Your Man” was shot on location around Hollywood Boulevard and at Pasadena’s Jewett Estate. Following the feature is a twenty-three minute fragment of the Wallace Beery/Raymond Hatton “Now We’re in the Air!” with Louise Brooks putting in a supporting performance. SFSFF President Rob Byrne discovered the film in the Czechoslovakia Film Archive, and has restored it for the festival.

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival, June 1-4.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 22, 2017 by lmharnisch

May 27, 2017, Mystery Photo
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1937 Paramount film “True Confession,” with Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, John Barrymore, Una Merkel, Porter Hall, Edgar Kennedy and Lynne Overman. It was produced by Albert Lewin, from a screenplay by Claude Binyon based on a play by Louis Verneuil and Georges Berr. Musical direction was by Boris Morros from a score by Frederick Hollander. Photography was by Ted Tetzlaff, art direction by Hans Dreier and Robert Usher, costumes by Travis Banton and interior decorations by A.E Freudeman. The film was directed by Wesley Ruggles.

It is available on DVD from Amazon.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 54 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Equitable Building Double Art Deco Pleasure on Hollywood Boulevard

Posted on May 22, 2017 by lmharnisch

Equitable Building

Superimposed photograph showing the Bank of Hollywood building as it will appear with the completion of the 12-story annex, photo courtesy of Mary Mallory.

 

One of Hollywood’s first height limit buildings, the lovely Equitable Building, has proudly stood at the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street for over 88 years. Built in two parts over two years at the start of the Great Depression, architect Aleck Curlett’s gorgeous building stands as one of Hollywood’s architectural treasures.

Various small businesses operated at the address 6253 Hollywood Blvd. and on the block long before the Equitable arose, showing the evolution of Hollywood and its world famous Boulevard, which began life as Prospect Avenue, from small town street to major business hub and center. J.F. Kent built a residence at 6251 Hollywood Blvd. per an October 25, 1912 building permit. On June 5, 1913, Clara Holt obtained a permit to construct a one-story brick building on the lot to hold several stores, with the permit estimating a cost of $6,000. From 1917-1923 at least, Ida Fortwengler operated a hairdressing business in the building. In 1924, new owners Foster and Kleiser obtained a permit to erect a metal sign atop the building after reinforcing it.

Hollywood at Play, by Donovan Brandt, Mary Mallory and Stephen X. Sylvester is now on sale.

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Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hats Off to Black-Foxe Military Institute

Posted on May 15, 2017 by lmharnisch

Oct. 24, 1950, DiMaggio at Black-Foxe

Note: This is an encore post from 2013.

 
Long before there were Tiger Moms, many parents stressed discipline and hard work to their school-age children. Boys were often enrolled in military prep schools to learn discipline, rigor and fortitude through both schoolroom work and athletic pursuits.

Several Los Angeles military academies existed in the 1920s, and chief among them was Black-Foxe Military Institute.

Founded in 1929 by Hollywood real estate tycoon C. E. Toberman and headed by former actor Earle Foxe as president and Harry Black as commandant, the school educated day pupils and boarding students at the former Urban Military Academy, established in 1902. Many celebrity children either attended and/or graduated from the institute. The institution itself appeared in a few films.

Hollywood at Play, by Donovan Brandt, Mary Mallory and Stephen X. Sylvester is now on sale.

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Posted in 1929, Education, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 15, 2017 by lmharnisch

 

May 20, 2017, Mystery Photo

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1931 RKO picture “Consolation Marriage,” with Irene Dunne, Pat O’Brien, John Halliday, Myrna Loy, Lester Vail and Matt Moore.  It was produced by William LeBaron, directed by Paul Sloane, with scenery and costumes by Max Ree,  photography by J. Roy Hunt, written by Bill Cunningham and screenplay and dialogue by Humphrey Pearson. Musical direction was by Max Steiner,

It’s available on DVD from Warner Archive for $21.99.

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

Black Dahlia: Black Dahlia Voodoo Doll Listed on EBay

Posted on May 9, 2017 by lmharnisch

2017_0509_Black Dahlia Voodoo Doll_02

One of the strangest Black Dahlia items I have ever seen – a “Black Dahlia Voodoo Doll” — has been listed on EBay, complete with a box and a set of spells.

The vendor says:

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Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

RIP: Dave Pell, Jazz Musician 1925 – 2017

Posted on May 8, 2017 by lmharnisch

1957_lenny_bruce04

Veteran jazz musician and record producer Dave Pell has died at the age of 92, according to his Facebook page.

Here are excerpts of an interview I did in 2007. (The full interview is at latimes.com.)

Dave Pell on Lenny Bruce:

Well I was lucky, very lucky. I was there for five years and Lenny was there for almost the same amount of time. It was one of greatest moments of my life. He was quite a man. Incredibly funny, loving, kind, sweet… all the things that nobody ever knew about him. Nobody took the time to know about him. He was really a lovely guy, a lovely man, a funny man. We had a guy named Jack Sheldon in the band. Sheldon was the phenom of our time. A very funny cat. He and Lenny were dear friends. They used to do crazy things together.

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Posted in 1957, 2017, Mickey Cohen, Music, Nightclubs, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Character Actor Spec O’Donnell Lights up the Screen

Posted on May 8, 2017 by lmharnisch

 

spec_exhibitorsherald17exhi_0_0247
Spec O’Donnell and Maxine Tadacome, Exhibitors Herald, 1923.

 

Long a favorite of classic film fans for his infectious grin and mischievous onscreen personality, Walter Davis “Spec” O’Donnell gained fame for the explosion of freckles which covered his face. Making a career of portraying playful characters like country boys, shop attendants, worker bees, and the like, O’Donnell earned over 230 credits in film and TV starting in 1923 and ending in 1978 with “Convoy.” A happy-go-lucky kid made a living entertaining others and making people happy, something he enjoyed.

Born April 9, 1911 at White’s Bridge in Fresno County, California to Irish parents John William and Maude O’Donnell, Walter was the third of three children. The family moved to Madera, California and struggled, as the 1920 census shows that 54 year old O’Donnell did not work, while his 37 year-old wife supported the family as a laborer at a lumber mill. The couple separated not long after, and Maude continued working to support the family.

Hollywood at Play, by Donovan Brandt, Mary Mallory and Stephen X. Sylvester is now on sale.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 8, 2017 by lmharnisch

May 13, 2017, Mystery Photo

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1951 RKO picture “The Whip Hand,” with Carla Balenda, Elliott Reid, Edgar Barrier, Raymond Burr, Otto Waldis, Michael Steele, Lurene Tuttle, Peter Brocco, Lewis Martin, Frank Darien and Olive Carey. The screenplay was by George Bricker and Frank L. Moss from a story by Roy Hamilton. The photography was by Nicholas Musuraca, art direction by Albert S. D’Agostino and Carroll Clark, music by Paul Sawtell, and set decoration by Darrell Silvera and James Altwies. The producer was Lewis J. Rachmil. The movie was designed and directed by William Cameron Menzies.

The movie is available on DVD from Warner Archive for $21.99.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 52 Comments

‘Mort Sahl: Last Man Standing’ by James Curtis

Posted on May 2, 2017 by lmharnisch

Last Man Standing

Folks, please give a little love to the publication today of “Last Man Standing,” James Curtis’ new biography of Mort Sahl, who transformed standup comedy from mother-in-law gags to cutting political commentary. James, known for his biographies of W.C. Fields, William Cameron Menzies, Preston Sturges, Spencer Tracy and James Whale,  began this project as a labor of love when no publisher was interested in it. The book finally found a home at the University Press of Mississippi and has been praised by Woody Allen and Kirkus Reviews.

The book is available from Amazon, and can be ordered from Book Soup, Skylight Books and Vroman’s.

Posted in 2017, Books and Authors, Stage | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 1, 2017 by lmharnisch

May 6, 2017, Mystery Photo
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1939 Warner Bros. picture “Women in the Wind,” with Kay Francis, William Gargan, Victor Jory, Maxie Rosenbloom, Eddie Foy Jr., Sheila Bromley, directed by John Farrow, from a screenplay by Lee Katz and Albert DeMond, from a novel by Francis Walton. Photography was by Sid Hickox and art direction by Carl Jules Weyl.

“Women in the Wind” has apparently never been commercially released on VHS or DVD.

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 53 Comments