Category Archives: Movies

Movie Advertising From The New York Daily News 1974

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What’s Playing At The Movies – Ads From The Daily News 1974

That’s Entertainment Alongside Porn

Because I own some old newspapers that report historic events, I was looking at the New York Daily News of August 27, 1974 announcing the death of Charles Lindbergh on the front page. Turning the pages my attention was drawn to the movie advertisements.

The ads are simple, frequently without captivating graphics and  usually lacking even brief summaries of the plot of the movies. Besides giving the theatres and times they were playing at, these ads were supposed to attract potential viewers with the title, the stars or a reviewers blurb.

The disarray of the motion picture industry in the seventies is evident in the variety of films playing at theaters.

Adjacently advertised next to one another are Deep Throat; The Devil In Miss Jones; The Longest Yard and Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia. Two X-rated and two R-rated films.

Deep Throat (1973) was the first “mainstream” pornographic film. It was Continue reading →

Brigitte Bardot Dies At 91 – First American News Feature Was 1952

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Brigitte Bardot Dead

Was Noticed By A Hollywood News Writer In 1952 Before Worldwide Fame

Brigitte Bardot in Madrid, Spain, 1957 photographer: Peter Basch

Brigitte Bardot, who quit film acting at age 39 in 1973 to devote herself to animal rights is dead.

The Fondation Brigitte Bardot who announced her death did not reveal a cause, place or date that she died.

Her obituary appears worldwide, so we will not cover the details of her long and sometimes controversial life or film career.

What interested us is: when did Bardot first come to notice in the United States? Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #188 – Paul Lynde & Elizabeth Montgomery

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Paul Lynde & Elizabeth Montgomery In Bewitched – 1968

This publicity photograph comes from the ABC Television Network for the comedy series Bewitched. This episode is The No-Harm Charm which originally aired on ABC on Thursday April 25, 1968 and re-aired August 29, 1968 from 8:30 – 9:00 P.M. EDT.

Special guest star Paul Lynde appeared eleven times from 1965-1971 in Bewitched. Lynde’s first appearance was as driving instructor Harold Harold in 1965,  However, after that episode Lynde had a recurring role in the series as Uncle Arthur.

In The No-Harm Charm Uncle Arthur gives Darrin (Dick York) a charm Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #187 – Marie Wilson Protests Wearing A Corset

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Marie Wilson Stages A Protest Against “Fencing Her In” With A Corset

There was no news slug on the rear of this photograph, but tracking down what the commotion was all about was easy. It’s a publicity stunt of the silliest magnitude.

Film Lovelies Protest Corsets, Win Short Ribs
Hollywood, CA – Carrying signs and corsets Hollywood lovelies picket a movie studio. They are from left, with “No! To Corsets” sign is Marie Wilson, in background, Judy Cook, the picketed producer Albert Lewin and Darlene De Mos. photo: AP 5/15/1946

The Des Moines Register was one of the news Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #186 – Joan Blondell & Bette Davis

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Joan Blondell & Bette Davis – Three On A Match 1932

Joan Blondell (left) plays Mary Keaton and Bette Davis is Ruth Westcott in the1932 film Three On A Match.

The story is about three women (Ann Dvorak completes the trio) who attend high school together and how their lives intertwine when they meet again years later. Three on a match is a superstition – don’t light three cigarettes from one match, otherwise you will have bad luck. As you might figure out from the movie’s title, bad luck does ensue.

This unusual production still taken at Santa Monica beach has the co-stars standing on a platform with a large microphone. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #185 – June Haver

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June Haver Promotes National Cat Week – 1949

The Cat And The Blonde
Hollywood: Film star June Haver is amazed at some of the facts connected with cats as she helps the American Feline Society get the 1949 National Cat Week rolling. For instance, did you know that cats were kept as pets in ancient Egypt? Kitty’s been chasing mice since before the pyramids were built. photo; Acme/ 20th Century Fox 10-31-1949

One of the sillier promotional stills we have come across, is this bathing suit cheesecake photo from 20th Century Fox which was repurposed by Acme news photos to promote Cat Week.

June Haver (1926-2005) appeared in only 18 films Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #184 – Brian Aherne & Wife Eleanor

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Brian Aherne Dancing With His Wife Eleanor Labrot 1948

While standing next to Brian Aherne at a party one day, Gary Cooper said quietly out of the side of his mouth, “How tall are you?”

“Six foot two and a half,” Aherne answered.

“Me too,” said Cooper. “Never admit to six foot three!”

A few years later at a party in Washington D.C., General George C. Marshall asked the identical question in the identical way.

“I used Gary’s line to reply six two and a half, never admit to six foot three,” Aherne said. And the General replied, “Me too!”

The point is Continue reading →

Clint Eastwood Singing On His 1962 Album

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Go Ahead… Make My Song,

Clint Eastwood 1960s Crooner

When you say the name Clint Eastwood, the first thing that comes to your mind is usually not “singer.”

The actor, director and producer turned 95 on May 31, 2025. Eastwood has not appeared in a film since 2021’s Cry Macho, but he did direct Juror #2 in 2024. Next up for producer Eastwood, is a remake of The Gauntlet starring Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson, currently in pre-production.

Though Clint Eastwood has sung in many movies, few people associate, Eastwood, “The Man With No Name” and “Dirty Harry” as a vocalist.

But back when Eastwood Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #182 – Constance Bennett

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Constance Bennett – Service de Luxe 1938

If classic film fans are familiar with Constance Bennett (1904-1965) , it is usually through two films, Topper (1937) and What Price Hollywood? (1932).

The production still above from the 1938 romance comedy film Service de Luxe is one of many that Bennett made and is now forgotten.

What Price Hollywood? is the first version Continue reading →