Tag Archives: 1930s

Classic Hollywood #159 – Humphrey Bogart Gets Married

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Humphrey Bogart Marries Wife Number Three, Mayo Methot – 1938

Few Hollywood duos are eternally associated with one another like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

Bogie and Bacall. Bogie and Betty. Bogie’s baby. All phrases indicating the inexorable linking of the couple.

But Lauren Bacall was not Humphrey Bogart’s first wife.

Humphrey Bogart was married three times before meeting and falling in love with Lauren Bacall during the 1943 filming of To Have and Have Not. Bogart was 43, Bacall just 19.

Bogart’s first wife Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #157 – Betty Grable Poses For USC Trojan Sculptor

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Betty Grable Is Model For “Spirit Of Hollywood” – 1937

photo: World Wide PhotosHollywood, Calif: Roger Noble Burnham, noted sculptor last night presented his latest work, “Spirit of Hollywood,” to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the women’s division. Miss Betty Grable, actress was present last night and was chosen by Burnham as his model because in “Spirit of Hollywood,” he sought to depict youth, beauty and energy moving forward and looking upward, but with “both feet on the ground.” The sculptor said he felt Miss Grable exemplified this, as she worked her way upward through childhood in Hollywood. The life size plaque will be on display in the Chamber’s auditorium. Photo shows: Roger Noble Burnham, noted sculptor, completing his plaque of Miss Betty Grable, actress, shown posing for Burnham. photo: Wide World Photos 11/9/1937

Among Roger Noble Burnham’s (1876-1962)  most enduring works is the sculpture on the campus of The University of Southern California (1930) called Trojan Shrine aka Tommy Trojan. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #156 – Mary Pickford & Buddy Rogers Get Engaged

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The Engagement Of Mary Pickford & Buddy Rogers – 1936

Mary Pickford Buddy Rogers photo Wide World“America’s Sweetheart” Formally Announces Engagement
Hollywood, Calif – Photo shows: Mary Pickford, “America’s Sweetheart” and Charles “Buddy” Rogers film actor and orchestra leader at the dinner party formally announcing their engagement. They expect to be married in the spring, in Hollywood. He must be in London for a film production January 4. She expects to go abroad, possibly with her niece, and Rogers’ mother in December. photo Wide World Photos 11/21/1936

Here is the Hollywood publicity machine Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #155 – Spencer Tracy

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Spencer Tracy In “Now I’ll Tell” 1934

It could have been a good movie.

Spencer Tracy portrays the complexities of the man that this film was based upon.

Now I’ll Tell was written by Mrs. Carolyn Rothstein, widow of New York gambler and crime boss Arnold Rothstein. Continue reading →

Not A Halloween Prop, Long Island Boys Find A Human Skull In A Torture Device

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Long Island Kids Dig Up A Real Skeleton Horror – 1934

This news photograph showing a skull that might be a prop from a Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi horror film, are the actual remains of an ancient criminal that were discovered two centuries after his demise.

The news slug explains: Continue reading →

Jacob Ruppert & Joe McCarthy Before World Series Game 1 1936

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Yankees Owner Jacob Ruppert & Manager Joe McCarthy At Game 1, 1936 World Series

Good Luck, Joe
Colonel Jacob Ruppert, owner of the Yankees, autographs a baseball for Joe McCarthy, Yank manager, as a token of best wishes before the start of the opening game of the World Series with the Giants, at the latter’s home park, The Polo Grounds, New York City. photo: Acme September 30, 1936

This photograph reminds us that there used to be no playoffs in baseball.  The two best teams Continue reading →

Hack Wilson Home Run Pace Ahead Of Babe Ruth

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On August 30, 1930 Hack Wilson Was On A Pace To Pass Ruth’s 60 Home Runs

Hack Wilson Hits 46th Homer Passes Ruth
Wham! A home run and no doubt about it. The ball is on its way to center field bleacher  for Hack Wilson’s 46th home run of the season. A second later Hack started his jog around the bases, following Kiki Cuyler over the plate for the Cub’s ninth and tenth runs of August 30th’s game, in the fourth inning. Mancuso of the Cardinals is the catcher. Wilson is now two runs ahead of Babe Ruth.  Photo taken August 30, 1930. Pacific & Atlantic Photos

Pursuing Babe Ruth’s 60 home run record set in 1927 was an elusive feat. Besides Wilson, Jimmie Foxx (1932) and Hank Greenberg (1938) came close: each hitting 58 home runs. Ruth’s record stood for 34 years until Roger Maris hit 61 homers in 1961. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #152 – Barbara Stanwyck Boxing

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Barbara Stanwyck, Boxer, In Breakfast For Two – 1937

Barbara Stanwyck knocks some good sense into Herbert Marshall, her playboy sweetheart, in their new RKO Radio picture, “Breakfast For Two.” Under the tutelage of ex-ring champ Tommy Herman, she developed a right upper-cut guaranteed to make any erring lover see the light…and a few stars thrown in! photo: RKO

Every month you can count on several films on TCM starring Barbara Stanwyck. Even if the film isn’t any good, Stanwyck usually is.

When I first saw this photograph of Stanwyck in boxing gloves all I could think of was Frank Fay, Stanwyck’s first husband. Stanwyck could have used the boxing gloves in real life as Fay would frequently beat Stanwyck, sometimes in an alcoholic rage, other times just to show her who was boss. Continue reading →