When Jean Harlow died at the age of 26 in 1937 it was a shock to the world. Harlow’s films were big money makers for MGM Continue reading
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
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
If you have never heard the name of Linda Watkins, you can easily be forgiven. But you might recognize her face with appearances in many television programs and a few movies from the 1950s through the 1970s.
Heralded to become a major star with a very strong performance in her 1931 film debut, Sob Sister, Watkins then made only five more films before taking a 17 year screen hiatus. Continue reading
Comedian W.C. Fields does not strike me as someone who would have had any passion for baseball. In James Curtis’ comprehensive 2003 biography of Fields, not one page mentions baseball or any player of the National Pastime. So the news caption below for this photograph is pure Hollywood ballyhoo. Continue reading
Did the two “eligible bachelor” movie stars living together have more than a roommate experience?
Here is what Continue reading
A Pair Of Heavy Hitters And A Manager
The New York Yankees are preparing for the coming baseball season at St. Petersburg, Florida. Shown above left to right, are, Lou Gehrig, first baseman who swats homers, now and then, manager McCarthy and George Herman “Babe” Ruth, sometimes described as “The King of Swat.” photo: Associated Press March 5, 1931
1931 would not turn out to be a pennant winning season for the Yankees. But you could not blame Lou Gehrig or Babe Ruth. Gehrig led the league with 46 home runs and 185 RBI’s. Gehrig’s batting average Continue reading
This scene is from 1932 along the waterfront. Our copy of the original news caption from the rear of the photo is incomplete. Continue reading
Election Night At Crossroads Of The World
In keeping with the tradition Times Square was jammed until traffic was halted, as crowds watched election returns. Photo shows part of the crowd at Times Square, election night. Photo: Acme 11/6/1934
For entertainment in 1934 you could go to the Loew’s State Theater and see Mae West in Belle of the Nineties.
Or on the night of November 6 you could entertain yourself by standing in the street. Continue reading
Clark Gable and his father April 20, 1937 photo: Los Angeles Daily News
The support of your parents is helpful especially if someone is trying to extort you.
Clark Gable (1901-1960) is seen here talking with his father William Henry Gable (1870-1948) at Federal Court in Los Angeles. Continue reading
