Tag Archives: 1940s

1904 Oldsmobile In Front Of The Plaza Hotel For Glidden Tour

1904 Oldsmobile Was Old In 1946

When I was a child, Oldsmobile was a brand that I imagined was designed and driven by old people. Figuring the name starts with “Old” it’s easy for an eight-year-old to come up with that natural conclusion.

But I would eventually learn it’s called Oldsmobile because the founder was Ransom E. Olds.

Anyhow, this news photo caption explains why the roofless, windowless, antique was in New York. Continue reading

Jackie Robinson Among Brooklyn Dodgers & New York Giants 1949 All-Stars

Brooklyn Dodgers & New York Giants 1949 All-Stars Pose Together

Selected For All Star Game
New York – July 2 – Quartet of National League ball players selected to play in the All-Star game at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn July 12, get together today at the Polo Grounds before the Giant- Dodger game. Left to right are; Jackie Robinson Dodgers’ second baseman; Pee Wee Reese Dodgers’ shortstop; Willard Marshall Giants outfielder and Johnny Mize Giants first sacker. photo: AP wirephoto

The All-Star game was played during the day starting at 1:30 P.M. on Tuesday, July 12, 1949. Even with rainy weather, 32,577 fans jammed Ebbets Field.  And unlike today where the All-Star game is a joke with opposing players hugging one another during the game, this was a serious competition where each team wanted to win at all costs and show they were the superior league. Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #149 – Mae West & Alice Cooper

Mae West In A Revival & Hitting On Rock Star Alice Cooper

Mae Today
One of Mae West’s most noted successes – a role with which she is now a bit bored – is as a high-living lady in “Diamond Lil”. The play is still being revived. In a New York dressing room in 1949, Miss West puts on some “prop” diamonds – valued at $2,000 – which she wears in the play. photo: Wide World Photos 8/4/1952

Mae West remained in the public eye for decades. First in vaudeville, then the legitimate stage, followed by movies and radio. Topping off her stardom, there were whispers and rumors throughout her career that Mae West was not actually a woman. Continue reading

This 1942 Movie Contains A Great Lesson About Academic Freedom & Free Speech

The Male Animal & Henry Fonda’s Speech On Academic Freedom & Free Speech

Henry Fonda in The Male Animal (1942)

When one reads or hears about the fear of debate and the airing of opposing viewpoints at colleges, it is indicative of a disheartening and sickening trend towards academic totalitarianism.

The issue is not a new one.

The following dialogue is from the 1942 film The Male Animal and describes exactly the quandary we are facing today. Continue reading

1945 – The Future Is Television, Including Home Shopping

Post WWII – Television Is Coming To Your Home

In late Summer 1945, with total victory secured, manufacturers could soon begin producing consumer products rather than armaments. With the transition would come amazing technological advances. Continue reading

Joe DiMaggio Promotes Camel Cigarettes

Joltin’ Joe Enjoys Smoking Camel, The Cigarette With 28% Less Nicotine

Joe DiMaggio’s swing takes up half the space in this Camel cigarette ad which ran in Time Magazine April 6, 1942. It’s as good a way to promote smoking than just showing DiMaggio smoking.

Capturing reader’s attention is always the hard part of magazine advertising. So the series of photos of DiMaggio’s swing probably gets you to examine the page. Generally people buy news magazines to read them, not look at the ads.

Companies have always believed that to attract customers, you should have a celebrity push your product. Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #145 – Edward G. Robinson & Marlene Dietrich

Edward G. Robinson & Marlene Dietrich Take A Break During The Filming Of “Manpower” 1941

Caesar and Glamour
Edward G. Robinson sometimes known as “Little Caesar” currently is appearing as a foreman of a tough gang of trouble-shooting power linemen in Warner Bros.’ “Manpower.” Here he chats with the feminine lead in the film Marlene Dietrich. George Raft completes the cast. Credit: Warner Bros. Studio / King Features Syndicate 1941

It seems as though Robinson is intently studying his co-star. So what did Robinson think of Dietrich? Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #144 – Lucy & Desi 4 Years After Filing For Divorce – 1948

Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz At The Brown Derby Restaurant – 1948

Lucille Ball flashes her best smile as her husband, Desi Arnaz fumbles with a corsage as they dine at the Brown Derby. photo: Acme 3-6-48

In 1948 Lucille Ball was starring in the CBS radio program My Favorite Husband. With the success of the show CBS proposed that Lucy develop My Favorite Husband for the growing medium of television. That show would become I Love Lucy starring Lucy and real life husband Desi Arnaz.

Let’s then contemplate that Lucy’s phenomenal success may never have occurred had she gone through with the divorce she filed against Desi Arnaz on September 7, 1944. Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #139 – Ann Miller

Ann Miller Wears A Giant Hat – 1945

What’s Under A Hat?
If every hat topped such beauty as Ann Miller’s, the male species would probably forget the cracks about milady’s headgear. Who’s going to look at a hat when Miss Miller is under it? She is currently starring in Columbia’s “Eadie Was A Lady.” photo: Columbia Pictures; Ned Scott – 1945

While Eadie Was A Lady was a box office dud, Ann Miller (born Johnnie Lucille Collier, April 12, 1923) did receive good notices for her performance. Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #135- William Holden & Veronica Lake

I Wanted Wings Starring William Holden & Veronica Lake -1941

William Holden Veronica Lake photo Paramount

Heartbreak Pair In New Air Epic
William Holden reaches new stellar heights as a flying cadet whose career is temporarily shattered through his love for Veronica Lake in Paramount’s “I Wanted Wings” an Arthur Hornblow Jr. production based upon the Army Air Corps training and tactics. Blonde and sultry newcomer, Miss Lake, places menace in piece. photo: Paramount.

After appearing Continue reading