The most surprising thing about Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet is not that it stars the usually typecast gangster Edward G. Robinson as a doctor. The fact that it was made in 1940 Continue reading
This undated publicity photograph from the 1940s shows Alexis Smith in a sultry pose.
There have been movie stars with the last name Smith. But the big studios encouraged promising actors named Smith to change it to something else.
The most successful Smith actor of all-time was arguably Gladys Smith. But she changed her name to the more glamorous sounding Mary Pickford. Continue reading
Bogy, Baby & Boy
Humphrey Bogart’s wife, Lauren Bacall, known to the public as “Baby”, and their son Stevie, pay Bogart a visit on the set at 20th Century-Fox where he is starring in the newspaper story, “Deadline U.S.A.” Little Stevie takes an active interest in movie production, since he plans to be a movie star like his daddy when he grows up. credit: 20th Century-Fox December 27, 1951
When Humphrey Bogart made Deadline U.S.A. for 20th Century-Fox he was on loan from Warner Bros. to Fox. Maybe that is why the Fox publicity department did not care if they spelled Bogart’s nickname, “Bogey” correctly or not. In September of 1953 Bogart finally ended his long association with Warner Bros. having previously formed his own production company, Santana Productions to make independent productions including six films with Columbia Pictures between 1949 – 1951.
Steohen Humphrey Bogart (born January 6, 1949) did not follow in his father’s footsteps. Continue reading
Pitching For Pictures
Hollywood, Calif. – Bob Lemon, (left) star hurler of the Cleveland Indians, goes through some mound paces with actor Ronald Reagan, who’ll play the famed Grover Cleveland Alexander in a film now in production. Lemon, who also has a part in the film, was hired to give Reagan a few tips on pitching style. credit: United Press (1/28/52)
The subject has the makings of a fine dramatic movie. The Winning Team (1952) starring future President Ronald Reagan along with Doris Day is Continue reading
The Charge of The Powder Puff Brigade
These Warner starlets (L. to R.) Jane Wyman, Shirley Lloyd, Ann Nagel, Marie Wilson, Linda Perry, Jane Bryan, Rosalind Marquis and Carol Hughes, prepare to “fire” from their portable outdoor dressing table. photo: Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. 1937
The headline here is a spoof of the 1936 film The Charge of The Light Brigade starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Continue reading
In 1941, Warner Bros. talent scout Solly Baiano went to an Elks Lodge picnic in Sacramento, CA. for a talent try-out for young people. As usual at events like these, there was no talent at the picnic. But as Baiano was walking back to his car he stopped in his tracks when he came upon Dolores Moran sitting near his path eating a hot dog. Baiano froze and just stared at Moran later saying she “struck me blind.”
Dolores Moran was just 15-years-old. She had not entered the talent contest thinking she was too young. At five foot seven and 123 pounds the well developed teen was just the type of talent Baiano was looking for. Continue reading
Unfortunately none of Mack Sennett’s bathing beauties are identified in this photograph. Though I believe the woman second from the left is Virginia Fox, later the wife of Daryl F. Zanuck. Sennett employed Zanuck as a writer before he became a studio chief for Warner Bros. and later 20th Century Fox. Most of Sennett’s bathing beauties were anonymous. But some went onto fame, including Marie Prevost, Phyllis Haver, Carole Lombard and Gloria Swanson. Continue reading
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
“Next!” Says Make-up Artist Buddy Westmore
Screen and radio character actress Agnes Moorehead has been properly aged for her role of a 105-year-old woman in Walter Wanger’s “The Lost Moment,” by Buddy Westmore, Universal-International make-up head. The transparent lightweight facial appliance required four hours to apply and one hour to remove. The Lost Moment stars Robert Cummings and Susan Hayward and was directed by Martin Gabel. Photo: Universal International June 30, 1947
Maybe Moorehead’s face looks 105, but not her legs.
Agnes Moorehead (1900-1974) did not gain movie notoriety until she was 41. Her first film was quite memorable – Citizen Kane. Moorehead’s enduring fame to a younger generation was for playing Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) mother Endora on the television show Bewitched.
In a strange twist, Agnes Moorehead’s mother Mary Mildred McCauley Moorehead died June 8, 1990, sixteen years after her daughter. She was 106-years-old.
If you look at the credits on classic films you may notice the name Westmore appearing frequently. Continue reading
An out of work man, a beautiful woman, gangsters, an about to retire visually impaired cop, an escaped lion and a robbery at The Central Park Casino make up the plot of Warner Bros. 1932 drama Central Park. Continue reading
