Category: Uncategorized

September 30, 2012 /

As you might have gleaned by now, when there’s a story to tell about Hollywood, I’m inclined to change the names and mix it up a bit to protect the innocent. What follows is mostly true, except what’s not. Ben had been raised in a show-biz bubble, tutored on set,…

September 30, 2012 /

As you might have gleaned by now, when there’s a story to tell about Hollywood, I’m inclined to change the names and mix it up a bit to protect the innocent. What follows is mostly true, except what’s not. Once upon a time a gifted comedienne, Marion Davies, fell hard…

September 29, 2012 /

Okay, it was my intention when I started this blog never to be crass, or destructive, or part of the weird gawker aspect of a fame driven news cycle; and to that end I’ve tried to write pieces mostly on Hollywood history – which means I usually write about people…

September 28, 2012 /

The interior courtyard at Union Station:

September 28, 2012 /

The shop yard – Union Station:

September 27, 2012 /

Get a shave: Buy a cigar: Have a meal at the Harvey House restaurant designed by Mary Colter:

September 26, 2012 /

I’ve recently been contacted by one of the children of these glorious gals, they inform me the band’s manager, Dr. Leonard Stallcup, kept them on a tight leash and they were very sheltered, not at all like the characters in SOME LIKE IT HOT. You can hear them play on…

September 25, 2012 /

A nice publicity still showing director Fritz Lang conferring with actress Joan Bennett and costume designer Travis Banton over a wardrobe sketch. Later we’ll talk about the influence of Fritz Lang (“M” and “Metropolis”) on filmmaking  – and how costume designers like Travis Banton of Paramount created looks that conveyed…

September 25, 2012 /

This is, perhaps, the weirdest cake I’ve ever seen:

September 25, 2012 /

Joe E. Brown celebrates his birthday with friends, George Gray, Chester Conklin, Pinto Colvig, and Billy Beltcher, in 1963: