


The ultimate insider from another era – on Marion Davies and W.R. Hearst
The Villa Carlotta was a fun place to live… SOUTH OF BEACHWOOD CANYON | BEGUILING HOLLYWOOD. Louella’s apartment was across from ours… Louella entertained a lot, and William Hearst and… Read more The ultimate insider from another era – on Marion Davies and W.R. Hearst →

The wry and wonderful Bette Davis has a unique perspective on Louella Parsons…
Bette Davis putting on a game face at William Randolph Hearst’s birthday party, wedged between Hearst and his minion, Louella. Interviewed by Dick Cavett, Bette has few things to say… Read more The wry and wonderful Bette Davis has a unique perspective on Louella Parsons… →

King Vidor was a frequent guest at the castle, directed Marion Davies in three comedies, and said Hearst had a big lamblike face…
He wrote a marvelous book about his early days in Hollywood called, A Tree is a Tree, and while Marion was his friend, and at times Hearst was his boss,… Read more King Vidor was a frequent guest at the castle, directed Marion Davies in three comedies, and said Hearst had a big lamblike face… →

Here are some stills from a wonderful silent comedy about Hollywood directed by King Vidor, and starring Marion Davies

Am I allowed to say I find Hearst Castle to be an oppressive nightmare?
Really, the main house takes the term “baronial” to new heights and there’s some truly odd stuff there pinched from all over Europe. It gives me the creeps. (I should… Read more Am I allowed to say I find Hearst Castle to be an oppressive nightmare? →

MARION DAVIES HOUSE LIT UP FOR CHRISTMAS – 1937
I may have mentioned Marion’s domestic arrangements and a boxy, boring, Tudor… My friend at http://foxpudding.wordpress.com/ said I must be referring to Mr. Hearst. If you check out his posts… Read more MARION DAVIES HOUSE LIT UP FOR CHRISTMAS – 1937 →

MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY – CONTINUED
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… Read more MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY – CONTINUED →