Silent Film Actress Cat

[from Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo’s cat adventures blog]

Monday, March 7, 2022, 7:49 am — Teeny Tuxedo … learning about silent film actress, Barbara La Marr, 1896-1926 … born in Yakima, Washington!? [we’re in Vancouver, WA] … “In 1923 she secretly had a child.  She “adopted” the little boy to save face … After her death in 1926, he was adopted by good friend ZaSu Pitts [1894-1963] and her husband Tom Gallery … and renamed Don Gallery.” – imdb … ZaSu Pitts, one of my favorite character actresses … Finnish calendar, Maaliskuu / March, upper left …

… Close-up reflection … Little Tux, 2020, and Little Perk, 2021 … Christmas gifts from Cousin L … spun cotton kittens … by VintagebyCrystal …

Ornate Ramon Novarro

[from My Photo a Day Adventure blog]

Sunday, July 18, 2021, 6:05 pm — The man … The movie … The picture frame … Ramon Novarro, a favorite 1920s-1930s film star … Son of India, 1931 … The MOST exciting antiques shop find, 1991, at the very bottom of a stack photos … vintage MGM Studios … by George Hurrell, “master of Hollywood glamour photography” … Then, the unthinkable … to fit the lovely frame (a gift from Kevin) … I CUT the photo! … Ramon doesn’t look too pleased … But I still have the piece “left on the cutting room floor” … See description and incriminating evidence below …

“Vintage 1931 10″ x 13” doubleweight study of Ramon Novarro by Hurrell. The photo bears Hurrell’s embossed stamp on the lower right border and a credit stamp on the verso. There is also an MGM stamp and a typed snip announcing Ramon’s role in Son of India.” … How far back does my Ramon connection go? See The Mysterious Ramon Novarro, Dec. 28, 2009 …

Under the Lamp Cats

[from Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo’s cat adventures blog]

Tuesday, February 2, 2021, 7:03 pm — Perkins, Teeny Tuxedo … lamplight … Mom’s Stiffel lamp (a pair) …

… Ramon Novarro, 1929 … by George Hurrell (1904-1992) …

… Ramon Novarro as Parcivil, with Pancho Barnes’ horse, Lightning. When Pancho saw this photograph, she exclaimed: “If George Hurrell can make my horse look as beautiful as the most handsome man in America, then everyone should be using George Hurrell as their photographer.” — George Hurrell: Master of Hollywood Glamour Photography …

… 7:28 pm … Perk … not quite so perky yet …

5 years ago … Lamplight Cats, Jan. 3, 2016 …

Silent Movie Cat

[from Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo’s cat adventures blog]

Saturday, December 14, 2019, 12:29 pm — Teeny Tuxedo … disappointed that she couldn’t go see Fritz Lang’s silent film, Metropolis, 1927, at the Hollywood Theatre, across the river in Portland, OR … special screening by the Columbia River Theatre Organ Society, with organist, Dean Lemire …souvenir program, Nov. 30 … invited by Bob H …

Photo from Hollywood Theatre

Behind the Metropolis mask … Brigitte Helm … Maschinenmensch costume …

Peaky Blinders TV Cat

[from Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo’s cat adventures blog]

Tuesday, November 26, 2019, 1:11 am — Perkins … staying up late … watching tv … latest season of British series, Peaky Blinders, 2013-2019 … What are those Birmingham lads up to now? …


… season one, 1919 … season 5, stock market crash, 1929 …

Hollywood Glamour Cat

[from Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo’s cat adventures blog]

Sunday, October 6, 2019, 10:32 am — Teeny Tuxedo … newly catnipped scratcher … and silent film star, Gloria Swanson … with tiger … poster received as gift, 1987 …

• Hollywood Glamour, 1924-1956: Selected Portraits from the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (1987) … book accompanying the exhibition, Aug. 29-Oct. 25, 1987
• Perkins … with Gloria … Sofa Pillows Cat, Jan. 3, 2019

Garbo-esque Cat

[from Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo’s cat adventures blog]

Saturday, November 9, 2018, 11:41 pm — The usually affable Teeny Tuxedo … has reached her affability limit … she’s channeling the reclusive “Swedish Sphinx” … Greta Garbo ... “I vant … to be … ALONE!” …

“I vant … to be … alone!” … or maybe not … Greta Garbo, John Gilbert … Flesh and the Devil, 1926 …

• The Profound Loneliness of Greta Garbo … Smithsonian, Dec. 8, 2017:

“The most famous quip attributed to Greta Garbo is short and sardonic: “I want to be alone.” But the actress, who made a practice of shunning reporters, premieres and fan mail, claimed that she had been misquoted. “I never said, ‘I want to be alone,’” she explained, according to a 1955 piece in LIFE magazine. “I only said, ‘I want to be let alone! There is all the difference.”

I Love to Sing-a

Sunday, May 22, 2016, 1:54 pm — Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo cats saw a bird outside their window …

Who loves to sing-a! …

• Watch “Owl Jolson” in I Love to Singa, 1936 … Merrie Melodies cartoon … Warner Bros. … spoof of Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer, 1927

Song only from cartoon, with lyrics … sung by Tommy Bond, “Butch” in Our Gang, 1937-39:

Originally sung by Al Jolson … The Singing Kid, 1936 … with Cab Calloway …

• See the further cat adventures of Perkins and Teeny Tuxedo on their blog!

The Sun Sets on Downton Abbey

… but not before some wonderfully bright moments … Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson … married at last, in their own style … still to be known as Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson … much to the comfort-level upstairs …

Lady Edith … happy at last … married Bertie Pelham … who, due to a death in the family, falls into a PILE of money, a title, and a pile of a castle … Take THAT, Mary! …

As long as there are DVDs, Blu-rays, streaming video … the sun will never set on the folk at Downton Abbey … Long may they reign!

• Season 6 … the final season … hasn’t completed here in the U.S. on PBS … I couldn’t wait … the DVD set from AmazonPrime arrived last week … 50% off … the end of a 5-year tradition …

But, wait! … There’s more! … the PBS website has tons of extras for all seasons … like Season 6, Episode 3 … Behind the scenes at Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes’ wedding …

Just a casual lunch … Behind the scenes, Season 6, Episode 4 …

• Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey – 2012 blog

Air-Tight David Sharpe

Tossle-haired actor / stuntman, David Sharpe (1910-1980) … Happy Birthday! … February 2 …

Picture this … Turner Classic Movies … September 2006 … 10 years ago! … Air-Tight, 1931 … one of the George Stevens-directed The Boyfriends shorts that day … WHO was that charismatic charmer, doing his own stunts … AND getting the girl? … David Sharpe!!

David Sharpe … What’s the attraction? … Just realized he resembles a certain someone … a favorite … Ramon Novarro … in his early years of dark, tossled hair.

A serendipitous connection … While Ramon starred in Ben-Hur, 1925, David is listed as one of the stuntmen! … See photo of Ramon at bottom of post!

The Boy Friends cast: Grady Sutton, Dorothy Granger, David Sharpe, Gertrude Messinger, Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman … (He and Gertrude Messinger were married in 1932, briefly.)

“Acrobatic Sharpe was a stunt man before becoming a Boy Friend. After leaving the series, he resumed stunt work, appearing in numerous Westerns at Republic Studios. He became a fighter pilot during World War II, then returned to Hollywood, continuing to perform stunts until shortly before his death in 1980.” — Turner Classic Movies

David Sharpe, King of the Royal Mounted, 1940, doubling Allan “Rocky” Lane, bulldogs stuntman Duke Taylor … His early tumbling skills (US National Tumbling Championship in 1925) paid off in his stunt career … Click photo to enlarge …

Ramon Novarro as Judah Ben-Hur, Ben-Hur, 1925 … looking dramatically like David Sharpe … who was an uncredited stuntman on the film … (Buster Gallagher is listed as Ramon’s stunt double.)

• “Appeared in over 4,500 films, while working for every studio in Hollywood … Sharpe told film historian Mark Hall, “When Shana Alexander interviewed me for Life magazine in 1952, she gave up after 4,000. At one time or another, I’ve worked for every studio in Hollywood, for almost every director, with most of the actors and actresses.””
• “Doubled Tony Curtis, Marlon Brando, Alan Ladd, Tyrone Power, John Derek and both Douglas Fairbanks and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.” … (I’ll have to take a closer look at Tony Curtis’s scenes in The Vikings, 1958!)
• “Ranks with Yakima Canutt as Hollywood’s premier stuntman.”

Mighty Joe

December 9, 2014 — Joe Bonomo …

“The son of a Coney Island candy maker and the winner of a Modern Apollo contest, wiry, little Joe Bonomo parlayed his physical culture fame into a lucrative film career as a stunt performer and, at Universal, star of silent serials. The grand prize in the Apollo contest was a 1,000-dollar purse and a screen role opposite celebrity/star Hope Hampton in A Light in the Dark. Joe also doubled Hampton and was well on his way to stardom in such action serials as The Great Circus Mystery, in which he prevented a plot by Hindu agents to steal an invaluable ruby, and The Chinatown Mystery (1928), as a secret service agent battling the mysterious Sphinx. Bonomo made the transition to talkies but a heavy Brooklyn accent prevented him from playing Anthony opposite Claudette Colbert’s Cleopatra (1932) and the sign was on the wall. After performing stunts and playing bit parts in such near-legendary horror films as The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) and Island of Lost Souls (1933), Bonomo returned to the family’s well-established salt water taffy business and later ventured into publishing, an equally thriving venture that culminated with his 1968 autobiography, The Strongman.” ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Ivor Novello

Sunday, November 30, 2014, 1:00 pm — Dark. Welsh. Wonderful … Ivor Novello (1893-1951) … Through the wacky wonders of Google, I searched “Shirley Booth husband” (Bill Baker) … and Ivor appeared … Her wishful thinking husband? … Did she sing one of his songs? Appear in a play? … In any case, thanks Shirley! … Ivor’s name has popped up in my readings of all things British … WWI, theatre, movies, biographies, etc. … but I never took the time to discover who he really was … Now’s the time!

Before Hazel

Sunday, November 30, 2014, 12:30 pm — Shirley Booth, Humphrey Bogart! … Hell’s Bells, 1925, her first Broadway play … “Hazel” was quite a dish! …

Who’s 86?!

November 20, 2014 — Mickey Mouse, that’s who! … Belated birthday mouseka-greetings to Mr. Mouse, whose first appearance, Steamboat Willie, was November 18, 1928 … Thanks, Uncle Walt! … (Mickey’s voice, 1928-1947) …

Historical footnote! … We got our first tv, March 1956 … I was there for the original Mickey Mouse Club (1955-1959) … Dearly (and clearly) remember watching every afternoon … at the Glenwood house … I DID have Mouseketeer ears, but they’re long gone …

“One hour broadcast on ABC, at 5pm every weekday from 1955 to 1957, then thirty minutes each weekday for 1957-59. For the 1958-59 season on ABC, repackaged material from earlier seasons was broadcast each weekday, with Tuesday and Thursday shows retitled Adventure Time, when only serial episodes would be shown.” – The Original Mickey Mouse Club Show

Watch rare color version of the original Mickey Mouse Club opening … (beware of annoying YouTube commercial at beginning) … Although it aired on ABC from 1955 to 1959 in black and white, Disney filmed the credits in color.

Monday, Fun With Music Day … Tuesday, Guest Star Day …

Wednesday, Anything Can Happen Day … Thursday, Circus Day …

The best day … Friday, Talent Roundup Day … Watch Mickey’s intro in color – YouTube!

Talent Roundup Day intro song (season one) – YouTube … with original searchlights opening … I loved their ponies …

Saddle your pony, here we go, down to the talent rodeo
Gather up Susie, Jack and Joe, join the talent roundup!
Round ’em up, bring ’em in, everybody’s sure to win!
Step right up! Here we go! Oh, what a rodeo!

Bring along Dina, Bob and Bill, ask everybody on the hill
We’re gonna have a great big thrill, join the talent roundup!
Step right up! … Here we go! … Join the roundup rodeo!

Do I have the song memorized? … You bet! … Take a gander at the 2nd season Talent Roundup Day intro song … It’s longer and the faux ponies are replaced by a real one!

• Mickey Mouse Club opening (short version, begins with searchlights) and closing – black and white!
• The Original Mickey Mouse Club Show – not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company, but has a great heart!

Swedish Asther

September 21, 2014 — Nils Asther, 1897-1981 … and that other Swede, Greta Garbo … The Single Standard, 1929 …

Glorious Coop

September 19, 2014 — “Don’t speak … No … Don’t speak …” … Gary Cooper was made for silent films …

Didn’t realize, until now, that he was in about 40 silents, credited and uncredited, before his first official talkie, The Virginian, 1929.

“Don’t speak … ”  my favorite scene from Bullets Over Broadway, 1994 … Dianne Wiest to John Cusack … a lovely photo, but not the actual scene … Watch the real “Don’t speak” on YouTube …

“No, no, don’t speak. Don’t speak. Please don’t speak. Please don’t speak. No. No. No.” …

Dianne Wiest won her second Supporting Actress Oscar  … Her first was another Woody Allen film, Hannah and Her Sisters, 1986.

Woody Allen … I was ALWAYS at a movie theater for the latest Woody Allen, late 1970s to early 1990s …

You Laugh at Lupe’s Love?

September 19, 2014 — Gary Cooper and Lupe Velez made one film together, The Wolf Song, 1929 … beginning a tempestuous 3-year relationship …

“Velez’s tempestuous liaison with Gary Cooper drove the tall, handsome, slim actor to lose 40 pounds and suffer a nervous breakdown. Their three-year relationship was marked by brawls and rages, yet they would have married, if not for the vehement disapproval of  Cooper’s mother. Finally, when Gary was boarding the Twentieth Century train to Chicago, vengeful Lupe arrived, pulled a gun and shot several times at her lover, narrowly missing his head. Cooper dove into the car and Velez quickly stormed out of the station, swearing at her lack of marksmanship and escaping arrest.” – “Lupe Velez,” Steve Starr, The Entertainment Magazine, 2006

“Lupe Velez returns to Los Angeles from an eastern trip and falls into the arms of Gary Cooper.” – 1929

• See previous post, Johnny Weissmuller – by Hurrell, Decembert 19, 2013 – for photos of Lupe and Weissmuller, her only husband, 1933-1939.

The Wolf Song … “He is about to bathe in the river just before going to a dance with Lupe Velez.”  – NitrateVille, April 12, 2011

Lookalikes

September 5, 2014 — Dorothy Mackaill on the cover of The New Movie Magazine, January 1931 … looking much happier than in Safe in Hell, also 1931 …

Dorothy always reminds me of Marion Davies … Dorothy, left … Marion, right …

Dorothy, left … Marion, right …

Ramon at Sea

Saturday, August 23, 2014, 2:00 am – A most intriguing, rugged Ramon Novarro, Ben Hur, 1925 …

Aussie Pre-Code

June 26, 2014 — Serendipity is grand! … Looking for photos of Polly of the Circus, 1932, a vampish young Gloria Swanson (above) appeared … on a young Australian woman’s grand  blog, Let’s Misbehave: A Tribute to Precode Hollywood …

Left, her profile picture is Evelyn Nesbit, 1884-1967 …  Amazingly alive and “now”!

Compare this to Evelyn’s Gibson Girl portrait below … Her eyes create a barrier that can’t be breached …

Debbie Reynolds: Auction Finale

… May 17-18, 2014 …

54. Singin’ in the Rain linen-backed 3-sheet poster. (MGM, 1952) Widely considered the most attractive poster for one of the absolute best Hollywood musicals of all time … Quite possibly the only opportunity to own one of the greatest rarities in vintage film-poster collecting.  $3,000 – $5,000

“In 1970, MGM decided to sell off all the props, set pieces, and costumes in their many warehouses, as well as Lot 2, where Singin’ in the Rain was filmed. I tried to buy Lot 2, to create a studio park like Disneyland. MGM sold it to a developer to build condos on instead.

“So I went to the auction and bought everything I could. The following year, 20th Century Fox did the same thing – and so did I, doubling my collection. Since then, I’ve spent decades collecting and preserving the beautiful pieces made famous by our great stars.

“My dream was to build a museum to house all these treasures, and in doing so preserve the history of our beloved entertainment industry.

“Sadly that dream was not to be. In 2011, I auctioned off many of the treasures I’d cherished.

“My daddy loved baseball. He would say that this is my last time at bat. Others will have to build the museums, preserve the collections, and put on the exhibitions. And I believe in my heart that they will. I am thankful that many people now share my respect for the preservation of film history. In 1970, I was practically alone in this vision.

“For all the people who worked so hard to build our movie magic, I turn my part of this history over to new generations of collectors and fans. May it bring you as much joy as it did me.” — Debbie Reynolds

Left – 712. Group of (16) Elsie Janis stage and personal wardrobe dating from the 1920s. – page 323 … See previous post, Elsie Janis – “Good-bye-ee” from “Behind the Lines,” 1926 – March 28, 2010

Hollywood Easter

Our Gang …

Jean Arthur …

Hur-rying to 2014

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, 10:20 pm —  Ramon Novarro, Ben Hur, 1925 …

Duke Kahanamoku

Nov. 23, 2013 — He brightens up any day …

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968),
is generally regarded as the inventor of the modern sport of surfing. He was also an Olympic swimming champion …

Above — Photo signed Feb. 11, 1915 … After first Olympic gold, 1912, Stockholm, Sweden.

Above — Second Olympic gold, Antwerp, Belgium, 1920.

Above — With Johnny Weissmuller, 1924 Paris Olympics

Above — Duke (left) with his brother, 1924 Paris Olympics … Silver medal.

Behind the Metropolis Mask

Sept. 9, 2013 —

Brigitte Helm –  Maschinenmensch costume. Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, 1927.