Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino enjoyed a level of fame that is difficult to comprehend these days. He was mysterious, romantic and beautiful.
In the days of silent movies, the stars were much more romantic and mysterious simply because audiences had to imagine what the stars voices sounded like. Any time one is given just a snippet of something charming, it becomes that much more valuable. This simple fact combined with the fact that the movie stars were more conservative added to the level of respect they commanded.
One can not imagine Katherine Hepburn doing a Sandra Bullock at the Oscars, making out with a woman to gain attention from men, just as a cheesy girls gone wild chick. The had poise, and an image that they lived up to. These were perfect people who were the excellent role models for success.
Rudolph Valentino was handsome, classy, and sophisticated. His personal life was tortured by his inability to thoroughly cope with his fame. He was used by opportunistic women, and manipulated by studio bosses.
Articles on Classic Hollywood
Articles Pertaining To The Golden Age Of Hollywood. Read to your hearts desire...
Deanna Durbin
Tragic Beauties
Rudolph Valentino
The Unsolved Murder of William Desmond Taylor
Jean Harlow, Hollywood Goddess
The Elisabeth Taylor / Eddie Fisher Scandal
Rita Hayworth, Gilda and the Real World
I Love Lucy
The Three Stooges
Classic Hollywood Monsters
Gloria Swanson and Joe Kennedy
About Marilyn Monroe
John Karlen from Dark Shadows
Hitchcock and the Blondes
Lana Turner / Johnny Stompanato Scandal
William Haines, First Gay Movie Star
The Gloria Swanson Story
Deanna Durbin
Tragic Beauties
Rudolph Valentino
The Unsolved Murder of William Desmond Taylor
Jean Harlow, Hollywood Goddess
The Elisabeth Taylor / Eddie Fisher Scandal
Rita Hayworth, Gilda and the Real World
I Love Lucy
The Three Stooges
Classic Hollywood Monsters
Gloria Swanson and Joe Kennedy
About Marilyn Monroe
John Karlen from Dark Shadows
Hitchcock and the Blondes
Lana Turner / Johnny Stompanato Scandal
William Haines, First Gay Movie Star
The Gloria Swanson Story
Monday, June 25, 2012
Jean Harlow's Tormented Life
Jean Harlow had it all-but a bizarre marriage and mother who had become devoted to Scientology let her early death at 26.
Beautiful Jean Harlow's life was ruined by the two people who loved hr most, hr husband and hr mother.
It all began on her wedding night in 1932. Harlow's new hubby, MGM executive Paul Bern, tearfully admitted he was physically incapable of consummating their marriage.
Drunken Bern was begging for her understanding, and trying to both use her image as a sex goddess to keep people from thinking that he was not a real man, and hoping that because she was such a goddess that she may actually be able to help him.
Jean was heartbroken because she thought that Paul was someone who loved her for who she really was, not because she was a sex symbol. The broke into a terrible fight, hurling insults at each other, until it degenerated into a physical altercation. Jean emerged with some bruises, but was not seriously hurt.
2 months later Bern committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
Bern mismanaged his money and in order to make a dent in his debt, Harlow worked practically non stop.
Several years later Jean's mother abandoned her husband and( many believed she was jealous of her daughter's stardom) had a complete emotional collapse, turning to Christian Science.
In 1935 while filming "Wife vs. Secretary", with Clark Gable. Jean collapsed from fatigue and overwork. Jean's mother nursed her daughter, but the condition was more serious than suspected.
Harlow's film crews were accustomed to her frequent breaks to go to the bathroom,, as a result of Bern's wedding night beating, which had damaged her kidneys, unaware herself of how serious her condition was, Jean put off seeing a doctor and after a few day's rest was back at work.
Harlow's year was 1936. She was a top box office draw and she became engaged to handsome William Powell.
It was in "libeled Lady," paired with Specner Tracy, that Harlow was at her peak. Powell winced during filming of Jean's love scenes with Tracy, who played them up to tease Powell. "Must you be so realistic, Spencer?"
"Of course Bill," Tracy would answer, "It's all for art, you know."
Jean giggled in the back ground. For insurance, Powell gave his fiancee a 150 carat $20,000 star sapphire for Christmas.
In May 1937 Harlow became seriously ill with an inflamed gallbladder, and on Saturday, may 29, 1937 ,and on Saturday 29, 1937 on the set of "Saratoga" she collapsed in Gable's arms.
She was exhausted and assumed she just need rest over the weekend. She went to Mamma Jean's despite protest from her co-workers.that she go to a hospital. Her already damaged kidneys severely weakened by the gallbladder attack, were beginning to fail, but no one, not even Jean, knew what was happening.
Mamma Jean, in her twisted state of mind, saw this as her big chance to put everyone in her debt. She would heal her baby Jean through simple prayer, while assuring Jean's friends that she was recovering quickly.
When Jean was not back on the set by Tuesday, her friends decided to see for themselves. Gable, Frank Morgan, Powell, director Jack Conway and producer Bernie Hyman forced their way into Mama Jean's home. She led the men to Jean's bedroom, triamphantly pointing toward her daughter. 'Dosen't she look beter now"?
They starred in horror at Jean, who lay semiconscious moaning and belching, nauseated, and burining with fever. Her back, chest and shoulders were racked with pain. Her pulse was dangeriously erratic.
Mamma Jean's idea of "better" was killing her daughter. Adhering devoutly to her Christian science principles and blinded by jealousy of her daughter, she refused to allow a doctor to see Jean, who was now too ill to speak for herself.
Jean's friends tried frantically to reach Jean's faher for permission for surgery, but he could not be located. With time running out, they searched for another way around the stubborn Mrs. Bello.
By Sunday, June 6, the situation was desperate.
Jean's closest pals stood by helplessly frustrated, watching her slip away. She needed massive sedation now for pain.
"She is not sick!" Mama Jean insisted. "She is just pretending to make a fool of me."
When Louis B. Mayer, the one man Mama Jean was afraid of, caught wind of it all, he sent an ambulance and within hours Jean Harlow was pronounced dead at age 26.
The Glory Days of Hollywood is a highly researched blog of all stars and stories from old Hollywood. Just type in the search bar located on the right side bar, or under "Blog Archive" and find what you are looking for. If you choose to type a name such as "Lana Turner" in the search bar, links will appear at the top of the current article you are visiting that contain the star or subject you are looking for. Just click those links.
Beautiful Jean Harlow's life was ruined by the two people who loved hr most, hr husband and hr mother.
It all began on her wedding night in 1932. Harlow's new hubby, MGM executive Paul Bern, tearfully admitted he was physically incapable of consummating their marriage.
Drunken Bern was begging for her understanding, and trying to both use her image as a sex goddess to keep people from thinking that he was not a real man, and hoping that because she was such a goddess that she may actually be able to help him.
Jean was heartbroken because she thought that Paul was someone who loved her for who she really was, not because she was a sex symbol. The broke into a terrible fight, hurling insults at each other, until it degenerated into a physical altercation. Jean emerged with some bruises, but was not seriously hurt.
2 months later Bern committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
Bern mismanaged his money and in order to make a dent in his debt, Harlow worked practically non stop.
Several years later Jean's mother abandoned her husband and( many believed she was jealous of her daughter's stardom) had a complete emotional collapse, turning to Christian Science.
In 1935 while filming "Wife vs. Secretary", with Clark Gable. Jean collapsed from fatigue and overwork. Jean's mother nursed her daughter, but the condition was more serious than suspected.
Harlow's film crews were accustomed to her frequent breaks to go to the bathroom,, as a result of Bern's wedding night beating, which had damaged her kidneys, unaware herself of how serious her condition was, Jean put off seeing a doctor and after a few day's rest was back at work.
Harlow's year was 1936. She was a top box office draw and she became engaged to handsome William Powell.
It was in "libeled Lady," paired with Specner Tracy, that Harlow was at her peak. Powell winced during filming of Jean's love scenes with Tracy, who played them up to tease Powell. "Must you be so realistic, Spencer?"
"Of course Bill," Tracy would answer, "It's all for art, you know."
Jean giggled in the back ground. For insurance, Powell gave his fiancee a 150 carat $20,000 star sapphire for Christmas.
In May 1937 Harlow became seriously ill with an inflamed gallbladder, and on Saturday, may 29, 1937 ,and on Saturday 29, 1937 on the set of "Saratoga" she collapsed in Gable's arms.
She was exhausted and assumed she just need rest over the weekend. She went to Mamma Jean's despite protest from her co-workers.that she go to a hospital. Her already damaged kidneys severely weakened by the gallbladder attack, were beginning to fail, but no one, not even Jean, knew what was happening.
Mamma Jean, in her twisted state of mind, saw this as her big chance to put everyone in her debt. She would heal her baby Jean through simple prayer, while assuring Jean's friends that she was recovering quickly.
When Jean was not back on the set by Tuesday, her friends decided to see for themselves. Gable, Frank Morgan, Powell, director Jack Conway and producer Bernie Hyman forced their way into Mama Jean's home. She led the men to Jean's bedroom, triamphantly pointing toward her daughter. 'Dosen't she look beter now"?
They starred in horror at Jean, who lay semiconscious moaning and belching, nauseated, and burining with fever. Her back, chest and shoulders were racked with pain. Her pulse was dangeriously erratic.
Mamma Jean's idea of "better" was killing her daughter. Adhering devoutly to her Christian science principles and blinded by jealousy of her daughter, she refused to allow a doctor to see Jean, who was now too ill to speak for herself.
Jean's friends tried frantically to reach Jean's faher for permission for surgery, but he could not be located. With time running out, they searched for another way around the stubborn Mrs. Bello.
By Sunday, June 6, the situation was desperate.
Jean's closest pals stood by helplessly frustrated, watching her slip away. She needed massive sedation now for pain.
"She is not sick!" Mama Jean insisted. "She is just pretending to make a fool of me."
When Louis B. Mayer, the one man Mama Jean was afraid of, caught wind of it all, he sent an ambulance and within hours Jean Harlow was pronounced dead at age 26.
The Glory Days of Hollywood is a highly researched blog of all stars and stories from old Hollywood. Just type in the search bar located on the right side bar, or under "Blog Archive" and find what you are looking for. If you choose to type a name such as "Lana Turner" in the search bar, links will appear at the top of the current article you are visiting that contain the star or subject you are looking for. Just click those links.
The Lavender Boy, William Haines
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| William Haines |
Since the innocents of the 1920's allowed Haines to play parts n which he was just a boyish, cutie, this would never fly today as he would only be cast as flaming gays, his career took off and he was featured in a string of major silent movies alongside of the biggest stars of the day.
After years of riding high on the Hollywood fame scene, he was getting older, looking a little too mature to be playing silly boys, and his career was quickly fading.
Knowing he needed to do something besides hang around and be a "has been", Haines used his friendship with the high earners to help launch his new career as an interior decorator. His designs were stunning, off beat, and classic.
To this day people cherish the "Haines" designs that remain.
A true Hollywood happy ending. To view William Haines story click, Gay in Hollywood, William Haines.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Hollywood's Golden age of scandal
There was plenty of scandal in the glory days of Hollywood. From Rudolph Valentino's Strange marriages to domineering women, to the Liz Taylor, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds triangle.
These topics have kept the busy bodies very busy, and laid the groundwork for numerous books, movies and plays. Glamour, wealth and pure ego are the main ingredients in tragic scandal. When you take people who have it all, they want it all, and that can lead to some pretty juicy stuff. Who can ever forget the odd occurrence in Lana Turners mansion in 1958, when beautiful young hoodlum, Johnny Stompanato was stabbed to death by Turner's 14 year old daughter. The strange lives of the beautiful people can be beyond intriguing. Turner had so many men passing through her life, and wanted rid of her young lover after she had finished with him, but Johnny would have none of that. He demanded that she make an honest man out of him by making him her husband and taking him to the Oscars with her. Johnny's dream bubble burst when fearing for her mother's life, Cheryl Crane, Lana's one and only, grabbed a kitchen knife and ended her fear.
The tragic lives of goddesses such as Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, and numerous others is a hot topic. We always fantasize about having that much beauty, and that much wealth, believing it will solve all of our problems, But, somehow these "perfect people" find a way to be unhappy and troubled.
A long forgotten Hollywood scandal was the Paul Kelly, Dorothy Mackaye and Ray Raymond case. I am still trying to figure out details about that one. It happened so long ago, but its as juicy today as it was in the late 20's. Handsome Paul was having an affair with Ray's wife Dorothy, and when the two men wound up in a fist fight, Ray died two days later, resulting in a scandal, prison, and gossip, gossip gossip.
Politics and the stars have always had a connection. When the democrats want to cheat on their wives they have a host of beautiful and willing stars who will give them their vote and a whole lot more. Joe Kennedy had his affair with Gloria Swanson until she had enough of the Kennedy lies, games, and selfishness.
The Hollywood secret love child between Loretta Young and Clark Gable never became a full blown scandal thanks to Loretta never admitting her "adopted" child was really hers. While filming Call Of The . Wild, Loretta Young became pregnant with her co-stars child. An elaborate cover up was staged to convince movie goers that the young and single Loretta just decided to adopt a child.
One of the most interesting and confusing Hollywood scandal was the Murder of William Desmond Taylor . Since the case was never solved officially, there continues to be speculation. However, after much research, including reading King Vidors findings, I am convinced that William Desmond Taylor was killed by Charlotte Shelby, the jealous mother of young actress Mary Miles Minter.
Since the turn of the century Hollywood has been scandal ridden, and there does not seem to be any letting up on those notorious stories that make us glad we are normal.
These topics have kept the busy bodies very busy, and laid the groundwork for numerous books, movies and plays. Glamour, wealth and pure ego are the main ingredients in tragic scandal. When you take people who have it all, they want it all, and that can lead to some pretty juicy stuff. Who can ever forget the odd occurrence in Lana Turners mansion in 1958, when beautiful young hoodlum, Johnny Stompanato was stabbed to death by Turner's 14 year old daughter. The strange lives of the beautiful people can be beyond intriguing. Turner had so many men passing through her life, and wanted rid of her young lover after she had finished with him, but Johnny would have none of that. He demanded that she make an honest man out of him by making him her husband and taking him to the Oscars with her. Johnny's dream bubble burst when fearing for her mother's life, Cheryl Crane, Lana's one and only, grabbed a kitchen knife and ended her fear.
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| Johnny Stompanato & Lana Turner |
The tragic lives of goddesses such as Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, and numerous others is a hot topic. We always fantasize about having that much beauty, and that much wealth, believing it will solve all of our problems, But, somehow these "perfect people" find a way to be unhappy and troubled.
A long forgotten Hollywood scandal was the Paul Kelly, Dorothy Mackaye and Ray Raymond case. I am still trying to figure out details about that one. It happened so long ago, but its as juicy today as it was in the late 20's. Handsome Paul was having an affair with Ray's wife Dorothy, and when the two men wound up in a fist fight, Ray died two days later, resulting in a scandal, prison, and gossip, gossip gossip.
 |
| Ray Raymond, Dorothy Mackaye and Paul Kelly |
Politics and the stars have always had a connection. When the democrats want to cheat on their wives they have a host of beautiful and willing stars who will give them their vote and a whole lot more. Joe Kennedy had his affair with Gloria Swanson until she had enough of the Kennedy lies, games, and selfishness.
 |
| Gloria Swanson & Joe Kennedy |
The Hollywood secret love child between Loretta Young and Clark Gable never became a full blown scandal thanks to Loretta never admitting her "adopted" child was really hers. While filming Call Of The . Wild, Loretta Young became pregnant with her co-stars child. An elaborate cover up was staged to convince movie goers that the young and single Loretta just decided to adopt a child.
 |
| Loretta Young and her "adopted" daughter. |
One of the most interesting and confusing Hollywood scandal was the Murder of William Desmond Taylor . Since the case was never solved officially, there continues to be speculation. However, after much research, including reading King Vidors findings, I am convinced that William Desmond Taylor was killed by Charlotte Shelby, the jealous mother of young actress Mary Miles Minter.
 |
| William Desmond Taylor |
Since the turn of the century Hollywood has been scandal ridden, and there does not seem to be any letting up on those notorious stories that make us glad we are normal.
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