How Well Do You Know Hollywood? - Question 1

He got his first big break in pictures as a cowboy

Adolphe Menjou

Clark Gable

Errol Flynn

Robert Taylor

View the comments to find the answer

Nuggets of Note - October 31 - November 6, 2012

The first wonderful link I saw was a great list of silent movie posters at Uncle John's Bathroom Reader.  Very cool posters of some films I would love to see.  I have seen the Sheik, of course, but the others I haven't.  I will have to check if they even exist anymore.

On the book front, Mental Floss has a great article about the 10 Most Difficult Books to Write.  One of the books mentioned is Gadsby, a book which was apparently written without one "e" in the entire book.  A feat that is darn near impossible.  I'm tempted to read it for that feat alone.



Are you bored with traditional holidays?  Then check out some unconventional ones for November.  I'm definitely celebrating Clean Out Your Fridge Day on November 15th.

Hurricane Sandy has prompted some interesting blog posts: pictures from other historic hurricanes, what you need to survive a grid-down disaster,  and emergency preparedness.

Humphrey Bogart's last words; Art of Manliness

On the morbid-front, you can meditate on death or read famous last words of 16 great men.

Errol Flynn's last words; Art of Manliness

VaVoom Vintage has a great article on corset safety.  I've always wanted to try a corset.  After wearing a brace for many years, I miss a bit of the support.  Of course I could never just buy one because I can't imagine they would be easy to alter.  I suppose that might be one of those things I'd have to make from scratch.

I've always been fascinated by the World's Fairs, and the above video is a fun look at the future, circa the mid-1960s.  I'm not sure if I would like this future, but it's fun to think about.

Favorite Actors - Part 1

Favorite Actors - Part 1

Don Ameche
Fun in films like That Night in Rio
Fabulous on the Radio - Wonderful Voice

Dana Andrews
Great in films
Fantastic on Radio - Another Wonderful Voice

Bob Bailey
Radio God - Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

John Barrymore
Stage and Silent Movie God
I melted when I saw Don Juan

Lionel Barrymore
Stage and Screen Legend
Fabulous Radio Voice

Humphrey Bogart
Casablanca, Maltese Falcon, and many, many more
My favorite Bogart film - Dark Passage

Jack Carson
Great character actor
Favorite films - Mildred Pierce and Romance on the High Seas

Ronald Colman
Screen Legend and Radio God
Favorite Films include Random Harvest, A Tale of Two Cities,   The White Sister
Radio appearances on The Jack Benny Show and The Halls of Ivy with wife Benita Hume , as well as appearances on Suspense such as in August Heat
OK, basically everything

Richard Conte
Great gritty actor
Favorite films - The Blue Gardenia, Somewhere in the Night, and especially Call Northside 777 (his character and characterization really spoke to me)

Errol Flynn
Swashbuckler extraordinaire
He's fabulous in adventures, westerns, war films, etc.
I wish he was known more for his wonderful acting rather than his bedroom antics.

Clark Gable
Fell in love with him since I saw him as Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind
I also adore him in It Happened One Night

Cary Grant
Fantastic in everything - Who doesn't love Archie?
Favorite films - North by Northwest, The Bachelor and the Bobby-soxer,  and Arsenic and Old Lace

Errol Can't Keep his Pants On

"Dr. Stork may have to resort to a battle-proof tank, and wear steel armor, but he'll get through nevertheless to the Errol Flynn manse this year. Lili Damita is still Mrs. Errol, despite gossip and numerous separations, and colorfully stages battles, with Husband Flynn." (Film Fun, 1941)

The child was Sean Flynn, born May 31, 1941 and probably passed away in April 1970 when he was captured by the Viet Cong in Cambodia.

Preston and the Horse Show

When Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt rode at the annual Fort Myer Horse show this year, Preston Foster had the honor of accompanying her and was a guest of the president afterward.

Last year, Errol Flynn had the honor, and the year before that, Gene Autry.

Why does Alan Hale Sr want to wear Billy Boyd's Pants?

Alan Hale Sr (February 10, 1892 - January 22, 1950) is probably best known as the father of Alan Hale Jr who was Skipper on Gilligan's Island. He was known as a great character actor, acting during both the silent and sound era in 107 films total.

Alan Hale Sr make a brief appearance in Hollywood Undressed, by masseuse Madame Sylvia. Alan was going to be a sailor in a film. He wanted to use Billy Boyd's sailor pants because Alan thought they were lucky. I wasn't able to determine which Billy Boyd he was referring to. There were two William Boyds acting during the time: William Boyd, most famous as Hopalong Cassidy; and William "Stage" Boyd who was arrested during prohibition for drugs and alcohol (incidentally adversely affecting both William Boyds because the newspapers would mix them up)

William Boyd, aka Hopalong Cassidy

William "Stage" Boyd with Barbara Stanwyck




Back to our story, Alan Hale didn't fit in Billy Boyd's sailor pants, so masseuse Madame Sylvia began working on Alan - but only did one side before Gloria Swanson dragged her away. As we know from previous posts, Gloria got top priority with Madame Sylvia. Madame Sylvia wrote, "To this day he claims that his two halves don't match" (Hollywood Undressed, Page 131).



Some Alan Hale Sr Trivia:

• Was buds with Errol Flynn and had supporting roles or cameos in 13 of Errol's films
• He holds the record for appearing as Little John in separate film productions: 3
  

Up next: Constance Bennet looks a little creepy