What Stars Want Most in 1956 - Rex Reason

Rex Reason (born in Germany while family on business trip on November 30, 1928) is best known for his role in the 1955 sci-fi cheesefest This Island Earth. He walked out on his Warner Brothers contract in 1961. Frank Sinatra wanted his for the role that went to Lawrence Harvey in The Manchurian Candidate, but he was sick of Hollywood and began a new career in real estate. He is brother to actor Rhodes Reason, has been married 3 times (currently to Shirley Hake since 1965), and has 5 children.

What did Rex Reason wish for in 1956:

• "Personally, I'm interested in developing young kids into actors. I'm not very old myself, but I know how hard it is to get started. I'd like to do something constructive toward helping youngsters get a break."
• "Professionally, I love the fantastic. I immensely enjoyed making This Island Earth. I'd like to do another science-fiction film."
• "As a citizen, it would be nice if there could be a nationwide plan for beautifying our gardens. I'm working on our backyard now. I don't think it would be a bad idea if everyone cleaned up and beautified his own backyard."
  

I have a couple questions:

• Will we all be leaning on leaning boards in the future?
• When will we meet the Smurf aliens, or maybe they are the blue man aliens?
• Did this really take 2 1/2 years to make?

What 100 Stars Want Most in 1956 - Tommy Rall

Tommy Rall (born December 27, 1929) is a wonderful Broadway talent, who was featured in several musicals in the golden age of musicals including Kiss Me Kate and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Tommy started taking dance lessons to help his lazy eye, and never turned back. What did Tommy Wish for in 1956?: "I have a 1947 Buick which is about brand new. I put it in storage when I bought it in 1947 because I had to go to New York to do a show. The contract was for six months, but then that went by and I kept getting more shows. I came back here to do Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and My Sister Eileen and I got my 1947 Buick out of storage. I'm driving it now and it's great - probably they'll never make cars like that again. But, in 1956, I'll get a new car - honest." 

I love the 1947 Buick! Gorgeous car. So much more gorgeous than cars they make today. I would love to have one over cars from today.

Tommy plays Frank (the red shirted brother)

"I got my first straight, non-dancing role in World in My Corner with Audie Murphy. Professionally, I'd like more dramatic roles"

"I'm sick of wars breaking out here and wars breaking out there. As a citizen, I think there ought to be some way to negotiate peace terms before instead of after war."

What 100 Stars Want Most in 1956 - Margaret O'Brien

Margaret O'Brien (Born January 15, 1937) - One of my favorite child actors. Most people know her from Meet Me in St Louis, but my favorite Margaret O'Brien film is The Secret Garden. Incidentally, for all you TCM lovers Margaret O'Brien is one of the featured stars in this August's Summer Under the Stars. So mark your calendar for August 15, 2010. TCM will play The Secret Garden at 8 pm est, or if you love Meet Me in St Louis, it is playing at 3:45 pm est. If you ever get a chance to see TCM's special on Child Stars, I would definitely recommend it. Margaret seems like such a wonderful person!

Some Margaret O'Brien Trivia:

• She was born Angela Maxine O'Brien
• Margaret made her film debut in a 1941 civil defense film (Her major motion picture debut was 1941's Babes of Broadway)
• She won a special Oscar for Meet Me in St Louis. It was stolen in 1954, found at a swap meet in 1995 and returned to her.
• My favorite Margaret O'Brien quote: "When I cry, do you want the tears to run all the way or shall I stop halfway down?" - What a pro!

What did Margaret O'Brien wish for in 1956?

"I want a place in the Valley where I can keep a horse"

"I'd like the lead in the story The Life of Esther Costello. It's the story of a deaf and dumb Irish child who rose to fame and prominence despite these handicaps"

Unfortunately for Margaret, Heather Sears got the part. Has anyone seen The Story of Esther Costello? It apparently also stars Joan Crawford.






"I'm on a personal campaign right now to tell people about the other children, the ones who aren't juvenile delinquents. We're way in the majority, incidentally."

What 100 Stars Want Most in 1956 - Hugh O'Brian

Hugh O'Brian (born April 19, 1923) is probably best known as Wyatt Earp in the television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. The show ran from 1955 to 1961 with a total of 226 episodes!

Some Hugh O'Brian Trivia:

• Hugh was "discovered" by the fabulous Ida Lupino
• He became friends with Marilyn Monroe during the filming of There's No Business Like Show Business
• Hugh was a soda jerk at Schwab's Drugstore on Sunset Boulevard
• Hugh established the HOBY Award (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Award)
• Hugh is the the youngest ever Marine Drill Seargeant at the tender age of 17
• He was inducted into the Western Hall of Fame in 1992
• Hugh was the last person killed on screen by John Wayne (In 1976's The Shootist)
• Hugh waited until he was 81 to get married. He married teacher Virginia Barber, 30 years his junior, whom he had dated for 18 years. They were married with music by Debbie Reynolds, June 25, 2006.

What were Hugh's 1956 wishes:

"I'd like to find the right girl"

Obviously this took a long time since he didn't marry until 2006!

"I'd like to continue to do three or four motion pictures a year and continue with my television series Wyatt Earp"

"As a citizen, I think also in terms of Hollywood and the good it can do through the medium of motion pictures. In 1956, I hope we have more movies like Blackboard Jungle and Trial".
I just saw Blackboard Jungle and it was fabulous! Glenn Ford and Sidney Poitier - how can you go wrong?

What 100 Stars Want Most in 1956 - Kim Novak

Kim Novak (born February 13, 1933) is currently raising horses and llamas on her farm in Oregon: "If you're wanting glamorous or really beautiful or really sexy, well then, I wasn't really the one, but I could do all of that. You could just get really lost in that kind of image"

Kim's 1956 Wishes:

"Personally, I want a short vacation. I've been working very hard. I'd like a couple of weeks to do some lazy shopping, to sleep late, to have a little fun."

"Professionally, I'd like another picture with the same dramatic impact as the one I've just finished, The Man With the Golden Arm."

"As a citizen, I'd like to see the city planning commission find a way to build bicycle paths for the youngsters - so they can safely ride their bikes all they want."

Simply stunning photos of Kim from the 1957 film Jeanne Eagels for which she earned $13,000. Can totally see this as a fabulous burlesque outfit. FYI - Jeanne Eagels will be included in the Kim Novak Collection which comes out August 3, 2010. It's also playing on Turner Classic Movies September 1, 2010 at 10:00 pm est. My favorite Kim Novak film is Vertigo, of course. Could anyone beat Hitchcock?