Judy Garland Works It Out

Judy Garland
“Somebody told me I work as if I have only ten minutes left in which to do everything.”

(Source: Movieland; February 1955)

Are Keefe and His Wife Separating?

Keefe Brasselle, Ray Anthony and Norma Jean Aldrich at the Ciro's

Keefe Brasselle

Is keeping those separation rumors quiet by taking his wife along with him on the road of personal appearances. Although “The Eddie Cantor Story” didn’t do much for Keefe, don’t count him out of movies. He’s in there pitching every minute of the day and with such persistence, luck is bound to fall his way.

(Source: Movieland; February 1955)

Keefe Brasselle and Arlene DeMarco

Keefe Brasselle was married twice. First from December 18, 1942 until December 6, 1956 to Norma Jean Aldrich (which the above gossip refers to). Keefe was married to Arlene DeMarco of the DeMarco Sisters singers from December 23, 1956 to 1967.

Edmund and Tita's Marriage Drama

Edmund Purdom
Looked like a sure bet when he took over the acting part of “The Student Prince” for Mario Lanza. Now he’s rapidly approaching the point where he is the subject of as much discussion as Lanza, who, by the way, is really on the road to recovery and may yet do “The Vagabond King” with Kathryn Grayson. You’d think Purdom would be a model of co-operation because of the tremendous break he received but those temperament rumors have been circulating about Edmund almost from the time he started “The Student Prince”. His wife, Tita, worked as a ballerina to help support the family during their lean days but she gave up her career to take care of their children after Edmund started clicking. Now, Mrs. Edmund Purdom has announced that she will proceed with plans for a separation or a divorce. At the time she announced these plans, Mrs Purdom reportedly said, “We had four years of poverty and we clung together like babes in the woods. But when he became successful it all changed. Now he says he dreads seeing me.” Edmund and Tita were married on January 5, 1951 in London. They have two children, Lilian, aged two and Marian, aged six months.

(Source: Movieland; February 1955)


Edmund Purdom (December 13, 1926 - January 1, 2009) was born in Hertfordshire, England. His acting career began in 1946 and continued almost until his death. His starring roles were mostly in the 1950s. Finding his career fizzling out, Edmund relocated to Italy where he spent the rest of his life. He was one of the main dubbers of Italian films. Married four times, his marriage to Tita Phillips from January 5, 1951 until March 5, 1956. Word has it that he was secretly seeing dating Tita's co-star. Edmund married Alicia Darr on April 10, 1957 and they were married until August 17, 1958. His best known wife was Linda Christian, former wife of Tyrone Power. Linda Christian and Edmund Purdom were married from March 24, 1962 until January 10, 1963.

Edmund Purdom and Linda Christian

Edmund Purdom was also known for lucking into some great roles. He got his role in The Student Prince from Mario Lanza. Some sources say it was because of a disagreement between Mario and the director - others say it was because Mario was seen as too heavy. One of Purdom's other starring roles, that of Sinuhe in The Egyptian, came to him after Marlon Brando turned it down.

Doris Takes Over for Lana and Ava

Doris Day
Will have sixteen numbers to sing in “Love Me or Leave Me” – enough to please the most ardent Day fans. This picture has a strange history. Both Lana Turner and Ava Gardner turned it down. Doris took it for a reported $200,000. Cameron Mitchell, who was borrowed by MGM for the film, says it has one of the best scripts he’s ever read.

(Source: Movieland; February 1955)

I've never seen this film about singer trying to get away from the gangster who made her a star. Lucky for me, it's appearing on TCM next Friday April 22, 2011 at 8:45 am est. Can't beat James Cagney and of course the wonderful Doris Day so I might have to check it out.

Fred Astaire Stops Dancing

Fred Astaire
Since the tragic death of his wife, is resuming his career full-time to keep his mind busy. Their’s was a true love affair! Next to his home life, dancing and race horses are his chief interests. Fred, worth a mint, decided to retire once, but got so busy with hobbies and outside demands that he had to return to the screen to get a rest.

(Source: Movieland; February 1955)

Fred Astaire and Phyllis Livingston Potter were married from 1933 until her death from lung cancer at age 46 in 1954. They had two children together, Fred Jr and Ava. When Phyllis passed, Fred did not even want to finish the film he was working on, Daddy Long Legs, and offered to pay the production costs to back out, but was persuaded to stay. Fred would stay single until 1980 when he married jockey Robyn Smith, 45 years his junior. On a side note, Fred mostly retired from dancing after his wife passed.

Donald Tries to Take it WIth Him

Donald O'Connor and Marilyn Monroe

Donald O’Connor Looking worn from overwork, was warned again that he couldn’t take it with him “No,” said he, “but it’s fun trying.” (Source: Movieland; Feb 1955)

Should Terry Moore be Worried?

Terry Moore

Is worried and no wonder. She hasn’t made a picture in more than a year. True, she turned down a couple that she didn’t think right for her. But for a girls who almost equaled Marilyn Monroe in publicity breaks last year, something has gone wrong. She can’t figure out what it is. Terry, nevertheless, has been studying madly in an effort to improve her acting technique. Finally to keep in the swim she took a minor part in Daddy Long Legs. But the real star of the picture, it being a musical, are Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.

(Source: Movieland, February 1955)

Terry Moore (born Helen Louella Koford on January 7, 1929 in Los Angeles, CA) began acting at age 11. She has been married five times. Best known for her roles in the original Mighty Joe Young (1949) and her Oscar nominated role in Come Back, Little Sheba (1952), Terry is still acting today and still even takes 2 acting classes a week. After Howard Hughes died in 1974, Moore claimed she and Hughes had secretly wed in 1949, but no marriage certificate has ever been found. In the 1980s, she famously posed for Playboy at age 55 - minus retouching. Most recently she occasionally appears in films and starred in the TV show Old Skool with Terry and Gita. To keep up with Terry, check out her website.

John Wayne Gets Hitched in Hawaii

Wonder Why John Wayne and Pilar Palette didn’t invite Lex and Lana to their marriage and wedding reception?

They were all in Hawaii when the wedding ceremony took place. And Lana had just co-starred with John in “The Sea Chase.”.

Duke was quoted as saying something to the effect: “You can bet this will be a hot marriage. The ceremony was performed on a lava bed.” It was, of course, an idle jest, but it just may prove to be true. Both John and Pilar have fiery tempers that easily get out of control, but they cool off quickly. They’ve already had frequent squabbles. Many of their friends – who like them both – wanted them to wait longer to see if they were really meant for each other. Now that they’re married, we wonder if Pilar will listen patiently in what could be Duke’s theme song: “Don’t fence me in”.

(Source: Movieland; February 1955)

John Wayne and Pilar Palette, a former Peruvian actress, were married in Hawaii November 1, 1954 - the very day his divorce from 2nd wife Esperanza Baur was finalized. According to Pilar, Wayne got a phone call from his attorney while in Hawaii during the filming of The Sea Chase to tell him the divorce from his wife was finalized. He went into their hotel room and said they were going to get married that very day. She and Mary St. John were to find the dress and The Duke would do the rest. He wanted them to marry at sunset to the sounds of "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" and honeymoon at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. (Source: http://johnshore.com/2008/06/05/how-john-wayne-proposed-to-his-third-wife-pilar/).

John Wayne and Pilar Palette stayed together until they separated in 1976 and were still technically married at the time of his death in 1979. Pilar keeps herself busy these days as an artist.