Stan The Man!

A block up the street from me, this guy retired yesterday.  Well there's more to it than that, see he's 87 years old and has been on the job since 1947.  You might think that at that age his productivity might have slipped or the quality of his work might have been a bit compromised but it hadn't and it wasn't, because if it had it would have been noticed.  You see it wasn't just his bosses that had their eye on his work....


Folks, meet KTLA television news anchor, Stan Chambers.

To fully understand the scope and depth of his career, here's a little perspective.  Paramount took their television station KTLA (originally known as W6XYZ) live on January 22, 1947 with a variety program hosted by Bob Hope.  It became the first licensed station West of the Mississippi and broadcast to each and every one of the 350 TV sets in Los Angeles.  Two months later, Chambers joined the station as their news anchor.

KTLA really has remained a station of firsts and Chambers has been there every step of the way.  Two years after he joined the company, he made history.  Three year old Kathy Fiscus fell into an abandoned water well in San Marino, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Chambers and a camera truck raced to the scene to do live remote coverage.  For 27 1/2 hours straight. 

Many people knew someone with a TV set where they could gather.  Those who didn't crowded into bars or onto sidewalks in front of appliance stores, riveted.  The day after the tragedy there began a massive uptick in the sales of television sets.  With Stan's reporting the television set went from being something of a novel and expensive plaything to a medium that could inform and unite a community - the country - the world.

Oil refinery fire, 1951

Chambers has also seen, first hand, some of the not-so-wonderful changes in the news racket.  With the introduction of CNN and the 24 hour news cycle, there has been a need for crap more sensational and tabloid style content.  I'm sure you know what I mean:

"WHAT'S IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR THAT CAN KILL YOU

 - TODAY AT 5!"

"POPPY BRENNIGAN TAKES YOU LIVE INTO A MALE STRIP CLUB

 - TONIGHT AT 11!"

But Chambers has stayed alert, detached, and professional; you know - a newsman. 

And last night after 63 years and over 22,000 news stories, Stan Chambers signed off.

During a commercial break last night, Chambers smiles at his family off camera.

Chambers receives a kiss from wife, Gigi, yesterday.

Somewhere, Under The Strip Mall.

This may come as a surprise, but there is a strip mall on the corner of Gower and Santa Monica in Hollywood.
And this is what it looked like in 1914:

If your thinking, "Gee, I wonder if....", well you're right.  Hollywood resident L. Frank Baum formed, and was President of, The Oz Film Manufacturing Company in 1914, in order to picturize his books. 

Oz Girl Logo

It was a vanity project and, as those sometimes go, only lasted two years and yielded four features.  But it does mark Baum as a Hollywood pioneer.  After all, the very first footage shot in Hollywood had only occurred four years prior, the first studio erected three years before, and the first feature length picture, one year earlier.

Scarecrow and corn dancers

Wicked Witch and helpful Donkey

Tin Man and headless Witch

It was also a studio lot of a very important first.  Louis Gottschalk, Baum's Vice President and dear friend was a composer who went on to create film scores for such silent classics as, "Broken Blossoms", "The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalyspe" and "The Three Musketeers", wrote the first full film scores for the studio's products.  Until then only cue sheets were made for movies.

After Oz closed up shop, Famous Players-Lasky used the facility for production and then it became the National Film Corporation Of America where Elmo Lincoln envisaged the role of Tarzan the Ape Man.

Elmo Lincoln

Shhh, he's receiving the call of the wild.

Candid Camera

I couldn't resist - because if one picture of Rita Hayworth is fabulous, then two are devine!

Well it can't all be work, can it?  Leslie Brooks and Rita having a giggle
on the set of "Cover Girl" 1944.

The stars burn eternal.  Rita, Cesar Romero and Dolores Del Rio. 
Beverly Hills, 1977.

It's A Dogs Life But Oh, What A Way To Go.

Between 1920 and 1923, the four Warner brothers were spending money like drunken sailors in a cat house on shore leave.  Buying land, constructing filming stages, support buildings, a fabulously gaudy administration building, personnel, contract players, state of the art equiptment, even two houses for their parents just outside the east side of the studio.

Modern Wind Machine, Warner Bros. Studio Lot, 1922

By the time they formally incorporated in April of '23, money was tight, but plenty.  It was fortunate timing then that a recently signed player was getting ready to step in front of the camera for his first feature.  The words "Hit" and "Star" are almost to weak to describe the public response to their new Matinee Idol; a dashing, daring, handsome bloke called Rin Tin Tin.

Toward the end of WWI in war torn France, an American GI, Lee Duncan rescued the 5 day old foundling pup from a bombed out kennel. 

At war's end the pooch accompanied Duncan back to his home in Los Angeles.  Named after a good luck trinket that French children would give to US troops, Rin Tin Tin was a quick study and he was soon performing at local dog shows.  At one of these events, dog and owner were "discovered" by, then writer, Darryl Zanuck, who brought them to Warners and the honeymoon was on.  Duncan knicknamed his Shepherd 'Rinty' and Jack Warner called him 'The Mortgage Lifter'.

Zanuck, Jack Warner, Duncan & Rinty

For the next 8 years Rinty starred in 28 Warner Bros. pictures and quite frankly saved the Warner bacon until "The Jazz Singer" came along. 

The work was so consuming for both the star and his owner that at one point, Duncan's wife actually sued for alienation of affection naming Rin Tin Tin as corespondent.  The case was thrown out.

Not just another pretty face, Rinty could act!

Registering alert, but pensive concern!

Registering loyal sorrow!

At his height, Rin Tin Tin received 10,000 fan letters and $6000 salary each week.  Warners provided 18 trained stand-ins to reduce any stress on their dog star, while a private chef prepared daily lunches of tenderloin steak, consumed to the strains of live classical music to ease digestion.

Have you ever seen such lovely penmanship?

When the sound revolution came Rinty was voice tested and it was determined that he would be suitable for 'The Talkers'.

Ultimately time and age took their toll.  The star made his last picture in 1931 and retired to his Beverly Hills manse.  One day while out in the yard he received a visit from the neighbor across the street.  They hit it off immediately, developing a warm fondness for one another.  In the pre-air conditioning days of open doors and windows, he would often wander over to her house and let himself in for a visit.

Just prior to his 14th birthday, Rin Tin Tin spent his final days happy and peaceful.  The inevetible came one day when the neighbor-friend looked out her window and saw Rinty on his front lawn not looking good at all.  She ran across the street and alerted Duncan to call the doctor and then went and sat on the lawn with her friend.  It was there, cradled in her lap, hearing her soothing voice that Rin Tin Tin slipped away.  His neighbor was Jean Harlow.

Hell Fire!

The street that I live on in Hollywood is called Bronson Avenue.  It was actually originally called Hartford before being renamed, when the citizens decided they would rather have plenty of water than their 7 year old cityhood, and allowed themselves to be annexed back into Los Angeles.

At it's northernmost it winds up into Bronson Canyon, becomes "Canyon Drive" and ends at the famous Bronson Caves.

This ubiquitous site was used as the bat cave in the Batman TV series.  It has been seen in everything from "I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang" to "Lost Horizon" to "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" to about a billion other things.  In the years that I worked in wardrobe, I personally have worked there on 3 different shows.

The section of Bronson that I live on (from Hollywood Blvd. south to Santa Monica Blvd.) is quite wide as it used to have a trolly line down the center.  Bronson dead ends at Santa Monica, interruped to the south by the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and then Paramount Studios to the south of that.  It picks up again south of Paramount (but who cares about that part).

At the Santa Monica Blvd. entrance, like any fine English country estate or exclusive gated community, there is grand statuary announcing it's commencement.  Well, statuary Hollywood Style:

That's right, four big ol' silly Tiki Gods.


Omega Cinema Props is, I believe, the largest prop rental company in town.  So large in fact, that in addition to their main building, there is also C.P. Two, C.P. Three and C.P. Four.    The Tiki Gods are in front of C.P. Three.

For history's sake, this address was the location of an independent production company, Bulls Eye/Reelart in the teens and early 20's where, among others, the legenday, notorious Texas Guinan made a picture.

Every morning the four Tikis get carefully rolled out and lashed to the wall where they enjoy a day in the sunshine and at night they are taken back in.  (Hollywood's answer to the Peabody Hotel ducks?)  I couldn't find a picture, but at Christmas time the fine folks of Omega put big red Santa hats on all four of them.  These guys are enough of an LA fixture that even if friends don't know where Bronson is, all I have to say is, "turn left on the Tiki Gods street."

All pretty perfect.  Until 10pm Wednesday July 14th:

The next morning this is what greeted me:

I was heartsick.  I'm pretty certain from the looks of it that all the inventory from this building is lost.  How many props, from how many years of films and television that I've watched, that you've watched, that we've enjoyed, are now ashes.  But first and foremost, what of my beloved, innocent, harmless Tiki Gods? I was so sad that I started taking another route to and from my house.

Then yesterday I walked (yes, walked. In LA! A whole 2 blocks!!) down there and............

......DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?!?!?!?  It kinda looks like only three, but maybe the fourth is still alive too!  I just hope they are as sound and undamaged as the seem to be.  And I hope, please Gods of the Tikis, that they will once again stand sentinel, someday soon.

Be A Hit At Your Next Party!

Candid Camera!

There's nothing I like better than a candid picture from Old Hollywood.  So many of the so-called 'candids' are actually posed; they were actors after all.

So I will start an occasional feature with one of my favorites.  If you have any candids that you would like to see featured here email 'em to me!

Bette does her own nails - just like a real person!

Pulling Out The Stops.

This will be the absolute last interruption to our regularly scheduled programming, I promise!

Firstly, my humble thank yous to the people who made use of the donation button yesterday, it will help so much and it just goes to show, as I had always suspected, people are quite wonderful.

As you may or may not be aware, I have an online vintage shop on Etsy.  That's what the 'Vintage Fabulosity' widget is over there on the right.  Or you can access it here.  I'm afraid I've been very lax about maintaining the shop lately.  (having the blues will do that to you.)  So when the fabulous TJB at Stirred Straight Up With A Twist mentioned my shop recently, imagine my shock and horror when I realized that every item posted but one had expired!  I have since reposted the items and listed a few new ones too.

So this morning, with a little donation cash, I decided to go grocery shopping, and, of course the car wouldn't start!  Never one to miss an opportunity, I have reduced everything in my store between 20 and 50 percent.  So why not go shopping!

Once inside Felix In Hollywood's Vintage Fabulosity let one of our pretty and helpful shop girls take care of your needs.

Some of our past sales associates are now loyal, devoted customers!

So why not drop in today for a pleasant browsing experience.

So, It's Come To This.

This, dear friends, is the last thing I intended or wanted, but I'm exhausted and out of ideas.  On the right hand column, just above the 'Followers', I have added a 'Donate' button.  (Just typing this makes me queasy) 

Like most of us, I have been greatly affected by the economy.  What it looks like for me is that for the last 18 months, while unsuccessfully searching for alternatives, I have been trying to subsist on a part time job.  Well it's finally catching up to me.  This morning, in a brainstorm, I contacted the Unemployment office to see if I could get an 'under-employed supplement', only to find out that because I gross almost $270 per week, I was ineligible.  Gross, indeed.

I don't know if I'm foolish or wise, but I remain entirely hopeful.  I know things will turn around, and I'M NOT GIVING UP! (I'm told the Universe is receptive to all-caps)  Meantime, if you can spare a few dollars, I'm thankful.  Emarrassed as hell, but thankful.

That Was The Year That Was

As everyone knows, or at least as everyone has heard somewhere along the way,  1939 was the greatest year in films.  It is astonishing the number of landmark pictures that were put out that year.

A partial list includes:

Gone With The Wind
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes
Gunga Din
Love Affair
The Hound Of The Baskervilles
Of Mice and Men
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
The Roaring Twenties
Golden Boy
The Lady Vanishes
Wuthering Heights
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Beau Geste
Ninotchka
Destry Rides Again
Babes In Arms
Drums Along The Mohawk
Stagecoach
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
The Wizard Of Oz
Intermezzo: A Love Story
The Women
Only Angels Have Wings
Young Mr. Lincoln
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Dark Victory
 
With such a veritable banquet of offerings vying for the picture goer's dimes, who do you suppose was the actor/actress who sold the most tickets that year?  Ok, I'll tell ya:

Ready?

Ok, here goes.
 

Starring in five movies that year,
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
The Hardys Ride High
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Babes In Arms
Judge Hardy And Son
The sawed off, multi-talented bundle of energy outsold any other performer at the box office.  An honor that he would repeat in '40 and '41.

A Sunday Kind Of Love

I ran out of shaving cream, and as I was still a little kinked up from helping a friend move on Friday, I decided to buck the LA trend and 'walk it out' to the store.  It would be about a 30 minute round-trip walk and it's a beautiful day here today, so I thought it would do me a world of good.

The store I was headed to is the recently opened Trader Joe's located in the back end of the new Hollywood and Vine W Hotel complex on the corner of Selma and Vine.  As I walked up Vine Street I did what I always do (and don't think I'll ever tire of):  I read the names on the parade of stars in the sidewalk that were passing under my feet.  ...Fanny Brice, Chester Conklin, Tony Bennett, Clara Bow....  Why do I do this.  There is no meaning, it's not like they're buried here or that their spirit lives here or anything.  It's just some terrazzo and fake brass in a sidewalk.  ....Mae West, Billie Holiday, Yakima Cannut, Cary Grant....  I am unable to stop myself.  By the way, if your destination is the Trader Joe's, and you are walking north on Vine, simply make a right turn at Donna Reed.

Now, a word from our sponsor.  You really couldn't do better for your face (or legs, ladies) than Trader Joe's Honey Mango Moisturizing Cream Shave.  At just $3.49 for an 8oz. tube, it smells terrific, lathers luxuriantly, and leaves your skin soft as anything.  I can't recommend it enough.

Coming out of the store, I was suddenly completely aware of some loud swingin' music.  I looked across the street and saw:

  Today is the 50th anniversary celebration of the Hollywood Walk of Fame!  It started with a ceremonial prayer dance by a Native American Tribe.

I must be a shoe-in for evil spirits because I have never been able to stand the smell of burning sage.  Nonetheless, as the marquee on the Ricardo Montalban Theater above promised, the day of festivities kicked of with the dedication of Louis Prima's star on said Walk of Fame.

All the years I've lived here, I've never attended one of these ceremonies, so I hung out to let Louis take my cherry (so to speak) (to coin a phrase).  It was a mixture of Chamber of Commerce nonsense, and actual heartfelt emotion.  There were a couple hundred people gathered around.  A mix of tourists and neighborhood folks.  After city council members, Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge patted everyone (including themselves) on the back, Prima's children, Lena and Louis Jr. came up and made some very moving remarks.  Apparently, Louis Prima, Jr. and his mother have been working for years to get him a star and, appropriately, it happened this year during his centennial celebration.  They choked up and we, the onlookers, did too.  When the covering was lifted to reveal the star, a huge roar went up from the crowd and for a moment we were all huge Louis Prima fans.

It was starting to get a little hot in the sun, so I made my way back down the street toward home.  ...Louis Prima, Jackie Cooper, Dick Powell, Ann Southern....  And I couldn't stop smiling.

And as everybody knows, When You're Smiling; The Whole World Smiles With You.

Measuring Up

Seated in the open sill of a gigantic window phallus, Rudy struggles to maintain a grip on his enormous, but admirably erect instrument.  I won't even go into the the turgid, burning hot candle that is (for heaven's sake) dripping.  Is this what they call "subliminal advertising"?

The Power Of Youth And Beauty

There are times when words add nothing the impact of a picture(s).

So, with no further comment, ladies and gentlemen:

Young Tyrone Power.

All photos (and many, many more) found here.

You're Welcome.