You've Got A Lovely Week For It!

Dateline:  Los Angeles, Thanksgiving Week

I just checked the weather.  Mid 70s to low 80s all week and through the weekend.

Are you visiting here?  Do you live here and have friends or relatives in for the holiday?  Or are you having a life-as-usual week and looking for a little something to brighten it up?  Well then this is probably the ideal week to find out exactly what "The Best Hollywood Walking Tour" is all about!

It's brainy, it's funny, it's fascinating and there's not a cheesy tourist-trap on the whole darn thing.  I will be closed on Thanksgiving day because even a researcher likes a little cranberry sauce but, other than that - tours, tours, tours!

So why not join Fred, Rita, Van, Me and all the other spirits that we'll awaken from the legendary days of Film, Radio, TV and Records for a walk.  You could use a walk in the fresh air with all you'll be eating this week anyhow.

Click here for all the info!

Yep.....

......Rita Hayworth did a Blondie picture (Blondie On A Budget, 1940).

And she looks just thrilled about it.

Lunch Time!

Don Ameche, Peter Lorre and Sonja Heine at the Fox commissary

Gable at the MGM commissary

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury at the Paramount commissary

Ida Lupino and Jeffrey Lynn at the Warner Bros. Commissary

Gene Reynolds at the MGM commissary

Fred MacMurray and Lana Turner at the Fox commissary

Nils Asther at the MGM commissary

Rita Hayworth and Robert Parrish at the Columbia commissary

Errol Flynn at the Warner Bros. commissary

A Great Big Thank You To 'King' Cole.

Today, a moment of appreciation for the all too unsung genius of choreographer/director

Jack Cole (1911-1974). 

Jack Cole, 1930s

He began as a Denishawn dancer and then moved on to nightclub work.  But it was film that captured his brilliance for all time.

He informed all those that would follow from Michael Kidd to Bob Fosse.  Gwen Verdon was his assistant for seven years.

In addition to his incomparable dance directing, his art direction of color palettes and sets his camera angles (most of these, by the way, going uncredited) make for some spectacular frames of film.  In an interview before her death Jane Russell said that during the dance numbers on "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"  Howard Hawks was rarely even present!

His last work was teaching at UCLA up until two weeks before his death.

Jack Cole 1971

He made 'em Sparkle:

He made 'em Sizzle:

 

And sometimes, inexplicably:

He made 'em make you wanna make 'em!


As always I have combed many different sources before assembling this post, but if you want more info on Mr. Cole, one place stands above the rest.  It's Debra Levine's fine 'arts * meme'.  You will find it Here.

You'll Be Dancing On Rooftops Too!

As the song says, "Ain't it funny how time slips away".  I just looked at the calendar and realized that summer is practically upon us!  With that, I just went into the magical cyber world of Brown Paper Tickets, my official ticket seller, and loaded in all tour dates through the end of August.

Now if you already live in SoCal, I can't imagine for the life of me why you haven't taken the tour yet**

If you're planning a visit this summer, well tickets are now available.  With small tour groups like this, don't let 'em get away.  Get yours today!

You can access BPT directly via the link above, or though the official tour website.

** Authors comments do not apply to the many fabulous folks who already have taken the tour.

Those Fabulous Stars Of Black And White - In Color! Pt. 3

Freddy March, Claudette Colbert and CB DeMille on the set of "Sign Of The Cross".

Lovely Greer Garson

Lucy and Desi

Norma Shearer (isn't that one of those fiber optic lamps from the 70s?)

What's with the gloves Rita?

Ginger Rogers staring in "Attack Of The Bunny Breasts"

Those Fabulous Stars Of Black And White - In Color! Pt. 2

Olivia de Havilland hammers out a plan with a sticky wicket.

Rita Hayworth - Red Hair purple flowers.

Maybe in deference to Rita, Lucille Ball's Technicolor Red turns Brunette!

James Stewart - looks like a 'Stewart for Congress' photo.

Little Miss Alice Faye.

A thrilling and spectacular Dorothy Dandridge.

How'd They Get Those Two Together!

Ella - Marilyn

Anna Magnani - Joan Crawford

Bette - Shirley

Rita Hayworth - Marlene Dietrich

Claudette Colbert - Alfred Hitchcock

Marilyn - Dietrich

Jayne Mansfield - Joan Collins

Mary Pickford - Female Impersonator Julian Eltinge

Vivien Leigh - Marilyn Monroe

Here's The Cat....

Lovely Rita

....now where is that canary?

Those Fabulous Stars Of Black And White - In Color!

Let's take this year out with some dazzle, ok?

Anna May Wong

Ava Gardner

Greta Garbo & Robert Taylor, Camille BTS

Ginger Rogers

Katharine Hepburn, Christopher Strong

Linda Darnell

Ingrid Bergman

Victor Mature & Lana Turner, Betrayed BTS

Lucille Ball

Myrna Loy

Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russell, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes BTS

Rita Hayworth

Rudolph Valentino

Be colorful in whatever you do tonight.  Be a STAR!!!