Funny (and Saucy) Girl.

Here's a different angle on Fanny Brice:

I don't know about the Snooks part, but seeing this I can definitely say....oh Baby!

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.

Cuban Plantation?

1959

Desi Arnaz confers with an employee on the Desilu Culver City backlot, while the remains of the Tara plantation facade forlornly looks on from behind it's fence.  'Tara' would be demolished shortly afterward.

Sales Force

Mitzi and the boys, gettin' brassy

Buster.  Just a goyim.

Natalie Wood.  A fudge packer?

Sunday Activities....

found at the fabulous soyons-suave.

Lucille At 100 - A Colorful Life

Happy 100th Lucy.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other.

Liza, Up.  Bette, Down.

Just Friends.....?

Joan Crawford and Claudette Colbert enjoy a few days at Claudette's private getaway in Palm Springs.

I've Been Advocated!!!

What a lovely thing it was to wake up yesterday and discover that the online version of an interview I did in Advocate magazine is out! (to coin a phrase)

The magnificently gifted writer Christopher Harrity reviews my tour and then we cozy up for a little Q & A.  It's great fun and I hope you'll all read it.  After which, doubtless you'll be planning your trip to Hollywood to take the tour for your self!

There are several photos from the Felix In Hollywood Facebook Page in the article including a snappy little photo of yours truly the was shot by the ever-elegant George Snyder, novelist extraodinaire.

Simply click the Advocate logo below and dazzle your selves:

Myself.  (as captured by George Snyder)

Just As I Suspected....

Cary Grant works it out at The Hollywood Athletic Club.

Glamour, Feathers, Fabulosity and a Paper Cup!

Miss Ava Gardner!!!

Sometimes Even The Magic Of Movies....

Bread line, 1933

....can't make everything better.

An Important Message To Readers.....

You Spin Me Right 'Round!

Truth In Films.....

Met her.  Oh hell, who am I kidding, been her!

Where Have I Been All Of It's Life!

I just stumbled upon a blog that, if you don't already know about, you've Got to know about!

It is:

The Houses Of Hancock Park

For non-Angelenos, Hancock Park is one of the original hoity-toity areas of the city.  A neighborhood that was established (and restricted) before the advent of Beverly Hills.  Some say that HP's reticence toward Jews and Show People is what helped get Beverly Hills going.  It's a stately, tree lined, district that has managed, for the most part, to escape McMansionism.

The blog is written by "Woody", a chap who gladly gives credit where it's due, but will also cut a bitch (or house) without reserve or delay.

I've been going through the archives and cackling all the way.

I've seen coverage on the former home of Mr. Blackwell:

As well as a couple of different posts on the notorious home of Norwood Young known in these parts simply as, "The David House":

If you visit L.A. my tour and this house are really the only things that should be on the top of you list.

So if you like to look at beautiful homes (and travesties) and enjoy reading snappy critique, hop on over there.

She Looks Damn Good For 100.

Miss Barbara Stanwyck!

Confidence Man.

The above title is a phrase given to grifters or 'con' men.  After researching the life of today's spotlighted character, I'm very clear as to why.

Mike Romanoff

The life of Mr. Romanoff has been exhaustively chronicled many times and better than I could ever attempt.  For one of the better sketches, go here.

Here are the broad points:

*Was born Herschel Geguzin in Lithuania.

*Came to the US at age 10.

*Was alternately known as Harry Ferguson and Harry Gerguson.

*Ultimately settled on the name and persona of
Prince Michael Alexandrovitch Dmitri Obolensky Romanoff.

*At one point after a lengthy stay in England, was expelled for "Impersonating   and Marauding"

*Found his place finally in Hollywood where veneer and artifice are understood.

*Proprietor of Romanoffs, the see-and-be-seen eatery of the 40s and 50s.

Now, you've heard of Romanoffs, but did you know (if you spend any time at all looking at photos of Old Hollywood) that you've seen Romanoffs too.  The iconic candid photos below were all taken there:

Everybody, everyday and everynight went there.  And all of Hollywood knew he wasn't really a prince but he was so charming and the act was so good ("I'm tired", he tells a friend, "I've been on my Imperial feet all day") that the A crowd was perfectly happy to go along, and so from a life of conning and grifting he settled into a legitimate business that made him a fortune and a legend.

Of course, to go straight, he had to use a little larceny at the beginning.  David Niven (one of Mike's closest friends) recounts in his autobiography how the restaurant started:

Mike struck gold. He obtained an option on the lease of a defunct restaurant… His friends became stockholders in the shoe-string enterprise and the place reopened in a blaze of black ties, mink, well-known faces and publicity.

The invitation was a classic:–

I am commanded by His Imperial Highness Prince Michael Alexandrovich Dmitry Obolensky Romanoff to request your presence at a soiree he is giving in his own honour.

Couvert fifty dollars

Bring your own wine and kindly fee the waiters.

Harry Gerguson, Comptroller to the Imperial household

Le tout Hollywood turned out in force, and so many people brought wine that few realised the place had no arrangements whatever for cooking. A sparse menu was serviced by a nearby hash joint on a strictly cash basis (the money collected for the first two ‘couverts’ started the ball rolling): a riotous evening was had by all, and enough money was raised to install a kitchen and launch Mike on a fabulously successful career as a restaurateur.

Now that's Confidence, man!

A Perfect Example.....

....of why Betty Hutton has always given me the creeps.

The Mystery Gets Revealed!!!

Well kids, I gotta fess up here.  I might have slightly misled you.  Typically when we've played this game in the past, the person or people in the mystery photo are famous.  This time the handsome couple are not as known as their offspring.

Georgia and John Sarkisian.

You see, Georgia and John are the parents of Cher!

Cher at 16.

*both photos found on Cher's twitter.  Following her is one of the smartest things I've ever done.