Hollywood Yesterday » Classic Movies

Billie Holiday: The Lady Most Definitely Knew the Blues

Joi — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:11:55 +0000

Billie Holiday at Town Hall, New York City, 1948 Framed Art Print
Loren, Dennis
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Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nicknamed Lady Day, Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and song writer that could stop traffic with her voice. She got intimate with songs and music the way most people get intimate with one another. She co-wrote several songs that have gone down in jazz history, notably “God Bless the Child”, “Don’t Explain”, and “Lady Sings the Blues”. She also became famous for singing jazz standards written by others, including “Easy Living” and “Strange Fruit”.

She’s often remembered as the lovely lady with a gardenia in her hair belting out songs like nobody’s business.

Sadly, as was the case with quite a few of the stars from the past, drugs were Billie Holiday’s undoing. She was arrested several times due to an addiction she never overcame. She was even arrested on her death bed – literally. Gilbert Millstein of The New York Times, who had partly written the sleeve notes for the album The Essential Billie Holiday, described her death:

“Billie Holiday died in the Metropolitan Hospital, New York, on Friday, July 17, 1959, in the bed in which she had been arrested for illegal possession of narcotics a little more than a month before, as she lay mortally ill; in the room from which a police guard had been removed – by court order – only a few hours before her death, which, like her life, was disorderly and pitiful. She had been strikingly beautiful, but she was wasted physically to a small, grotesque caricature of herself. The worms of every kind of excess – drugs were only one – had eaten her. … The likelihood exists that among the last thoughts of this cynical, sentimental, profane, generous and greatly talented woman of 44 was the belief that she was to be arraigned the following morning. She would have been, eventually, although possibly not that quickly. In any case, she removed herself finally from the jurisdiction of any court here below.”

An incredibly tragic and sad ending for a woman who left a beautiful mark on our musical history. She deserved better – what a shame that she didn’t realize it.

To learn more about Billie Holiday, buy her autobiography on Amazon: Lady Sings the Blues.

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Gunsmoke Movie in the Works with Brad Pitt as a Possible Matt Dillon

Joi — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:11:18 +0000

Here’s some really interesting news: According to the LA Times, CBS Films is working on a big screen adaptation of the classic Western television show “Gunsmoke.” I SO hope this pans out, not only are westerns always great entertainment, Gunsmoke is an all-time favorite. Can you imagine the fun they’d have casting festus?! Steve Carrel, perhaps?

Brad Pitt and Ryan Reynolds have emerged as the top contenders for the role of Matt Dillon. Ryan Reynolds and his real life love, Scarlett Johansson would be perfect co-stars if she were to be cast as Miss Kitty to his Matt Dillon. However, sources indicate that, at the moment, Brad Pitt, is the front runner.

On the 1955 show, Dillon is the Western hero charged with maintaining law and order in a period Kansas town filled with colorful vagrants, misfits and desperadoes. He carries on in these adventures with the help of town physician Doc Adams and tavern owner Miss Kitty Russell.

Gregory Poirier, who wrote “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” has written a draft of the “Gunsmoke” script, and the studio is said to like it very much. I’ll let you know more details when I get my eager little hands on them.

*** Watch full episodes of Gunsmoke online at TVLand.com.

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Elivs Presley: The Story Behind the Pictures

Joi — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:28:56 +0000

Elvis fans, you’re going to love this interview with Music photo archivist Michael Ochs. Ochs headed the publicity departments of Columbia, Shelter and ABC Records in the ’60s and ‘70.

In the words of Spinner.com, Ochs possesses one of the largest stores of Elvis pictures this side of Graceland. Click through the link above to read the fascinating interview with Ochs – it’s great stuff no self-respecting fan of the King will want to miss out on.

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2010 James Dean Calendar: You Know You Want it

Joi — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:17:55 +0000

You know you want it – don’t even try to fight it. Jump over to Calendars.com and get hands on James Dean. James Dean 2010 Wall Calendar.

James Dean is such a wonderful American icon – as recognizable as Marilyn Monroe and Abraham Lincoln. In just over a year, Dean starred in three films and became a representation of the rebellious American youth of the mid-fifties. He still personifies the mystery and restlessness of adolescence today.

The outstanding photographs in this calendar pay homage to the James Dean that fans will always remember and love.

James Dean 2010 Wall Calendar

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Gone With the Wind Collectibles

Joi — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:33:26 +0000

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Gone with the Wind Limited Edition Ceramic Cookie Jar

Can you believe the last beauties are salt and pepper shakers?! Gorgeous.

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Gone With the Wind 5 Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition With Book

Joi — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:26:28 +0000

Gone With The Wind (70th Anniversary 5-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition) (With Book) (Full Frame)

What a gloriously wonderful gift for someone extra special on your Christmas list…. even if it’s YOU!

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Farrah Fawcett Art Prints, Photos, and Posters: A Lovely Trip Down Memory Lane

Joi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:47:28 +0000

Farrah Fawcett Masterprint
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Actress Farrah Fawcett Premium Photographic Print
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Farrah Fawcett Masterprint
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Farrah Fawcett Framed Art Print
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Farrah Fawcett and Son Griffin Premium Photographic Print
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Gorgeous I Love Lucy Handbag

Joi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:29:16 +0000

As you know, I am the biggest I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball fanatic on the planet (or off… studies back me up on this). You may not know that I’ve collected handbags/purses since I was big enough to hold one. They float my boat as much as a boat can be floated. So, yeah, suffice to say, this purse has a place in my heart.

This I Love Lucy handbag would make an ideal Christmas gift for all of the Lucy fans on your Christmas list.

From the Website:
Compact size still roomy enough for all your small items. Back wall zip pocket. Full zip closure keeps everything safe and secure. Features synthetic leather, single strap, full zip closure and pink I Love Lucy lining. Patent leather cut out of I Love Lucy and logo in contrasting color. Drop length 8.5″

See I Love Lucy Signature Product Handbag LU22 (Women’s) – Red for more details and to grab one for yourself!

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Charlies Angels Returning to Television? Yes, Please!

Joi — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:23:33 +0000

Josh Friedman, the creator behind Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (oh, how I loved that series), has gotten behind a new series for ABC. Well, it’s more like a reboot than a new series. It’s Charlie’s Angels and I’m hoping all goes as planned. Leonard Goldberg, who worked with Aaron Spelling to produce the original series, and Drew Barrymore, who produced and starred in the movie versions are also involved.

If John Forsythe returned as the voice of Charlie, it’d just be icing on the cake.

I think a new Charlie’s Angels series would be a huge success, if the casting is spot on and they give it an ideal time slot (and leave it there!). When FOX played “catch me if you can” with Terminator’s time slot, they doomed a great series.

Yes. Still bitter.

I’ll post more news about Charlie’s Angels when I get it. Fingers crossed.

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The First Bond Girl: Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in Dr. No

Joi — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:58:06 +0000

I’ve been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) a recent Christmas gift to my husband from our oldest daughter. It’s a big, gorgeous gold book titled, James Bond: The Secret World of 007.

Thanks, in large part, to this great book – James Bond movies are occupying a great deal of my thoughts lately!

I thought I’d just run with that and start a series of posts about the actors and actresses who have appeared in James Bond movies.

I’ve already done quite a few posts about many of these stars – but, what the heck, can you really have too much Ursula Andress, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, or (my favorite Bond) Pierce Brosnan?

No, I didn’t think so.

Ursula Andress lead a pretty interesting life. Not only was she married to John Derek (until an affair she was having broke up the marriage), she had a relationship with Harry Hamlin. They met while making “Clash of the Titans.” Our girl Ursula was a cougar before the term was even born – she was 43 and Harry was 27.

She was also very involved with James Dean and was rumored to be with him when he picked out the car that he would later wreck (and die in).

Ursula Andress was, of course, Honey Ryder in Dr. No (1962). This movie marked Sean Connery’s first appearance as James Bond.

Dr. No is actually an enjoyable movie. In the film, James Bond’s investigation of a missing colleague in Jamaica leads him to the island of the mysterious Dr. No and a scheme to end the US space program.

Author Ian Fleming actually wanted his cousin Christopher Lee to play Dr. No. (Lee would later appear as Scaramanga in the 007 flick The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), and would play the character that inspired Fleming to create Dr. No, Dr. Fu Manchu, in several films.)

Fleming also asked Noel Coward to play the part of Dr. No. Coward turned down the part by replying with a telegram that read, “Dr. No? No! No! No!” One of Coward’s objections was having to wear metal hands. Max von Sydow turned down the part in order to play Jesus Christ in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), and would finally play a Bond villain in Never Say Never Again (1983).

In the end, the role of Dr. No went to Joseph Wiseman, the only early Bond villain not to have his voice dubbed by another actor.

All in all, however, Ursula pretty much emerged as the star of Dr. No and will forever be remembered as the original Bond Girl.

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