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The Wonderful Ethel Barrymore was BOTD in 1879

August 15, 2023 By Joi

Ava Gardner, Walter Huston, and Ethel Barrymore in The Great Sinner
Ava Gardner, Walter Huston, and Ethel Barrymore in The Great Sinner

One of (IMO) the best actresses of all-time… and absolutely one of my favorites.. Ethel Barrymore was BOTD in Pennsylvania in 1879.

The wonderful lady is pictured here with Ava Gardner and Walter Huston from the film The Great Sinner (1949, directed by Robert Siodmak).

You can find The Great Sinner on dvd (Amazon link). Unfortunately it isn’t on Prime Video, yet but they seem to be adding more classics, so hopefully it will be soon.

Filed Under: Ava Gardner, BOTD, Ethel Barrymore, Walter Huston Tagged With: Ava Gardner, BOTD, Ethel Barrymore, Walter Huston

Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton, A Southern Yankee (1948)

August 11, 2023 By Joi

Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton, A Southern Yankee

Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton

The beautiful Arlene Dahl was BOTD in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1925. In her honor, I decided to spotlight one of my favorite Arlene Dahl films, A Southern Yankee.

What seems like a TOTALLY unlikely team, Red Skelton and Arlene Dahl, work beautifully together in the fun 1948 comedy. Directed by Edward Sedgwick, the movie also stars Brian Donlevy, George Coulouris (always wonderful), Lloyd Gough, and John Ireland.

You can find A Southerner Yankee (Amazon link) on dvd or Prime Video.

Filed Under: Arlene Dahl, BOTD, Red Skelton Tagged With: Arlene Dahl, BOTD, Red Skelton

Happy Katharine Hepburn Day! The Iconic and Legendary Actress was BOTD in 1907

May 12, 2023 By Joi

Katharine Hepburn and David Manners in A Bill of Divorcement

Katharine Hepburn and David Manners in A Bill of Divorcement

Katharine Hepburn’s first film was A Bill of Divorcement (1932). Directed by George Cukor, the movie also stars John Barrymore, David Manners, Billie Burke, and Elizabeth Patterson.

The executive producer (David O. Selznick) did NOT want the newcomer, 24 year old Katharine Hepburn, in the lead role but Cukor DID. Cukor won out and would go on to have a wonderful lifelong working relationship (and friendship) with the legendary actress.

Katharine Hepburn and David Manners, A Bill of Divorcement

Katharine Hepburn and David Manners

In an interview w/Dick Cavett, Hepburn told how he studio’s PR department kept trying to get her to wear beautiful gowns around the set instead of her much-preferred pants.

Long story short: She balked. They took her pants. She walked around in her underwear. Her pants were returned!

Katharine Hepburn’s second film, Christopher Strong (1933) is memorable for several reasons…

  • It was directed by the trailblazing Dorothy Arzner… not a lot of women directors in old Hollywood!
  • This was Katharine Hepburn’s second film
  • It was the first film in which she was given top billing… imagine… top billing in just your second film.
  • …and, of course, the moth costume is VERY memorable (see below for proof)

Katharine Hepburn, Christopher Strong

Katharine Hepburn, Christopher Strange (1933)

Katharine Hepburn won four Oscars for Best Lead Actress:

Morning Glory, 1934
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, 1968
The Lion in Winter, 1969
On Golden Pond, 1982

She was nominated for 8 more in the same category. Kind of thinking that, had she won these as well, they should have renamed it the “Katharine Hepburn Award!”



Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn

Filed Under: BOTD, Katharine Hepburn Tagged With: BOTD, Katharine Hepburn

Dame Margaret Rutherford, BOTD in England in 1892

May 11, 2023 By Joi

Margaret Rutherford, Murder Ahoy

Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple in Murder Ahoy (1964)

“I hope I’m an individual. I suppose an eccentric is a super individual. Perhaps an eccentric is just off centre – ex-centric. But that contradicts a belief of mine that we’ve got to be centrifugal.”

~ Dame Margaret Rutherford

The wonderful Margaret Rutherford was born in England on May 11, 1892. Perhaps best-known for her deliciously entertaining performances in the Miss Marple films, Rutherford has a VERY fine filmography outside of these mysteries.

Ironically, she was initially hesitant to play the role of Miss Marple. Her reasoning is, in my opinion, both brilliant AND deliciously British… “Murder, you see, is not the sort of thing I can get close to. I don’t like these things that are just for thrills. I would far rather go without work. I do not like murder. It has an atmosphere I have always found uncongenial.”

Happy Heavenly birthday to a truly extraordinary lady!


Filed Under: BOTD, Margaret Rutherford Tagged With: BOTD, Margaret Rutherford

The Wonderful Glenn Ford was BOTD in Canada in 1916

May 1, 2023 By Joi

Glenn Ford, Pocketful of Miracles
Glenn Ford, Pocketful of Miracles
I literally love all of Glenn Ford’s films – with the exception of two (and I even half-love one of those!). He’s one of those actors who makes it look so easy that we don’t talk about them nearly often enough. The stars who embodied the  “go big or go home” philosophy or who lived a life with as much drama as they ever lived onscreen seem to get most of the attention. It’s a complete travesty, actually, because consistent, talented, extraordinary stars like Glenn Ford, Paul Henreid, Ann Sheridan, Beulah Bondi, Van Johnson, Marie Dressler, Pat O’Brien, Van Heflin, Kay Francis, etc not only helped build Hollywood, they’re a huge part of what makes it so magical even to this day!
Glenn Ford has a filmography any star would be proud of.. and it includes a wide variety of genres because he was beautifully versatile – more so, I believe, than he even realized.
Gene Tierney and Glenn Ford: The Secret of Convict Lake
Gene Tierney and Glenn Ford, The Secret of Convict Lake
Some of my favorite Glenn Ford movies are…
  • The Secret of Convict Lake
  • Pocketful of Miracles
  • Gilda
  • 3:10 to Yuma
  • A Stolen Life
  • The Violent Men
  • The Fastest Gun
  • The Last Challenge
  • The Big Heat
  • Superman (’78)
  • Heaven with a Gun

The list goes on and on. He made a lot of great films as well as TV movies as well. If you aren’t familiar with his body of work, I hope you’ll seek out his films very soon. I’d simply choose my favorite genre and proceed accordingly. If you like Westerns and/or film-noir, you’re particularly in luck, but he made a lot of quality dramas and comedies as well.

I’m a huge fan of his, or could you tell?

Happy Heavenly birthday to a wonderful actor who did it all with style and class!

Glenn Ford and Van Heflin, 3:10 to Yuma

 Van Heflin and Glenn Ford, 3:10 to Yuma

Filed Under: BOTD, Glenn Ford Tagged With: BOTD, Gene Tierney, Glenn Ford, Van Heflin

Remembering the Wonderful Celeste Holm on the Date of Her Birth

April 29, 2023 By Joi

Celeste Holm

Celeste Holm

The beautiful Celeste Holm was born on this day (April 29th) in 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. She brought so much charisma and talent to EVERY single performance, often stealing scenes from household names… she had a quality (much like Joan Blondell, Thelma Ritter, S.Z. Sakall, and a select group of others) that made you want to keep your eyes on her and your ears tuned into whatever it was she had to say.

You dare not look away, EVEN if you wanted to.

Celeste Holm

Celeste Holm

Some of my Personal Favorite Celeste Holms Films:

  • Come to the Stable
  • All About Eve
  • High Society
  • Champagne for Caesar
  • The Snake Pit
  • Tom Sawyer (’73)
  • Gentleman’s Agreement
  • Cinderella (TV Movie)
  • The Tender Trap

The films above are jut the tip of her wonderful filmography which also includes numerous wonderful guest appearances on tv.

Celeste Holm

Celeste Holm

“We live by encouragement and die without it – slowly, sadly, and angrily.” ~ Celeste Holm


Thank you for all the wonderful entertainment, Celeste Holm, and happy birthday!

Celeste Holm

Filed Under: BOTD, Celeste Holm Tagged With: BOTD, Celeste Holm

Happy Birthday to the Extraordinary Carol Burnett!

April 26, 2023 By Joi

Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball, The Carol Burnett Show

Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball

The adorable picture above shows two of my favorites doing what they do/did best… making people smile. Such extraordinary women and very close friends in real life as well.

Carol Burnett’s birthday is today and I can think of no better way to honor her than a photo with a friend that meant so much to her.

She was born on April 26, 1933 in San Antonio, Texas and television and its fans are all the richer for it. It’s amazing to me just how timeless The Carol Burnett Show is, even today. The music, opening monologue, skits, and humor ring as wonderful today as they did then and so much of that is because of the wonderful redhead we’re celebrating today.

Happiest of birthdays, Carol Burnett, and thanks for all of the wonderful fun and laughter!

You can find the complete series (or buy seasons individually) of The Carol Burnett Show on dvd or watch on Prime Video. (Amazon link)

Filed Under: BOTD, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, Picture of the Day Tagged With: BOTD, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Mary Pickford!

April 8, 2023 By Joi

Mary Pickford, Suds

Mary Pickford, Suds

The beautiful, talented, and absolutely iconic Mary Pickford was BOTD in Toronto in 1892. Pickford was an extraordinary woman, author, and pioneer in addition to being an extraordinary actress.

“I left the screen because I didn’t want what happened to Chaplin (Charles Chaplin) to happen to me. The little girl made me. I wasn’t waiting for the little girl to kill me. I’d already been pigeonholed. I know I’m an artist, and that’s not being arrogant, because talent comes from God. My career was planned, there was never anything accidental about it. It was planned, it was painful, it was purposeful. I’m not exactly satisfied, but I’m grateful.” ~ Mary Pickford

The beautiful picture at the top is a promotional pic for Mary Pickford’s 1920 silent film Suds (directed by John Francis Dillon).


Filed Under: BOTD, Mary Pickford, Silent Movies Tagged With: BOTD, Mary Pickford, Silent Films, Silent Movies

Doris Day was BOTD in 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio – and Are We Ever Lucky She Was!

April 3, 2023 By Joi

Doris Day, Lover Come Back

Doris Day, Lover Come Back (1961)

I don’t have a lot of time, unfortunately, this morning to spend at the computer – otherwise, I’d love to rave on and on and on about Doris Day on the date of her birth! Her talent, beauty, genuineness, love for animals, graciousness, positivity, and inner light deserve more words than I  have time to devote to them right now.

But to be honest, I’m not sure a billion words could sum up even half of how special and unique she was.

I love her filmography and the way she lights up a screen. I love her speaking voice, as well as her wonderful singing voice. I love how much joy she seemed to derive from making people smile. I love how positive she was about her co-stars and how gracious she was about her experiences and films.

The lovely photos in this post are from one of my favorite of her films, Lover Come Back. The 1961 comedy was directed by Delbert Mann and co-stars Rock Hudson, Tony Randall, Edie Adams, Ann B. Davis, Jack Albertson, and Jack Oakie.

You can find the romantic comedy Lover Come Back (1961) on DVD, Blu-ray, or Prime Video (Amazon link).

Doris Day, Lover Come Back

Filed Under: BOTD, Doris Day, Picture of the Day Tagged With: BOTD, Doris Day

Elizabeth Taylor, Actress and Humanitarian was BOTD in 1932

February 27, 2023 By Joi

Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

Today we celebrate the date of Elizabeth Taylor’s birthday, and what better way to do so than with photos of her iconic role as Cleopatra in the iconic 1963 movie. Brilliantly directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the movie also stars Richard Burton and Rex Harrison.

Elizabeth Taylor was born on this date in England in 1932. While she is (for obvious reasons) greatly celebrated for her beauty, she was also an extraordinary actress and humanitarian. She passionately fought for victims of AIDS – for them to receive both care and respect. She dedicated so much of herself and her life to the cause that it’s one of the things I most respect about her. Can you imagine if we all fought so valiantly for the cause or cause we believed in? If we all preached love, tolerance, and kindness instead of trying to draw lines, pick sides, and judge people who are different than we are.

The world wouldn’t just be a better place, it’d be a much happier one as well.

Thanks to Elizabeth Taylor for her beauty, her films, and her great example. ~  Joi (“Joy”)

You can find Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic Cleopatra on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra Bath Scene
Elizabeth Taylor in the Iconic Cleopatra Bath Scene

Filed Under: BOTD, Elizabeth Taylor Tagged With: BOTD, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

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Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

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Recent Posts

  • Ann Sheridan and George Raft, They Drive by Night
  • Stunning Ann Sheridan Canvas Poster on Amazon… Perfect Gift Idea (for Them or YOU!)
  • The Wonderful Ethel Barrymore was BOTD in 1879
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  • Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton, A Southern Yankee (1948)
  • Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson: One of Sanford and Son’s Best Episodes…
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Movie Night, ANY Night…

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado
Have movie night ANY night with Prime Video on Amazon:  Prime Video (Amazon link)

Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!

Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

Wait. What did I just admit to?? 

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.

Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)

We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)

The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)

The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)

The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)

Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)

El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)

Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)

Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)

The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)

Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)

To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)

Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)

Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)

The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)

More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Poster

Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi (“Joy”)

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