BOTD | Hollywood Yesterday

BOTD in 1918, The Beautiful and Talented Rita Hayworth…

October 17, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, You Were Never Lovelier

Rita Hayworth has been one of my absolute favorite actresses for as long as I can remember. I remember being very, very young and walking through the living room and saw what looked like a princess from one of my storybooks come to life. I sat and watched her with my mom. While I’d give just about anything to be able to sit and watch anything with my mom again, some things haven’t changed – I still think of Rita as a fairytale princess that came to life – if only for a brief time, before leaving us.

The first Rita Hayworth film I saw (the one I watched with my mom) was You Were Never Lovelier (1942) and, to this day, I don’t know why Gilda is so much more popular than this one. Granted, Gilda is an extraordinary movie… but so is You Were Never Lovelier.

Truth be told, though, I am absolutely wild about just about every Rita Hayworth movie. The Lady from Shanghai and The Loves of Carmen aren’t high on my list, but Rita’s in them… and that’s good enough for me!

If you’ve never seen You Were Never Lovelier (link to the dvd on Amazon), I hope you’ll find it and watch it soon. If you HAVE seen it, watch it again! Each time I do, I love it even more.

Pictures of the Day: Celebrating Angela Lansbury’s Birthday!

October 16, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Angela Lansbury, The Harvey Girls

One of my favorite Old Hollywood, modern Hollywood, and television actresses of all time is the same actress – the absolutely wonderful, talented, and beautiful Angela Lansbury.

I could spend all day trying to sum up the things that make this lady so extraordinary and the next three days trying to describe how much I love her! Given that my husband and cats would all appreciate meals on each of these days, I will simply say, there has never been anyone quite like her and there never will be.

I “collect” my favorite stars – in that I collect all books about them, all of their movies and television series (when applicable), magazine articles, photos, etc. Rest assured this lady is one of the ones collected in this household.

I’m trying to collect the entire Murder She Wrote (link to the collection on Amazon) series – but I’m doing it season by season. In the end, it would probably be cheaper to just buy the entire collection at once, but it’s too late now!

Happiest of birthdays to this extraordinary lady!

Angela Lansbury, The Manchurian Candidate

BOTD in 1924, the Wonderful Lauren Bacall

September 16, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City. Little did anyone know the legendary actress Betty Joan would one day become!

While I love all of Lauren Bacall’s movies (she has a very rich filmography… as rich and distinctive as her voice), my favorites are Key Largo, Dark Passage, The Big Sleep, How to Marry a Millionaire, and To Have and Have Not.

When Humphrey Bogart was on the screen, there was magic. When Lauren Bacall was on the screen, there was magic. When they were on the screen together…. the word hasn’t been invented for the magic they generated together.

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Key Largo

Claudette Colbert: Born on this Date in 1903

September 13, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

One of the most extraordinary actresses of all time was born on this date in Saint Mandé, France in 1903. This is an actress with a filmography that’s so remarkable – not just in quantity but quality as well.

Below are my… as of now… personal favorite Claudette Colbert movies (each link leads to the film on Amazon Prime or dvd). I know, as I watch more of her films, I’ll pick up new favorites to add along the way.

It Happened One Night (1934, directed by Frank Capra), co-starring Clark Gable. This film is so popular for a very good reason – it’s outstanding and the humor stands the test of time. It Happened One Night is also available on dvd.
Cleopatra (1934, directed by Cecil B DeMille), co-starring Warren William as Julius Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Antony. Visually stunning and the acting is superb.
I Met Him in Paris (1937, directed by Wesley Ruggles), co-starring two of my favorite actors – Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young. They (like Claudette, herself) are wonderful in everything!
The Sign of the Cross (1932, directed by Cecil B. DeMille), co-starring Fredric March and Charles Laughton. Beautiful and lush, as you’d always expect from Cecil B. DeMille.

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

Lucille Ball: A Legend was BOTD in 1928!

August 6, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lucille Ball and Bob Hope, Fancy Pants

The wonderful, beautiful, hilarious, intelligent… I could go on for weeks… Lucille Ball was BOTD in Jamestown, N.Y. in 1928. All of us who love movies and (especially) television owe a debt of gratitude to the event. Television would never have been the magical force it became without Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Not even close.

The picture of the day is from the hilarious movie she made with her friend Bob Hope, Fancy Pants (1950). It is deliciously over the top, hilarious, and outrageous… just like its wonderful stars.

Happy Heavenly birthday to my personal favorite television star of all time… bar none!

The Unforgettable Myrna Loy: Born on this Date in 1905

August 2, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Myrna Loy, Double Wedding

Myrna Adele Williams on August 2, 1905 in Helena, Montana. She would go on to become the much-loved actress Myrna Loy.

What better star to shine the spotlight on than the birthday girl herself, today?!

Myrna Loy is always such a joy to watch – she had a unique acting style that was all her own and, while I’m sure it was, didn’t seem to be inspired by anyone but HER, herself. There was an underlying strength and confidence radiating from her that jumps through the screen at you.

Those of us who adore her certainly aren’t alone.

Some of her biggest fans included James Stewart, Winston Churchill, and Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt were also fans.

The beautiful photos, shown here, are from Myrna’s hilarious 1937 movie Double Wedding, with William Powell.

Talk about a magical duo… this was one of the most magical.

Myrna Loy and William Powell

BOTD in 1928, the Wonderful Natalie Wood

July 20, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Natalie Wood and James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause

Legendary actress Natalie Wood was BOTD in San Francisco, California in 1938. Born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko, she would go on to become, not only one of the best actresses ever – but also one of the most beloved actresses.

Natalie starred in some of the most memorable movies from old Hollywood:

Miracle on 34th Street
Rebel Without a Cause
West Side Story
The Searchers
Splendor in the Grass
Gypsy
From Here to Eternity
Sex and the Single Girl
The Great Race (pure fun!)

What a filmography. What an actress.

Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood, Miracle on 34th Street

One of the greatest child actors of all time, Natalie defied the odds and went on to have an outstanding career as an adult. If you’ve never seen her in Gypsy, Love with the Proper Stranger, and Splendor in the Grass – be sure to search the movies out and watch them soon. She’s remarkable in each.

Natalie Wood died (presumably from drowning) on November 29, 1981 at the age of 43. Had she lived longer, her amazing filmography would have been even richer. As it is, she has given us many incredible performances to remember her by.

Most Natalie Wood fans CHOOSE to remember her smiling, full of personality and full of life. We choose to focus on her wonderful films and excellent performances. When you’re a fan of an actor or actress, you want desperately to have good things associated with their name… beauty, not ugliness… love, not hate. As a Natalie Wood fan, that’s certainly the choice I make

I’m pretty certain it’s how the beautiful lady would want it.

Natalie Wood, The Searchers

Natalie Wood, Gypsy

Happy Birthday to Lindsay Wagner (I May be the Biggest fan of The Bionic Woman of All Time…)

June 22, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lindsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman

I have always been a huge Lindsay Wagner fan – mainly because of her outstanding role as Jaime Sommers on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. I can still remember when she first showed up as a guest-star on The Six Million Dollar Man (one of my favorite shows – I never missed a minute!) – as soon as she arrived, I was smitten. She was beautiful, funny, and as likable as any character I had ever seen on tv or in movies.

I wanted her to stick around for every episode. Fortunately, the network went one better and gave me The Bionic Woman! Needless to say, it became a huge obsession – never missed an episode and OF COURSE I had the lunch box and doll. I would give just about anything to still have them!

I have to order the complete series on dvd (The Bionic Woman – link to the dvd set on Amazon) and maybe start watching it on Prime until it gets here!

Happiest of birthdays to Lindsay Wagner!

Lindsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman

Happy Birthday to the One and Only John Wayne!

May 26, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, McLintock

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.. Two of My Favorites!

Born on this date in 1907 in Iowa, Marion Robert Morrison! My favorite John Wayne movies? I love them all….. seriously.

My absolute favorites, however are…

The Quiet Man

Stagecoach

Rio Bravo
El Dorado

The Train Robbers

McLintock!

The Searchers

Rio Grande

The Sons of Katie Elder

Rooster Cogburn

Like a lot of lucky people, I have wonderful memories of watching John Wayne westerns with my parents – my father, in particular. My mom’s attention would come and go (everything on television competed with whatever book she was reading at the time… the stereotypical bookworm!), but my dad and I never even looked away from the screen if a John Wayne movie was on.

Happy Heavenly birthday, Mr. Wayne and thanks ever so much for all of the wonderful films, entertainment, and family memories.

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara

Picture of the Day: Birthday Boy Henry Fonda!

May 16, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes of The Grapes of Wrath

One of my all-time, absolute, no holds barred favorite actors is Henry Fonda. The man was nothing short of EXCELLENT in every role fortunate enough to have him at the helms.

Supper is in the oven (and BBQ chicken waits for no one, not even the great Henry Fonda), so I only have time to post this picture of the day. Monday I’ll have another Henry Fonda dedicated post – one in which I rave and rave about my favorite Henry Fonda movies and roles. I’m sure you won’t want to miss that (she says with sarcasm dripping from every word).

Have a great day and wonderful weekend! ~ Joi (“Joy”)