BOTD | Hollywood Yesterday

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”)

Happy Birthday, Ann-Margret!

April 28, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

When it’s one of your absolute favorite actress’ birthdays, it takes the mystery right out of who the picture of the day will be! The only choice is… which gorgeous picture of the star will you use?

Today is beautiful Ann-Margret’s birthday and I hope it is as wonderful as she is.

She has been one of my top favorites for nearly as long as I’ve been alive.

Beautiful, charismatic, multi-talented, and a very, very good person. No wonder she’s such a favorite.

Happiest of birthdays to an ABSOLUTE favorite star!

Birthday Celebration: Jean Harlow (BOTD in 1911)

March 3, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

James Cagney and Jean Harlow, The Public Enemy

Little did anyone know when Harlean Carpenter was born on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri that she’d go on to become one of the biggest movie stars of all time. While “Harlean Carpenter” may not be a household name, the name she took for herself…. Jean Harlow… certainly is.

As I often tell people (Twitter people, family people…. any people who will listen or even just pretend to listen), If you only “know” Jean Harlow from her photographs or from things you’ve read about her… you don’t “know” Jean Harlow at all.

Heck, you’re barely even familiar with her!

It’s when you delve into her quotes and, more importantly, into her films, that you find the magical, magnetic star that she was. Trust me, it’s a delve worth taking.

As you may know, I have watched old movies (as well as classic television) all of my life. Every decade, every genre, every actor, every actress. And yet… I still can’t put my finger on what makes Jean Harlow so special. To this day, I have no idea what trait or feature it was that sets her apart from the rest. She wasn’t necessarily better than other actresses of her time (not all of them, anyway!), but she did have a certain charisma that made her stand out like a beautiful sunset that makes it impossible to look away.