Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
Elvis Presley
The adorable photo above is Elvis Presley behind the scenes of The Ed Sullivan Show. Elvis made three appearances on the iconic television show, twice in 1956 and once in 1957.
You can enjoy Elvis’ January 6, 1957 Episode on Prime Video. You can also find Elvis’ Ed Sullivan Show Appearances on DVD (Amazon link).
Julie Newmar, Catwoman
One of my favorite classic television shows is Batman – my husband and I watch and rewatch the deliciously entertaining episodes regularly. We recently saw two of my favorite episodes back to back – Hot off the Griddle and The Cat and the Fiddle (part one and two of The Catwoman’s mischief!). These episodes originally aired on September 14 and 15, 1966.
While I find Julie Newmar’s performance as Catwoman to never be anything less than purrfection, I think she’s EVEN more remarkable in The Cat and the Fiddle. Catwoman disguises herself and impersonates a rich recluse, Minerva Matthews, and she is absolutely mesmerizing. The expressions, the things she does with her voice, her body movements… she showcases just how much comedic talent she has, and it’s considerable.
You can find the Batman Television Series on DVD (Amazon link) or watch each season’s episodes of Batman on Prime Video.
Adam West as Batman
One of the most lovable and iconic television stars ever, Adam West, was BOTD in 1928 in Walla Walla Washington. While there are many things to love about this talented actor, one of the things I love most is the fact that he embraced his famous role and the series and movies that came with it. No pretentious “I deserved better” attitude or belittling Batman’s fanbase or anything of the kind.
Major respect for him and the way he treated his fans and the show that made him a household name.
You can find the Batman Television Series on DVD (Amazon link) or watch each season’s episodes of Batman on Prime Video..
Adam West, Eartha Kitt, and Cesar Romero
Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr in Perry Mason
One of my favorites, Barbara Hale, was born on this day in 1922 in DeKalb, Illinois. While she is best-known (and loved) as Della Street from Perry Mason, Barbara Hale also made a great number of films, many of which were Westerns (which means I’m certainly familiar with her filmography!).
The most recent role I enjoyed her in was in A Lion is in the Streets (1953, directed by Raoul Walsh). The movie co-starred James Cagney, Jeanne Cagney, Anne Francis, Lon Chaney Jr, John McIntire, and Warner Anderson and was pretty good. However, make no mistake about it… Barbara Hale was (as was the case with quite a few of her movies) better than the film she was in.
Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean I don’t recommend watching this film (or any of the others). In fact, the opposite is true. I’d LOVE for more people to see this remarkable actress in her film roles. She’ll blow you away. You won’t believe the number of times she steals scenes right out from under movie legends.
Truth is, she kind of made a habit of it!
The photos in this post are of her and the wonderful Raymond Burr in the roles they made famous: Perry Mason and Della Street. The extraordinary television series ran for 9 seasons, from 1957–1966. There were also many “Made for TV” Perry Mason movies which were all out of this world.
Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
You can find Perry Mason on Prime Video (the series and movies) and, if you’re also a collector, the dvds are also available on Amazon (Amazon link).
You can also find the Complete Perry Mason Movie Collection (Amazon link) – the next purchase I, personally, plan to make!
Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr
Cesar Romero and Eartha Kitt
Last week I gave a list of my New Years Resolutions for Hollywood Yesterday…
A quick review:
I also kind of flirted with the idea of changing Picture of the Day to Picture of the Week, but (after thinking about it a while), I’ve decided to stick with Picture of the Day and simply add more content WITH the pictures. I already went back and edited that nonsense out of the Resolutions post!
What was I thinking anyway….. LESS pictures of old Hollywood and classic TV? Ridiculous idea!
So, long story short (I know, too late for that), Picture of the Day starts back today and we’re doing it with a BANG… the wonderful Cesar Romero and the wonderful Eartha Kitt.
You can find the Batman Television Series on DVD (Amazon link) or watch each season’s episodes of Batman on Prime Video..
The Complete Series of Batman on DVD:
Batman: The Complete Series (Amazon link)
Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, and Erin Murphy
The adorable Bewitched publicity photo above is, I believe, a promo shot for season five. Don’t hold me to that or anything, but judging by Erin Murphy’s age, here, I’m almost certain it was season five.
Did you grow up watching this wonderful sitcom? I certainly did – heck, who am I kidding – I still watch it regularly! When you’ve seen as many episodes (over and over and over…) as I have, the characters almost seem like family.
The Complete Series of Bewitched on DVD (Amazon link) is available for as cheap as I’ve ever seen it right now. THIS is absolutely the time to grab the magic!
Lisa Loring and Ted Cassidy
The extraordinary series The Addams Family ran from 1964 to 1966. At the time, many people fell in love with these larger than life, lovable characters and the actors and actresses who portrayed them. Since then, even more of us have fallen under their spell.
This truly was one of the cutest, most entertaining, and funniest series ever made.
The behind the scenes photos, here, are just wonderful… they remind us of the characters we fell in love with so long ago and realize that we have never quite fallen out of love. Far from it!
I can’t tell you how much I wish the photo of Margaret Hamilton (Granny Frump) and Felix Silla (Cousin Itt) below were large enough to include ALL of the great Margaret Hamilton. This is how I got the photo… with only 1/3 of her.
Margaret Hamilton and Felix Silla
Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster
One of my favorite classic television shows is The Munsters. Few things are as enjoyable as sitting back and visiting with Herman, Lily, Grandpa, Marilyn, and Eddie. The series ran from 1964 to 1966 and while I wasn’t quite old enough to enjoy it in its first-run, I have made up for lost time in reruns!
My favorite character is Lily and the main reason is Yvonne De Carlo. She portrayed her to absolute perfection. The entire cast was phenomenal.
You can find the complete series of The Munsters on dvd (Amazon link)!
Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster
Carol Burnett and Ella Fitzgerald
The adorable photo of two legendary women, above, is from Ella Fitzgerald’s October 24, 1969 appearance on The Carol Burnett Show. The mind is a funny thing, isn’t it? I can remember the words to just about every Carol Burnett skit and can distinctly remember seeing this episode (in reruns while growing up)… yet I forget why I walk into a room at least once a week!
I need to buy The Carol Burnett Show on dvd because I love it now perhaps EVEN more than I did back then. Carol Burnett has always been one of the most hilarious people in show business and her cast was right there with her.
She also seems just genuinely likable, doesn’t she?
I rewatched this episode not long ago – because I love Ella Fitzgerald and Carol Burnett so much. If you haven’t seen it in awhile, I hope you’ll find it and give it a look.
Wonderful, wonderful ladies.
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??
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!
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
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…
