Art Prints and Posters | Hollywood Yesterday

Bela, Boris, and Basil in Son of Frankenstein (1939)… Talk about a 1, 2, 3 Punch!

October 30, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi

Some films boast casts and some films boast ICONIC casts. Son of Frankenstein (1939) is the latter. Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi.. in ONE film?! That’s what I call a film for the ages.

The classic horror was directed by the wonderful Rowland V. Lee and I call him wonderful not just because he was an outstanding (and way ahead of his time) director but also because (as a huge Bela Lugosi fan) I love the extent he went to in order to give Lugosi more respect, credit, and even money while making this film.

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Basil Rathbone

Sadly, Bela Lugosi’s career was beginning to decline when he signed on to make Son of Frankenstein and his fee reflected this decline. Fortunately, director Rowland V. Lee was VERY much in his corner. He realized that Lugosi wasn’t being treated fairly and was perhaps even being taken for granted, so he gave Bela’s character (Ygor) more dialogue and a bigger role in the film, causing Bela be paid (and respected) more.

This role, IMO, is one of Lugosi’s absolute best performances. He more than rewarded Lee’s wonderful efforts!

You can watch Son of Frankenstein on Prime Video (Amazon link). I’m having a heckuva time finding it on dvd for my collection, but if I’m ever to find it, I’ll let you know.

Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi

Life-Size Rita Hayworth Standup Cardboard Cutout

October 18, 2018 By Joi

I’ve bellyached and bemoaned so long that maybe… just maybe… we’ll start seeing more collectibles, gift ideas, books, etc. for ALL our Golden Age of Hollywood favorites as opposed to just Marilyn, James, John Wayne, and Audrey.

Not that I don’t love them muchly, because I do. But let’s not forget Lucille (not just as Lucy), Ava, Rita, Barbara, Hattie, Veronica, Lana, Angie, Maureen, Joan Crawford, Joan Blondell, Joan Fontaine, Lauren, Bogie, Elizabeth, Bette, Claudette, Helen, Yvonne, James Stewart, Dorothy, Ginger, Fred, Jerry, Dean, Ray, Butterfly, Jane Wyman, Olivia… you get the idea.

There are far too many wonderful stars to settle for just four!

I just saw this glorious Rita Hayworth Standup Cardboard Cutout on Amazon and I had to come blog about it instantly.

Can you tell she’s one of my absolute favorites?

Printed on heavy duty cardboard
Can be mounted on wall or door or can be displayed standing with the included easel
Shipped folded and is easily assembled
Stands 68 inches tall and is 27 inches wide

I only hope we’ll start seeing more of all the stars we love so much. I’ll just keep bemoaning and bellyaching until we do.

Count on it!

Audrey Hepburn Chewing Gum Art Print (LOVE THIS!)

August 21, 2018 By Joi

I’m not sure what it is about this Audrey Hepburn Canvas Print that I love so much, but it blows (see what I did there?) me away.

I guess it has something to do with the fact that she’s so elegant and refined and the print, by comparison, is totally unexpected. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t just speak to me, it screams.

The print is available in many different sizes.

From Amazon:

Audrey Hepburn Wall Art Canvas Print / Iconic Wall Art Canvas Print for Home Décor
High-quality canvases are printed and hand stretched (wrapped) by professionals MADE TO ORDER. All our items %100 handmade and made in the USA and shipped from California by SMILE ART DESIGN. Our products will never ship from China or overseas.
Our canvas prints are already perfectly stretched on wooden frame and READY TO HANG unless defined ROLLED UP in the size option.
Our modern canvas wall art prints perfect for living room, bedroom, kids room, kitchen, office, hotel, lobby, waiting room/lounge, dining room, office, bathroom, hall, bar, beauty salon, home, etc.
Best home decoration, framed wall art idea with our various choice of giclee canvas arts such as picture, artwork, photo, painting, abstract or digital arts printed on high quality canvas from small to large or over-sized size options. Find a unique perfect gift in our catalog for Christmas, birthday, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentine’s Day, teacher appreciation, mother’s and father’s day, graduation, baby shower, anniversary or other special days or celebrations.

Click here for a closer look!

Barbara Stanwyck Posters

June 11, 2018 By Joi

As I’ve often said on Hollywood Yesterday – I have no idea why some Old Hollywood actresses and actors are so much easier to find when shopping. If you’re looking for a Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn handbag, for example – your only problem will be deciding which one to buy! However, if you’re in the market for a Barbara Stanwyck, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, or Joan Crawford handbag… well… good luck.

Now don’t get me wrong… I love Marilyn and Audrey as much as anyone… but I want to see more collectibles and merchandise for my other favorites as well.

James Dean or John Wayne? No problem, Pilgrim. But Jimmy Stewart, Glenn Ford, or Clark Gable (outside of GWTW)? Not so easy.

I mean – who decides these things?!

Okay, I’ll climb down off of my soapbox and calm the heck down.

I’m going to start highlighting and posting more posters, collectibles, and “gifts” that feature some of these harder to find stars. Maybe if we buy up enough of them, people will get the idea and give us more.

I’m willing to try!

The gorgeous poster above and the one below are of a personal favorite, Barbara Stanwyck. They’re both available on Amazon – click through the links for a closer look.

How gorgeous was she??!

Amazon

Lana Turner: Glamorous and Gorgeous Giclee Posters

January 23, 2018 By Joi

I’ve often wondered why some stars of Old Hollywood have collectibles and merchandise that seem to be everywhere, while merch for other stars… who are just as deserving!….. are sparsely (if at all) available.

I love Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, John Wayne, and James Dean as much as the next person BUT where are all of the Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, James Stewart, Maureen O’Hara, Veronica Lake, Betty Grable, Fred Astaire, Claudette Colbert, Helen Hayes, Ray Milland, Ginger Rogers, Glenn Ford, and William Powell figurines, dolls, posters, wall quotes, handbags, statues, and whatnot?!

Where can I find merchandise as a fan of Olivia de Havilland, Butterfly McQueen, Hattie McDaniel, Vivien Leigh, and Clark Gable – aside from just the GWTW collectibles?

Where are the collectibles for Abbott and Costello and Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin?? How about Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall?

Okay, enough ranting. You get the point. I truly wish there were collectibles and posters for a wider (much wider) variety of Hollywood’s Golden Era’s stars. There were so many of them and those of us who love and cherish this period want to remember and embrace more of them.

Fortunately, if you look hard enough (do I ever?!), you can find a lot of the stars I mentioned above – as well as others I simply ran out of time to type.

The gorgeous Lana Turner is one of my absolute favorites. She was out of this world talented and had so much onscreen charisma – honestly, she had more than most actors/actresses of her time or ANY time. How she isn’t on as many posters and hanging on as many walls as Marilyn is beyond me.

I’m ranting again, aren’t I?

I have found some remarkably beautiful (how could they be anything but, given the subject?) posters of Lana on Amazon and they’re very affordable. Click through any of the links to see the entire collection.

Amazon

Marilyn Monroe Quotes

July 28, 2017 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe (How to Marry a Millionaire)

A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night.

A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing.

An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine.

Dogs never bite me. Just humans.

Dreaming about being an actress, is more exciting then being one.

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.

Fame will go by and, so long, I’ve had you, fame. If it goes by, I’ve always known it was fickle. So at least it’s something I experience, but that’s not where I live.

First, I’m trying to prove to myself that I’m a person. Then maybe I’ll convince myself that I’m an actress.

Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.

I am invariably late for appointments – sometimes as much as two hours. I’ve tried to change my ways but the things that make me late are too strong, and too pleasing.

Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.

The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.

The thing I want more than anything else? I want to have children. I used to feel for every child I had, I would adopt another.

There was my name up in lights. I said, ‘God, somebody’s made a mistake.’ But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, ‘Remember, you’re not a star.’ Yet there it was up in lights.

I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.

I have feelings too. I am still human. All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent.

I have too many fantasies to be a housewife. I guess I am a fantasy.

I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle.

I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.

I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.

I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it.

I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one.

I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.

I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.

I love a natural look in pictures. I like people with a feeling one way or another – it shows an inner life. I like to see that there’s something going on inside them.

I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else.

I restore myself when I’m alone.

I’m very definitely a woman and I enjoy it.

I’ve been on a calendar, but I’ve never been on time.

I’ve never dropped anyone I believed in.

If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never have got anywhere.

If I’m a star, then the people made me a star.

It’s all make believe, isn’t it?

It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone – so far.

It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.

It’s often just enough to be with someone. I don’t need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You’re not alone.

Men are so willing to respect anything that bores them.

To put it bluntly, I seem to have a whole superstructure with no foundation. But I’m working on the foundation.

What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course.

My work is the only ground I’ve ever had to stand on. I seem to have a whole superstructure with no foundation but I’m working on the foundation.

No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they’re pretty, even if they aren’t.

Jayne Mansfield Trivia and Quotes

July 23, 2017 By Joi

Jayne Mansfield

I’ve read in many places that, while the role of Ginger Grant on “Gilligan’s Island” was actually created for her, actress Jayne Mansfield turned it down. This, of course, opened up a whole new world for Tina Louise who went on to create a character who is still a household name.

It’s kind of fun to think of Jayne Mansfield in the role, though. Tragically, she was killed in a car accident in 1967, which was coincidentally the last year the show was on the air. She was only 34 years old.

More Jayne Mansfield Trivia:

Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer in Pennsylvania in 1933.
As a child she could play both the piano and violin.
Her father died when she was only 3.
Jayne married Paul Mansfield when she was 16 years old. She had her first child (Jayne Marie Mansfield) when she was 16.
Although it was a small one, she landed her first role in Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955).
Jayne Mansfield had 5 children.
One of her daughters is actress Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order).
Jayne Mansfield made Made Mr. Blackwell’s infamous Worst-Dressed List in 1961 and again in 1964.
The beauty had an IQ of 163! Her intelligence, many believe, is a reason she never “caught on” in the “dumb blonde” facade Hollywood tried to create for her.
Rumors have always swirled that she was decapitated in the car crash that killed her. However, her death certificate lists “crushed skull with avulsion of cranium and brain” as the immediate cause of death.
The car (Buick) that Jayne was killed in was locked away in a garage for decades, in the same condition it was in after the wreck. The owner, who was a big Jayne Mansfield fan, displayed it at various shows over the years. The car was sold at auction in 1999 for $8000. Reportedly, the car still has the blood stains on the seats.
Jayne Mansfield was an only child.
Sadly, she had a serious drinking problem most of her adult life – she certainly wasn’t the first or last star to battle this particular demon.
Was with 20th Century-Fox from 1956-1962.
She was a natural brunette.
While traveling from a nightclub in Biloxi, Mississippi (just 30 miles from her destination, New Orleans, where she was appear on television the next day), Jayne Mansfield was killed instantly on Highway 90 in a car crash in the early hours of Thursday June 29, 1967. The car in which she was riding slammed into the back of a semi-tractor trailer truck. The Semi-tractor trailer truck had stopped in the road due to a truck in front of it which was spraying for bugs. The car carrying Jayne Mansfield (as well as her boyfriend Samuel Brody and their driver Ronnie Harrison) went under the truck at nearly 80 miles per hour.
When photographers and police saw one of her platinum wigs lying on the dashboard, the rumors of decapitation began to echo around the world. Her daughter Jayne Marie Mansfield vehemently insisted that these rumors were not true.

Jayne Mansfield Quotes:

War is a foolish, childish, animalistic, unthinking, unintelligent way of trying to accomplish a purpose.

Stars were made to suffer, and I am a star.

I don’t want to get involved in the racial situation at the expense of losing fans. I wouldn’t say anything too strong but I do know that God created us equal and we’re not living up to it.

I’d like ten more babies and ten more chihuahuas and a few Academy Awards.

I didn’t come to Hollywood to be the girl next door. I came to be a movie star.

My father was the only man I ever knew who really loved me unselfishly, who never used me for personal gain.

I guess a lot of people think that a girl who shows her bosom and wears tight dresses can’t be close to God. God has always been close to me. Only He knew what was in my heart.

You know which title I like best? I like to be called mother.

Nothing risque, nothing gained.

The Prince and The Showgirl with Marilyn Monroe and a Legendary Actor…

May 24, 2017 By Joi

Okay, first of all, I know the legendary actor’s name as well as anyone – Sir Laurence Olivier. Many people (I’m not among them I’m afraid) consider him to be the greatest actor of all time. Don’t get me wrong, he was magnificent and I certainly believe he is “one” of the best ever… even if I hesitate to give him the title “the best.”

The man’s name is synonymous with fine acting and for good reason.

Oddly enough, however, the name Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with beauty and sex appeal (again, for good reason) but it’s the rare bird who’d associate her with good acting, let alone great acting.

I guess I’m among the rarest of birds.

Marilyn Monroe was so much more than just a beautiful face. Her intelligence led to her ability to bring so much to each character she portrayed. She simply knew what each character would feel and how they would react to everything and everyone around them.

The Prince and the Showgirl is one of my personal favorite Marilyn Monroe performances, which kind of sucks because Laurence Olivier’s performance makes me cringe. I understand he’s portraying royalty, here, but I’d have preferred royalty with a pulse!

His performance is one of my least favorites in any movie, to be honest. Leslie Howard in Gone With the Wind is right up there, too. The thought of both characters being appealing to ANYONE is hard to buy into.. and yet both characters had beautiful ladies fawning over them.

Please!

Somehow, in spite of a lackluster, stiff performance by one of the greatest actors of all-time, The Prince and The Showgirl is still a pretty cute and enjoyable movie. It is, of course, primarily thanks to MM and her adorable portrayal of the “showgirl.” In fact, the entire rest of the cast (aside from the legend) did a fine job – even those who had only one or two scenes.

I’ve read that MM and LO did not get along at all – he took all kinds of exception to her frequent tardiness and “moods.” I don’t want to believe that this affected his performance, however, because he was the very definition of a professional. Their relationship actually makes me want to read “The Prince, the Showgirl, and Me: Six Months on the Set With Marilyn and Olivier” by Colin Clark.

Book Description: When Colin Clark left college in the 1950s, he got a job as a gofer on the set of the movie The Prince and the Showgirl, starring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier. The film should have been a box office smash, but even before cameras rolled, things began going wrong–and Clark recorded it all in this beguiling, fly-on-the-wall diary.

New and used copies are available on Amazon, so I’m going to order one SOON.

When I watch The Prince and The Showgirl I always come away with the same question…. “Why is he making his character so painful to watch?!?! Is he trying to win her over or bore her to tears?!”

Marilyn is so fun, lively, and energetic – she makes the screen sizzle and pop when she’s on it. Then, here he comes… dragging the movie, as a whole, down with him.

If you’ve never seen the movie, I hope you’ll watch it soon and see what you think. As I’ve said a million times, old movies and old performances are worth watching even when we don’t love or even like them. There’s always something good or worthwhile about every single movie and in this particular movie, MM and a very strong, lively cast make it worth watching.

In spite of you know who.

“Audrey Rocks” by Kimberly Godfrey

February 9, 2016 By Joi

I’m a bona fide Amazon addict (I do more than half of my shopping for books, gifts, and dvds from Amazon). They recently added something that I am absolutely LOVING: the new “Handmade” department. I love the gorgeous, highly unique items in the Handmade Department, and I love the fact that this gives wonderful artists a place to sell their beautiful creations.

The talent of these artists is otherworldly – including the creative artist behind this beauty, “Audrey Rocks.” Kimberly Godfrey is the artist and, when you click through, you’ll find a lot more of her excellent work.

See Audrey Rocks Poster for more information. Audrey Rocks would make any room, office, or dorm positively crackle with personality!

Set of Nine Chris Consani Posters

November 11, 2015 By Joi

I’m fortunate enough to have some Chris Consani prints and, as someone completely obsessed with old Hollywood, I’m always looking to add to my collection.

The Nine Chris Consani Posters bundled in a set (pictured here) would be the ideal way to get a jump on your own collection. If you aren’t familiar with Consani’s work, let me assure you this – they are pure joy and unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

This set would be a gorgeous way to bring the fun of the Golden Age of Hollywood into your own home – they’d also make pretty darn amazing gift ideas for other fans of Marilyn, Humphrey, James, and Elvis.

Click through the link or picture for more information.