Golden Age of Hollywood
Lena Horne in Thousands Cheer (1943)
I’m going to begin a Picture of the Day category today and… come on… what better star to kick things off with than the glamorous, mega-talented Lena Horne?!
This publicity still is from the 1943 musical Thousands Cheer, with Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Mary Astor, Eleanor Powell, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, and (even!) more.
The Wiz is a beautiful, spectacular film from 1978 with an all star cast to rival any: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell (hilarious man!), Richard Pryor, and (of course) my much beloved Lena Horne. And, honestly, that’s just “some” of its star power.
If you’ve never seen this musical/fantasy, do yourself a favor and catch is asap. You can find The Wiz on Amazon – it makes an outrageously fun addition to any dvd collection.
In the video below, the wonderful Lena Horne sings Believe in Yourself. Mesmerizing!
I would say that Christmas is already on my mind but, if we’re being honest, it’s never OFF of my mind. 
Yes… I’m one of those people and I make no apologies for it.
I have a large, wonderful family and shopping year-round for gifts is the only way I can stay sane or stand a chance to get things done. I buy things in stores and online (often starting the day after Christmas!) and hide them away in totes. Admittedly, sometimes I dip into the totes during the year for little, “Here’s this… just because I love you..” expressions, but that’s fun too.
I’ve begun a #ClassicFilmGifts series of tweets on Twitter and will now also begin a series of Christmas Gift Ideas posts here on Hollywood Yesterday. Granted, very often (very, very, very often in fact), we’re the only one in our family who collects Classic Hollywood collectibles and one of the only ones who watched old movies – in which case, the gift ideas are actually for US.
Again… that’s fun too!
These particular gift ideas are actually ones I’m sure you (like me) will want long before Christmas and will want all for yourself! They’ll each be on their Merry way to our house right away. These artists are some of my favorite in the world and I can’t wait to spend the Christmas season with them.
Continued Below Ella Beautifully Singing The Christmas Song…
Christmas With Ella & Friends is one of the ones that’s already in my Amazon shopping cart. I searched for Ella Fitzgerald Christmas CDs and literally gasped when I saw the list of friends she brought to the Christmas party with her!
The CD cover states that there are 40 songs included in the 2 CD set, but Amazon lists 50. Either way, that’s a lot of wonderful Christmas songs from some of the greatest voices of all time. I will let you know for sure how many there are as soon as my CD arrives!
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas is another “must have. Who better than Ella to get a swinging Christmas and jazzy new year off on the right note??!
This 1960 collection includes:
Continued Below Lena Horne’s Gorgeous Rendition of White Christmas
If you read very much of what I write (bless your heart), you know I love Lena Horne. Like, A LOT. I could listen to her all day/all night and never complain. I actually once had this CD but will have to reorder it.
I guess I wore it out! I remember playing my favorite songs (The Little Drummer Boy, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town) over and over and over. 
These are the songs that are the soundtrack to Christmas and no one… absolutely no one…. sings them more beautifully than Lena Horne.
Lena Horne, like Rita Hayworth and a few other select entertainers, gets so much recognition for her beauty (and, come on, it’s understandable) but she was so much more than a beautiful face. She could act, sings (could she ever sing!), and dance.
And if you’re talking about stage presence and a certain “it” factor – Lena was all over it. If you aren’t familiar with her music, I hope you’ll familiarize yourself right away.
I hope you’ll click through these links and order at least one of these wonderful Christmas song collections. Christmas music is one of the most beautiful (magical, even) things about Christmas.
In fact, as something of an expert on Christmas (immodestly, I put myself right up there with Mrs. Claus in the category), if I were to recommend a way to make the Season even sweeter, I’d suggest starting a Christmas CD collection – and these are a few of the CDs I’d recommend for you to start with.
I will write about more Christmas CDs in the coming weeks – in fact, I was near the middle of a “Top 10 Christmas CDs” post but I got too excited about these three and had to share them immediately. Christmas (and these artists) do that to me. ~ Joi (“Joy”)
Lena Horne
If you watch a lot of Old Hollywood movies – especially if you cover a LOT of territory (say from the silents through today) and a LOT of genres (silents, film noir, westerns, comedies, rom com, slapstick, drama..) – you meet a lot of new stars along the way. Stars who may have either missed your radar completely in the past or stars that, while on the radar, hadn’t really had their chance to shine for you. YET.
Personally, June Allyson is a perfect example of a star being on my radar (after I’d seen her in Executive Suite) but became an absolute favorite after I saw her in a few other films.
The beautiful and talented lady above, Lena Horne, is one who had completely escaped my radar somehow. It is only within the past few years that I saw my first Lena Horne movie!
It was love at first sight, so to speak, with Lena. She had a huge impact on me the minute she first danced on my screen. She had an obvious beauty that jumps out at you right away, with such a radiant complexion that you know shines from within. And the smile? Her dazzling, perfect smile lights up the room. She had a happiness from within that put on a spectacular show on the outside.
Then when she opened her voice and began to sing… well, that’s when my jaw really hit the floor.
While I hate comparing stars and try (often unsuccessfully) not to do so – her gift for entertaining and for taking her viewers far, far away begs to be compared to that of Judy Garland. Yes, she was her own woman, actress, singer, dancer, and star BUT her showmanship and command of the spotlight greatly reminds me of Judy Garland – one of the highest compliments that can be handed out, if you ask me.
I still just have no idea how I could have watched old movies and classic tv shows all of my life – and done so as though I were being paid to do it – and not ever come across a Lena Horne movie until recently. It never ceases to amaze me when I come across new favorites or begin to see an old favorite in an even better light. It’s also great fun when you start liking a star you’d previously disliked… yes, that has even happened from time to time!
I encourage you, yet again, to often step out of your favorite decade(s) and even genre(s). You never know who might be waiting for you on the other side. They might just have the most dazzling smile and beautiful voice you ever heard!
There are many actresses, actors, and performers who I always find myself wondering, “How is everyone in the world not a HUGE fan?!” Lena Horne is one of these under-celebrated stars (at least in my opinion).
What do I (personally) consider to be under-celebrated?
While Lena Horned, obviously, doesn’t fall through the completely unknown crack, she should be more heartily celebrated.
The lady had more talent in her left eyebrow than a lot of stars did.
That’s right, I said it.
This is actually one of the best things about having an Old Hollywood blog (and Twitter account) – I can go on and on and on and on and on about my favorites and feel like I’m (hopefully) helping keep their name familiar, their body of work work alive and their face forever smiling.
I know, a little deep for a Friday, but… blame it on Lena. She puts me in my feels.
When you watch Lena perform in the video above (which I surely hope you will at least once), pay close attention to her facial expressions and her hand gestures. I think she was simply brilliant – and the stage command! The lady was doing what she was born to do and, if you ask me, that is always breathtaking.
There are certain things in life that are just too perfect to adequately describe. Lena Horne singing Stormy Weather is JUST. SUCH. A. THING.
Perfection.
Her voice, expressions, the music, the lyrics – they were all born to make the magic you see and hear above.
“Don’t be afraid to feel as angry or as loving as you can.”
“Always be smarter than the people who hire you.”
“In my early days I was a sepia Hedy Lamarr. Now I’m black and a woman, singing my own way.”
“My identity is very clear to me now, I am a black woman, I’m not alone, I’m free. I say I’m free because I no longer have to be a credit, I don’t have to be a symbol to anybody; I don’t have to be a first to anybody. I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.”
(About Myrna Loy) “A great star and a woman of accomplishment who is angry about all the right things.”
“I never considered myself a movie star. Mostly, I just sang songs in other people’s movies.”
Lena Horne shines in this wonderful short film! The Boogie Woogie Dream was actually shot in 1941, but wasn’t released until 1944.
Plot: The story takes place in a night club. After the club closes, the workers have a jam session and it proves to be exactly what a couple of late-arrivers needed to hear.
Also in the cast:
Albert Ammons
Pete Johnson
Teddy Wilson
Virginia Pine
Russell Morrison
Below is Lena Horne’s mesmerizing performance of Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man from Till the Clouds Roll By. I have listed the song title as I have always seen it listed… but… is it me or does she clearly, clearly, clearly say “that” and not “dat?!” The title includes “that” when some stars perform it (Ella Fitzgerald, for example) and “dat” when others perform it (Lena Horne and Ava Gardner).
Oh well, I won’t worry about dat anymore, I’ll just let Lena and her voice of an angel transport you to a whole other world.
Enjoy the trip!
I confess… I just watched this back-to-back-to-back-to-back. Four times and, get this, the only thing I want to do with my life at this moment is watch it a fifth time.
What is it about these two legends? They draw you in with each and every expression and each and every note. I love them both like crazy and, before the day is over, I’m pretty sure I’ll reach 24 viewings.
More if my family thinks they can do without supper.
The beauty above is Silent Film star Mildred Davis. She was a frequent co-star (and longtime wife) of legendary actor Harold Lloyd. She’s one of my favorite silent film actresses and one I can’t understand not being a household name.
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
I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography
Steps in Time (Fred Astaire)
Enchantment (Audrey Hepburn)
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…
Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
