Lena Horne | Hollywood Yesterday

Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson: One of Sanford and Son’s Best Episodes…

August 11, 2023 By Joi

Redd Foxx, Lena Horne, and Demond Wilson

While I love all of them (to the point of blissful addiction), one of my favorite episodes of Sanford and Son is “A Visit from Lena Horne.” The hilarious episode first aired on January 12, 1963 and it’s as funny today as ever.

In the episode, Fred Sanford (in an effort to get his son Lamont to have the chance to meet Lena Horne) leads her to believe that Lamont is a little boy. As they always are, Fred’s “fib” goes up in smoke.

LENA HORNE: (Asking about “little” Lamont): “Oh, is he asleep?”
FRED: “Just went to sleep.”
LENA HORNE: “Oh, I’m so sorry. I could’ve helped put him into his ‘jammies.”
FRED: “Yeah, he would have liked that.”

You can find Sanford and Son (Amazon link) on dvd and on Prime Video. I LOVE that seasons are available on Prime. It’s without a doubt one of the best series of all time – and no one (I mean NO ONE) is any funnier than Redd Foxx.

Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson

Lena Horne and Dean Martin: The Two of Us

April 28, 2023 By Joi

Lena Horne and Dean Martin performing a duet is almost too much goodness to handle, so brace yourself before watching and listening to this one. I absolutely love the way they harmonized together.

Beautiful Lena Horne was a guest on five episodes of The Dean Martin Show between 1967 and 1969.

Lena Horne and Eddie Anderson: Great Behind the Scenes Photo from Cabin in the Sky

July 19, 2021 By Joi

Lena Horne and Eddie Anderson

Cabin in the Sky is a wonderfully fun 1943 musical, directed by Vincente Minnelli. It’s excellent cast includes Eddie Anderson, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Louis Armstrong, Mantan Moreland, and Oscar Polk.

That’s what I call one heckuva cast. SO much talent.

This behind the scenes picture is spectacular – look how unbelievably beautiful Lena was! She positively glows and has such a regal posture. Truly one of the most beautiful stars we’ve ever had. She’s wonderful as the beautiful Georgia Brown in Cabin in the Sky and Eddie Anderson gives one of my favorite performances of all time as Little Joe. The man’s gift for humor was immense.

You can buy Cabin in the Sky on dvd (Amazon link) on watch it on Prime Video!

Also See: Effortlessly Cool: Behind the Scenes Picture of Eddie Anderson

BOTD: The Phenomenal Lena Horne!

June 30, 2021 By Joi

Lena Horne

One of my favorites, Lena Horne, was born on this date in 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. While the beautiful and legendary Lena is best-known for her amazing singing voice, she was also a very good actress. Among other films and television shows, she appeared in Cabin in the Sky, Stormy Weather, Ziegfeld Follies, Sanford and Son, Death of a Gunfighter, The Wiz, and The Cosby Show. I strongly believe that had she been given roles worthy of her (she was very particular what type of role she would accept and, sadly, studios were very set in their ways on the roles they would offer), she would have been as known, today, for her acting and movies as she is her vocals and music.

Either way, make no mistake about it, the lady was a star and the lady is a legend.

She was also a passionate activist, seeking to make everyone’s lives better – regardless of the color their skin happened to be. Her activism was a strong part of who she was and one of the things I’d love to see her remembered for.

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas (Gorgeous!)

March 24, 2021 By Joi

Lena Horne

Today is one of those days when I have a gazillion and one things to do. On days like this, I always choose photos for picture of the day that speak for themselves. What better star to turn to than one of my absolute favorites, Lena Horne. With her beauty and grace, her photos don’t just speak for themselves, they scream!

This photo of the gorgeous Lena Horne are from Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956).

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put on one of my Lena Horne LPs and get busy. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

PBS News Hour Honors the Great Lena Horne in a Lovely Tribute

January 27, 2021 By Joi

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Lena Horne more than some people love their own families! I always have and, trust me, I always will. While I love all types and genres of music, I personally think jazz has the most heart and soul and Lena Horne is one of my very favorite jazz artists. She was also a very talented actress and I often (OFTEN) wish she had been given more roles.

I also love that she stood up and fought for racial equality and never backed down from speaking her mind.

Simply put, the lady was one in a billion and the tribute video below gives me a lot of joy.

Cabin in the Sky: Great Behind the Scenes Photo

January 20, 2021 By Joi

Cabin in the Sky: Behind the Scenes

Cabin in the Sky was a deliciously unique comedy/drama/fantasy film from 1943. Directed by the wonderful Vincente Minnelli, the film featured an uncommonly talented cast including Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson, Rex Ingram, Louis Armstrong, and Oscar Polk.

If you’ve never seen this one, I hope you’ll watch it as soon as possible. Trust me, you’ll never forget it!

You can find Cabin in the Sky on dvd or watch it on Prime Video (links directly to the movie on Amazon Prime)

Lena Horne: One of My Favorite Episodes of Sanford and Son

November 15, 2020 By Joi

Redd Foxx and Lena Horne

One of my favorite sitcoms of all time is Sanford and Son. My dad and I watched and rewatched and rewatched this hilarious show. We’d laugh our heads off every time – even though we had the episodes memorized, they never failed to fill our living room with laughter and joy.

One of my favorite episodes is titled A Visit from Lena Horne. Anyone who knows anything at all about me knows that I am obsessed with Lena Horne, so I guess this really doesn’t come as much of a surprise! One of my favorite stars…. on one of my favorite shows?? It doesn’t get any better than that!

The hilarious episode first aired in 1973. I rewatched it (for probably the millionth time!) this past week and it is as wonderful today as it was then. The writing and acting on this perfect series is timeless.

You can watch Sanford and Son on Prime Video or order the complete series on dvd (link to the complete collection on Amazon).

Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson

Lena Horne and Ernest Whitman, Stormy Weather

October 12, 2020 By Joi

Lena Horne and Ernest Whitman, Stormy Weather

If you’ve never seen the 1943 musical Stormy Weather (link to the movie on Prime Video), I hope you’ll see it as soon as possible. The movie stars Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, Ernest Whitman, Ada Brown and more.

Trust me, it’s a cast few others can even begin to touch.

The charismatic movie is sort of a compilation of genres – comedy, musical, and drama. It’s unique and it’s wonderful.

You can also find Stormy Weather on dvd (link to the dvd on Amazon).

Beautiful Lena Horne

Lena Horne and Gonzo… The Muppet Show!

September 23, 2020 By Joi

Lena Horne and Gonzo

I absolutely love this picture of Lena Horne from her guest appearance on The Muppet Show in 1976. You can tell she enjoyed the experience and, understandably, Gonzo is obviously under her spell!

I knew I just had to have Lena Horne as my picture of the day (sometimes she is the only star that will do) and I thought this one was too cute not to use.

Hope your day gives you a million reasons to smile.