Old Hollywood Books and Book Reviews

Reviews of books and biographies about Old Hollywood or the Golden Age of Hollywood and its magical actors and actresses.

Jimmy Stewart and His Poems: A MUST HAVE for James Stewart Fans!

September 4, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jimmy Stewart and His Poems

If you’re even remotely familiar with me, you know all about my HUGE obsession with old Hollywood books (biographies, memoirs, cookbooks, autobiographies, poems..). I spend some of my happiest moments curled up with one of these prized possessions.

The one pictured here is one of my favorites. Not just because it was written by one of my absolute favorite actors but also because the poetry is breathtakingly wonderful.

From Amazon:

“I’m sure I never said to myself: ‘Now, Jim–why don’t you sit down and write a poem.’ It’s still a mystery to me, but I think probably it’s something that happened by accident–like a lot of things have happened in my life.”

So begins this delightful collection of poetry by America’s best-loved actor, Jimmy Stewart. Interspersed with vivid recollections and charming illustrations, the poems document a life that isn’t too different from yours or mine.

Jimmy Stewart won the hearts of generations of movie viewers with a confused innocence and stammering delivery that made his acting seem genuine and effortless. Somehow he managed to make the boy next door into a national hero. Now, in Jimmy Stewart and His Poems, the consummate Everyman shares tales from his everyday life.

From fishing trips and dog stories to a hilarious account of a photo safari where the camera was lost to a hungry hyena, the poems are related in Jimmy Stewart’s inimitable voice and are enlivened with charming illustrations.

The book confirms what we all expected–that the real Jimmy Stewart is every bit as endearing as the film characters he’s portrayed. Jimmy Stewart and His Poems is a perfect gift, one that fans will treasure as much as Jimmy Stewart’s timeless performances.

I love to read and reread his wonderful poetry – it’s an insight into just how special this legend truly was.

You can find Jimmy Stewart and His Poems on Amazon. It’d make a great gift idea for any James Stewart fan in your life… just be sure to grab a copy for yourself!

The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall: Review of a Biography About an Extraordinary Actress

July 17, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Kay Kendall, Genevieve

Most classic film lovers in America, while we certainly know who Kay Kendall was, lack a thorough understanding or knowledge of the woman behind the beauty and the spirit behind the talent. We know the name, we know the face, and we certainly know she never failed to entertain or amuse us. But how much about Kay Kendall, herself, do we know.

After watching her in Genevieve and Les Girls, I found myself always wanting to know MORE this charismatic actress. Fortunately for me, an excellent biography exists, The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall. Now, I know…. not ALL biographies can be completely trusted, but this one’s different. Not only is the author, Eve Golden a devoted fan of the actress who put in exhaustive research with countless interviews with friends and loved ones, Kay’s own sister, Kim Kendall Campbell, was involved with this biography.

Continued Below…..

Book Description:

Comedic film actress Kay Kendall, born to a theatrical family in Northern England, came of age in London during the Blitz. After starring in Britain’s biggest cinematic disaster, she found stardom in 1953 with her brilliant performance in the film Genevieve. She scored success after success with her light comic style in movies such as Doctor in the House, The Reluctant Debutante, and the Gene Kelly musical Les Girls. Kendall’s private life was even more colorful than the plots of her films as she embarked on a series of affairs with costars, directors, producers, and married men. In 1954 she fell in love with her married Constant Husband costar Rex Harrison and accompanied him to New York, where he was starring on Broadway in My Fair Lady. It was there that Kendall was diagnosed with myelocytic leukemia. Her life took a romantic and tragic turn as Harrison divorced his wife and married Kendall. He agreed with their doctor that she was never to know of her diagnosis, and for the next two years the couple lived a hectic, glamorous life together as Kendall’s health failed. She died in London at the age of 32 with her husband by her side shortly after completing the filming of Once More with Feeling!.

This book was written with the cooperation of Kendall’s sister Kim and includes interviews with many of her costars, relatives, and friends. A complete filmography and rare photographs complete this first-ever biography of Britain’s most glamorous comic star.

Kay Kendall was born Justine Kay Kendall-McCarthy on May 21, 1927 in Withernsea, Yorkshire, England. In spite of being remarkably beautiful (same can be said of her sister Kim for that matter… the photos of them from the book show two very beautiful sisters who were obviously very close), she never seemed to realize just how lovely she was.

Kay was both a comedienne and actress, as impressive in a dramatic role as she was in a comedic one. Her gift for physical comedy was on par with the greats – Lucille Ball, included. Kay is best known for Genevieve (1953). She also starred in The Constant Husband (1955), Les Girls (1957). Her role in Les Girls led her to winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy!

When doing biography and autobiography reviews, I am always uncommonly cautious about giving too much away (preferring for future readers to discover things along the way as I had the privilege of doing). Suffice, however, to say that Kay’s journey into show business and fame makes for a fascinating, often laugh out loud journey. The colorful people you meet along the way are almost as interesting as lovely Kay, herself.

One person in particular would go on to become Kay Kendall’s husband, Rex Harrison. They met and fell in love when they appeared together in Marriage a la Mode (1955). Rex learned of Kay’s leukemia from her doctor a couple of years later and married Kay in 1957. He agreed with the doctor that they would never to tell her the true reason for her failing health, protecting her from her last days being clouded by thoughts of dying.

While Kay Kendall led an eventful and colorful life, it was a very brief one. She was only 32 when she died from leukemia. THIRTY-TWO.

Before reading this wonderful biography, the only things I knew about Kay were…

She was married to Rex Harrison.
She died very, very young.
She died from leukemia.

To know more about someone’s death than their life is a perfect tragedy – of Shakespearean proportions. I am so glad I got to know this charismatic and colorful actress through the intensive efforts of Eve Golden and the generous way in which Kay’s loved ones (including her sister Kim) shared their stories. It isn’t always easy to relive parts of your life and it can feel a bit intrusive when people poke around in your family tree. What’s more, when we have lost people we loved dearly (and still love), we feel very protective of them and almost want to keep them for ourselves. The fact that Kim Kendall’s loved ones cared enough about her legacy to share their stories is a beautiful thing. It helps those of us on this side of the words get to know and understand their loved ones better.

Husband Rex Harrison once said that while he was singing I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face in My Fair Lady (1964), he was thinking of Kay to access his innermost emotion. The look of great pain in his eyes makes it apparent that he did just that.

It’s interesting that this book not only gave me the honor of feeling like I got to “meet” Kay Kendall, it allowed me to see Rex Harrison (a star I thought I knew pretty darn well) in a different light as well.

What I love most about this book:

The very interesting history of Kay’s life is fun to read and is presented in a manner that allows the book to flow smoothly and quickly. Not long ago I read a biography that had me in such a fit of boredom by chapter 3 I nearly didn’t journey into chapter 4! Many authors seem to think a subject’s childhood has to read like a textbook. Holy cats, a textbook is the last thing I ever want to see again in my lifetime! Eve Golden makes the historical aspects of the book as interesting as the pages involving household names.
The fascinating personal accounts and stories are so entertaining, I read many of them more than once!
There are so many extraordinary photographs! Surely I’m not the only one who stares at photos and dissects every star’s feature, clothing, jewelry, and setting. Heck I even examine everyone in the photo with them, star or not. In this book, I found the similarities between the beautiful sisters Kay and Kim particularly fascinating. They resembled each other in many ways, but each had her very own look. Kim was always every bit as beautiful as her famous sister.

I’ve mentioned on Hollywood Yesterday that I have my own particular favorite actresses and actors. The ones who I “collect” by making a point to acquire their every movie on dvd, every book about them, and as many photographs as I can get my hands on. Before reading this book, Kay Kendall was dangerously close to being one of these elite favorites. Now that I know how truly colorful, charismatic, hilarious, and special she was… well, suffice to say my first photograph ordered from eBay is on the way.

There will be many more. I’m so very honored to have met you, Kay Kendall.

You can buy The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall on the Kentucky Press Website.

Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway by Eve Golden

June 16, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway

I have been on a glorious roll when it comes to reading exceptional old Hollywood biographies and delicious books about film history lately. Vitagraph (link to my review of Vitagraph), for example, opened my eyes to a whole new world from early Hollywood I had pictured entirely incorrectly!

I didn’t expect to read (and thoroughly enjoy) another book that opened up a whole new world right on the heels of Vitagraph, but here we are. Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway by Eve Golden is also from The University Press of Kentucky and, like Vitagraph, introduced me to people I have never “met,” while introducing me to people I only thought I knew.

Before going any further, I have to say how gobsmacked I am by the research that went into this book. While writing, say, a biography about Farrah Fawcett or Ava Gardner would be difficult, the level of difficultly would (in no way) compare with doing the necessary research to dig deep into the past. Furthermore, when individuals span several continents during their lifetime (as was the case for Vitagraph and Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway), it adds even more challenges.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am that Eve Golden took the both the time and the (great) effort that went into writing such an exceptional book.

From the Back Cover:

Anna Held was America’s most popular musical comedy star during the two decades preceding World War I. In the colorful world of New York theater during La Belle Époque, she epitomized everything that was glamorous and provocative about turn-of-the-century Broadway. Overcoming an impoverished life as an orphan to become a music hall star in Paris, Held rocketed to fame in America. From 1896 to 1910, she starred in hit after hit and quickly replaced Lillian Russell as the darling of the theatrical world. The first wife of legendary producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., Held was the brains and inspiration behind his Follies. Together, they brought the Paris scene to New York, complete with lavish costumes and sets and a chorus of stunningly beautiful women, dubbed “The Anna Held Girls.”

While Held was known for a champagne giggle as well as for her million-dollar bank account, there was a darker side to her life. She concealed her Jewish background and her daughter from a previous marriage. She suffered through her two husbands’ gambling problems and Ziegfeld’s conspicuous affairs with showgirls. With the outbreak of fighting in Europe, Held returned to France to support the war effort. She entertained troops and delivered medical supplies, and was once briefly captured by the German army. Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway reveals one of the most remarkable women in the history of theater. With access to previously unseen family records and photographs, Eve Golden has uncovered the details of an extraordinary woman’s life in 1900s New York.

Below are the things I love most about this meticulously researched book.

You Can Hear Their Laughter and See Their Faces

The entire era of showgirls and Ziegfeld has always fascinated me but finding really quality books is a challenge. I love a book that feels like you’ve stepped back in time to this particular era, so much so that you can practically hear their laughter, smell their p and see their faces. Few books, for whatever reason, have ever achieved this for this era – I have no idea why other than, perhaps, it’s all but impossible to send a reader back to a place you have never, yourself, visited.

Unless Eve Golden is a time-traveler, she simply has visited the era simply with exceptional research and unparalleled passion. Personally, I prefer the thought of her time-traveling but I’ll go with the latter explanation.

Anna Held Can, Finally, Have Her Story Told

Anna Held has always.. well, sorry for the pun, but she has always held my attention. The way I see it, Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. was such a fascinating man, surrounded by so much beauty, that any woman he was drawn to must have been a real force of nature. It’s fairly easy to find information about actress Billie Burke (Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. was married to Billie Burke from 1914 to his death on July 22, 1932), but Anna has always been presented in, sadly, a one-dimensional way. Even sadder, she has often been treated almost as comic relief. As in Ziegfeld and Billie Burke are the ones to be taken seriously, while Anna was a curvy, naughty clown.

I’m sure you can see now why I am BEYOND thrilled that Anna Held has been so respectfully and even affectionately brought to life as a flesh and blood human-being – one as capable of highs and lows as the rest of us. She had wonderful qualities and she had not-so-wonderful qualities… and boy could the lady stretch the truth!?!

Frankly that’s one of the things I love the most about her – she was a deliciously entertaining little star who loved the spotlight and lived by her own rules. Rules that she made up along the way.

The fact that she has finally received what she deserved, to have her story told, makes me ecstatic.

You See More of the Real Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.

It’s up to the reader, of course, to decide whether the insightful, fleshed out look into Florenz Ziegfeld Jr makes him more or less likable to them, but (for me personally), I think I like him even better. Was he perfect? Oh, heck no… the man may not have been able to spell the word! But, let’s be honest, the same can be said for most people – especially people who are thisclose to all the fame and fortune they dared ever hope for.

Who wouldn’t do all in their power to grab all they can while they can?!

Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway

The Book Reads Like a Fascinating Historical Novel

My favorite books to read are non-fiction, however, I do love an occasional work of fiction. About halfway through this book, it occurred to me that it read like a scrumptious blend of the two – the details, history, and wonderful fascination of a biography but with the drama, mystery, romance, and intrigue of a great historical fiction novel.

I can’t wait to read everything this wonderful author has written because I am in love with her writing style, attention to detail, and humor. Most of all, I am enthralled with her ability to place you in the setting. Whenever Anna unleashes her charms on members of the media, for example, you fall just as prey to them as they do.

I don’t want to give anything away that I very, very much want you to experience for yourself as you read the book, so allow me to simply say this: Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway, by Eve Golden absolutely has to be the next book you read.

You can read more about the book on the University Press of Kentucky’s Website or find the book on Amazon.

Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish: A MUST-Have Book for Film Historians (Review)

May 27, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Vitagraph: America’s First Great Motion Picture Studio

Film Historian is a term that can find itself in the middle of many hot debates. Those who have studied in college classes (for anywhere between 2-4 years) for the dubious distinction of being a “film historian” and those of us who have studied outside of a college setting (over the course… excuse the pun… of a lifetime) because we believe ourselves to already be “film historians” sometimes disagree over who can and who can’t claim the term.

I sometimes wish I had earned a degree to prove to others that I am a film historian, but then I wonder…. would I be a better cook if I had been to cooking school? No. (sorry, I’m full-on cocky about my cooking!).

Like all film historians – those with the college degree to prove it and those without – I arm myself with as many books as possible to feed my addiction. Biographies, autobiographies, memoirs… trivia books… if it has to do with old Hollywood, classic radio and classic television, it’s on the bookshelves, frequently consulted and forever treasured.

The book pictured here, Vitagraph: America’s First Great Motion Picture Studio by Andrew A. Erish is the latest to join my collection and quickly became a favorite. This fascinating and eye-opening book feels like a textbook (if only my Psychology textbooks had been half as fascinating!) – one that would be used when studying film history.

Yes, inside OR outside of college.

When I took photos of it to use for this review, I even created a new folder for it titled “Film History.” First time I’ve ever done that, which should tell you how informative and deliciously interesting this book is.

But, wait, there’s more.

I just created a whole new category (and Vitagraph is the first entry) called Film History because this book has renewed the desire within me to learn all I can about the fascinating subject.

Vitagraph is from the University Press of Kentucky and was sent to me to read in exchange for telling you about it. My review and opinion were, of course, left entirely up to me. I’m guessing they really had no idea just how much I would love this book.

The Vitagraph Review

When writing book reviews for Hollywood Yesterday (or my other blogs, for that matter), I’m always left with a quandary – describing how much I enjoyed reading the book without spoiling it for future readers. It’s the same with movie reviews, too, if we’re being honest, which is why my movie reviews and book reviews sometimes tend to be shorter than some – I figure, the less I say, the less apt I am to give anything away that I want others to discover for themselves AND the less I hold them here, the quicker they can get there to order the book or watch the movie!

From the Back Cover:

In Vitagraph, Andrew A. Erish provides the first comprehensive examination and reassessment of the company most responsible for defining and popularizing the American movie. This history challenges long-accepted Hollywood mythology that simply isn’t true: that Paramount and Fox invented the feature film, that Universal created the star system, and that these companies, along with MGM and Warner Bros., developed motion pictures into a multi-million-dollar business. In fact, the truth about Vitagraph is far more interesting than the myths that later moguls propagated about themselves.

Established in 1897 by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith, Vitagraph was the leading producer of motion pictures for much of the silent era. Vitagraph established America’s studio system, a division of labor utilizing specialized craftspeople and artists, including a surprising number of women and minorities, whose aesthetic innovations have long been incorporated into virtually all commercial cinema. They developed fundamental aspects of the form and content of American movies, encompassing everything from framing, lighting, and performance style to emphasizing character-driven comedy and drama in stories that respected and sometimes poked fun at every demographic of Vitagraph’s vast audience. The company overcame resistance to multi-reel motion pictures by establishing a national distribution network for its feature films. Vitagraph’s international distribution was even more successful, cultivating a worldwide preference for American movies that endures to the present. For most of its existence America’s most influential studio was headquartered in Brooklyn, New York before relocating to Hollywood.

Finally, here is a historically rigorous and thorough account of the most influential producer of American motion pictures during the silent era. Drawing on valuable primary material long overlooked by other historians, Erish introduces readers to the fascinating, forgotten pioneers of Vitagraph.

Allow me to say, somewhat red-faced, that I had no idea how vital Blackton and Smith’s contributions were. When my daughters were small, we’d build elaborate homes for their Barbies. We’d use the largest, sturdiest building pieces for the foundation. Without saying it, we knew that was the most vital part of the entire creation. Certainly the foundation wasn’t the flashiest component, but everything else rested upon it and would come crashing down without it.

As I reached the end of reading Vitagraph (or as I nearly finished the film history course!), these Barbie mega houses came to mind. Blackton and Smith were the foundation upon which so very much (yes, flashier and more eye-catching) was built upon.

Mixed in with the excitement of meeting new faces and acquiring so much wonderful knowledge was a hint of melancholy. These names (Albert E. Smith and James Stuart Blackton) should be as remembered and honored today as other film greats. It’s my sincere hope that Andrew A. Erish’s wonderful, wonderful book helps make this happen.

What I Love Most About Vitagraph:

I am, for better or worse, a VERY visual person, even when it comes to books. I appreciate efforts put into books to make them attractive and Vitagraph is a knock-out. Not only is the cover (from the image to the eye-catching fonts used) positively handsome, the nostalgic, wonderful photos throughout the book are a joy. I look at them over and over.
For posts on Hollywood Yesterday, I often dive into research of a particular individual or film. It can be very time-consuming, especially if the individual has not had a great deal written about them. I can only imagine the time and effort that went into researching this particular subject and these bold, BRAVE, world-changing individuals (more about them in a minute!). The research, alone, boggles the mind. Author Andrew A. Erish’s respect for the people he has written about (and subsequently brought back to life for us to meet) is palpable. When you come across an author who has dedicated so much of their life to shine light on the life of others, it’s a beautiful thing. If we’re being honest, it’s something that never fails to make this book lover remember why she fell in love with books in the first place. Blackton and Smith would be so incredibly honored and happy with this book.
This book is as bold as its subject. It doesn’t hesitate to let you know what is the truth, what’s close to the truth, and what couldn’t be further from the truth if Albert Pujols or Barry Bonds had taken a whack at it with a bat!
There is no other book like this in existence. Erish has taken a subject that was buried deep in history and excavated it. Film history is better and richer for his efforts.
About halfway through the book, I started fantasizing about a movie or documentary being made based on this book. I try not to allow myself to do that, as I am very much a “live in the moment with your eyes wide open” person, but every now and then I can’t help myself.
As I often say in my Old Hollywood book reviews, I get a HUGE kick out of coming across names that are as familiar to me as my own when reading a book. Bumping into familiar faces on the pages of a book brings me the same type of joy as one feels when they bump into a friend in the store. A few encounters in Vitagraph: Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Mary Pickford, Jean Paige, Theodore Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin, and many others (I want to leave the reader a few surprises they’ll get a kick out of).
Finally, what I love most about Vitagraph is simple: Albert E. Smith and James Stuart Blackton. Neither man was born anywhere near Hollywood. The fact that two English-born Americans contributed so greatly to Hollywood and American entertainment fascinates me. Imagine stepping foot in another country and, within a comparatively short amount of time, reaching far into its future and influencing it so much. Can you imagine the self confidence, boldness, and fearlessness? So far from your home in what must have seemed like a whole new world.

I always tell people that you can never, ever underestimate the power of films and entertainment. They influence so much in and around us – fashion, expressions, hairstyles, cars, ideologies… make no mistake about it, nothing stays solely “in the movie” or “on the tv.” It reaches out and touches us all.

It’s high time the fingerprints of Albert E. Smith and James Stuart Blackton get the credit they deserve and I very much hope you’ll add Vitagraph to your personal library. Andrew A. Erish has written a masterpiece.

You can find Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish on The University Press of Kentucky or Amazon.

Maureen O’Hara: The Biography by Aubrey Malone

April 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Maureen O’Hara, The Biography by Aubrey Malone

If you read this old Hollywood blog regularly, follow me on Twitter, and/or know me personally, you know all too well what a huge Maureen O’Hara fan I am. She’s one of the stars I am most identified with because, in many ways, she seems to be part of my dna.

I have many favorite actors and actresses (as my About page can attest) but Maureen O’Hara and Lucille Ball have been favorites of mine since I first knew what a television was. I have adored them and immersed myself in their work for so long, they’re a part of who I am in many ways.

Personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It often seems that if I’m not watching a Maureen O’Hara (or Lucille Ball) movie or television show, I’m reading about one of them. Frankly, I don’t make it through a day without one or both of my redhead companions!

As you may know, I collect biographies and autobiographies of old Hollywood stars, jazz and blues legends, and historical figures. The book you see pictured here, Maureen O’Hara, The Biography by Aubrey Malone is one of my favorites. I turn to it and Maureen’s autobiography (‘Tis Herself) regularly.

When I watch (or rewatch) a particular film or television show, I like to go back and read about the making of the film and, when possible, what one of its stars had to say about the film… and, often, their co-stars (extra fun!). When you follow as many stars and watch as many films/shows as I do, the last thing you want to do is rely on your memory. I love having biographies and autobiographies to go back and learn more about what I’ve just watched. It’s fascinating and adds so many layers to what you actually see on film.

When the star is as colorful, charismatic, and honest as Maureen O’Hara, it’s especially fascinating to read what she thought about her films and how she felt about her co-stars.

Many people prefer autobiographies to biographies because, as they put it, “you hear, firsthand, what the star thought and experienced.” While I agree that this is true and reading their thoughts and recollections is very fascinating… as someone who has read countless bios and autobios, I have to counter that a star will often tell (for better or worse) their side of a story, or how they recall the events. I am not saying this is a bad thing and I’m certainly not saying stars (especially incredibly honest ones such as Maureen O’Hara) would be apt to color events.

But think about this example. When filming The Quiet Man, Maureen would be able to beautifully recall her conversations with director John Ford and her experiences with her close friend and co-star John Wayne. She wouldn’t be able to, say, recall a conversation the two men may have had when she wasn’t around. A great biographer, however, will roll up his/her sleeves and dig in. They will research, read, and often conduct interviews to turn up information the stars, themselves, may not have been privy to.

What I’m saying is this: My vast experience with researching anyone (actors, actresses, historical figures…) has taught me that the absolute best way to get to know them is to…

Read about their life in their own words… whether it’s through quotes, interviews, or if you’re lucky, their memoirs or autobiography.
Read about their life through someone else’s words… a biographer who has taken the time to research, interview others, and look at the whole picture, not just through their subject’s eyes, but the eyes of those who knew them.

As is the case with Maureen O’Hara, sometimes you strike gold and you have both a wonderful autobiography and a wonderful, definitive biography. I am so grateful that, in addition to her autobiography, author Aubrey Malone has provided us with a great biography as well. Combining the two provides the ultimate insight into her wonderful life, incredible career, and deliciously unique personality.

Maureen O’Hara was a beautiful force of nature and Aubrey Malone does an excellent job of proving the case.

(Continued Below…)

Photos from Maureen O’Hara, The Biography

Malone’s Maureen O’Hara, The Biography (Amazon link) is interesting, colorful, and enjoyable in every way. The photos included are an extra treat… and a beautiful one, at that.

From her first appearances on the stage and screen, Maureen O’Hara (b. 1920) commanded attention with her striking beauty, radiant red hair, and impassioned portrayals of spirited heroines. Whether she was being rescued from the gallows by Charles Laughton (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1939), falling in love with Walter Pidgeon against a coal-blackened sky (How Green Was My Valley, 1941), learning to believe in miracles with Natalie Wood (Miracle on 34th Street, 1947), or matching wits with John Wayne (The Quiet Man, 1952), she charmed audiences with her powerful presence and easy confidence.

Maureen O’Hara is the first book-length biography of the screen legend hailed as the “Queen of Technicolor.” Following the star from her childhood in Dublin to the height of fame in Hollywood, film critic Aubrey Malone draws on new information from the Irish Film Institute, production notes from films, and details from historical film journals, newspapers, and fan magazines. Malone also examines the actress’s friendship with frequent costar John Wayne and her relationship with director John Ford, and he addresses the hotly debated question of whether the screen siren was a feminist or antifeminist figure.

Though she was an icon of cinema’s golden age, O’Hara’s penchant for privacy and habit of making public statements that contradicted her personal choices have made her an enigma. This breakthrough biography offers the first look at the woman behind the larger-than-life persona, sorting through the myths to present a balanced assessment of one of the greatest stars of the silver screen.

If you want to know more about Maureen O’Hara, her warm relationship with friends such as Charles Laughton, Lucille Ball, and John Wayne… as well as her unique relationship with director John Ford, you’ll definitely want to read Maureen O’Hara, The Biography (Amazon link). The book is available new as well as used on Amazon and I couldn’t possibly recommend it enough.

Hollywood in Kodachrome: A Book You MUST Have if You Love Old Hollywood

August 10, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Hollywood in Kodachrome

I believe I’ve mentioned on the Old Hollywood blog (as well as on my Old Hollywood Twitter page) just how cruel July treated me. Obviously, I’m in the same quarantine boat with everyone else as this global pandemic tragically carries on. However, July gave me a few more blows. My MUCH loved 17 year old cat died in my arms (gut-wrenching to say the least), and then the next day (while cooking and crying… not a good mix), I badly burned my arm and chest with hamburger grease.

Talk about pain! The emotional and physical pain sort of battled it out to see which one would bring me down first. Naturally, this lasted for weeks… long, long weeks.

My daughter Brittany bought me a book (the gorgeous one you see here, Hollywood in Kodachrome by David Wills) to lift my spirits. The fact that she DID it lifted them sky high (I swear, I have the sweetest family – I thank God for them every single day). Each time I look at the book – which sits out, prominently, because it’s such a work of art, I think about Brittany and smile.

(Review Continued Below….)

Judy Garland and Lena Horne

I’ve been anxious to tell y’all about Hollywood in Kodachrome (link to the book on Amazon) because it’s one I know you’ll love as much as I do. I look through it so often and, each time, notice something about a photograph or star I hadn’t noticed before.

I love to look at the photographs and dissect the colors used, the makeup (when applicable… literally), clothes, props, lighting, etc. Like acting, SO much goes into photography… and yet, when it’s done extraordinarily well, you don’t see the effort… you just see the magic.

This book is one work of magic after the other after the other after the other.

Book Description from Amazon:

Hollywood in Kodachrome is a stunning portfolio of the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, captured in rich, deeply saturated color photographs reproduced from original Kodachrome negatives and curated by collector David Wills and designer Stephen Schmidt, the creative team behind Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis and Audrey: The 60s.

From Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Rita Hayworth to Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart, and Gregory Peck—and many more—the silver screen’s elite are all here, in the full blush of youth, captured as if they were taken yesterday. But the true star is the medium itself: late-1940s sheet Kodachrome, a film stock that remains legendary for its rich tonal range, precise color, and detail.

Including a foreword by Golden Age star Rhonda Fleming, and featuring more than 200 photos from classic films and publicity shoots, Hollywood in Kodachrome is a magnificent tribute to Hollywood’s most beloved icons, captured at their glamorous best.

There are 329 pages in this extraordinary book – savoring the photos reminds me of walking through my kind of art gallery… one with only photos of Old Hollywood stars!

Some of the stars include:

Maureen O’Hara
Rita Hayworth
Lucille Ball
Lena Horne
Judy Garland
Yvonne DeCarlo (one particular photo that’ll make your jaw drop!)
Humphrey Bogart
Lauren Bacall
Clark Gable
Bette Davis
Frank Sinatra
Errol Flynn
Lana Turner
Elizabeth Taylor
Marilyn Monroe
and just about every star from the 40s you can name… with many featured more than once.

Many of the publicity shots are never-before-seen… something I can attest to and vouch for. I’ve spent my life up to my chin in Old Hollywood photographs and films and there are countless photos in this gorgeous book I’ve never seen before.

I don’t want to post many of the inside photographs, here, for several reasons:

It wouldn’t be fair to the authors, publishers, or photographers. I wouldn’t want people using the photos online without their consent. These professionals work extremely hard and give us so much – I want to always be fair to them. I only use the gorgeous Judy Garland and Lena Horne photos (above) to give you an idea just how big and gloriously beautiful the photos are. I carefully cropped them in a manner where they can’t be used anywhere online and made certain to leave the photographers’ names intact. I also thought these two photos illustrated what I was talking about when it comes to looking at the background colors, clothing, and makeup. Their lipsticks just pop with the colors around them!
I want you to have the same extraordinary experience I did each time I turned the page, wondering who I’d “meet” next! It was unspeakably fun to come across so many unexpected pictures and stars. I want you to experience that for yourself.

(Review Continued Below…)

Hollywood in Kodachrome

I also love the “outtakes” (previously unpublished) of stars in famous ad campaigns (Max Factor, Lipton, Lucky Strike, Lux, Royal Crown Cola…).

I took the picture above to try and give you an idea just how big this magnificent book is – by using one of my coffee mugs and a tumbler as comparison… and yet I’m still not convinced it captures just how big and beautiful this book is!

This is simply a breathtakingly beautiful collection of photographs of the greatest stars the world has ever known. It’s a celebration of their lives, their spark, and their magic.

You can find Hollywood in Kodachrome (link to the book on Amazon) on Amazon. When you click through the link, you’ll notice it is available “used” as well as “new.”

I couldn’t possibly recommend this showcase any more than I do. It not only lifted my spirits when they needed them most, it provides joy on a regular basis.

And Lauren looks so gorgeous sitting out to greet me each time I walk into the room!

Hollywood in Kodachrome (link to the stunning book on Amazon)

Hollywood in Kodachrome: A Spectacular Book for Anyone Who Loves Old Hollywood, Beauty, and Photography

July 20, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Hollywood in Kodachrome by David Wills

As I said in a previous post, I’ve had a really, really rotten July. I just did my makeup, so I won’t get into the details again.. runny mascara isn’t much of a look on anyone not named Ava Gardner.

To lift my spirits, one of my daughters (Brittany) bought me the book you see here, Hollywood in Kodachrome. Knowing my GREAT love for Old Hollywood, she knew I’d lose myself in its pages at a time when losing myself would be just what I needed.

This book is absolutely spectacular – if you love old Hollywood and/or photography, this is the next book you’ll want to add to your collection. Each time I sit, looking through the gorgeous photos, I think how it feels this book was made just for me… just for now.

However, that’s dangerously short-changing the book. Hollywood in Kodachrome is an ideal book for anyone – whether their spirits need to be lifted or their spirits are soaring just fine, thank you very much.

Photographers, understandably, are very particular about where, when, and how their photos are shared with others, so I don’t want to include any here in the post. When you click through one of the links in this post, you can see some of the photos in a preview on Amazon. Even though they appear there, I’m just not comfortable publishing them, here.

I will tell you a few names you can expect to see gorgeous photos of:

Lena Horne
Maureen O’Hara
Henry Fonda
Veronica Lake
Rita Hayworth
Lana Turner
Frank Sinatra
John Wayne
Martha Vickers
Marilyn Monroe
Bette Davis
And many, many, many more.

Many of these photos are never-before-seen!

From the Back Cover

Kodachrome film saturated the 1940s with an unprecedented explosion of color. Movie audiences, accustomed to seeing photographs of their favorite stars on magazine covers, billboards, and cinema marquees in monochrome or black-and-white, were suddenly enthralled as their idols came to life in vibrant hues as flesh-and-blood human beings. For the first time, the world was treated to the glory of Rita Hayworth’s auburn hair, Gary Cooper’s blue eyes, Betty Grable’s rosy cheeks, and the multicolored fruit bouquets of Carmen Miranda’s hats.

Curator and photographic preservationist David Wills has amassed one of the world’s largest private collections of original Kodachromes and color photographs from the 1940s. Now, in Hollywood in Kodachrome, he has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from many of the great photographers of Hollywood’s golden era—George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull, John Engstead, Paul Hesse, Ernest Bachrach, Bernard of Hollywood, Robert Coburn, Ray Jones, Bud Fraker, Frank Powolny, Eugene Robert Richee, and many others—to create this stunning portfolio of images that pays homage to the richest, clearest, most brilliant, and archivally dependable film stock in history.

Among the highlights:

Rare and classic images digitally restored from their original 4×5, 5×7, and 8×10 Kodachrome sheet transparencies, vintage Carbro and dye transfer prints, and modern Cibachrome prints.

Never-before-seen publicity photos, scene stills, and work shots from many of Hollywood’s most beloved films of the 1940s.

Previously unpublished portraits of Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Errol Flynn, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, and many others.

Rare “posed candids” and behind-the-scenes photos of stars at play, poolside, relaxing at home, and with family.

Unpublished outtakes of stars in famous ad campaigns, including Max Factor, Lux, Lipton Tea, Lucky Strike, and Royal Crown Cola.

Never-before-seen WWII patriot photography of stars in service uniform and posing with the American flag.

Pairing more than 250 first-generation photographs with vintage magazine covers, advertisements, movie posters, quotes from photographers, and a personal foreword by Hollywood’s “Queen of Technicolor,” Rhonda Fleming, Hollywood in Kodachrome is an unforgettable showcase of a time when movies were truly glamorous and color photography reigned supreme at its most luscious.

Find this extraordinary book on Amazon (Hollywood in Kodachrome) or in a bookstore. You’re going to love it each time you look through it. Talk about a fascinating coffee table book – only problem is, you’ll lose your guest’s attention entirely as they look through this very, very large 352 page book!

Great Gift Idea for Fans of Classic Hollywood: Renegade Women in Film & TV

November 23, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Renegade Women in Film & TV

I love my family. Okay, that should probably go without saying, but seriously… I really, really love my family.

Not only because they’re the coolest, most colorful, and lovable group of people you could ever hope to meet but also because they’re uncommonly thoughtful, kind, generous, and… well…. DARN good. Not just good. DARN good.

The book you see here is an early Christmas gift from my youngest daughter Stephany. She and her two sisters (Emily and Brittany) have contributed to my Old Hollywood book and dvd collections tremendously and I love that they love supporting my obsessive habit!

They’ve helped create the monster behind these words.

Renegade Women in Film & TV is an absolutely remarkable book. Not only is it gorgeous (hardcover and packed with colorful illustrations of the women it celebrates), it is an exceptionally inspiring read.

Within the pages I was reminded of just how remarkable some of my favorites are (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Dorothy Dandridge, Hedy Lamarr, Hattie McDaniel, Dorothy Arzner, Mary Pickford, Rita Moreno, Anna May Wong, Marlo Thomas, Oprah…). I also learned a lot about some ground-breaking women I knew very little about (Ida Lupino, Mae West, Edith Head, Barbra Streisand, Susan Harris, Mary Tyler Moore, Lesley Visser, Barbara Walters, Geena Davis…) and met ladies I knew nothing about and a few I’d never heard of before but will never forget now.

(Continued Below Lucille Ball… how mesmerizing are those eyes??)

Lucille Ball

As expected, there are outstanding women who are missing that I’d have LOVED for them to have included..

Olivia de Havilland
Bette Davis (she gets a mention at the end)
Greta Garbo
Betty White
Etc.

However, the ones who AREN’T there should not and do not detract from the ones who are. Besides, maybe there’ll be a follow-up. I certainly hope so!

Renegade Women in Film & TV would make the most wonderful gift for fans of Old Hollywood and/or Classic TV imaginable. You will, however, want to get your hands on a copy for yourself, too, trust me.

But, here’s the thing… you may want TWO copies. I know I do. One for enjoying and keeping whole (it would make a perfect coffee table book) and one for removing the gorgeous photos for framing. They are truly stunning.

See Renegade Women in Film & TV for more information.

Renegade Women in Film & TV

The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne

October 30, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne

As I’ve often said on Hollywood Yesterday, I collect Old Hollywood biographies and autobiographies like it’s my job. I’m content with one or two biographies of some stars, while others are such favorites, I collect anything and everything written about them. John Wayne is one of these “give me one of everything” stars. He’s a favorite and has been since I watched him on television with my day. That may be part of the reason I love The Duke so much. The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss is the newest addition to my John Wayne collection and I was anxious to tell you about it.

This book would make a great gift idea for anyone in your life who loves John Wayne. It’s a “fast read” with plenty of pictures, so even those “old cowboys” you love will enjoy it!

In addition to the wonderful content and pictures (lots of things even I didn’t know and quite a few pictures I’d never seen), the book includes great quotes about John Wayne and his influence on family and co-stars. I love these quotes so much because what people say about us is one of the strongest blocks in the building of our legacy.

From the Back Cover:

By the time Stagecoach made John Wayne a silver-screen star in 1939, the thirty-one-year-old was already a veteran of more than sixty films, having twirled six-guns and foiled cattle rustlers in B Westerns for five studios. By the 1950s he was Hollywood’s most popular actor—an Academy Award nominee destined to become an American icon.

Through rare photographs and revealing family anecdotes, The Young Duke offers an unflinching look at how Marion Morrison became the legend known as John Wayne—from his boyhood in Winterset, Iowa, and his days as a college football star, to his stunning box-office success in Westerns and war movies in the 1930s and 1940s. Shedding new light on Wayne’s formative years and early Hollywood roles and influences, this stirring biography uncovers the true stories behind the screen legend’s public and private lives.

About the Authors:

Chris Enss is an award-winning screenwriter and the author or coauthor of more than two dozen books.

Howard Kazanjian is an award-winning producer and entertainment executive who for three decades has been producing television programs and feature films, including two of the highest grossing films of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

Great Addition to a Collection

There are, of course, more detailed biographies of John Wayne – many delve into his life and you can spend glorious weeks reading every detail. This book is a much different book from other biographies. Would it provide a complete picture of John Wayne, the actor or the man? No – certainly not. This book was intended more for a “quick read” or for collectors, like me, who simply must have everything related to their favorite stars!

This is a great addition to any biography collection and a very fun read. Whereas some biographies are “heavy” with filmographies, research, quotes, and information, this one is “light.”

When you want a fast-paced overview of a star’s life, sometimes that’s just what you’re looking for!

Find The Young Duke: The Early Life of John Wayne on Amazon or in your favorite second-hand bookstore.

Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner (Review)

October 24, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner

As both a collector and AVID reader of biographies and autobiographies (old Hollywood and history), I often group these books into three categories when adding to my collections:

The stand-alone, ultimate biography or autobiography – as in the only one you really need for a certain star or historical figure.
A component biography or autobiography – one that is a wonderful (even necessary) addition to a collection of memoirs of the individual.
The one I have to have no matter what – one that it simply doesn’t matter which of the above slots it fits into because I collect everything ever written about the individual!

A few examples of number 1:

These books give you such a perfect all-around account of the star that (unless you collect everything written about them, you may not find it necessary to add another book about them to your collection).

Ginger by Ginger Rogers

June Allyson’s Autobiography

Barefoot to the Chin

Esther Williams’ The Million Dollar Mermaid

A few examples of number 2:

These books are so wonderful that they should be added to any collection you have on the star(s). However, either because of their laser focus on one particular topic or because they cover more than one star (Feuding Fan Dancers, for example), they wouldn’t be considered the ultimate biography. There’s also the… shall we say chance… that the author’s recollections are clouded by emotion(s) – such as Georgia Hale’s biography of Charlie Chaplin, a man she spent nearly a lifetime loving.

Feuding Fan Dancers

Georgia Hale’s Charlie Chaplin Biography

Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes

My Examples of number 3:

I collect anything and everything pertaining in any way, shape, or form for the following, so I grab every book associated with them!

Lucille Ball, Maureen O’Hara, Barbara Stanwyck, Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, June Allyson, Audrey Hepburn, Georgia Hale, Buster Keaton, Bob Hope, Elvis, Abbott & Costello, John Wayne, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis (I get a special kick out of always listing these two together.. strange sense of humor, I guess)…

Back to Lana….

I lay all of this out merely to set the stage for Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner – because it is a “component” type biography that also happens to (for me, anyway) fall into the third category as well – I collect all Lana Turner books!

As you can tell by the title, “The Life and Loves of Lana Turner,” this book has Lana’s (eventful!) love life in mind. In fact, the wonderful author (Jane Ellen Wayne) focuses the bulk of time on the men in the beautiful Lana Turner’s life… to be more precise, the effect(s) they had on the actress.

Make no mistake about it, each man left fingerprints all over her life – for better or worse. A certain amount of naivety existed with Lana, because she seemed to sincerely believe that each one was her Prince Charming.

Not only does the author provide a great deal of insight into what Lana Turner was thinking (even when she seemed to not be thinking at all!), she presents her as she truly was – a human being, just as capable of mistakes as any of us.

Things I Love Most About This Biography

When I think about things that make this biography stand out, the one that comes to mind first is the respect with which author Jane Ellen Wayne treats Lana. Instead of, “She did this wicked thing… she made this irrational decision…,” her response seemed to be more, “I wish I’d been there to help her avoid that guy!” I feel the same way when it comes to Lana and many of my other favorites – I wish I could have been there to tell them, “No… absolutely not!” Heck, with Lana, I’d have been tempted to lock her in a room once or twice! Her heart led down some very destructive roads and left her a beautiful and easy prey for more than one low life.
I am in love with the way the author presents Lana’s beautiful daughter, Cheryl and her relationship with her mother.
While there are a few men you meet along the way who you’d love to throw rotten garbage at, there are a few who you’ll find especially intriguing and want to learn more about (Tyrone Power, for example).
The pictures – just wow! There are gorgeous pictures of Lana throughout her career as well as candids with the men in her life and her beautiful family.
As you’d expect from someone who reads as much as I do, I appreciate a “fast read.” Books that are easily digested and don’t take a lot of time to read have a special place in my heart and Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner is a very fast read – yet it’s one that stays with you.
The “staying with you” aspect is something else I love about this book. Since I first read it, I often think back to moments in Lana’s life when I see pictures or films. When I see her during a particular time, smiling for her fans and looking radiant, I’ll instantly think back to this book and remember what she was going through at the time. It’s very memorable and will stay with you long after the last page.

One could say that Lana was weak in some ways – weak to “allow” herself to become more than one man’s (and more than one situation’s) victim. She often, when faced with two decisions, made the absolute worst one as though it were her job to torment herself. As a Lana Turner fan (and one that has studied her more than I ever studied any subject in school), I would hasten to say this: Yes, she displayed moments of great weakness BUT the fact that she survived the madness and is, today, one of the greatest, most-recognized icons of Old Hollywood took greater strength.

If you are (or even if you are not YET), a fan of Lana Turner’s, I hope you’ll read Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner. I have a feeling it will help you understand her better. Trust me, she’s very much someone worth getting to know.