Golden Age of Hollywood
Elizabeth Montgomery, Erin Murphy, and Agnes Moorehead
I will never NOT love the series Bewitched and everyone involved. It had a one in a billion cast – one that is somehow just now getting recognized for its insane talent level.
You can watch the hilarious series on Amazon Prime or do what I plan to do… buy the entire series on dvd (Amazon link)!
Beautiful, versatile, and talented Agnes Moorehead was born on December 6, 1900 in Clinton, Massachusetts. From Citizen Kane in 1941 to a made for television movie, Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love, in 1974 the classy (in every sense of the word) actress created a wonderful filmography.
A few of my own personal favorite Agnes Moorehead films and television shows include:
(Links go to the movies’ dvds on Amazon)
I am working on watching her entire filmography and will (undoubtedly) come back here to edit the list as I am CERTAIN there will be more to add. My favorite Agnes Moorehead roles are Endora (Bewitched), Cornelia van Gorder (The Bat) and “Ma Stratton” in The Stratton Story. Unusual selections, I’m sure, given her wonderful body of work – but I have a few reasons for each choice.
(Continued Below….)
Endora (Bewitched)
Wonderful, larger than life dramas (on the big screen) were this lady’s specialty. She commanded dramatic scenes like she was born to do so. Yet… when the opportunity came along to portray a witch, of all things, in a television sitcom, she didn’t just NAIL COMEDY, she created a character that is a household name even today, all these years later.
While there are many sitcom characters, from the sixties and seventies and even earlier who are, also, household names, they are almost always main characters – as in the ones always front and center who, supposedly, carry the show.
Agnes Moorehead made such a huge impact that it’s felt today.
If you stop and think of other dramatic film actresses and imagine them in the role of Endora, you will quickly realize just how “impossible” this feat was. And yet…. she did it with style, pizzazz, and ever so much showmanship!
So, yes, even though her film roles are memorable, to say the least, her role as Endora will forever be one of my favorite Agnes Moorehead roles.
Ma Stratton (The Stratton Story)
Another favorite performance is her subtle, beautiful performance as James Stewart’s character’s mother in The Stratton Story. While her screen time in this film isn’t as much as some of her other wonderful roles, what time she is on the screen, she is mesmerizing. Her character is a woman who life has not been particularly kind to. From her demeanor, her surroundings, and the fact that she is the only parent left, you know that this is a woman who is uncommonly strong – not necessarily because she wants to be but she has had to be.
There is a quiet strength to her throughout the film that is palpable. Without giving anything away to those who have not seen this film, I’ll just say that several VERY emotional things happen to her son Monty (played by James Stewart). At no point does she take her reactions further than a woman of her character’s strength would allow. She also never tries to steal the
spotlight from her co-stars Stewart and June Allyson.
She stays within her character’s persona and it is absolutely breathtaking to watch because, due to the nature of the emotions (some positive, some negative), it would have been easy to play the scenes large. However, this would have been very unlike her character and, being the wonderful actress she was, she reigned it in.
Cornelia (The Bat)
If you watch a lot of Old Hollywood films, you realize that only a select few actresses were given the honor of carrying a film – of being front and center, so to speak. With The Bat, Agnes was given the chance to do this very thing and she was phenomenal.
The film is pretty “out there” but she never comes across as campy and never treats the role or film with anything but the utmost respect.
I think it’s a very entertaining film (co-starring the incomparable Vincent Price) and one of the reasons is the beautiful actress, herself.
My fanaticism for the Golden Age of Hollywood, Classic TV, and Silent Movies is legendary. I have, over the past few years, become just as infatuated with and devoted to Old Radio shows. I barely remember hearing radio shows as a child. I mostly remember an old Christmas radio show they aired each Christmas that was one of our most cherished traditions.
Before I Love Lucy, Audrey Hepburn, and Fred & Ginger shook the world, families gathered around their radios each night to be entertained. Just the thought of a family excitedly gathering around a radio brings a smile to my face! Sometimes I think “progress” isn’t much of a “progress” after all, but that’s another hill to climb on another day.
Wonderful radio programs, comedies, westerns, dramas, and soap operas delighted people of all ages for years. Then they disappeared forever… or so we thought. With the internet, podcasts, YouTube, and a WONDERFUL Sirius station devoted entirely to these engaging shows, old time radio is here with us today to give us just as much happiness and entertainment as ever.
You can, literally, access your favorite old radio show(s) as easily as you can watch a favorite old movie. And, boy, do I ever!
My personal favorite old radio shows are:
Quite a list, huh? I told you I was a fanatic! The crazy thing is, there are still A LOT of radio shows I want to explore but haven’t had the chance yet…. okay, maybe I’ve had the chance, I just can’t pull myself away from my favorites. The truth always comes out, doesn’t it?
When I do check out the others that have caught my eye, I’m sure I’ll have to come back and add to this list.
Just as I collect books, photos, and memorabilia from Old Hollywood and Classic TV, I collect anything related to Old Radio. The Old-Time Radio Book is the newest addition to my cherished collections.
I found this wonderful book from a used book seller (Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit) on Amazon. When I order used books, I always use Amazon. There are also A LOT on eBay – I’m just an Amazon addict, truth be told. When you order used books on Amazon, be sure to select “Like New” or “Very Good” as the conditions you’re interested in.
I order a lot of my Old Hollywood (especially Old Radio) books “used” on Amazon and have never been disappointed.
I really love The Old-Time Radio Book – it’s even better than I expected. It’s in wonderful condition (even better than described online) and it has so much more inside than I expected.
Don’t you just love when you get more than you bargained for?!
I had no idea, for example, there’d be so many wonderful photos. The fact that some of my absolute favorites showed up on these pages made it even sweeter. Lucille Ball, Agnes Moorehead (check out the gorgeous picture of Agnes below!), Jane Wyman, Lana Turner, Susan Hayward, Ginger Rodgers… I gasped each time I found a new favorite on the pages – some of these pictures I’d never seen before.
Speaking of Agnes Moorehead for a moment, she was an absolutely phenomenal actress – on radio, in movies, and on tv (you may know her best as Endora). When you hear her on Old Radio, you will be blown away by her angelic voice. NOT AT ALL ENDORA-LIKE!
When I first heard her on an old radio show, I had no idea who the actress was. All I knew was that I could listen to her beautiful voice for hours. I couldn’t wait for the end of the program to hear the announcer say her name. When he said, “Agnes Moorehead,” my jaw dropped right into my strawberry sundae (another addiction). Beautiful face, beautiful voice, beautiful person.
No wonder I’m such a huge fan of her’s. She had it all and then some.
The big, beautiful photo of Susan Hayward (below) is another one I had never seen. In fact, there are a lot of pictures in this book I’m sure most people have never seen before. I’m not sure all of them have even been published before.
If you are a fan of Old Radio, this is a book you will love as much as I do. If you’re a fan of Old Hollywood, you will love seeing the pictures of the stars you are familiar with. In fact, if you’re an Old Hollywood fan, you may be lured into Old Radio when you see the names associated with the shows (many are listed in my list of favorites above).
Many of the greatest stars in Hollywood were the greatest stars on radio. Check them out – they will not let you down!
Books for Fans of Old Radio:
The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (one of the ones on my list to buy)
The Top 100 Classic Radio Shows
You can find many more on Amazon as well as eBay.
Websites for Fans of Old Radio:
The Bat Lobby Card
The Bat (1959) is a fun movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Is it a “scary” film? Not by any stretch of the imagination (unless you’re 3-1/2), but it is a hoot.
The film stars Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Lenita Lane (excellent with Agnes Moorehead), Gavin Gordon, Darla Hood (yes, that Darla.. you will recognize her IMMEDIATELY as Alfalfa’s buddy), and the ridiculously beautiful Elaine Edwards.
Check this one out when you get a chance. The best things about it are Vincent Price (always worth the Price of admission), the camaraderie between Moorehead and Lane, and the sight of Darla’s sweet little face on a beautifully filled out female figure!
Surprisingly, you can find The Bat on DVD on Amazon. I say “surprisingly” because there have been a lot of great “off the beaten track” old movies I can’t find on dvd. I plan to take advantage of this one being available and adding it to my Vincent Price collection!
The Bat (1959)
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
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, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
