book reviews | Hollywood Yesterday

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice (Fascinating Book about Jane Russell)

November 15, 2021 By Joi

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice

Before I go any further…. about the eye-catching title: This is not an assessment of Jane Russell by the author or publisher! When you see, early in the wonderful book, where the title comes from, you’ll get a kick out of it.

It may seem unusual for someone like me (completely immersed in all things old Hollywood) to say, but Jane Russell is a star I’ve never been particularly familiar with. Naturally, I’ve always known who she was and certainly knew she was very beautiful and very talented. We simply haven’t crossed paths often as I have not seen many of her films.

After reading Christina Rice‘s (link to the author’s Amazon profile) fascinating biography, however, I plan to see each and every one.

Description

By the early 1950s, Jane Russell (1921–2011) should have been forgotten. Her career was launched on what is arguably the most notorious advertising campaign in cinema history, which invited filmgoers to see Howard Hughes’s The Outlaw (1943) and to “tussle with Russell.” Throughout the 1940s, she was nicknamed the “motionless picture actress” and had only three films in theaters. With such a slow, inauspicious start, most aspiring actresses would have given up or faded away. Instead, Russell carved out a place for herself in Hollywood and became a memorable and enduring star.

Christina Rice offers the first biography of the actress and activist perhaps most well-known for her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Despite the fact that her movie career was stalled for nearly a decade, Russell’s filmography is respectable. She worked with some of Hollywood’s most talented directors—including Howard Hawks, Raoul Walsh, Nicholas Ray, and Josef von Sternberg—and held her own alongside costars such as Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, Clark Gable, Vincent Price, and Bob Hope. She also learned how to fight back against Howard Hughes, her boss for more than thirty-five years, and his marketing campaigns that exploited her physical appearance.

Beyond the screen, Rice reveals Russell as a complex and confident woman. She explores the star’s years as a spokeswoman for Playtex as well as her deep faith and work as a Christian vocalist. Rice also discusses Russell’s leadership and patronage of the WAIF foundation, which for many years served as the fundraising arm of the International Social Service (ISS) agency. WAIF raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, successfully lobbied Congress to change laws, and resulted in the adoption of tens of thousands of orphaned children. For Russell, the work she did to help unite families overshadowed any of her onscreen achievements.

On the surface, Jane Russell seemed to live a charmed life, but Rice illuminates her darker moments and her personal struggles, including her empowered reactions to the controversies surrounding her films and her feelings about being portrayed as a sex symbol. This stunning first biography offers a fresh perspective on a star whose legacy endures not simply because she forged a notable film career, but also because she effectively used her celebrity to benefit others.

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice

As you can tell from the three photos in this post, Christina Rice and Jane Russell spent this past summer with me. We tended to flower beds, herb beds, vegetables, and then we’d crash and escape into the world old Hollywood. It was glorious and they were excellent company.

While I never like to swim in controversial waters… heck, I don’t even like to wade into them… I feel I must get something out of the way. When one Christian (as Jane Russell was and as I am) takes a stance or voices their opinion, that opinion casts a large blanket over all of Christianity and the words tend to stick to all Christians…. as though we had said them ourselves (when, many times, we are as taken aback by the words as anyone). Why is this? I have no idea. It doesn’t happen with… say… Leos, Texans, brunettes, Democrats, Republicans, Australians, Vegetarians, Tree huggers (raises hand), the Keto crowd (guys, how can you live without potatoes?!?) or other groups of people. It seems pretty exclusive to religious groups. I often read something along the lines of, “all Catholics believe….” or “when Christians say…”

Basically, if you want to know what an individual (who happens to live within a particular group of people) believes, you need to get that from them. Not someone else. That’s all.

I want to thank Christina Rice for realizing this. Many authors take what one person believes or says and tattoos everyone else with it. This simply isn’t reality. The author, as any mature individual would do, treats her subject with respect, whether she agrees with everything the legendary star said or not.

That’s class. That’s decency. That’s appreciated.

As someone who wasn’t very familiar with this fascinating star, I was very anxious to meet her and boy did she exceeded my expectations?! The lady was an absolute joy and what a study in contrasts! If I had had a thought bubble over my head as I read this book, you’d have seen the word “Fascinating!” a million times.

Not only did Jane Russell, herself, leave me gobsmacked, so did the gorgeous photos, the author’s enthusiasm, and the stroll through old Hollywood.

You meet the most wonderful people along the way.

Christina Russell gives more than just a glimpse into Jane Russell’s life and experiences, you also get to know others better through the process.

After reading a book – whether it’s an old Hollywood biography, historical non-fiction, or Agatha Christie mystery – something always, always, always stays with me from the book. If it’s a biography or autobiography, facets from the star’s life or words from their lips stick with me. Often, however, something from the author will also become a lifelong companion. In this case, Jane Russell’s boldness and contrasts will permanently reside in my mind and heart. She truly was a remarkable woman and did a LOT of good that transcends Hollywood.

Something else from Mean…Moody…Magnificent will stick with me and that’s the manner in which the wonderful author, Christina Rice, handled her star – with great, great respect mixed with an understandable level of amusement and enjoyment! She did what any great author should do – she fully told the story of her subject, holding nothing back. A great author is like a great journalist – they give the facts and keep themselves out of the story…. rather, allowing the reader to make up their own minds about events, quotes, and choices.

That’s class. That’s decency. That’s appreciated.

You can find Mean… Moody…. Magnificent by Christina Rice on University Press of Kentucky’s website (if you’re fast, you can take advantage of their great Holiday Sale!). This would be a gorgeous gift idea for any film lover in your life.

You can also find Mean…Moody…Magnificent (Amazon link) on Amazon… where I just saw that Christina Rice has an Ann Dvorak biography?! (I told Ann I would be right back, and that’s where I’m headed!)

~ Thanks so very much for reading! Joi (“Joy”)

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice

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

July 17, 2021 By Joi

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.

Maureen O’Hara: The Biography by Aubrey Malone

April 12, 2021 By Joi

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.

Georgia Hale: “He (Charlie Chaplin) Made My Heart Laugh for the First Time..”

June 25, 2019 By Joi

Georgia Hale

In Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups, beautiful silent film actress, Georgia Hale, writes from the heart about her own life as well as her relationship with the genius known the world over. I’m working on my review of this book and will publish it later this week – in honor of the week of her birth in 1900. I say “the week” simply because there’s a little discrepancy over the exact date. Her autobiography gives the date as June 25, 1900 – and, as a Georgia Hale fan, that’s the date I recognize as her birthday. However, other dates are given in biographies found online.

Bottom line… even if she was born on another date, I will recognize the one of her choosing!

There is one particular piece I wanted to share from the book today. I will share a great deal more in the upcoming review, but today is for something special. Something different. Something… well.. beautiful – and possibly even relatable to many.

I have heard many fans say things along the lines of, “Katharine Hepburn saved my life…” or “Becoming an Ava Gardner fan gave me hope…” Obviously it isn’t always these two actresses – I’ve seen the same types of beautiful testimonies for everyone from Buster Keaton to Audrey Hepburn and countless others in between.

Georgia Hale would be able to relate to each and every one.

Georgia’s childhood was not a particularly happy one. While it wasn’t as tragic as many stars’ childhoods, happiness eluded her. Her father was not a very loving parent and it seems possible that both parents favored other children. Georgia seems to have been, devastatingly, left out.

She also didn’t fit in with most of the kids her age. Due to circumstances at home, she developed a rather melancholy (even moody) disposition that, obviously, didn’t exactly draw others to her. This proved to be yet another source of pain for the beautiful young girl. One of the breaking points for young Georgia was when her dad yelled at her, “What’s wrong with you? I wish you’d been born a boy!”

If she had much spirit left, these words crushed it.

Immediately after his outburst, Georgia walked out of the house and went to the movies. Along the way, she writes that his hurtful words kept ringing in her ears. “I heard this for years. I found myself wishing that I had never been born… at all.”

This mindset was about to change.

“When I reached the ‘Bona-Venture’ the show had started. I crept into the dark theatre. Finally, the main feature, the comedy started. Onto the screen came a funny little fellow. He was a pathetic character, like the rest of us. His clothes were castoffs and much too large for his small frame. His shoes were way out in front of his feet. He did wear a collar and a tie, but no shirt, and on his head a classy, dirty derby. His hand whirled a cane, jauntily, as if in defiance of his lot.”

She noted how he kept going about his busy little life, joyfully, in spite of troubles, his fate, or even bullies. She recounts how everyone in the audience was cheering and laughing…”But I saw something different, something invisible. I FELT something beautiful. A gentle beam of light had stolen into my dark world.”

After the movie was over, she left the theatre and ran ahead of the other kids. “I wanted to be alone. I wanted to hold it closely. Charlie Chaplin had said something to me… he had spoken to me directly…. he made my heart laugh for the first time.”

When actors and actresses make films, they have NO idea the number of lives they are touching – or how profoundly some may feel the touch. When Georgia Hale writes, “A gentle beam of light had stolen into my dark world,” I wonder how many other fans have felt the exact thing she felt – and so beautifully described.

As a tribute to Georgia on her birthday (the one of her choosing, perhaps), I wanted to share her beautiful words. Given that they are words about a man she spent nearly half of her life loving, I believe it’d make her very happy.

Read my review of this very special book: Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups by Georgia Hale

Review – “Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)”

June 17, 2019 By Joi

A few months ago, I struck gold. I entered a contest on Classic Movie Hub for a chance to win a children’s Charlie Chaplin book – Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry). Since I collect all things Charlie Chaplin and, more importantly, have a precious 18 month old grand-baby (Maddox) who means the world to me, I hoped like crazy that I’d win.

I did!

I love reading to Maddox and absolutely LOVE sharing with him something that I am so passionate about – Old Hollywood. We watch old movies together (he loves musicals, Lewis & Martin, and Abbott & Costello best) and, now, have a book we can enjoy together. And do we ever! The story is entertaining and fun and the illustrations are deliciously unique. They’re colorful and include fun images to hold a child’s attention. The way the book is presented is extra special and original – much like Mr. Chaplin, himself.

This is a children’s book that will grow with a child. While very young, they can enjoy the big bright pictures and the (*pats self on back) wonderfully entertaining voices an adult uses while reading. When older, they’ll enjoy the wonderful story – and gain more from the lessons involved.

For collectors, like myself, they’ll get an extra kick out of the beautiful addition to their collection.

(Continued Below the Beautiful Illustrations)

But there’s more to this book than meets the eye. When you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or anyone blessed with children in their life, you notice things others may overlook.

There are a few especially beautiful things in “Smile” that one might not expect from a colorful and fun children’s book…

When sharing the story with a child, this book gives an adult the perfect opportunity to stress the importance of being yourself. Charlie Chaplin did not pattern himself after other people – he created his own pattern! And what a pattern it was. By doing his own thing and creating his own identity, he became a legend. His name is known the world over. If you’re always trying to fit in, how are you ever going to stand out??
Something else I love about this book is the opportunity to talk about emotions. Sometimes we are happy, for no reason. Other times, something or someone (like, say, a little Tramp??) makes us happy. Sometimes we’re sad, for no reason. Other times, something or someone makes us sad. They’re emotions and there isn’t anything wrong with them. It’s all part of “feeling” and that’s all part of life.
There is a bonding that takes place when you sit beside a child (or with them in your lap while they’re still small enough) and share a book. I noticed it with my three daughters when they were little and I notice it with Maddox. The time spent is beautiful for all involved and creates lasting, wonderful memories.
There are only GREAT things to be said for raising children who love books and think of reading as one of their favorite things. Books are competing with a lot of things these days and few of these things, if any, offer the benefits of reading. We have to all do our part to make sure books stay exciting and enjoyable to our children.

Last of all – and, admittedly of less importance than the benefits to a child and the adult’s relationship with him/her – I have to point out the importance of keeping Old Hollywood and its stars alive and relevant. Silent movies, the Golden Age of Hollywood, musicals, old comedians (SO much better than today’s – sorry, but it’s the truth), and all of the wonderful men and women involved should be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.

That’s where we come in.

It’s not enough to enjoy, collect, and talk about them among ourselves. We need to reach out to future generations and draw them in. All we have to do is introduce them to the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Lucille Ball, Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, Abbot & Costello, Lewis & Martin, Fred and Ginger… once these stars have their attention, they’ll take it from there.

They won’t be able to help falling in love with them.

If you collect Charlie Chaplin books and/or have children in your life, this is most definitely a book you’ll want to check out. See Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry) for more information!

The picture above? That’s one of my fur babies, Gueenie, sleeping comfortably on this wonderful book. If you’re new to my Old Hollywood Book Reviews, one of my cats is almost always involved during the photo session! They love to be the center of attention, so…. here they come in all of their glory. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Movie Poster Books on Amazon… Very Fun Collectibles

May 15, 2019 By Joi

Have you seen the Movie Posters books on Amazon? They’re from Abby Books and I’m pretty crazy about them. Being the biggest Maureen O’Hara fan in the world, naturally I have (and love) the Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book.

From Amazon: Spirited, strong-willed, tempestuous beauties. All of these words have been used to describe the roles played in the 1940s and 1950s by Irish-born actress Maureen O’Hara. With more than 50 films to her credit, O’Hara is best remembered for her roles in Miracle on 34th Street, The Quiet Man and The Parent Trap. The Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book features original one sheet posters, and some poster art, from all of O’Hara’s 53 Hollywood films, from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) to Only the Lonely (1991) with John Candy. Printed in full color on white paper, the Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book is a must have collector’s item for fans of the Queen of Technicolor

This Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book is filled with Maureen O’Hara’s wonderful movie posters – from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Only the Lonely. The years are given for each. It’s fun to look through the book and take an up close and personal look at each detail of the poster, as well as the director, producer, co-stars, and other details we often miss.

{Continued Below…}

There are a LOT of other stars available (some are listed below). I plan to buy the rest of the books because…

A. I’m obsessed with Old Hollywood.

B. I’m obsessed with movie posters.

C. I collect Old Hollywood books and memorabilia.

Seriously, it’s like these books were made with me in mind. I mean, it’s as easy as A.B.C.

{Continued below Lady Godiva…}

Below are just some of the stars to choose from. I actually just discovered these incredibly fun books, so I don’t have them all.

Yet.

Cary Grant
Clark Gable
Sean Connery
Katharine Hepburn (the next one I’m buying!)
Thelma Todd
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford
Natalie Wood
Frank Sinatra
Lon Chaney
Claudette Colbert
Douglas Fairbanks
Mary Pickford
Sidney Poitier
Harold Lloyd
Jean Arthur
Lana Turner
Ginger Rogers
Laurel & Hardy
Buster Keaton
Veronica Lake
Joan Crawford
Marilyn Monroe
Bette Davis
John Wayne
Barbara Stanwyck
Doris Day
Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
Fred Astaire
Spencer Tracy
And more…

See Movie Posters books on Amazon to see all of the stars available. These make especially fun collectibles. (Be sure to keep going to the “next page” – there are 4 pages in all.) Click Maureen O’Hara Movie Poster Book for the Maureen O’Hara book. Highly recommended!

There just aren’t enough words to describe the Kangaroo movie poster. I mean….

Barefoot to the Chin: The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand (Wonderful Book!)

May 7, 2019 By Joi

As I’ve said countless times, one of my favorite things in life is reading classic Hollywood biographies and autobiographies. Words can’t possibly describe how much I love them, so I won’t even try – suffice to say that when I have a great one in my hands, I am as happy as happy is allowed to be.

The gorgeous (as in stunningly gorgeous) book you see here is Barefoot to the Chin: The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand and it is one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading – whether it’s my beloved Old Hollywood books, my treasured Agatha Christie collection, or the countless historical biographies I collect and devour. This book is as well-written, beautifully presented, perfectly researched, and thoroughly enjoyable as any book I’ve ever met.

If you have ever written a book review, you will know what I mean when I say that the better the book, the harder the review is to write. You’d think it’d be opposite – a wonderful book should be easy to rave about… a terrible one should be hard to talk about. However, my own personal experience is that the more I love a book – the more difficult it is to reign in all of my thoughts.

This particular book is so outstanding that my adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and direct objects are all bumping into one another.

I work with words all day in my home office and yet, here I sit, trying to hog tie enough words to make a coherent sentence!

“Hog tie…” I may watch too many Westerns.

Barefoot to the Chin: The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand is wonderfully written by Jim Lowe (in collaboration with Bonnie Egan). It is clearly a labor of love and great respect for its beautiful, fascinating, intelligent, and uncommonly brave subject, Sally Rand.

“She could hold her own in any conversation – an amazingly brilliant woman.” ~ Jack Grodon, Fort Worth Press (1936)

I love books that pull you in and grab your attention right off the bat. Books that take a few chapters to warm up often are never given the chance with me. Can you say short attention span? Barefoot to the Chin grabs your attention on the first page and never lets it go – never even loosens its grip. If anything, it tightens it now and again, just to keep the reader honest.

I’m a huge history buff, so I hung on every word of Sally Rand’s family history. The proverbial “stage” is set beautifully for us. We can see how Sally’s childhood, and perhaps even her family’s fascinating history helped propel her into the spotlight. Make no mistake about it, once the stage was set and the spotlight turned on, this beautiful lady made her own history, on her own terms.

In 1934, Mae West and Sally Rand were the record earners among women entertainers.

I recently became somewhat obsessed with reading about showgirls and burlesque dancers such as Sally Rand, Faith Bacon, Tempest Storm, Gypsy Rose Lee, the dancers who went by the name Little Egypt (there were more than one!), and many others. People can point fingers and pass judgment (personally I’m not into either of these sports) but these women and others like them danced their way into what was, at the time, the entertainment industry. Many simply did what they had to do to get by.

Others? Maybe they darn well liked it!

It was such a treat to come across so many of these flamboyant ladies within the pages of the book. Not only did I get to walk along with Sally as she lived out her colorful life, I got to meet so many fascinating people along the way. In addition to the Sally’s contemporaries, we meet up with A LOT of familiar names from Old Hollywood and history on these delicious pages.

However, I’d like to quickly and decisively add that Sally is the star of this book. The rest? Well they’re co-stars, of course.

Sally Rand had a boldness and a palpable determination about her that made her a force – a decidedly feminine force, but a force nonetheless – one not to be messed with OR told what to do. On the flip side, however, there was a softness… even a vulnerability to a certain extent that draws you to her. She was also a kind, compassionate soul – traits that also draw you to her.

This type of personality is to be celebrated if you ask me.

“I was born in the last naive moment America was ever to enjoy… between the Spanish-American War and the First World War. Things were S. S.& G.- Sweet, Simple, and Girlish.” ~ Sally Rand

As a great lover of Old Hollywood biographies, I have even entertained writing one, myself, about one of my favorite actresses. The motivation would be to share her life with others, to help them understand her better, and to… certainly… draw others to her. To, through the written word, celebrate her life in the best way possible – after all a biography is a lasting legacy for generations to read.

While reading this exceptional book, I thought many times about this very thing because it is precisely what Jim Rowe has done. He has celebrated a life very much worth celebrating and left a legacy for her – an especially beautiful one, at that.

He spent years getting to know Sally Rand better and has shared this WEALTH of information with his readers. Fortunately for us, he is such an engaging writer that each and every page is a joy to read. He has a stunning knack for creating scenes and allowing your mind’s eye to see, not only Sally, but all that Sally saw.

{Continued Below…}

Ten Things I Love Best About Barefoot to the Chin

When writing Old Hollywood movie or book reviews, I try to keep it brief – I always tell myself, “Never rant and rave for as long as it’d take them to watch the movie or buy the book!” Ironically, I feel that I am going to break my own rule, here, but I do hope you’ll stick with me – I desperately want you to get to know Sally Rand better and would love to see this book read by as many people as possible.

Below are ten of the things I love best about this wonderful celebration of Sally Rand.

Sally Rand is treated with the UTMOST of respect. It would be easy (given this particular beautiful subject’s penchant for sex appeal and nudity) for an author to make “Junior High School” type jokes or to drift, even briefly, to crude words that equate to wolf calls. I mean, let’s face it, Sally was a knock out. The girls who danced in her circles? Knock outs. The author, however, never even hints at sensationalism, crudeness, or howling. She is treated as she should be treated, as an entertainer and with great respect. As a female, as a mother of females, and as a fan of Sally’s, I love this to distraction and appreciate it greatly.
There were NO shortcuts with anything associated with this book. Whether it’s the incredible research (many years of research, at that), the gorgeous cover, the stunning photographs throughout the book, or the mere fact that each and every chapter is filled with spellbinding content – the reader is never short-changed in any way possible. You’re given so much more than you dared to expect. Counting the Epilogue, this book is 718 pages in length. It is the type of book you lose yourself in. The type of book that, even while cooking supper, your mind is thinking, “When can I get back to Sally!?“
The photographs are an absolute JOY. As I often point out with my reviews, one of my biggest goals (second to telling my readers what they’ll love about the book in question) is to be certain not to give anything away. I am obsessive when it comes to this! Authors, editors, and illustrators put so much time, effort, energy, and passion into making a book exactly as they want it to be – from the manner in which they share their information to the pictures they share. That’s why I’m not photographing and sharing any of the wonderful pictures from this book. (When you click through Barefoot to the Chin: The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand and read about the book on Amazon, you’ll find a few pictures.) The main reason, when it comes to books like this is, the mere fact that these wonderful, wonderful pictures (I especially love the ones of Sally as a child) are almost always from a loved one’s private collection. My reasoning is, if they want the pictures on the internet, they’ll put them there! Suffice to say, the pictures and the history they tell and the lives they share are breathtaking.
You never know who you’ll meet along the way. Those of us who love, love, love biographies like this get a special thrill out of reading about other stars and/or historical figures as we follow our subject’s life. In Barefoot to the Chin, not only do we get to know Sally Rand ever so much better, we also get to know familiar names and faces along the way better than we knew them before. In the vein of not giving too much away, I will just throw a few names out there – Elvis, Teddy Roosevelt, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford… there are many more than these giants, but I simply cannot allow myself to name any more. I’m already clearly breaking one of my own rules as it is.
The author is a GREAT author! Have you ever read a biography about someone and thought, “This is great research… I love the star the book is about.. but the author is so dry dirt is envious of him/her!” I have. While non-fiction is my favorite thing to read, and the only thing I read (aside from my Agatha Christie obsession), I have found that it takes a special talent to tell about someone’s life and make it as compelling to read as a great novel. Jim Lowe has done just that. This wonderful book, in fact, it could be a great, best-selling novel – IF you didn’t know the larger than life heroine actually existed. Boy, did she ever.
Mental Spark Plug… When is the last time you learned something new? Do you remember how exhilarating it was? I find that when I’m learning something new or taking my mind in an entirely new direction, it feels like a natural high. The world of burlesque dancers and showgirls is a pretty new world to most of us. But it is so fascinating you’ll wonder why you haven’t been reading about these ladies all your life. As I said earlier, they are now a new personal interest and I cannot read enough about them or this era. Learning new things and reading about new people acts like spark plugs for your brain. And, come on, who doesn’t need that kind of action?!
I love that this book is unique and filled a void. Certain stars seem to have countless biographies. Not that I’m complaining, mind you, very often a fresh voice can give you a fresh understanding of someone you only thought you knew. However, I also LOVE when stars who have comparatively little written about them have their time to shine.
This book would make an EXCELLENT gift. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, a birthday, or Christmas, gifting a book lover with Barefoot to the Chin would be a extraordinary idea. While lovers of Classic Hollywood or history would, obviously pass out from delight with this book, so would your average bookworm. My oldest daughter, for example, prefers fiction but I can’t wait for her to read Barefoot to the Chin. She is forever talking about her favorite authors – how some hold your attention better than others, etc. She is going to love this author so much. In fact, I have a feeling he’ll make a non-fiction fan out of her!
I love the research that went into this book. I can only imagine all the effort and time that went into researching, not just Sally, but her family, friends, and contemporaries as well. Frankly, there isn’t a lot out there. After I recently read another biography about Sally Rand and Faith Bacon, I was ravenous for more information about them as well as other dancers and showgirls. There simply isn’t much information to be found. To turn up all this fascinating information is just phenomenal – and I hung on every word. When you read this book (and I certainly hope you do), be sure to go slowly and enjoy each step. This book is a journey and journeys aren’t meant to be rushed through, they’re meant to be savored.
Last but certainly not least… Sally. Make that SALLY. She was intelligent, beautiful, complex, creative, brave, SASSY, and bold. Reading about her life was a joy and I plan to reread the book (after my daughter reads it) this summer. Sally’s life (as told beautifully and thoroughly through this book) would make a phenomenal movie – I can’t tell you how much I’d love for that to happen! Getting to know Sally better while walking along with the author through her colorful life has made me a huge Sally Rand fan (and an author can’t really ask for more than that).

I truly hope you’ll grab a copy of Barefoot to the Chin: The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand right away. I’m so anxious for others to get to know this wonderfully entertaining woman. She’ll make you laugh, make you gasp, and make you cry. One thing is for certain – you won’t forget her.

Sally Rand was once named the most beautiful girl in America by Cecil B. DeMille!

See Sally Rand Fan Dancing at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair!

Forever Lucy: A Must Have for Lucille Ball Fans and Collectors

January 24, 2019 By Joi

Being the obsessive Lucille Ball fan that I am, I add to my Lucille Ball Collection regularly. I recently added another magazine to the collection, Forever Lucy.

Everything about it is perfectly wonderful… just like Lucille, herself.

I’m actually wishing I’d grabbed two – one for reading cover to cover multiple times and one for the pictures, alone. Many are full-size and would be absolutely gorgeous framed. I do this often with calendars and the gorgeous pictures in Forever Lucy would be just as stunning.

I told you I was obsessive. I didn’t lie.

I love that the book (seems far too elaborate to refer to it as a magazine) focuses on all of the many facets of what made Lucille Ball… well… Lucille Ball.

Those of us who are fans and collectors of this amazing actress run into the same frustrating thing time and time again – publications that only want to focus on Lucy Ricardo and the phenomenal I Love Lucy. Don’t get me wrong, I love the character and show as much as anyone and more than most. However, to even hint that one sitcom defines this woman lies somewhere between an oversight and a sin against humanity!

She was intelligent, beautiful, incredibly bold, fashionable, loving, AND funny. She was, as they say, the total package and this book celebrates the total package the way it should be celebrated.

There are wonderful candids, gorgeous glamour shots, scenes from movies as well as television, Lucille Ball quotes, and articles you’ll find yourself lost in.

Basically, if I had put together a bookazine (there, I’ll compromise), this is exactly the one I would have put together, myself. Big, glorious pictures (some that even I have never seen), fascinating facts and quotes, and so much more.

And, yes, thankfully, there is plenty in here about the greatest sitcom ever made…. I Love Lucy.

If you can’t find Forever Lucy in your favorite store, Amazon is here for you. Click the link for more information. This is a must, must, MUST have.