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

June 25, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Georgia Hale

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

 

Charlie Chaplin: Intimate Close-Ups by Georgia Hale

Filed Under: Charlie Chaplin, Georgia Hale Tagged With: book reviews, Charlie Chaplin, Georgia Hale, Silent Films, Silent Movies

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

June 17, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)

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)

Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)

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…

  1. 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??
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!

Guennie Reading Smile

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.

Filed Under: Charlie Chaplin, Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: book reviews, Charlie Chaplin, Old Hollywood Books

Movie Poster Books on Amazon… Very Fun Collectibles

May 15, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Maureen O'Hara Movie Poster Book
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…}

Maureen O'Hara Movie Poster Book

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…}

Maureen O'Hara Movie Poster Book

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….

Kangaroo Movie Poster

Filed Under: Maureen O'Hara, Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: book reviews, Maureen O'Hara, movie posters, Old Hollywood Book Reviews, Old Hollywood Books

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

May 7, 2019 By Joi 2 Comments

Barefoot to the Chin The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand by Jim Lowe with Bonnie Egan

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…}

Barefoot to the Chin The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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!?“
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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?!
  7. 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.
  8. 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!
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

Barefoot to the Chin The FANtastic Life of Sally Rand

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!

Filed Under: Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: book reviews, Sally Rand

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

January 24, 2019 By Joi 1 Comment

Forever Lucy Magazine

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.

Forever Lucy Magazine

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.

Forever Lucy Magazine

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.

Forever Lucy Magazine

Filed Under: I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Old Hollywood Book Reviews, Shop Tagged With: book reviews, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball collectors

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was sheer magic and I see no reason for the magic to ever die! Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my own favorites) here.

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Ross Martin and Robert Conrad

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

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  • George Sanders and Anne Baxter, All About Eve Promotional Picture
  • Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen: The Thomas Crown Affair
  • Maureen O’Hara: Malaga Promotional Photo
  • Faye Dunaway: Birthday Wishes for a VERY Beautiful and Talented Actress
  • Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, and Ann Miller: Behind the Scenes of Kiss Me Kate
  • Christmas in Connecticut: One of the Best Christmas Classics of All Time
  • Diana Rigg and George Lazenby: Behind the Scenes of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
  • John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, Rio Grande

Old Hollywood Movie Reviews

The Quiet Man is one of the most beautiful, entertaining, colorful, and perfect movies ever made. Two of my favorite stars (Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne) in one of my favorite movies? It doesn’t get much better than that!

More old movie reviews.

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times

Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You honor me with your presence and I hope you’ll return very soon and very often.

Stay positive. Stay happy. Stay you.

Meet: Mildred Davis

Mildred Davis

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!

Ava Gardner Posters

Ava Gardner Show Boat Publicity Photo

Ava Gardner Posters

Rita Hayworth Posters

Rita Hayworth, Gilda Promo Shot

Rita Hayworth Posters

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

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

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
More coming soon!

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Poster

Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

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…

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

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!

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me.

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi

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