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

August 11, 2023 By Joi

Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Desmond Wilson on Sanford and Son

Redd Foxx, Lena Horne, and Demond Wilson

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

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

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

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

Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson

Filed Under: Classic TV, Demond Wilson, Lena Horne, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Classic TV, Demond Wilson, Lena Horne, Redd Foxx

The Wonderful Adam West was BOTD in 1928

September 19, 2022 By Joi

Adam West as Batman Behind the Scenes

Adam West as Batman

One of the most lovable and iconic television stars ever, Adam West, was BOTD in 1928 in Walla Walla Washington. While there are many things to love about this talented actor, one of the things I love most is the fact that he embraced his famous role and the series and movies that came with it. No pretentious “I deserved better” attitude or belittling Batman’s fanbase or anything of the kind.

Major respect for him and the way he treated his fans and the show that made him a household name.

You can find the Batman Television Series on DVD (Amazon link) or watch each season’s episodes of Batman on Prime Video..

Adam West, Eartha Kitt, and Cesar Romero behind the scenes of Batman

Adam West, Eartha Kitt, and Cesar Romero 

Filed Under: Adam West, Behind the Scenes Pictures, Cesar Romero, Classic TV, Eartha Kitt Tagged With: Adam West, BOTD, Cesar Romero, Classic TV, Eartha Kitt

Happy Birthday to Pat Priest (Marilyn on The Munsters)!

August 15, 2022 By Joi

Butch Patrick, Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, and Pat Priest  in The Munsters

Butch Patrick, Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, and Pat Priest 

Happy birthday to the beautiful Pat Priest – best known as the lovable Marilyn on The Munsters. But, unless they’ve seen the first 15 episodes of the series, a lot of people don’t realize she was actually the second actress to play Marilyn.

Beverley Owen was the first Marilyn (for the 1st 15 episodes).

In addition to portraying Marilyn to the hilt, Pat Priest also made a lot of guest-appearances on television including Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mannix, and Bewitched.

You can watch The Munsters on Prime Video or buy the complete series on dvd (Amazon link). After shopping for several other favorites on dvd, I was joyfully surprised by how inexpensive The Munsters is! It would make a really fun gift idea for anyone who loves classic television.


Filed Under: Al Lewis, BOTD, Butch Patrick, Fred Gwynne, Pat Priest, Yvonne De Carlo Tagged With: Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Classic TV, Fred Gwynne, Pat Priest, The Munsters, Yvonne De Carlo

Barbara Hale: Born on this Day in 1922!

April 18, 2022 By Joi

Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr in Perry Mason

Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr in Perry Mason

One of my favorites, Barbara Hale, was born on this day in 1922 in DeKalb, Illinois. While she is best-known (and loved) as Della Street from Perry Mason, Barbara Hale also made a great number of films, many of which were Westerns (which means I’m certainly familiar with her filmography!).

The most recent role I enjoyed her in was in A Lion is in the Streets (1953, directed by Raoul Walsh). The movie co-starred James Cagney, Jeanne Cagney, Anne Francis, Lon Chaney Jr, John McIntire, and Warner Anderson and was pretty good. However, make no mistake about it… Barbara Hale was (as was the case with quite a few of her movies) better than the film she was in.

Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean I don’t recommend watching this film (or any of the others). In fact, the opposite is true. I’d LOVE for more people to see this remarkable actress in her film roles. She’ll blow you away. You won’t believe the number of times she steals scenes right out from under movie legends.

Truth is, she kind of made a habit of it!

The photos in this post are of her and the wonderful Raymond Burr in the roles they made famous: Perry Mason and Della Street. The extraordinary television series ran for 9 seasons, from 1957–1966. There were also many “Made for TV” Perry Mason movies which were all out of this world.

Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr in Perry Mason

Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale

You can find Perry Mason on Prime Video (the series and movies) and, if you’re also a collector, the dvds are also available on Amazon (Amazon link).

You can also find the Complete Perry Mason Movie Collection (Amazon link) – the next purchase I, personally, plan to make!

Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr in Perry Mason

Barbara Hale and Raymond Burr

Filed Under: Barbara Hale, BOTD, Classic TV, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Barbara Hale, BOTD, Classic TV, Perry Mason, Raymond Burr

Picture of the Day is Back, Starting Today… May as Well Start Back with a Bang!

January 7, 2022 By Joi

 Cesar Romero and Eartha Kitt

Cesar Romero and Eartha Kitt

Last week I gave a list of my New Years Resolutions for Hollywood Yesterday…

A quick review:

  • move old Hollywood and classic tv biography and reference book reviews
  • more old movie reviews
  • more classic television pictures and posts
  • more collectibles…

I also kind of flirted with the idea of changing Picture of the Day to Picture of the Week, but (after thinking about it a while), I’ve decided to stick with Picture of the Day and simply add more content WITH the pictures. I already went back and edited that nonsense out of the Resolutions post!

What was I thinking anyway….. LESS pictures of old Hollywood and classic TV? Ridiculous idea!

So, long story short (I know, too late for that), Picture of the Day starts back today and we’re doing it with a BANG… the wonderful Cesar Romero and the wonderful Eartha Kitt.

You can find the Batman Television Series on DVD (Amazon link) or watch each season’s episodes of Batman on Prime Video..

The Complete Series of Batman on DVD:


Batman: The Complete Series (Amazon link)

Filed Under: Cesar Romero, Classic TV, Eartha Kitt Tagged With: Batman TV Series, Cesar Romero, Classic TV, Eartha Kitt

Adorable Promotional Photo for Bewitched

November 22, 2021 By Joi

Bewitched Season Five Promo Shot

Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, and Erin Murphy

The adorable Bewitched publicity photo above is, I believe, a promo shot for season five. Don’t hold me to that or anything, but judging by Erin Murphy’s age, here, I’m almost certain it was season five.

Did you grow up watching this wonderful sitcom? I certainly did – heck, who am I kidding – I still watch it regularly! When you’ve seen as many episodes (over and over and over…) as I have, the characters almost seem like family.

The Complete Series of Bewitched on DVD (Amazon link) is available for as cheap as I’ve ever seen it right now. THIS is absolutely the time to grab the magic!


Filed Under: Classic TV, Dick York, Elizabeth Montgomery, Erin Murphy, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Bewitched, Classic TV, Dick York, Elizabeth Montgomery, Erin Murphy

The Wild Wild West: My Newest Wild Wild Obsession…

May 23, 2020 By Joi

Ross Martin and Robert Conrad

Ross Martin and Robert Conrad: The Wild Wild West

Today’s Picture of the Day is a publicity photo for The Wild Wild West with Ross Martin and Robert Conrad. As my confession in the post’s title admits, I am obsessed with this tv series. Oddly enough – in spite of growing up with a father who LIVED for Westerns, I’d never seen a single episode until recently.

I guess my dad couldn’t fit it in with Gunsmoke, western movies, Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, and The Big Valley. Heck, a fella only has so many hours in the day, right?!

My husband introduced me to The Wild Wild West recently and we’ve been plowing through the episodes – thanks to a great channel, FETV, that shows a lot of great classic television shows.

The Wild Wild West ran for four seasons from 1965-1969.

You can find the complete series on dvd on Amazon (See: The Wild Wild West) – this is one extra special series. I’m so sorry my dad missed it!

Filed Under: Classic TV, Picture of the Day, Robert Conrad, Ross Martin Tagged With: Classic TV, Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, The Wild Wild West, Westerns

Full Episode of The Lucy Show: Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower

November 9, 2019 By Joi

The Lucy Show

Like any Lucille Ball fanatic, I love every single series the legendary actress made – but, my favorite Lucille Ball post I Love Lucy series is The Lucy Show. I think the reason may be that, for me anyway, it seems like a wonderful continuation of I Love Lucy. Sure, there are added characters and (unfortunately) missing characters, but Lucy and Viv seem so much Like Lucy and Ethel to me that it has an extra special place in my heart.

The Lucy Show lasted six seasons, from 1962–1968. Ironically, the series was originally intended to air for just one season. Desilu (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s studio), was losing money after the glory days of I Love Lucy. He persuaded her to return to series television to help the studio out of its rut. Lucille agreed to do the show under three conditions:

  1. It aired on Monday nights as I Love Lucy had done.
  2. She had her beloved co-star Vivian Vance on board.
  3. The I Love Lucy writers were also on board.

The lady wasn’t just incredibly talented, she was incredibly smart. The arrangement she laid out worked.

You can find the complete Series of The Lucy Show on Amazon for a lot less than it’s worth. I’d pay over twice that much… but let’s not tell Amazon that.

Filed Under: Classic TV, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance Tagged With: Classic TV, Lucille Ball, The Lucy Show, Vivian Vance

Bea Benaderet: “Pearl” of an Actress (Sorry, I Couldn’t Resist)

December 4, 2012 By Joi

Bea Benaderet

Bea Benaderet as Aunt Pearl

Is that a lovable face or what?! I just might be the biggest fan of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971) in the world.  How obsessed? I could sit and watch the first episode to the last episode, back to back, and never move a muscle.

Heck, I might not even blink.

For whatever reasons, The Beverly Hillbillies simply doesn’t get the credit and attention it so richly deserves.  The accolades that are, deservedly mind you, heaped on The Andy Griffith Show and I Love Lucy should – in all fairness – be heaped upon The Beverly Hillbillies as well.

The cast of The Beverly Hillbillies is as fine a cast that’s ever been assembled.  I’d put Irene Ryan’s portrayal of Granny (Daisy Moses) up against anyone.  Same goes for the rest of the cast – from Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett), Donna Douglas (Elly Mae), Bea Benaderet (Aunt Pearl) and Max Baer Jr (Jethro and, of course, Jethrine… or would that be Jethrene?)  to Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale) and Nancy Kulp (Jane Hathaway).

My only complaint EVER about The Beverly Hillbillies was the fact that Bea Benaderet’s wonderful Aunt Pearl wasn’t on more often.  Aunt Pearl is one of the most deliciously entertaining characters of all time and Bea Benaderet was obviously BORN to bring her to life. If I were to list my favorite classic television characters of all time, Pearl Bodine would make the cut and Bea Benaderet gets all the credit.

Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet

Here are a few things about this wonderfully talented actress you may not have known:

  • Bea Benaderet (1906-1968) was originally considered for the role of Granny.
  • When Bea saw Irene Ryan at the audition, she told producer/creator Paul Henning, “There’s your Granny!“
  • She was one of the actresses to lend her voice to Betty Rubble on The Flintstones.
  • She also voiced many, many other animated characters from The Jetsons to The Bugs Bunny Show and from Mr. Magoo to Top Cat.
  • In spite of her straight-laced image, word is that Bea Benaderet could out-cuss a sailor! Apparently she had quite the mouth on her and almost always had her co-stars in stitches.
  • Bea is also well known for her role as Kate Bradley on Green Acres and its spinoff Petticoat Junction.
  • Before moving to television, she had a great career in radio with shows such as “Fibber McGee and Molly,” “My Favorite Husband” (with Lucille Ball), and the “Jack Benny Show.”
  • Lucille Ball’s original choice for Ethyl on I Love Lucy was Bea Benaderet. However, Bea couldn’t accept the offer because of her role as Blanche Morton in “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” (1950).

Filed Under: Bea Benaderet, Classic TV, Picture of the Day, The Beverly Hillbillies Tagged With: Bea Benaderet, Classic Televicion, Classic TV, Did You Know, Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies

Getting to Know Jay Novello

May 19, 2008 By Joi

Jay Novello

You may not recognize the name Jay Novello, but I’m certain you recognize his very expressive face – from more places than you may realize.

This delightful character actor was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 1904 to Italian parents – explaining why he learned to speak Italian before English.  He died in 1982 from lung cancer, but we’re here to keep memories alive, and Jay Novello has provided us with some great material to draw from!

He has a very impressive filmography resume – having worked in just about every genre imaginable. He even played a Japanese spy in Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (1943).  He is, however, best known for his work on television. Many people remember him as the scheming Mayor Lugato in “McHale’s Navy” (1962). Since I’ve never seen a single episode of McHale’s Navy, I’m not at all familiar with his work on the show. He did, however, appear on two series that I haven’t gone a day without watching since I can’t remember when: I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith.

He had several very memorable roles on I Love Lucy:

“Mario” in the episode titled Visitor from Italy (1956)
“Mr. Beecher” in the episode titled The Sublease (1954) – He was hilarious as the extremely nervous tenant who Lucy tries to scare off after Fred and Ethel Mertz put a classified in the paper.
Mr. Merriweather in the episode titled The Seance (1951) – As a highly strung man trying to contact “Tillie” on the other side.

He also left his mark on Andy Griffith:

Jay Novello showed more of his straight man side to the one and only Don Knotts in two classic episodes of Andy Griffith. In Guest of Honor, He played a thief who tricked Barney into thinking he was a hotel detective. He even convinced Barney that the actual hotel detective was the crook.  In Otis Sues the County, he played the sleazy attorney, Neil Bentley.

You may also recognize him from Make Room for Daddy (1958), The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (as Carlos De La Marca in 2 episodes, 1957-1958), Zorro (5 episodes, 1958), The Donna Reed Show (1960), Wagon Train (1960), The Lucy Show (1962), Perry Mason (1962), The Untouchables (Gino Romaldi, 1963), My Three Sons (Vincenzo in an episode from 1966), Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. (2 episodes as Dr. Purdy, 1967-1969), Lassie (1968), Family Affair (3 episodes, 1969), Bonanza (2 episodes, 1965 and 1969), The Flying Nun (1969), Ironside (1971), The Mod Squad (2 episodes, 1969-1971), The Brady Bunch (as Mr. Martinelli in an episode from 1973), Kojak (1976), Chico and the Man (1976)…..

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to learn much about Jay Novello’s personal life.  His wife’s name was Paticia and they had one daughter, Yvonne.   One of my favorite ways to get a handle on someone is to read their quotes, but I haven’t been able to find even one.  I’m still on the hunt, though, so check back.

Mr. Novello may have something to say and you wouldn’t want to miss it!

Filed Under: Andy Griffith, Classic TV, I Love Lucy, Old Movies Tagged With: Andy Griffith, Classic TV, I Love Lucy, Jay Novello

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
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 positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

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

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

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

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

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Recent Posts

  • Ann Sheridan and George Raft, They Drive by Night
  • Stunning Ann Sheridan Canvas Poster on Amazon… Perfect Gift Idea (for Them or YOU!)
  • The Wonderful Ethel Barrymore was BOTD in 1879
  • Arlene Dahl: Beautiful Desert Legion (1953) Promotional Pictures
  • Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton, A Southern Yankee (1948)
  • Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson: One of Sanford and Son’s Best Episodes…
  • Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, The Misfits (1961)
  • Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable: On the Set of How to Marry a Millionaire

Movie Night, ANY Night…

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado
Have movie night ANY night with Prime Video on Amazon:  Prime Video (Amazon link)

Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!

Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

Wait. What did I just admit to?? 

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!

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

 

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
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

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…

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 (joitsigers@gmail.com).

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 (“Joy”)

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