A brief biography of The Son of Kong star Helen Mack centered around her breakthrough role in RKO’s Sweepings earlier in 1933. With coverage of Mack as child star and explanation of how she reentered the movies in 1931.
Movie Star Biographies
Charles Laughton – A Biography of His Career on Film and Stage
An extensive look at the career of Charles Laughton on film and stage, illustrated with vintage movie cards and collectibles. Star of The Private Life of Henry VIII …

Helen Twelvetrees – Biography of a Tragic Pre-Code Beauty & Talent
A biography of movie star Helen Twelvetrees, 1907-1958. Star of films such as Her Man (1930), Millie (1931), Young Bride, State’s Attorney (both 1932), and Unmarried (1939). Settle in for a 5,000-word biography before clicking over to the separate “Films of Helen Twelvetrees” post.

Robert McWade – Brief Biography of the Grouchy Character Actor
A brief look at the career of 1930s character actor Robert McWade including images of him in some of his more famous movies. Son of a stage legend, he managed to upstage his father at the very end.

Warner Baxter – A Brief Biography
A biography of Warner Baxter who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1930 for his performance as The Cisco Kid in In Old Arizona. Most fondly remembered today as Broadway producer Julian Marsh in 42nd Street.

John Boles, Sinatra of the 30s and Elvis Presley of the Stone Age
John Boles appeared in Universal’s Frankenstein, three Shirley Temple films, and co-starred with many of Hollywood’s most beloved leading ladies. Do you remember him?
Movie Reviews & Articles

Night World (1932) Starring Mae Clarke, Lew Ayres and Boris Karloff
A look at Universal’s rollicking 58-minute movie set inside a speakeasy run by Boris Karloff with a Busby Berkeley choreographed dance to boot. Mae Clarke and Lew Ayres star as the love interests while Clarence Muse and general ambiance steal the show.

Red-Headed Woman (1932) Reveals New Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow lobbies for Red-Headed Woman and emerges as one of MGM’s top stars. Background notes on the film accompany a look at this pre-Code classic adapted from a Katharine Brush novel. The movie also stars Chester Morris, Una Merkel, and Leila Hyams. Directed by Jack Conway.

Are These Our Children? (1931) Starring Eric Linden and Arline Judge
Wild RKO pre-Code gem Are These Our Children? (1931) examines Prohibition-era youth gone wild. Includes brief biography of star Eric Linden. Also co-star Arline Judge.

MGM’s Hardy Family Series #7 – Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939)
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) presents a less carefree Andy when he falls in love with his dramatics teacher played by former cellist Helen Gilbert. Starring Mickey Rooney and directed by W.S. “Woody” Van Dyke rather than series regular George B. Seitz.

Stablemates (1938) – MGM Rides Seabiscuit to Hit with Beery and Rooney
MGM’s horse racing weepie Stablemates starring Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney released just three weeks before Seabiscuit’s match race vs. War Admiral. A look at time, circumstances and film.

The Wet Parade (1932) Dramatizes the Evils of Liquor … and Prohibition
The Wet Parade (1932) from MGM takes a stand against the evils of both liquor and Prohibition towards the tail end of the Prohibition era. Starring Walter Huston, Lewis Stone, Robert Young, Dorothy Jordan, Neil Hamilton, Jimmy Durante and Myrna Loy.