Happy birthday to Boston Blackie, Chester Morris (1901-1970), with brief review of his film career, a quick film clip, plus movie cards and collectible images.
News & Notes
Articles gathered under this heading include Cliff's monthly previews of Turner Classic Movies programming, reviews of movie books and interviews with film book authors, and site-related announcements including collectibles sales and book announcements.
Coverage of The Stratton Story inside The Sporting News
Coverage of Monty Stratton’s accident as it happened inside the December 1, 1938 issue of The Sporting News, plus notes on 1949’s The Stratton Story and more.
Today in 1921 – Birth of Donna Reed
Donna Reed was born on this date in 1921. How do you remember her? Perfect wife or polite prostitute? This brief biography includes images of Donna Reed movie collectibles illustrating the text.
Today in 1907 – Variety Publishes First Movie Reviews
On this date in 1907 Variety Magazine published what are considered the first movie reviews. This article looks at two of those movies, reprints one of the reviews, includes a video of a piece from that same period, and more!
Today in 1954 – Joe DiMaggio Marries Marilyn Monroe
Looking at the anniversary of the Joe DiMaggio – Marilyn Monroe wedding from the collectors’ eye. With images of original wedding day press photos.
Happy 99th Birthday Luise Rainer
Celebrating the career of two time Oscar winner Luise Rainer through the eyes of TCM’s 2009 tribute to her on her 99th birthday. Movie cards illustrate.
Today in 1892 – Rubye de Remer is Born
Today’s Rubye de Remer’s birthday! Who’s that? Well, not a lot of info, but I’ve put together what I could plus an image of an early movie card picturing her.
This Date in 1894 – W.K.L. Dickson Receives Patent for Motion Picture Film
William Kennedy Laurie Dickson (1860-1935) filmed Fred Ott’s Sneeze on January 7, 1894 and it was copyrighted on January 9, 1894. The film was made to include a sequential arrangement of the still photos inside the March 24, 1894 issue of Harper’s Weekly.
Collect Vintage Newspapers with Auction Wally and Bill Smith
To paraphrase Bill Smith from his interview on the Auction Wally Show from earlier this evening, Vintage Newspapers is a collecting niche still ripe for expansion. Whether you be buyer or seller, collector or dealer, if you have a nose for what’s collectible you can still find some really wonderful deals online, and in the […]
Today in 1894 – Birth of Zasu Pitts
Screwball Zasu Pitts just may have given the greatest single performance in screen history back in 1924 as Trina in Erich Von Stroheim’s famously lost classic Greed.