Tracking Shirley Temple’s 1934 rise to prominence through five feature film appearances and newspapers from around the world. Pinpointing when the public discovered her and tracing her subsequent rise to superstardom through her appearances in the press.
Classic Movie History Project: 1931 – Stars Emerge
As part of the Classic Film History Project Blogathon a look at the brand new stars and popular film cycles that dominated Hollywood in 1931. Gangsters and newspapermen, horrors and fallen women abound. With list of major studio releases for 1931.
Five Star Final (1931) Starring Edward G. Robinson
Mervyn LeRoy’s Five Star Final (1931) stars Edward G. Robinson as the managing editor of a trashy New York newspaper that resurrects a 20-year-old murder case for circulation. A Warner Bros.-First National production adapted from the play by Louis Weitzenkorn. Also starring Marian Marsh, H.B. Warner, Frances Starr, Boris Karloff and Aline MacMahon.
Clear All Wires! (1933) – Journalism in Classic Film Blogathon
MGM’s Clear All Wires! (1933) finds foreign correspondent Lee Tracy butting heads with the Soviet secret police in Russia, 1932. Una Merkel and Benita Hume co-star.
Depression Era Contest for Free Theater Tickets
See The Lost Squadron free at the Paramount Theater in 1932–if you could figure out this contest. A peek at Depression era classifieds and old time prices in this preview of my coming post about The Lost Squadron.
Where They Were Then, Being a Where Are They Now Column from 1949
A look back at an April 1949 Bob Thomas column which answers the question of where many favorite former film stars where at that time. It’s Where Are They Now, 1949 style!
Tossing Darts at History to Discover Then as Now
I often write about film stars before they had their first big break, but possibly even more interesting is an examination of their history as seen from any one specific day in time. This essay attempts to explain my personal fascination with these random historical forays.
Movie Ads from Across America, Christmas 1912
Christmas Day, 1912. No blockbuster premieres, but here’s a look back at advertisements that show what was playing at movie houses across America that day.
Death Comes in Threes – Movie Star Passings of 1935
A look back to some screen deaths in threes from 1935 with additional thoughts on the general phenomena of celebrity deaths coming in threes.
Earle Williams in the Newspapers
Learning about Earle Williams from original newspaper articles between 1908-1931. Once the most popular movie star, Earle Williams faded in the 1920s. His story ends tragically in 1931, four years after his death.