LEGO Log Cabin: Going Up North!

Going up north for some vacation. Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Source: Shop at LEGO.com

 

Too wintry to write! Minnesota needs a heater!

Jack Nicholson in “The Shining”

 

Celebrate with Jackie Cooper, Clark Gable, and others in “The Christmas Party” (1931)

How does child actor, Jackie Cooper, host a Christmas party for all his football buddies when his house is too small?

Well, with a handy connection to MGM and some sweet-talkin’ to Norma Shearer, Hollywood stars of the 1930’s come out to help celebrate in “The Christmas Party” (1931)!

You’ll see a young Clark Gable serving chow and chatter to the team.

Handsome Ramon Novarro is hailed on the fly to bring tea and napkins.

Santa visits the children in the form of comedian “The Schnoz” Jimmy Durante.

Lionel Barrymore makes the rounds with warm biscuits for all the “whippersnappers.”

Join MGM’s party to catch even more Hollywood stars celebrating Christmas with Jackie!

Source: Visit rlosangeleskings on YouTube for more Christmas videos.

 

Cary Grant behind the scenes in “Arsenic and Old Lace”

Cary Grant in “Arsenic and Old Lace”

Cary Grant getting ready for a little insanity on the set of the 1944 movie, “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

Source: Filmmaker IQ

 

The “1930 Motion Picture News Blue Book”

The “1930 Motion Picture News Blue Book” is a very cool, old Hollywood reference book! It boasts, “The Authoritative Who’s Who of Filmdom.” And, it is!

Published back in 1930 for the movie industry, this little “Blue Book” includes thousands of small biographies on every known actor, director, editor, writer, etc. during that time; and, in which films they worked. 

Here are a few examples of the ads spotted throughout this movie-stuffed book: Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons, Harry Langdon, and Harold Lloyd!

As a short subject researcher, these types of reference books are gems. I feel lucky to own it! If you are looking for a copy, just Google it. A few copies are being sold on various websites.

 

“Happiness is having your own library card!”

Sally from the Peanuts comic strip.

Sally from the Peanuts comic strip gang says it so well… “Happiness is having your own library card!” I only wish all my “cards” let me shop for free stuff!

Source: Charles M. Schulz Museum

 

“A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio” (Warner Brothers, 1935)

Come with me and sneak a peak of some Hollywood stars going about their day. On the way, we’ll visit some major studios, and then get a chance to go behind the scenes to learn how movie equipment of its day captured the sights and sounds of the movies. So, let’s go via a Warner Brothers short film called, A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio (1935).

First, we’ll get a quick look at some major studios of the mid 1930’s. Up high with some great aerial shots, we can see Fox, RKO, Warner Brothers, Paramount, MGM, and Universal!

Stopping at Warner Brothers, we spot the great choreographer Busby Berkeley and dance director Bobby Connolly directing some hard-working chorus girls!

Next, we catch comedic actor Hugh Herbert putting on his make-up. “A little powder, a little paint, make little Hughie look what he ain’t!”

Let’s wave to heartthrob Rudy Vallee as he leaves Warner Brothers studio!

Watch out as Hollywood dogs take their owners for a jaunt: three Scottish Terriers enjoy Jean Muir and Warren William while Alice White’s sheepdog begs to be her lapdog.

Don’t throw in the towel yet; watch actor/boxer Pat O’Brien and actress/manager Ann Dvorak as Pat spars with former welterweight champion Jackie Fields.

Hold on a minute as “regular guy” James Cagney gets a light for his cigarette.

Let’s be a bit quiet here while Dolores del Rio poses for a still photographer.

Now, back to Hugh Herbert as he hams it up in a scene with a Hollywood harem!

On the last bit of the tour, Hugh runs through his scene while we visit all the amazing film equipment used for creating a Hollywood movie. From the microphone, to the disk recording machine, to the editing and printing rooms, to the movieola, and finally to the projection room to watch Hugh’s completed scene.

See ya on the next tour!

Thanks to Victoria Mentz for making this short subject available.

 

“Dr. Jekyll – Loved by beautiful women, sought by society. Mr. Hyde – fiend and criminal.”

Fredric March in Paramount’s 1931 “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

Beware, people of London! 

Fredric March mesmerizes us as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a page from “Paramount’s 20th Birthday Jubilee Announcements of 1931.” A perfect Oscar-winning monster movie to watch this Halloween. Complete with marvelous make-up transitions and fearful co-stars, Miriam Hopkins and Rose Hobart. 

Did you know that this was the only version in which Jekyll’s name is pronounced correctly as “Jee-kall”? More trivia revealed on IMDb’s site.

Source: Media History Digital Library. Artist unknown.

 

The family that smiles together stays together? NOT!

Gregory Peck, Harvey Stephens, Lee Remick in “The Omen”

The Omen, 1976, with Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and Harvey Stephens. One of the scariest movies I saw at that time! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Source: Collider.com 

 

“The Dog-Watch” with “The It Girl,” Clara Bow!

Clara Bow, dog

Clara and canine wait for Santa Claus from the Motion Picture Classic magazine, January 1929 edition.

Clara Bow appeared in a handful of silent and talkie short subjects from the 20’s to the 40’s: Screen Snapshots Series, etc. Visit IMDb for select titles under the “Self” section located after her main feature films.

Source: Media History Digital Library