For the 8th time, “Radio Waves Over Hollywood” will airing, but unfortunately the steam is down.
I had topics planned, but I’d rather save those until I have my usual listeners who can listen online. Instead of the scheduled old movie discussion, I will be doing another musical show.
For those who live on Winthrop’s campus, you can still listen on Channel 99.
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page and Radio Waves Over Hollywood Facebook page.
We all have bad days sometimes. (Bette Davis in “The Letter”)
Garbo in “As You Desire Me” (1932)
Greta Garbo mood: Sometimes I get down, sad and just want to be alone. This is what I call my “Greta Garbo mood.” Garbo’s character Grusinskaya in “Grand Hotel” (1932) says, “I want to be left alone. I think I have never felt so tired in my life.” I sometimes get in this same mood the reclusive ballerina in the movie does . I want to just run away lock myself in my room and be alone. Garbo has this same attitude in her personal life. Not many people were able to get close to the very private Garbo, and those who did had to tread lightly.
Doris Day
Doris Day mood: Don’t think that I am always angry or down in the dumps. Sometimes I feel very sunny and happy, so much that I sing while I clean my room or shower. This is what I call my sunny, girl next door “Doris Day mood.” Sometimes if I am a particularly good mood, I wish I had a ukulele and could skip around campus like Doris Day does in “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies.” Doris Day almost personified happiness and joy just with her stage name, roles and bright, cheery songs. Though her personal life may not have been so happy, her films put a smile on movie-goers faces.
Bette Davis/Joan Crawford mood: We can all get in vindictive, revenge seeking moods. This is what I call the “Bette Davis or Joan Crawford mood.” Both of these ladies have bad off-screen reputations (which I think is poppy cock, but I’ll discuss that in another post). I’m referring to the on- screen personas of Crawford and Davis. Who can forget Bette Davis walking down the stairs and shooting her lover at the beginning of “The Letter“? Remember when Joan Crawford as Crystal Allen gets the last juicy word in “The Women“? When I’m angry about something, I just imagine what Bette or Joan would do to someone and take on their same attitude.
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Hollywood in the 1940s employeed a pleathora of attractive men: Van Johnson, Clark Gable, John Hodiak, James Stewart, John Wayne…
The list could continue for hours, but who are the two men that stand on top of the whole stack of them?
Robert Taylor and Tyrone Power
Famous for their good looks, who is more attractive: Tyrone Power or Robert Taylor
In April 2010 when Robert Taylor was the TCM Star of the Month, Robert Osborne, Turner Classic Movies’ prime time host, said the MGM star was dubbed the most attractive star in Hollywood. His only competition was Tyrone Power of Twentieth Century Fox studio.
Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor emerged as a young and handsome actor in the mid-1930s in movies like “Broadway Melody Of 1936” (1935) and “Camille” (1936). With his slicked back black hair, attractive smile and pleasing disposition, he left many women swooning and his male counterparts seething, Robert Osborne said. Taylor’s career was successful from the start and was in top notch films until the mid-1950s.
On the other side of the spectrum, Tyrone Power was signed to 20th Century Fox in 1936 as their answer to MGM’s Robert Taylor. Power’s career didn’t launch as quickly as Taylor’s, acting in small roles in a bit part in “Flirtation Walk” (1934). “Marie Antoinette” (1938) as Norma Shearer’s lover. His career launched when he was paired with Alice Faye and Don Ameche in both “In Old Chicago” (1937) and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (1938).
Interestingly enough, after both being hired as the pretty boys of the studios, their careers and lives were very similar.
Tyrone Power
Both men struggled with only being seen as a pretty face. Robert Taylor took on “manlier” roles like “Valley of the Kings” (1954) and “The Law and Jake Wade” (1958) that offered rougher, meaner characters. Sadly, I have to plead ignorance when it comes to Tyrone Power’s career. However, from looking at his film list and reading about his career, it looks like his peak was in the 1940s.
In the 1950s, Tyrone was unhappy with the roles he was getting and turned to stage work. Probably his best role in the 1950s was his last role, “Witness For The Prosecution“(1957) with Charles Laughton.
Both men were married to actresses (Power-Annabelle, Tayor- Barbara Stanwyck) and also had several love affairs. One affair in particular was with one glamorous actress: Lana Turner. Turner called Power the love of her life, according to her book LANA: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies. However, though Lana Turner successfully seduced Taylor during the filming of “Johnny Eager” (1941), she told her best friend Ava Gardner that Robert Taylor was a lover you “shouldn’t waste your mouth on.”
Lana Turner and Tyrone Power
Later in life, careers and looks took turns for the worse for the two men. Neither Robert Taylor or Tyrone Power aged very well, and both were not recieving quality roles. Robert Taylor was one of the actors who stayed until MGM studio’s fall in the early 1960s even though his roles grew increasingly worse, according to Esther Williams in her autobiography “The Million Dollar Mermaid.”
Tyrone Power died at the young age of 44 in 1958 due to aheart attack. Eleven years later, Robert Taylor died in 1969 at a similarly young age of 57 of lung cancer. Ronald Reagan and Robert Taylor were close friends, after the death of Taylor, Reagan was anti-smoking.
It’s funny how two attractive actors lived such seemingly parallel lives. But it all boils down to one question:
Which one was more attractive?
Which one was the most handsome man in Hollywood during the 1940s?
I know my answer. What’s yours?
My dream boat
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For the 6th time, “Radio Waves Over Hollywood” will be streaming live Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Basil Rathbone on the radio
Topics for Oct. 7:
-State and county fairs in the movies
-Ronald Reagan-a good actor, skewed by late night television
-Learning history from the movies
-Actors who look similar
-Fashion in the movies
So be sure to listen at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. live stream on www.winrfm.com (go to Listen Live) or the old WINR website.
call in at 803-323-2122, whether you know me or not, to contribute to the discussion. I would love to hear from you!
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page and Radio Waves Over Hollywood Facebook page.
Greer Garson in the 1940s
For the 5th time, “Radio Waves Over Hollywood” will be streaming live Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topics for Sept. 30:
-Movie fan pet peeves
-Mistreatment of actors in silent films
-Similar movies that aren’t remakes
-Books made into movies
“Radio Waves” was going to have a guest this week to debate new movies vs. old movies, but it had to be scheduled. Sorry for the inconvenience, folks.
So be sure to listen at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. live stream on www.winrfm.com (go to Listen Live) or the old WINR website.
call in at 803-323-2122, whether you know me or not, to contribute to the discussion. I would love to hear from you!
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page and Radio Waves Over Hollywood Facebook page.
Do you ever watch a movie and think, “Man, those actresses could be sisters.” or “It’s hard to tell those two men apart because they look so similar.” These actors could maybe even switch places just like Billy and Bobby Mauch did in “The Prince and the Pauper” (1937).
Younger movie viewers of today may say that all old actors all look the same. This isn’t true of course, but there are some that certainly look very similar. This is a result of being groomed by movie studios to have glamour and charm.
Actors and actresses also are given names that sound similar and can cause confusion.
Here is a list of actors who look similar and have confusingly similar names.
Look-a-likes:
Joan Leslie, Joyce Reynolds, Teresa Wright
Joan Leslie, Joyce Reynolds, Teresa Wright
-Joyce Reynolds emerged in the 1940s in the movie “Janie” with a clean Joan Leslie appearance and a squeaky Teresa Wright voice. Warner Brothers must have thought that Joan and Joyce looked similar as well, since Joan Leslie played Janie in the sequel to “Janie”: “Janie Gets Married.”
Vera Miles, Vera-Ellen, Mitzi Gaynor
Vera-Ellen, Vera Miles, Mitzi Gaynor
– I think the thing that is funniest is that two of the women have the same first name. I can tell the difference between them, but you have to admit they all look very similar. All three women are very thin, blonde and rather tan. Vera Miles had one of her first acting roles on the TV show “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and looked very similar to Vera-Ellen because she was thinner than I had ever seen her. However, all three women had different careers.
Vera Miles stared mostly in dramatic roles, and occasionally in bit parts on TV (like a romantic interest for Fred MacMurray on “My Three Sons“) . After Grace Kelly, she was Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite actress, according to IMDB. Unfortunately, she had to turn down roles because she was pregnant. Miles is still living.
Vera-Ellen was a ballet dancer and was in several musicals. In earlier movies like “On the Town,” Vera was thin, but looked healthy. In later movies, like “White Christmas,” she was almost dangerously thin, because she was anorexic. She had the smallest waist in Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s and suffered from early aging because of anorexia ,according to IMDB, so you will notice that she wears turtle necks to cover it. After she retired she had severe arthritis and was practically a recluse, dying in 1981.
Mitzi Gaynor is best known for her role in movie musicals like “South Pacific.” Though she didn’t have a tremendous career, she was very successful with her comedic, musical variety TV specials in the 1960s and 1970s. Currently, Mitzi is performing a one woman show. 0
Anne Shirley and Olivia de Havilland
Anne Shirley and Olivia de Havilland
-Anne Shirley never had the same star power or acting skills as Olivia de Havilland, but you can’t deny their similar appearance. Particularly the way Anne Shirley looks in “The Devil & Daniel Webster.” The two starred together in the irritating comedy “Government Girl” (a movie that de Havilland hated and had to make because of contractual agreements. She purposefully acted ridiculous in the movie).
John Carroll and James Craig
John Carroll and James Craig
– Both men played small romantic roles in the 1940s when most of the lead actors like Clark Gable and Robert Taylor were fighting in World War II. Carroll starred with Esther Williams in “Fiesta ” (1947) and “Flying Tigers” (1942) with John Wayne. Craig was in several “feel good” movies in the 1940s like “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes” (1945) with Margaret O’Brien and “The Human Comedy” (1943) with Fay Bainter.
Joan Blondell and Ann Sothern
Joan Blondell and Ann Sothern
-In the 1930s, Joan Blondell had a curvy, sassy look of her own; pretty but also comedic. In the 1940s, Blondell was a bit more curvy and switched from the tight 1930s hair styles to long and wavy. Her 1940s look was similar to Ann Sothern, who also was a bit curvy. Both actresses can be found in light comedic roles.
Names that confuse:
-Reginald Gardner, Reginald Owen, Reginald Denny (I’m still not sure which is which sometimes)
-Eleanor Parker and Eleanor Powell
-Margaret Sullivan and Maureen O’Sullivan
-Connie Stevens and Stella Stevens
What actors do you confuse? What names can you not remember? Let me know!
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page and Radio Waves Over Hollywood Facebook page for “Comet’s” radio show.
Cecil B. DeMille as the host of Lux Theater
For the 4th time, “Comet Over Hollywood” will be streaming live Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topics for Sept. 23:
-Pin-up actresses (with special mystery guest)
-Weddings in movies
-Revealing of my Halloween costume
-And more…
So be sure to listen at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. live stream on www.winrfm.com (go to Listen Live) or the old WINR website.
call in at 803-323-2122, whether you know me or not, to contribute to the discussion. I would love to hear from you!
P.S.) A real, non-radio related blog post is in the works so don’t be discouraged!
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page and Radio Waves Over Hollywood Facebook page.
Host of Lux Radio Theater, Cecil B. Demille with Fred MacMurray, Bette Davis and Mae Robson
For the 3rd time, “Comet Over Hollywood” will be streaming live Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topics for Sept. 16:
-Movies that make me cry
-Silent movies talk
-How I became a crazy movie fan
-And more…
So be sure to listen at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. live stream on www.winrfm.com (go to Listen Live) or the old WINR website.
call in at 803-323-2122, whether you know me or not, to contribute to the discussion. I would love to hear from you!
P.S.) A real, non-radio related blog post is in the works so don’t be discouraged!
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page for the latest updates.
Joel McCrea and Claudette Colbert performing "Hand Across the Table" in 1937 on Lux Radio Theater.
Once again, “Comet Over Hollywood” will be streaming live Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Every week I will post reminding you to listen and updating you on the topics that will be discussed.
I am a Mass Communication-Journalism student at Winthrop University in South Carolina and have my own show on Winthrop’s radio station, WINR. The radio show is called “Radio Waves Over Hollywood” and is in connection with this blog. Each week I will talk about classic film related topics, go into more depth with some of my blog topics and play music from old movies.
A few topics for September 9:
-Hollywood heart-throbs (Men. Pin-up girls coming soon)
-Classic film in today’s pop culture
-Silent movies talk
-A couple new weekly segments
And more…
So be sure to listen at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. live stream on www.winrfm.com (go to Listen Live) or the old WINR website.
Also feel free to call in at 803-323-2122, whether you know me or not, to contribute to the discussion. I would love to hear from you!
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page for the latest updates.
Joan Crawford on Lux Radio Theater
‘Comet Over Hollywood’ is going to be streaming live on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Some of you may know that I am a Mass Communication-Journalism student at Winthrop University in South Carolina. All students at Winthrop have the opportunity to apply to have a show with Winthop’s radio station, WINR. I wanted a radio show to help broaden my journalism skills and get an opportunity to talk more about my favorite topic, classic films.
Starting this week until the end of the semester in December, I have a radio show called “Radio Waves Over Hollywood” which will be linked to my blog. I will discuss old movies along with playing songs from old films and musicals, particularly from my six disc “That’s Entertainment” boxset.
I also hope to bring in friends and Winthrop students who are fellow classic film enthusiasts that could discuss films with me. You already can look foward to a debate I have lined up: Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin.
What’s great about the radio show is that you can listen online and get a more personal feel about my movie interests rather than just reading my rants. You can leave comments on the blog that I can answer on air or you can even call and talk to me personally on the air at 803-323-2122!
I plan to post every Wednesday or Thursday and tell you a few of the planned topics for the evening.
A few topics for September 2:
-College in the movies
-Discussion of Latin culture in films
-Remakes vs. Original
I also will be playing music and feel free to call in (803-323-2122) and give your opinion about anything I say.
So tune in on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. live stream on www.winrfm.com (go to Listen Live. If it doesn’t work, you may need to download something to trouble shoot or you can go to the old WINR website) or Channel 99 if you live on campus.
Check out the Comet Over Hollywood Facebook page for the latest updates.
Comet Over Hollywood 