Comments for OLD HOLLYWOOD IN COLOR

Comment on “The color goes kind of crazy.” by arlissarchives

arlissarchives — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:53:03 +0000

Well, Columbo wasn’t around long enough to leave much behind. He had a 15-minute radio show and I have found one broadcast from that series. Similar to Bing Crosby’s broadcasts at that time, circa 1934, Columbo sang but did not talk. I think we did right by Nelson Eddy on the current post re the MGM Party. The Arliss Archives has more material on Mr. Eddy, photos and broadcasts, but I’d like to hear from more people before posting more Mr. Eddy.

Comment on “The color goes kind of crazy.” by Anne.

Anne. — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:33:11 +0000

Love the bit on Russ Columbo, can we have more? What about more Nelson Eddy too.

Comment on Hollywood Party at MGM – 1937 Live! by Anne.

Anne. — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 20:28:35 +0000

What a wonderful site. Thank you so much.

Comment on Hollywood Party at MGM – 1937 Live! by arlissarchives

arlissarchives — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:49:25 +0000

Thanks. I’m planning two more similar posts devoted to Paramount and 20th Century-Fox stars respectively.

Comment on Hollywood Party at MGM – 1937 Live! by martinturnbull

martinturnbull — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:04:01 +0000

Wow! This is wonderful stuff! I’ve just reposted it on my FB page. I love listening to this sort of thing!

Comment on Hollywood Party at MGM – 1937 Live! by arlissarchives

arlissarchives — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:30:57 +0000

Answer to the question above: The melody heard at the end of the BALALAIKA promo is from THE ROGUE SONG (1930) and called “The White Dove,” music by Franz Lehar and lyrics by Clifford Grey. Different lyrics were written for its use in BALALAIKA and I’m not aware of the recycled song’s title.

Comment on Marlene Dietrich – Live in 1937! by Joseph (@MDlastgoddess)

Joseph (@MDlastgoddess) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:14:36 +0000

Now that you mention it, I remember reading about French Without Tears in Steven Bach’s Marlene Dietrich bio. It is indeed a surprise that DeMille was hyping that movie project (and without mentioning that Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was supposed to star in it as well–at least according to Bach), and I too could have sworn that Paramount dumped Dietrich by this time. After consulting Bach’s source notes, I saw that Paramount apparently fired Dietrich on Dec. 22, 1937–days after this program! On another note, that publicity about her citizenship was a bit off as well because she didn’t become an American citizen until June 9, 1939. At the end of the day, I guess the accuracy of promotion matters little because audiences can be as inattentive as the industry is fickle.

Comment on Marlene Dietrich – Live in 1937! by arlissarchives

arlissarchives — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 13:51:55 +0000

I was surprised by DeMille’s introduction and his reference to MD having Paramount but “French Without Tears” for her. I thought her relationship with the studio was over by then. But there was always a certain amount of press agentry on the show, especially when some former star was a guest and claimed to be to make another film. Of course nothing was heard about it again.

Comment on Marlene Dietrich – Live in 1937! by Joseph (@MDlastgoddess)

Joseph (@MDlastgoddess) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 08:06:38 +0000

I’ve always enjoyed Dietrich’s radio performances–especially her renditions of A Foreign Affair for NBC’s Screen Director’s Playhouse. In earlier performances like the one you’ve shared, I think she redeemed herself a bit for her more stilted movie roles (e.g., radio’s The Legionnaire and the Lady vs. the silver screen’s Morocco). Here in particular, Dietrich still sounds rather stiff, but she transitioned more smoothly from naive peasant to jaded urbanite by changing her tone far more competently than in the film version of The Song of Songs. When Dietrich performed for this program, she in fact was at the verge of a career nadir, having parted ways with Paramount and facing that “box office poison” publicity in May of the following year. Of course, she bounced back with Destry Rides Again in 1939.

Comment on April 1st is Lon Chaney’s Birthday – No Foolin’ by arlissarchives

arlissarchives — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 02:52:09 +0000

Thanks for doing the math. Alas, Lon only made it to 47 in this life – I wonder what he would stay if he knew we are still watching his films in the 21st century? Actually, I like to think he does know.