Before she changed her name and rose to fame as an actress in the 1930s and ’40s, Myrna Williams was a shy dance student at Venice High School who posed for the art teacher’s lawn sculpture. (Christina House / For The Times / April 10, 2010)
A group of alumni and students unveil a bronze, and vandalism-resistant, re-creation of the famed lawn sculpture of alumna Myrna Loy before she rose to fame as a leading actress of the ’30s and ’40s.
By Tony Barboza
Los Angeles Times
April 11, 2010
Venice High School welcomed back some Old Hollywood royalty Saturday as hundreds gathered for the unveiling of a new statue of alumna and movie star Myrna Loy.
The bronze work is a re-creation of the beloved concrete sculpture of Loy that graced the front lawn of Venice High for more than seven decades but suffered years of corrosion and vandalism.
Students and alumni crowded around the veiled statue at noon Saturday as a contingent of the marching band and cheerleaders kicked off the celebration. Among the speakers was actor and Venice High graduate Beau Bridges, who as a boy appeared with Loy in the 1949 film “The Red Pony.”
Dixie Carter, an accomplished actress who gave strong, opinionated Southern women a good name in the television series “Designing Women” in the 1980s and 1990s, and later enjoyed success as a cabaret singer, died on Saturday in a Houston hospital. She was 70 and lived in Beverly Hills, Calif. Her death was announced by her husband, the actor Hal Holbrook, who said that the cause was complications of endometrial cancer.
In “Designing Women,” which ran for seven seasons on CBS, Ms. Carter’s character, Julia Sugarbaker, was the head of an four-woman interior design business in Atlanta and specialized in sarcasm. “If sex were fast food, there’d be an arch over your bed,” she once snapped at her sister Suzanne (played by Delta Burke). Yet when Julia went into a theatrical tirade, which was often, it usually was in the service of some higher social or political principle.
As coroner, I must aver I thoroughly examined her. And she’s not only merely dead, She’s really most sincerely dead.
When Meinhardt Raabe, an unknown 23-year-old from Wisconsin, sang those lines in his first and only Hollywood feature film, he little suspected that they would shape the course of his life for the next seven decades.
The lines, of course, belong to the Munchkin coroner in the classic 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz.” Mr. Raabe’s brief appearance in the film — about 13 seconds of uncredited screen time — made him an internationally recognized pop-cultural figure, if not precisely a household name.
Mr. Raabe, who was also a wartime aviator and the first Little Oscar, the mascot of the Oscar Mayer meat company, died Friday in Orange Park, Fla., at 94. Bob Rigel, president of the Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Fla., where Mr. Raabe had lived since 1986, said that the cause had not been officially determined but that it was presumed to be a heart attack.
At his death, Mr. Raabe was one of a handful of surviving Munchkins from the film.
Shirley Mills Hanson, 83, a former child actress who played young Ruthie Joad in “The Grapes of Wrath,” director John Ford’s classic 1940 film based on the John Steinbeck novel, died March 31 of complications of pneumonia at a convalescent hospital in Arcadia, said stepdaughter Deniece Zwick.
Born April 8, 1926, in Tacoma, Wash., Hanson moved with her family to Southern California in 1937 to break into the movies. A crying scene with Gloria Jean in the 1939 musical “The Under-Pup” prompted Ford to test her for the role of Ruthie Joad.
Among other films in which she appeared as Shirley Mills are “Young People” and “Miss Annie Rooney,” both starring Shirley Temple. Hanson also was a teenage member of Universal’s jitterbug dance troupe the Jivin’ Jacks and Jills in the ’40s and worked as a fashion and advertising model.
After later working as a nightclub performer and stage personality, Hanson became a female pioneer in selling data-processing services in the 1960s and became the first female president of the Data Processing Management Assn. in Los Angeles.
She then became vice president of marketing and public relations for Management Applied Programming, a major data processing center, for which she started a division for nonprofit organizations.
Hanson also launched her own wedding planning company, A Party for All Seasons. She married Mel Hanson in 1977; he died in a car accident 18 years later.
“Breaking Upwards” premiere’s at the Silent Movie Theatre
“Breaking Upwards” premiered last night at the Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax (Allan R. Ellenberger)
Actress Anne Hathaway and actress Zoe Lister-Jones attend the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of IFC’s “Breaking Upwards” held at The Silent Movie Theatre on April 8, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)
Johnny Galecki of the “Big Bang Theory” is interviewed at the premiere of “Breaking Upwards” (Allan R. Ellenberger)
__________
Opens April 9, 2010 in Los Angeles
at the
Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Blvd.)
and available nationwide on-demand
Based on the filmmakers’ actual experience, and starring the filmmakers themselves, “Breaking Upwards” explores a young, real life New York couple who, four years into their relationship and battling codependency, decide to intricately strategize their own break up.
The film loosely interprets a year in their lives exploring alternatives to monogamy and the madness that ensues. It begs the question: is it ever possible to grow apart together?
“The hangdog Wein and particularly the winsome Lister-Jones are appealing enough to make us truly care about whether their characters are able to work it out. But however their true-life relationship progressed, they have something worthy to show for it in this charming effort. “ — Hollywood Reporter
Starring Daryl Wein (“The Hebrew Hammer”) & Zoe Lister-Jones (Upcoming films include: “Salt,” with Angelina Jolie; “All Good Things”, with Ryan Gosling;”The Other Guys” with Will Ferrell).
Co-starring: Olivia Thirlby (“Juno,” “The Wackness”); Julie White (“Transformers,” “Transformers 2″); Andrea Martin (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”); Peter Friedman (“The Savages”); Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Lake House”); La Chanze (“The Color Purple”); and Pablo Schreiber (“The Wire,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)
Directed by Daryl Wein Written by Daryl Wein, Zoe Lister-Jones and Peter Duchan
“Breaking Upwards” was an official selection in the Narrative Competition at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival.
‘Twilight: Eclipse’ will reportedly have its premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood
Its still a few months away before Eclipse will open but according to Seeing-Stars.com , the Twilight Saga: Eclipse, starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, will be having its premiere on June 24, 2010 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. There is no official word yet from Summit Entertainment and this information has not listed at the theatre’s official site .
This following article appeared in the Los Angeles Times in 1917.
By Norma Talmadge
I am 20 years of age and therefore much too young to write an autobiography. However, my short life has been a stage of many interesting, and, I might well say, happy occurrences, and of these I am quite willing to make you my confidant.
I was born at Niagara Falls, where I spent the first ten years of my childhood amid most pleasant scenes. Indeed, when I am in a pensive mood my earliest and fondest recollections go back to the days I spent at the most beautiful spot in the whole world, the objective of all globe-trotters, the origin of the slogan, “See America First.”
Through force of circumstances our family moved to New York City. The contrast between Niagara Falls and the noisy city was indeed great. But as time wore on I soon grew to like my new home almost as well as my old one.
At school, one of those little private schools where men are barred from the premises, I had great fun. Pillow fights, night parties, secret smuggling of love letters and private theatricals. These were but a few of the many happy events of my boarding school days.
How I chose motion pictures as a profession is still a wonder to me. If I remember correctly, the nucleus of my ardent desire was formed at a show six years ago, when I was impressed by a picture I saw that I made up my mind to apply for a job the very next day. Accordingly, bright and early Saturday morning – you see I even remember the day – I was up just as determined as the night before.
I was literally jostled onto the screen, for when I reached the studio numerous stage hands were vigorously shifting scenery and I was caught in a whirlpool of white-overalled humanity and scenic flats, with their backgrounds of gorgeous ornamentations embracing interior sets, and pushed into the heart of studio activity.
I was only a little girl then and therefore had to put on a long skirt to make me look older, and I was so excited I got all tangled up in its folds.
But I felt quite at ease when a woman scenario writer was so kind as to notice me and help me get an extra part. They seemed to like me, for I was put in stock at once at a salary of $25 per week.
Since then I have made several important advances which have finally terminated in what I consider my greatest achievement – my marriage to Joseph M. Schenck and the formation of my own producing company.
Check out the new Norma Talmadge DVD release from Kino — The Norma Talmadge Collection featuring Kiki (1926) and Within the Law (1923). Click here for more information.
A myth can be described as a popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence. Hollywood, the land of make believe, is full of myths – and this is one.
Myth: Actor Sir Guy Standing died of a heart attack after being bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking in the Hollywood Hills.
Sir Guy Standing was born on September 1, 1873 in London, the eldest son of actor, Herbert Standing and one of several brothers to appear on stage. He made his debut at London’s Criterion Theatre in Wild Oats, using the name Guy Stanton.
He was only 19 when he first acted in New York as Captain Fairfield in Lena Despard at the Manhattan Opera House. In 1897 he joined Charles Frohman’s company at the Empire Theatre, where he appeared in several plays.
Among the plays he appeared in before World War I were The Sorceress, Mrs. Leffingewil’s Boots, The Duel, Hedda Gabler, with Nazimova in 1907, and a tour of The Right of Way in 1909. After seventeen years in the States, he returned to England for four years in a steady run of plays.
Standing returned to the United States in 1913 and appeared in Daddy Longlegs at Powers Theatre, in Chicago. Afteward he signed a contract with Famous Players to star in the film, The Silver King. While preparing for the film as he vacationed on his yacht, World War I broke out. He asked Adolph Zukor for permission to break his contract, thinking he would come back soon.
He returned to England and offered his services, which eventually included membership on the British War Mission to the United States. He also served on His Majesty’s Navy as a commander in the Dover Patrol. For his performance of these duties he was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire in June 1918.
Scene from The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935). Sir Guy Standing is in the middle.
In November, 1925, after an absence of eleven years, Standing returned to the stage in The Carolinian, at New York’s Sam H. Harris Theatre, and again in November, 1927, appearing with Ethel Barrymore in The Constant Wife. He continued acting in plays until 1932 when he met Albert Kaufman of Paramount while on tour in Los Angeles. This led to a contract for his film debut at the age of 60 in The Story of Temple Drake (1933), with Miriam Hopkins. Other films include Death Takes a Holiday (1934), The Witching Hour (1934), The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935), Lloyds of London (1936), and his last film, Bulldog Drummond Escapes (1937). He planned to revise his role as Col. Nielson in the next Bulldog Drummond film, Bulldog Drummond Comes Back (1937), at the time of his death.
Standing took an active part in Hollywood social life as president of the Malibu Lake Club and boasted that his baseball team, The Paramount Cubs, was the only one in the world with a British president.
Standing was married three times, first in 1895 to Isabel Urquehar, a stage actress, who preceded him in death. His second wife, Blanche Burton, who also died before him, was an actress and the mother of his two children, Guy, Jr., and Katherine (Kay Hammond), both actors. His third wife was Dorothy Hammond and was also an actress.
On Wednesday, February 24, 1937, Standing was at the Hillcrest Motor Company at 7001 Hollywood Boulevard (across from the Roosevelt Hotel) to make a payment on his car. He was chatting with a salesman and was asked how he felt.
“Excellent,” he responded. “In fact, I never felt better.” A moment later, his legs gave out and he was on the floor clutching at his chest and writhing in pain. He never said another word.
The former Hillcrest Motor Company at 7001 Hollywood Boulevard where Sir Guy Standing died – (PHOTO: Allan R. Ellenberger)
Doctors arrived from the Hollywood Emergency Hospital and administered adrenaline and other restoratives, but he failed to respond. Standing died a few minutes later. His body was taken to the hospital and later removed to the Le Roy Bagley Mortuary (5440 Hollywwod Blvd. – demolished) in Hollywood pending funeral arrangements and word from his wife who was in London.
Close friends at Paramount claimed his death was related indirectly to a black widow spider bite he received two years earlier on the set of The Lives of a Bengal Lancer. Standing apparently responded to treatment but took the poisoning lightly, according to friends.
Shortly before his death he complained of having leg pains and he walked with a limp. For whatever reason, he neglected medical help, feeling he would recover. The New York Times consulted an expert at the Bronx Zoo who said it was difficult to believe that the cause of Standing’s death was indirectly connected to the insect bite he received two years earlier. He said that he had never heard of a person dying of either a black widows bite or even a snake bite so long after the infliction of the wound. Perhaps this is where the myth of Standing’s death from a snake bite first originated. Later reports noted that Standing died from a heart ailment.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Hollywood where Sir Guy Standing’s funeral was held [shot taken from Yucca Street]- (PHOTO: Allan R. Ellenberger)
Standing’s funeral was held the following Sunday at 11 a.m. in the chapel of St. Stephens Episcopal Church (6129 Carlos Street) where more than 250 friends heard Dr. Philip Easley read the ritual. Pallbearers included Philip MacDonald, Henry Herzbrun, Nat Deverich, Christopher Dunphy, Albert Kaufman and Bayard Veiller. At exactly the same hour at Paramount Studios, hundreds of employees bowed their heads for a five minute period of silence and prayer.
The grave marker of Sir Guy Standing at Grand View Cemetery in Glendale, California
(PHOTO: Allan R. Ellenberger) – Thank you Lisa Burks
Newspaper accounts reported that Standing’s body would be returned to London for burial, however, for whatever reasons, that never occurred. Sir Guy Standing was buried at Grand View Cemetery in Glendale, an unusual choice considering he did not live near there. His father, Herbert Standing, had died in Los Angeles in 1923 and his cremains were placed in vaultage at the Chapel of the Pines.
Therefore Sir Guy Standing did not die from a rattlesnake bite as most biographies of the actor state. Nor did he die from the bite of a black widow spider as some friends noted after his death. Is that how the myth began – progressing from a spider to a snake bite over the past 73 years? We may never know.
Click below to watch Sir Guy Standing in a brief scene from The Story of Temple Drake (1933) with Miriam Hopkins
John Forsythe dies at 92; actor known for roles on TV series ‘Bachelor Father,’ ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and ‘Dynasty’
His silvery hair and smooth voice were familiar to millions. He also had success on the stage, with ‘Teahouse of the August Moon,’ and films such as ‘The Trouble with Harry’ and ‘And Justice for All.’
By Claudia Luther
Los Angeles Times
April 2, 2010
John Forsythe, the suave actor with the silvery hair and mellifluous voice who was familiar to millions of TV viewers for starring roles in the popular television series “Bachelor Father,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “Dynasty,” died Thursday. He was 92.
