Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Artists

Many actors and actresses from the golden age of Hollywood found solace in painting, sculpting, drawing and other art forms. It was away to express themselves creatively but in a much more private space than in front of a camera.

So far in the series I've devoted each post to one hobby and one star. In this instance, I felt I couldn't pick just one star so I decided to include as many as I could.

Frank Sinatra's art studio

Frank Sinatra at his art studio

Frank Sinatra painting

Linda Darnell and her painting, circa 1948 - Source

Linda Darnell and her sculpture - Source 

Kim Novak in front of one of her paintings

Dirk Bogarde - Source

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers painting - Source

Tony Curtis - Source

Lionel Barrymore's etching of himself in the Grand Hotel

Claire Trevor

Claire Trevor's painting of Tyrone Power circa 1958
Source

UC Irvine has a Claire Trevor School of Arts!

Mae Marsh Painting, circa 1932 - Source

Thank you to Kate Gabrielle of Scathingly Brilliant, Laura of Laura's Miscellaneous Musings, Sebina and Neil for the tips. And thanks to Kate who gave me the photos for Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak!

Note: This post is a work in progress. I'll be adding more stars and their artwork so stay tuned!

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here to view a complete list of entries.

Arrowsmith (1931)

Arrowsmith (1931)

With the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus dominating the news this Pre-Code film is timelier than ever. Independently produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by John Ford, Arrowsmith (1931) stars Ronald Colman as Dr. Martin Arrowsmith, a young doctor whose talents in the field of medical research lead him to discover the cure for bubonic plague.

Helen Hayes and Ronald Colman

Arrowsmith is taken under the wing of Professor Max Gottlieb (A.E. Anson) who becomes his mentor and a major influence in his education as well as his ethics. He starts off as a doctor in a New York City hospital. It’s here that he meets nurse Leora (Helen Hayes). They have a whirlwind romance, elope – much to the distress of her parents – and relocate to South Dakota. Arrowsmith supports his growing family with a job as a small-town doctor. They're happy for a while but things soon change. Arrowsmith’s talents bring him back to the big city when his cure for a cattle disease demonstrates that his skills are needed for the greater advancement of medical science.

Arrowsmith at his lab

He returns to McGuirk, a major lab made up of scientists including Prof. Gottlieb, and discovers the cure for bubonic plague. Scientist Gustav Sondelius (Richard Bennett) sees the effects of the bubonic plague and encourages Arrowsmith to the West Indies where the plague is prevalent. Leora, unable to give Arrowsmith a child after her miscarriage, devotes herself to Arrowsmith. He often neglects her but relies on her unyielding devotion. They travel together to the West Indies for Arrowsmith’s experiment.

Arrowsmith's trusty Microscope

To prove his serum can cure bubonic plague, Arrowsmith plans to use it on half of the infected people and compare the results with the other half. While beneficial for the advancement of medical research, this brings up ethical and moral issues. Who is to be saved and who is not?

Arrowsmith presents his plan to doctors in the West Indies

Things get more complicated when scientist Sondelius gets sick, Leora becomes a victim of circumstance and the beautiful Joyce (Myrna Loy) catches Arrowsmith’s eye.

Myrna Loy as Mrs. Joyce Lanyon

The screen play was adapted by Sidney Howard and based on the 1925 novel by Sinclair Lewis.  For accuracy in his depictions of science and medical research, Lewis relied on his adviser Dr. Paul de Kruif . Lewis was awarded with the Pulitzer Prize the following year but refused to accept the honor.

The film is choppy. The first 30 minutes are dreadfully slow and linger far too long on the small-town portion of the story. As soon as the Sondelius character enters the story the pace of the plot quickens. He moves the story out of New York City and into the West Indies where the true drama takes hold. Director John Ford as been pinpointed as the source of the film's unevenness. According to Joseph McBride, author of Searching For John Ford: A Life:

“At Sam Goldwyn’s request, Ford made a written pledge not to drink during the shooting of Arrowsmith. It was a telling sign of Ford’s malaise in this period that a studio chief had to enforce a discipline Ford normally was able to impose on himself. Ford’s unhappiness and distraction while making Arrowsmith was reflected in its extreme stylistic unevenness, its highly episodic nature, and its schizoid variations in mood.”

Ford also had issues with actress Helen Hayes. They had a love-hate relationship and some of her scenes were put on the back burner or were hastily put together. Ford was loaned out from Fox by independent producer Samuel Goldwyn who fired him for not keeping his sobriety contract. He was then fired from Fox. Fortunately, Ford was re-hired by Fox a couple years later.

Clarence Brooks as Dr. Oliver Marchand

Even with its flaws Arrowsmith (1931) is a glorious Pre-Code film. It tackles a difficult subject, isn’t afraid to experiment and there is a refreshing lack of racism. Actor Clarence Brooks’ portrayal of West Indies doctor Oliver Marchand is very progressive for the time. Marchand is a well-spoken, college-educated doctor and lacks many of the racist stereotypes that were often applied to black characters during that time.

At first the wealthy patriarch of the island is reluctant to allow his mansion to be used as a makeshift hospital. However, he and his family, including his guest Joyce (Myrna Loy), befriend Dr. Arrowsmith and help him in his efforts to eradicate the bubonic plague. In one telling scene, the family lines up with the natives to receive their serum. They don’t cut the line or use their status to get any special treatment.

Myrna Loy’s character Joyce was mostly edited out of the film to appease code regulations. Although this is a Pre-Code, filmmakers still had to be cautious. It’s only suggested that Joyce and Arrowsmith have an extra-marital affair. It’s clear that Joyce lusts for him but they are careful to portray Arrowsmith as only mildly interested. Morality and ethics play a key role in the film. The administration at the McGuirk lab demonstrate greed for fame and recognition when they are quick to publicize Arrowsmith’s work even before it’s put to the test. Characters struggle with the dilemma between what is good for humanity versus what is good for science.

The lighting and cinematography in this film are absolutely stunning. I love the use of light and shadow.

Leora (Helen Hayes) and the unfortunate cigarette

Doors are very symbolic in this film. The opening and closing of doors represent passage of time, opportunity waiting on the other side and the advancement of Arrowsmith’s career. Doors separate the sick from the healthy. They separate chaos from calm. 

I would be remiss not to point out the lovely Art Deco sets used for the McGuirk lab. Art Deco is used to represent opulence and coldness which mirror the qualities of the McGuirk enterprise.

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Writing, Adaptation (Sidney Howard), Best Cinematography (Ray June) and Best Art Direction (Richard Day).

Arrowsmith (1931) is available from Warner Archive on DVD-MOD. You can also purchase it from the TCM Shop.

Warner Archive Wednesday - On (random) Wednesdays, I review one title from the Warner Archive Collection. I received Arrowsmith (1931) from Warner Archive for review.

Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Colleen Moore

Colleen Moore, Doll Houses

Thank you to my good friend Jonas of All Talking! All Dancing! All Singing!  for letting me know about this! Silent film star Colleen Moore was obsessed with creating the doll house of her dreams. The financial freedom of being a Hollywood star gave her the opportunity to invest in her passion. Or as Jonas delicately puts it “when the money started rolling in she went completely bonkers in dollhouse mania de luxe.”

Moore started on the Fairy Castle project in 1928 and it was completed in 1935. Some of the people involved in the project include architect Horace Jackson (floor plan), Harold Grieve (interior design), Walt Disney (original art), artist George Townsend Cole (mural) and actor Rudolph Valentino (figurines). Around 100 people worked on the project and the final cost was substantial. The castle includes antiques and materials from all over the world!

Moore could have kept her hobby to herself but instead she shared the happiness with others. During the Great Depression, Moore took her doll house on tour. Kids all across the country got to see the Fairy Castle up close and the tour also served to raise money for different children’s charities. In 1949, the Fairy Castle made it’s final stop at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. You can see the Fairy Castle today at the museum’s special exhibit or take a virtual tour online.


Below is a video from British Pathé of Colleen Moore introducing the completed Fairy Castle in 1935. She refers to it as an Enchanted Castle but it's been known as the Fairy Castle for many years.

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here  to view a complete list of entries.

Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Roddy McDowall

Roddy McDowall, Home Movies

Roddy McDowall was a trustworthy kind of a guy and he made many close friends in Hollywood. Every Sunday he would have an open house at his Malibu Beach home. This was a time when the Hollywood elite could come over relax and be themselves. They let their guard down when they were with McDowall. Guests at his open houses would include Natalie Wood, Lauren Bacall, Rock Hudson, Dennis Hopper, Jane Fonda, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Kirk Douglas and more.

We all know McDowall had skills when it came to cameras. Besides being an actor he was also a film director and photographer. A few years ago we learned that one of his hobbies was shooting home movies. Several silent home movies from 1965 emerged and were put on the internet for us to enjoy. They're an intimate look at Hollywood in front of a very different type of camera.

This is a YouTube playlist of 22 of McDowall's silent home movies.

Thank you to Laura of Laura's Miscellaneous Musings for the idea for this entry!

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here to view a complete list of entries.

Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Jill St. John

Jill St. John, Model Trains

Singer Grace Slick on visiting Jill St. John - "Her house included an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a vast array of tropical fish and a basement filled with miniature trains." (Source)

While doing research for my Stars & Their Hobbies series, I stumbled upon a New York Times bio listing Jill St. John's hobbies as collecting model trains and dating high-profile men. I've encountered the dating-men-as-a-hobby thing multiple times in my research. It's something that frustrated me because it's such a double-standard. 

I was intrigued by the idea of Jill St. John collecting model trains so I did some research. I discovered that both her real hobby of model trains and her "hobby" of dating men are somewhat linked.

On her childhood – “I was always working… I missed a lot of things kids do. Maybe that’s I collected and put together electric trains from Germany for a while. I made the little trees and houses and everything. But then I gave it all to a boys’ home because my dates were paying more attention to the trains than to me.” - Jill St. John (Source)

St. John's hobby was a way to recapture some of her lost childhood and it seems the men in her life intruded of her private interest. One source claimed a Walter Robin (either a hotel magnate or toy tycoon, I couldn't tell which one) sold her $2,000 worth of model trains and track in 1963. Another source said that her ex-husband Lance Reventlow gifted her 200 feet of model trains and tracks valued at $10,000. 

I wonder if Jill St. John picked up the hobby again after she ditched her collection in 1971? Over the years she's had other hobbies including collecting Faberge jewelry and teddy bears, playing chess and doing yoga.

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here to view a complete list of entries.

Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret, Motorcycles

"There are two types of motorcycle riders: ones who have had an accident and ones who will." - Ann-Margret 

Ann-Margret looks damn good on a motorcycle. A lifelong enthusiast, she was introduced to motorcycles by her Uncle Carl in her home country of Sweden. Once she got that first thrill for speed she was hooked. You can watch Ann-Margret's amazing motorcycle skills in Viva Las Vegas (1964) and The Swinger (1966).

Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas

During the 1960s, Ann-Margret would often be found riding a Triumph motorcycle and she even appeared in advertisements for the company. At one time she owned a custom Harley that was painted lavender with daisies on it.

Ann-Margret with her custom Harley (Photo Source)

In 2000, Ann-Margret got into a serious accident while riding in Minnesota as Grand Marshal for an NHRA event. She veered off into a sandy patch, hit a rock and was thrown from her motorcycle. She suffered a fractured shoulder and three broken ribs. However, that didn't stop her and Ann-Margret continues to be a badass on a motorcycle.

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here to view a complete list of entries.

Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Norman Lloyd

Norman Lloyd, Tennis - Photo Source

“You've got to stay active as you get older. And tennis is a great way to do that. It helps to take away all the aches and pains.” – Norman Lloyd 

Norman Lloyd turns 100 this November. The secret to his longevity: tennis!

I had the pleasure of seeing Lloyd at the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival. Leonard Maltin introduced him and joked with the audience that Lloyd’s appearance was getting in the way of his daily tennis match. I was very intrigued by the fact that the then 98 year old Norman Lloyd played tennis daily! Recently he’s had to reduce his matches to twice a week but I truly believe that the tennis he’s been playing for decades is what has kept him sound in body and mind for such a long time.

Lloyd has played tennis against many film stars including Joseph Cotten and Spencer Tracy and he's also participated in celebrity tournaments. His most well-known partner was Charlie Chaplin. About their regular matches he said:

“I played tennis with Chaplin about four times a week. We played in the late afternoon, five o’clock in summer after the heat had lessened, earlier in winter. After the game, we stayed in the tennis house for a while to chat, and Charlie would often invite me to the house for a drink – scotch old-fashioned, his favorite.” (Source)

Lloyd plans a big tennis tournament for his 100th birthday.

Sources (1 and 2) 

Norman Lloyd on the court with Charlie Chaplin - Photo Source

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here to view a complete list of entries.

Stars & Their Hobbies ~ Eli Wallach

"Let me tell you a little about myself. As an actor I've played more bandits, thieves, killers, war lords, molesters and mafiose that you can shake a stick at... As a civilian I collect antique clocks, tell endless stories of my days as a medic in World War II, watch every tennis match, live for my family, daily mail, run the dishwasher, take pictures of faces in the bark of trees..." - Eli Wallach, 2010 Governors Awards Acceptance Speech

If Eli Wallach wasn't already the subject of my adoration now I have a new reason to fawn over him. He collected antique clocks! It's been said that the ticking of the clocks helped him think. When asked what he would do if he wasn't an actor, Wallach said, “I’d open a little clock shop somewhere... I collect little clocks. Don’t ask me why. My wife has no concept of time. I get to places twenty minutes before and she’s always late.” (Source)

Watch A.O. Scott's video of his visit with is uncle Eli Wallach in 2010 on the New York Times website. You can catch a glimpse in the background of a few antique clocks adorning Wallach's shelves in his Manhattan apartment. God speed Eli Wallach!

My series Stars & Their Hobbies explores how notable actors and actresses from Hollywood history spent their free time. Click here to view a complete list of entries.

The Sport Parade (1932)

The Sport Parade (1932) was directed by Dudley Murphy and produced by David O. Selznick for RKO.  It stars Joel McCrea, Marian Marsh, William Gargan and Robert Benchley. The screenplay was adapted from a story by Jerry Corwin and depending on the source Corey Ford, Francis Cockrell and Robert Benchley are all credited in some form for the adaptation. I love films from this era that either have a collegiate theme or a sports theme and since this one had both it was natural selection for my next Warner Archive Wednesday.

Brown and Baker, the best of pals

Athletes behaving badly; that’s a hot topic these days. The machinations of Sandy Brown (Joel McCrea) and Johnny Baker (William Gargan), Dartmouth University football stars, are tame in comparison but still make for interesting drama. Brown and Baker have just finished their University careers and are considered sport legends. They are close friends but their lives and careers split as soon as they leave Dartmouth. Brown is dazzled by the prospects of fame and fortune promised to him by Shifty Morrison (Walter Catlett), a promoter whose appearance is reminiscent of Harold Lloyd and whose visions of millions are equally as laughable. Baker is more sensible. He starts a career in sports writing, a good segue from his hey-days as an athlete. Baker helps Brown when Shifty’s promises don’t pan out by offering him a job at the paper. Baker has the clever idea of tapping into their fame as a pair of top college athletes and they co-write a column entitled “Baker to Brown.” Things are going swell until Brown makes eyes at the newspaper illustrator Irene (Marian Marsh). Trouble is that Baker has his eyes set on her too and he was there first! 

This film could have been so good but in the end it just fell flat. The two main characters are only in college for the first few minutes of the film so the focus is primarily on their post-collegiate careers. This makes for an interesting look at what happens after the limelight has dimmed. However, in The Sport Parade the careers of the two college sports heroes is muddled by a romantic triangle. And the lady in the middle of the triangle isn't all that dazzling.

Joel McCrea and Marian Marsh

Joel McCrea and William Gargan. Best buds at the beginning of their troubles.

Marian Marsh, Joel McCrea and Walter Catlett

I found Joel McCrea's character Sandy Brown a bit confusing. We're led to believe that he excels at many sports. In college he and Baker are the top football stars. Brown also plays hockey and baseball, does some road racing and at the end of the film he becomes a professional wrestler. While there are some athletes who have been able to excel at two sports, it's pretty rare. To be really good at a sport you need determined practicing and lots of it. While incorporating some other sports and exercises will help an athlete succeed, the focus should always be on the one sport. Also, the window of time an athlete has to excel at the sport is limited to incorporating other sports doesn't make any sense. It's nice to think that Sandy Brown can do it all with the magic of Hollywood. I also think they just crammed as many sports as possible into the film to give credence to the title The Sport Parade.

Robert Benchley and his good ole Waltham Watch

It's not a complete wash though! There are several things I really liked about the film including Robert Benchley. He plays a befuddled radio announcer who is having a difficult time keeping track of all the plays in the game. He's also even sure where he is. Benchley appears a few times in the film and I wished he was a more substantial character. However, he's one of a trio of ne'er-do-wells along with Dizzy the drunk sports photographer (Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher) and Shifty the unreliable promoter.

The opening scenes take place in Allston, MA at Harvard Stadium (in the film Benchley says they are in Cambridge but the stadium is on the other side of the Charles River and technically in Allston). Dartmouth is playing Harvard and the film has real footage from the stadium and a college football game. By the time I was 3-1/2 minutes into the movie I froze on this shot and proceeded to freak out for about an hour.

Real life shot of Harvard Stadium and Harvard University in the background.

This was very exciting! Real shots of the Boston area don't appear in many films from this era. It wasn't until Mystery Street (1950) that the area was used as an actual filming location. I know this is just sports footage but it made me happy nonetheless. Did you know that the Harvard Stadium is one of four sports arenas to be registered as a National Historic Landmark? It was built in 1903 and is America's oldest stadium. The photo above is a shot of the steel stands. They were removed in the 1950s and now the stadium is U-shaped.

Harvard Stadium - Source

The following is NSFW-ish but my other favorite thing about this movie is seeing Pre-Code Butt. Oh yes, I went there. Pre-Code Butt. Say it with me! "Pre-Code Butt." Pre-Code Butt is elusive and rare. You can only catch a glimpse of it. A glimpse that goes by so quickly you're not quite sure you of what you saw until you play the scene over and over and over again.

You can see the Pre-Code Butt if you look closely enough.

The good folks at Warner Archive have shared a preview clip of the movie which contains some of the shots of Harvard Stadium and the Pre-Code Butt. Here it is for your viewing pleasure!

The Sports Parade (1932) is available from Warner Bros. and the TCM shop. 

Warner Archive Wednesday - On (random) Wednesdays, I review one title from the Warner Archive Collection. I rented The Sport Parade (1932) from ClassicFlix.

Hollywood and the Roosevelts in Photos

I've been excited for the Ken Burns' documentary series The Roosevelts: An Intimate History for months. While some people are intrigued by the Kennedys, I've always been fascinated by the Roosevelts. In honor of the documentary series airing this week, I thought I'd share some cool photographs of the Roosevelts and old Hollywood.

FDR at the Hollywood Bowl during his campaign tour circa 1932 - Source

Eleanor Roosevelt chatting with her favorite actor Robert Taylor at FDR's 55th Birthday Party circa 1937 - Source

Eleanor Roosevelt with Jean Harlow at FDR's 55th Birthday party circa 1937 - Source

Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House with The Hollywood Victory Caravan circa 1942 - Source

FDR receiving a check for the National Institute of Paralysis from Hollywood circa 1944 - Source

Shirley Temple and Eddie Cantor with a gigantic birthday cake in honor of FDR - Source

Joan Crawford with a portrait of FDR after his death. - Source

Let's not forget Theodore Roosevelt! The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was built in 1927 and was named after him.