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.