Belated Birthday Wishes for yesterday Ray! Hope you enjoyed a great day celebrating in your own way X

Really? He never had matinee idol looks.

Thanks Hilda, although it was last Thursday. I had a wonderful evening celebrating with twelve friends in our local club.

They treated me to an afternoon in our local Spa, with Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and swimming pool, finishing off with a cream tea, I shall be relaxing there next Tuesday.

Maybe you have never seen the young Glenn, take a look at Stolen Life (1946) with Bette Davis, and Interrupted Melody (1956) with Eleanor Parker, he was a very handsome guy.

Walter - belated happy birthday from me too. Glad you had a lovely, relaxing day.

Glenn Ford was a handsome man in his heyday and what a dancer Eleanor Powell was

Thank you David!

I so agree with you about Eleanor Powell, her fabulous dance routine with Fred Astaire in Broadway Melody of 1940 to Begin the Beguine was just sublime.

Sinatra would've been so much better than Brando as Sky, but I do like him with Vivian Blaine

Yes, I did too, although the role of Miss Adelaide was almost played by Betty Grable.

Producer Sam Goldwyn told Betty that he wanted her for the role, she was elated and assured him that she would be available for their final interview before signing the contract.

Betty wanted the role badly, it would bring her back to the status that she had enjoyed just a few years earlier, as well as launching an entirely new career. Every song and dance girl in Hollywood was salivating for this plum role, and she realised how lucky she was to be considered. As it turned out however, she was unable to keep the appointment when a family crisis made the visit impossible. Her 14 year old poodle injured his paw, and he had to be rushed to the nearest pet hospital, and Betty was the only one available for the emergency. She didn't exactly stand Goldwyn up, she had her housekeeper call his office to explain that she could not keep the appointment.

When Goldwyn discovered that the appointment was cancelled because of a dog, he was furious, and his frail ego couldn't handle such an affront.

When Betty called back to make another appointment, she was told that Goldwyn had no interest in seeing her. So the role of Adelaide went to Vivian Blaine, who had played the role on Broadway.

I thought that Vivian was great in the role, but I can imagine just how good Betty would have been.

Sounds divine!

Am I too take it from your earlier post on Glenn Ford that he slept with Rita Hayworth?!

Perhaps that's why he was her favourite!

Take a look at @ClassicalCinema's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ClassicalCinema/...346106880?s=09

On this day in 1899 Hollywood legend Fred Astaire was born! In linked picture he's showing his natural elegance at making dancing movements look magical!

I wonder if Ray /Walter can come up with a Barbara Stanwyck connection!

Sadly, they never worked together, I would love to have seen Barbara dance with Fred. I do have six great photo's of them together though at the 1960 Emmy Awards when they both won for their TV shows.

They had a 40 year on off affair, and their's was the longest relationship out of his 143 lovers.

Ray that's disappointing that Fred Astaire and Barbara Stanwyck didn't get to work together I think they'd have made a very interesting combination.

In terms of Bette, Joan and Barbara did any of them muse outloud or via biographies /autobiographies about leading men /actors who they wish they'd had the chance to work with but we're thwarted by circumstances and fate?

I can think of so many interesting combinations but not necessarily ones that would work well or be desired by the actresses! 😁

Interesting -The obituary I read for Glenn Ford at the time of his passing was very euphemistic then referring to him as Rita Hayworths favourite leading man rather than her lover of 40 years! 😁 😉

I have an audio tape of an interview that Barbara did in the 1950's in which she said that she was pining away to work with Spencer Tracy, "But he never asks me!"

I can see her in several of the roles that Katie Hepburn did with him, Woman of the Year, Adam's Rib, Pat and Mike, Desk Set, and especially Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

She also admired Cary Grant very much, and they almost worked together in Once Upon a Honeymoon, she even got as far as doing costume tests, until Ginger Rogers somehow persuaded RKO producer Pandro Berman to give her the role. The fact that Rogers was an RKO contract player probably swung it for her, the only comfort being that it was a big flop. Comedies set in Concentration camps don't usually have audiences rolling in the aisles, well, apart from Stalag 17.

I would loved her to have worked with Laurence Olivier, he and Hepburn did a wonderful TV film together in 1972, Love Among the Ruins, directed by George Cukor.

In 1971 Bette told interviewer Dick Cavatt on his show that she was a big admirer of Dirk Bogarde and would love to work with him. She never did, but she seemed thrilled to finally meet him when he presented her with the BFI Fellowship Award in 1987

Cary Grant seems such a natural fit for Barbara Stanwyck it's a shame it didn't happen.

Now I think a film with Bette Davis and Dirk Bogarde would likely have been very camp -I know he was very good friends with Lauren Bacall and met her just weeks before he died in 1999(did they work on a picture together?) but no big friendship with Ms Davis - I think a film with all 3 Davis Bacall and Bogarde would have been a quality camp classic! 😁

I wonder if there will be any public acknowledgement when next may it's the 40th anniversary of Joan Crawfords passing?

Oh BTW last week I nosed on another website which has gossip forums and there's some interesting stuff I came across regarding the golden era I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on?
One being that whilst Lana Turner was married to Artie Shaw that she flirted outrageously apparently in front of her hubby at Hollywood parties whenever Hollywood big wigs and executives turned up at the do in order to try and get roles? I think it was described fairly or unfairly as a magical but manipulative sexual charm that she knew to turn on for certain people but it astounded many at the parties that she was so obvious with it in front of her husband and it could cause quite a few heated rows!

I was interested to hear that Marlene Dietrichs daughter is still alive! Do you know if she is now part of the Hollywood Los Angeles community and has she ever written a book about her marvellous mother?

We are SO close to 100,000 viewings on this thread Walter /Ray!! Can't believe it! 👌🙌

I guess that the only mention of Joan's 40th Anniversary will be from film buffs like us, after all, a whole generation has grown up since then. In complete contrast, I am sure that that there will be a celebration of what would have been Marilyn's 90th birthday next month.

Lana was so gorgeous when she was young I guess that she just couldn't help using her sexual charms on any attractive man that she fancied.

Barbara heard rumours that Robert Taylor, her husband of two years was infatuated with 20 year old Lana when they were working together on Johnny Eager. Lana's daughter said that Barbara went to MGM to warn her to keep her hands off her husband, and Lana was so scared that she locked herself in her dressing room. That seems possible, but I find it hard to believe the daughter's story that Louis B Mayer had Barbara barred from the studio for the remainder of the shooting of the film. Many years later, long after Barbara and Bob were divorced, Lana phoned Barbara at the hotel they were both staying at and asked her to join her for drinks, Barbara banged the phone down on her. I have heard so many times that you only ever crossed Barbara once, she never forgot and she never forgave, especially when it involved her husband.

Marlene's daughter has never been involved with the Hollywood community, but I have mentioned before that I have the marvellous book that she wrote about her Mother, I just love it, have read it several times, and urge you to seek it out. It is simply called "Marlene Dietrich - by her daughter Maria Riva" She really brings her to life, you can almost hear her voice, it is so real.

Yes, I am watching as our viewer total creeps towards 100.000, and it was this time last year that I was congratulating us on reaching 40.000. As I have said before, it has been a collaborative effort. You keep feeding me all these interesting questions, and I get a kick out of answering them. We are also getting other Forum members joining in so who knows what total it will be this time next year.

I can only say that it is onward and upward, and here's to another even more successful year.

Onwards and upwards Indeed!! I'm so glad you get a positive emotional kick out of answering my questions as I'd hate you to think of me as being a pain or irritant! 😁

Did Marlene just have the one child?

For some reason I'm curious which Hollywood stars of the golden era direct bloodline has stopped effectively?

I know that Lana Turner had one daughter who is openly lesbian (and apparently Lana was very enlightened for her era as she took it well without Prejudice and wasn't an issue) and I'm pretty sure her daughter had no children thus ending Lana's direct bloodline.

I think the same is true for Joan Crawford only in the sense she adopted her children not in the sense that adoptive families aren't real and valid -there's a few adoptions in my family who I'm close to, I'm just eccentricly curious about who has direct descendants left or rather who doesn't. I'm certainly not talking about who's family is valid -Not my style or values -just wanted to clarify that!

I'd be right in saying the same for Barbara Stanwyck? Not sure if her son had children?
Also Zsa Zsa Gabor who's daughter died last year but had no children and none of Zsa Zsas sisters had children. My understanding is all of Bob Hopes children were adopted although he philandered a lot so could have some we don't know about.
Angie Dickinson also has no direct descendants as her only child died in 2007.
Can't think of anymore of the top of my head? Can you help please?

Yes I can imagine more acknowledgement for Marilyn's 90th and her centenary in 2026 as her image seems iconic and eternal.
I believe she has a sister or two still alive in their 90s?

Was Barbara's and Lana Turner's feud chronicled at the time?

Yes, Marlene only had one daughter, but Maria had four sons, although the eldest died in 2012 aged 63.

The Fonda Dynasty has carried on, with Jane and Peter having children and grandchildren, as have Kirk Douglas's family. Gregory Peck had three sons and a daughter, although one son committed suicide. Bette of course had the infamous BD Hyman, who wrote that vile book, "My Mothers Keeper",and she had two sons

Barbara disowned her adopted son back in the 1950's so she never met his wife or children, he died around ten years ago.

Yes, Lana was very open minded about daughter Cheryl being a lesbian, maybe she felt responsible, after all when she had seen all of those fathers and "uncles" coming and going in her mothers life it probably turned her right off men. She seems to have turned out pretty well, and wrote the most beautiful book on her mother, which is worth having just for the fabulous photo's.

I actually found out about the feud with Barbara when I read Lana's autobiography, "Lana, The Lady, The Legend, The Truth", which is a great read.

I've just found some more during my online research.
Katherine Hepburn didn't have any children and nor did Ann Margret -who BTW I received a personalised signed photo of about a month ago nearly 5years after I wrote to her with a fan letter and photo! It seems from autograph collectors websites that she's started signing photos sent by mail again this year after a big gap leading to speculation about possible health issues she was dealing with in the interim.
Also Liza Minnelli Judys daughter has no children although I think Judy has grandchildren via her other kids including Lorna Luft.
Are there any notable actors from this era, leading men etc who remained childless?

It's nice that Lana's daughter Cheryl has stayed loyal to her mum in an era that produced notable hatchet jobs by family members in books.

I have a rather positive image idea in my mind of what Jane Russell was like as a person so I do hope that no family members have written any scatching books about her!

Another Barbara connection! she and Ann Margret were both up for Best Actress at the 1983 Emmy's.
When Barbara's name was announced she looked genuinely shocked she was sure that the Emmy would go to Ann Marget for Who Will Love my Children. After she had accepted her Emmy from Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers she thanked the cast and crew of The Thorn Birds, and then paid this heart warming tribute.

"I would like to pay a personal tribute at this time to a lady, who is a wonderful entertainer. She gave us a film last year, last season, in which I think she gave one of the finest, most beautiful performances I have ever seen. Ann Margret, you were SUPERB !" She then blew her a kiss, and Ann Margret got very emotional, and ended up weeping on her husband shoulder. Later she said that she felt she was a winner after that beautiful tribute. I have photo's of them together at a later event when they both won Golden Apples from the Women's Press Clubs as the most co-operative actresses of the year. I know that Ann Margret has nursed her ailing husband Roger Smith for years. He is probably best remembered for the TV series, 77 Sunset Strip, and as Roz Russell's nephew in Auntie Mame.

Cary Grant became a father very late in life when Dyan Cannon, one of his many wives, presented him with a daughter.

Apart from having a drink problem, probably due to the many tragedies in her later life, I have never read anything negative about Jane Russell. She did cause quite a furore in the 1950's when she adopted an English baby, Tommy Kavanagh. I think she paid a fortune to his parents who said that they let Jane have him because they knew he would have a better life.

HOORAY! we have hit the 100.000 viewers milestone.

Congratulation's to us, and everyone who has contributed, and thank you Hilda for creating this marvellous thread.

I look forward to coming in here every day to see what new questions you have for me.

Here's to the next 100.000!

"Lana, The Lady, The Legend, The Truth"

Lol, that title is so Hollywood!!!

Why did Barbara fall out with her adopted son? I know it's probably already been mentioned, but it's easy to miss on such a big thread. Anyway, congrats to everyone for keeping this thread going. It really is a great read.

Thanks Dan. and thanks for your contributions to our thread as well.

I believe that neither Barbara or Joan Crawford should have adopted children, they both had really tough childhood's without the benefit of mother love, so it was not really surprising that they didn't have any maternal feelings.

I should imagine that having dragged themselves up, and struggled their way to stardom, they probably expected their adopted children to appreciate the luxury's that they were surrounded with. I expect Barbara thought her son would learn self reliance and discipline by sending him off to Military School at just six years old. Or maybe he was a constant reminder of her failed first marriage. She was also madly in love with Robert Taylor, and all of her time and energy was spent on him and her non stop filming.

Whatever the excuse, it seemed very harsh to send a young boy off to that tough enviroment at such a young age. Not surprising that he went off the rails later in his life and got into trouble selling porn to under age kids. I heard that she paid his fines, but soon afterward cut all ties with him, and he never saw her after he went into the army in 1952. Barbara always refused to discuss him, and when asked would just say, "He's long gone."

As much as I have always loved and respected her, I do find her behaviour very hard to understand, and I think that the poor kid got a rough deal, because whatever he did, he certainly deserved to be treated better by the woman who adopted him.

She was a very private, complex character, who was known for her great kindness to newcomers and co workers. She was responsible for Bill Holden's success in his first film, and he was always the first to admit it. Linda Evans said that she was like a second mother to her in the four years that they worked together on their TV series, The Big Valley. It was just a shame that she couldn't show the same compassion to her insecure and unloved adopted son. They are both gone now, so sadly we will never really know the full story.

This is to celebrate the thread milestone, I know from an earlier post that Walter likes this and it's my favourite movie dance routine of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWW6QeeVzDc

Thanks to Walter, Hilda and everyone else who has contributed to the thread.