Clik here to view.
‘Hellzapoppin’" Opens in Los Angeles
Feb. 10, 1942: The Hawaii Theater at Hollywood and Gower becomes a first-run theater (adios, Charles Foster Kane) with “Hellzapoppin.’ ” The “Congaroos” are “colored performers” who do “snappy...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Ada Jones
Ada Jones 1873 – 1922 You youngsters can have your Ladies Gaga and Pinks and Katy Perrys. Give me the great Ada Jones. Ada was the first—and for ten years, the only—female superstar of the early...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Margaret Dumont
A photo of Groucho Marx and Margaret Dumont in “A Day at the Circus,” listed on EBay for $5.95. Margaret Dumont 1882 – 1965 I think we can all agree that Groucho Marx was a real sonofabitch, can’t we?...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Happy Birthday, Mack Sennett!
Mary Mallory notes that today is Mack Sennett’s birthday. Read Mary’s post on Sennett here.
View ArticleClik here to view.
Laurel and Hardy Meet Laurel y Hardy
I thought it would be fun to compare “Chickens Come Home” and “Politiquerias,” which aired recently on Turner Classic Movies. A shot-by-shot comparison shows that even though they use the same plot and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Ned Sparks — Hollywood Grouch
Ned Sparks in “George White’s 1935 Scandals.” Photo courtesy of Mary Mallory. Throughout the history of film, many supporting players have functioned as the spine or safety chord upon which motion...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gary Shandling: A Tour of L.A. Comedy Clubs in 1981
I rarely dig into my old clips, but here is my feature on Garry Shandling, who died today at the age of 66, from the Arizona Daily Star, Nov. 24, 1981. The ending isn’t exactly mine; it was altered...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How I Almost Killed Garry Shandling
This would be a much funnier story if Garry Shandling were still alive, but if he were, I wouldn’t be telling it. I was partially responsible — in a roundabout way — for nearly killing Garry back in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘Mort Sahl: Last Man Standing’ by James Curtis
Folks, please give a little love to the publication today of “Last Man Standing,” James Curtis’ new biography of Mort Sahl, who transformed standup comedy from mother-in-law gags to cutting political...
View Article
