From Beneath the Hollywood Sign

• FBTHS #088 - "OLD HOLLYWOOD'S TOXIC TRIANGLE"

  “OLD HOLLYWOOD’s TOXIC TRIANGLE” - 5/19/2025 (088) Hollywood in the mid-20th century was a world of glitz and glamour, a realm where dreams could be made or destroyed in an instant. It was an era when the silver screen crafted illusions of romance and perfection, yet behind the scenes, the personal lives of its stars often unraveled into chaos, scandal, and tragedy. Few stories exemplify this dark side of Hollywood better than the volatile love triangle involving actress BARBARA PEYTON and actors FRANCHOT TONE and TOM NEAL. What began as a passionate romance descended into obsession, violence, and ultimate ruin—forever marking the three as cautionary tales of unchecked desire and self-destruction. In this episode, we explore this explosive love triangle and its aftermath. SHOW NOTES:  AVA GARDNER MUSEUM: If you would like to make a donation to help support the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, N.C. (Ava’a hometown!), please click on the following link: https://ava-gardner-museum.myshopify.com/products/donations Sources: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Barbara Payton Story (2012), by John O’Dowd; I Am Not Ashamed (1963), by Barbara Payton; “Tone, Payton, & Neal: Hollywood’s Most Toxic Triangle,” January 29, 2022, by Burt Kearns, legsville.com; “Blazing Blonde Bombshell: Barbara Payton’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” January 6, 2021, by Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair; “The Bottle and Barbara Payton,” November 16, 2018, Travelanche.com; “Notes From The Unashamed,” May 19, 2016, by Kim Morgan, sunsetgun.com; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned:  Once More My Darling (1949), starring Robert Montgomery & Ann Blyth; Trapped (1949), starring Lloyd Bridges & Barbara Payton; Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950), starring James Cagney & Barbara Payton;  Dallas (1950), starring Gary Cooper, Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, & Barbara Payton; Only The Valiant (1951), starring Gregory Peck & Barbara Payton; Dancing Lady (1933), starring Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, & Franchot Tone; Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), starring Clark Gable, Charles Laughton, & Franchot Tone; Detour (1945), starring Tom Neal & Ann Savage; Another Thin Man (1939), starring William Powell & Myrna Loy; Crime, Inc (1945), starring Tom Neal & Martha Tilton; Blonde Alibi (1946), starring Tom Neal & Martha O’Driscoll; I Shot Billy The Kid (1950), starring Don “Red” Barry, Robert Lowery, & Tom Neal; The Great Jesse James Raid (1953), starring Tom Neal & Barbara Payton; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• “2025 TCM FILM FESTIVAL WRAP UP” (087) - 5/12/2025

  EPISODE 87 -  “2025 TCM FILM FESTIVAL WRAP UP” - 5/12/2025 For the second year in a row, Steve and Nan were honored to be invited to cover the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival as part of the press corp. After four glorious days of non-stop film action, this episode is dedicated to the Festival and the fantastic movies shown this year. Steve and Nan will be discussing their favorite films, as well as giving a behind-the-scenes look at the festival and all the movie lovers who come annually to bow at the altar of Eddie Muller, Ben Mankiewicz and the TCM gang.   SHOW NOTES:  AVA GARDNER MUSEUM: If you would like to make a donation to help support the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, N.C. (Ava’a hometown!), please click on the following link: https://ava-gardner-museum.myshopify.com/products/donations Sources: Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned:  Suddenly Last Summer (1959), starring Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, Montgomery Clift, Mercedes McCambridge, & Albert Dekker; The Divorcée (1930), starring Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Robert Montgomery, & Conrad Nagel; Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), starring Robert Mitchum & Deborah Kerr; The Enchanted Cottage (1945), starring Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Herbert Marshall, Mildred Natwick, Spring Byington, & Richard Gaines; Daisy Kenyon (1947), starring Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, & Henry Fonda; Rhapsody in Blue (1945), starring Robert Alda, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Oscar Levant, Morris Carnovsky, Rosemary DeCamp & Charles Coburn; Gunman’s Walk (1958), starring Van Heflin, Tab Hunter, James Darren, Kathryn Grant, Burt Convy & Edward Platt; We’re No Angels (1955), starring Humphrey Bogart, Joan Bennett, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Leo G,. Carroll, Gloria Talbot, & Basil Rathbone; The Big Combo (1955), starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Richard Conti, Helen Walker, Brain Donlevy, Lee Van Cleef, Earl Holliman,  All This and Heaven Too (1940), starring Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Barbara O’Neil, Virginia Weidler, Jeffry Lynn, Harry Davenport, & June Lockhart; Diamond Jim (1935), starring Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur, Binnie Barnes, Ceasar Romero, William Demarest, and Eric Blore;  The Talk of the Town (1942), starring Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, Ronald Colman, Edgar Buchanan, Glenda Farrell, Emma Dunn, Rex Ingram, & Charles Dingle; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• “ANNA MAY WONG: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” (086) - 5/5/2025

  EPISODE 86 -  “ANNA MAY WONG: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 5/5/2025 Anna May Wong was once the most famous Chinese woman in the world. The trailblazing actress, philanthropist, and fashion icon appeared in over 60 films and was a celebrated star, yet, at the time, she was not allowed to kiss a Caucasian man on screen, which limited the roles she could take, and she was not allowed to buy a house in Beverly Hills. A strange dichotomy, indeed. In recent years, she has enjoyed a much-deserved resurgence. Known as a Trailblazer and a cultural icon, she paved the way for generations of Asian and Asian American actors by proving that talent and perseverance could transcend racist casting conventions. Her life and career continue to influence conversations about diversity, representation, and the politics of race in Hollywood. This week, she is our Star of the Month. SHOW NOTES:  AVA GARDNER MUSEUM: If you would like to make a donation to help support the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, N.C. (Ava’a hometown!), please click on the following link: https://ava-gardner-museum.myshopify.com/products/donations Sources: Not Your China Doll (2924), by Katie Gee Salisbury; Anna May Wong: From Laundryman’s Daughter to Hollywood Legend (2012), by Graham Russell Gao Hodges; Anna May Wong: A Complete Guide to Her Film, Stage, Television, and Radio Work (2010), by Philip Leibfried and Chei Mi Lane; Perpetually Cool: The Many Lives of Anna May Wong (2003), by Anthony B. Chan; “Anna May Wong: 13 Facts About Her Trailblazing Hollywood Career,” April 30, 2024, By Minhae Shim Roth; “Anna May Wong’s Long Journey from Hollywood to the Smithsonian,” March 2024, by Ryan Lintelman, Natural Museum of American History; “Anna May Wong Will Be the First Asian American on US Currency,” October 18, 2022, by Soumya Karlamangla; “Anna May Wong is Dead At 54; Actress Won Movie Fans in ’24; Appeared with Fairbanks in ‘Thief of Bagdad,’ Made Several Films Abroad,” February 4, 1961, The New York Times; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned:  Phantom Of The Opera (1943), starring Claude Rains, Eddy Nelson, & Suzanna Foster; The Spider Woman Strikes Back (1946), starring Gale Sondergaard & Brenda Joyce; White Savage (1943), starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall, and Sabu; Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944), starring Maria Montez & Jon Hall; It Grows On Trees (1952), Irene Dunne & Dean Jagger; Impact (1949), starring Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Helen Walker, & Anna May Wong; The Red Lantern (1919), starring Alla Nazimova; The Toll of the Sea (1922), staring Kenneth Harlan & Anna May Wong; The Thief of Baghdad (1924), starring Douglas Fairbanks & Anna May Wong; Picadilly (1929), starring Gilda Gray & Anna May Wong; Daughter of the Dragon (1931), starring Anna May Wong and Warner Orland; Shanghai Express (1932), starring Marlene Dietrich & Anna May Wong; The Hatchet Man (1932), starring Loretta Young; The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), starring Myrna Loy; The Son-Daughter (1932), starring Helen Hayes; Tiger Bay (1934), starring Anna May Wong; Chu Chen Chow (1934), starring Anna May Wong; Java Head (1934), starring Anna May Wong; Limehouse Blues (1934), starring George Raft, Jean Parker, & Anna May Wong; The Good Earth (1937), starring Paul Muni & Luise Rainer; Daughter of Shanghai (1937), starring Anna May Wong & Philip Ahn; King of Chinatown (1939), starring Anna May Wong & Sidney Toler; Dangerous to Know (1938), starring Gail Patrick & Anna May Wong;  Island of Lost Men (1939), starring Anna May Wong & J. Carrol Naish; Bombs Over Burma (1942), starring Anna May Wong; Lady From Chungking (1942), starring Anna May Wong; Portrait in Black (1960), starring Lana Turner, Anthony Quinn, & Sandra Dee; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• “THE MAKING OF MAGIC: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ - PART 2” - 4/28/2025 (085)

  EPISODE 85 - “THE MAKING OF MAGIC: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ - PART 2” - 4/28/2025 There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home! As we continue our discussion of the making of “The Wizard of Oz,” this week we explore the score, the songs, the vocals, the transition to television, and some of the many urban legends that surround this classic film. (No, a Munchkin did not hang himself from one of the evil apple trees!) So follow that yellow brick road and check out the fun facts and behind the scene antics of one of America’s most favorite films.  SHOW NOTES:  Sources: Adapting The Wizard of Oz: Musical Versions From Baum to MGM and Beyond (2019), by Danielle Burkett & Dominic McHugh; The Wizard of Oz FAQ: All that’s Left to Know About Life According to Oz (2014), by David J. Hogan; Before The Rainbow (2000), by Mark Evan Schwartz; Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Harold Arlen (1999) Documentary, Dir. Don McGlynn; The Munchkins of Oz (1996), by Stephen Coz; The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic (1990) Documentary, Dir. Jack Haley, Jr; The Making of The Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM -- and the Miracle of Production (1989), by Aljean Harmetz; “The Comedians of Oz,” Winter 1986-87, by Celia Catlett Anderson, Studies in American Humor; The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale, Library of Congress Wizard Of Oz Scarecrow Dance (Deleted Scene), InternetArchive.org  Harold Arlen: Happy with the Blues (1961), by Edward Jablonski; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• "THE MAKING OF MAGIC: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ ( PT. I)" - (084)

  EPISODE 84 - “THE MAKING OF MAGIC: BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE WIZARD OF OZ - PART 1” - 4/21/2025 Perhaps one of the most beloved movies of all time, the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz debuted in that magical year of 1939. Based on the popular children’s books by Frank L. Baum, it tells the story of a Kansas farm girl, Dorothy Gale, who, along with her devoted dog Toto, is transported to the magical land of Oz. This beloved classic has become such a touchstone in pop culture that phrases like “There’s no place like home,” “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore,” and “I’ll get you, my pretty” have entered our collective lexicon. This week, we offer the first of a two part episode that explores the making of this MGM classic film.  SHOW NOTES:  Sources: Adapting The Wizard of Oz: Musical Versions From Baum to MGM and Beyond (2019), by Danielle Burkett & Dominic McHugh; The Wizard of Oz FAQ: All that’s Left to Know About Life According to Oz (2014), by David J. Hogan; Before The Rainbow (2000), by Mark Evan Schwartz; Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Harold Arlen (1999) Documentary, Dir. Don McGlynn; The Munchkins of Oz (1996), by Stephen Coz; The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic (1990) Documentary, Dir. Jack Haley, Jr; The Making of The Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM -- and the Miracle of Production (1989), by Aljean Harmetz; “The Comedians of Oz,” Winter 1986-87, by Celia Catlett Anderson, Studies in American Humor; The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale, Library of Congress Wizard Of Oz Scarecrow Dance (Deleted Scene), InternetArchive.org  Harold Arlen: Happy with the Blues (1961), by Edward Jablonski; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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