From Beneath the Hollywood Sign

• "SECOND ACT: REDISCOVERING OVERLOOKED MUSICALS" (094)

  "SECOND ACT: REDISCOVERING OVERLOOKED MUSICALS" (094) - 6/30/25 In this episode of the podcast, Steve and Nan dive into some of their favorite classic Hollywood musicals that they feel do not get their due. They share fond memories and behind-the-scenes tidbits about timeless films like Summer Stock, State Fair, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. With infectious enthusiasm, they discuss the charm of Gene Kelly’s choreography, Judy Garland’s unforgettable voice, and the sweeping scores that still resonate decades later. Whether you're a seasoned fan or a newcomer to the genre, this episode is a heartfelt tribute to the magic of classic movie musicals. SHOW NOTES:  Sources: 75 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards (2004), by Robert Osborne; My Path and My Detours: An Autobiography (1985), by Jane Russell; The Hollywood Musical: Every Hollywood Musical from 1927 to the Present Day (1981), by Clive Hirschhorn; The Films of 20th Century Fox (1979), by Tony Thomas & Aubrey Solomon; “Judy Garland and Gene Kelly team up – off and on screen – for “Summer Stock,”  May 6, 2019, by Kay Reynolds, HighDefWatch.com; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com;  IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned:  The Gay Divorcee (1934), starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Alice Brady, Edward Everett  Horton & Betty Grable; State Fair (1945), starring Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haynes, Vivian Blaine, Fay Bainter, & Charles Winninger; The Singing Nun (1966), starring Debbie Reynolds, Greer Garson, Ricardo Montalban, Agnes Moorehead, & Juanita Moore; Gentlemen Prefer Bondes (1953), starring Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, & Norma Varden; Summer Stock (1950), starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers, Marjorie Main, Gloria De Haven, & Eddie Bracken; Orchestra Wives (1942), starring Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero, Glenn Miller & his Band, Lynn Bari, Carole Landis, Mary Beth Hughes, Virginia Gilmore & The Nicholas Brothers; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• "EDITH HEAD: OLD HOLLYWOOD'S QUEEN OF FASHION" (093)

  "EDITH HEAD: OLD HOLLYWOOD'S QUEEN OF FASHION" (093) EPISODE 93 -  6/23/25 With eight Academy Awards to her name — more than any other woman in history — EDITH HEAD wasn't just a costume designer; she was a storyteller in fabric, silhouette, and sparkle. From BETTE DAVIS to GRACE KELLY to AUDREY HEPBURN, she dressed the biggest stars of the silver screen, leaving an indelible mark on both fashion and film. In this episode, we explore how a shy schoolteacher became the most powerful woman in Hollywood wardrobes, her collaborations with iconic directors like Alfred Hitchcock, and how her designs helped shape characters, define eras, and influence fashion far beyond the studio lot. So, slip into something fabulous, and let’s step behind the curtain into the life and legacy of the great Edith Head. SHOW NOTES:  Sources: Dressing Up The Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head (12022), by Jeanne Walker Harvey;  Edith Head: The 50 Year Career of Hollywood’s Greatest Costume Designer (2010), by Jay Jorgensen; Edith Head: The Life and Times of Hollywood’s Celebrated Costume Designer (2003), by David Chierichetti; Edith Head’s Hollywood (1983), by Edith Head; The Dress Doctor (1959), by Edith Head; “How To Dress For the Oscars,” February 11, 2015, ⁠www.oscars.com⁠; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned:  Wings (1927); The Saturday Night Kid (1929); Love Me Tonight (1932); She Done Him Wrong (1933); Little Miss Marker (1934); Rhythm on the Range (1936); College Holiday (1936); The Jungle Princess (1936); Internes Can’t Take Money (1937); The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938); Thanks for the Memories (1938); Mad about Music (1938); Dangerous To Know (1938);  Beau Geste (1939); Remember the Night (1939); The Cat and the Canary (1939);  The Lady Eve (1941); Sullivan’s Travels (1941); The Glass Key (1942); I Married a Witch (1942); Star Spangled Rhythm (1942); Hold That Blonde (1945); The Blue Dahlia (1946); Holiday Inn (1942); The Uninvited (1944); Double Indemnity (1944); Incendiary Blonde (1945); To Each His Own (1946); The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946); A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1949); The Great Gatsby (1949);  Notorious (1946); The Emperor’s Waltz (1948); The Heiress (1949); All About Eve (1950); Sunset Boulevard (1950); Samson & Delilah (1949); A Place in the Sun (1951); Roman Holiday (1953); Sabrina (1954);  Funny Face (1957); Rear Window (1954); To Catch a Thief (1955); The Trouble With Harry (1955); The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956); Vertigo (1958); Ace In the Hole (1951); The Greatest Show on Earth (1952); Shane (1953); White Christmas (1954);  The Rose Tattoo (1955); The Rainmaker (1956); The Ten Commandments (1957); Loving You (1958); The Pink Panther (1963); A Shot In the Dark (1964); The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1963); Love With the Proper Stranger (1963); Sex and the Single Girl (1964); Inside Daisy Clover (1965); The Great Race (1965);  Penelope (1966); This Property is Condemned (1966); G.I. Blues (1960);  Blue Hawaii (1961);  Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962);  Fun In Acapulco (1963);  Roustabout (1964); Paradise Hawaiian Style (1966); What a Way to Go! (1964); Sweet Charity (1969); Summer and Smoke (1961);  Hud (1963); The Birds (1963); Harlow (1965); Barefoot in the Park (1967); Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (1969); Topaz (1969); Airport (1970); Airport ‘75 (1974); Airport ‘77 (1977); Myra Breckenridge (1970); Lady Sings The Blues (1972); The Sting (1974); The Great Waldo Pepper (1975);,  The Man Who Would Be King (1976);  Family Plot (1976); Gable and Lombard (1976); W.C. Fields and Me (1976); Rooster Cogburn (1975); Sextette (1978); Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982); --------------------------------- ⁠http://www.airwavemedia.com⁠ Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• “BORN TO BE BAD - Old Hollywood's Favorite Brats" (092) 6/16/25

  EPISODE 92 -  “BORN TO BE BAD - Old Hollywood's Favorite Brats" - 6/16/25 This week, we’re getting into the pint-sized punks, the tantrum-throwers, the eye-rollers, and the sharp-tongued little legends who strutted across the silver screen like they owned the studio. That’s right—we’re talking about our favorite bratty kids in classic movies. You know the type: too smart for their age, too bold for their britches, and way too good at stealing scenes from their adult co-stars. Whether they were lighting up the screen with sass or shutting it down with a glare, these kids were iconic—and let’s be honest, a little terrifying. So buckle up, because we’re about to revisit the child stars who threw shade before it was cool, and tantrums that deserved an Oscar. Let the chaos begin. SHOW NOTES:  Sources: “There’s Always Tomorrow,” August 13, 2021, by Richard Brody, The New Yorker;  “Jane Withers, Child Star Who Later Won Fame in Commercials, Does at 95,” August 8, 2021, The New York Times; “Denise Nickerson, Violet in ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Has Died,” July 11, 2019, Times Union; “Violence to Lord of Flies,” December 19, 2012, RogerEbert.com;  “A Long Way From Brooklyn,” April 23, 2010,  by Dave Kehr, New York Times; “Bonita Granville Wrather, 65, an Actress and Executive (Obit),” October 8, 1988, The New York Times; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• "STARS BENEATH OUR FEET- THE HISTORY OF THE WALK OF FAME" (091)

  FBTHS #091 - "STARS BENEATH OUR FEET- THE HISTORY OF THE WALK OF FAME" 6/09/25 The Hollywood Walk of Fame holds a unique allure as both a glamorous symbol of celebrity and a living monument to the history of entertainment. Stretching along 10 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, its iconic pink terrazzo stars honor the achievements of thousands of actors, musicians, directors, and other entertainment pioneers. Since its creation in 1960, the Walk has served not only as a tribute to individual fame but also as a reflection of shifting cultural values and artistic milestones. It draws millions of visitors each year, eager to walk among the legends and connect with the rich legacy of Hollywood’s golden era and beyond. As both a tourist attraction and a cultural archive, the Walk of Fame remains a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of entertainment on global culture. Join us this week as we delve into the history and historical significance of this Hollywood landmark.  SHOW NOTES:  Sources: “25 Fun Facts About the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” July 25, 2018, by Jennifer M Wood, Mental Floss; “Muhammad Ali dead: Why the iconic boxer's Hollywood star isn't on the Walk of Fame,” June 3, 2017, by May Bulman, Independent; “Secrets of the Chinese,” July 23, 2012, Variety; “Johnny Grant, 84, Who Spread Hoorays for Hollywood, Is Dead,” January 11, 2008, New York Times; "Hollywood, brought to you by …” July 22, 2008, by Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times; walkoffame.com/history; hollywoodchamber.net; johnnygrant.com; projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/about/#creation-myth; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• "MARK STEVENS: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH" (090)

  "MARK STEVENS: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH" The name MARK STEVENS probably doesn’t ring a bell with moviegoers today. However, he’s one of those actors who once you see him on screen, you say, “Oh, yeah, THAT guy!” Still, at one time, he was a very in-demand leading man who was always compelling and had a tough-guy likability that brightened up many a hum-drum movie. He may not have reached the upper echelon of fame like contemporaries ALAN LADD or DANA ANDREWS, but he certainly left his mark — particularly in “The Dark Corner” with a pre-TV LUCILLE BALL. Like CHARLES LAUGHTON, DICK POWELL, and IDA LUPINO, he also became a pioneer of the actor-turned-director. Today, we take a look at his long and varied career and celebrate him as our Star of the Month. SHOW NOTES:  Sources: The Bad Boys of Film Noir (2008), by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry; “Today’s Underrated Actor Spotlight: Mark Stevens,” February 20, 2018, by Baynum, TheTinselTownTwins.com; “Mark Stevens: Patience is Poison!, (2012), Noir City Annual; “Mark Stevens: Man of Many Talents,” February 2003, Classic Images; “Romance of Actor With Hedy Ended,” September 24, 1947, Daily News; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned:  Destination Tokyo (1943), starring Cary grant & John Garfield; The Doughgirls (1944), starring Ann Sheridan; Hollywood Canteen (1944), starring Bette Davis & John Garfield; God Is My Co-Pilot (1945), starring Dennis Morgan & Dane Clark; Rhapsody In Blue (1945), starring Robert ALda & Joan Leslie;  Within These Walls (1945), starring Thomas Mitchell & Mary Anderson; From This Day Forward (1946), starring Joan Fontaine & Mark Stevens; The Dark Corner (1946), starring Mark Stevens & Lucille Ball; I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947), starring June Haver & Mark Stevens; The Street With No Name (1948), starring Richard Widmark & mark Stevens; The Snake Pit (1948), starring Olivia de Havilland; Sand (1949), starring Mark Stevens, Coleen Gray, & Rory Calhoun; Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949), starring June Haver & Mark Stevens; Dancing In the Dark (1949), staring Wiliam Powell; Please Believe Me (1950), starring Deborah Kerr, Mark Stevens, Robert Walker, & Peter Lawford; Before Midnight and Dawn (1950), starring Mark Stevens, Edmond O’Brien, & Gale Storm; Katie Did It (1950), starring Ann Blyth & Mark Stevens; Target Unknown (1951),staring Mark Stevens; In Little Egypt (1951), starring Mark Stevens & Rhonda Fleming; Reunion in Rio (1952), starring Gigi Perreau, Mark Stevens, & Frances Dee; Jack Slade (1953), starring Mark Stevens Cry Vengeance (1954), starring Mark Stevens & Martha Hyer; Time Table (1956), starring Mark Stevens & Felicia Farr; September Storm (1960), starring Mark Stevens & Joanne Dru Escape From Hell Island (1963), starring Mark Stevens; Fate is the Hunter (1964), starring Glenn Ford, Nancy Kwan, Rod Taylor, & Suzanne Pleshette; Frozen Alive (1964), starring Mark Stevens; Sunscorched (1965), starring Mark Stevens; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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