musicalnovelty

I'm sure you'll enjoy PICTURE PALACE, especially if you liked PRIVATE LESSONS. They both feature the real Dawn O'Day (not Anne Shirley). I'm a big fan of hers...wish she made more films. By the way, if you hadn't yet noticed, the latest Vitaphone Newsletter is posted. Go here and then click on Vol. 12 #2. http://www.vitaphoneproject.com/

Ray, I'm not sure who that actor is (but I agree with you, he's certainly not Mitchell Lewis). I saw that the IMDb page for THE LAST LESSON does not have the exact release date, just the year. I added the date (December 19, 1942) Two different sources agree on that date: "Motion Picture Herald" shorts release charts and "The Exhibitor" shorts release charts. Let's hope the IMDb accepts it. I was hoping those papers' reviews might list the actors, but unfortunately, no (at least not "The Exhibitor"). But here's their review of the short, from their January 13, 1943 issue, page 1190, in case you might find it of interest: THE LAST LESSON - Metro. Miniature. Taken from the famous Daudet story of the last lesson taught in the schools of Lorraine after the German occupation of the last century, the reel has a striking similarity to the situation of today. As in today's case, restrictions were put on the schools then, with the people vowing to keep their own way of life, and drive the invader out. Powerful and moving drama as the town gathers to hear the school teacher give his last lesson in French, this places high on the list of emotional shorts. Rating: Excellent.

That's Clifton Young (real first name: Robert) who was in the Our Gang series in the late 1920's & early 1930's as the character "Bonedust" (where DID they come up with some of those names?!). He kept acting as an adult mostly in Warner Bros. movies, plus several of the "Joe McDoakes" shorts (also at Warners). I believe he died young, in his early thirties.

I think I recognize her! Beatrice Pons. She was a regular on the TV series "Car 54 Where Are You?" as Gunther Toody's wife. She had also been on the "Sergeant Bilko"/"Phil Silvers Show" before that.

Yes, that's it...none of those three films was ever released. They were all major studio films that were completed but then shelved or "written off" and never released. BORN TO FIGHT (1932 Fox feature) and STOP SADIE STOP (1933 MGM short) are now regarded as lost but KEG O' MY HEART (1933 Hal Roach/MGM short, originally sceduled for release on Nov. 11, 1933) existed in fragments that hadn't been officially assembled before the studio decided to scrap it. About ten years ago the parts were located and finally assembled and the short was given what could be considered its very first release - and that release was on TCM! It's among the group of Roach shorts that TCM has been showing since 2006. On January 30, 2007 TCM ran the short (the only time so far). So, Kid_Dabb got it, and it's your turn to go next...

Another clue: Actually, this is tough...I can't think of any clues that would help... Let's just say you probably wouldn't see any of those three films advertised in your local papers if you wanted to check what's playing at the movie theater back then.

Well, it was just a guess... Knowing how special the song is to you, I hope you also like this popular version from 1960: I love the song/tune too and like this version as well as the way it's played in old movies. I'll try to think of a good one to post...

Could it be maybe how about... "Perfidia"?

I've been a big fan of hers for years, too. But unfortunately she worked most of her career at studios that are difficult for TCM to get movies from (Fox, Paramount, Columbia). So sadly we get to see very little of her on TCM.

And mention must be made of the actress who played the maid, "Chico": Theresa Harris. I like how at one point in the movie a character calls her "fantastic" - he said it!

ginnyfan said... Finally, Betty Jane Graham (1923) was one of the classroom girls in ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO. Betty Jane had been in film since age four in mostly small uncredited roles. She would leave the business in 1944, just shortly after Virginia. I had trouble finding a photo other than of her as a small child since a New York model took over the name in Hollywood as soon as our Betty Jane retired and worked under it for two years. I'm pretty sure this one is of our Betty Jane, though. It's a birthday party in 1943 and Betty Jane is in there. From left to right are birthday girl Peggy Ryan, Gwen Carter (soon to be Mrs. Donald O'Connor), Betty Jane Graham, Judy Garland, Marcie Mae Jones. =========================================== =========================================== I'm very familiar with Betty Jane Graham and can assure you that yes that is she in the center in the photo of the five young ladies at the 1943 birthday party. But whose birthday was it?

Upcoming Hal Roach shorts on TCM: July 18, 2013 - OKAY TOOTS! (1934) - Charley Chase. July 21, 2013 - BEAU HUNKS (1931) - Laurel & Hardy.

Charley Chase short OKAY TOOTS! (1934) on TCM, Thursday morning, July 18, 2013 at 7:11 A.M. (eastern time).

That's Bessie Love. She can be seen on TCM occasionally in early talkies, usually MGM Pictures. She made some movies in England later in her career.

I agree that's Jean Arthur. And will add that the still is promoting her 1930 Paramount movie THE RETURN OF DR. FU MANCHU (although not having seen it, I have no idea what the connection is to the unique shirt she's displaying).

That's Helen Morgan. She really didn't make a lot of films. She's great in the 1936 version of SHOW BOAT. In her biopic she was portrayed by Ann Blyth - THE HELEN MORGAN STORY (1957).

Oh yes, very familiar with: Ruth Etting.

He actually released a lot of records over a pretty long career. His biggest hit would have been "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in 1952 (I believe). It was also a big Christmas hit the following year, so they had him record a silly sequel song "I Saw Mommy Do the Mambo with You Know Who" in 1954.

A little more about Tex Beneke: A few years after Glenn Miller's death Tex took over leadership of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. In the late 1940's he started his own band. His real first name was Gordon.

Winifred ("Wini") Shaw. The famous image is from the "Lullaby of Broadway" number in the movie GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935.

That's Alison Skipworth, perhaps best remembered for her appearances with W.C. Fields in a few classic Paramount comedies in the early 1930's. She was also seen recently on TCM in the John Gilbert movie THE CAPTAIN HATES THE SEA (1934).

That's Ish Kabibble from Kay Kyser's band. His real name was Merwyn Bogue.

MilesArcher said... Did you notice that when Jinx Falkenburg was on "Life" in the early forties, the magazine was priced at ten cents? When Bing and Joan appeared in 1946, the price had risen to fifteen cents. ====================================== Oh well, that's life, one might say!

MilesArcher said... "Cover Girl" was released in March of 1944, when she (Cheryl Archer) would have been six... ==================================== Just for the record, COVER GIRL was filmed between July 3 and November 13, 1943. No info on exactly when during that period the "Cover Girl" number was filmed, or exactly how long the cover girls were directly involved in the film's production. I'm sure in addition to the actual filming, they would have done a lot of publicity and posing for stills, etc. The stills I have of the cover girls from the movie posing with Fibber McGee and Molly are Columbia Pictures stills, not NBC Radio stills. Although I have hundreds of Fibber & Molly radio shows recorded, I don't recall hearing the one on which the cover girls appeared. I'll try to find out the date of that show and if it's available. It would be interesting to know if the girls appeared on the radio show during the movie's production or after it was released to promote it.

markbeckuaf said... ...Lois Moran stole the show as the golddigger who falls in love with the drunken mug! I love her SO much, she's so cute and spunky and sexy as heck!! ================================== mark and Fred, You ain't seen nothin' yet if you're Lois Moran fans! Check out this 1929 rarity: (especially Lois's song at the 12:35 point): And you ain't seen nothin' till you've seen this film in 35mm! I have had the pleasure of viewing the only existing 35mm print several times as well as the sole known 16mm print (from which this copy was made) projected on the big screen also. You'd get to see a lot more of Lois (unfortunately in this transfer some of her head & feet got cut off.)