Mon, Oct 16, 2023
Hollywood's Oscar ceremony is like the Super Bowl for cinema lovers. But beyond the clothes, the speeches, and the musical numbers, it's all about the winners. And some leave us scratching our heads. Did ":How Green Was My Valley" really deserve the Best Picture Oscar over "Citizen Kane" in 1941? How did CARY GRANT and MYRNA LOY never win competitive Oscars? And who the hell is LUISE RAINER, and how did she rob IRENE DUNNE and BARBARA STANWYCK of their Oscars? Join STEVE CUBINE, writer of the Emmy-Award winning series "Break A Hip," and NAN MCNAMARA, renowned actress and director, as they discuss some of the most baffling Oscar fumbles in the history of the Academy Awards.
Mon, Oct 16, 2023
Planted firmly in the middle of Hollywood is the Knickerbocker Hotel, a big, boxy, building with a faded facade appearing like a sad relic from a gayer time. Only the illuminated block letters of its sign that light up the Hollywood night sky hint at the lively history of this Hollywood landmark that BETTE DAVIS, MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN, and DICK POWELL once called home. From affairs to arrests to seances to suicides, we take a deep dive into the sordid past of this once grand dame of Hollywood.
Mon, Oct 16, 2023
Everyone in old Hollywood can probably be connected by whom they dated, married, or slept with. Two of the most desirable lovers of the era were LANA TURNER and AVA GARDNER, both Hollywood superstars who shared a friendship, similar backgrounds, and many romantic partners, including a husband. Join us as we connect the romantic dots through old Hollywood using Lana and Ava's little black books as our guide.
Mon, Oct 16, 2023
When you drive through Beachwood Canyon, don't be fooled by the droves of tourists vying for the perfect shot of the Hollywood sign or the beautiful stone gates of the village that lead to storybook houses covered with ivy and brilliant bougainvillea. The canyon has had its share of strange, and often dark, Hollywood history including religious cults, suicides, and a love triangle murder that involved popular and prolific Hollywood actor PAUL KELLY. Join us as we explore the happenings that occurred "from beneath the Hollywood sign."
Mon, Oct 16, 2023
The name ANNE REVERE may not ring a bell to many today, but during the 1940s, the Broadway-trained, Tony-winning actress, who was a descendant of Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere, was one of the most revered character actresses in Hollywood. She won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1944 for National Velvet and left an indelible mark on the landscape of film as Gregory Peck's sympathetic mother in Gentleman's Agreement in 1947. Learn about her life, career, and the shameful witch hunt of an obsessed Wisconsin Senator looking to make a name for himself that ended her brilliant Hollywood career.
Sun, Oct 22, 2023
Actress CAROLE LANDIS was a rising star in the 1940s, but her bright light was short-lived. She came from a troubled background and learned early that her looks and sex appeal were valuable commodities that could help her dreams of fame come true. She scratched and clawed her way to Hollywood stardom only to find the dream was hollow. Her quest for love led her to all the wrong men. Her ill-fated love affair with the very-married star REX HARRISON drove her to her untimely death at age 29. Ruled a suicide at the time, years later, Landis' family thinks otherwise. Today, she serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of the Hollywood dream.
Mon, Oct 30, 2023
Halloween has always been a special time for classic movies. From the early Universal Studios monster films to the psychological thrillers of ALFRED HITCHCOCK to the gory blood-bathes of the 1980s slasher films, Hollywood understood that people love to be frightened. In this Halloween episode, hosts Steve and Nan share some of the perhaps lesser-known scary movies to enjoy this Halloween season. Some are really great; some...not so much. But they all have a special place in Steve and Nan's demented little hearts. So pull the covers up tight, keep the lights on, and ignore that thump in the night as they explore a few fun eerie movies.
Sun, Nov 5, 2023
Ever since Cain killed Abel - or, to put it in old Hollywood terms, ever since JOAN FONTAINE rebuffed OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND at the 1941 Oscar ceremony - sibling relationships have been complicated. Listen as we take a look at famous Hollywood siblings, some of whom you may know, others who may be a complete surprise. We'll discuss the operatic singing superstar and her ghoulish TV star sister, the suave urbanite brothers who played bad guys and heels with equal aplomb, and a quartet of singing sisters from the Midwest who melted hearts in the 1940s. But, rest assured, unlike Cain and Abel (or Joan and Olivia), not all of these siblings relationships were as toxic.
Sun, Nov 12, 2023
As we continue our exploration of famous siblings who thrived during the Golden Era of Hollywood, we'll discover that you are definitely not your brother's keeper, especially when we discuss the lives, careers, and relationship of a famous film noir actor and his movie star beefcake brother. We'll also discuss a couple of brassy blonde comediennes who ruled the silver screen in the 1930s and 40s and a pair of beautiful and talented Italian sisters who took Hollywood by storm in the 1950s, but who had very different outcomes.
Sun, Nov 19, 2023
Actor STEVE COCHRAN's life was like a page out of the American macho man's handbook. Raised in Wyoming where he was once a cowhand, he carved a memorable career in Hollywood playing gangsters, villains, adulterers, and bad boys in great films like "The Best Years of Our Lives" and "White Heat." But in a case of art imitating life, this rowdy, randy actor's personal life was just as chaotic and dramatic as his film roles. Find out how his love of women, booze, and trouble proved to be his Achilles heel.
Mon, Nov 27, 2023
Ireland-born MAUREEN O'HARA was not only one of the silver screen's great actresses, she was also a strong independent woman who did not suffer fools gladly. When Confidential magazine, a tabloid known for false stories and unethical journalistic practices, came for her in 1957, she fought back with a vengeance. Her efforts, along with DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, ROBERT MITCHUM, LIZABETH SCOTT, and a bevy of other stars, helped stop the scandal-crazed magazine in its sleazy tracks. Read all about the events and trial that would shocked a nation.
Sun, Dec 3, 2023
Chestnut roasting on that open fire and sleigh bells ringing are nice, but nothing gets you in the mood for the holidays like a classic seasonal movie. Well, get ready to unwrap an early present from Steve and Nan as they share their favorite lesser-known holiday films. And along the way, they discuss everything from Clarence the Angel, French nuns, boxing nuns, ROBERT MITCHUM's drug bust, and millionaires tossing money out of their Park Avenue apartment window. Don't miss this holiday spectacular.
Mon, Dec 11, 2023
As W.C. FIELDS famously said, "Never work with children or animals." Of course, he was probably referring to their ability to steal a scene or their unpredictability. But what would cinema be without child performers? From SHIRLEY TEMPLE to MICKEY ROONEY to NATALIE WOOD to MARY BADHAM, so many incredibly talented tots danced across the silver screen and into our hearts during Hollywood's golden era. This week we'll be taking a look at the lives and careers of a few of our favorites.
Sun, Dec 17, 2023
When Mrs. Gulch stuffs Dorothy Gale's beloved TOTO into her basket and peddles away in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), did your heart break? Of course it did. From RIN TIN TIN to LASSIE to TRIGGER to CHEETA, who can resist those cute, furry little nuggets who can straight out steal a scene right out from under the moist stained Shakespearean thespian with the wag of a tail, the flop of an ear, or the purr of a cry. Listen as Steve and Nan explore some of the four-legged stars who have won the hearts of millions during the classic era of film.
Sun, Dec 24, 2023
There's something about New Year's Eve and assessing the past year that is bittersweet, yet cathartic. It's a time of self-evaluation, introspection, and assessment. In case you're looking for the perfect film to match the myriad of emotions you may be feeling as you reflect, regret, or seek revenge in anticipation of the new year ahead, we've got four that should get you in the mood for 2024. And NEVER forget...There's GOT to be a morning after.
Sun, Dec 31, 2023
To win an Oscar sometimes takes decades of hard work and dedication to your craft - just ask PAUL NEWMAN, GERALDINE PAGE, and JESSICA TANDY. In fact, when Newman finally won the Oscar in 1987 for "The Color of Money," after being nominated six times previously, he didn't even bother to show up to the ceremony. "It's like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years," he told the Associated Press. "Finally, she relents and you say, 'I'm terribly sorry. I'm tired.'" However, there is a small group of actors who didn't have to chase that beautiful Oscar for 80 years. They won for their very first film. This week we take a look at this rarified group.
Sun, Jan 7, 2024
In the film Mildred Pierce (1945), EVE ARDEN manages to steal almost every scene she's in. And, while talking with JOAN CRAWFORD's Mildred about her spoiled, bratty daughter, Veda (ANN BLYTH), she even delivers the film's most iconic line, "Personally, Veda's convinced me that alligators have the right idea. They eat their young." That is the power of a skilled character actress. Their scenes might be limited, and their names may not be above the title, but with the lift of an eyebrow, the purse of a lip, or the widening of their eyes, they can pull focus and make you forget all about the stars. Listen as we discuss the illustrious careers and lives of some of the finest charter actresses to ever work in film.
Mon, Jan 15, 2024
Films of Hollywood's Golden Era are often brightened and made all the better by the fantastic character actors who show up playing fathers, grandfathers, bankers, farmers, chefs, clerks, bosses, and neighbors. The moment you hear the distinctive voice of WALTER BRENNAN, not only do you know it's him, but you know the film will have at least one interesting element. Last week we paid tribute to the ladies, this week we are giving the wonderful male character actors their due. Join us as we discuss their distinctive lives and careers.
Sun, Jan 21, 2024
Cast as ALAN LADD's leading lady in her film debut, Massachusetts-born HELEN WALKER was destined for Hollywood greatness. With her deep voice, coolly blonde good looks, and immense talent, she were perfect for Hollywood of the 1940s. However, her rising star abruptly came crashing to earth after a tragic accident sent her life into a downward spiral of despair and alcoholism. This is a cautionary tale of the dark side of fame. Listen to her compelling and tragic story.
Sun, Jan 28, 2024
Long before notorious trials like O.J. SIMPSON's made momentary celebrities out of legal eagles like JOHNNIE COCHRAN, ROBERT SHAPIRO, and ROBERT KARDASHIAN, there was attorney GREG BAUTZER. From the working class docks of San Pedro, this ambitious Golden Boy with movie-star good looks and a brilliant legal mind became the most trusted confidante of the elite of Hollywood. Not only was he a peerless power broker for the likes of HOWARD HUGHES and KIRK KERKORIAN, but he also dated the most eligible Hollywood actresses, including LANA TURNER, DOROTHY LAMOUR, GINGER ROGERS, JOAN CRAWFORD. This week, we explore the cases, the women, and the life of this legal Lothario.
Sun, Feb 4, 2024
Let's face it, Valentine's Day can be a mixed bag. Either, you're blissfully in love and the day is a romantic dream, or, you are not in love and part of you wants to stomp all the roses and put the chocolate bon-bons in a sling shot and pummel Cupid. Whatever your head space this Valentine's Day, Steve and Nan have a movie for you. Listen in as they share some of their favorite romantic movies to get you in the mood, or give you something to aspire to next year. These movies have a perky female plumber, WWII vets returning from war, and even a wealthy dying woman aboard an ocean liner - something for everyone.
Sun, Feb 11, 2024
Cupid has been stirring things up in Hollywood ever since the very first camera rolled. And when he gets it right, we get CLARK GABLE and CAROLE LOMBARD, JOEL McCREA and FRANCES DEE, and PAUL NEWMAN and JOANNE WOODWARD. But when Cupid gets it wrong...well, let's just say it ain't pretty. Listen as Steve and Nan discuss some Hollywood couplings that should never have happened.
Sun, Feb 18, 2024
It is well documented that the film "Gone With The Wind" started filming before an actress was cast in the lead role of Scarlett O'Hara. Producer DAVID O. SELZNICK made a spectacle out of who would win the coveted role. It became a national obsession. He considered everyone from TALLULAH BANKHEAD to BETTE DAVIS to LUCILLE BALL. He eventually narrowed the field to three finalists: PAULETTE GODDARD, JOAN BENNETT, and JEAN ARTHUR. But in the eleventh hour, a new contender, an unknown Brit named VIVIEN LEIGH, swept in and won the role. Listen as we discuss, debate, and guffaw over other casting choices that almost happened in some of your favorite film classics.
Sun, Feb 25, 2024
During the early days of Hollywood, hordes of young women pilgrimaged West to try to break into the movie business. And like sheep to slaughter, there were just as many men in Hollywood ready to take advantage of these young, inexperienced, and vulnerable young women. However, the Hollywood Studio Club, a hotel for women, run by women, tried to give these women a safe haven in the storm. Started by a librarian and nurtured by movie star MARY PICKFORD, among others, this hotel provided a safe place to live and helped nurture the budding careers of future Hollywood Stars such as MAUREEN O"SULLIVAN, LINDA DARNELL, DOROTHY MALONE, DONNA REED, KIM NOVAK, MARILYN MONROE and SHARON TATE.We'll explore the history and legacy of this very special place in Hollywood History.
Mon, Mar 4, 2024
In a new feature, we are highlighting a "Star of the Month" where we will dive into the life, career, and legacy of a single performer. To kick things off, we'll be discussing the great PAUL DOUGLAS. You may not know his name, but you certainly know his face. With his somewhat craggy mug that usually sported a hang-dog look, he made a career at playing gruff, tough guys who were usually softies underneath, as he does so perfectly as LINDA DARNELL's rough-around-the-edges businessman husband in "A Letter To Three Wives" (1949). So listen in and learn about this most excellent actor.
Sat, Mar 9, 2024
The winners. The losers. The speeches. The gowns. The glamour. The cringy moments. Nothing toys with a film lovers' emotions like the pageantry of the Academy Award ceremony...or the Oscars, as it has become known. Somewhere, right now, there are people still arguing over whether GRACE KELLY deserved to win the Best Actress Oscar in 1955 for "The Country Girl" over JUDY GARLAND for "A Star Is Born." The Oscars breeds its own drama. We've had streakers, protests, Rob Lowe dancing with Snow White, stolen Oscar statues, mixed up winner's envelopes, and even a slap heard around the world. Join us in a very special episode that dives into the history, controversies, and fun facts of the Oscars.
Mon, Mar 18, 2024
Latina star DONA DRAKE, who signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1941, was many things - singer, dancer, actress, bandleader, musician - but one thing she wasn't, as it turned out, was Latin. While Paramount promoted their new discovery as a spitfire Latina born in Mexico City, Drake was, in fact, an African-American woman from Florida who pretended to be Latin, going so far as to learn Spanish fluently, in order to have a better chance at a Hollywood career. Listen to this fascinating story of one woman who went undercover just so she wouldn't have to play the maid.
Mon, Mar 25, 2024
Just when many classic films stars thought they were finished in showbiz, a wonderful thing happened - 1970s disaster movies. Producers like IRWIN ALLEN and JENNINGS LANG shepherded in an exciting, over-the-top, new genre that capitalized on our fears. They also smartly cast many classic film actors in these movies, providing familiar faces who added comfort and emotional investment. These films proved not only lucrative for these golden era stars, but kept them in the public eye longer and often revived careers. Listen this week as we talk about our favorite film icons as they are shaken, flipped, torched, and dropped from the sky in the great 70s disaster films.
Mon, Apr 1, 2024
Our "Star of the Month" is the fabulous JAN STERLING, who was married to our March "Star of the Month," PAUL DOUGLAS. Blonde, beautiful, and often deadly on screen, Sterling started in theatre, but made a name for herself portraying tough dames, femme fatales, and sexy seductresses in films such as "Caged," "Ace In the Hole" and "The High and the Mighty." However, her upbringing was quite different from these wayward women she played so convincingly; she was actually from a very wealthy and prominent family. She had a stellar career, but many heartbreaks off-camera. This week, we discuss the life and career of this most memorable lady.
Mon, Apr 8, 2024
No one played sensitive, lost souls quite like ROBERT WALKER. However, he is best known for playing one of the most complicated, psychopaths in film history, Bruno Antony in ALFRED HITCHCOCK's masterpiece "Strangers On A Train" (1951). His journey from playing sensitive innocents to playing Bruno is reflective of his troubled, turbulent life, and the heartbreak from which he never recovered. This week, we'll discuss the artistry and the tragedy of this incredible actor.
Mon, Apr 15, 2024
From April 18th through the 21st the 15th Annual TCM Classic Film Festival will be held in Hollywood. Steve and Nan were fortunate enough to be invited to be a part of the media that covers the festival this year. To get everyone in the mood, we have a special episode all about the festival, and everything you need to know. We give you an overview of what to expect and we'll let you know who is scheduled to attend. In addition, we talk about several movies being shown this year that we are especially excited about.
Sun, Apr 21, 2024
One of the most scandalous trials in early Hollywood history involved actress MARY ASTOR, who had made a name for herself playing virginal ingenues and good girls. Mary, who had kept a diary for most of her life, found her words used as a sensationalized weapon against her in her quest to regain custody of her 4-year-old child in 1936 after her acrimonious divorce from her doctor husband. The trial made worldwide headlines. Her sexy, salacious diary entries showed the world a more sensual side to our virginal Mary, and, in many ways, helped propel her career into the stratosphere. Listen as we discuss Mary Astor, her life, her career, and her shocking purple diaries that took center stage in a Los Angeles courtroom.
Thu, Apr 4, 2024
Suave, debonair, and effortlessly charming, ZACHARY SCOTT is best known for his role in MICHAEL CURTIZ's film noir classic Mildred Pierce (1945). As the duplicitous, silver-tongued charmer Monte Beragon, he romances Mildred, played by JOAN CRAWFORD (in her Oscar-winning role), and Mildred's daughter, Veda (ANN BLYTH). This became Scott's signature role: the sexy cad who was usually at his best swindling, seducing, or being a general scoundrel. It was always fun watching Scott's dastardly ways unfold. He could rock a tux, looked naked without a martini in his hand, and always had a cigarette close by. He was so magnetic that he could even make film-goers feel sorry for him. While he seldom got to play the good guy, when he did, as in what is perhaps one of his best roles in JEAN RENOIR's The Southerner (1945), you realize the versatility that he seldom had the opportunity to display. With a career that included over 40 films and dozens of television roles, ZACHARY SCOTT is our Star of the Month.
Sun, May 5, 2024
In "It's A Wonderful Life," BEULAH BONDI played the most loving mother to JAMES STEWART. Ma Bailey is the epitome of sweetness, kindness, and support, so it's pretty shocking when we meet the Ma Bailey who would have existed had George Bailey not been born. She's cold, bitter, and unkind. It gives Bondi the wonderful opportunity to play two versions of the same character, which she does flawlessly. So, to celebrate Mother's Day, Nan and Steve take a page from Bondi's playbook and discuss classic cinema's good and bad mothers.
Mon, May 13, 2024
Every major Hollywood studio has its recognizable logo. Paramount has its "mountain of stars," 20th Century Fox has its roving klieg lights, and RKO has its radio towers. However, two of the most famous studio logos must be MGM's "Leo, the Lion" and Columbia's regal "Torch Lady." In this week's episode, Steve and Nan dive into the history of these two iconic symbols of Hollywood excellence. From the image design to the models used to the roaring lions, we will tell you how these two ever-evolving images came to represent two of Hollywood's finest movie studios.
Mon, May 20, 2024
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. That may not be the case when it came to the star system of old Hollywood. When an actor like CLARK GABLE or GRETA GARBO or ROCK HUDSON emerged as a star, every studio in town tried to capitalize and create their own version. For every MARILYN MONROE, there's a dozen CLEO MOOREs. Often studios would groom an actor with similar looks and skills to be a "threat" to bigger stars who become difficult to work with, or get older and less appealing, or refuse to appear in assigned films. Most of the stars groomed as a threat to a bigger star usually faded into obscurity, but others learned to get out of the looming shadow of the big star and carve out a career of their own. So this week, we pay tribute to the stars who got their starts by being groomed to replace another star.
Sun, May 26, 2024
War is Hell. As our nation prepares to honor the brave men and women who lost their lives defending our freedom on Memorial Day, Steve and Nan offer up a special episode where they will discuss a few war-themed films that have resonated with them over the years. Their choices cover everything from the Civil War to World War II.