Trivia Tuesday: Mickey Rooney

Born Joseph Yule, Jr. on this date in 1920

Was considered for the role of Archie Bunker in "All in the Family"

Married eight times

Was considered for "Summer Stock" (1950) before Gene Kelly eventually won the lead

Holds the record for longest film career at 89 years.

Has four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Served in World War II, eventually reaching the rank of Sergeant

Starred in fifteen "Andy Hardy" films for MGM

Was the voice of Santa Claus in four Rankin/Bass stop motion Christmas specials

Interred at Hollywood Forever cemetery

RIP Carla Laemmle

RIP Carla Laemmle, who's passed away at the age of 104. The niece of Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle, Carla lived a very unique life. While living on the Universal Studios lot, she was able to have a first hand look at many of the films being made there and ended up playing one of the ballerinas in the classic The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney, and she also spoke the first line in a sound horror film when she appeared in Dracula. I met her last year and heard her speak before a screening of Dracula at the 2012 TCM Film Fest. She was a sweet lady and always had a smile on her face.

Trivia Tuesday: Hattie McDaniel

Born on this date in 1892 in Wichita, Kansas

The first African American to win an Academy Award, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as "Mammy" in Gone With The Wind

Wanted to be buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, but was denied because of her race and was buried in Rosedale Cemetery instead. A cenotaph was dedicated to her in Hollywood Forever in 1999 on October 26th, the anniversary of her death.

Unable to attend the Atlanta premiere of Gone With The Wind because of segregation in the south, but attended the Hollywood premiere of the film

Has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for radio and one for film

Upon her death, she left her Oscar to Howard University, but it was lost in the sixties during the race riots and has never been found.

Often opened up her own home to African American actors who couldn't find decent accommodations in Hollywood because of their race.

Actively participated in USO shows during World War II

Appears on a US postage stamp released in 2006 as part of the Black Heritage series.

Her father was a former slave, who also fought in the Civil War.

Trivia Tuesday: Jimmy Stewart

Born on this date in 1908 in Indiana, Pennsylvania

His museum in his hometown was dedicated on his birthday in 1995

Never took acting lessons, instead relying more on actually working

Turned down the lead in "On Golden Pond", a role that Henry Fonda went on to win the Oscar for.

Wanted to play the role of Roger Thornhill in North by Northwest, but Hitchcock wanted to use Cary Grant.

His favorite type of films were Westerns, and greatly dislike war films because of their usually inaccurate portrayals of war.

Inducted to the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1972.

Enlisted in the service before the US entered World War II and eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General

It's a Wonderful Life was his first film in five years, after taking that time off for his service in the Army

Spoke before Congress in 1988, along with Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and Martin Scorcese, against Ted Turner's attempts to colorize classic black and white films.

Trivia Tuesday: Gary Cooper

Died on this date in 1961, only six days after his 60th birthday

Had several affairs with high profile actresses including Clara Bow, Lupe Velez, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Tallulah Bankhead, and Patricia Neal.

The only actor that Alvin York would allow to play him in the film based on his life

Inducted to the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Heritage Museum in 1966

Won an Oscar for his roles in Sergeant York and High Noon

Turned down the role of Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind, The Ringo Kid in Stagecoach, and Norman Maine in A Star is Born

Founded his own production company with Samuel Goldwyn, International Pictures, in 1944. He sold it to Universal in 1946 and they changed the name to Universal-International.

Had a full face lift in 1958, which many people said left him looking very different from before.

Originally buried at Holy Cross cemetery in Los Angeles, his widow had his body moved and reburied under a three ton boulder in 1974 in Southampton, New York 

Was close friends with Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Bing Crosby, and James Stewart

Happy Mother's Day!

In no particular order, let's take a look at some of film's most memorable mothers, in honor of Mother's Day.

Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce in Mildred Pierce (1945)

Beulah Bondi as Mrs. Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Mrs. Bates in Psycho (1960)

Margaret Wycherly as "Ma" Jarrett in White Heat (1949)

Bambi's mom in Bambi (1942)

Barbara Stanwyck as Stella Dallas in Stella Dallas (1937)

Mary Astor as Marmee in Little Women (1949)

Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (1965)

Myrna Loy as Mrs. Lillian Gilbreth in Cheaper By the Dozen (1950)

Katherine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter (1968)

Great Garbo as Anna Karenina in Anna Karenina (1935)

Rosalind Russell as as Rose Hovick in Gypsy (1962)

Leopoldine Konstantine as Madame Sebastian in Notorious (1946)

Katherine Hepburn as Violet Venable in Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Classic Film Gifts - The Glamour Girl

Ah! The glamour of old Hollywood! It was a time and place where everyone woke in the morning looking perfectly made up for the day, and people dressed up even if they were just going to the store. No pajamas at the airport for them! Here are some of my favorite items, reminiscent of the glamorous ladies from the classic era.

What glamour girl doesn't love perfume? One of the most classic fragrances, Marilyn Monroe said Chanel No. 5 was the only thing she wore to bed. Of course this fragrance isn't for everyone. Other great fragrances to try:
Femme by Rochas, worn by Mae West
Jicky by Guerlain, worn by Brigitte Bardot
Joy by Jean Patou, worn by Josephine Baker
Mitsouko by Guerlain, worn by Jean Harlow
Youth Dew by Estee Lauder, worn by Joan Crawford
Shalimar by Guerlain, worn by Rita Hayworth

Whatever the personality, there's a fragrance for every glamour girl!

Of course no glamour girl is complete without jewelry! I came across The Hollywood Collection by accident one day, and was immediately intrigued that all of the designs are based on jewelry worn by classic actresses either in their everyday life or in the films they made. And it's all affordable! They always have a weekly special, like this reproduction at right of a ring owned by Jean Harlow.
I've bought four pieces from them so far and have been extremely pleased with the quality.

Sleep like Audrey Hepburn with this homemade sleep mask similar to the one worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. You can find these in several stores on Etsy, or if you're feeling particularly creative you could even try your hand at making your own. Really great, detailed instructions can be found on sites like Oh Lovely Lolo or White Tee Black Dress 

There are soooo many great places to find vintage inspired fashion and you can find something for any occasion. Modcloth allows you to shop by decade and you can find a wide range of items from casual to formal and you can even find great vintage inspired swimwear. Speaking of swimwear, my favorite right now is The Marilyn from Pin Up Girl Clothing. I wore it on the Turner Classic Movies cruise and got so many compliments! They have it in a variety of colors and it's so comfortable. Other sites to check out include:

Retro Glam

Plastic Land

My Baby Jo

Bettie Page Clothing

Daddy-O's

Decades of Fashion

Check out your local second hand shops too for some great finds!