On This Day

Hi

Back on track

On this day September 30th

116 years ago the director Lewis Seiler was born he directed Pitsburg

108 years ago Elmer Green was born, Elmer was not an actor he was a sound man and worked on only two pictures one of which was Rio Grande.

105 years ago the actor Philip Dorn was born in Holland, he was in The Fighting Kentuckian and Re-Union in France

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From IMDB

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A former matinee idol in Holland and Germany, he fled to America before WWII and portrayed anti-Nazi patriots and continental romancers in Hollywood. Forced to retire after suffering an injury while on stage in Holland 1955, he lived out the rest of his life in relative seclusion. Dogged by ill health (phlebitis) in post-war years, he suffered the first of a series of hart attacks 1945.

48 years ago the English Actor Jack Gargan died aged 58 he was in Pittsburgh (not the place the film)

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 1st October (Where did September go?)

122 years ago Sid Swaney was born he was the gaffer on Sands of Iwo Jma.

116 years ago the English actor Stanley Holloway was born in Littlehampton (which is a bus ride from where I live) better known for his stage ability and monologues (Like Albert and The Lion) he nevertheless made a number of fine films including among which were The Lavender Hill Mob and in Harm's Way.
From IMDB

Quote

Was nominated for Broadway's 1957 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) in "My Fair Lady," a role he recreated in an Oscar-nominated performance in the film version of the same name, My Fair Lady (1964).
Holloway appeared with Rex Harrison in the stage production of "My Fair Lady". Harrison had a reputation for being very abrupt with his fans. One night after a performance of the show, Holloway and Harrison left by the stage door. It was late, cold and pouring rain and there was an old woman standing alone outside the door. When she saw Harrison, she asked him for his autograph. He told her to "Sod off", and she was so enraged at this that she rolled up her program and hit Harrison with it. Holloway congratulated him on not only making theater history, but, for the first time in world history, "the fan has hit the sh*t."
Almost backed out of the original Broadway production of "My Fair Lady" during rehearsals, when he felt that director Moss Hart wasn't paying enough attention to his character. Finally, Hart took him aside and said, "Look, Stanley, I have my hands full with a leading man who's never starred in a musical before and a leading lady who's never played the lead in a musical before. You've done both. So, if I DON'T talk to you, you should take it as a compliment." Holloway burst out laughing and never brought up the subject again

109 years ago the actor Jack Story seen in 86 pictures was born he appeared in Angel and the Badman and They Were Expendable.

103 years ago Richard Loo was born in Hawaii. His oriental appearance made him perfect for playing Chineses or Japanese characters and he appeared in Operation Pacific, Flying Tigers, Back To Bataan and The Conqueror.
From IMDB

Quote

One of the most familiar Asian character actors in American films of the 1930s and 1940s, Richard Loo was most often stereotyped as the Japanese enemy flier, spy or interrogator during the Second World War. Chinese by ancestry and Hawaiian by birth, Loo spent his youth in Hawaii, then moved to California as a teenager. He attended the University of California and attempted a career in business. However, the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent economic depression forced him to start over. He became involved with amateur, then professional, theater companies and in 1931 made his first film. Like most Asian actors in non-Asian countries, he played primarily small, stereotypical roles, though he rose quickly to familiarity, if not fame, in a number of fine films. His features led him to be a favorite movie villain, and the coming of World War II gave him greater prominence in roles as vicious Japanese soldiers in successful pictures such as The Purple Heart (1944) and God Is My Co-Pilot (1945). He had a rare heroic role as a weary Japanese-American soldier in the Korean War drama The Steel Helmet (1951), but spent far too much of his career in later years performing stock roles. His wife, Bessie Loo, was a well-known Hollywood agent.

And on the same day the actor Joe Kirk was also born. In almost fifty pictures he featured in Pittsburgh.

45 years ago Donald Cook died aged 60. Among the 66 films he was in was Baby Face.

19 years ago the actress June Clyde died aged 77. She played the Bonita the second female lead in Arizona.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 2nd October

114 years ago the actors James Craven and henry Victor were born the first was in Flying Leathernecks the second in Seven Sinners.

regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 3rd October:-

132 years ago the actor Charles Middleton was born. Best known for playing Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon serials he appeared in almost two hundred pictures including Alleghaney Uprising and The Shepherd of the Hills.

69 years ago the actor Anthony Quinn married Katherine DeMille the move did him no harm whatsoever.

23 years ago the singer and actor?? Bill Seckler died aged 78, he only appeared in 5 pictures and was a member of the Biltmore Quartet in Words and Music.

22 years ago the actor Steve Pendelton died aged 76 he had a minor supporting role in I Married A Woman.

8 years ago the actor Roddy McDowell died aged 70 he was in The Greatest Story Ever Told and The Longest Day

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day October 4th

78 years ago the writer and producer Andrew J fenady was born he wrote and produced Chisum including the opening lyrics.

88 years ago the actress Ruth Rogers was born she appeared in The Night Riders.

82 years ago John Larch was born he had a minor role in How The West Was Won.

100 years ago the actress Constance Howard was born. She only appeared in 10 pictures ad the connection with John Wayne is very loose as she featured in Mother Machree.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 5th October

115 years ago Sam Godfrey was born he only appeared in four pictures one of which was The Life of Jimmy Dolan.

112 years ago James Bradbury jnr was born. he played the ventriloquist in Shadow of the Eagle.

101 years ago the actor John Hoyt was born, normally playing the villain in over 200 screen and television programmes he was in the Conqueror.

78 years ago Brian Donlevy who appeared in Alleghaney Uprising married Yvonne Grey.

20 years ago the producer Hal B Wallis died aged 87. Producer of a number of Elvis Presley's pictures he also produced Rooster Cogburn.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day the 6th October

119 years ago the actor Lew Harvey was born. Starting in films around 1918 he appeared in almost i50 pictures up 1950 including among them College Coach Alleghaney Uprising and Angel and The Badman.

116 years ago Jack Rockwell was born. between 1927 and 1947 he worked in 253 pictures among which was The Lawless Nineties and Dark Command.

113 years ago the cinematographer Reggie Lanning was born he was the director of photography on Sands of Iwo Jima and Wake of the Red Witch

110 years ago the director David Howard was born. Among the 46 pictures he directed from 1930 was Conflict.

83 years ago Mickey Rentschler was born, a child actor he appeared in His Private Secretary.

64 years ago the swedish actress Britt Eckland was born. Signed by Batjac and promised a glittering career she appeared briefly in Blood Alley.
From IMDB

Quote

Britt Ekland was born in Sweden and grew up to be the poster girl for beautiful, big-eyed Scandinavian blondes. She attended a drama school and then joined a traveling theater group. With her looks as her passport, Britt entered films and became a star in Italy. When Peter Sellers met her in a hotel, he fell hard for her and they soon married. The combination of Sellers' stardom and her stunning beauty contributed to her fame (the fact that Sellers suffered a heart attack in bed on their wedding night didn't hurt, either). She appeared in two films with her husband: Caccia alla volpe (1966) (aka "After the Fox"), written by Neil Simon, and the forgettable The Bobo (1967). Her claim to fame would come as the young girl who invented the striptease in The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968). After that, she appeared in a string of movies that were built around her looks and not much else. She did appear in some first-rate productions over the years, though, two of them being Get Carter (1971) and the cult classic The Wicker Man (1973). The high point in her career would be her role as Bond babe Mary Goodnight in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). After her much publicized breakup with rocker Rod Stewart in 1977, Britt continued to make movies--both features and made-for-TV films--and tried the stage. By that time, the quality of her film projects had decreased markedly, and she was reduced to appearing in things like Fraternity Vacation (1985) and Beverly Hills Vamp (1988).

We now come to three of the screens stalwarts

41 years ago Tom Kennedy died aged 80 out of the 316 pictures he made he only appeared with John Wayne one and that was in Lady and Gent.

37 years ago Emmett Vogan died aged 76. He amassed 471 screen appearances and among these were parts in They Were Expendable In Old Oklahoma and Flame of the Barbary Coast

26 years ago Ray Walker died aged 76. His credits totaled 222 including Pitsburgh.

6 years ago the stuntman and actor Richard Farnsworth died from a self inflicted wound after being diagnosed with cancer. He was and had appeared in The Cowboys. In his entire career he was never heard to utter a swear word.
From IMDB

Quote

American stuntman who, after more than thirty years in the business, moved into acting and became an acclaimed and respected character actor. A native of Los Angeles, Farnsworth grew up around horses and as a teenager was offered an opportunity to ride in films. He appeared in horse-racing scenes and cavalry charges Anonymously, first as a general equestrian and later as a stuntman. His riding and stunting skills gained him regular work doubling stars ranging from Roy Rogers to Gary Cooper, and he often doubled the bad guy as well. Although like most stuntmen, he was occasionally given a line or two of dialogue, it was not until Farnsworth was over fifty that his natural talent for acting and his ease and warmth before the camera became apparent. When he won an Academy Award nomination for his role in Comes a Horseman (1978), it came as a surprise to many in the industry that this "newcomer" had been around since the Thirties. Farnsworth followed his Oscar nomination with a number of finely wrought performances, including The Grey Fox (1982) and The Natural (1984). In 1999, he came out of semi-retirement for a tour-de-force portrayal in The Straight Story (1999).

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day October 7th

108 years ago the director Edward Ludwig was born he directed Big Jim McLaine, Wake of the Red Witch and The Fighting Seabees.

44 years ago the actor Anthony Zerbe marred Annette Jens.

35 years ago the actor Jack Perry died aged 71 he had played a minor role in The Fighting Kentuckian.

11 years ago the actor James Caan married Linda Stokes.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 8th October

134 years ago the actor Ralph Lewis was born he appeared through the 1920 and 30 and was in Somewhere in Sonora.

102 years ago Wally Brown was born. He appeared in over 60 pictures and was the Navigator in The High and the Mighty.

92 years ago Bruce Edwards was born he was a Marine in Sands of Iwo Jima.

88 years ago in Australia Ron Randall was born. Highly under-rated as an actor he appeared in The Longest Day.
From IMDB

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Sydney-born Ron Randell began his six-decade-long career in his teens on radio in his native Australian for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. He promptly moved to stage where he acted with the Minerva Theatre Group from 1937 to 1946, while intermittently appearing in Australian films. Well-received reviews for his title role in the movie Smithy (1946) [Pacific Adventure] led to a Hollywood contract, making his debut in It Had to Be You (1947) in support of Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde. Randell went on to play both hero and villain in both a lead and supporting capacity. His host of "B" pictures included short runs as supersleuths Bulldog Drummond and the Lone Wolf. Although he was never a top name per se, he led a durable transatlantic film career for much of the 50s and 60s, which included a minor role as composer Cole Porter in Kiss Me Kate (1953) and the lead in the gangster flick Most Dangerous Man Alive (1961). From the "Golden Age" of 50s TV, he went on star in the American/British espionage series "O.S.S." (1957) for a season, and guest starred on such programs as "Bewitched," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Mission: Impossible," "Bonanza" and "The F.B.I." playing a number of cultivated gents. On Broadway he enjoyed healthy critical successes such as "The Browning Version" (1949), a revival of "Candida" (1952), The World of Suzie Wong" (1958), Butley (1972), "Sherlock Holmes" (1975), "Mrs. Warren's Profession" (1976) and "Bent" (1979). He continued his stage career, in fact, well into the 1990s, including a stint with the late Tony Randall's National Actors Theater company which included a run of "The School for Scandal" (1995). Randell died following complications of a stroke in a Los Angeles assisted facility at age 86 in 2005

Regards

Arthur

Hi

After two un-successful attempts at posting this morning dur to the gremlins or whatever they are:-

On this Day October 9th

128 years ago the actor Robert Warwick was born. During his career he amassed 234 film and television credits including among them In Old Oklahoma and The Three Musketeers.
From IMDB

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A prominent matinée stage and silent film star with handsome features offset only slightly by a prominent proboscis, actor Robert Warwick was born and raised in Sacramento, California, his christened name being Robert Taylor Bien. The gift of music was instilled at an early age (he sang in his church choir) and initially prepared for an operatic career. Studying vocally in Paris, he abandoned legit singing for acting after being hired in 1903 to understudy in the Broadway play "Glad of It". He grew quickly in stature in such popular stage showcases as "Vronsky" in "Anna Karenina" (1907), and was a strong presence in the musical operettas "The Kiss Waltz" (1911) and "The Princess" (1912), the latter featuring his first wife, actress Josephine Whittell.

With effortless charm, Warwick segued into romantic star film roles playing dashing leads in Alias Jimmy Valentine (1915), The Face in the Moonlight (1915), The Heart of a Hero (1916), in which he portrayed Revolutionary War hero "Nathan Hale", The Mad Lover (1917) and A Girl's Folly (1917). At one point, he even formed his own production company, Robert Warwick Film Corp. The company produced four films before Warwick temporarily left Hollywood to serve in WWI as an infantry captain in 1917. In the 1920s, he shifted between Broadway and film leads. His well-modulated voice proved ideal for sound pictures where he subsequently enjoyed a long career (over 200 films) in grand, authoritative character parts. Among his plethora of movie roles were "Neptune" in Night Life of the Gods (1935), "Colonel Gray" in Shirley Temple's The Little Colonel (1935), "Sir Francis Knolly" in Mary of Scotland (1936) and "Lord Montague" in the Norma Shearer/Leslie Howard starrer Romeo and Juliet (1936). He also was seen to fine advantage in several of Errol Flynn's rousing costumers such as The Prince and the Pauper (1937), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), and The Sea Hawk (1940). A grand, stately gent, he was often seen impersonating high-ranking war figures, dapper businessmen or stern but benevolent father figure types. The legendary Preston Sturges utilized his services, including small roles in The Great McGinty (1940), Christmas in July (1940) and The Lady Eve (1941), before handing him a standout part as an avuncular studio mogul in Sullivan's Travels (1941).

For the most part, however, Warwick was humbled into playing smaller, serviceable roles in adventures and crime drama with many of these characters embracing unyielding traditionalist values. Other exceptions to this rule were his hammy, downtrodden Hollywood actor "Charlie Waterman" in In a Lonely Place (1950) and his dying tycoon in While the City Sleeps (1956). Warwick continued performing well into his 80s. Primarily on TV in his twilight years, he was spotted frequently on such programs as "The Twilight Zone" (1959), "Maverick" (1957) and "Dr. Kildare" (1961). Divorced from his first wife, he survived his second, actress Stella Lattimore (1905-1960), before dying in 1964 following an extended illness. He had one daughter, who bore him two grandchildren, and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetary in Los Angeles.

118 years ago the actor Hank Patterson was born he featured briefly in Three Faces West.

Regards

Artur

Hi

On this day 10th October

104 years ago the actor William Forrest was born he had 232 screen and television credits and was in four pictures with John Wayne The Horse Soldiers Big Jim McLaine Fort Apache and The Fighting Seabees.

103 years ago the actor Rory Mallinson was born he was in Wake of the Red Witch.

73 years ago Louise Brooks married Davis Deering

40 years ago the British actor Wilfred Lawson died aged 66 he was in Alleghaney Uprising.

8 years ago the actor Pierce Lydon died in numerous western pictures he was the trail boss in Red River.
From IMDB

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Born in Naponee, Nebraska Father was horse buyer for the U.S. Army, learned to ride horses bareback because parents could not afford saddles. Attended University of Nebraska and the Emerson College of Oratory. Received the "Golden Boot" award in 1992. The city of Orange, California declared a " Pierce Lyden Day". Also recieved a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. The state of Nebraska gave him the prestigious "Buffalo Bill Award" in 1997. He had divorced once and is twice widowed. His only child, a son, died in 1988.

Regards

Arthur

Hi Keith

He always seeed to me to be a little bit wierd but he was a fne actor.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day October 11th

125 years ago thwe actress Sarah Edwards was born. She appeared in 178 pictures playing a dowager in Reap the Wild Wind.

114 years ago the stunt man and actor frank Baker was born. He appeared to have worked a lot with John Ford over his career including Donovans Reef Fort Apache and The Quiet Man.

85 years ago the actress Linda Stirling was born she was in Dakota only 24 pictures
From IMDB

Quote

American leading woman, a popular action star of serials in the 1940s. She studied music, dance, and drama as a child and received a scholarship to a Hollywood acting school. But she arrived in Hollywood to discover the school had closed, and she took a job as a showgirl at the Earl Carroll Theatre in Hollywood. She modeled in fashion advertisements and one ad led to a screen test. She was cast as a model in The Powers Girl (1943), but more importantly, she was again spotted in an advertisement, this time by executives of Republic Studios, who were looking for a beautiful but athletic woman to star in their upcoming serial, The Tiger Woman (1944). Despite having no experience in the kind of stunts and athletics that would be required, Stirling was able to convince not only the executives but ace stuntman Yakima Canutt of her capability. She won the role and a contract from Republic, and played hard-riding and -fighting heroines in numerous serials, Westerns, and low-budget adventure films over the next three or four years. She married a screenwriter for Republic, Sloan Nibley in 1946 and shortly thereafter retired from movies. She made a few guest appearances on television in the 1950s, but spent most of her later years doing college work (as both student and teacher) and attending to her family life. She was widowed in 1990 and died of cancer in 1997.

29 years ago Earl A Wood died aged 76 he was the sound man on back To Bataan.

11 years ago the actor Jeff York died aged 83 he was in They were Expendable

Regards

Arthur

Hi

20050 visits to this topic I think I'm pretty pleased.

I didn't realise when I started this topic 20 months ago that it would last this long. I would just like to thank all the people who have made their valuable contributions here and for the encouragement and help I have received from you all.

But as they say onward and upward

On this day

12th October

120 years ago the actor and comedian Karl Dane was born. of danish origins he appeared in Bardelys the Magnificent. he coming of sound killed his career and later working as a hot dog seller he killed himself.

104 years ago the British actor Anthony Eustralwas born he was in The Sea Chase

66 years ago the great western star Tom Mix died aged 60. He was reputed to have given John wayne his first start in pictures working as a stagehand. He appeared in the Great K&A Train Robbery.

59 years ago Manart Kippen and Jim Farley both died aged 55 and 65 respectively, the first was in Flame of The Barbary Coast. The second They Were Expendable.

7 years ago the actress Jacqueline Malouf died she appeared in only four productions 2 of which Donovan's Reef and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance were for John Ford.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day Friday 13th October

117 years ago the actor Douglas Dumbrille was born a veteran of almost 200 credits he was in Baby Face.

105 years ago the actress Irene Rich was born of the 115 films she apeared in Fort Apache and The Angel and the Badman were included.

94 years ago the actor Jack Rollins was born he was in Mother Machree.

93 years ago Patsy Moran was born she had a small role in A Lady Takes A Chance

88 years ago Jack MacGowran was born he was in The Quiet Man
Form IMDB

Quote

Shortly after completing his role in The Exorcist (1973), he died in New York on 30th January 1973, of pneumonia. He was rehearsing "The Plough and the Stars" with Siobhan McKenna at the time, which was due to open the following month.

Born in Dublin, Jack MacGowran worked as an insurance assessor for eight years before becoming an actor with the Abbey Theatre. He made his film debut in John Ford's The Quiet Man (1952). He was also a noted stage actor specialising in works by Sean O'Casey and Samuel Beckett. He appeared in "Waiting For Godot" at the Royal Court Theatre London, and with the Royal Shakespeare Company in "Endgame" at the Aldwych Theatre. He released an LP record, "MacGowran Speaks Beckett", to coincide with Samuel Beckett's 60th birthday. While Jack MacGowran was making The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), it was suggested by Roman Polanski and Gérard Brach, who wrote the original story for Wonderwall (1968), that he play the part of Professor Collins.

59 years ago the actor Ke Roy Mason died aged 44. He featured in the first actor of the month and was in The Angel and The Badman.

58 years ago the actor Samuel S Hinds died aged 73 he was in Pitsburgh, The Shepherd of the Hills and Dakota
From IMDB[quote]
Hinds, a Harvard graduate, was a lawyer in Hollywood up until the stock market crash of 1929, during which he lost most of his money. At that point and at the age of 54, Hinds, who had an interest in theater acting, decided to embark on a career in acting. The tall, dignified-looking Hinds appeared in over 200 films, characterizing men in positions of importance: doctors, judges, military officers, politicians, and such. His two most notable appearances were in Destry Rides Again, and It's a Wonderful Life. Hinds, who also appeared on stage during this time period, continued working up until his death in 1948.
[quote]
27 years ago the actor Clarence Muse died aged 89 he was in The Life of Jimmy Dolan.

15 years ago the Welsh actor Donald Houston died aged 67 he was in The Longest Day.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day October 14th

117 years ago the actor Clarence Muse was born he was in The life of Jimmy Dolan

112 years ago the actor Nick Copeland was born he was in The Deceiver

99 years ago James Bush was born he appeared in 96 pictures including Baby Face I Cover The war and Central Airport

20 years ago Keenan Wynn died aged 70 he was in Cancel My Reservation.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day October 15th

100 years ago the actor and stunt man James Fawcett was born. He was an uncredited stunt man in Three Texas Steers.

118 years ago the actor paul Hurst was born. e appeared in 306 films included amongst which were Angel and the adman, Dakota and Big Jim McLaine..
From IMDB

Quote

American character actor of prodigious output who also directed and wrote silent films. Much of his work was in Western films. A native of central California, Hurst had a first-hand knowledge of Western lore, growing up surrounded by the multi-million acre Lux & Miller ranches which ran cattle throughout the state. Visiting San Francisco as a young man, Hurst became involved in amateur theatricals and thereafter traveled to Los Angeles to join in the newly-born film industry there. He began appearing in films as early as 1912, most of them Westerns. By 1916, he was directing them as well. (Some sources report that he served in the First World War as a member of the French Foreign Legion, but the dates of his film projects make this story highly suspect.)

In the early 1920s, Hurst wrote several scenarios for films he directed and appeared in. But within a few years, he put all of his energies into acting, becoming one of the more prolific and familiar characters in American movies. With his blocky build and squinty demeanor, and with a raspy voice that enhanced his memorability once sound pictures came in, Hurst played villains and cops and comedy sidekicks in more than 250 films. His most famous role was that of the deserter shot dead on the stairway of Tara by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939). Hurst was the sidekick to Monte Hale in a number of B-Westerns. In 1953, at the age of 65, Paul Hurst committed suicide.

48 years ago the actor Jack Norton died aged 76 he was in Flame of the Barbary Coast.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 16th ctober (and thanks for the well wishes on my third anniversary its much appreciated)

124 years ago the producer Harry Rapf was born he produced Brown of Harvard.

119 years ago the writer Bernard McConville was born, he wrote Overland Stage Raiders The Lonely Trail I Cover The War West of the Pecos and many more.

96 years ago the actor Douglas Walton was born he played the 2nd Mate in The Long Voyage Home.

Regards

Arthur