Benny Goodman — 1946
Benny Goodman, the King of Swing. This caricature of Benny and his “licorice stick” is wonderful (see the full artwork at the link).
Celebs
Hollywood Does Halloween — 1950
Ann Blyth and Roddy McDowell in homemade Halloween costumes. Sitting down isn’t really that important…. (Click to see full photo.)
Was Ramon Novarro’s Murderer Posting on IMDb from Prison?
A few years ago, comments I read on IMDb led me to believe that one of the convicted killers of Hollywood star Ramon Novarro was commenting on the very murder he had committed — in a Ramon Novarro forum! At the time, he was in year 20 of a 60-year prison term (for an unrelated crime). It kinda creeped me out. He’s typing from inside the house!
Orson Welles: “How Did He Get That Way?” — 1940
A supine genius who had accomplished more by age 24 than… almost everyone.
Merry Christmas from Thelma Todd and Her Giant Sombrero
Hollywood stars have always had to do silly things for the sake of publicity….
Jerry Lee Lewis: “A Three-Ring Circus Without Any Help”
“After three days without sleep, two days of drinking, and an all-night show in Vinton, Louisiana, Jerry Lee gets in the mood to cavort before the camera at 6 A.M. beside his private jet, which had just landed at the Memphis airport.” And the three photos of Jerry Lee Lewis, taken on the tarmac that morning by Raeanne Rubenstein, are as great as you’d hope they’d be.
Myrna Loy: “I’m a Helpless Prisoner!” — 1930
Experience the sheer giddiness of an exclamation-mark-filled 1930 ad for cosmetics, “a whole ensemble of gay toiletries!”
Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone Frolicking with Dachshunds
Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone cavort poolside with Bruce’s doggies.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Mulling the Possibility of Seances via Radio — 1922
In 1922, when radios were introduced to the general public, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — the creator of Sherlock Holmes and a staunch believer in Spiritualism — donned headphones and experienced radio for the first time, in Atlantic City. He speculated that the new technology might be quite efficacious in communing with the dearly departed. More inside.
Elvis and Liberace: Vegas Pals — 1956
Elvis Presley and Liberace were, arguably, the most famous performers of 1956. They met twice that year and seem to have enjoyed both occasions. See the odd pairing captured in photos and film footage, inside.
High Shrink 