When you hear Old Hollywood your mind automatically goes to the glamour and the glitz of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Although not many of us grew up in this era, it is a time in history that is still honoured today. The legends of Old Hollywood will live on forever with their names on the Hollywood walk of fame, their faces on our screens and their memories embedded in our minds.

History of Old Hollywood

The beginning of the Old Hollywood era is marked by the introduction of sound films. Changing from silent films to “the talkies” was a changing point in Hollywood and with it came a rise to global cinema.IN 1927, “The Jazz Singer” was the first Film to use synchronized dialogue and it marked the beginning of the end for silent films. The Academy Awards also began that same year and Warner Bros. received an Honorary Award for their pioneering on “The Jazz Singer”. The movie was not nominated as Best Picture as it was deemed unfair to put a “talkie” up against silent movies.

The Old Hollywood era is understood to be the time when Hollywood dominated the film industry. Old Hollywood was the American dream for actors and actresses who hoped to make it onto the big screen. Old Hollywood is considered on of the most successful eras of filmmaking, with endless classics produced during this time. Sound films brought stardom to Hollywood.

During the Golden Age of Hollywood there were five main studios that were producing movies in Hollywood. Each studio used prefered actors and actresses and also often followed a certain genre of film in the majority of their movies. You will recognise these studio names from your favourite Old Hollywood movies;

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM : MGM was the biggest studio during this time and it was ran by Louis B. Mayer alongside Irving Thalberg. Mayer is also credited for organising the very first Academy Awards in 1927. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, MGM produced Academy Award winning films such as Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Ben-Hur and West Side Story. MGM is still today one of the biggest studios still producing many Award winning films after Old Hollywood era, including The Silence of the Lambs, Rain Man and Dances with Wolves. It is also responsible for the incredibly successful film franchises Jame Bond and Rocky. The roaring lion is the symbol for MGM.

Paramount Pictures : Paramount Pictures have been around for over 100 years and they are the last remaining major studio still based in Hollywood out of the five major studios that once stood during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Paramount Pictures was founded by Adolph Zukor and W. W. Hodkinson and the famous Paramount logo that we have come to know so well was inspired by a mountain peak in Hodkinson’s childhood home and the 22 stars represent the 22 film stars that were signed with Paramount. Some of Paramounts most successful films during the Golden Age of Hollywood were The Ten Commandments, Sunset Boulevard, The Greatest Show on Earth and White Christmas.

Warner Brothers : Warner Bros. was founded in 1923 by four brothers, Harry, Albert, Samuel and Jack Warner. Warner Brothers quickly made a name as one of the Big Five in Hollywood when they revolutionized the film industry by producing The Jazz SInger in 1927. Warner Bros is well known for contributing to many classic films throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood, for example, Casablanca, Rebel Without a Cause and My Fair Lady.

20th Century Fox : 20th Century Fox was founded in 1935 after the mergence of Twentieth Century Pictures, which was founded by Joseph Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck and the Fox Film Corporation, which was founded by William Fox. 20th Century had stars such as Shirley Temple and Betty Grable featured in their musicals. Well known Old Hollywood films that 20th Century Fox produced are The Grapes of Wrath, The King and I and South Pacific, All About Eve 20th and Cleopatra. Century Fox was well known for their musicals and westerns.

RKO: Radio-Keith-Orpheum, RKO Pictures was founded in 1928 when David Sarnoff, general manager of RCA and Joseph Kennedy’s FBO merged together. When RKO formed they declared that they would only make films with sound and that they did. RKO had stars such as Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant signed with them for movies. Some recognisable films that RKO are responsible for during the Golden Age of Hollywood are King King, Citizen Kane, Top Hat and Notorious. RKO also distributed films such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio

Although it didn’t make the Big Five during the Golden Age of Hollywood, Universal Pictures were also in operation at the time and produced some classics.

Universal : Universal Pictures was founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour and it is the fourth oldest major film studio in the world. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, Universal Pictures produced greats such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Birds, Spartacus and Dracula.

Old Hollywood Glamour

It has been 60 years since the Golden Age of Hollywood, yet we are still trying to copy and recreate that stunning Hollywood glamour that encompassed Old Hollywood. Old Hollywood Glamour was elegance, sophistication and style. The biggest Hollywood stars were always dressed up to the nines and their casual wear would be nowhere near what we would consider casual today. Make-up, hair and clothes were always perfect and stars had their own unique looks which portrayed their personalities.

Stars went to great lengths in order to achieve and maintain Hollywood’s standards of how they should look, from hair transplants, dying their hair and changing their brows. The Old Hollywood glamour look usually looked far more glamorous than the actually reality of it. Old Hollywood glamour was about simple, elegant make-up which showed the best version of the stars. It was about tiny waists and stylish clothes.

Some great books about Old Hollywood glamour are “Timeless: A Century of Iconic Looks” by Louise Young, “Styling the Stars: Lost Treasures from the Twentieth Century Fox Archive” by Angela Cartwright and Tom McLaren, “Costume Design in the Movies: An Illustrated Guide to the Work of 157 Great Designers” by Elizabeth Leese and “Edith Head’s Hollywood” by Paddy Calistro.

Old Hollywood Stars

During the Golden Age of Hollywood in order to become a star you had to have a combination of acting, dancing and singing skills. If you couldn’t do all three then you had to be incredible good in one field or just have a face made for the screen. Old Hollywood actors and actresses were idolised and became stars, they saw stardom that no other actor will ever see. The glamour, the glitz and the drama was on another level and it was these stars that started the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Old Hollywood Actresses

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn was a Belgian-born actress who rose to stardom after her outstanding performance as Gigi in Broadway’s “Gigi”. Hepburn trained as a ballet dancer in her youth, the elegance, posture and determination she learnt from her lessons never left her. Her first film role was Roman Holiday (1953) in which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Audrey Hepburn is one of the most recognisable faces from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Movies : Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face

Books : “Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn” by Donald Spoto, “Audrey & Givenchy: A Fashion Love Affair” by Cindy De La Hoz, “Audrey Hepburn Treasures” by Ella Erwin, et al., “Audrey: The 50’s” by David Wills

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren is an Italian film actress who earned international success for her role in classic Hollywood movies. Sophia Loren was widely recognised for her beauty and acting talents, delivering both comedic and dramatic performances throughout her career. Sophia Loren won an Academy Award in 1962, she made history as the first performer to win an Academy Award for a foreign-language role with her performance in the French film Two Women.

Movies : Houseboat, It Started in Naples, The Pride and the Passion, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Books : “Sophia Loren: A Life In Pictures” by Candice Bal, “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life” by Sophia Loren, “Sophia Loren’s Recipes & Memories” by Sophia Loren

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner was an American film actress who was scouted by MGM because of her utter beauty. Throughout her acting career, Ava went on to perform in a huge range of films from musicals, romance, drama and sci-fi. Her performance in Mogambo was recognised and she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Aside from her acting career, Ava Gardner was also in the spotlight for her highly publicised marriage to singer Frank Sinatra.

Movies : The Killers, Mogambo, Show Boat, The Barefoot Contessa, On The Beach

Books : “Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations” by Ava Gardner and Peter Evans, “Ava Gardner (Turner Classic Movies): A Life in Movies” by Kendra Bean, “Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing” by Lee Server

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is probably the first star that comes to mind when most of us think about Old Hollywood. She is without a doubt one of the biggest pop culture icons in our time and although her life wasn’t very long her legacy will live on forever. Norma Jeane began her career as a model and then changed her name to Marilyn Monroe as she pursued an acting career. In the height of her career, Monroe tragically passed away from a supposable drug overdose. Monroe’s performances have been forvever stuck in our minds and are constantly recreated such as her Diamonds are a girls bestfriend number and that iconice scene in the Seven Year Itch.

Movies : Some Like It Hot, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, How To Marry A Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, The Misfits.

Books : “Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis” by David Wills, “Marilyn: Norma Jeane” by Gloria Steinem, “Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon” by Charles Casillo

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor’s sixty year acting career makes her one of the biggest Old Hollywood icons. Throughout her career, Elizabeth Taylor’s talent was recognised by five Oscar nominations and two Best Actress Award wins. She became the first actor to negotiate a $1 million dollar contract for her role in Cleopatra. Although Taylor’s acting career wasn’t the only thing that the public focused on, there was huge interest in Elizabeth’s personal life in particular her eight marriages to seven different men.

Movies : Cleopatra, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, A Place in The Sun, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Giant

Books : “Liz: An Intimate Biography of Elizabeth Taylor” by C. David Heymann, “Elizabeth: The Biography of Elizabeth Taylor” by J. Randy Taraborrelli, “Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor” by Alexander Walker

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh was a British film actress and is best known for her portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Not only did she win this award once but twice, she also won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. In both roles Leigh played strong-willed Southern women.

Movies : Gone With The Wind, A Streetcar Named Desire, Waterloo Bridge, Anna Karenina

Books : “Vivien Leigh: A Biography” by Anne Edwards, “Truly Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and the Romance of the Century” by Stephen Galloway, “Vivien Leigh” by Hugo Vickers

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly’s Old Hollywood story is unlike any other. After a highly successful acting career throughout the 1950’s, acting alongside, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Bing Crosby to name a few, working with Alfred Hitchcock and winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in The Country Girl, Grace Kelly decided to leave Hollywood behind for love. In 1956, Grace Kelly became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Her final film which was released that same year was High Society. In 1982, Grace Kelly tragically died after suffering from a stroke while driving her car in France.

Movies : The Country Girl, To Catch A Thief, High Society, Rear Window

Books : “Remembering Grace” by Howell Conant, “Grace Kelly: A Life From Beginning to End” by Hourly History, “High Society: The Life of Grace Kelly” by Donald Spoto

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who took Hollywood by a storm with her outstanding presence onscreen. Bergman starred in some of Hollywood’s most iconic films and her performance in these films was recognised by many Academy Award nominations. It was her performances in Gaslight which got her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Ingrid Bergman was banned from Hollywood due to her affair with the Italian director Roberto Rossellini, however after a few years she made the comeback of all comebacks with her performance in Anastasia which earned her second Academy Award for Best Actress.

Movies : Gaslight, Casablanca, Joan of Arc, Notorious, Anastasia, Indiscreet

Books : “Ingrid: Ingrid Bergman, a Personal Biography” by Charlotte Chandler, “Ingrid Bergman: My Story ” by Ingrid Bergman

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara is an Irish-American Actress who began her acting career at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Maureen O’Hara was known for playing strong-minded women on the big screen and performed in many western and action movies, performing her own stunts. Maureen O’Hara had great on-screen chemistry with John Wayne and starred alongside him in five films throughout her career.

Movies : The Quiet Man,The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Miracle on 34th Street, The Parent Trap, McLintock!

Books : “Tis Herself: A Memoir Book” by John Nicoletti and Maureen O’Hara, “Maureen O’Hara: The Biography” by Aubrey Malone

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth was an American film actress, singer and dancer who rose to fame as a result of her breakout role in “Gilda”. Rita’s persona in Gilda and her beauty gave her the nickname of “The Love Goddess”. Her glamorous looks only added to her immense talent on the screen. Although Rita Hayworth has a successful career her personal life lacked the love she yearned for with all of her marriages ending in divorce.

Movies : Gilda, Cover Girl, Pal Joey, The Lady From Shanghai, Separate Tables, Only Angels Have Wings

Books : “If This Was Happiness: A Biography of Rita Hayworth” by Barbara Leaming, “Rita Hayworth: A Memoir” by James Hill, “The Life of Rita Hayworth” by Susan Barrington

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall was an American actress who began her career as a model and became an overnight sensation after her debut film To Have And Have Not. It was while filming this movie, Lauren met her husband Humphrey Bogart. The pair had a very loving marriage however their romance was put to an end when Bogart sadly passed away 11 years into their marriage. Bacalls talent was recognised with Academy Award nominations and Tony award victories.

Movies : The Big Sleep, To Have And Have Not, How to Marry A Millionaire, Designing Woman

Books : “Lauren Bacall by Myself” by Lauren Bacall, “By Myself and Then Some” by Lauren Bacall

Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret is a Swedish American actress who always had a love for dancing from a very young age. This love for dance allowed Ann-Margret to pursue theatre and eventually pursue a career in acting. In her most famous films, Ann-Margret starred alongside Elvis Presley, the pair had great chemistry on screen and were fan favourites.

Movies : Viva Las Vegas, Pocketful of Miracles, The Cincinnati Kid, Bye Bye Birdie

Books : “Ann Margret: My Story” by Ann Margret, “Ann Margret: A Dream Come True : A Photo Extravaganza and Memoir” by Neal Peters

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress and is regarded by many the greatest actress ever on screen. Greta Garbo began her career as a silent film actress and she transitioned well into the “talkies” with “Anna Christie” being the first movie that “Garbo talks!” At the age of 36, Garbo decided to leave Hollywood after making only 28 movies. In the movie Grand Hotel, Garbo’s character mutter the famous line” I just want to be alone”, a line that was fitting to Greta Garbo herself.

Movies : Ninotchka, Grand Hotel, Camille, Anna Karenina , Anna Christie

Books : “Garbo: Her Life, Her Films” by Gottlieb, “Greta Garbo: A Life Apart” by Karen Swenson

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood started acting from the young age of five and successfully made it into the film industry as an adult, a transition not many child actors succeed in. Her breakout role as a child actor was Miracle on 34th Street and her role in Rebel Without a Cause showed her talents as a teenage actress, even earning an Academy Award nomination for her role as Judy. Not only did Wood act but she also sang and performed in musicals’ West Side Story and Gypsy. Wood tragically died in 1981 when she supposedly drowned while vacationing on her yacht, although the events around her death have never been fully solved.

Movies : The Great Race, Splendour in the Grass, Miracle On 34th Street, Rebel Without A Cause, West Side Story

Books : “Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography” by Suzanne Finstad, “Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood” by Suzanne Finstad, “Natalie Wood (Turner Classic Movies): Reflections on a Legendary Life” by Manoah Bowman

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford began her career as a dancer on Broadway and in nightclubs. Her breakthrough performance was Mildred Pierce in 1945 for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Joan Crawford was also giving wide recognition for her role on What Ever Happened To Baby Jane, which she starred alongside Bette Davis. The series “Feud” came out in 2017, retelling the famous feud that the two world famous actors had while on set. A year after Crawford’s death, her adoptive daughter released a memoir “Mommie Dearest” depicting Crawford as an abusive mother.

Movies : What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, Mildred Pierce, The Woman, Johnny Guitar

Books : “Conversations with Joan Crawford” by Roy Newquist, “Joan Crawford: A Biography” by Bob Thomas

Doris Day

Doris Day appeared in many classic films and musicals throughout her career. Doris Day began her career as a signing and the went on to become an actress. She was able to combine her two talents in many of her movies. In many of her films Doris Day played strong witted wholesome characters who knew their own mind. She starred alongside Rock Hudson in three of her most popular films. She also had her very own tv show “The Doris Day Show”.

Movies : Calamity Jane. Pillow Talk, That Touch of Minx, Send Me No Flowers, Lover Come Back

Books : “Doris Day: Her Own Story” by A. E. Hotchner, “Doris Day: Images of a Hollywood Icon” by Michael Feinstein

Bette Davis

Bette Davis began her acting career on stage in Broadway and had a rocky transition from the stage to screen. After Universal dropped her, Warner Brothers saw Davis’ potential as an onscreen star and took her own. However, Bette Davis wasn’t given any roles that allowed her to truly shine as the star she was until she begged Warner Bros to lend her out to RKO and took Warner Bros on in a legal battle. Bette Davis won two Oscars throughout her career.

Movies : What Ever Happened To Baby Jane, All ABout Eve, Now,Voyager, Mr. Skeffington

Books : “Miss D & Me: Life with the Invincible Bette Davis” by Kathryn Sermak, “THE LONELY LIFE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY” by Bette Davis, “THIS ‘N THAT” by Bette Davis

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn was an American film actress who cemented her name in Old Hollywood by earning twelve Academy nominations and achieving a record of four Academy awards for her outstanding performances. This is an achievement no other actor has been able to match since. Over her 60 year career, she starred alongside her love Spencer Tracy in nine films.

Movies : Long Day’s Journey Into Night , The African Queen,The Philadelphia Story, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Judy Garland

Judy Garland is probably best known for her role in The Wizard of Oz in which she played the leading role of Dorothy Gale. She earned the Academy Award for this amazing performance and stunning vocals with “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. Garland’s Old Hollywood story is that of a tragic tale. Throughout her short career she has a long onscreen partnership with Mickey Rooney. Judy struggled throughout her career and tragically died of an overdose way before her time.

Movies : The Wizard of Oz, A Star is Born, Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade

Books : “Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland” by Gerald Clarke, “Judy Garland on Judy Garland: Interviews and Encounters” by Randy L Schmidt

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland was born in Japan and moved over to America when she was still a child. After acting on theatre in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, De Havilland landed her first film role in the film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Olivia de Havilland had a total of nine on-screen appearances with Australian actor, Errol Flynn. Both herself and her sister Joan Fontaine won an Oscar for Best Actress, de Havilland won the Academy Award for her performance in the Heiress and in To Each His Own. De Havilland remembered for her outstanding talent but also for taking on the studio system when she went against and beat Warner Bros in a legal battle over her contract extension.

Movies : Gone With The Wind, The Heiress, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood

Books : “Olivia de Havilland and the Golden Age of Hollywood” by Ellis Amburn, “Every Frenchman Has One” by Olivia de Havilland, “Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant” by Victoria Amador

Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida is an Italian actress who wowed Hollywood with her beauty and talents. Gina began her career as a model and soon made her way up the acting ranks. After starring in many European films she landed her debut Hollywood film with Beat the Devil. Lollobrigida acted in many genres of film but had great success in her comedic films such as Come September and Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell. At the age of 95, Gina is showing no signs of slowing down, with her recently announcing her plans to run in the next general election.

Movies : Come September, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Trapeze, Solomon & Sheba, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell 

Books : “Imperial Gina: Strictly Unauthorized Biography of Gina Lollobrigida” by Luis Canales, “Italia mia” by Gina Lollobrigida

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple is Old Hollywood’s biggest child star starring in many moving musicals. Temple’s dancing numbers and spirited singers got people through the hardship so fthe Great Depression and her appearance onscreen was a ray of sunshine and escapism for the people of America. Shirley Temple failed to make the transition from childhood stradom to acting as an adult and her acting career came to an end as her teenage years did.

Movies : Heidi, The Little Princess, Captain January, The Little Colonel

Books : “Child Star: An Autobiography” by Shirley Temple Black, “Shirley Temple: American Princess” by Anne Edwards, “The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression: Shirley Temple and 1930s America” by John F. Kasson

Jane Russell

Jane Russell was one of Old Hollywood’s greatest stars showing her acting talents, dancing skills and vocal capabilities in a range of her movies. Russell rose to fame from her role in The Outlaw and is probably best known for playing the role of Dorothy Shaw alongside Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Jane Russell went on to have a career in the music industry and even appeared on Broadway.

Movies : Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Paleface, Son Of Paleface, His Kind of Woman

Books : “Jane Russell: My Path and My Detours : An Autobiography ” by Jane Russell, “Mean…Moody…Magnificent!: Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend” by Christina Rice

Tippi Hedren

Tippi Hedren is an Old Hollywood American actress and former fashion model who played the leading lady in two of Hitchcock’s famous blockbusters, The Birds and Marnie. At the age of 92, Tippi Hedren’s career has lasted for over 70 years starring in many films and tv series throughout. Tippi Hedren’s acting talents were passed down to her family. She is the mother to Melanie Griffith, a famous actress and film producer and her granddaughter is Dakota Johnson, who has also starred in top Hollywood films.

Movies : The Birds, Marnie, A Countess From Hong Kong,

Books : “Tippi: A Memoir” by Tippi Hedren

Deborah Kerr

Deborah Kerr was a British actress who is known for her roles in some of Old Hollywood’s most iconic movies. After a successful start to her acting career in British cinema and , Kerr decided to make the move to America’s MGM at the age of 26. Deborah was cast-typed as proper English lady in her roles until she took a risk and took on the role of an adulteress in An Affair to Remember. The film was a huge success and Kerr and Burt Lancaster’s famous beach scene kiss became one of the most iconic scenes in Old Hollywood history. Deborah Kerr was recognised for her amazing talent with six Academy Award nominations, however none of them turned into victories.

Movies : From Here To Eternity, An Affair to Remember, The King and I, Black Narcissus

Books : “Deborah Kerr: A Biography” by Michelangelo Capua, “Deborah Kerr” by Sarah Street

Lucille Ball

The fun-loving and bubbly Lucille Ball will forever be remembered as Old Hollywood’s favourite comedic actress. Although she starred in many hit comedy movies, Lucille Ball is probably best known for her highly popular tv programme, I Love Lucy. Lucille acted alongside her husband Desi Arnaz. The show was a comedic take on their own lives. Not only were the couple the stars of the show but it was their own production company Desilu that produced it. After the couple divorced, Lucille bought Arnaz’s share in the company and she became the first woman to lead a Hollywood studio.

Movies : Yours, Mines & Ours, Stage Door, Lured, Five Came Back, The Big Street

Books : “Love Lucy” by Lucille Ball, “Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball” by Kathleen Brady

Ginger Rogers

When you hear Ginger Rogers your mind goes immediately to Fred Astaire, whom she danced many a times with on the screen. The famous dancing duo appeared in a total of ten movies together. Ginger Rogers was an American, singer, actress and incredible dancer. Although best known for her dancing, Rogers won an Academy Award for her performance as Kitty Foyle in the film by the same name. Winning this award recognised Roger as not only a dancer but a dramatic actor.

Movies : Top Hat, Swing Time, Kitty Foyle, 42nd Street, Flying Down to Rio

Books : “Ginger: My Story” by Ginger Rogers, “Ginger Rogers: The Shocking Truth!” by Harry Harrison, “Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers: The Story of Hollywood’s Most Famous Dancers” by Charles River Editors

Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer and dancer who let her charming personality to shine on the screen. Reynolds amazing talent was often overshadowed by her dramatic personal life during the 1950’s when her husband Eddie Fisher left her and their two children for Elizabeth Taylor, causing one of the biggest scandals in Hollywood. While her career was striving, Reynolds had no luck with her love life, with her second husband Harry Karl who gambled away all her money leaving Debbie to declare bankruptcy not long after. Her acting talents spread to her children, with her daughter Carrie Fisher starring as Princess Leia in Star Wars.

Movies : Singing in the Rain, My Six Loves, How The West Was Won, The Tender Trap, The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Books : “Unsinkable” by Debbie Reynolds, “Debbie: My LIfe” by Debbie Reynolds, “Make ‘Em Laugh: Short-Term Memories of Longtime Friends ” by Debbie Reynolds

Kim Novak

Kim Novak is one of the few Old Hollywood stars that is still alive today. Kim Novak is probably best known for her iconic role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo,in which she played the role of two woman. She acted alongside singer Frank SInatra in two films, Pal Joey and The Man With The Golden Arm. Kim Novak is now retired from acting and now enjoys painting and is a mental health activist at the age of 89.

Movies : Vertigo, Pal Joey, Kiss Me Stupid, The Man With The Golden Arm, Picnic, Bell Book and Candle

Books : “Kim Novak: Reluctant Goddess” by Brown Peter Harry

Eva Marie Saint

Eva Marie Saint is an American film actress who has had a career in the film industry spanning over seven decades. Eva Marie Saint began her career on the best foot possible, with her performance in her debut film On The Waterfront, starring alongside Marlon Brando earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.Her most memorable character was as one of “Hitchcock’s Blondes” playing Eve Kendal in North By Northwest. At 98 years of she is one of the longest living Academy Award winners.

Movies : North By Northwest, By The WaterFront, Grand Prix, Exodus

Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel made history by becoming the first African American to be nominated for and win an Oscar for her outstanding performance in Gone with the Wind in which she played the role as Mammy. When Hattie lost her job headlining at a nightclub, Sam Pick’s Suburban Inn due to the Great Depression, she saw no other option than to get a one way ticket to Hollywood. Performing was in the McDaniel’s blood with Hattie’s sister Etta and brother Sam also successful Hollywood actors.

Movies : Gone With The Wind, The Little Colonel, Showboat, Vivacious Lady, Alice Adams

Books : “Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood ” by Jill Watts, “Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel” by Carlton Jackson

Vera-Ellen

Vera-Ellen was an American film actress and dancer, starring in many musicals throughout her career. In 1939, Vera-Ellen made her Broadway debut in Very Warm May and went on to perform in other Broadway musicals. It was her Broadway presence with drew the attention of MGM and began Vera-Ellen’s Hollywood career. Vera-Ellen only appeared in 14 Hollywood films, however those she performed in are still remembered today, starring alongside the best Hollywood actors such as Danny Kaye, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. The memorable Christmas classic, the musical White Christmas still remains a fan favourite and is shown every year on our tv screens.

Movies : On The Town, White Christmas, Three Little Words, The Belle Of New York

Books : “Vera-Ellen: The Magic and the Mystery” by David Soren

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is still a very much loved personality in Hollywood, who at the age of 84 is still acting and is a prominent activist. Jane is the daughter of Henry Fonda, a famous Old Hollywood star who was known for his role in The Grapes of Wrath. Fonda began her career as a model and then pursued acting. During her acting career, Fonda performances were recognised with nominations and two Oscar win during the 70’s winning Best Actress for Klute and Coming Home. Fonda went on to release highly successful fitness videos in the 80’s. Besides her acting career, Fonda is known for being a political and environmental activist and describes herself as a feminist.

Movies : Raging Kitty, The Chase, Barbarella, The Chapman Report, Walk on the Wild Side

Books : “My Life So Far” by Jane Fonda, “Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman” by Patricia Bosworth

Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews is a British actress and singer who made quite the name for herself in Old Hollywood. Julie Andrews made her radio debut in 1946 at just 10 years old with her stepfather Ted Andrews n the BBC variety show. In her teenage years, Andrews performed in many pantomimes which lead the way for her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend at just 18 years of age. Two years later, she was chosen to play Eliza Doolittle in the musical My Fair Lady. Although Andrews hadn’t much acting experience she was praised for her outstanding performance. Julie Andrews won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance as Mary Poppins.

Movies : Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Torn Curtain

Books : “Home: A Memoir of My Early Years” by Julie Andrews, “Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years” by Julie Andrews, “Julie Andrews” by Richard Stirling

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury is an English actress who discovered her talent for acting when she moved to America with her mother. In her film debut Gaslight, Lansbury earned herself an Academy Award nomination and again the following year for her performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray. At 96 years of age, Angela Lansbury has shown her talents on film, tv and theatre for over seven decades. She is probably best known for her role as Jessica Fox in the crime drama Murder, She Wrote.

Movies : Gaslight, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Three Musketeers,The Manchurian Candidate

Books : “Balancing Act: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury” by Martin Gottfried,

Old Hollywood Actors

Humphrey Bogart

Through his iconic performances, Humphrey Bogart cemented himself in Old Hollywood history as one of the greatest actors of all time. His performances in Casablanca and The Canine Mutiny earned him Oscar nominations and in 1952 he was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Charlie Allnut in The African Queen. It was from his movie Casablanca that the famous line “Here’s Looking at You Kid” came from.

Movies : Casablanca, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Maltese Falcon, Sabrina, The African Queen

Books : “Bogart: In Search of My Father” by Stephen Humphrey Bogart, “Bogart” by Ann M. Sperber & Eric Lax

Cary Grant

Cary Grant was an English actor who’s handsome looks and charming personality made him one of the most loved actors during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Cary Grant performed in comedic films such as Houseboat, dramatic films and action/thriller films throughout his career. It was his performances in Alfred Hitchcock’s films that stand out among the rest and are his most memorable performances such as To Catch a Thief and Notorious.

Movies : To Catch A Thief, Charade, An Affair to Remember, North By Northwest, Houseboat

Books : “Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise” by Scott Eyman, “Cary Grant, the Making of a Hollywood Legend” by Mark Glancy, “Cary Grant: A Class Apart” by Graham McCann

Clark Gable

Clark Gable is an iconic Old Hollywood start and was referred to by many “The King of Hollywood”. His performances were recognised by three Academy Award nomination and he won the Best Actor Academy Award for It Happened One Night, a movie he didn’t even want to do. Clarke left Hollywood for awhile after the tragic death of his wife comedic actress Carole Lombard who died in a plane crash. On his return and later in his career, Gable gave some of his most memorable performance such as The Hucksters and Mogambo.

Movies : Gone With The Wind, The Misfits, Mogambo, Mutiny On The Bounty, It Happened One Night

Books : “Clark Gable: In His Own Words” by Clark Gable, “Clark Gable: A Portrait of a Misfit” by Jane Ellen Wayne, “Clark Gable: A Biography” by Warren G Harris

Frank Sinatra

Nicknamed as “Ole Blue Eyes” for his steely blue eyes and smooth demeanour, Frank Sinatra was one of the greatest singers of the 20th Century and his Jazz music is still celebrated today. Sinatra became one of the top film stars in Hollywood with quality performances awarding him Academy Award nominations. For his performance in Here to Eternity, Sinatra earned the Oscar for best supporting actor. Sinatra is one of the few stars to be able to manage both a music career and acting career at such an equal level of success. Sinatra was also a member of the Ratpack, alongside Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, who performed as a group in Las Vegas.

Movies : Pal Joey, High Society, Young at Heart, From Here to Eternity, On the Town, Ocean’s Eleven

Books : “Frank: The Making of a Legend” by James Kaplan, “Sinatra: The Chairman” by James Kaplan, “Sinatra: Behind the Legend” by J. Randy Taraborrelli

James Dean

The life of Old Hollywood star James Dean is that of a tragic and thrilling one. James Dean was one of the most swoon worthy stars in Hollywood. Dean had an incredible future ahead of him in the film industry, however he only got to act in three films before his devastating detach in 1955 resulting from a car accident. James Dean was the first actor to receive Academy Award nomination posthumously and remains still today the only actor to receive two.

Movies : Rebel WIthout a Cause, Giant, East of Eden

Books : “The Real James Dean: Intimate Memories from Those Who Knew Him Best” by Peter L. Winkler, “The Photography of James Dean” by Charles P. Quinn, “James Dean” by Dennis Stock