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Post by topbilled on Jul 28, 2024 15:30:53 GMT
Group 6: Popular on Radio
Judy Canova; Rudy Vallee; Grace Allen; Eddie Rochester Anderson; Rose Marie; Fred Allen; Virginia Gregg; Joe Penner
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Post by BunnyWhit on Jul 29, 2024 15:05:18 GMT
Rose Marie -- can't wait, TopBilled!
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Post by topbilled on Jul 29, 2024 16:53:14 GMT
Judy Canova
Judy Canova was the daughter of a singer and a businessman. Her parents encouraged Judy to join her older siblings in a family vaudeville act that toured the south. They were known as the Georgia Crackers, though they were really from Florida. Later when Judy went solo she was identified with the Arkansas region, billed as an Ozark Nightingale. It didn’t hurt that her first husband was comedian-musician Bob Burns who was known as the Arkansas Traveler. While she was still a teenager, the Canova act got their first taste of national success when Rudy Vallee featured them on his radio show. They were quickly booked as guests on other radio programs and became very popular. This led to a revue for the Canovas on Broadway, and small parts for Judy at Warner Brothers. Judy also began to make hit records. With her increased popularity, she signed with Republic Pictures to star in a series of comedy films. And a short time later, she had her own weekly radio program which ran for 12 years. Judy had two contracts at Republic. Both tenures at the studio utilized her musical talents and exploited her hayseed image for laughs. During the early 40s, she costarred on screen with Susan Hayward, Francis Lederer and Joe E. Brown. She enjoyed several noteworthy hits, and these movies followed a simple formula where Judy was cast as a Cinderella-type bumpkin looking for love. She usually didn’t have to look too far. In the mid-40s, she and Herbert Yates were embroiled in a contract dispute so she left Republic for a few years. She freelanced at Columbia but mostly concentrated on her radio program and her stage act. By 1950, she and Yates had patched up their differences and she signed a new contract with Republic. She returned to the big screen in more musical comedies, and this time some of them were filmed in color. When her contract ended in 1955, she turned up on television. But her TV appearances were sporadic. She guest-starred in a memorable episode of The Danny Thomas Show where she sang two songs and did her standard rural shtick.
 Suggested Viewing:
SCATTERBRAIN (1940)SIS HOPKINS (1941)PUDDIN' HEAD (1941)JOAN OF OZARK (1942)SLEEPY LAGOON (1943)HONEYCHILE (1951)OKLAHOMA ANNIE (1952)THE WAC FROM WALLA WALLA (1952)UNTAMED HEIRESS (1954)CAROLINA CANNONBALL (1955)
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Post by topbilled on Jul 30, 2024 15:00:42 GMT
Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallee was one of the top crooners of his day. He was a star on radio and one of his generation’s teen idols. It was inevitable that a movie studio would want to cash in on his popularity. Of course, appearing in films was probably not his original goal. Primarily, he was a musician; he had achieved success in the mid-1920s touring with his band. He was given a recording contract by the end of the decade, and his vocals were heard in homes across America. He inspired many other crooners who came after him, like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. In 1929, at the height of his popularity as a vocalist, RKO signed him to make his first motion picture, THE VAGABOND LOVER. Costars included Sally Blane and Marie Dressler. It was a hit, one of RKO’s top films of the year. In addition to his newfound success on screen, Rudy also began hosting a weekly radio series that would run for quite a few years.
He appeared in several musical-type short films, until his next feature which was produced at Paramount: 1933’s INTERNATIONAL HOUSE. This production found him cast alongside W.C. Fields and Rose Marie. A year later he had a starring role in GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS (1934) at Fox. After this he starred in two pictures at Warners: SWEET MUSIC and GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS. It wasn’t until 1939 that Rudy Vallee began to find his niche as a supporting player in musical comedy pictures. He earned good notices for his turn in SECOND FIDDLE with Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power. It would lead to his casting in several Preston Sturges films during the 1940s. The first Sturges-Vallee collaboration was THE PALM BEACH STORY in which Rudy supported Claudette Colbert and Mary Astor.
He and Sturges also worked together in Harold Lloyd’s last feature THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK; in UNFAITHFULLY YOURS which starred Rex Harrison; and in THE BEAUTIFUL BLONDE FROM BASHFUL BEND with Betty Grable. In between these assignments, Rudy found roles in other pictures. Most of these were musicals or light romantic comedies, though there was a noteworthy exception when he took a dramatic role in RKO’s I REMEMBER MAMA. In the 50s and 60s, Rudy appeared less frequently in movies but turned up on television. Usually guest appearances on variety shows and sitcoms helped him remain in the public eye. Though he hadn’t had a hit record since the late 30s, he was still producing albums and performing with a band before live audiences. He was a legendary talent, a man who entertained the masses for decades in more than one artistic and commercial medium.
 Suggested Viewing:THE VAGABOND LOVER (1929)GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS (1934)SWEET MUSIC (1935)GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS (1938)SECOND FIDDLE (1939)TIME OUT FOR RHYTHM (1941)THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942)
THE FABULOUS SUZANNE (1946)THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-SOXER (1947)I REMEMBER MAMA (1948)
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Post by topbilled on Jul 30, 2024 16:57:18 GMT
Incidentally, Judy Canova's daughter is TV actress Diana Canova.
In 1978, mother and daughter did a great rendition of the Wabash Cannonball on Dinah Shore's talk show.
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Post by NoShear on Jul 30, 2024 18:02:02 GMT
Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark was already in his thirties when he signed with 20th Century Fox. Before arriving in Hollywood he had concentrated on stage roles and even taught acting. It was not his intention to become a movie star, but that is just what happened anyway. His first assignment at Fox was a breakout role in the noir classic KISS OF DEATH, where he played a vicious thug opposite Victor Mature. For his efforts, Richard was nominated for an Oscar. Though he didn’t receive the award, he made such an impression that he was quickly placed in similar roles. In follow-ups like THE STREET WITH NO NAME and ROAD HOUSE he played other menacing characters and in the process was quickly typecast. Eventually Richard was allowed to play characters on the right side of the law which helped demonstrate his versatility. He graduated to lead roles and during a seven year period at Fox, he made more than 20 motion pictures– most of them were huge hits with audiences. He worked with stars like Lionel Barrymore; Dana Andrews; Susan Hayward; and Sidney Poitier.
For his work in NO WAY OUT, he was back to playing another cold-hearted character. But whether he was appearing in gritty urban dramas or westerns, there was an immensely likable quality Richard projected on screen. After he left Fox, we worked primarily at Universal and MGM. He costarred with Sidney Poitier two more times, and off screen they became very good friends. Years later Sidney directed him in a romantic comedy with Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner. Richard didn’t really slow down, and unlike many golden age stars who needed to reinvent themselves, he remained a popular screen presence well into the 1980s.
One of his hits for Universal was a police procedural called MADIGAN. Several years after the feature film, he reprised the character in a few TV movies. Suggested Viewing:KISS OF DEATH (1947)ROAD HOUSE (1948)DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS (1949)NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950)NO WAY OUT (1950)PANIC IN THE STREETS (1950)THE FROGMEN (1951)PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET (1953)TAKE THE HIGH GROUND! (1953)BROKEN LANCE (1954) TopBilled, I want to thank you for a reminder of a Richard Widmark movie which didn't make your list here: RED SKIES OF MONTANA (1952)! The absence of the film made me think of it, and I finally hunted down a full 'n free version to view at a later time... |
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Post by topbilled on Jul 30, 2024 19:07:18 GMT
I try to limit the list to ten, though with Judy Holliday I only suggested eight because she didn't make many films!
It's been awhile since I have seen RED SKIES OF MONTANA. I believe it's based on a book by the same author who wrote the source material for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT.
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Post by NoShear on Jul 30, 2024 19:57:34 GMT
I try to limit the list to ten, though with Judy Holliday I only suggested eight because she didn't make many films!
It's been awhile since I have seen RED SKIES OF MONTANA. I believe it's based on a book by the same author who wrote the source material for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. It's interesting that you mentioned authorship of RED SKIES OF MONTANA, TopBilled, as there's some ambiguity here. Generally, it's accepted that the notorious Mann Gulch wildfire is what the core of the story reflects, and I agree with that based on some early viewing thus far of the film. After that, though, it becomes less clear. George R. Stewart's FIRE (1948) predated Mann Gulch and is said to have been purchased by 20th Century Fox - also prior to the Mann Gulch disaster. Eventually, though, Art Cohn was given the (on)screenplay credit. Norman A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Maclean did write about Mann Gulch, but that wasn't until many years later (1992). |
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Post by topbilled on Jul 31, 2024 2:06:58 GMT
I try to limit the list to ten, though with Judy Holliday I only suggested eight because she didn't make many films!
It's been awhile since I have seen RED SKIES OF MONTANA. I believe it's based on a book by the same author who wrote the source material for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. It's interesting that you mentioned authorship of RED SKIES OF MONTANA, TopBilled, as there's some ambiguity here. Generally, it's accepted that the notorious Mann Gulch wildfire is what the core of the story reflects, and I agree with that based on some early viewing thus far of the film. After that, though, it becomes less clear. George R. Stewart's FIRE (1948) predated Mann Gulch and is said to have been purchased by 20th Century Fox - also prior to the Mann Gulch disaster. Eventually, though, Art Cohn was given the (on)screenplay credit. Norman A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Maclean did write about Mann Gulch, but that wasn't until many years later (1992). |
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Post by NoShear on Jul 31, 2024 2:56:55 GMT
It's interesting that you mentioned authorship of RED SKIES OF MONTANA, TopBilled, as there's some ambiguity here. Generally, it's accepted that the notorious Mann Gulch wildfire is what the core of the story reflects, and I agree with that based on some early viewing thus far of the film. After that, though, it becomes less clear. George R. Stewart's FIRE (1948) predated Mann Gulch and is said to have been purchased by 20th Century Fox - also prior to the Mann Gulch disaster. Eventually, though, Art Cohn was given the (on)screenplay credit. Norman A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Maclean did write about Mann Gulch, but that wasn't until many years later (1992). Oh, no, TopBilled, but I will look into further for us after I watch it tonight... |
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Post by topbilled on Jul 31, 2024 13:01:20 GMT
Grace Allen
Like so many others from her generation, Grace Allen started in vaudeville at a very young age. In fact, she was just three when she made her first public appearance as an entertainer. By the time she was in her teens, she and her sisters were touring all over the place as a musical-comedy group. During this time, she refined her skills as a dancer and as a comedienne. She didn’t meet George Burns until she was 27 years old, and they didn’t marry until a few years later. She eventually left her sisters and formed a new act with Burns. In the beginning she set up the jokes, and he had the punch lines. But she was still managing to get more laughs because of her wacky delivery, so George switched roles with her. He began to play the ‘straight man’ and in his humble estimation, she pretty much became the show. Though a lot of their routines focused on Gracie’s famous illogical thought processes, it was clear they both had the brains to realize this was a winning formula with audiences. From the stage, they went to films and radio. Some of their routines were recorded in a series of short films. In the early 1930s they signed with Paramount and were put into feature films. In these pictures they costarred with W.C. Fields and their friend Jack Benny. Eventually, Paramount gave them their own movies to star in, but they remained more popular with audiences on radio. By 1940, their movie career was in decline but their revamped radio show, which changed from a variety show to more of a sitcom format, became an even greater hit. In the meantime, Gracie did two films without George at MGM, but their fans preferred them performing together. In the late 40s, they signed with CBS to develop a television series. It was basically an extension of their radio sitcom. The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show was an enormous success, running for eight seasons and producing nearly 300 episodes. The couple’s son Ronnie played their son on the program during its later seasons; and their daughter Sandra occasionally had bit parts. In 1958, Gracie decided to retire from performing, citing health issues. She passed away six years later after a heart attack. Of course, George’s film career experienced a major resurgence in the 1970s and 1980s but probably his best-loved routines will always be the ones he and Gracie did together. Suggested Viewing:THE BIG BROADCAST (1932)MANY HAPPY RETURNS (1934)SIX OF A KIND (1934)LOVE IN BLOOM (1935)HERE COMES COOKIE (1935)COLLEGE HOLIDAY (1936)A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS (1937)COLLEGE SWING (1938)HONOLULU (1939)MR. AND MRS. NORTH (1942)
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Post by NoShear on Jul 31, 2024 15:18:57 GMT
I try to limit the list to ten, though with Judy Holliday I only suggested eight because she didn't make many films!
It's been awhile since I have seen RED SKIES OF MONTANA. I believe it's based on a book by the same author who wrote the source material for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. Here's something of a timeline of RED SKIES OF MONTANA for you, TopBilled: 1948 - George R. Stewart's FIRE is published. 1948 - In August it's announced that 20th Century Fox had purchased the rights. (George R. Stewart will later receive no screen credit.) 1949 - On August 5 the Mann Gulch disaster occurs. It is generally regarded as the core element to the later 1952 film. 1952 - On January 20 the film is said to have been screened in the hometown of the USFS smokejumpers station, Missoula, Montana. Harry Kleiner is credited with the screenplay. Art Cohn is credited with the story. 1952 - On January 23 the film is said to have been screened in Los Angeles, California. 1952 - In February the film is said to have opened to general release in the United States. |
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Post by topbilled on Jul 31, 2024 15:39:32 GMT
I try to limit the list to ten, though with Judy Holliday I only suggested eight because she didn't make many films!
It's been awhile since I have seen RED SKIES OF MONTANA. I believe it's based on a book by the same author who wrote the source material for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. Here's something of a timeline of RED SKIES OF MONTANA for you, TopBilled: 1948 - George R. Stewart's FIRE is published. 1948 - In August it's announced that 20th Century Fox had purchased the rights. (George R. Stewart will later receive no screen credit.) 1949 - On August 5 the Mann Gulch disaster occurs. It is generally regarded as the core element to the later 1952 film. 1952 - On January 20 the film is said to have been screened in the hometown of the USFS smokejumpers station, Missoula, Montana. Harry Kleiner is credited with the screenplay. Art Cohn is credited with the story. 1952 - On January 23 the film is said to have been screened in Los Angeles, California. 1952 - In February the film is said to have opened to general release in the United States. |
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Post by topbilled on Aug 1, 2024 7:01:57 GMT
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Eddie Anderson’s given name was Edmund, but to audiences he was better known as Rochester– the personal valet and butler of Jack Benny. Benny’s radio show had already been a hit when Eddie took guest roles on the series. Usually he played train porters, restaurant waiters and other servant-type characters. At first he didn’t appear in every broadcast, and when he wasn’t featured, the show was flooded with mail from people who wanted to know where he was. Quickly, Benny and his writers realized how important Eddie was and the type of regular character he could play in their on-going stories. He soon became a great foil to Benny– greater than the rest of the cast, including Benny’s own wife. His character was given the name Rochester, and in a reference to his first appearance playing a porter, it was explained that Benny had acquired Rochester’s services after inadvertently getting him fired on the train. The Rochester-Benny relationship was so special that Eddie Anderson became a bonafide celebrity in his own right. He had already appeared in minor roles in films, when he began to join Benny in the comedian’s pictures at Paramount. He usually played Rochester or else a variant of Rochester in the movies he made during the 1940s. One notable exception was his lead role in MGM’s musical CABIN IN THE SKY with Lena Horne.
In the 50s, he and the rest of Benny’s staff headed into television. As a result of his long-running role as Rochester, he became very wealthy (and probably had his own butler and valet). The Benny gig lasted until 1965. There was a reunion special a few years later.
In the meantime, Eddie Anderson turned up in other programs of the late 60s and early 70s, taking assorted guest roles. He also landed a job in a Broadway production but had to bow out due to declining health. When he wasn’t working as an entertainer, he kept busy with his race horses (he owned several), and he looked after business investments and charities he helped fund. Suggested Viewing:THE GREEN PASTURES (1936)YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN (1939)MAN ABOUT TOWN (1939)BUCK BENNY RIDES AGAIN (1940)KISS THE BOYS GOODBYE (1941)
BIRTH OF THE BLUES (1941)THE MEANEST MAN IN THE WORLD (1943)CABIN IN THE SKY (1943)BREWSTER'S MILLIONS (1945)THE SHOW-OFF (1946)
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Post by topbilled on Aug 2, 2024 15:04:01 GMT
Rose Marie
She came from an Italian family and her last name was Mazetta. But the world knew her as Rose Marie. And in the early days, she was known as Baby Rose Marie. She was performing at age three, and by five she was on radio. She had her own hit records on the music charts by the time she was ten, and she was also appearing in short films around that time. During the Depression, Rose Marie's popularity continued. She recorded tunes with big name orchestras, and when she wasn’t singing, she made a feature at Paramount with W.C. Fields. But in those days, her focus was on music, not acting. As a teen she drew crowds in nightclubs and she did successful shows in Las Vegas. During her Vegas years, she was the darling of mobsters and tourists. And she formed lifelong friendships with people like Frank Sinatra. In the early 50s, Rose Marie was on Broadway with Phil Silvers. Their show, TOP BANANA, was turned into a motion picture. And while she would occasionally do films over the years, she segued from music recordings and nightclub shows to work on television. In the early 60s, she had a supporting role on a TV version of My Sister Eileen; then, the following year, she was cast on The Dick Van Dyke Show. After the series ended, she turned up on game shows. For two years, she was featured on Doris Day’s hit sitcom. She played a coworker and all-purpose “partner in crime” alongside Doris's character. She followed this with recurring roles in other programs. She returned to the big screen several times, and she was always good for a laugh. Near the end of her life, Rose Marie published her autobiography in which she discussed the more fascinating details of her long career.
 Suggested Viewing:
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE (1933)TOP BANANA (1954)THE BIG BEAT (1958)
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)DON'T WORRY WE'LL THINK OF A TITLE (1966)DEAD HEAT ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND (1966)The Doris Day Show (1969-1971)
CHEAPER TO KEEP HER (1980)WITCHBOARD (1986)
PSYCHO (1998)
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