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Post by topbilled on Dec 3, 2022 18:58:39 GMT
It's kind of interesting to me, how fans use the formal names of stars. On the set, and off-camera, William Powell was actually called Bill. But movie viewers never say "I just watched THE THIN MAN starring Myrna Loy & Bill Powell."
In 1994, I had a chance to meet Lauren Bacall when she came to my college campus for a special luncheon. During lunch, she answered questions about her career. She referred to her costar in DESIGNING WOMAN as Greg (not Gregory Peck).
Also Miss Bacall would say 'Bogie' when talking about her first husband...she never said Humphrey.
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Post by Fading Fast on Dec 3, 2022 19:15:15 GMT
I've noticed that too, but one exception (there are always are a few) is Jimmy Stewart, who is (I think) almost always billed as James Stewart, but most fans refer to him as Jimmy. And to be fair, many fans refer to Bogart as Bogie, but I think your point still holds as, in general, they are Gregory Peck or William Holden to us.
An offshoot of this, did any one in her personal life refer to Marilyn Monroe as anything other than Marilyn?
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Post by topbilled on Dec 3, 2022 19:19:27 GMT
I've noticed that too, but one exception (there are always are a few) is Jimmy Stewart, who is (I think) almost always billed as James Stewart, but most fans refer to him as Jimmy. And to be fair, many fans refer to Bogart as Bogie, but I think your point still holds as, in general, they are Gregory Peck or William Holden to us.
An offshoot of this, did any one in her personal life refer to Marilyn Monroe as anything other than Marilyn?
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Barbara Stanwyck, whose real first name was Ruby, was never called Barbara or Ruby in Hollywood. Everyone called her Missy, which I believe started as Robert Taylor's pet name for her. Recently, I watched an interview that Aaron Spelling did about Dynasty and The Colbys. Stanwyck had a role on The Colbys, and when asked about her, Spelling called her Missy and said she was his daughter Tori's godmother. |
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Post by Fading Fast on Dec 3, 2022 19:37:48 GMT
I've noticed that too, but one exception (there are always are a few) is Jimmy Stewart, who is (I think) almost always billed as James Stewart, but most fans refer to him as Jimmy. And to be fair, many fans refer to Bogart as Bogie, but I think your point still holds as, in general, they are Gregory Peck or William Holden to us.
An offshoot of this, did any one in her personal life refer to Marilyn Monroe as anything other than Marilyn?
***
Barbara Stanwyck, whose real first name was Ruby, was never called Barbara or Ruby in Hollywood. Everyone called her Missy, which I believe started as Robert Taylor's pet name for her. Recently, I watched an interview that Aaron Spelling did about Dynasty and The Colbys. Stanwyck had a role on The Colbys, and when asked about her, Spelling called her Missy and said she was his daughter Tori's godmother. |
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Post by BingFan on Dec 3, 2022 23:52:32 GMT
I've noticed that too, but one exception (there are always are a few) is Jimmy Stewart, who is (I think) almost always billed as James Stewart, but most fans refer to him as Jimmy. And to be fair, many fans refer to Bogart as Bogie, but I think your point still holds as, in general, they are Gregory Peck or William Holden to us.
An offshoot of this, did any one in her personal life refer to Marilyn Monroe as anything other than Marilyn?
Regarding the Bogarts, I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere (perhaps in Ms. Bacall’s book) that he hated the name “Humphrey” and preferred that friends called him “Bogie.” And wasn’t Ms. Bacall usually called “Betty,” her real name, by friends and relations?
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Post by sepiatone on Dec 4, 2022 17:11:31 GMT
Norma maybe, but really I was just thinking that "Marilyn," being a three-syllable name, would usually be shorted to something or some nickname would be used instead by one's close friends and family. I'm reminded of a gag my girl GRACIE ALLEN would use. When asked her name she'd reply..... "My name is Grace, but people call me "Gracie" for short."  But for the record, I've always referred to Both Powell and Holden as "William". And often heard Stanwyck referred to as "Babs". Barbara Streisand too. As for Bacall, I understood Bogey used to call her "Baby" instead of "Betty". And too, there's "Liz" Taylor and "Dick" Burton.  Sepiatone |
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Post by topbilled on Dec 4, 2022 19:32:43 GMT
I'm reminded of a gag my girl GRACIE ALLEN would use. When asked her name she'd reply..... "My name is Grace, but people call me "Gracie" for short." But for the record, I've always referred to Both Powell and Holden as "William". And often heard Stanwyck referred to as "Babs". Barbara Streisand too. As for Bacall, I understood Bogey used to call her "Baby" instead of "Betty". And too, there's "Liz" Taylor and "Dick" Burton. Sepiatone |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Dec 4, 2022 23:44:50 GMT
Why I can't call William Powell Dick....   |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Dec 5, 2022 3:40:22 GMT
Why I can't call William Powell Dick.... * Sorry about the little inside joke there, gang. Had to post this one for my dad. He is always confusing these two guys, and I just don't understand why! I guess he can't tell his Powells apart -- don't tell Jane! |
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Post by galacticgirrrl on Dec 5, 2022 4:27:42 GMT
Why I can't call William Powell Dick.... * Sorry about the little inside joke there, gang. Had to post this one for my dad. He is always confusing these two guys, and I just don't understand why! I guess he can't tell his Powells apart -- don't tell Jane! I loved it. I think many of us can relate. There is often a split second pause as I try to relate whether I just saw John Hurt or William Hurt in a movie. Really odd hiccup to have and a brown bag on my head doesn't get rid of it.  |
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Post by topbilled on Dec 5, 2022 23:57:10 GMT
I had to call someone today at work whose name was William Powell, and it made me think of this thread. LOL
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Post by BunnyWhit on Dec 6, 2022 4:20:21 GMT
I had to call someone today at work whose name was William Powell, and it made me think of this thread. LOL ![]() Wonder if he answered with a cocktail in his hand..... |
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Post by yanceycravat on Dec 6, 2022 18:13:40 GMT
I always say William Powell. Jimmy Stewart. He was always billed as James but I don't know that I ever hear anyone say James.
You could tell if someone was a friend or friendly with Henry Fonda if they called him Hank.
Would anyone dare call James Mason, Jim or Jimmy??? I just can't imagine it.
I always love hearing the English folks call Richard Attenborough "Dickie" even when he was an old man and became a "Sir".
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Post by Lucky Dan on Dec 6, 2022 22:25:21 GMT
William. It's a great name and despite it's ubiquity in birth records, few men so christened choose to be called by it.
Then I've heard him called Dick, too, by those who tend to transpose their Powells.
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Dec 7, 2022 1:47:28 GMT
William. It's a great name and despite it's ubiquity in birth records, few men so christened choose to be called by it. Then I've heard him called Dick, too, by those who tend to transpose their Powells. William is a great name and that was the name of my father, and his two oldest sons (by different woman, one being my mom); Thus there were 3 Williams in my family but no one I know ever called any of them anything but Bill. My official name is James; I decided to be called James instead of Jim when I was around 8. Most teachers would ask if I wished to be called James or Jim. As I got older this sort of dance would continue; E.g. I meet someone at a business conference. They see that I'm listed as James. Alert people would ask. Clueless ones would just call me Jim. AND, the real clueless ones would continue to call me Jim even after I would say I go by James !!!! Only my brothers and 2 friends I grew up with call me Jimmy, as a pet-name. Now my neighbors (they live right behind me and have to put up with slightly drunk me playing and singing Beatles and Kinks tunes in the backyard), are calling me Jimmy when I see them in the park while walking our dogs. This husband and wife are really nice people but I admit I found them calling me Jimmy disrespectful. I.e. where did they come up with Jimmy? Also catch Jimmy Raney one of my favorite jazz guitarist on You-Tube; He had a son Doug that is also a first rate jazz guitarist. Doug named his Son James and recorded a song Jimmy-James in honor of his dad and son. |
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