Golden Age of Hollywood Book Club discussion

No I sure din't know that. That's something for the Kinsolving family to be mighty proud of.

Were you cognizant of all this prior to this quiz?

Dabs Greer, yes. Another freebie huh. Familiar to any fan of 'Perry Mason', 'Wanted Dead or Alive', 'The Rifleman', 'High Chaparral'...

Feliks wrote: "No I sure din't know that. That's something for the Kinsolving family to be mighty proud of.

Were you cognizant of all this prior to this quiz?"

I knew about Anne S.K. Brown of course, but didn't realize the Kinsolving connection, but that's what the K stands for.

Fan of Bruce Catton too? Jeopardy's Alex Trebek is a life-long Civil War buff. At least he was; I don't know if he's still alive right at this moment.

It makes my flesh creep when some community grants Wal-Mart the right to build a store and a parking lot on a Civil War battlefield.

I like his trilogy about the Army of the Potomac. There have been so many great books written since then.

Like you, that kind of thing (Wal-Mart) makes me furious.

Quiz #71. American.

I need to get on her more often since I knew Dabbs Greer and Skip Homier. But I'm glad they are answered. I am determined to get that silent vamp but I think I have run out of names. I thought sure it was Barbara La Marr. I am concentrating on that one for now.

I will try #71.....Susan Cabot?

no to Susan Cabot for #71.

#71 is a 'B-noir' babe.

I will also add that #66 was so famous at one point, she would appear at White House events and suchlike. She came from an impoverished midwest upbringing, so it's a nifty rise to stardom

#60.......Billie Dove?

nope

#71.....Mara Corday?

So we are working on #66 (singer), #69 (Jill's vamp) and #71 (catlady)?

Yes. I believe this is our recent-est activity:

#63 Hugh Williams (Welsh idol)
#64 Constance Cummings (Goldwyn Girl + OBE)
#65 Linden Travers (Scotswoman)
#66 unguessed (blonde MGM vocalist)
#67 Lee Kinsolving / Skip Homeier
#68 Frank Overton
#69 unguessed (silent-era vamp)
#70 Dabbs Grier
#71 unguessed B-noir babe

Guess on #71 - Ann Savage?

nooooes

I am getting desperate ...........#69 Lupe Velez?

Nooooes. Okay so I've posted two pics of her so far, maybe some more biographical info.

She had a trademark of turning in solid performances in Biblical and other historical movies (silent). She made the transition to talkies okay but retired from film, by her own choice, in '32.

She worked for Fox and Paramount (under contract) nevertheless, for most of her career, she freelanced.

She has a posthumous star on the Walk of Fame.

p.s. From previous chats I know you are already quite familiar with Lupe Velez so I wouldn't ever choose her for a quiz.

#66.....Dinah Shore?

that's a decent guess but no

Not quite sure what else I might say to highlight just how big a name the blonde vocalist above is. But she had a trained voice. Classically trained voice.

(no. not Anna Marie Alberghetti)

#69...Estelle Taylor?

Yes! Three cherries!

Now that is 'stick-to-it'iveness'. Well done.

Yea, Jill. I knew you'd get #69.

Quiz #72
Another young British rake of the 1930s; however this toff also worked in the States. He landed quite a good many roles (stage and screen). His film career lasted from '26-'44


Quiz #73
His younger sister was also an actress of the 1940s


Quiz #74
Their actress mother! Her stage and film career spanned the years 1919 - 1958; with 130 titles to her credit. Many of them, studio by-words well-known to every classics buff.


Who is this famous acting family?

Is the new #74 an older version of the previous picture or what?

No, the photo of the 'rather dolled-up brunette' which went in there at first glance, was a mistake. That photo was mislabeled online; but I used it in my post before identifying error on the part of the image provider.

I am making a wild stab at #72 and #74 even though I think it is off base since #72 is too handsome to be Tearle.......... Godfrey Tearle and his mother, actress Marianne Conway.

no banana...

It will be a nice 'grand slam' or at least a 'triple' --three runs batted in --on #72, #73, #74 for whoever gets the glimmer first.

Brit theater clan! I am going to be slightly skimpy with clues because of the stakes involved.

fyi: #66 --the blonde cabaret singer --created/furthered a kind of legacy which persisted right down to our own day

#71.......Mari Blanchard!! The hair color was throwing me off since most of the time she was a blonde.

Looks like a winner to me. Yea, Jill.

Yep. A Winnah! Mari Blanchard it is. Femme fatale of the B-noirs!

Your face will probably be a slight red after #66 emerges. These guesses are sub-arctic

just thirteen films between '39 and '45 for the blonde in question. more of a 'star' for her studio, than an actress. an 'ingenue' who became a 'chanteuse'. but the kind of fame which allowed her to tour the world doing vocal performances.

#66 is a toughie. I can't seem to figure out who she is even from the clues. I was going to say Patti Page but she is too young for the time period and I don't think she was in films, so that is not a guess. Let me ask this question. In films, was she one of those who got billing as "featuring Jane Doe" or was she just listed as a cast member?

#72 - Ralph Forbes?
#73 - Brenda Forbes?
#74 - Mary Forbes?

Winnah! Clean sweep!

#66 after her big debut she was just listed as an ordinary cast member; whether top, second, or third.

But some of her films were musical extravaganzas listing a slew of acts of which she is listed the same as anyone else.

It appears to me as if she was precipitate in her retirement. She wound up in a mediocre marriage and what looks like a very unsatisfying career from that point on. Being offered guest appearances on TV shows, etc.

At one point she was so famous that one of her children was delivered by Queen Elizaabeth's personal doctor.

Betsy.......a grand slam. Thumbs up!!!

I'm still concentrating on #66 and have been through every singer I can think of who started in film and turned into a world famous chanteuse. Trying to figure out what kind of legacy she would have left that has lingered on. I first thought it could be double tracking her voice but you can't do that in person, only recordings....that's why I thought of Patti Page but she doesn't fit any of the dates. Just like the vamp, I will stumble on to it unless Betsy has some ideas. I think we are going to be really mad if we don't get it since she obviously was so well known.

How duzzzz she do it!

Sherlock Holmes abilities.

#66 is the kind of star that when today's stars play the same role she played most famously, she is one of the figures they must refer back to if they want to be compared favorably

#66 again. her big hit was in '43

She looks like Helen O'Connell but she really didn't star in films. But is considered one of the greatest singers of the 40/50s.

You are going to laugh at this guess but she fits most of the clues, especially classically trained and her big hit film roll was Rita, in Rio Rita. But I don't think she was ever blonde and the nose doesn't look right....Kathryn Grayson?

No! This is slayin' me...

Think BIG. Bigger than big.

What is a famous classic movie featuring a young singer at the heart of it, the story of which, still persists down to today and is still a big big big hit today?

No swing bands and no swing band vocalists.

What is a classic plot about singers and singing which even today millions of people have seen?