Filmland Follies

               Did the title make you do a double take?                         Filmland Follies is named for a reason - I write about Old Hollywood, which typically sticks to movies. However, yesterday in a crossword I found a clue which I realized was more obscure than it should be. The clue was "sister of Fred Astaire." So I was inspired to write this blog post to celebrate said sister, who though she never followed her brother to Hollywood, deserves to be known further than the sphere of crossword-solvers who also love entertainment history. Adele on an ocean liner, mid-1920s.               So here is my little tribute to dancer, actress, singer, wartime volunteer, British peeress, and crossword puzzle answer - Adele Astaire.               Adele Austerlitz was born in 1896 in...

                "My favorite Valentine is the one that says, 'Sweets to the sweet!' - and means it!" says Jane Withers in a 1939 issue of Modern Screen magazine. Jane began her film career at age three and was one of the most popular child stars of the 1930s and 40s. After a supporting role in the 1934 Shirley Temple vehicle Bright Eyes , Jane was signed to a seven-year contract with 20th-Century Fox. She was typically cast as a troublemaker or bratty character in contrast with that of Shirley's good girl persona. In later life she did voice work for Disney films and is known as a noted philanthropist and doll collector. Today in 2021, Jane is 94 years old!               I love to bake, so if I can combine that with old movies I won't pass up the chance! In this article, written when Jane was twelve, she shares her love for candy-making and four of her recipes for Valentine's Day treats. Here the...

          They say not to judge a book by its cover - but a movie titled The Richest Girl in the World is already intriguing, at least to me. And if I know anything from Downton Abbey , starting off with the sinking of the Titanic is a surefire way to interest an audience.          The Richest Girl in the World stars Miriam Hopkins in the title role, Joel McCrea as her love interest, and Fay Wray as her friend and secretary. I had never seen a Miriam Hopkins film before this one, but I thought her wonderful. I found her to be one of those actresses who can convey a head full of thoughts with just her expression. Hopkins and McCrea would go on to make four more films together after Richest Girl .               So what happens in a movie about the richest girl in the world?               When the Titanic sinks, baby Dorothy Hunter is left ...

          Many famous actresses were also excellent athletes, both on- and off-screen. Here's an appreciation of four of these women. Esther Williams   Esther Williams was known as Hollywood's "Million Dollar Mermaid" after the 1952 film she starred in. A competitive swimmer from an early age, she had won three US National championships in breaststroke and freestyle by age 16. Esther planned to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics before it was canceled when World War II broke out. She was discovered by MGM talent scouts while in Billy Rose's Aquacade, a singing, dancing, and swimming troupe. Her career in movies was defined by her starring roles in "aquamusicals" with elaborate synchronized swimming scenes, such as Neptune's Daughter and Dangerous When Wet . Katharine Hepburn Katharine Hepburn was a noted athlete who enjoyed swimming, tennis, running, diving, and golfing. She took frequent golf lessons as a child and made it to the semi-finals of th...