Tag Archives: Bette Davis

By Robert J. Avrech | December 31, 2012

Old Hollywood, New Year

Tweet Seraphic Secret works hard to favor the glass half-full view of life. When bad stuff happens, which it does all the time, we try not to plunge into a clinical depression. But let’s face it, 2012 was a difficult year for Conservatives — and for America. Obamacare has become the law of the land, [...]

Posted in Hollywood, New Years | Also tagged Barbara Kent, Debbie Reynolds, Marilyn Monroe, Myrna Loy, Rita Hayworth, Sari Maritza, Shirley Temple | 17 Responses

By Robert J. Avrech | August 23, 2012

2016: Obama’s America, Plus a Mild Digression About Bette Davis

Tweet Into the San Fernando Valley we rode, 10.2 miles from Casa Avrech, to see Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary 2016: Obama’s America. Karen ordered our tickets in advance through Fandango. There are no theater listings for 2016 in the LA Times. They claim there was a computer glitch, but I think we all know what’s really [...]

Posted in 2012 Election, 2016: Obama's America, Movies, Obama Watch, Remembering Ariel | Also tagged Dinesh D'Souza, George Obama, In This Our Life, Stanley Ann Dunham, Stanley Timberlake | 20 Responses

By Robert J. Avrech | March 30, 2012

Friday Fashion: Hollywood Hats for Passover

Tweet Passover is almost here. Cleaning, changing dishes, and buying Passover food takes up a huge amount of time and energy. Observant Jews also take the opportunity to purchase new clothing in honor of the holiday in which we celebrate our deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Orthodox women cover their heads in synagogue—a sign of modesty—thus [...]

Posted in Anita Page, Friday Fashion, Holidays, Hollywood, Hollywood Hats, Passover | Also tagged Cecil Beaton, David Lean, Edward Stevenson, Fashions of 1934, Grace Kelly, House of Flying Daggers, Irene Dunne, Joy of Living, Kalloch, Leslie Howard, Mary Nolan, Miriam Hopkins, The Old Maid, Wendy Hiller, William Powell, Ziyi Zhang | 10 Responses

By Robert J. Avrech | November 10, 2011

Sidney Fox: Lost in Hollywood

Tweet In 1930, film mogul Carl Laemmle, Jr., attended Lost Sheep, a Broadway play that had garnered positive reviews. A young actress, Sidney Fox, b. Sidney Leiffer, received particularly good notices for her performance. The influential New York Times observed: ”As Rhoda, little Sidney Fox [she stood only 4' 10" tall] won the hearts of [...]

Posted in Hollywood, Movies, Sidney Fox | Also tagged Bela Lugosi, Carl Laemmle Jr., Charles Beahan, Conrad Nagel, Humphrey Bogart, Murders in the Rue Morgue, Preston Sturges, Strictly Dishonorable, The Bad Sister, Zasu Pitts | 9 Responses

By Robert J. Avrech | August 26, 2011

Friday Fotos: Mirror, Mirror

Tweet The business of creating glamour was hard work. And the Hollywood still photographers employed by the studios did a great deal of the heavy lifting. Thorugh their craft they helped manufacture stars by producing shimmering, glamorous images that hinted at beings who were human gods. Who has not seen the stunning George Hurrell photo [...]