Harold Lloyd

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

July 27, 2018 by Robert J. Avrech 5 Comments

“[I] have never worked with an actress who was more co-operative, less temperamental, and a better workman — to use my term of highest compliment — than Barbara Stanwyck.”
—Cecil B DeMille

Friday Photos: Till the Cows Come Home

January 16, 2015 by Robert J. Avrech 13 Comments

Buster Keaton with a cow. Not sure which film this is from, possibly Go West, but for some odd reason we have been coming across scores of pictures of Hollywood stars and cow. — Buster Keaton with a cow in “Go West” For some odd reason we have been coming across scores of pictures of Hollywood stars and cows.

I’ve just finished a long and depressing conversation with a close friend who attends Daf Yomi with yours truly. We were wondering (among other things) what has possessed Barack Hussein Obama to release five more ruthless Gitmo detainees?

All evidence, and common sense, suggests that these IslamoNazis will return to jihad and commit further rampages of murder, torture, rape, and plunder.

I suggested that Obama is a classic narcissist who will do what he wants regardless of the consequences. My friend asked, not unreasonably, if Obama does not heed his national security briefings? We went around and around the matter. But ultimately the question of Obama’s motivations are irrelevant. His actions are the only things that count. And this POTUS is guilty of dereliction of duty.

Okay. Got that out of the way.

Flashback: Hollywood Celebrates Christmas

December 25, 2014 by Robert J. Avrech 9 Comments

Hollywood pioneer Mary Pickford makes Christmas official, 1920s. — Hollywood pioneer Mary Pickford (1892 – 1979) b. Gladys Smith, makes Christmas official, 1920s.

During Hollywood’s Golden Age, the studios, through newspapers,fan magazines, and trade publications, published photos of their stars celebrating Christmas. In this way, Hollywood — though founded by poor immigrant Jews — informed the public that the motion picture industry was in harmony with Christian America.

Seraphic Secret — Karen and I — are Orthodox Jews. We observe the Sabbath and eat only kosher food. Our lives and values are built around the Torah, written and oral. But we enjoy this season, and honor Christmas. We shudder at the relentless postmodern assault on this most Christian of holidays. We want America to remain a steadfastly Judeo-Christian country, for without G-d individual liberty vanishes, replaced, inevitably, by a powerful centralized state, a cult of personality and various forms of paganism, exemplified by the climate change (AKA the weather) fanatics.

We urge everyone to pray for the Christians who are being murdered, tortured and oppressed by genocidal jihadists and barbaric Islamic law.

Here’s a sample of Hollywood and Christmas as it used to be.

Thanksgiving 2014 — America: The Children of the Children of Israel

November 27, 2014 by Robert J. Avrech 6 Comments

Studio photographers shot millions of still photos of their actors, often with holiday themes. This is the one of the few religiously inclined Thanksgiving stills I have come across. The actress is Barbara Kent, a minor star in the silent ear best known for starring opposite Harold Lloyd in “Welcome Danger” 1929. But her very best role was in a little known but quite wonderful silent film “Lonesome,” 1928. — Studio photographers shot millions of stills of contract actors, often with holiday themes. This is a charming Thanksgiving photo. The actress is Barbara Kent, (b. Barbara Cloutman, 1907- 2011) a popular star in the silent era best known for twice starring opposite Harold Lloyd, “Welcome Danger” (1929), and then “Feet First,” (1930). But her very best role was in a little known but quite wonderful silent film “Lonesome,” (1928). Seraphic Secret wrote a memoriam for this lovely actress when she passed away. You can find it here.

As far as I know, there are only two countries in the world that were founded on the idea of hope.

America and Israel.

And what was the hope?

The hope of achieving religious freedom, and freedom from the tyranny of centralized government.

The Children of Israel, fleeing Egyptian slavery and religious persecution, settled the land of Israel over 3,000 years ago, thereby fulfilling G-d’s eternal covenant with the Jewish people.

The Pilgrims saw themselves as the children of the children of Israel, escaping a British Pharaoh and crossing a liquid desert.

Friday Photos: Whatever

December 28, 2012 by Robert J. Avrech 13 Comments

No theme today. Just a random collection of fun photos.

Enjoy!