Seraphic Secret

Robert J. Avrech: Emmy Award winning screenwriter. Movie fanatic. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my wife since age nine.

Judy garland

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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“I want to do the best that I can do in that moment, when the camera starts, until it stops.’
—Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1926 – 1962)

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Thanksgiving 2020: The Children of the Children of Israel

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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 mountains of photographs 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 nature of this hope?

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Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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“America took me into her bosom when there was no longer a country worthy of the name, but in my heart I am German — German in my soul.”
—Marlene Dietrich

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Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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“When I die, my epitaph should be: I died a thousand deaths. That was the story of my film career. Most of the time I played in mystery and intrigue stories. They didn’t know what to do with me at the end, so they killed me off.” — Anna May Wong

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Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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“When we were at MGM, we worked years before anybody called us stars. Louis B. Mayer brought us along in little parts – even ‘Love Finds Andy Hardy.’ Then, if we showed promise, he would put us opposite the established stars – like Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Spencer Tracy – who could lend us the power of their names.
“Then, when we became established, he would costar the rising young players with us.
“Believe me, when the time came for us to move from the featured players’ building into the building of the star’s dressing rooms, it was a thrilling event in your life. It was like entering a new kingdom in which you were the queen.”
—Lana Turner

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