Movie Legends-David Niven

 

 

      The video was put up by basilnelson on You Tube.  The music on the video is an Overture called 'The Marriage of Figaro' played by James Last and his Orchestra.

Yul Brynner And Deborah Kerr (The King And I)

 

 

The clip is from the 'The King And I' with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. This video was put up on You Tube by dfactoryusa.

Pink Panther-The Scarlet Pinkernel

 

 

     Okay, so I am a little kid at heart. I loved watching the Pink Panther when I was a kid and had to take a trip down memory lane.

     By the way there is a moral to this particular cartoon. "No good deed goes unpunished." Enjoy the cartoon.

Perry Mason Moments

  

     I made this video of a few Perry Mason Moments from the old TV series. The clips are from the episodes of 'The Antic Angel', 'The Festive Felon', and 'The Shifty Shoebox'. The song on the video is 'Eyes Without A Face' sung by Billy Idol. 

     For those of you who rather just hear the words instead of music, you can listen to the video below. Just words. No Music. The videos are the clips I put in the music ones.

 

 

 

James Cagney-Death

 

     James Cagney died of a heart attack at the age of 86. He is buried at the Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne, New York. Ronald Reagan, who was president at the time, gave the eulogy at Cagney's funeral. His pallbearers were boxer Floyd Patterson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, actor Ralph Bellamy, and director Milos Forman.

James Cagney-Political Views

Image via Wikipedia

 

     Though Cagney claimed in his autobiography he had no political view when he was younger, the Fanzines in the 1930's says he views were radical. The view was exaggerated by his wranglings with Warners at the time, his joining of the Screen Actors Guild, and his revolt against the Merriam tax.

     Cagney supported the Thomas Moody's defense fund but he was repelled by the behavior of some of Mooney's supporters at the rally. During the Spanish Civil War, Cagney gave money for the Spanish Republican Army ambulance. Cagney also became involved with a liberal along with Ronald Reagan however both quit the same night.

     Cagney was accused of being a Communist sympathizer in 1934, and again in 1940. The 1934 accusation came about form a letter from a local communist official found by police alleging that Cagney would new members to meetings. Cagney denied the accusation. Lincoln Steffens backed him up saying the money he gave was to help striking cotton workers in San Joaquin Valley. The 1940 accusation was about the donated money for the striking cotton workers. Cagney was cleared of the charges.

     Cagney became President of the Screen Actors Guild in 1942. He took an active role in the Guild's work against the Mafia. Around this time the Mafia had taken an active interest in the movie industry. Because the Mafia couldn't scare Cagney and the Guild off, they called Billie to tell her Cagney was a dead man. Cagney said they did send a hit man to kill him by dropping a heavy light onto his head. Upon hearing about the rumor of the hit, George Raft canceled the hit.

     During World War 2, Cagney took part in raising war bonds in racing exhibitions at the Roosevelt Raceway and sold seats for the premiere of 'Yankee Doodle Dandy. He even let the Army practice maneuvers at his Martha's Vineyard farm. After the war, Cagney got involved with the presidential campaigns. Cagney supported Ronald Reagan's campaign. 

     As Cagney got older, he became more and more conservative. Cagney regarded the move totally natural because of the undisciplined elements in our country referring to the hippies and their mind set.

James Cagney-Personal Life

Image via Wikipedia

 

     James Cagney married Frances Willard "Billie" Vernon on September 28, 1922. They met on the chorus line of 'Pitter Patter'. In 1941, they adopted a boy and named him James Cagney Jr. They had a daughter, Cathleen "Casey" Cagney. While Cagney was willing to give press interviews, he still remain a private man. He also remained out of the public eye during his private times.

     When Cagney was a young man became interested in farming, do to a soil conservation he attended. During his first walk out from Warner Brothers, he bought a farm in Martha's Vineyard. The house on the farm was run down but Cagney loved it but Billie was reluctant at first to live in the house. As time moved on, Billie grew to love the place. Cagney began to spread a rumor that he was going to hire a gunman after he got inundated by movie fans. The ruse was so good that when Spencer Tracy came to visit, the cab driver wouldn't go up the drive way to the house. The cab driver told Tracy. "I hear they shoot!" Tracy ended up walking up the driveway.

     In 1955, Cagney bought a farm in Duchess County, New York. He named the farm Verney Farm, taking the first syllable from Billie's maiden name and the second syllable from his own surname. Cagney turned the farm back into working order. He expanded the farm over the years to a 750 acre site. Cagney's enthusiasm for farming got him an honorary degree from Rollins College. He surprised the staff by writing a paper on soil conservation because he didn't want to "turning up with Ava Gardner on my arm" was the way Cagney put it.

     Cagney was a sailor. He own boats on both the east and west coast of the U.S.A. Cagney enjoyed painting. Cagney only sold one of his paintings which was to Johnny Carson to benefit a charity.   

James Cagney-Retirement

Image via Wikipedia

 

     Cagney retired from show biz in 1961 and remained so for a little over twenty years. He made few public appearance. He preferred to spend winter in Los Angeles and summers either at his Martha's Vineyard farm or at Verney Farms in New York. When spending time in New York, Cagney and Billie had numerous parties at a restaurant called Silver Horn. both got to know the proprietress of the restaurant, Marge Zimmerman.

     Cagney was diagnosed with glaucoma and was taking eye drops for it but continued have problems with his eyes. Zimmerman recommended Cagney seeing another doctor. Cagney went to the different doctor and found out he was misdiagnosed. His problem was diabetes not glaucoma. Zimmerman took it upon herself to prepare Cagney's meals to help bring down his blood triglyceride level. She succeeded in bringing Cagney's blood triglyceride level down that he had lost 20 pounds and his vision improved before he made a rare appearance at Lifetime Achievement Award's ceremony.

     Many Hollywood stars attended the ceremony that it was said if a bomb went off in the room it would have been the end of the movie industry. During Cagney's acceptance speech of an award, he lightly chastised impressionist Frank Gorshin by saying "Oh, Frankie, I never said 'Mmmm, you dirty rat!' What I said was 'Judy, Judy, Judy!'." 

     In 1977, Cagney had a minor stroke. He spent two weeks in the hospital. Zimmerman became his full-time carer, traveling with Cagney and Billie.

     Cagney wasn't able to undertake many of his favorite pastimes. He became depressed. To help Cagney get over his depression, Billie and Zimmerman encouraged him to accept an offer to star in the film 'Ragtime'. Cagney accepted the offer.

     The film was shot at the Shepperton Studios in London. Cagney got a warm welcome from the British as soon as his ship dock. The officials said they had never seen anything like it even though they had experienced past visits from Marlon Brando and Robert Redford.

     During the filming, Cagney's sciatica worsened but he kept going. Cagney and co-star Pat O'Brien appeared on the Parkinson talk show. Cagney even made a surprise appearance at the Queen Mother's birthday performance. Cagney's appearance on stage prompted the Queen Mother to rise to her feet. It was the only time the Queen Mother did during the whole show. Later, she went backstage to speak with Cagney.

     In 1984, Cagney made a rare TV appearance in 'Terrible Joe Moran'. Afterward he completely retired.

James Cagney-Films

 

1930
The Doorway to Hell
Sinners' Holiday

1931
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 11: 'Practice Shots'
Blonde Crazy
Smart Money
The Millionaire
The Public Enemy
Other Men's Women

1932
Winner Take All
The Crowd Roars
Taxi!

1933
Lady Killer
Footlight Parade
The Mayor of Hell
Picture Snatcher
Hard to Handle

1934
The St. Louis Kid
The Hollywood Gad-About
Here Comes the Navy
He Was Her Man
Jimmy the Gent

1935
Mutiny on the Bounty
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Irish in Us
G Men
Devil Dogs of the Air
Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
A Dream Comes True
Frisco Kid

1936
Great Guy
Ceiling Zero

1937
Something to Sing About

1938
Angels with Dirty Faces
Boy Meets Girl
For Auld Lang Syne

1939
The Roaring Twenties
Each Dawn I Die
Hollywood Hobbies
The Oklahoma Kid

1940
City for Conquest
Torrid Zone
The Fighting 69th

1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
The Strawberry Blonde

1942
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Captains of the Clouds

1943
Johnny Come Lately
You, John Jones!

1944
Battle Stations

1945
Blood on the Sun

1947
13 Rue Madeleine

1948
The Time of Your Life

1949
White Heat

1950
The West Point Story
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

1951
Starlift
Come Fill the Cup

1952
What Price Glory?

1953
A Lion Is in the Streets

1955
Mister Roberts
The Seven Little Foys
Love Me or Leave Me
Run for Cover

1956
These Wilder Years
Tribute to a Bad Man

1957
Short-Cut to Hell
Man of a Thousand Faces

1959
Shake Hands with the Devil
Never Steal Anything Small

1960
The Gallant Hours
Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.

1961
One, Two, Three

1968
Arizona Bushwhackers

1981
Ragtime

James Cagney-Early Career In Show Biz

     Cagney had learned from a colleague of a role in a upcoming production called 'Every Sailor'. It was a war time play in which the chorus is made up of servicemen dressed as women. He got the role. Cagney description of the role was: "For there I am not myself. I am not the fellow, Jim Cagney, at all. I certainly lost consciousness of him when I put on skirts, wig, paint, powder, feathers, and spangles."

     If Cagney's mother had her way, Cagney would of gone back to college instead of performing. She was proud of her son's performances but thought getting an education was more important. In deference to his mother's worries, Cagney got a job as a brokerage house runner. It didn't stop him from looking for more stage work. Cagney successfully audition for a chorus part in 'Pitter Patter'. 'Pitter Patter' wasn't successful but it did good enough to run 32 weeks. It allowed Cagney to join the vaudeville circuit.

     One of the troupers that Cagney joined was Parker, Rand, and Leach, taking over the latter position when Archie Leach left. (Archie Leach would later change his name to Cary Grant.)

     In 1924, Cagney moved to Hawthorne, California with his new wife, Frances Wilford "Billie" Vernon, to investigate the possibility of breaking into the movies and to meet his mother-in-law. They weren't very successful at first. Cagney had set up a dance studio with a few clients but it folded. After a while, Cagney and his wife decided to move back to New York. They went the way of Chicago to Milwaukee in hopes of making money along the way but failed in the attempt.

     In 1925, Cagney got his first non-dancing role in a play called 'Outside Looking In' as a tough guy. The play got good reviews. After the play ran its course, Cagney went back to vaudeville for a couple of years. He received varied success. During this period, Cagney met George M. Cohen, who he would later portray in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'.

     Cagney later secured the lead role in the play 'Broadway'. The show's management insisted he copy Broadway's lead Lee Tracy. Cagney was uncomfortable doing. When the play headed for England, Cagney got replaced. Cagney was devastated and decided he was quitting show biz.

     Cagney didn't quit show biz for long. The Cagney's were doing run-by-the-play contracts. they were doing chorus lines. During this time, Cagney established a dance school for professionals, which got him appointed the choreographer in 'Grand Street Follies of 1928', Cagney got a part in 'Maggie the Magnificent'. The critics didn't like the play but did love Cagney's performance.

     Joan Blondell played opposite of Cagney in 'Maggie the Magnificent' then would star again with him a few months later in 'Penny Arcade'. Al Jolson sensing a potential film success with 'Penny Arcade', bought the rights for $20,000. He then sold it to Warner Brothers with the stipulation that Cagney and Blondell be cast in the film version. The film version was retitled 'Sinners' Holiday'. The studio liked Cagney so much they gave him a three week contract which turned into a seven year contract.      

James Cagney-Early Life

     James Cagney was born on July 17, 1899 in New York City, New York to James Sr. and Carolyn. He was the second born of seven children. Two of Cagney's siblings died with months of being born Cagney, himself, was sick at a young age that his mother thought he wouldn't make it before he was baptized. Cagney later attributed it to the poverty he grew up in.

     After graduating from high school in 1918, Cagney went to Columbia College. He intended to major in art but quit after the first semester up the death of his father.

     Cagney had a range of jobs in his life from bellhop to copy boy. All his earnings went to help his family.

     Cagney learned to tap dace as a boy. he got the nickname 'Cellar Door Cagney' from his habit of dancing on slanted cellar doors. Cagney was a good street fighter. He once defended his older brother, Harry, against all comers. Cagney engaged in amateur boxing. He was a runner up in the New York State lightweight title. He was encouraged to become a professional boxer but his mother wouldn't let him. Cagney also had entertained a dream of becoming a professional baseball player. He once played for a local team in semi-professional baseball.

     When visiting an aunt in Brooklyn, who lived opposite of Vitagraph Studios, Cagney would go and watch the filming of John Bunny films. He became involved in amateur dramatics. He started out as a scenery boy for a Chinese pantomime at the London Hill Settlement House. His brother, Harry, performed there. Cagney enjoyed working behind the scenes until on night Harry became ill. Because Cagney had helped his brother rehearse his lines, he ended up filling in for his brother. Afterwards, Cagney joined a number of companies as a performer. 

Tribute To James Cagney

 

 

 

Born
James Francis Cagney, Jr.
July 17, 1899(1899-07-17)

New York City, New York, U.S.

Died
March 30, 1986 (aged 86)
Stanford, New York, U.S.

Occupation
Actor/Dancer

 

Links To Learn More About James Cagney

James Cagney (Wikipedia)

James Cagney (Virtual History Films)

James Cagney (Biography)

James Cagney (Answer.com)

 

Have Gun Will Travel-Citizen Soldier

 

 

I have been wanting to do some more music videos on some old time TV series, old movies, and stars I enjoyed when I was younger. This is one of those TV series I enjoyed. The clips are from the episode 'Three Bells to Perdido'. The song on the vid is 'Citizen Soldier' by 3 Doors Down.

Clark Gable Reports For Duty.

This video is a short documentary on Clark Cable reporting for service in the military.

William "Billy" Wilkerson's Ghost

Image via Wikipedia

 

In late 30's and 40's, William Wilkerson founded several nightclubs along the Sunset Strip, among them was the Ciro's and Cafe Trocadera. These two industries alone helped earn William Wilkerson the nickname "Father of the Sunset Strip".

William Wilkerson was also a ladies man. He had a eye for female talent. One of the female talents he discovered was Lana Turner.

Though Wilkerson had founded several nightclubs, his real baby was the 'Hollywood Reporter' which was founded in 1930. The Hollywood Reporter was the first Hollywood-based daily trade newspaper covering the entertainment industry.

In 1936, Wilkerson created a beautiful office for the Hollywood Reporter. A visitor would describe entering a long hand-finished wood hallway with floor-to ceiling mirrors that led to a marble fireplace and a grand staircase to Wilkerson's offices on the second floor. The hallway was Wilkerson's domain. He loved walking up and down it, looking into the offices. Wilkerson put is heart and soul into the Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter is where his heart and spirit remain. Though he died in 1962, the remodeling of his former offices seem to have Wilkerson pacing the halls again.

In 1992, the Hollywood Reporter moved to larger quarters. But the following year, another paper took over the space. The other paper is called the L.A. Weekly. Before the L.A. Weekly moved in Jerry Brake, a construction worker, worked on the building's seismic upgrading. Brake set up offices in the front hall, watched as the interior of the entryway was gutted and stripped back to brick. Everything was demolished except for Wilkerson's office on the second floor.

During construction, Brake usually was alone in the building. On occasion, at his desk, he would catch movement from the corner of his eye like a shadow of someone going by his door.  During those times, Brake would dismiss it as a trick of light. The lighting had been strung, casting eerie shadows across the floor. One night when Brake was by himself in his office, he felt a tap on his back. He looked to see who it was but no one was there. Brake went out of his office and looked up and down the hallway. Nothing. Brake walked past a room to the left of his office and saw a figure in the corner. Brake looked past it, to a mirror that stood in front of them both, but he only saw himself in the mirror. When he looked back towards the figure, it was gone.

A few days later, Brake was again alone in the building. He heard a noise and went towards the sound down the hall towards the stairs. Brake clearly heard footsteps in front of him and ran after them. When he came around the corner, he could of sworn he saw a figure but the lighting was bad. Brake went to check the rest of the building to find the figure but didn't find it.

Brake told a co-worker the story when suddenly the co-worker went white and pointed to an open side door. The co-worker stammered he saw a man there with gray pants and black shoes.

The thing was it was pouring rain outside and the floor was dry. After that incident, the co-worker never came back to work.

As the remodeling progressed, the grand staircase was removed, an elevator was the only access to the second floor. Late one night, the architect, Ted Powell, was in Wilkerson's office talking with a woman. The two were alone in the building. Suddenly the pair heard what sounded like a broom handle on the ceiling under them. It was no easy feat because the ceiling was nine feet high. Both took the elevator down, searched around but found no one. Just as they became sure it was nothing, both heard footsteps above them in the office. Both made a quick exit out of the building.

Brake stated that out of the 15 different things he saw he dismissed 10 of them as his imagination. But there was five time, he couldn't dismiss it, Brake swore he felt the presence of Wilkerson in the room.

Hope you enjoyed this recounting of Wilkerson's ghost. Have a Happy Halloween everyone.

*I found this story on the Britannica Blog.  It was written by Laurie Jacobson. I did my best at putting the story in my words instead of hers.  You can find her version at: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/02/haunted-hollywood-9-wilkerson-the-hollywood-reporter-10-oscar-related-ghost-stories-in-honor-of-the-academy-awards/

 

 

 

Perry Mason-The Case Of The Hesitant Hostess

 

 

The final one on 'Perry Mason'.

'Perry Mason' CBS.

Perry Mason-The Case Of The Cautious Coquette

 

 

Here is number 4. You can find other episodes of 'Perry Mason' at the link below.

'Perry Mason' CBS.

Perry Mason-The Case Of The Green-Eyed Sister

 

 

     Here is number 3 of 5.

Perry Mason-The Case Of The Haunted Husband

 

 

     Here is the second video out of the five I said I would put up. Enjoy.

Perry Mason-The Case Of The Restless Redhead

 

 

Okay, so I love these old classics. I definitely loved Perry Mason. I loved the way he won his cases. They don't make lawyers like Perry Mason anymore.

Yes, I will be putting up 4 more episodes of 'Perry Mason'. Enjoy this old classic. You can see more of the 'Perry Mason' episodes on 'Perry Mason' CBS.