Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on June 1, 2011

Lovely Laraine Day in a Lux Soap ad A year ago today, I posted my first classic movie tip. It was Lana Turner’s use of Boraxo soap to scrub her skin. I still use it now and find it really effective. This is the 13th beauty tip and is a...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 29, 2011

In honor of Memorial Day, I wanted to share some of my favorite war movies. But there’s a catch…they all star Van Johnson. It’s no denying that Van Johnson was one of the most sought after actors on the MGM lot during World War II. Big names like James Stewart,...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 25, 2011

I’m starting yet another new feature on “Comet” about actors and actresses, or anything classic film related, in music videos. The video featured today is Franz Ferdinand’s 2004 song “The Dark of the Matinee” from their self titled first album. The video doesn’t have a class   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 23, 2011

Jane Fonda pregnancy workout record, Workout book and the workout VHS What do classic film and a good work out have in common? Jane Fonda. In 1982, my mom bought the “Jane Fonda Workout” VHS tape.  Twenty-nine years later, my mother and myself are still doing the exercises along with Ja   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 22, 2011

Did you that "Comet" is on Facebook and Twitter? (Photo by Horst P. Horst) In recent weeks I’ve noticed several other classic movie blogs have been active on Twitter and Facebook. If you aren’t following me already, invited you to follow both my Facebook and Twitter. My Facebo   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 17, 2011

Greta Garbo in "Ninotchka" (1939) 1939. To most, it’s just a year that occurred a long time ago. To the Polish, it’s when the Germans took over the country with a Blitzkrieg. To classic movie fans, it’s a year that is unlike no other. Sure, there are several great films...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 13, 2011

This is the twelfth installment of my monthly classic actress beauty tips that I have tested.  I apologize that May’s beauty tip is several days late.  Exams, graduation and moving home have been pretty hectic! Since it’s summer and swim suit season, several of us have weight loss on th   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 8, 2011

Happy mother’s day to all of our wonderful parents. Today’s blog post is highlighting parents that sacrificed all, sometimes even the well-being of the child, to make some of our favorite actor and actresses movie stars. Happy mother’s day! Jackie Coogan and his parents Jackie Coo   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 4, 2011

Jackie Cooper was one of those people who looked the same all his life.  He was an adorable child, a handsome young man and then adorable again as an older man. He had that round face that was almost too big for him as a child and large chubby cheeks...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on May 3, 2011

Happy birthday Robert Osborne! I'm not sure why we aren't best friends yet I am not one to do a lot of birthday tribute blogs, but today is  someone’s birthday who is very close to my heart. May 3 is the day of the great Robert Osborne’s birth. Today he is...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 29, 2011

Princess Grace Kelly in 1956 and Princess Kate Middleton in 2011 I don’t think I’m the only person who thought “Grace Kelly” right when I saw Kate Middleton in her wedding dress this morning during the Royal Wedding.  Both looked lovely in their timeless dresses. The dresses   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 29, 2011

Norma Shearer helps "Radio Waves Over Hollywood" say goodbye. Doesn't she look sad? You may have noticed a few Thursdays have come and gone with no exciting updates about the “Radio Waves Over Hollywood” show.  Unfortunately, the show has ended and  sadly it wasn’t   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 25, 2011

***Meant to post this yesterday.  Sorry guys!*** WordPress offers several awesome features for it’s users.  My favorite is “Site Stats” where you can see how many views you got that day, where they are coming from, links clicked and keywords searched that brought people to my blog   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 23, 2011

Since Easter is tomorrow, I wanted to do a post today and tomorrow. Today’s will be contemporary Easter in films complete with dying eggs, Easter bunnies and large bonnets. Tomorrow’s post will focus on the religious and Biblical aspect of the holiday. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire posi   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 22, 2011

“Rebel Without a Cause” is one of the quintessential tough guy, nice girl romances mixed in with lots of angsty, misunderstood teens. So Paula Abdul figured it would be a perfect topic for her music video  ”Rush Rush” from 1991. Interestingly enough, actor Keanu Reeves is in   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 20, 2011

You may see this image on a daily basis if you go to college. On a college campus you can’t miss the familiar outline of Holly Golightly with her cigarette holder while wearing a long black gown on the back of a sorority T-shirt. And of course under that photo will...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 18, 2011

This morning I was at the gym and watching Turner Classic Movies.  ”Comet Over Broadway” was on and Kay Francis and I suffered together, but in very different ways: I had the treadmill set to 7 incline and Kay Francis was watching her husband be convicted for killing a man....   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 16, 2011

Back in November I said I was going to start writing short snippets detailing classic film in my daily life.  You may remember my post about writing a Media Ethics paper researching whites playing ethnic roles in films.  As I finish up my last week of college classes forever, I wanted...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 14, 2011

Gary Merrill and Bette Davis “Radio  Waves Over Hollywood” will be streaming live Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m (Eastern time). Sorry I haven’t been on the air. I was sick last week and had to also go home for an interview for the following morning. Topics for...   read more

Comet Over Hollywood Posted by Jnpickens on April 8, 2011

"Umbrellas of Cherbourg"- Candy colored beautiful film. Yes, its all singing in French, but its one of the most beautiful musicals Ive ever seen. Several of you requested to see my musical list, so for the next four weekends I will post 100 of the musical on the list-in the order...   read more