Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on October 9, 2023

“I’m an incurable optimist and a go-getter – it’s in my nature to focus much more on what makes me happy than what makes me nervous.” –Colleen Moore Kathleen Morrison, later known as Colleen Moore, was born in Port Huron, Michigan, to Charles and Agnes Kelly Morri   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 26, 2023

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road–in person or virtually–in order to offer fun and engaging presentations about Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her presentations range from focusing on various subjects related to Golden Age Hollywood, in addition to presentations that pro   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 5, 2023

Grace Kelly was beloved as a leady lady, style icon, and notable as Hollywood’s princess. While much has been written about her career and life as a royal, there is nothing quite like Grace Kelly: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon by Megan Hess. Grace Kelly: The Illustrated World...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 4, 2023

Believe it or not, The Exorcist (1973) was released fifty years ago–and there is much to celebrate in terms of this haunting gem. This film has long been lauded as the scariest film ever made and has continued to intrigue and entertain horror fans for half a century. Nat Segaloff...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 4, 2023

To say that cinematic history is complicated is an understatement. Often, ugly realities tied to film history need to be presented within their context to learn from these particular moments. This is important for scholars to acknowledge and for audiences to understand. McEwan presents a fasci   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 4, 2023

George Hurrell was one of the most prominent photographers working during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was lauded as the “Rembrandt of Hollywood,” beautifully capturing portraits of subjects including Norma Shearer, Bette Davis, Carole Lombard, Joan Crawford, and more. While he freque   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 3, 2023

Method acting has been a revered form of studying acting, challenging actors to try to realistically feel and engage in the direct experiences of what their characters are assigned to convey. This method was quite revolutionary in its approach to the craft of acting, arguably transforming not only a   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 3, 2023

Edith Head was one of the most celebrated costume designers working during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She made many beautiful, iconic gowns for leading ladies of the day and also designed a variety of men’s suits during her lengthy career. Jay Jorgensen’s Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Ca   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 2, 2023

While October is my favorite time of year to revisit classic horror films, they can most certainly be enjoyed all year long. Among the most iconic films are the classic monster movies to emerge from Universal Studios. The release of Dracula (1931) and its success initiated a variety of other...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 2, 2023

Don Rickles was known as an insult comic–and everyone was fair game. From royalty to personal friends, Rickles was cheekily dubbed “Mr. Warmth.” Behind the scenes, he was a husband and father, in addition to being a talented comic and friend to many. It was considered an honor to b   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 2, 2023

Hollywood: The Oral History is a truly engaging and fascinating read for any fan of classic Hollywood. I hadn’t read a book structured in such a way before, and I was delighted to examine this particular book’s look at the story of Hollywood. Utilizing almost three thousand interviews fr   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 2, 2023

Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift are Hollywood legends in their own right; however, behind the scenes, they were not only peers but close friends. The two worked together in A Place in the Sun (1951), already notable stars at that point. Taylor and Clift challenged and supported one another to   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 1, 2023

“Sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and I’ll hear a voice that sounds familiar….my wife has fallen asleep with the tube on, and I’ll finally start recognizing the dialogue, look up, and Jesus Christ, it’s me at 14, or 12, or 9, or whatever. Sometime   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 26, 2023

Of the many delightful on-screen comics, Lupe Velez stood out as one of the first Latin-American stars. While her career began during the days of silent film, she successfully made the transition to talkies, despite concerns about her Mexican accent. Over the years, Velez appeared in comedies and d   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 25, 2023

Drag performance has a long history that has been expressed on the stage and screen on numerous occasions. Drag: A British History focuses upon the lengthy history of drag performance in Britain from the past to the present. In this book, author Jacob Bloomfield offers a thorough and extremely well   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 25, 2023

The science fiction film genre has delighted audiences for decades, entertaining their thoughts and fears concerning space, its inhabitants, and the unknown. There have been numerous iconic characters–human and not–depicted in these films, as well as revolutionary effects and approaches   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 25, 2023

Fans of the Hollywood musical–rejoice. There is finally a new biography out about the great Eleanor Powell, one of classic Hollywood’s most notable dancers. Powell dazzles in so many on-screen numbers with an exuberance and enthusiasm that, in my opinion, is unmatched. She makes whi   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 24, 2023

Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest comics in early cinema. He was renowned all over the world for the development of his “Tramp” character, bringing joy to audiences through the revolutionary medium of film. Behind the scenes, Chaplin had a complicated rags-to-riches life, a keen ta   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 24, 2023

Teenagers and the complexities of adolescence have been portrayed for decades throughout cinema, offering interesting perspectives exploring what it means to be a teenager during various periods. Throughout cinema, teen characters have been both minor and major in their focus. In other cases, some o   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 24, 2023

Illuminated signage is a strong part of film advertising; from neon signs portraying various individuals or characters and theatre marquees. These illuminations have a strong history in and of themselves, featuring various innovations and eye-catching colors. However, in Carolyn L. Kane’s Elec   read more