Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 14, 2021

Without question, Terry is the most known dog in movie history. Born in Alta Dena, California, Terry was a female Cairn Terrier performer who appeared in many different movies, most famously as Toto in The Wizard of Oz (1939). In this film, however, she was credited as Toto, not as Terry. She was ow   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 13, 2021

Pal was a male Rough Collie performer and the first in a line of such dogs to portray the fictional female collie Lassie in film, on radio, and on television. Pal was born at Cherry Osborne’s Glamis Kennes in North Hollywood, California, in 1940 and eventually brought to the notice...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 12, 2021

Skippy, also known as Asta, was a beloved Wire Fox Terrier best known for portraying Asta in The Thin Man (1934), among many other roles. Born in Van Nuys, California, he was trained by Frank and Rudd Weatherwax as well as by his owners, Henry and Gale East. Skippy could...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 11, 2021

Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1925, Pal the Wonder Dog would become best known for originating the role of Pete the Pup in Hal Roach’s Our Gang comedies. Appearing with a natural trademark ring around his eye (sometimes enhanced with dye during filming), this UKC-registered American Pit Bull T   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 10, 2021

Rin Tin Tin was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. A beloved canine hero of the screen, Rin Tin Tin actually owed his life to American soldier, Lee Duncan, who rescued him from a World War I battlefield. While in...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 4, 2021

While there is much to praise in Hollywood history, the filmmaking industry certainly has a variety of problematic issues. Among them is the issue of ageism, with individuals’ career opportunities being limited because of one’s age. Women, more often than men, tend to face this issue as   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 4, 2021

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road 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 profile individual p   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 4, 2021

Among many patriotic musicals of the day, The Singing Marine (1937) is a lighthearted tale of a likable Everyman whose identity is reshaped through fame and fortune. While Dick Powell was a multitalented star established himself as a fine dramatic actor and talented director, his initial image was t   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 4, 2021

In preparation for the Academy Awards ceremony honoring the films of 2020, I was excited to be invited back on to a very special episode of Karie Bible’s Hollywood Kitchen. This time, she coordinated an Oscar Cook-Along, featuring a variety of guests and recipes from Hollywood stars with a tie   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 1, 2021

Jean Porter was one of Hollywood’s many ingénues, appearing in roles both on television and in films. Though her film career was short-lived in comparison to some of her peers, she remains a cheery and energetic presence in several classic films. Bennie Jean Porter was born on December 8, 1922,...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 28, 2021

In anticipation of the 2021 Virtual TCM Film Festival, I was delighted to interview pianist Richard Glazier about his upcoming From Broadway to Hollywood (2015) program that is part of this year’s exciting lineup. An expert interpreter of the Great American Songbook, Glazier has both personal   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 25, 2021

As TCM prepares for its second virtual film festival, classic film fans are eagerly anticipating another excellent lineup for enjoyment from the comfort of their homes. With one virtual film festival under their belt, there are marked differences between the first virtual fest and this next iteratio   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 1, 2021

Lucille Rita Bremer (pronounced “Bray-mer”) was a film actress and dancer, particularly remembered for her work in MGM musical films. Born in Amsterdam, New York, to Richard Bremer and Sarah E. Nichols on February 21, 1917, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bremer’s father was of German desc   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 18, 2021

“I want to go on until they have to shoot me.” –Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck is among some of the most revered stars of classic Hollywood. An actress, model, dancer, who made appearances on the stage, in films, on television, and on the radio, was a very gifted talent with...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 15, 2021

Dr. Annette Bochenek loves to take Hometowns to Hollywood on the road 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 profile individual p   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 13, 2021

“I could have happily lived my entire life in Cincinnati, married to a proper Cincinnatian, living in a big old Victorian house, raising a brood of offspring, but preordination…had other plans for me.” –Doris Day Doris Day was a beloved actress and singer who entertained generations of a   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 12, 2021

Long have I waited for a biography all about Ida Koverman! While her name has been referenced often in historical fiction works such as Elizabeth Letts’s Finding Dorothy or Adriana Trigiani’s All the Stars in the Heavens, celebrity autobiographies like Esther Williams’s The Million   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 11, 2021

“I once spent a year in Philadelphia. I think it was a Sunday.” –W. C. Field Of the many legends of American comedy, W. C. Fields certainly held his own as a gifted comedian, actor, and writer. Executing the persona of a hard-drinking and egotistical character, he balanced his perf   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 10, 2021

Renowned as a beloved actor, gifted comedian, and frequent Oscar host, Bob Hope’s dedication to entertaining U.S. troops around the world is also a strong part of his legacy. For roughly five decades, Hope traveled around the globe to perform specifically for American and Allied troops with th   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 4, 2021

Judy Holliday is one of my all-time favorite performers. She was a triple-threat talent with brains and beauty, in addition to carrying out a variety of memorable roles. When Hollywood Kitchen announced that they were recreating Judy Holliday’s stuffed tomatoes, I definitely wanted to cook al   read more