Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on October 8, 2018

“I put all my intelligence, such as it is, into playing dumb blondes.” –Vivian Blaine Whether in her days as a glamorous cherry redhead or a zany blonde, Vivian Blaine was an enthusiastic delight in many films. Harboring musical talents and excellent timing, Blaine could easily st   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 24, 2018

“If people want to think I get drunk and stay out all night, let ’em. That’s how I got here, you know.” –Dean Martin There are many fine singers who made their mark upon classic Hollywood cinema and the Great American Songbook. From working as a crooner, to acting as...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 10, 2018

“I simply love this business. That’s all.” –Dana Andrews Dana Andrews was a key Hollywood star throughout the 1940s. Shining as a romantic lead in many dramatic films, Andrews worked with many top actresses of the day. Though he appeared in several notable films, he is most   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 3, 2018

“Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.” –Billie Burke While best remembered for her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch of the North in The Wizard of Oz (1939), Billie Burke lead a fascinating life and career that spanned from work on Broadway, radio,   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 6, 2018

“I’m out of the Midwest. It was a good place to come from. It gives you a sense of right or wrong and fairness, which is lacking in our society.” –Steve McQueen While many films are remembered for the heroic figures they feature, Steve McQueen is often remembered for portray   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 16, 2018

“I always had a sense of peace when I went there. It was home because I never had a home.” –Donald O’Connor In Singin’ in the Rain (1952), Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) jokes that Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) is a triple threat: she can’t sing, can’t danc   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 2, 2018

“Don’t think I am not homesick for America. I say ‘homesick’ advisedly because I am a man with two homes — America, which gave me hospitality for many happy years, and where my daughter was born; and my native England.” –Leslie Howard While the mere mention   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on June 25, 2018

“If I dressed for myself, I wouldn’t bother at all. Clothes bore me. I’d wear jeans. I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.” –Marlene Dietrich Marlene Dietrich was of the sultriest actresses of the silver screen. Holdin   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on June 18, 2018

“My mother played the piano at home and sang. As early as I can remember I wished I could sing before great audiences. I loved music.” –Jeanette Loff When I watch early films, I often wonder what became of certain individuals and where their lives took them beyond their work...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on June 11, 2018

Singin’ in the Rain (1952) is arguably considered to be one of the best musicals ever made. Featuring a popular title song, top-notch talents, and the most iconic, lighthearted dance in movie history, it is no surprise that this musical has steadily remained a beloved MGM classic for over 50   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on June 4, 2018

“I was an introvert in an extrovert profession.” –Robert Young The 1950s were an era in which television flourished as a competitor to film. Audiences could welcome actors into their living rooms by merely turning on the television and enjoying the latest shows. While many shows w   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 28, 2018

“I learned at a very early age that life is a battle. My family was poor, my neighborhood was poor. The only way that I could get away from the awfulness of life, at that time, was at the movies. There I decided that my big aim was to make...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 18, 2018

Introducing the MGM Musical Magic Blogathon! Hometowns to Hollywood is excited to present its second official blogathon, entitled “The MGM Musical Magic Blogathon.” Musicals featured gorgeous songs, meticulously choreographed dance numbers, and some terrific plots. The musical itself evolved from f   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 14, 2018

Oliver: Do you have to ask your wife everything? Stan: If I didn’t ask her, I wouldn’t know what she wanted me to do. —Sons of the Desert (1933) Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have been in many a fine mess but my favorite one, by far, is their elaborate...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 7, 2018

“People think the actors are having such a time. They never think of you as working. So many young girls think movies are so glamorous, and when they find out you have to get up at 5:30 every morning, and that when you go out it’s for publicity, more or...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 1, 2018

When I think of talent at an early age, I think of Rose Marie. With a career that spanned 90 years, Rose Marie delighted generations of audiences through vaudeville, Vitaphone shorts, radio, stage performances, film, and television, while always maintaining sound inner strength and a fantastic sens   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 30, 2018

There are many books and films that tell the story of a princess in love that have delighted audiences for generations. Once upon a time, MGM made its own contribution to the vast body of works featuring a fictitious royal heroine, but starring one of their own contractual princesses–Hedy Lam   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 23, 2018

While many recognize Hedy Lamarr as one of classic Hollywood’s strikingly glamorous bombshells, her personal interests and impact upon culture extended far beyond the confines of the silver screen. Born in Austria, Lamarr was both an actress and inventor, famously working for Metro-Goldwyn-Ma   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 13, 2018

While Charlie Chaplin is well-known as a major Hollywood star and as an iconic silent film comedian, prior to that, he briefly worked in Chicago. The city of Chicago housed Essanay Studios, a landmark of the Chicago film industry, situated at 1333-1345 West Argyle Street. The movie studio derived i   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 9, 2018

Joan Bradford : Mother’s run my life long enough! I’m 21, I’m white, and I’ve a right to be free! Henry Bradford: What are you going to do about it… sit here and mope? –Joan Broadford (Josephine Hutchinson) and Henry Bradford (John Halliday) in Happiness Ahead (   read more