Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on May 12, 2015

“Isn’t it funny? Hartford is always two places to me: what it was then and what it is now.” –Katharine Hepburn Sharp-witted and sophisticated, Katharine Hepburn was a pivotal figure in Golden Age cinema. Her independent life and strong-willed movie characters cemented her as a role model for multip   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 16, 2015

“In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.” -Anne Baxter If any actress was ever meant to give a pep talk, it was Anne Baxter. The more I learn about her, the more I realize that she never really feared failure. Instead, she always looked to it as   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on April 16, 2015

“In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.” -Anne Baxter If any actress was ever meant to give a pep talk, it was Anne Baxter. The more I learn about her, the more I realize that she never really feared failure. Instead, she always looked to it as   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on November 4, 2014

“I planned on having one husband and seven children, but it turned out the other way around.” –Lana Turner When I think of the genesis of some of the most glamorous actresses in the motion picture industry, I often recall the story of Lana Turner sipping a Coke at Schwab’s...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on October 2, 2014

“There’s a farm I know near my old hometown/ Where we two can go and try settling down.” -Cole Porter, “Why Can’t You Behave?” I remember clearly how tickled I was at the revelation of Queen Elizabeth being a Cole Porter fan. To imagine her ever so properly delig   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on October 2, 2014

“There’s a farm I know near my old hometown/ Where we two can go and try settling down.” -Cole Porter, “Why Can’t You Behave?” I remember clearly how tickled I was at the revelation of Queen Elizabeth being a Cole Porter fan. To imagine her ever so properly delig   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 5, 2014

“You know, I used to live like Robinson Crusoe; I mean, shipwrecked among eight million people. And then, one day, I saw a footprint in the sand, and there you were. “ –Jack Lemmon, The Apartment  Some actors are brilliant in comedies alone. Other actors are definitively dramatic. And then...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on August 5, 2014

“You know, I used to live like Robinson Crusoe; I mean, shipwrecked among eight million people. And then, one day, I saw a footprint in the sand, and there you were. “ –Jack Lemmon, The Apartment  Some actors are brilliant in comedies alone. Other actors are definitively dramatic. And then...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 17, 2014

“If I’m going to get by in pictures, it’s going to be as a singer, with about as much acting as you would expect from a guy standing in front of a microphone.” –Bing Crosby When I think of live entertainment in the early 20th century, my thoughts immediately fly...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on July 17, 2014

“If I’m going to get by in pictures, it’s going to be as a singer, with about as much acting as you would expect from a guy standing in front of a microphone.” –Bing Crosby When I think of live entertainment in the early 20th century, my thoughts immediately fly to images...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on June 25, 2014

Jack: Where’s your Christmas spirit? Phil: I drank it! Durante’s nose. Groucho’s eyebrows. Veronica’s peek-a-boo bangs. Some people just have that one characteristic in particular that becomes a personal identifier. And then, there’s Phil Harris. He’s a fellow who isn’t so much identified by any on   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on June 25, 2014

Jack Benny: Where’s your Christmas spirit? Phil Harris: I drank it! Durante’s nose. Groucho’s eyebrows. Veronica’s peek-a-boo bangs. Some people just have that one characteristic in particular that becomes a personal identifier. And then, there’s Phil Harris. He’s a fellow who isn’t so much identi   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 9, 2014

“I’ve settled down three thousand miles from Indiana. I’ve traveled to points in the world three times that distance. At times, I’ve stayed away several years at a stretch, but I somehow have never felt that I was very far from here … somehow I don’t feel that I   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on March 9, 2014

“I’ve settled down three thousand miles from Indiana. I’ve traveled to points in the world three times that distance. At times, I’ve stayed away several years at a stretch, but I somehow have never felt that I was very far from here … somehow I don’t feel that I   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 30, 2014

“All creative people should be required to leave California for three months every year.” -Gloria Swanson Though we don’t have many stars from classic cinema among us today, often times, we are fortunate enough to still connect with them through the places that were once graced wi   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on January 30, 2014

“All creative people should be required to leave California for three months every year.”                                                                        ...   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 23, 2013

“I left home because I was hungry.” -Red Skelton Red Skelton is probably one of the most endearing American comics. Maintaining a simple brand of patriotic comedy, stemming from the clowning tradition, Skelton charmed audiences through live performance, radio, and television broadcasts.   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 23, 2013

“I left home because I was hungry.” -Red Skelton Red Skelton is probably one of the most endearing American comics. Maintaining a simple brand of patriotic comedy, stemming from the clowning tradition, Skelton charmed audiences through live performance, radio, and television broadcasts.   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 19, 2013

“The secret of charm is bullshit.” -Tyrone Power For this particular entry, I’d like you to look back upon some of the most memorable romantic greats of classic film. Sure, there was Gable and his wry wit, Grant, the constant gentleman, and even Valentino’s passionate sheik,   read more

Hometowns to Hollywood Posted by Annette Bochenek on September 19, 2013

“The secret of charm is bullshit.” -Tyrone Power For this particular entry, I’d like you to look back upon some of the most memorable romantic greats of classic film. Sure, there was Gable and his wry wit, Grant, the constant gentleman, and even Valentino’s passionate sheik,   read more