A parasol, smile and swimsuit for Sennett

When Carole Lombard signed with Mack Sennett in 1927, the silent comedy impresario's overriding concern wasn't her acting ability; she'd shown she could handle the rudiments of the business during her brief stay at Fox. Nor did he worry about her inherent comic skill, which he figured he could teach... Read full article

Smile (1975): The Miss America Satire Lost Some of Its Sheen

“Smile” is a timeless hit among a plethora of classic Nat King Cole tracks. The innate warmth and the soothing nature of his vocals shine through every note. It took me many years to realize the tune was actually a Charlie Chaplin composition from City Lights later reworked with lyrics. ... Read full article

Looking back, with a smile

Discovering new publicity stills of Carole Lombard -- particularly of her Paramount p1202 series from 1930 to 1938 -- is always a thrill for me, and today I added another to my online family.It's p1202-748 (above), from late 1933 or early 1934, showing Carole looking over her shoulder, wearing a flo... Read full article

“Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)” – Children’s Book Giveaway (now through May 4)

Charlie Chaplin Picture Book Giveaway We have Ten Books to Giveaway This Month! “Children meet Chaplin in this intimate biography of the iconic silent-film comedian… ” – Publisher’s Weekly And now for something a little different… This month, we are thrilled... Read full article

For Clark and Carole, a Coke and a smile

It's no secret that Carole Lombard enjoyed drinking Coca-Cola, back in the day when the soda came in the ubiquitous 6 1/2 ounce bottles with a greenish tint. (It always was fun to examine the bottom of the bottle when through to see the location of the Coke bottler that originally produced it.) Here... Read full article