Vintage Stardust

Remembering actress Margaret Sullavan (1909-1960), who passed away 65 years ago today 💫. She is shown here in the holiday classic “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940) with Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997). Born into a wealthy Virginia family, Sullavan developed an interest in speech and dramatics while attending boarding school. Post-graduation, she studied dance for a time and found work as a chorus girl before joining a theatrical troupe. Making her Broadway debut in 1931, she worked steadily in the theater for the next few years, although many of the plays in which she appeared were unsuccessful. Though theater would always be her first love, she made her movie debut in “Only Yesterday” (1933). She only appeared in 17 films during her career, but among them are classics like “The Shopworn Angel” (1938), the aforementioned “The Shop Around the Corner”, and “The Mortal Storm” (1940), all costarring Jimmy Stewart. Sullavan received an Academy Award nomination for “Three Comrades” (1938). From the 1940s on, she returned her focus to the stage, making only occasional film and television appearances until her passing. She was married four times and divorced three. Her first marriage was to actor Henry Fonda (1905-1982), the best friend of Jimmy Stewart, her frequent co-star. Following their 1933 divorce, she was briefly wed to director William Wyler (1902-1981), before marrying agent Leland Hayward (1902-1971). She and Hayward had three children prior to divorcing. Sullavan was married to banker Kenneth Wagg (1909-2000) for the last decade of her life. Suffering from mental health issues as well as severe hearing loss, Sullavan was increasingly depressed in the months before her death. She passed away from an overdose of barbiturates at just 50 years old, though whether the overdose was intentional or accidental remains unknown for certain. Her eldest daughter, Brooke Hayward (1937- ), wrote the best-selling memoir “Haywire” about her troubled childhood. Sadly, Sullavan’s youngest daughter died from a drug overdose only 10 months after her own death, and Sullavan’s son took his own life in 2008.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to actress Carole Landis (1919-1948) ✨. Born in Wisconsin, Landis and her family moved to California when she was a small child. Interested in a career in entertainment from a young age, she quit school at 15 and set out trying to make her dreams come true. Initially working as a singer or dancer in various venues, she made her way to Hollywood where she soon found work as a film extra. After slowly growing into roles of more substance, Landis got her big break when she landed the starring role in “One Million B.C.” (1940), a film that became a hit. Following that with parts in movies like “Topper Returns” (1941), “Moon Over Miami” (1941), “I Wake Up Screaming” (1941), “My Gal Sal” (1942), and “Orchestra Wives” (1942), the blonde beauty was a popular face on the screen. She also worked tirelessly traveling to entertain troops during WWII, something she wrote about in her book, “Four Jills and a Jeep”. “Four Jills and a Jeep” was turned into a 1944 film in which Landis starred, but the book and film apparently have little in common beyond the title. Landis was married five times to four men. Her first marriage, which took place at only 15, ended in an annulment, but the couple quickly remarried only to again separate and, as with all her other marriages, eventually divorce. Suffering from endometriosis, she did not have any children during her short life, though she was said to have longed to become a mother. During the final months of her life, she was romantically involved with actor Rex Harrison (1908-1990) who was then married to actress Lili Palmer (1914-1986). It was reportedly after a heated argument with Harrison over his refusal to divorce Palmer that Landis ingested a lethal dose of Seconal. Leaving behind a note apologizing to her mother (although it has long been said that a second note to Harrison was destroyed before police arrived), her body was found hours later by Harrison and her maid. Carole Landis was only 29 years old.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to actor Dana Andrews (1909-1992) ✨. Since the anniversary of his passing was just over two weeks ago, I’ll skip repeating the same biographical details here, but you can scroll back to my December 17th posts if you’re interested 😘. 🎥: Dana with costar Teresa Wright (1918-2005) in “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946) ✨. I’m guilty of having a lot of “favorite” movies, but if I were pressed, I think this would be the favorite of all favorites. #danaandrews #happybirthday #heavenlybirthday #happyheavenlybirthday #oldhollywood #vintagehollywood #classichollywood #classicactor #vintageactor #oldhollywoodactor #talldarkandhandsome #cinema #classiccinema #vintagecinema #classicfilm #vintagefilm #thebestyearsofourlives #1946 #bestmovie #favoritemovie #costar #teresawright

Pretend it says 2025 instead of 1935 and celebrate accordingly 🥳🍾🥂🖤✨ The lovely Frances Drake (1912-2000) celebrates the New Year 90 years ago ✨. Happy 2025! 🖤✨🖤✨🖤 #happynewyear #2025 #oldhollywood #classichollywood #vintagehollywood #francesdrake #classicactress #vintageactress #oldhollywoodactress #vintageholiday #vintagenewyear #1935 #classicbeauty #vintagebeauty #oldhollywoodbeauty #90yearsago

Wishing you all a safe and happy New Year’s Eve. May 2025 be your best year yet 🥂🖤✨!!! I hope your celebration is as fun as Mary Cole (1912-1977)* and the gang are having in “Poppin’ the Cork” (1933) 🍾🖤✨. This short film, which marked the first movie Milton Berle (1908-2002) participated in as an adult (though he is not in this particular clip), was released just 10 days after the end of Prohibition, hence the large, but approving, Uncle Sam in the background 😂. (*Mary Cole has a different set of dates listed on IMDb, but my own research on her life led me to the dates I listed here, which I believe are the accurate ones ✨.) #happynewyear #newyearseve #poppinthecork #1933 #cinema #filmshort #vintagecinema #classiccinema #classicfilm #vintagefilm #vintagenewyear #vintageparty #prohibition #theendofprohibition #1930s #marycole #dancer #singer #actress #chorusgirls #chorusline #showgirls #showgirl #silverscreen #musicalnumber

A group of European revelers ringing in the New Year in 1928 🥂🖤✨. This photo and the stories of those in it remind me how you never know where life might lead. One member of this group lived to be 105, while another died just two years after this image was captured at only 28. On this night, however, the mood was one of joy and excitement for the year ahead ✨. Pictured are: 🌟Richard Tauber (1891-1948), Austrian singer and actor (man seated at piano on the left) 🌟Ágnes Eszterházy (1891-1956), European film actress who primarily worked during the silent era (top left); she was married to actor Fritz Schulz (1896-1972) (he is not pictured here) 🌟Liane Haid (1895-2000), European actress, singer, and dancer (top center) 🌟Grit Haid (1900-1938), European actress (bottom center); Liane’s sister, she would be killed in a plane crash in Germany while en route to a theatrical engagement in Paris 🌟Walter Rilla (1894-1980), German actor, director, and writer (top right) 🌟György Rauscher (1902-1930), European painter (bottom right); he died from an unspecified lung condition at just 28 years old Happy New Year, my friends! I will post something lighter and more fun in a bit 😘🖤✨! #happynewyear #newyearseve #1928 #europe #richardtauber #agneseszterhazy #lianehaid #grithaid #walterrilla #rauscher #györgyrauscher #actor #actress #singer #painter #lifesjourney #germany #vintagestars #europeanstars #vintagenewyearseve #1920s

I can’t believe tomorrow is New Year’s Eve! Wishing you all a safe and lovely ending to 2024 and the best of everything in 2025 🥂🖤✨. 📸: Linda Darnell (1923-1965) and her then-husband Merle “Robbie” Robertson (1917-1965) out on the town (it wasn’t New Year’s Eve, but we can pretend lol 😘), circa 1959 ✨, from my personal collection. #lindadarnell #monettamonday #merlerobertson #merleroyrobertson #robbierobertson #oldhollywood #vintagehollywood #classichollywood #classicactress #vintageactress #oldhollywoodactress #vintageglam #happynewyear #1959 #onthetown #1950s #1950sfashion #oldhollywoodglamour #oldhollywoodglam

A bit more on Mary Brian (1906-2002) on the 22nd anniversary of her passing 💫. I always find interest in the stars of yesterday who grew up near to where I did and learning about their lives back here in Texas. Following the untimely death of her father, Mary Brian spent much of her childhood in Dallas where her mother worked at a local jewelry store. Not surprisingly, none of the homes she lived in during that time still stand (at least the ones I have addresses for), but photo 2 does show a circa 1930 image of her family’s former house on Ross Avenue. Mary’s family lived in the upstairs section of the large home, while another family, The Erwins, lived downstairs. It was through this living arrangement that Mary met Grace Erwin (1906-1998), who would become one of her closest confidants as a teenager. The two are pictured together as children in their mutual front yard in photo 3. Thought of as beautiful but shy, Grace remembered Mary as “full of pep” once she felt comfortable around people, and was a girl who enjoyed swimming, dancing, and attending football games as pastimes. Grace, who continued to keep in touch with Mary after she was working in Hollywood, also recalled of their teen years, “[Mary] was always mad about the movies. She always dreamed of being an actress, and we encouraged her because we realized she was beautiful and talented. She and I used to rush downtown after school to see a movie before going home. She talked, dreamed, studied, and thought moving pictures. To be an actress was her one ambition.” ⬇️⬇️⬇️CONTINUED IN COMMENTS BELOW⬇️⬇️⬇️

Remembering actress Mary Brian (1906-2002), who passed away 22 years ago today 💫. She is seen here with Glenda Farrell (1901-1971) in “Girl Missing” (1933). Guy Kibbee (1882-1956) flashes up at the end of the clip, since he plays Kenneth, the “old balloon tire” they’re talking about 😂. Born in Texas, Brian, whose father died when she was barely a month old, moved with her mother and brother to California as a teenager. Interested in pursuing an art career, her plans changed after participating in a beauty pageant. Though she did not win, she impressed actress Esther Ralston (1902-1994), a judge for the contest, and was ultimately given a movie screen test. The test went well and Brian began her movie career in “Peter Pan” (1924). Named a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1926, Brian was sometimes called “the sweetest girl in pictures”. She would go on to have a 20+ year career in film, successfully transitioning from silent to sound pictures and appearing in titles such as “The Enchanted Hill” (1926), “Paris at Midnight” (1926), “Someone to Love” (1928), “The Virginian” (1929), “The Front Page” (1931), “Blessed Event” (1932), “Private Scandal” (1934), “Once in a Million” (1936), and “Dragnet” (1947). She was a regular on the series “Meet Corliss Archer” in 1954 before retiring that same year. After a brief first marriage ended in divorce, Brian married film editor George Tomasini (1909-1964), a union that lasted 17 years until his death. She did not have children. Brian spent much of her retirement devoted to painting. Among her prized works was a portrait she created of Esther Ralston, the woman who launched her career and became one of her dearest friends, which hung on the wall of her home until her death. Mary Brian passed away in 2002 at the age of 96. #marybrian #rip #gonebutnotforgotten #gonebutneverforgotten #oldhollywood #classichollywood #vintagehollywood #classicactress #vintageactress #oldhollywoodactress #classicbeauty #vintagebeauty #silentbeauty #oldhollywoodbeauty #theydontmakeemlikethatanymore #cinema #classiccinema #vintagecinema #precode #precodecinema #precodefilm #girlmissing #1933 #glendafarrell #guykibbee

I just love this 1933 image of Mae Clarke (1910-1992) ✨. #maeclarke #oldhollywood #vintagehollywood #classichollywood #1933 #1930shollywood #precode #precodehollywood #classicactress #vintageactress #oldhollywoodactress #classicbeauty #vintagebeauty #oldhollywoodbeauty #timeless #striking #vintageglamour #vintageglam #oldhollywoodglamour #oldhollywoodglam

“Glamour is assurance. It is a kind of knowing that you are all right in every way, mentally and physically and in appearance, and that, whatever the occasion or the situation, you are equal to it.” - multi-talented entertainer Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), who was born 123 years ago today ✨ #marlenedietrich #happybirthday #heavenlybirthday #happyheavenlybirthday #oldhollywood #vintagehollywood #classichollywood #actress #singer #entertainer #multitalented #classicbeauty #vintagebeauty #oldhollywoodbeauty #quotes

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄❤️✨! 🌟Thelma Todd (1906-1935) 🌟Ann Blyth (1928- ) 🌟Frances Dee (1909-2004) 🌟Rita Hayworth (1918-1987) 🌟Joan Crawford (circa 1905-1977) 🌟Lana Turner (1921-1995) 🌟Loretta Young (1913-2000) 🌟Janet Gaynor (1906-1984) 🌟Jean Harlow (1911-1937) 🌟Gene Tierney (1920-1991) #merrychristmas #vintagechristmas #oldhollywoodchristmas #classichollywood #vintagehollywood #oldhollywood #thelmatodd #annblyth #francesdee #ritahayworth #joancrawford #lanaturner #lorettayoung #janetgaynor #jeanharlow #genetierney