Temple Tuesday: Shirley in Color!

Shirley Temple had very few films that were made in Technicolor; the brief list includes a short sequence at the end of “The Little Colonel” (1935), “The Little Princess” (1939), “The Blue Bird” (1940), and “The Story of Seabiscuit” (1949). Even though color was becoming more of a thing by the 1940s, Shirley’s teen films were typically low budget, relying on her former starpower to bring in the bacon. “Honeymoon” (1947) was an RKO black and white comedy (which is debatable!) that just misses the mark. Joseph Cotten went on suspension for backing out of the production and was replaced by Franchot Tone. Probably the best move of Cotten’s career! While the movie wasn’t filmed in color, the fan magazines were documenting Shirley in all her Technicolor beauty! In attempting to get a marriage license in Mexico, Shirley (with Guy Madison) wore this stylish outfit with a hood designed by Edward Stevenson:



Thanks to this image taken in her dressing room, we can see it and her lovely auburn locks in full color! Yes, she knits! And check out the heels on those slingback shoes!



This simple suit was also designed by Stevenson:



It stayed in Shirley’s personal collection until it was auctioned off in 2015, one year after she died. From the catalog description:

Teal Woolen Suit with Silver Buttons Worn by Shirley Temple in the 1947 Film "Honeymoon"

Description: The two-piece suit includes a silk-lined jacket with dart shaping and long sleeves, ruffled white cuffs and collar, and with 10 silver buttons with chain design; along with matching skirt. The ensemble was worn by Shirley Temple in the 1947 film “Honeymoon.” Sold: $1,100



The September issue of Photoplay magazine deemed it pattern of the month. Those interested in sewing their own could purchase the pattern for just 35¢!



I tried oh so hard to find the pattern itself, even joining a number of vintage pattern groups on Facebook. Alas, to no avail. Here is what the cover of the Advance Pattern #4659 looked like:



In this costume, Shirley’s character states that it’s her boyfriend’s favorite color. That piece of the script is wasted on a black and white movie!



However, thanks to this image from her 18th birthday party held on set, we can see what that color looked like. The burning of the little red school house signified Shirley was now an adult!



If you think you can reveal the colors of a film by looking at vintage lobby cards and poster art, think again. They are all pretty much colorized by the artists of the day, who used a lot of creativity (?) in assigning colors to the promotional ephemera. Would Guy Madison still like this one if it was pink and blue?



Another simple suit by Stevenson was featured in this scene with Tone and Madison; Shirley is the rose between two thorns:



Once again, a dressing room shot reveals that this one is beige in color; Shirley poses with then-husband, John Agar:



See more Sbirley Temple photos at my main website.

Top Gun in Oceanside

If the house above looks familiar, then you’re probably an 80s filmgoer who liked one of the biggest box office blockbusters of all time, “Top Gun” (1986). From the plaque in front of the quaint little home:

From the plaque in front: Built in 1887 by Dr. Henry Graves as a vacation home, The Graves House is an oceanfront Queen Anne Cottage and is now recognized as the “last best” existing such house in San Diego county. This house is best known by most people as The Top Gun House because of its prominent role in the movie of the same name. Scenes between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis were filmed here in 1985 and the popular movie was released in 1986. In 2022 the house was fully restored in conjunction with the grand opening of Mission Pacific Hotel and The Seabird Resort.



Above and below are two screencaps from the movie showing this Oceanside home:



Edited from the visitoceanside website:

In 1886 Dr. Henry Graves of Riverside came to Oceanside and while here bought a portion of a lot on North Pacific Street for just $1.00. The following year Graves purchased two more lots, one of which was on the northwest corner of Pacific and First Streets (now Seagaze Drive). Lot 7 on Block 16 was purchased for $1050.00 and would be the site of a new summer home for himself and his wife Sarah. The ornate Victorian cottage was built as a vacation home, Dr. and Mrs. Graves would “summer” in Oceanside and return to Riverside. The Graves sold their Oceanside home in March of 1905 for $1800, to Charles H. and Lillian Burlock. Dr. Henry Graves died on October 20, 1905, in Riverside at the age of 78. In 1921 the home was purchased by F. C. Janssen who was active in Oceanside real estate. The cottage was sold in 1926 to B. C. and Margaret Beers, the former being the President of the First National Bank of Oceanside and the developer of the Plumosa Heights subdivision on Alberta, Leonard and West Streets. The cottage was sold again to Edward and Edith Deggendorf in 1928, who promptly sold it to Angeline G. Morgan who also purchased a house and lot behind the Graves house on Lot 6. Angeline Morgan enlarged the former Graves cottage in 1929. She rented out the house until 1936 when she came to live there herself for a period of about five or six years until returning to San Bernardino to be nearer to her son. She relocated again by 1950 and her son, William M. Morgan, rented the house to the rear (112 First Street) for he and his family. By 1966 Morgan had moved to Encinitas and the cottage was purchased by the owner of the beach amusement park, Pacific Holidayland.



The Graves house reverted again to a rental property and over the years became dilapidated. Lynn and William Rego of West Covina, however, saw a diamond in the rough, and purchased the house in December of 1975 for $75,000. Much like Dr. and Mrs. Graves, they spent their summers in Oceanside looking over the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and renting it out the remainder of the year. In 1985 the Regos were contacted by Paramount Pictures looking for a beach cottage for a film location. Paramount rented the house (including the property at 112 First Street) in June for two weeks. The crew prepped the perimeter of the property by removing parking and street signs and covering the curbs with sand. The movie being filmed was “Top Gun”, which became a blockbuster upon its release in 1986. In 2001 the City of Oceanside acquired the Graves house through eminent domain to control future development of the oceanfront block in hopes of securing a resort project. Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) recognized the significance of the Graves house in 2001 and included it on their Most Endangered List of Historic Resources, saying: “This sweet Victorian era seaside cottage was built for Doctor Graves from Riverside. It is the oldest and last best beachfront cottage in Oceanside. Featured in the movie Top Gun, it has consequently been known as the Top Gun Cottage. The site is threatened by the huge hotel development proposed by Manchester Resort Hotels and the City of Oceanside. The cottage is on a corner of the property and could easily be integrated into the development and used as an adjunct facility to the hotel. Right now, it appears it will be moved off site, out of context, with its use yet to be determined.” The Manchester project, a twelve-story, 475-room hotel failed, leaving Oceanside without its desired resort hotel overlooking the Oceanside Pier. However, two blocks fronting Pacific Street were cleared in anticipation of a new hotel project. Block 16 on which the Top Gun house was located, had four other historic homes.



The house known as the Pishon house, located on the southwest corner of Mission and Pacific Streets was moved to a location on Maxson Street. Three other historic houses were demolished, including the house behind the Graves house, at 112 First Street (now Seagaze) which was used in the “Top Gun” movie. By 2010 the “Top Gun” house was the only structure remaining on the block and seemed to be in the “Danger Zone.” In 2018 S. D. Malkin Properties, Inc. announced two new resort projects by developer Jeremy Cohen. Many wondered what would become of the “Top Gun” house. With the support and influence of Save Our Heritage Organization and the Oceanside Historical Society, the Graves house aka “Top Gun” house would be restored by S. D. Malkin and used as the “centerpiece of Oceanside’s much anticipated new oceanfront resort.” Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new hotels were held in February of 2019. The cottage was relocated one block away for structural restoration. Afterward much of the work had been completed, it was moved one block north of its original location in front of the beautiful new Mission Pacific Hotel. The cottage is still situated on North Pacific Street, facing the ocean, which was important in preserving its historical integrity and setting. Architectural Digest reported: “Among the projects were restoring the wood cladding and front windows, dismantling the original chimney, and rebuilding it with the same historic bricks, and bringing back gingerbread details. Both porches had also been damaged and were restored.” In May 2026, the story levels up. An’s Gelato is set to take over the iconic space with its bold new “Gate D5” concept- bringing an aviation-inspired vibe, creative flavors, and a fresh wave of energy to the coast. It’s the perfect next chapter for a place that’s always captured imaginations- bigger, brighter, and ready for takeoff.

Whew, that’s a lot of background! In front is another “prop” from the movie. Well, kind of, as the sign describes:
 
This Kawasaki Ninja ZX900 is an exact replica of the motorcycle made famous in the movie “Top Gun.” Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, rode it to visit his love interest, Charloe “Charlie” Blackwood, played by Kelly McGillis, who in the movie lived in this very house.



An’s Gelato was not open for biz yet, thus the lockbox on the door still:



I had to give Tom Cruise a run for his money, posing on the cycle with dear friend Mona (the only person I would go to Oceanside for!). Although it has since expired, yes, I once had a license to drive a motorcycle. Back then, this would have been referred to as a “crotch rocket.”



See more Oceanside photos at my main website.

Monday at The Pearl

Today’s post takes us to a little midcentury gem in the Point Loma area of San Diego, The Pearl Hotel. This retro beauty made the list of St. Louis Style for being one of nine “Unforgettable Retro Hotels in the USA.” From The Pearl's website:

Originally designed by local architect Robert Platt in 1959 and operated as a Sportsman’s Lodge throughout the 1960s by resident husband and wife duo, Charles and Dinorah.



Fast forward to The Pearl Hotel as you know it today. The mid-century modern motel and gem of San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood was thoughtfully renovated with hospitality brand Casetta Group at the helm. The interiors are outfitted in a contemporary aesthetic and unique vintage decor, while maintaining the integrity of its original architectural features. The 23 unique guest rooms surround the art moderne oyster-shaped pool, which flows into the onsite cocktail bar and restaurant Ponyboy. ‍



As a nod to the hotel’s name, the in-room artwork pays homage to the remarkable female Japanese pearl divers, called Ama, known to hold their breath underwater for extended periods of time while harvesting oysters.



I would classify it as a retro gem that is competitively priced in a decent location…if you are wanting to explore the Point Loma area. It’s far enough down Rosecrans Drive that you would find it difficult to navigate the stop-start-bottleneck traffic if you wanted to head downtown or explore the other beaches of San Diego. On the flip-side, Point Loma does have enough fare on its own to keep a tourist semi-busy and well-fed. If the lobby area looks unattended, it kind of was on the day I visited. The lone person on staff seemed very disinterested…when he could be found. It felt like a one-person show and I am sure he was stretched thin doing his duties (and his face showed it).



The lobby seating area with a gorgeous (!) view of Rosecrans:



The bar/restaurant area:



The pool, which is cute in a retro way but if this place approached anything near full-occupancy would be a very tight situation:



The room itself was clean and spacious, and very well appointed:



Large bathroom that was pretty, but definitely avoided any of the retro homage touches:



The “vintage touches” were reserved for the reading materials and other decor touches:



The view from the shared balcony won’t take your breath away, but I’ve definitely seen worse:



Would I recommend this place? Sure, but I can’t say it’s one that draws me in like the Lafayette in North Park. Both places are a bit out of the way for the typical San Diego tourist, but the Lafayette at least has a “wow” factor that is much higher than The Pearl.
 
See more photos of The Pearl in Point Loma at my main website.

A Whole New World, 2015

Thanks to the miracle of Adobe Lightroom, I have been able to go back to some of my earlier photos and reprocess them, bringing out more details and enhancing the lighting. In so doing, I discovered I had an entire stash of unprocessed shots from the December 13, 2015 performance of “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” at the Hyperion Theatre in Disney California Adventure. Over 250 images to be exact! This condensed 45 minute version of the 1992 animated Disney classic was included in the price of admission for the Park. This was back in the day when value-added at the Disney Parks went above and beyond. Truly worthy of a Broadway stage, this musical delighted audiences daily for almost thirteen years. It never failed to impress guests with its musical talent, innovative set design, and breathtaking special effects.



Ushers assisted guests into their seats (which was pretty much a free-for-all; none were assigned) before the purple curtain rose.



This was one of my favorite sets; truly impressive. The show began with the narrator in front of yet another poor soul who lost his life in an attempt to get the evil Jafar the magic lamp.



We first meet Aladdin on a cart in the market. The one negative I could say about this show is the wigs. They were awful; we know the budget didn’t cover those! A small quibble, especially when to most eyes in the audience they went unnoticed.



Aladdin returns to the Cave of Wonders, with Iago the parrot at left. The show used puppeteers to work the animals in the show. Very effective!



The Genie was the true star of the show. Ad libs were part of the attraction to guests returning, as the jokes stayed topical and were rarely the same.



The musical numbers were expertly staged and wow…the sets and lighting!



Other than during mechanical mishaps, the magic carpet actually flew over the audience!



A gigantic serpent scared the kiddies:



Naturally, a large production number with the entire cast was part of the happy ending/grand finale.



If you never got a chance to see it, this YouTube video does a good job of showing what you missed:



See more “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” photos at my main website.

These Boots Were Made For Moonwalking

I always get a bit excited when I acquire a “new” image of the Disneyland Tomorrowland Space Couple; this July 1967 shot is no exception. My favorite part is the little boy looking at the Spaceman’s silver painted work shoes. Even he knows something ain’t right here! The boy in the red cap is guarding his Disneyland Popcorn box with his life. If he knew how much that might fetch him in 2026, he would be holding it even closer.



Any idea what the window in the background is showing? I’m in too much of a hurry this morning to check!
 
See more Disneyland Space Couple photos at my main website.

Toy Story 5 at The Village

Last night I went to the semi-recently reopened Village Theater in Coronado. I had discovered it just before its temporary shutdown and transition to new owners. It was good to be back! This little gem is a treasure that far outshines the other theaters that are located at the overpopulated malls.



The Village first opened in 1947 and was a lively entertainment center for Coronado until the birth of the multiplex dampened its popularity. In 2011, the theater was revamped by designer Joseph Musil (the genius behind the restoration of Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre).



From the Coronado History Page:

In 2011, the revamped Coronado Village Theater opened with the premiere of the film “Cars 2”. It retains its original Art Deco theme on the interior. While the original theater featured one room and sat 600 people, the renovated theater has three showing rooms, with its main room seating 215. The main room features artistic renditions of both the Coronado and San Diego Skyline, as well as other landmarks such as the Bay Bridge and the Hotel del Coronado. The other two rooms have 38 seats, respectively, and showcase murals of the famed San Diego Exposition of 1915 as well as San Diego’s Balboa Park. The murals were hand painted by Bill Anderson, a Disney muralist. Both new residents and locals who remember the original, quaint theater greatly appreciate the Coronado Village Theater as a lively source of activity and entertainment on the island.



I love the art deco styling inside, which still has a modern feeling to it.



I skipped over “The Odyssey” and “Moana” (!) and went right for “Toy Story 5,” which was playing in the Balboa Room theater.



The saturated colors in the smaller theater were right up my alley.



On either side of the screen were murals that represented San Diego’s Balboa Park; on the left were buildings from the 1935 Exposition in Balboa Park:



…and the Casa del Prado:



And the movie? I LOVED the first “Toy Story,” but each time a sequel was announced, I thought, “Why do they need to go back?” Each time, I have been pleasantly surprised. Somehow, Pixar has managed to keep this franchise fresh and innovative. This time, Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) is the lead, ably supported by her faithful horse, Bullseye.



Navigating the hot topic of what “devices” have done to kids (and our society), the film tugs at heartstrings, challenges the way we live, and also makes you laugh. What more can you ask for in a film? In a time when people have shut off their brains for AI, it is refreshing to see this movie tackle the controversy and attempt to remind the audience that all of these “devices” are tools, not substitutes for intelligence and creative thinking…and most importantly, play!



On the way out, I noticed the Night & Day Cafe, which stays open until midnight. It looked like a scene straight out of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. I need to go back here!



See more Coronado Island photos at my main website.