Weekend at the Waldorf

The historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York opened on October 1, 1931. NINETY-FIVE YEARS AGO and still ticking! This image of the entrance to the hotel was taken for research at Columbia Pictures in 1944. I’m not sure what movie it was used for, but MGM released, “Weekend at the Waldorf” one year later in 1945. Interiors for that film were recreated on a soundstage, but most of the exteriors were shot on location. Back from my digression, I present an image I shot in 2016 when I stayed at the Waldorf, showing very little change to the exterior, other than the newer canopy that engulfs all three sections of doors.



These cool little frames on the exterior tell us that Michael Zarin and his orchestra were performing at the Lounge Restaurant:



The frame on the right gives the lineup for the Starlight Roof, along with a scowl from the doorman:



Zooming in we see it includes the Nat Brandwynne Orchestra, Nicolas Alexander and something Williams Trio, and the rest I have no idea other than the mention of Sunday dinner. Just look at the pretty pictures, please.



As of 2016, it would appear that the very same frames were still being used:



Another exterior view from 2016:



In 2017, the hotel closed for renovations after a Chinese Company, Anabang Insurance Group, bought the property for $1.95 billion. That’s a lot of smackers! After much back and forth and shifting of schedules, the hotel portion reopened again in July 2025. Apparently by February 2026, Anabang was planning to sell the hotel. I’ll take tax write-offs for $500, Alex!

See more Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in NYC photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Fun and Games

Theatergoers often don’t realize the amount of work that goes into making a movie. Many actors reveal that the worst part is the amount of time BETWEEN filming scenes. It can get pretty boring; just look at Shirley Temple during the filming of “Kathleen,” her one and only MGM production. Above, she yawns between costars Laraine Day and Herbert Marshall. What do stars do between takes? Below, Shirley keeps herself occupied with crafting:



Making fashions for her mini-mannequin:



Here, Shirley reads her script, brushing up on her lines and any possible last minute revisions while the camera gets set-up:



I wish I had more info on this one; it would appear that Shirley is rehearsing a song for the film. In the final movie though, the only musical number has Shirley dubbed. Maybe originally Shirley was slated to sing, but the studio decided against it in the end.



The director, Harold S. Bucquet, goes over a scene with Felix Bressart and Shirley:



Shirley and Herbert wait patiently for the lighting to be fixed:



A game of chess between takes for Shirley:



This poodle can dance AND balance the script!



Below, Shirley plays Chinese Checkers with her stand-in, Mary Lou Isleib:



I found this board on eBay, which appears to be the same design as the one Shirley was using. Made by Pressman, it was popularized in the U.S. in 1928 by Bill and Jack Pressman and originally marketed under the name Hop Ching Checkers before becoming widely known as Chinese Checkers.



Marshall and Day playing a game of cards; apparently they weren’t into Chinese Checkers.



Even a beautiful young teen like Shirley needs a touch-up from the makeup artist between takes.



And there you have it; life on the set between takes of “Kathleen”!
 
See more teenage Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Bunny in the Bungalow

This recent Shirley Temple photo acquisition sparked another rabbit hole…literally! Taken inside her 20th Century-Fox Bungalow, Shirley is opening a rather large box. Most people would initially wonder what was in the box; not me. I wanted to know if the sheet of paper on the end table could be read! I zoomed in, but to no avail. It doesn’t appear to be a script, so who knows.



The great Rita D., Shirley expert supreme, was able to fill in the rest of the story that this series of publicity shots was about. The image below shows Shirley at the front door of the bungalow (love that decorative Hand of Fatima door knocker!) receiving the package.



The back of the image is date stamped January 1938, which lets us know that the photo is no more recent than that period, but possibly a month or more older. Before the lightning fast internet and digital photos, timed layouts had to be planned and executed way in advance to meet publishing deadlines.



Another image from Rita shows Shirley playing with some kind of custom-made wooden logs. The story behind this set is still unknown.



In searching to find out if this was what Lincoln Logs looked like back in the day, I learned that the original Lincoln Logs were designed/created by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, John Lloyd. That’s some provenance! From the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office FB page:

Lincoln Logs were more than a toy; they were a patented invention that inspired generations of young builders. John Lloyd Wright, the second son of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, received U.S. Patent No. 1,351,086 in 1930 for a “Toy-Cabin Construction.” His design used notched wooden logs that could be stacked to form interlocking walls for miniature structures— without glue or nails. Inspired by his father’s earthquake-resistant construction techniques, Wright used architecture engineering principles to create a toy that was both educational and imaginative, helping children learn about construction while building realistic log cabins.



According to the Modern San Diego website, John Lloyd Wright designed many homes and commercial structures here in San Diego. I’m going to need to do some exploring, Lucy! Back to the originally scheduled program (oh those rabbit hole digressions). Rita dug up this clipping with the text that accompanied it showing Shirley’s wonderment at the bunny. I wonder how many times she had to show that face for the photographer?

When this big box came, Shirley thought someone had sent her flowers. She could hardly wait to see whether they were roses or daffodils, acacia—or what! Imagine her surprise when she opened the lid, and there was a white bunny that looked almost as real as a real Easter bunny!



Melissa (ala “The Colonel”) dug up this download from her web archive which shows more of the image:



This previously posted image from my collection has artist Feg Murray visiting Shirley between takes of “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” being filmed in 1937. Same dress, and the curls match, so there’s a good chance it was the same day.



Artist Feg Murray visits Shirley Temple between takes of “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” 1937. According to the AFI website, the production dates for that film were early October through November 1937. And there you have today’s trip down the bunny path.

See more Shirley Temple Fox bungalow and trailer photos at my main website.

Lunch at the Biltmore

Another photo “bucket list” item for my recent trip to LA was to get some new and better photos of the historic Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. Since its opening in 1923, it has been a palace of opulence, catering to some of the wealthiest and most famous clientele. Below is a vintage postcard image of the lobby:



So much to see in this closeup; the bored men sitting in the lobby, the guest in the shiny robe and slippers, and of course the vintage signage!



How the lobby looks today — still fabulous!





One feels as if they stepped back into the 1920s, with the kind of style and craftsmanship one just can’t duplicate anymore.



Lunch was at the hotel’s Casa Ipanema.



Edited from the restaurant’s website:

Where Every Evening Feels Like Rio Casa Ipanema was created from a simple idea: dinner should be more than a meal. It should be an experience that transports you somewhere else. Inspired by the vibrant spirit, beauty, and energy of Rio de Janeiro, Casa Ipanema brings together contemporary Brazilian and Latin American cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, music, design, and hospitality to create an unforgettable destination in the heart of Los Angeles.…Beyond the cuisine, Casa Ipanema captures the energy of Rio through handcrafted cocktails, immersive music, and a vibrant atmosphere. From tropical-inspired cocktails to DJ-curated evenings and signature performances, every element is designed to create a complete sensory experience.…Casa Ipanema was founded by Henrique and Herica Huyer, the creators behind H&H Group, with a vision to bring a new kind of Brazilian experience to Los Angeles. Together, they imagined a place where guests could enjoy exceptional cuisine while surrounded by the rhythm, warmth, and celebration that define Brazilian culture. Casa Ipanema is not simply where you come for dinner. It's where you spend an evening in Rio.



On a time crunch, we didn’t spend as much time as I would have liked, but I can tell you the burger was delicious and the staff was wonderful. I hope to return, especially for one of the Carmen Miranda nights!



See more Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley and H2O

With Southern California experiencing high temps in October, the thought of a cool dip in water sounded like the perfect idea for a Temple Tuesday post. Strangely enough, I have very few images of Shirley actually IN a swimming pool, which is why I expanded the theme to H2O overall! In the 1934 film, “Now and Forever,” Shirley meets her biological father at Lake Arrowhead. This image was shot between takes on location, with Shirley Temple and Gary Cooper.



There IS a scene at a pool in the film, with Carole Lombard and Gary, but…



Shirley doesn’t go IN the pool; she just plays nearby with a little boy.



In “The Little Colonel” (1935), Shirley actually gets wet, in this baptismal scene with Nyanza Potts and Avonne Jackson.



By the time of “Curly Top” (1935), the studio liked to have their biggest star in controlled environments, like this phony beach backdrop, accomplished with rear projection:



Can’t get the star wet; that might mean having to create an additional copy of Shirley’s outfit, or cause a time delay for filming. With René Hubert as the costume designer for “Curly Top,” that could really rack up the costs! Esther Dale reads the Sunday “Funnies” to Shirley’s character, but rest assured, the child stays dry.



In “Captain January” (1936), Shirley lives in a lighthouse and hangs out in the nearby coastal town wth Buddy Ebsen, but manages to stay out of the water.



This deleted Hula scene was filmed in a nice, controlled, studio soundstage at Fox.





A scene of Shirley in a bathtub for “Poor Little Rich Girl” (1936) was cut before release. Note that her curls are still perfectly set and moisture free!



“Dimples” (1936) has Shirley at the edge of a lake fishing, but as always, not allowed IN the water. No wonder she looks a bit gloomy.



Finally, in “Just Around the Corner” (1938) Shirley gets access to a pool! Only Franklin Pangborn gets wet.



In Shirley’s private life, the cameras never seemed to catch her IN the water, just nearby, like these images of her on a Hawaiian trip, circa 1937:



…and 1939:



This series of images from her Rockingham pool, circa 1937, show a fully-clothed little girl playing with a sailboat:



Doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable!





It appears that Shirley had her own sailboat to safely keep her dry while floating in the pool:





This 1944 shoot at home with Guy Madison is about as close to “cheesecake” as Shirley would let the photographers get:



The two made the tepid “Honeymoon” (1946), which had Shirley appear in a bathing costume, displaying a two-piece suit for a few seconds.



This publicity still below shows Shirley in the water with Franchot Tone after she (aka the stunt double) dives into the pool. The final film doesn't show the two in the pool together.



Shirley DOES get a pool scene with Guy Madison in “Honeymoon,” but she is fully clothed:



Final H2O image of the day is from August 1957. Shirley is at her Atherton home with son Charlie and daughter Lori. Even a blowup pool like this would be heaven on a day like today!



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.