Poolside Friday at El Mirador, 1954

As the temperatures begin to climb, so does the desire to head poolside. Let’s visit the El Mirador Hotel, 1954, and take a dip in their pool. First, we see the tower, an architectural signature of the hotel. Note the sun dial:



That water looks so inviting!



If you don’t feel like your bod is ready for swimsuit weather, just put a gigantic matchbook on top of your head. Nobody will notice the rest.



Or sit next to movie star Rhonda Fleming; all eyes will be on her, not you.



Actress Laraine Day is doing her best to stay in the shade:



Actress Joan Taylor probably never event went in the water. Mess up the hair? No way…



Thanks to Daveland reader Nanook, we know that actor Marshall Thompson is the gent on the left and wife Barbara Long (sister of actor Richard Long) is at right:



As the sun goes down, things heat up at the El Mirador, as the hula dancers begin to shake:





See more El Mirador Hotel photos at my main website.

Shirley For Sale Pt. 1

Last weekend I visited the Love, Shirley Temple exhibit which was on display at the Santa Monica History Museum.



Since her passing, Shirley's children have decided to auction off all of the famous movie costumes and memorabilia that belonged to their mother during her tenure as America's top box office draw. There were a number of speakers lined up, including Shirley's first stand-in, Marilyn Granas. I would have loved to have heard her stories.



Right inside the entrance a large-screen TV was playing highlights from Shirley's films. The exhibit was bittersweet for me; it was amazing seeing all of these historical costumes from the 1930's in person AND in color (the majority of Shirley's films were shot in black and white). At the same time, it was sad to once again note her passing as well as knowing that her surviving family was unable to keep or donate them as a whole to a museum for permanent display. Come July, they will all go on the auction block and be split up.



Right off the bat my jaw dropped as I saw the original dress she wore in "Bright Eyes," 1934.



Yup…the outfit she wore as she sang her signature song, "On the Good Ship Lollipop."



A hula costume worn in the film, "Curly Top," 1935.





A riding outfit from "Just Around the Corner," 1938.





It was customary for the costume department to dress a Shirley Temple doll with an exact replica of the outfits that Shirley wore, using scraps of fabric from the original costume. The doll was then presented to Shirley as a gift.



"Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," 1938.



Here's Shirley on set wearing the same costume with stand-in Mary Lou Isleib:



The matching doll:



More tomorrow!

View additional Santa Monica photos at my main website.