Is That All There Is? DCA 23rd Anniversary

I had the opportunity to visit Disney California Adventure on May 18, 2001, just a few months after it opened (hard to believe it’s been 23 years!). I was part of a behind-the-scenes tour of all the dining facilities that were part of the Disneyland Resort second gate. One of the dining managers in my department was friends with Mary Nivens, who was Senior VP at the Disneyland Resort at the time, thus our tour. What did I think about DCA? As soon as the tour was over, I went home. I didn’t ride a single attraction nor did I take any photos. If you know me, that speaks volumes. I kept thinking of the Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is?”

It wasn’t until April 2002 that I returned with camera in hand and began to document the second gate. True to Walt’s quote about change, none of what you see in these photos remains at DCA today. Below, you can see the stationary California Zephyr, on of my favorite aspects (designwise) of the new Park.



Because of their ownership by Disney, there was significant cross-promotion going on for ABC programs, especially the soap operas.



One of the restaurants at DCA was titled, “Soap Opera Bistro,” featuring themed dining areas based on the sets from your favorite ABC soap operas.



These tile murals at the entrance were gorgeous.



An overhead view showing the first incarnation of Paradise Pier, before Pixar took over.



These imposing elephants at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot were an homage to the ones used in D.W. Griffith’s silent epic, “Intolerance” (1916).



Whoopi Goldberg in DCA? That’s right. Where the Little Mermaid attraction now resides, guests once entered a theatre to watch a film entitled “Golden Dreams,” starring Whoopi as Calafia, the Queen of California. She lost her thrown when the theater was torn down for Ariel in July 2009.



Was there ever a need for Fastpass for It’s Tough To Be A Bug!?!



Over at the Hyperion Theatre, a Reader’s Digest version of the Broadway show Blast! was playing.



In 2004, I returned for my birthday and posed with Minnie in the Condor Flats area.



The Tower of Terror was the first big draw to be added to the Park in 2004, followed by Monsters, Inc. This aerial view is from August 2006.



In other news, I just realized that DCA, James Dean, and Lana Turner also share the same “birthday.”





See more Disney California Adventure photos at my main website.

1 out of 3 at the Hollywood Hotel

Three hopeful starlets can be seen in this 1937 photo taken on the porch of the Hollywood Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, but only one achieved stardom. Can you guess which one?



If you guessed the girl in the center, you’d be correct, as she’s Lana Turner, who played the part of Cora, the femme fatale in “The Postman Always Rings Twice” (1946).



If you’re not familiar with the Hollywood Hotel, it’s another historic landmark that bit the dust for the sake of “progress.” Here’s a color image from 1954:



It was located next door to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre; you can see the corner of it on the right side of this shot from 1951:



Now you see it, now you don’t, in this 1956 view:



Breaks my heart.



See more Hollywood photos at my main website.

Dreams For Sale, Pt. 3

Yet another post highlighting items from the upcoming November 23rd Turner Classic Movies (aka TCM) and Bonhams Treasures From The Dream Factory auction. Hope you're not sick of these yet! Today's theme is Marilyn…as in Monroe. A few original movie posters to get things started for you. Expect to cough up at least $1000 for this original 1955 "The Seven Year Itch" one sheet, 27" x 41". That might fill up a living room wall.

Have more space? A 40" x 60" "Some Like It Hot" poster might be better…but the extra real estate is going to run you $4000-6000. Yikes.



Photographs of Marilyn are always coveted; this Bert Stern signed print is expected to bring in $1000-1500.



An original costume from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes":



Check out the detailing on the collar:



A shot of Marilyn wearing the outfit, standing next to costar Jane Russell:



If that's not enough "GPB" for you, here's an original 1953 poster heralding the movie:



If Marilyn isn't your style, maybe a smoldering Argentinean 1946 poster of Rita Hayworth from "Gilda" is what you'd rather have:



Not sure about the face though; not necessarily very flattering to Rita:



And you can't go wrong with Lana:



More nostalgia at my main website and see more vintage and current photos.

Jane vs. Lana: Where's the beef?

Lana Turner (shown with Gene Kelly): with her platinum blonde hair, curvaceous body, and gorgeous face, she was a star in every sense of the word, trained by the best at MGM.

Jane Wyman (with Rock Hudson): an attractive brunette who managed to be nominated four times for an Oscar (winning once for "Johnny Belinda") during her lengthy and prestigious career.



When it was announced that Lana Turner had signed on for a guest starring role in Wyman's prime-time sudser, "Falcon Crest," the tabloids pronounced that fireworks would erupt as the two "divas" did not get along. Instead, the two stars put on smiles for the cameras and said the feud was nothing but horse-poo. Here they are as they take a break on the set in January 1982 at Malibu Beach.



Here is their dramatic first scene, where their characters, Angela Channing (Wyman) and Jacqueline Perrault, meet again for the first time in several years.



Turner enjoyed a mini-resurgence in her career, thanks to her guest starring role. On the Phil Donahue Show, Lana held court, breathlessly telling the audience while fanning herself: "Oh, the plans they have for Jacqueline!"



As you can see, Turner publicly denied any feud. According to the rags, the two women hated each other so much they never spoke off set, and scenes between their characters were filmed separately and spliced together in editing. After Turner's character was killed off in the second season, she told the press that Wyman's bad behavior was because she was bitter that her ex-husband, Ronald Reagan, was then President of the United States.

Huh?!? I think I smell manure.



What was more likely the truth was that no-nonsense Wyman was not interested in the long hours it took for Lana to become her most glamorous-self. It also annoyed Wyman to no end to hear Lana taking credit for the high ratings of the show. Still, Wyman kept her mouth shut in public and refused to answer questions about the alleged feud.

I remember watching the shows with Turner when they aired. I also remember having a feeling of, "Is that all there is?" There was very little dramatic tension or excitement over Turner's story line, which seemed more manufactured than real. Frankly, the Lana Turner episodes were boring. The story in the tabloids was more exciting than what was being shown on the boob-tube.

For a fascinating 5-part 1996 interview on Jane Wyman, you won't want to miss this:



See more classic Movie & TV photos on my main website.

The Real Thing: Juanita Moore

It was with great sadness that I read on the Dougsploitation blog that actress Juanita Moore had passed away. If you've never seen the 1959 Douglas Sirk classic "Imitation Of Life" then you might not know her.



"Imitation of Life" was based on a Fannie Hurst novel of the same name and a remake of a 1934 Claudette Colbert film. Over the course of many years, it tells the story of an ambitious white actress, Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) and her friendship with a black woman, Annie Johnson (Moore) who meet by chance when their two daughters become playmates at Coney Island Beach. Lora allows the homeless Annie and her daughter to stay with her for the night.



Annie makes herself indispensable to Lora, organizing the apartment and tending to her child while she is out on auditions. Lora "hires" her (initially for just a place to stay) and the two forge a life-long working and personal relationship.



Johnson's daughter, Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner), is light-skined enough to pass for white, something the girl attempts to do as she gets older and becomes more disgusted with the lack of opportunities available to blacks at the time.



Both Moore and Susan Kohner (daughter of a Mexican actress and a Jewish film producer) earned Oscar nominations for their work. At the time, Juanita Moore was only the third black performer to be nominated for an Oscar. Moore and Kohner provide the framework for the most touching yet gut-wrenching scenes in the film.



Sarah Jane grows tired of her mother's supposed acceptance of being treated like a second-class citizen and decides to strike out on her own, living life as a white woman.



Annie attempts to teach patience and tolerance to her daughter, hoping she won't run away, but to no avail. Much later, when Annie is able to find her wayward daughter (now a showgirl), the two have a final confrontation that will rip your heart out. Sarah Jane obviously has a deep love for her mother, but her immaturity and desire for acceptance wins out, forcing her to publicly denounce Annie and tell her friends that she is only her mammy.



Many who take the film only at face value have dismissed it as typical 1950s melodrama, while pointing out the stereotypical nature of Moore's character. Those that take the time to examine the film will be richly rewarded by Moore's performance and its subtle yet powerful nuances. During a low-key reflective scene between Annie and Lora, Annie talks about her friends and her church. "It never occurred to me that you had any friends...I didn't know." Lora's self-absorbed ignorance about her best friend is not necessarily race-driven, as her treatment of her own daughter (annoyingly portrayed by Sandra Dee) is not much different. Annie could have made a very dramatic scene by calling her friend uncaring and selfish; instead, she subtly lets her know with one very simple line, delivered without anger or sarcasm: "Miss Lora, you never asked." It is the writing for Annie's character and Moore's natural performance that creates the core of the film, keeping it from going over the edge of artifice.



Towards the end of the film, when it becomes apparent that Annie is dying, the somewhat dimwitted Lora finally realizes all of the true riches that she has in this friendship. The final scene between these two is one of the most emotionally charged ones ever put on celluloid.



For a year after her 1960 nomination, Moore didn't work, as casting directors assumed she'd never play servants again. "What can you do?" Moore asked. "They're not going to pay me a lot of money for carrying a tray. That's all we did in movies at the time. The Oscar prestige was fine, but I worked more before I was nominated. Casting directors think an Oscar nominee is suddenly in another category. They couldn't possibly ask you to do one or two days' work. You wouldn't accept it. And I'm sure I would have." She went on to do a number of supporting roles, but the early promise of her acting career in "Imitation of Life" was sadly never fulfilled.

On youtube, you'll find this fantastic 3-part series of Moore vividly recalling her work with Lana Turner on "Imitation of Life":



See more "Imitation of Life" photos on my Lana Turner web page.

Vogue: Strike A Pose!

Back in the day, actresses had to do more than just act. They had to learn how to walk, pose, smile, sing, dance...it was all part of the studio grooming system. Just look at Jane Wyman in this publicity shot for "Lucy Gallant." The perfectly turned toe...the head turned down at just the right angle. She paid attention and she went far.

Even child star Shirley Temple had to make friends with the still camera. Fashionably decked out in this 1940's ensemble, Shirley was ready to put the moves on Cary Grant in "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer."



Despite the fact that her character was a drunk, Vera Miles still flashed a little glamour for the photographer who shot this publicity image for "Back Street."



When it came to paying attention to the groomers, all were amateurs compared to Lana Turner. Nobody did as well as she did. This gal never left the house unless she looked like a million bucks. Here she is in "Imitation of Life." When was the last time any of you ladies looked this good after an airplane flight?



Tippi Hedren started out as a model before she became the next Hitchcock Icy Blonde. Her training paid off when it came time to do the marketing shots for "Marnie."



If you put together some of today's top actresses, you'd probably have a difficult time achieving the same results.

See more vintage & current Classic Movie & TV star photos on my Classic Movie & TV star web page.