Temple Tuesday: Shirley & Rita

In June 1942, Shirley Temple was between film gigs and paid a visit to Columbia Studios. One of her stops was for a few publicity shots with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, who does not seem very pleased that her dancing partner is being borrowed by Shirley. The shot below was accompanied by the following caption:

BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY — Shirley Temple, on a recent day off, visited Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth on Columbia’s “You Were Never Lovelier,” set. Standing is Xavier Cugat, the rhumba king, who plays himself in the musical.



The next photo opp I have in my collection showing Shirley and Rita together is from April 1943 when the two  welcomed Madame Chiang Kai-shek to the Hollywood Bowl. Left to right are Norma Shearer, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford, Shirley, Loretta Young, Rita, and Barbara Stanwyck.



In the fall of 1945, Shirley found herself back at Columbia Studios. From the accompanying caption:

WELCOME HOME — Director Charles Vidor, Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford welcome Shirley Temple back to the Columbia lot on the “Gilda” set. Shirley recently starred in “Kiss and Tell” at the same studio.

“Kiss and Tell” had a $1.2 million budget while “Gilda” came in at $2 million.



“Kiss and Tell” was released October 18, 1945, and “Gilda” had its New York City premiere on March 14 1946. A lovely portrait of Shirley in angora to publicize “Kiss and Tell” below:



The American Film Institute website states that Rita Hayworth was the original choice for “Kiss and Tell”:

According to pre-production news items in Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety, Columbia spent two years negotiating for the screen rights to the F. Hugh Herbert play. The studio initially conceived the play as a vehicle for Rita Hayworth and assigned Al Hill to direct.…According to Columbia publicity material, Herbert based the character of "Corliss Archer" on his teenage daughter. A New York Times article notes that David O. Selznick, who loaned Shirley Temple to Columbia for the production, initially demanded approval of the screenplay and daily rushes because he was concerned that the subject matter was too "sexy" for former child star Temple.

Herbert’s play of the same name debuted on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on March 17, 1943 and ran until June 23, 1945, with a total of 956 performances.

That last tidbit I could find about the two actresses was this none-too-flattering remembrance from Shirley’s autobiography, Child Star:

As the New Year [1949] rang in the Hollywood Women’s Press Club nominated me, after Rita Hayworth, the second least cooperative star in the industry. The vote came to me as a thunderbolt. My lifelong conviction held that a critical aspect of professionalism was popularity, including popularity with the working press, upon whose opinion the public relied…At my request, on January 5, 1949, I met with the entire club. The reception was sincerely unfriendly. Epithets like “stinker” and “always totally unavailable” were delivered, albeit with a smile. One writer claimed to have tried unsuccessfully for an interview for three years. Only columnist Hedda Hopper rose to shift the blame, saying officious underlings of the Selznick studio had rejected press inquiries without consulting me. In rebuttal another woman snarled things would never change; I was simply terrified to speak candidly with the press. “How about now, this afternoon?” I called back from the podium. Far too late to rescind my award, the group apologized as individuals, and lined up to schedule exclusives. Far from an egotistic exercise, my appearance recognized the pervasive power that the Women’s Press Club exercises, its opinion echoing in unexpected Hollywood crannies, as I soon found.

Shortly after, Shirley and then husband John Agar attended a party at Errol Flynn’s home. When she declined his invitation to join him in his steam room, he replied, “So that’s why the press voted you most uncooperative, eh?”

And that’s all I have for the Rita/Shirley connection!
 
See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley at the Bowl, 1943

In April 1943, Shirley Temple and a slew of other celebrities (including left to right Norma Shearer, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford, Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, and Barbara Stanwyck) welcomed Madame Chiang Kai-shek to the Hollywood Bowl. The pictures accompanying this post were shot by John Florea, LIFE staff photographer. There was plenty of coverage for the event, including a story in the April 19, 1943 issue of LIFE magazine:

MADAME CHIANG IN HOLLYWOOD
She finishes nationwide tour with stirring speech to 30,000 at Bowl

To the tinseled home of make-believe last week went a realistic star of the first magnitude. Under the serene blue California skies Madame Chiang Kai-shek concluded her nationwide tour at a spectacular mass meeting held in the Hollywood Bowl. All Hollywood had contributed talent toward making this event a triumph of showmanship. But it was Madame Chiang’s gracious charm, her indomitable spirit and her deeply stirring account of China’s six-year war against Japanese aggression which made the dramatic climax of the afternoon. Her fists clenched, emotion welling in her voice, China’s First Lady reviewed the unforgettable, “ghastly memories” which have been burned into her mind and heart. She began her historical summary by picturing the insuperable obstacles which confronted her as secretary-general of the Chinese Air Force at the war’s start in 1937.…As Madame Chiang spoke, her sympathetic audience listened in grave silence, tears springing to many eyes. No Hollywood-conceived pageant could match the awesome “nightmares” which Madame Chiang recreated with the magic of her words.…Madame Chiang closed her speech with the pledge that China and the other United Nations would not permit “aggression to raise its satanic head and threaten man’s greatest heritage: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all peoples.”



Note the pin that Shirley is wearing; it came up for sale at the “Love, Shirley Temple, Take Two: From Schoolgirl to Storybook” auction in 2015. From the Theriault’s catalog description:

SHIRLEY TEMPLE’S DIAMOND AND RUBY VICTORY PIN FROM WWII

Formed as the letter "V" for Victory, the famous symbol of the Allied Forces during WWII, the 1.5" 14Kt pin has incised initials of S T, and a crossbar decorated with three round-cut rubies and a 0.10 diamond baguette which are the letter "v" in morse code. A favorite pin of Shirley Temple during the early 1940s. Presale Estimate: $600+; Realized Price: $1,700



Melissa (aka “The Colonel”) tracked down a number of other vintage articles that gave more information about the program at the Bowl:

With the audience requested to be seated by 2:45 p.m. promptly, the program will be opened by Spencer Tracy presenting Henry Fonda, actor, who is now a seaman in the U.S. Navy, and Dr. C M. Wassell, Commander, Medical Corps, U.S.N.R., and hero of the evacuation of Java.…A committee of 19 actresses will receive Madame Chiang. Mary Pickford will present her with roses. Others serving on the committee will be Joan Bennett, Ingrid Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, Irene Dunne, Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, Judy Garland, Janet Gaynor, Rita Hayworth, Dorothy Lamour, Ida Lupino, Ginger Rogers, Rosalind Russell, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck, Shirley Temple, Lana Turner, and Loretta Young.

Not too shabby; that is DEFINITELY an “A” List of stars! Below is Madame Chiang addressing the audience at the Bowl, between red (left side of the shell) and blue panels (right side) decorated with the official seals of the United States and China. This event was the first time since Pearl Harbor that the Hollywood Bowl had been filled to capacity.



Madame Chiang, in a black silk gown decorated with the silver wings of the Chinese air force, received a bouquet of pink roses from Mary Pickford and a guard of honor comprising almost every top feminine movie star in Hollywood. She sat quietly through the pageant that the picture industry conceived and then delivered her 45-minute address.





Another shot of Shirley and friends:



David O. Selznick (“Gone with the Wind”) staged and produced the pageant. Shirley was under contract to Selznick and filming “Since You Went Away” at the time, which is most likely why she was in attendance.



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Gilda gets dressed

A behind-the-scenes shot of costume designer Jean Louis making sure his soon-to-be-famous black sheath looked perfect on Rita Hayworth. Director Charles Vidor stands in the background watching the proceedings. Hayworth's “Put the Blame on Mame” striptease number is still a classic.

See more Classic Movie 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.

More Rita at Disneyland

Previously, I had posted a photo of actress Rita Hayworth at Disneyland with husband/singer Dick Haymes. Now my collection has two more shots from that very same July 25, 1955 visit. Here's the accompanying publicity blurb:

DICK HAYMES CELEBRATES VERDICT
Singer Dick Haymes, who was notified July 25 that the government had abandoned its long legal fight to deport him, celebrates the occasion by taking his family for an outing to Disneyland near Anaheim, Cal. Left to right: Haymes, Rebecca Welles, Rita Hayworth, his actress wife, Yasmin Kahn and an unidentified nurse. Rebecca and Yasmin are daughters of Miss Hayworth.



A very sad quote came from the provocative mouth of this legendary beauty:

Men fell in love with Gilda, but they wake up with me.

Married five times, they all ended in divorce; the Haymes marriage barely lasted two years.

See more Daveland King Arthur Carrousel photos at my main website.

Gilda Goes To Disneyland

I'll let the breathless caption of this vintage July 1955 publicity still do the talking:

RITA IN WONDERLAND
Like a child at the circus, actress Rita Hayworth dashes around the exhibits at the fabulous new Disneyland, in California. She gives an urging glance over her shoulder at husband Dick Haymes and daughter Yasmin, who seem to have trouble keeping up. Yasmin is Rita's daughter by ex-husband Prince Aly Khan. Singer Haymes recently won his lengthy battle against deportation with the U.S. Government.

Actress and legendary screen goddess Rita Hayworth was married to Haymes for only two years (1953-1955). The two met while he was still married to Nora Eddington, ex-wife of Errol Flynn. Not only was his career on the skids, but he was deeply in debt, thanks to having to pay alimony and child support to two previous ex-wives. Things seemed to be improving when he met Hayworth, as the publicity of the couple appeared to help his career (not to mention the fact that she paid off most of his debts). As if that wasn't bad enough, Haymes was in trouble with the U.S. Government. He was born in Argentina and lacked solid proof of American citizenship. With deportation imminent, he attempted to get Hayworth to use her influence (I wonder if she did "Put the Blame on Mame" for J. Edgar Hoover?). When she assumed responsibility for his citizenship, a bond was formed that led to marriage. The two were married on September 24, 1953 at the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, the bloom of new love wore off quickly.

Doing a little research on the web, I found this interesting (and colorful) tidbit on the website BoxRec

In the early 50's my dad was flush doing his odds and ends (I'll call it that) for the Outfit in Chicago. Disneyland on the coast was going to open up and us kids wanted to be there for that one. So my dad sent my mother and sisters and my "nana" on the Super Chief out to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

It was the first time I'd seen palm trees, but was dissapointed when they told me no coconuts grew on them. But us kids weren't into seeing the local vegetation as much as going to Disneyland and seeing some movie stars.

Well Disneyland for me was a two edged sword. I was in wonderment the whole time seeing the different "lands" and going on the rides like the Safari Trip. But after I got off the Mad Hatter Teacup Ride all I wanted to do is kick Walt Disney in the balls. I never was so sick in my life.

We were out in California for two weeks. We went to one of the missions, the Farmers Market, and I remember eating at the Brown Derby. Leave it to my grandmother, Diamond Joe's wife, she orders spaghetti. The waiter says they don't have spaghetti, so my grandmother tells him the place ain't a real restaurant because they don't have spaghetti. She makes a fuss and finally I think someone went out and bought a can of Chef Boy R Dee and served it to her. She saw the ruse and said to the waiter the joint has no class and they wouldn't have any of this in Chicago.

I really liked the time at the Ambassador Hotel though. The swimming pool reminded me of a small lake and for lunch we ate at the Coconut Grove. They had palm trees on the tables with coconuts, but the coconuts were phony.

But I did see a few movie stars. I saw Rita Hayworth because her husband at the time, Dick Haymes, was singing there. I guess they had a big brouhaha in the lounge and afterwards I heard they got a divorce.

Shortly after the trip to Disneyland, this bit appeared in the papers:

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 29.—Crooner Dick Haymes announced today that he and Screen Star Rita Hayworth "have separated" after nearly two years of marriage. The trouble- beset singer, who recently won final victory from the U. S. Government against his deportation to his native Argentina, declared through a representative: "I am very unhappy about it. I can't even tell you what caused it. All I know is that Rita was not home last night. "She took the children and I don't know where she is at this moment. "I am so distraught I can hardly even talk but I love her and I know we will get back together." Intimates of the couple said that Rita and Dick had a "violent argument" late yesterday, climaxed by their parting. Friends said that Rita remained in the couple's Malibu Beach home while Dick had moved to the Ambassador Hotel, where last Tuesday he had opened a three-week singing engagement. Dick left his clothes at the hotel and then disappeared. A servant at the Malibu home said 'that Rita refused to come to the telephone.' She appeared at Haymes' Hollywood nightclub engagement at The Grove, again at ringside. Dick sang all his love songs to her. Rita was conspicuously absent on other nights during the first week of her mate's local engagement. She explained that she had a cold, but during the week she showed up at Disneyland with her two children, Rebecca (born of her marriage to actor Orson Wells) and Yasmin (born to her spectacular marriage to Moslem Prince Aly Khan). The breakup came as a complete surprise to Hollywood. The two had planned to make films together later in the year. Dick returned to the night club circuit as a singer after he settled his alimony suits with Ex-Wives Nora Eddington Flynn and Actress Joanne Dru and won his final victory against deportation last May.

According to stories, Haymes struck Hayworth in the face in public at the famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel, shown below:





Hayworth dumped the louse and divorced him. Both went on to other marriages; she had one more, he had two. At least they had Disneyland.

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my main website.

Screen Gem Saturdays: Happy (Early) Birthday, Rosalind Russell

In honor of Rosalind Russell's upcoming birthday, I am posting a photo from her 1942 on-set celebration.



From the publicity blurb:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rosalind Russell, who celebrated her birthday (June 4, 1942) recently by working all day at Columbia in "My Sister Eileen" shuts her eyes to make a wish as she cuts the cake presented to her by Director Al Hall ad the cast. Left to right, Donald McBride, Shirley Temple, Allyn Joslyn, Miss Russell, Al Hall, Gordon Jones, Janet Blair and Richard Quine.

Shirley Temple was in between films, so apparently had some time on her hands. As shown in a previous post, she made the rounds at Columbia that day, visiting Fred Astaire & Rita Hayworth (filming "You Were Never Lovelier"):



Former director Alexander Hall ("Little Miss Marker"), who is probably glad that the grown-up Shirley is not sitting on his lap.



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

Screen Gem Saturdays: Shirley Temple visits Columbia Studios

Shirley Temple‘s first “retirement” was at the ripe old age of 12. After one minor film for MGM, she did an even more minor effort entitled, “Miss Annie Rooney,” released May 29, 1942, which was most notable as her very first on-screen kiss (which amounted to little more than a chaste kiss on the cheek). Of this low-budget film, Variety said: “Shirley is still a conscientious worker in any film that comes her way, even though her appeal remains limited to less sophisticated tastes.” The New Yorker: “not much, about not much.” The New York Times: “‘Miss Annie Rooney’ is a very little picture. In fact, it is a very grim little picture....Meanwhile, couldn’t Miss Temple be kept in school for just a little while?”

What do you do after you get reviews like that? How about visit another film studio, surround yourself with hot celebrities, and get a blurb written about yourself in the press! That’s exactly what Shirley did as she toured Columbia Studio on June 20, 1942. First up was on onset visit for the film “You Were Never Lovelier” (released November 19, 1942) with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, directed by William Seiter (who directed Shirley in “Dimples,” “Stowaway,” “The Little Princess,” and “Susannah of the Mounties). Rita does not look too happy about being left out of this particular dance step.



On the set of “My Sister Eileen” (released September 24, 1942), Shirley posed with Director Alexander Hall (who directed Shirley in “Little Miss Marker” back in 1934) and a less-than-thrilled looking Rosalind Russell.



Here are Shirley and Hall together again after their previous film eight years beforehand:



Shirley did make a triumphant comeback under the guidance of David O. Selznick two years later, but in the meantime, she lived the life of a normal teenager.

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.