Temple Tuesday: More Marilyn

In this publicity still for Shirley Temple’s 1935 film, “Curly Top,” her first stand-in, Marilyn Granas, can be seen standing next to Shirley on the left side of the photo. This was one of the few times that Marilyn got any actual screen time in a Shirley movie.



A year before, she posed for this still taken during the making of “Bright Eyes.”



From the accompanying caption:

FRIENDS — Shirley Temple, helmeted, and Marilyn Granas, her stand-in and playmate, about to take “Rags” out for a promenade along dressing room row at the Fox Film studio where Shirley is now engaged on “Bright Eyes.”

If Rags looks familiar, that’s because you probably recall her (yes, her) playing Toto in “The Wizard of Oz.” Shirley met him before Judy did! Below is a shot of Marilyn when I met her in 2018 at a little get together in Los Angeles commemorating what would have been Shirley Temple’s 90th birthday.



You can read more about that evening from my previous blog post.

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: A Girl and her Dog

Shirley Temple was many things, including an animal lover. This two September 1937 images shows her holding her dog Ching-Ching at her Rockingham Avenue home. Thanks to Melissa T. (aka “The Colonel”) for the second photo!



Shirley met the little Pekingese who played a small role in her 1936 movie “Stowaway.” After filming was over, Shirley was given the dog and renamed him “Ching-Ching” after her character in the movie. The dog who played “Mr. Woo” is shown here in this still:



Despite the W.C. Fields quote “Never work with animals or children,” Shirley was able to hold her own in every movie, thank you very much.



Didja’ know department: Shirley’s dog in the movie “Bright Eyes” was none other than Terry the Cairn Terrier, aka Toto in “The Wizard of Oz.” Sorry Judy; Shirley had him first!



How about this adorable still of Shirley with a dog in 1935’s “The Little Colonel”?



In 1938’s “Just Around the Corner,” Shirley assists Joan Davis in the dog grooming department of her apartment building:



Today’s post is Willis approved.



See more Shirley photos at my main website.

Forever Friday

My adventures with Jersey Girl Melissa, aka “The Colonel,” weren't just limited to Shirley. We also paid a visit to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to see the relatively recent “reburial” site of Judy Garland. But first, let's pay our respects to Mickey Rooney, Judy’s on-screen partner.



Right near by was the final replacing of Toto. Or was it? Here's the inscription:

This monument is dedicated to the memory of the beloved Toto from the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz.” Owner and Trainer Carl Spitz buried the Cairn Terrier on his ranch in Studio City. The 1958 construction of the Ventura Freeway destroyed her resting place.

Damn freeways! They ruin everything.



Here lies Irene Guadagno, aka “Mama Irene”: Not only was she perfect, she was Italian.



The crypt of Silent Screen idol Rudolph Valentino in the Cathedral Mausoleum:



One of the many beautiful stained glass windows that brightens up this otherwise dreary building.



And then we arrived at our main destination…



The Judy Garland Pavilion:



Judy’s family had her moved from New York to Hollywood so that the entire family could "rest" together.



Apparently Judy’s financial woes continue to plague her in the after-life; her fans just want to help.



For somewhere around $25k, you can buy a shelf with a view of Judy.



I wonder if Judy's kids get any of that money?

See more Hollywood Forever photos at my main website.

The Wizard of Oz enters the Third Dimension

When I read that "The Wizard of Oz" was being converted to 3D, I will admit I was skeptical. I'm not a fan of messing with films and changing what was originally shown to the public. I had also read all of the complaints and nasty comments made ahead of time (by those who hadn't seen this new version of "Oz," I might add), but still wanted to give it a chance. It's my very favorite movie of all time, and the few times that it has been re-released to theaters, I have made sure I was there to see it on the big screen. Last night, I attended an IMAX screening and not only was I pleasantly surprised, I was blown away. It is hard to comprehend without seeing it in person, but this (almost) 75-year old film looks as if it were shot just the other day. The rotoscoping that was done to achieve the 3D look is virtually flawless. From the moment the titles appear in their original sepia-toned glory, you can tell this is going to be a treat.



My first "wow" was being able to see the lettering on the incubator at the Gale Farm. The restoration that was done from the original negatives brings out a clarity that I had never witnessed before. There are only a few times that this clarity slightly detracts from the experience (being able to see the wig caps of some of the Munchkins is an example that comes to mind), but not enough to truly spoil the movie.



It is hard to believe that the movie's signature song, "Over The Rainbow" was almost deleted before the film's release. It is such a touching rendition of true emotion; it is no wonder that Judy Garland became a sensation after the public saw it. Her natural performance, completely free of artifice, holds the movie together. Without her, the movie would lose its anchor.



My one disappointment in the new version was the soundtrack, and I have a feeling this was partially the fault of the theater. The bass could have really used a boost, especially in the tornado sequence and the fire-bomb appearances of the Wicked Witch. I am guessing that the theater I saw it at did not want to cause any spillover to their other movies being shown in the multi-plex, as my home theater system exhibited a lot more action from the subwoofer in these very same segments of the movie.



In the clarity and 3D of the new version, the tornado sequence still manages to pack a wallop. The fright of navigating the wind and swirling objects becomes palpable.



And just when you think it couldn't get any better, Dorothy lands in Oz and enters the glorious world of Technicolor.



Because the original negatives for the Technicolor portions still exist, there is an even larger boost of detail that is discernible to the eye. It was interesting to hear the audience react to the film in the theater, too. The Lollipop Guild got huge laughs for their comedic song.



The Witch will always remain one of my favorite parts of the film; Margaret Hamilton scares the crap out of viewers, and I am sure she is partially responsible for the film's new PG rating!



When the ruby slippers are first shown, they literally jump off of the screen when Judy first models them.



The Emerald City sparkles as well, with the green lights illuminating the holes that were cut into the matte painting created for the background. The 3D effect even gives depth to the fantastic art deco influenced backgrounds.



The 3D effect is best towards the end when the gang is stuck inside the Witch's Castle. You can truly feel the size of the place as they race through the labyrinth of the Witch's Lair.



And there are the unsung heroes/heroines of the film who don't get quite as much recognition, such as Toto, played by Terry, the Cairn Terrier.



And Frank Morgan, who plays a plethora of roles in the movie, each one of them with perfect comic timing and tenderness.



I guarantee you'll hate for this movie to end; it truly transports you through the new technology which actually seems so natural. Never at any time did I feel that the movie had crossed the line into being gimmicky.



See more "Wizard of Oz" photos on my Judy Garland web page.

Screen Gem Saturdays: Shirley had Toto first!

Terry, a Cairn Terrier, is probably best known for her gender-bending role of Toto in the 1939 classic, "The Wizard of Oz," but her first major role was in the 1934 Shirley Temple movie "Bright Eyes." In that movie, Terry played Rags, the lovable companion to Shirley.

Terry was trained and owned by Hollywood dog trainer, Carl Spitz. Spitz developed the method of using silent hand signals to direct an animal. Spitz was a German immigrant and student of Colonel Konrad Most, widely considered to be "The Father of Dog Training in America." Carl opened the Hollywood Dog Training School in 1927. Carl Spitz would later go on to become the man responsible for setting up America's WWII War-Dog Program.

Terry, who did her own stunts, almost lost her life during the filming of The Wizard of Oz when one of the Winkie guards accidentally stepped on her, breaking her foot. She spent two weeks recuperating at Judy Garland's residence, and Garland developed a close attachment with her. A second dog had to be used while Terry healed. Garland wanted to adopt her, but Spitz refused.

Her salary, $125 per week, was more than that of many human actors in the film (the Singer Midgets who played the Munchkins reportedly received $50 to $100 a week), and also more than many working Americans at the time. She attended the premiere of "The Wizard of Oz" at Grauman's Chinese Theater; because of the popularity of the film, her name was changed to Toto in 1942. Her last film was "Tortilla Flat" (1942), in which she was reunited with Oz director, Victor Fleming, and the "Wizard", Frank Morgan.

Altogether, Terry appeared in 13 different films. Terry died just after the end of World War II on September 1, 1945, (at about age 10 or 11), in Hollywood, and was laid to rest in a pet burial area behind the Spitz's residence & kennel. During the expansion of the Ventura Freeway in Los Angeles, the property was obtained by Caltrans for construction purposes. The facility and the small burial grounds were razed.

On June 18, 2011 a permanent memorial for Toto was dedicated at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Carl Spitz (1894-1976) is buried in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery



Terry was the first major cast member from "The Wizard Of Oz" to die; Frank Morgan (Professor Marvel & The Wizard) died next in 1949.

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

Dorothy & Toto

This 16"x20" acrylic painting of Judy Garland as Dorothy from MGM’s “The Wizard of Oz” is painted using white and my favorite shade of blue. Makes for nice shading. And yes, this one’s still for sale.

See more of my art at my main website.