Janet Leigh at Pacific Ocean Park

During a break in the filming of “Who Was That Lady?” Janet Leigh took her daughter Kelly Curtis to Pacific Ocean Park (1958-1967) in Santa Monica. The film was released in February 1960, so these shots could have been from 1959. Note the little circus wagon in the first photo.

To keep Kelly company, little Greg Champion (son of dancers Marge and Gower Champion) joined the fun.

That ice cream bar sure looks good.

Was this a studio arranged publicity shot opportunity, or did the paparazzi just happen to stumble upon Janet and kids? I’m guessing #1. Poor little Jamie Lee, born in November 1958, was apparently too young to go to the Park that day with her mom and sister. Maybe this is what triggered the babysitting issues in “Halloween.” 

This gent has hit the jackpot; he has spotted a genuine movie star!

I wonder what was up ahead?

Perhaps a scary clown? Or just another pesky photographer.

See more Janet Leigh photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Changing the Curls and Red Skelton

In the 1930’s, Shirley Temple reigned supreme. Everything she did was reported in the papers for a public that just could not get enough of Shirley. The blonde curls that adorned her crown were her signature, as seen in this adorable photo from “Bright Eyes,” 1934. By 1937, Shirley was growing up, and it was time for a (gasp) change. “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” was the first film to debut this new look for Shirley, and just to make sure the public wouldn’t throw a riot, the film showed both hairdos. 

From an October 30, 1937 publicity blurb:

SHIRLEY TEMPLE GETS NEW COIFFURE

The golden curls of Shirley Temple will go rural for “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” her new picture. The famous locks will be brushed back and tied with ribbons behind her ears for the farmyard scenes of the picture. It will be the first time in her career that her famous coiffure will be altered—and it will only be for less than a quarter of the picture. Here you see the screen’s little darling and her new hair-comb.

At the beginning of the film, Shirley wears her signature hairdo, hidden under her hat:

Once Shirley’s unpacked, the first thing that goes is the old hairdo. Helen Westley (as Aunt Miranda) attempts to appease the public’s wrath with this line: “As long as you live here, you’ll wear your hair this way.” “I like it!” Shirley cheerfully replies. “It’s so nice and cool!”

It truly was a lot about nothing; regardless of what the public thought, Shirley wasn’t changing back. Just to make that fact clear, in her next film, “Little Miss Broadway,” there is a scene early in the movie where Shirley’s character is getting ready for bed, assisted by the daughter (Phyllis Brooks) of the man who just adopted her. “I used to have curls all over my head, once,” Shirley tells her. “That must have been lovely,” replies Brooks. “Yes,” sighs Shirley, “but they were lots of trouble!” And that was that!

In the book “The Westmores of Hollywood,” by Frank Westmore and Muriel Davidson, they state that Shirley’s curls came from their family’s makeup dynasty. Bullcrap. True, father George Westmore created the long sausage curls that 20-something Mary Pickford wore that helped her look much younger, but Shirley’s hair and hairstyle owed everything to her mother Gertrude. Although George had six children involved in the movie business, the only one with a movie credit in common with Shirley was Perc, who worked on “The Story of Seabiscuit” (1949).

While working on this post, I stumbled upon a website that showed photos of little Shirley with her teeth...and with her veneers:

The photos show Shirley in 1936. She lost her baby teeth, just like any child, but was never photographed with any teeth missing. Dr. Charles Pincus, who graduated from USC, was responsible for inventing the “Hollywood Veneer,” a removable snap-on cap that covered just the front of unsightly teeth or spaces. The caps were worn by Shirley for filming and public appearances, but they were only temporary, and had to be removed daily when eating, chewing, or sleeping. 

In other Shirley news, I stumbled upon this YouTube video that the Red Skelton Museum uploaded last month, which shows the September 24, 1963 episode with Shirley. So much fun! Shirley has a hard time not cracking up at Skelton’s antics, yet her charm and star power had not diminished one bit. In the one comedy sketch where she plays a snooty debutante, she is loads of fun. She also has a musical number set in 1863 by the seashore, “By The Sea.” Her voice is pleasant and not surprisingly, she doesn’t miss a step in the dance routine.

See more Shirley photos at my main website.

Monday Miscellany

Today it’s back to the Palm Springs Biltmore Hotel, with a 1950’s color shot of singer/actor Tony Martin and his dancer/actress wife, Cyd Charisse. Get a load of that watch/jewelry on her wrist! Like any MGM star, Charisse was glamorous even off hours. Note the perfect manicure!

Martin was first married to Alice Faye from 1937-1941. His 1948 marriage to Charisse lasted until she died in 2008.

Back in San Diego, I found myself downtown near the Hotel Churchill and shot a few of these ground level shots. Here’s the vintage postcard I posted previously:

…and my contemporary shots. Not surprisingly, the surrounding area has changed and been built-up over the years.

It’s all in the details; for me, at least.

See more photos at my main website.

A Dip in the Disneyland Hotel Pool

As we get closer to summer and temperatures continue to rise, a dip in the pool sounds mighty good. How about the one at the Disneyland Hotel? This February 1959 image shows some suits standing at the edge of it, ignoring the beauty of the blue waters. What are those pink and aqua curtains?

At the entry area to the pool, you would have seen this sign for the Coral Club, which explains those exclusive little curtained cabanas in the previous shot:

10am to 6pm? There goes my early morning swim.

See more Disneyland Hotel photos at my main website.

Hump Day on a Pack Mule

Just when I think I’m completely jaded as far as vintage Disneyland goes, a previously unseen view will pop up for sale. Such was the case with this August 1960 image, which a guest took while riding a pack mule, or possibly waiting for one. Nothing like a rear view of a mule and its rider to start your day. I wonder if the White Wings had a Frontierland gang to take care of those “accidents” along the way?

Here’s the next sequential shot in the duo of images; our photographer turned around to get this one:

Anybody need Blacksmithing or Wagon Repair? Just head on over to Rainbow Ridge:

This previously posted image from January 1965 gives you an overview of the area you have just seen.

As does this one from February 1964:

See more vintage Disneyland Pack Mule photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley Gets Spanked!

This photo shows a very muddy little Shirley Temple in the 1937 John Ford directed film “Wee Willie Winkie.” Don’t look too hard for this scene, as you won’t find it. Deleted before it was released, it’s one of those gems that one wishes still existed. In the set still below, you can see the area where it occurred.

Even a mud puddle needs art direction.

Ford appears to be on the right of this shot when you zoom in:

What happened after Shirley got muddy? She also played in Mrs. Allardyce’s (Constance Collier) petunia garden. Bad Shirley.

This scene no longer exists either, but thanks to this set still, we know where the gossipy Mrs. Allardyce had her garden.

Naturally, she got spanked by her mother, played by June Lang.

Not to be found in the finished movie, it too was deleted. How could anyone spank Shirley?!?

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Marmont Monday: Room 44

I actually finished my taxes early so that I could squeeze in another stay at the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. As my readers know, this place is my addiction. I was pretty stoked to have a room I had not stayed in before.

There were so many things that raced through my mind when I saw this on the notepad in my room:

One of the first things I did was to take a photo in the same area Anthony Perkins did back in the 1960’s:

Willis had to be front and center. Of course I am wearing my Disneyland Hauntd Mansion Fandana from Going to Guides’ etsy shop.

There were still signs of the pandemic. The garage was still self-park, which makes me somewhat nervous. I don’t know how the valets do it, as the spaces are tight as hell.

Occupancy was still being held to 25%. These branded floor stickers for distancing were in the common spaces:

The living room area restaurant was still lovely, but also still closed.

Typical Willis while at the Chateau: don’t bother me. I’m enjoying the bed.

Typical Willis #2 at the Chateau: give me treats from the table.

It was great to see Amanda and Kamy, who I had not seen at the same time since their wedding a little over a year ago. If Willis looks annoyed, it’s because even though there were more people at the table with us, the treats did not increase exponentially.

Every morning began with a swim in the pool.

I assume the unicorn was to keep the waters pure for the safety of the guests.

Willis was very well behaved while I did my laps.

The view from my room was fab, whether it was day:

Or night:

Breakfast during the week had to be room service. I can deal with that.

…especially with my little buddy beside me.

See more Chateau Marmont photos at my main website.