Temple Tuesday: Celebrating Abe

In honor of what would have been Abraham Lincoln’s 210th birthday, today’s Temple Tuesday post honors the nation’s 16th President with two instances of where Shirley and Abe’s lives intersected. Well, in the land of make believe at least.

In 1935, Shirley had one of her biggest hits with “The Littlest Rebel.” Set during the Civil War, her character begged Lincoln to pardon her father from being hanged. I don’t even need to tell you what the result was. The first photo today shows Frank McGlynn signing Shirley’s autograph book between scenes. McGlynn’s resemblance to the President is uncanny.

Six years later, Shirley appeared on the CBS Lux Radio Theatre in their adaptation of “The Littlest Rebel.” No longer a little child, it didn’t matter as nobody could see her on the radio anyway (shades of Woody Allen’s “Radio Days.” If you’ve seen it, you’ll know what I’m talking about). Airing on October 14, McGlynn and Temple were the only actors that appeared in both the film AND the radio version. Here’s a rare shot of the performance:



A close-up of Shirley:



The cast also featured Preston Foster (as the Northern Colonel), Bea Benaderet (“Petticoat Junction”), and Leigh Whipper. Claude Rains can be seen seated in the chair, taking over the role of Shirley’s father (played by John Boles in the movie version). Rains is probably best known as the cynical police chief Captain Renault in “Casablanca” ("round up the usual suspects").



Hosted by Cecil B. DeMille, this turned out to be Shirley's only full-length radio dramatization.

See more teen Shirley photos at my main website.

Savannah Union Station

It’s always hard for me to imagine that a building as grand as the Savannah Union Station is no more. Designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn (Augusta Georgia’s Union Station designer as well), the 1902 Spanish Renaissance and Elizabethan structure was demolished in 1962 to make room for Interstate 16’s exit ramps. Oh the indignity. At least there are some images of the grandeur that used to be.

Here’s an interior shot of the building’s octagonal rotunda, which served as the general waiting room.



A few detailed views of what appears to be a fountain:



…and the building’s newsstand:



Today, a gas station occupies the land. Ugh.

See more Savannah, Georgia photos at my main website.

Fremont Street District Neon

Las Vegas looks completely different at night as opposed to how it appears during the day. The Fremont Street District is no exception. Walking around the one night I stayed here, I found myself snapping vintage neon every block and going further and further away...until my Spidey sense began to tingle and I returned to the hotel. I usually listen to my Spidey sense.



I don't know what it is about vintage neon that gets to me. Maybe the retro-ness of it...the soothing glow...the saturated colors...



Atomic cocktails...do they come with a dose of radiation?



Bring your llama!



He’s not neon, but I got a kick out of this "person" climbing up the pole.



An old gas station has been converted into the Empty Club.



Yup. It’s empty alright.



Night:



vs. Day:



See more Fremont Street photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley & Eleanor

At the peak of her childhood fame, visitors flocked to the 20th Century-Fox soundstages to meet Shirley Temple. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was not exception to the rule. She visited Shirley in March 1938 during the filming of the courtroom scenes from “Little Miss Broadway.”

“FIRST LADY” VISITS SHIRLEY TEMPLE

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF.: The “First Lady of the Land” met the “First Lady of Hollywood” and discussed such important subjects as geography and grandchildren. The meeting came when Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, touring the film capital, expressed her desire to see Shirley Temple, 8-year-old 20th Century-Fox star. Mrs. Roosevelt stopped at a set to watch the child star do a dance number with comedian Jimmy Durante — after which the “First Lady” and Shirley chatted for ten minutes. 3-17-38

The number Temple and Durante was filming, “Hop, Skip, Jump and Slide” was ultimately deleted from the movie.



Amazingly enough, the footage still exists today:



A previously posted shot of another visitor to the courtroom set, Joan Crawford. Her meeting with Shirley occurred while the grand finale/title song was being filmed.



It’s amazing Shirley got all her work done with all of these famous people interrupting filming!

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Fremont Street District, Pt. 1

Fremont Street has the distinction of being the first paved street in Las Vegas. Before “The Strip” took over, this was the area where most movies and TV shows filmed when they were using Las Vegas as a location, including “Viva Las Vegas,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” and “Vegas Vacation.”



The neon cowboy in this shot is known as Vegas Vic. Although his home, the Pioneer Club, is no longer a casino, this Las Vegas icon has survived since 1951, although I don’t believe he is turned on anymore. Some of the better known clubs still in existence include Four Queens:



and Binion’s:



As part of a program to renovate this downtown Las Vegas area, the “Fremont Street Experience” was created at the western end of Fremont Street in 1995.



If you like to live life for the thrills, how about the SlotZilla Zip Line?



Eating at White Castle could provide a different type of thrill:



Stay tuned: more Fremont Street on the way!



See more Fremont Street photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Alice on the Set

Shirley Temple’s 1936 blockbuster, “Poor Little Rich Girl” also served as a launching pad for Alice Faye. Still in her Jean Harlow phase, Alice hadn’t really come into her own just yet. Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot of Alice wearing the same costume from the still above when Shirley sings “You’ve Gotta Eat Your Spinach.”



JUST ONCE MORE, ALICE - - Director Irving Cummings lends a bit of moral support to Alice Faye before she sings a number for the 20th Century-Fox production of “The Poor Little Rich Girl”, starring Shirley Temple.

Alice does not look very excited at the thought of one more take.



IT’S THE SMILE THAT COUNTS. - - Alice Faye, appearing in the 20th Century-Fox production of “The Poor Little Rich Girl” with Shirley Temple, rehearses a bit of dialogue with Director Irving Cummings and the script girl.



At first glance, one might think that’s Shirley in the background, but my guess (based on the non-movie specific outfit and shape of her face) is that it’s Shirley’s stand-in, Mary Lou Isleib.



Care to see the script? Or Alice’s cigarette?



“Stowaway” was the last Temple film for Faye. After it was released, it was realized that she could hold a picture on her own, thank you very much! As a gift for playing support to Shirley in two movies, Alice was gifted the lead in “In Old Chicago” and became the leading Fox Blonde until Betty Grable took over.



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Old School Vegas at the El Cortez

Although it's a quick easy trip for me, Las Vegas is not one of my favorite destinations. Once you've seen the faux-chitecture of The Strip and the sad-looking people spending their last dollars on the slots, there's really not much else to go back for. It just feels like someone sucked the soul out of it. Still, it can be a great backdrop for a photo shoot (more on that later). Deciding to do something different, I went “old school” and stayed at the El Cortez, a hotel and casino near downtown Las Vegas and a block from the Fremont Street Experience (more on that later, too). In a city where things really don’t last, this place has continuously operated at the same location since 1941. Compare and contrast with the vintage photo below. It’s almost like time stood still.



The hotel quickly became so profitable that mobster Bugsy Siegel decided to muscle in on the property in 1945 and bought it from owner John Kell Houssels, who turned around a year later and purchased the hotel back from Siegel's group in 1946.

The hotel’s restaurant is named after Siegel. If you know much about this guy’s life, you would probably think twice about eating here just based on the name alone.



The food is actually pretty good, as I ate a late-night dinner here.



The decor is also right up my alley and really evokes the Rat Pack/mobster vibe you might expect.



While I understand the origin of the homage, naming your restaurant after a known killer/mobster and placing a picture of him and his moll in the dining room seems a bit in poor taste. But then again, it’s Vegas.



The hotel’s signature neon arrow, marquee, and large roof sign were installed in 1952. They still burn brightly today. Well, give or take a letter.



A vintage auto greets guests as they enter the nicotine-scented lobby/casino. I hadn't smelled that much cigarette smoke in years. The lady in line behind me at check-in was barely able to stand for the emphysema that riddled her body. Welcome to Vegas.



The suite I had rented for the night was large and decorated with flair; still, the fact that there was a $250 deposit for the in-room jacuzzi made me decided I shouldn't go anywhere near it. Why would the deposit cost more than the room itself?!?



What happens in the jacuzzi can stay in that jacuzzi...



Would I stay here again? Perhaps. For the money though, compared to the Strip, this place is a steal.

See more El Cortez photos at my main website.

The Hotel Vertigo

Where does an Alfred Hitchcock fan stay when visiting San Francisco? The Hotel Vertigo, of course!



That's right; this is the very same location that we see Kim Novak leaning out the window in Hitchcock’s classic 1957 film “Vertigo.” The exterior really hasn't changed too much over the years.



Inside, the decor and colors are definitely influenced by the movie’s poster.





When you see an interior room, you can tell that Hitchcock did his best to re-create the same layout on a soundstage.



If only the rooms came with a green night light; THAT would be a cool touch!



If you hate the color orange, this hotel may not be for you.



Other film inspired details throughout the rooms abound:





No visit to the Hotel Vertigo would be complete without a few stairwell shots:





All kidding aside, would I recommend this place? I sure would. For price, location, and cleanliness, this place is a real value!

See more Hotel Vertigo photos at my main website.