Alla Nazimova 75 Years -- July 13, 2020

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Actress Alla Nazimova died 75 years ago today, on 13-July-1945. She was born in Russia and came to America early in the 20th Century.  After starring on Broadway, she moved to motion pictures.  She had some huge  hits, but two of her later starring films, which she had produced and financed, were flops and wiped out her fortune. 

Moving Picture World, 23-August-1919

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Yul Brynner 100 -- July 11, 2020

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Actor Yul Brynner was born 100 years ago today, on 11-July-1920.  I remember him playing the King in King and I in the movie and over and over again on stage.  I thought he seemed a bit stuck-up, but he could be very effective. My wife loves hearing the story of the way Steve McQueen tormented him on the set of The Magnificent Seven. 

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Tennis, Anyone? -- July 9, 2020

Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, 09-July-1920

Movie stars Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks toured Great Britain, visiting Wimbledon, where they met tennis stars Suzanne Lenglen and Big Bill Tilden.

Sick Abed -- July 7, 2020

Memphis News-Scimitar, 29-July-1920

Patient Wallace Reid feigns illness so he can spend time with pretty nurse Bebe Daniels.  The program at the Strand Theater in Memphis included "Cleaning Up," a short comedy starring Al St John. 

Ennio Morricone, RIP -- July 6, 2020

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Composer Ennio Morricone, who wrote many of the best film soundtracks, has died.   I first learned who he was when I saw Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns.

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The New Comedy King -- July 5, 2020

Leavenworth, Washington Echo, 02-Jul-1920

This item touts Larry Semon as "The New Comedy King."  

Independence Day, 2020 -- July 4, 2020

Happy Independence Day, everyone.

Beautiful actress, dancer and singer Rita Hayworth lights a cannon. Her original name was Margarita Cansino. She began performing in the family's dance act at an early age. At Columbia Pictures, she became a big star and a popular pin-up. She made some very interesting movies including The Lady From Shanghai, with her husband Orson Welles, Gilda and Blood and Sand.

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