Hello Again,
I was inspired by reaction to a recent blog of mine to share some history about "the biz". All info can be found in multiple sources, and none is gossip or heresy. You could win a bar bet with some of these facts:
The only reason Paulette Goddard didn't play Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind was that she couldn't produce a certificate that stated that she was actually married to Charlie Chaplin. Society's morals were much different in 1939, and Producer David O. Selznik was worried about public backlash.
The lead role in 1967's The Graduate was first offered to Bobby Vinton. When his agent read the outline, he snickered, and refused on his client's behalf without even taking it to him. Soon after, Mr. Vinton had a new agent.
Joan Crawford appeared on a few episodes of General Hospital, filling in for her daughter Christina, who had a regular role in the 60s.
Gilligan's Island would have had a fourth season and a farewell episode if not for the wife of CBS Chairman William S. Paley. The former Tiffany Network had plans to cancel Gunsmoke, Mrs. Paley's favorite show. She talked her husband into keeping it on, and the castaways became a casualty of that decision.
The earliest known movie star to die at the peak of his popularity was a man named John Bunny. He passed away in 1915, and his silents were among the most popular attractions at the time. His son, John Bunny Jr, had an acting career of his own, and died in 1971.
The teaming of Laurel & Hardy was perhaps Hollywood's happiest accident. Early in their film careers, both were playing serious roles, with Stan being promoted as a matinee idol, and Ollie had steady work playing gangsters & thugs. One day on the Mack Sennett lot, someone didn't show up for a shoot for scenes with Laurel, Hardy was walking around the lot to see if any work was available, and out of desparation, was asked to fill in. The rest, as they say, is history. The site today is a Public Storage lot, just west of Dodger Stadium.
The original Rin Tin Tin is buried in the backyard of a private residence in Century City, near the 20th Century Fox lot.
The old RKO Pictures globe can still be seen on the southwest corner of a Paramount soundstage at the corner of Melrose & Gower.
During the filming of The Misfits, his final film, Clark Gable was angered by Marilyn Monroe's constantly showing up late and holding up production for one hang-up or another. He told a reporter that kissing her was like kissing Hitler.
During the brief time that he owned MGM, Ted Turner wanted to revive the movie newsreel. When told how much it would cost, he abandoned the idea.
Thanks for reading. As Always, Anne Alogy