Carole Lombard: Class, Beauty, Comedienne extraordinaire. And the Hoosier Tornado.
Lombard was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, known as the Hoosier State. Although she only lived there until the age of six before moving to what would become the movie capitol of the world, her family definitely had an impact on the community.
Carole was born on October 6, 1908. Her first home was a two story wood and brick house located at 704 Rockhill Street. The house was quite nice, as the Peters - Lombard's birth name was Jane Alice Peters - were of the upper-middle class. In fact, I recently discovered that the house still stands and you can visit it!
Above is a screenshot from Google Maps that shows the house as it currently looks. It was recently repainted, as shots from the side street are older and show it in a blue color. It's a lot larger than in looks from the front!
The house is owned by Cora and Rick Brandt and is a Bed & Breakfast. It is not currently operating but if you are in the area you can email the owners and they will show it to you. I'm guessing it will open up again in the future.
The furnishings in the house are not the original pieces, but the house has been decorated in a 1940s style and its' walls are covered in photos of Lombard, her family, and Clark Gable. You can see several pictures of the interior by someone who actually got to stay there when it was open as a B&B. Click here to view them.
Even as a young child, movies were an important part of little Jane's life, as she frequently attended the nearby theater with her mother Bessie. However, the most exciting event happened in 1913 when there was a major flood in the area over the Easter weekend. As the Peters home was located on a high hill, it became a command post for the area, with Bessie and her children helping with relief for those affected. Over the course of the flood, 5,500 houses and businesses were damaged and 15,000 people were left homeless. The work Bessie did to help made her a hero in the eyes of her children and the bridge over the Saint Marys River next to the house now bears the Lombard name. Here are some photos of the actual flood. You can read a day-to-day account from the newspapers here.
After months of waiting, the Carole Lombard: The Profane Angel Blogathon has at last arrived!!!For the next three days, many of us Classic Movie Bloggers will be honoring the memory of the "Queen of Screwball," the "Profane Angel," the "Hoosier Tornado," the one and only: Carole Lombard. Taken from us far to soon, this revolutionary actress is beloved by many and it is because of her legacy to film that Crystal of In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and I are honoring her on the 75th anniversary of her death. With posts ranging from her films, her husbands, her legacy, and her Patriotism, it promises to be an amazing three days. So without further ado, THE POSTS:
"I hope Robert doesn't find out he wasn't my first choice..."
A Shroud of Thoughts tells us what happens when the Master of Suspense and the Screwball Queen get together to make Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941).
Past Posts:
Here is a post I wrote for the Hot and Bothered Blogathon on Sinners in the Sun (1932) starring Lombard, Chester Morris, and in one of his early rolls - Cary Grant.
This year I watched 275 new-to-me movies and 46 movies that were rewatches.
New to me: 276 (191 pre-1970, 54 post-1970)
Rewatches: 46 (24 pre-1970, 22 post-1970)
Total: 322 (215 pre-1970, 76 post-1970)
Where I watched them: 284
TCM: 141 (7 rewatches)
Library: 50 (9 rewatches)
Personal DVD: 48 + 1 VHS (26 rewatches)
YouTube: 15
Netflix: 30 (4 rewatches)
Other (Redbox, website): 4
Here are my top ten movie discoveries:
1/4: Make Your Own Bed (1944) - Jack Carson & Jane Wyman, Alan Hale
2/2: Until They Sail (1957) - Jean Simmons & Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Joan Fontaine, Sandra Dee
4/30: The Uninvited (1944) - Ray Milland & Gail Russell, Ruth Hussey
6/5: Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942) - Cary Grant & Ginger Rogers
7/21: Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry (1955) - Edmund Gwenn & Mildred Natwick, Shirley MacLaine & John Forsythe
8/9: Casino Royale (2006) - Daniel Craig & Eva Green - I know this is a modern movie but it was so amazing I had to include it :)
9/8: Mister 880 (1950) - Burt Lancaster & Dorothy McGuire, Edmund Gwenn
9/9: She Couldn't Say No (1954) - Robert Mitchum & Jean Simmons (this one's still on my dvr because it's NOT on dvd!!!)
11/12: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - Paul Newman & Robert Redford
12/23: Love Letters (1945) - Joseph Cotten & Jennifer Jones
Today's gown is one of those unique gowns that could only come out of the swinging sixties and Natalie Wood is the one who wears it.
Designed by Edith Head, the dress features a strapless sheath covered with a shift dress made of sheer, decorative, windowpane fabric. The front of the dress falls to the knee with the shift extending in the back to a small train. The gown also features a square neck and three-quarter length sleeves.
Natalie catches the groom with one of the guests.
The veil is a typical 1960s style with a small dome-shaped head piece covered with flowers. The short attached tulle veil also has flowers sprinkled over it.
The film is in color and this lobby card shows the detail of the fabric.
This photo shows the bridesmaids in pale pink with bouffant hair-styles.
The bride and groom cutting the cake.
The dress today. Note the empire waist of the shift.
While there were many deaths in the year 2016, as of the beginning of December there were no major classic movie stars on the list (I define classic as pre-1970) - however, there were a great many television stars. But as is usually the case, December brought with it the death of not one but two beloved stars: Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, and one day later, her mother Debbie Reynolds.
Below are the other stars we lost this year from both film and television:
Jan. 13 - Brian Bedford: Known mostly as the voice of Disney's Robin Hood (1973). Also appeared in Grand Prix (1966).
Feb. 28 - George Kennedy: Started out with lots of guest rolls on television programs as the "bad guy." Notable films include Charade (1963), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), In Harm's Way (1965), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Cool Hand Luke (1967), and Cahill U.S. Marshall (1973).
Mar. 6 - Nancy Reagan (Nancy Davis): Starred in Hellcats of the Navy (1957) alongside Ronald Reagan - and married him.
Mar. 10 - Ken Adam: Production designer who worked on films Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Dr. Strangelove (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and several James Bond films.
Mar. 24 - Earl Hamner Jr: Writer for The Twilight Zone (1959-64).
Mar. 29 - Patty Duke: Famous for playing twin cousins on The Patty Duke Show (1963-66) and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962). Mother of Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, Lord of the Rings).
Apr. 23 - Madeleine Sherwood: Best remembered for playing Jack Carson's wife in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). Also played Mother Superior on The Flying Nun (1967-70).
May 1 - Madeleine LeBeau: French actress and last surviving cast member of Casablanca (1942) - Yvonne.
May 19 - Alan Young: Remembered most as Wilbur from Mr. Ed (1961-66) and the voice of Disney's Scrooge McDuck. Also appeared alongside Rod Taylor in The Time Machine (1960).
June 12 - Janet Waldo: Voice of Judy Jetson. Also had a role in Waterloo Bridge (1940) and appeared in several episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1953-66).
June 14 - Ann Morgan Guilbert: Boloved as Millie Helper from The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66).
July 24 - Marni Nixon: Vocals dubber for Deborah Kerr in The King and I (1956) and An Affair to Remember (1957), for Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961), and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1964). Also had a small part as Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music (1965).
July 30 - Gloria DeHaven: Known for The Thin Man Goes Home (1945) and Summer Holiday (1948). Also, FALSELY listed as a young Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee from The Andy Griffith Show) all over the internet with this photo.
Aug. - Jack Riley: Regular on The Bob Newhart Show (1972-78).
Aug. 28 - Gene Wilder: Beloved character in many Mel Brooks films and as Willie Wonka (1971).
Sept. 5 - Hugh O'Brian: Known for The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955-61). Also appeared in Come Fly with Me (1963), Ten Little Indians (1965) and The Shootist (1976).
Sept. 17 - Charmian Carr: Beloved as Liesl in The Sound of Music (1965). Look for my review of her book, Forever Liesl: A Memoir of "The Sound of Music" in the upcoming month.
Oct. 11 - Patricia Barry: Guest star on many television programs. Appeared in Send Me No Flowers (1964).
Nov. 11 - Robert Vaughn: Best remembered as the suave Napoleon Solo in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-68) and his roles in The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Bullitt (1968).
Nov. 16 - Joan Carroll: Child actress best remembered as Judy Garland's sister Agnes in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) and as Patsy in The Bells of St. Marys (1945).
Dec. 18 - Zsa Zsa Gabor: Sister of Eva Gabor (Green Acres) Appeared in Moulin Rouge (1952) and had many television appearances.
Dec. 27 - Carrie Fisher: Princess Leia from the Star Wars films.
Dec. 28 - Debbie Reynolds: Got her start at the age of 19 in Singing in the Rain (1952) and never stopped.
Dec. 31 - William Christopher: Beloved as Father Mulcahy from the groundbreaking M*A*S*H (1972-83).
