Bob Hope Dancing with Hilda in the 1920s
Bob Hope started out as a dancer in his early days. The then comedian-to-be took a succession of partners including the Hilton Sisters, who were Siamese twins, and became a comic by accident.
Hope is shown with his first woman dancing partner, "Hilda." As history would have it, he became a comedy legend who had one of the longest show-business marriages on record. He was married to singer Dolores Reade Hope for 69 years. According to some sources, he was quite the ladies man and may not have been as loyal to his wife as many thought. He ended up living out his last years in Palm Springs where he lived to golf.
Laurel Canyon Overlook
This Scenic View, A man is parked in an automobile at an overlook at Laurel Canyon. Today, people come from all over the country to take in views like this from various lookouts like the Griffith Park, Runyon Park, and Baldwin Hills.
One can't even begin to describe how beautiful lookouts are in the Hollywood Hills. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it must have been fabulous to be able to see the region without all of the skyscrapers and traffic swarming around the numerous freeways.
Charlton Heston in "Ben Hur"
Charlton Heston, who chauffeured his chariot to an Oscar in "Ben Hur" became an icon back in the late 50s and into the 1960s. If it weren't for his role in "Ben Hur", who knows where his career would have gone.
The square-jawed, 35-year-old actor at the time in this photo starred in the two most spectacular religious movies of all time --"The Ten Commandments" and "Ben Hur". He is shown above in costume for his role in the 1959 production of "Ben Hur." The ladies couldn't resist his charm and the sense of strength that he displayed throughout the movies. He ended up passing away at 84-years-old in Beverly Hills.
Joe Benjamin with Charlie Chaplin and Doug Fairbanks in 1922
Joe Benjamin the contender for Benny Leonard's Lightweight Title, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. are featured in this photo taken in Hollywood in 1922.
In this photo Charlie Chaplin acted as a "referee" in an encounter between his colleague Doug Fairbanks and Joe Benjamin, contender for Benny Leonard’s lightweight crown on Jan. 24, 1922. Joe Benjamin was a Pacific Coast Featherweight Boxing Champion in 1915 and a 1922 World Junior Lightweight Boxing Championship contender against Johnny Dundee. His first attempt at movies was during his gig with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (pictured above) when he appeared as an uncredited extra in Fairbank Productions’ 1918 silent film "He Comes Up Smiling."
Universal City Studios Hollywood in 1921
A view over the back lot at Universal City Studios, Hollywood, California, 1921. Built on farmland, the studio complex was the world's largest at the time.
If you've been to Universal Studios before, you'll be amazed when you take in this photo. In 2021, the studios stand as a huge complex in the middle of a city jungle. This photo reveals what it looked like when it was surrounded by groves and farms.
Davis Siters Bette And Barbara In Hollywood
In this photo, you meet the young Davis Sisters, Bette (on right) and Barbara (on left) in Hollywood in the 1930s. Of course, Bette's career skyrocketed and lasted more than 50 amazing years.
There's a reason one of the most popular songs of all time makes mention of "Bette Davis Eyes." There was something about her that captured people from all over the world. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical films, suspense horror, and occasional comedies, although her greater successes were in romantic dramas.
Group of People Looking for Movie Jobs
This photo features men, women, and children trying to get into "flickers" in Hollywood after production offices moved from the East Coast the West Coast. The early 1900s was an exciting time for people who dreamed of being a part of the film industry in its infancy.
Just like Hollywood attracts people from all over the world to gain acting fame, the early 1900s was a time where dreamers wanted a part of the action. Flickers were silent films that sometimes that allowed for the audience to glean their own understanding of the action, while sometimes being treated to vague subtitles.
Sidney Poitier with Leslie Uggams
Two of the entertainment world's most beloved performers: Academy Award winner Sydney Poitier and Leslie Uggams. They duo met up in 1965 at a time when there was much racial strife throughout the United States.
Poitier was born in Miami and raised on Cat Island in the Bahamas. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers Evelyn and Reginald James Poitier, who also drove a cab. He had little formal education, but was sent back to Miami when he was 16 to live with his brother. As history would have it, Poitier became one of the most beloved actors in history. Leslie Uggams is now 77-years-old and has enjoyed a prolific career in TV and on Broadway. She went on to win a Theatre World Award in 1967 and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968. Later in her career, Uggams received renewed notice with appearances alongside Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool (2016) and in a recurring role on Empire.
North America. Rehearsal at a motion picture studio. Hollywood. Los Angeles. 1920
This photograph captures a film rehearsal at a motion picture studio in Hollywood in 1920. As you can see, at this point the production quality was minimal, but studios began building out ornate backdrops in the forms of cities and bazaars.
This small crew worked to direct and film this actor as she seemingly is pleading with the heavens. We couldn't gather detailed information on this photo, but it illustrates the early days of film in contrast to today's films that feature massive crews and rely on tremendously expensive gear.
Frank Sinatra In "Manchurian Candidate"
Frank Sinatra and his sultry voice bedazzled Hollywood for decades. His popularity led him to a dramatic role in "The Manchurian Candidate" in 1962.
In this photo, Frank Sinatra appears dazed and confused. The film was a political thriller about the son of a prominent U.S. political family who is brainwashed into being an unwitting assassin for a Communist conspiracy. So, you can imagine the turmoil Sinatra's character is going through in this scene.
On Set at Paramount Studios in the 1920's
This photograph captures a typical filming scene at Paramount Studios in the 1920s. Small crews were quite common at this time, and you can see a large group of extras in the background.
With the 1920s came an evolution in the film industry. Full-length features began to replace short films, and film studios began absorbing smaller ones to create fewer, yet larger and more powerful, companies. Also, movie theaters started popping up around the country and increasing in size. Theaters of the 1920s became known as Picture Palaces.
Hollywood Couple Leaning on Packard in California
With the rise of Hollywood and the entertainment industry came a lot of wealth. Anyone who drove a Packard in the early 1900s was a force to be reckoned with.
Packard was founded by James Ward Packard, his brother William Doud Packard and George Lewis Weiss on November 6, 1899. They were first located in Warren, Ohio, taking until 1903 to produce their first 400 cars. The marque developed a following among wealthy purchasers both in the United States and abroad, which positioned the brand with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Mercedes Benz. By the 1920s, the Packard was a status symbol and was such a beautiful sight to see.
Underwater Wedding At The Marineland Of The Pacific In Los Angeles
This amazing photo features the water wedding of Jack Tyree and Corna Day in Hollywood. The duo wanted to have a wedding like no other and it's safe to say they succeeded.
While there isn't much information on the couple, we can say that this wedding inspired a lot of human beings to have their weddings under water. Today, it's quite common for couples to get married in beautiful spots like the Great Barrier Reef and in the Red Sea.
Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford Canoeing at Pickfair
Famous Hollywood couple, Douglas Fairbanks and wife Mary Pickford, had a beautiful pool at what became known as the Pickfair estate. Luckily, a photographer caught them in their canoe and we can enjoy the sight today.
Pickfair was an 18 acre estate in Beverly Hills. It was designed by architect Horatio Cogswell for attorney Lee Allen Phillips of Berkeley Square as a country home. Phillips sold the property to actor Douglas Fairbanks in 1918, which led to it becoming the "Pickfair" estate by the press. It became one of the most celebrated houses in the world.
The First Movie Studio in Hollywood
This photo takes you onto a set in the very first movie studio in California. The year was 1908 when "talkies" were the rage. These were silent films that luckily evolved into films with sound.
The Selig Polyscope Company was an American motion picture company that was founded in 1896 by William Selig in Chicago. It went on to produce hundreds of early, widely distributed commercial moving pictures, including the first films starring Tom Mix, Harold Lloyd, Colleen Moore, and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Ending film production in 1918, the business, based on its film production animals, became an animal and prop supplier to other studios and a zoo and amusement park attraction in East Los Angeles until the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Singer Maurice Chevalie Sitting on a Diving Board
Maurice Chevalier was a prolific singer who during WWI was injured and taken prisoner in Germany for two years. Thankfully, he was released through the intervention of fellow-singer Mistinguett and her admirer, King Alfonso XIII of Spain. He went on to Hollywood where he became the star of the movie "Love Me Tonight" and an icon.
In this photo, Maurice Chevalier is enjoying a day in the Los Angeles sun. Given everything he went through during the war, one can only imagine how a day of bliss like this would feel for him.
Mary Pickford's Dog, "Zorro"
Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford's dog, Zorro took a curious look at a typewriter in 1924.
You can't help but fall in love with this little guy. Zorro brought a lot of love to the lives of the Fairbanks and proved to be amazingly intelligent.
The Original Warner Sunset Studio
This is the original Warner studio on Sunset Boulevard. As you can see, at this point the now highly trafficked street was just open space waiting to be imagined into the city Los Angeles now is.
During the 1930s Warner gradually moved to Burbank and used the old studio as annex space. It was sold to Paramount in 1954 and since 1958 has been the home KTLA news.
Young Shirley MacClaine Reads the Newspaper
This Shirley MacClaine when she was in her 20s. Back in those days she was known for her willingness to speak her mind and desire to live as raw of a life as possible. To her this has long meant listening to the "universe" and it's purpose for this planet.
When this photo was published, she made the commit that she's into "sitting on the back of my neck when I feel like it." She also made the comment that sulking is a wonderful thing if it needs to be done. Both of these comments made her quite unique for her generation of women. While many were trying to please the world, she was inspiring the world to please her instead.
Portrait of Ginger Rogers and Jack Briggs
Ginger Rogers was without a doubt one of the most celebrated women in Hollywood. In 1943, Rogers married her third husband, Jack Briggs, who was a U.S. Marine. Upon his return from World War II, Briggs showed no interest in continuing his incipient Hollywood career. They divorced in 1949.
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer during the "Golden Age" of Hollywood and is often considered an American icon. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in Kitty Foyle (in 1940), but is best remembered for performing during the 1930s in RKO's musical films with Fred Astaire. And of course, Madonna's sings about Ginger Rogers "dancing on air."
Ginger Rogers and Jack Briggs in Their Mobile
Screen star Ginger Rogers and her husband Jack Briggs are shown having breakfast in the kitchen of their then new, novel double-decker trailer.
While traveling, the trailer seemed to be conventional. The trailer was equipped with hydraulic jacks that allow addition of a second story when vehicle was parked. The additional floor had room for three full-size beds and comfortably housed eight people at night.
Ginger Rogers and Jack Briggs' Double-Decked Trailer
Just so you can get an idea of how cool Ginger Roger's trailer was, this is the outside. It was the only collapsible double-decked trailer of its kind.
It weighed 6,200 pounds and featured an upper deck containing the sleeping quarters. It was raised for use and lowered for traveling by hydraulic jacks built into the side.
Judy Garland During a Scene as a Waitress
Back in films after an absence of three years, actress-singer Judy Garland was shown playing the role of a carhop. She was just 20-years-old while playing this role in "A Star Is Born."
Garland began performing in vaudeville as a child with her two older sisters and was later signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. She appeared in more than two dozen films for MGM and is remembered for portraying Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Her challenges in life have long been chronicled and were recently brought to life in the movie "Judy."
Dean Martin with a Bottle of Liquor
Dean Martin was reputedly one of movieland's biggest imbibers and went into the liquor business. The liquor was his own brand called Dino, which launched in 1959.
Martin was given the nickname "The King of Cool" and gained his career breakthrough together with comedian Jerry Lewis, billed as Martin & Lewis, in 1946. They performed in nightclubs and later had numerous appearances on radio, television and in films. Following an acrimonious ending of the partnership in 1956, Martin pursued a solo career as a performer, actor, and then liquor brand owner. He ended up dying of lung cancer in 1995.
Unknown Actress Poses in the 1920s
This photo features a young woman "fixing a tire." We're not sure if this was her role in a movie or if she was playing around. The beauty of this photo is it's just a moment in time at a film studio.
This was a time in history where people came from all over the country to "make it" in Hollywood. This unnamed woman may have been one of the thousands that hoped she'd get her break. To our knowledge, she never did.
People Standing at Future Hollywood Intersection
People stand in an orange orchard in Los Angeles County, California, an area which will later become the busy section of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue in Hollywood.
As you can see, Los Angeles was largely made up of farms and groves. This home has long been gone, but we can only imagine its inhabitants enjoyed the solitude of their land and the hills that surrounded it.
Gene Autry Training His Horse
Gene Autry, star of westerns, watches his horse, Champion, jump through a hoop on his ranch. Autry was known for performing his own stunts with Champion.
Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry was nicknamed The Singing Cowboy, and was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, and rodeo performer who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning style on radio, in films, and on television. He was highly respected for his work ethic and desire to give back to the community.
InCharlie Chaplin With The Italian Boxer Primo Carnera
Charlie Chaplin had a thing for boxers and the art of boxing. In this photo, he is standing next to the massive Italian Boxer Primo Carnera And His Box Manager Leon.
Charlie and Primo shot a series of photos in which they play box each other. The playful nature of the duo made the nation laugh and marvel at how big and strong the boxer was.
Early Map of Holllywood
One of the earlier maps put out by realtors showing Hollywood subdivision and picturing a hotel that never got beyond the "proposed stage" taken in 1887.
Realtors back in the late 1800s dreamed of making Hollywood one of the most beautiful developments of all time. This never occurred, as history saw to it that the city was filled with a wide variety of architectural styles and lot sizes.
Picnic at Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California
If you've ever taken a hike around Laurel Canyon, you may be amused at the day outings by families in the late 1800s.
This family is clad in their Sunday Best outfits and nicely captured their horse and buggy.
Marion Davies's Santa Monica Home in 1923
This vintage souvenir postcard features the Santa Monica beach side Colonial style mansion of actress, producer, screenwriter and philanthropist, Marion Davies, playing beach volleyball.
This amazing mansion reveals the money that was pouring into Hollywood into the early 1900s. Davies was a massive success story, especially for a woman, as she brought so much joy to the audiences she entertained. The home still stands and serves as the Annenberg Community Beach House, a public facility located on five acres of oceanfront property.