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Judy Garland

Pop Culture

A Peek Inside the Little Black Books of Pop Culture Icons

By Alison Nastasi on

The words “little black book” conjure all kinds of salacious ideas about jet-setting playboys and Hollywood madams. The earliest black book may be Harris’ List of Covent Garden Ladies — a directory of 18th-century prostitutes working in London that sold thousands of copies annually. Since then, the little black book has evolved into more of a straightforward address book. Depending on your style, it can be a free-form collage of facts and memories about those you meet, or a rigid, alphabetized list of names and numbers. We recently spotted Marlon Brando’s little black book on Tumblr, which we feature after the jump. Fascinated by the handwriting, worn pages, and contents, we went searching for other black books kept by pop culture icons. See what fascinating observations, secrets, and contacts we found hiding between pages, below. … Read More

Film

The Most Eye-Opening Films about the Movie Industry

By Alison Nastasi on

This week, Paramount released a Blu-ray of Billy Wilder’s dramatic tale about a faded silent film star and the madness that ensues when her big-screen dreams are shattered. Sunset Boulevard is a tragic Hollywood love story — love for the illusion and the grandeur. It’s a cautionary tale about the trappings of Tinseltown that calls to mind other eye-opening films about the movie industry. We explored them all past the break. See what messages these celluloid satires have to share about the Hollywood machine, and tell us what films you would add to the list in the comments section. … Read More

Pop Culture

10 Clean-Cut Teen Idols Who Really Weren't

By Alison Nastasi on

The original Gidget and late ’50s, early ’60s cutie pie starlet Sandra Dee would have turned 70 years old today. We doubt the actress would still be willing to brave a surfboard in her senior years, but the scenario is funny to imagine given Dee’s clean-cut, wholesome image that often pegged her as a total square. While her peers were slinking across the big screen, Dee was busy perfecting her lifelong role as the wide-eyed ingénue and singing innocent songs about falling in love.

However, the performer’s career proves appearances can be deceiving. The teen idol struggled with drug and alcohol problems, and an eating disorder her entire life — having started starving herself as an up-and-coming model early in her career.

We looked at other Hollywood, chart topping teen idols whose clean-cut images betrayed their messy and often tragic lives. Although many fans assume their favorite stars are practically invincible, these teen talents prove the shocking truth about humans: we’re all flawed. … Read More

News

The Morning's Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Caroline Stanley on

1. Carnegie Deli has introduced a new sandwich in honor of Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow. The monstrous “Jetbow” weighs in at 3.5 pounds, and features a combination of corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato on white bread. [via Fox News]

2. Zadie Smith’s 2005 novel On Beauty is… Read More

Pop Culture

12 Hangover Cures from the Boozy and Famous

By Alison Nastasi on

Playboy recently shared its colorful history of correspondence with gonzo legend Hunter S. Thompson. Amongst the letters and other notes in the collection was a wild cure for a hangover that suits the over the top writer’s uninhibited style. The note reads:

P.S. — inre: Oui’s request for “my hangover cure” — it’s 12 amyl nitrites (one box), in conjunction with as many beers as necessary.
OK H

While the idea of poppers and beer soothing your sorry head might not be the right cure for you, fear not — we’ve uncovered 12 other hangover remedies from famous booze hounds. With the holidays right around the corner, we figured you could use a little help. Click through to find out what Hemingway, Faulkner, and other big drinkers suggested after an evening of overindulgence. … Read More

Celebrity

Old Hollywood’s Most Tragic Screen Sirens

By Stephanie Nolasco on

She may have been a punchline to some and sex personified to others, but the life of blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe has become the ultimate tale of tragedy since her premature death at age 36 in 1962. Before she became a titillating screen goddess, Norma Jeane spent her childhood in foster homes, but fame didn’t give her the life she truly desired. Emotional insecurity, failed marriages, and drug dependency are just a few of the many things that took over the fragile woman’s life before her early demise. This week, audiences will get a chance to get a glimpse of Monroe’s inner struggles in the film, My Week with Marilyn. However, there have been many other screen queens before Monroe who suffered similar fates. Click through for a look at some of Hollywood’s fallen film goddesses. … Read More

Film

Rare Home Movies of Hollywood Icons

By Alison Nastasi on

This Saturday, October 15 people will be digging into their personal archives celebrating Home Movie Day. For those who don’t have a projector, the event provides an opportunity for people with reels of family memories and thrift shop finds to check them out on a big screen — many for the first time ever. The event will take place at 66 venues across 13 countries where historians, curators, archivists, and enthusiasts will be on hand to provide insight into the uniqueness and artistic relevance of amateur film.

English actor Roddy McDowall — best known for his role in the original Planet of the Apes — was also a home movie enthusiast. He recorded a group of Hollywood pals at random parties in the mid ’60s — and the list of friends reads like a who’s who of Tinseltown during its prime. Watch Dennis Hopper, Jane Fonda, Natalie Wood, Judy Garland, Rock Hudson, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Andrews, and many more hang out. It’s a great, rare opportunity to see what some famous faces were like off screen. Click through for more. … Read More

Film

10 Classic Hollywood Screen Tests

By Emily Temple on

Sometimes, in this age of gratuitously 3D movies, third-time-around remakes, and Saw IV, we look back with longing at the Golden Age of Hollywood, when the stars were glamorous, talented and tiger blood-free and studios were willing to take a chance on films that were more art than blockbuster. As far as we’re concerned, nothing’s better than a peek behind the scenes at an industry and time period we love, so we’ve been thrilled to see a lot of classic Hollywood screen tests pop up recently (especially over at Open Culture). In the interest of amateur film study and thinking about the good old days, we thought we’d compile a few of the best here for your old Hollywood dreaming and black and white swooning. So without any further ado, we present ten classic Hollywood screen tests, from Brando to Hepburn to Garland. … Read More

News

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Judy Berman on

1. The Weeknd has released his second mixtape, Thursday, for free download. It comes out a mere five months after his mysterious debut, House of Balloons.

2. He’s an actor, producer, and activist, but it turns out Ashton Kutcher isn’t much of a journalist. After guest editing a special online issue of Details, he may… Read More

Dance/Opera

25 More Essential Dance Sequences in Film

By Bethany Larson on

We’re impressed by how passionate our readers are about cinematic dance sequences. After reviewing the list of 35 dance numbers that we came up with last week, you took to the comments and let us know about all of the great moments we didn’t include in our roundup. To remedy this, we’re back with 25 more great dance sequences in film, most of them generated by you (thanks, btw). Check out the list after the jump, and see if your favorite made it this time around. … Read More