EPISODE 126 -  “THE WESTMORE DYNASTY: MAKE-UP TO THE STARS AND BEYOND” - 2/09/2026 

Hollywood loves dynasties—acting families, directing families, producing families—but one of the most powerful dynasties in film history didn’t appear on screen at all. And it’s one of the rare family dynasties that began in silent films and continues working in film and TV to this very day: THE WESTMORE FAMILY.  

The Westmores were the architects of illusion and the sculptors of stardom. From the pioneering vision of GEORGE WESTMORE who laid the foundations of cinematic makeup, to the extraordinary careers of his six sons, this family transformed faces into movie stars and shifted the culture of how women thought of and accepted the use of makeup in every day life.  Their techniques, philosophies, and innovations continue to influence how we see characters on screen today—often without even realizing it.  Join us as we spend time with The Westmore Dynasty: Hollywood’s ‘First Family’ of makeup.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Makeup Man: From Rocky to Star Trek The Amazing Creations of Hollywood’s Michael Westmore (2017), by Michael Westmore and Jake Page;

The Westmores of Hollywood (1976), by Frank Westmore and Murial Davidson;

“Putting on a Face for Hollywood,” April 12, 1991, by Carie J. Delmar, Los Angeles Times;

“Low-Down on Hollywood Make-up:  Five Brothers and Their Father, Ex-Clevelanders All, Have Film Stars Beating a Path to Their Door,” April 7, 1940, by Inez Wallace, Cleveland Plain Dealer;

www.westmoreland.com

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

In the Sultan's Power (1909);

The Three Musketeers (1921);

The Sheik (1921);

The Sea Beast (1926);

The King of Kings (1927);

It (1927);

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931);

Cimarron (1931);

Scarface (1932);

Lady by Choice (1934);

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935);

Anthony Adverse (1936);

Rhythm on the Range (1936);

The Life of Emile Zola (1937);

Elephant Boy (1937);

Jezebel (1938);

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938);

Professor Beware (1938);

Gone with the Wind (1939);

Intermezzo (1939);

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939);

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939);

Rebecca (1940);

The Strawberry Blonde (1941);

Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948);

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954);

The Ten Commandments (1956);

The Mountain (1956);

My Geisha (1962);

Two for the Seesaw (1962);

Irma la Douce (1963);

Sweet Charity (1969);

Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970);

There Was a Crooked Man (1970);

Soylent Green (1973);

The Towering Inferno (1974);

Rocky (1976);

Being There (1979);

Raging Bull (1980);

Mask (1985);

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EPISODE 125 -  “VIRGINIA MAYO: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD STAR OF THE MONTH” - 2/02/2026 

One of the most glamorous actresses in old Hollywood undoubtedly was VIRGINIA MAYO. This peaches-and-cream, midwestern beauty started her career wrangling two men in a horse costume on stage before being discovered by producer SAMUEL GOLDWYN and transformed into a full-blown movie star. Often playing the fantasy girl to leading men like BOB HOPE and DANNY KAYE, her beauty sometimes made people miss the fact that she was a very capable actress — particularly when she played bad girls in films like “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “White Heat.” She was very adept at light comedy, romance films, and drama, appearing in over 50 feature films and many television shows throughout her career. And tune in to find out about Steve’s connection to this old Hollywood glamour girl as we celebrate Mayo as our February Star of the Month.  

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

The Best Years of My Life (2001), by Virginia Mayo, as told to LC Van Savage;

The Forties Gals (1980), by James Robert Parish & Don E. Stanke;

“Virginia Mayo’s 100th Birthday,” November 30, 2020, by Vanessa Varquez, www.ashroudofthoughts.com;

“Virginia Mayo, 84, Stunning Actress of 1940s Romantic Films,” January 19, 2005, Los Angeles Times;

Virginia Mayo, Movie Actress, Dies at 84,” January 18, 2005, by Richard Severo, New York Times;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Follies Girls (1943), starring Wendy Barrie;

Up In Arms (1944), starring Danny Kaye & Constance Dowling;

Jack London (1943), starring Michael O’Shea;

Seven Days Ashore (1944), starring Wally Brown;

The Princess and the Pirate (1944), starring Bob Hope & Virginia Mayo;

Wonder Man (1945), starring Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, & Vera Ellen;

The Kid From Brooklyn (1946), starring Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Vera Ellen & Steve Cochran;

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), starring Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Boris Karloff & Ann Rutherford;

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews & Teresa Wright;

A Song Is Born (1948), starring Danny Kaye & Virginia Mayo;

Smart Girls Don’t Talk  (1948), starring Bruce Bennett & Virginia Mayo;

Flaxy Martin (1949), starring Virginia Mayo & Zachary Scott;

Colorado Territory (1948), starring Joel McCrea & Virginia Mayo;

White Heat (1949), starring James Cagney & Virginia Mayo;

Red Light (1949), starring George Brent & Virginia Mayo;

Always Leave Them Laughing (1949), starring Milton Berle, Virgina Mayo & Ruth Roman;

Backfire (1950), starring Gordon MacRae, Virginia Mayo & Edmond O’Brien;

The Flame and the Arrow (1950), starring Burt Lancaster & Virginia Mayo;

The West Point Story (1950), starring James Cagney & Virginia Mayo;

Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951), starring Gregory Peck & Virginia Mayo;

She’s Working Her Way Though College (1952), starring Ronald Reagan & Virginia Mayo;

South Sea Woman (1953), starring Burt Lancaster & Virginia Mayo;  

Pearl of the Pacific (1955), starring Dennis Morgan & Virginia Mayo;

The Silver Chalice (1954), starring Paul Newman, Virgina Mayo * Pier Angeli;

Congo Crossing (1956), starring Virginia Mayo & George Nadar;

The Big Land (1957), starring Alan Ladd & Virginia Mayo;

The Story of Mankind (1957), starring Vincent Price, Ronald Colman & Peter Lorre;

Young Fury (1965), starring Rory Calhoun & Virginia Mayo;

Castle of Evil (1966), starring Scott Brady & Virginia Mayo;

Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), starring Bruce Dern & Madelyn Kahn;

Hunted (1977), starring Aldo Ray;

French Quarter (1978); starring Bruce Davison;

The Man Next Door (1997); starring Karen Carlson;

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EPISODE 124 -  “EARL CARROLL VANITIES: SCANDAL, SPECTACLE AND THE JAZZ AGE” - 1/27/2026 

When we think about the great showmen of early Hollywood, we often think of FLO ZIEGFELD, SID GRAUMAN or maybe BUSBY BERKELEY, but another man who certainly fits well into this fraternity of daring, flamboyant, and imaginative purveyors of entertainment was EARL CARROLL. Carroll was a producer, songwriter, and impresario whose career helped define the glamour and excess of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Rising to prominence in the 1920s with his bold Broadway revues, Carroll brought to Hollywood a uniquely theatrical blend of elaborate staging, haute couture costuming, and the provocative extravagance that became his trademark. His famed Earl Carroll Theatre on Sunset Boulevard—adorned with a giant neon likeness of showgirl BERYL WALLACE —quickly became a Los Angeles landmark, drawing celebrities, industry moguls, and curious audiences eager for a sexy, entertaining show. Inside, his productions showcased meticulously choreographed ensembles, ornate sets, and the legendary showgirls, who were called “the most beautiful girls in the world.” Beyond the stage, Carroll influenced the broader culture of old Hollywood nightlife: his clubs were gathering places for stars, tastemakers, and dreamers, helping establish the city’s reputation for glittering evenings, lavish entertainment, and unabashed showmanship. Though his life ended tragically, Carroll’s imprint on Hollywood and his reputation for over-the-top glamour remains a defining element of its early history. This week, we look at this flamboyant life and career.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

The Body Merchant: The Story of Earl Carroll” (1976), by Ken Murray;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Beryl Wallace Homepage :

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028021463896

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“ALMOST MARRIED TO THE MOB: HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES WHO DATED MOBSTERS” - 1/19/2026  (123)

In this episode, we slip into the shadows where classic Hollywood glamour meets organized crime, exploring the classic Hollywood actresses who found themselves romantically entangled with real-life mobsters. At a time when studios tightly controlled female stars’ images, these notorious bad boys offered something intoxicatingly different: raw power beyond the backlot, fierce loyalty, protection from predators both on and off the screen, and a rebellious thrill that defied Hollywood’s carefully scripted rules. Drawn by charisma, thrills and maybe even a little danger, these women navigated a world where diamonds, nightclubs, and whispered threats coexisted with premieres and press junkets—and where love could be as risky as it was seductive. This week, we’re looking at the romantic entanglements that occurred when the mob meets Hollywood. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Tinseltown Gangsters” The Rise & Decline of the Mob in Hollywood (2024), by Jeffrey Sussman;

Handsome Johnny: The Life & Death of Johnny Rosselli, Gentleman Gangster, Hollywood Producer, CIA Assassin (2018), by Lee Server;

Double Cross: The Explosive Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America (2016), by Sam Giancana, Chuck Giancana, & Bettina Giancana;

Hollywood & The Mob (2011), by Tim Adler;

An American Mafioso: The Johnny Rosselli Story (1991), by Charles Rappleye;

Detour: A Hollywood Story (1988), by Cheryl Crane;

Lana: The Lady, the Legend, The Truth (1982), by Lana Turner;

“Sam Giancana: Chicago Godfather, CIA Collaborator, And The Man Who May Have Put JFK In The White House,” May 16. 2024,  by Carly Silver, ATI.com;

“Two Survivors: The Scandalous Saga of Lana Turner and Cheryl Crane,” June 8, 2023, by Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair;

“Actor Lana Turner's Daughter Kills Turner's Gangster Lover,” 2022, by Thomas DeBose, EBSCO.com

“New Allegations Emerge About Marilyn Monroe's Final Hours,” May 11. 2012, CBSNews.com;

“The Gangster and The Goddess,” April 1999, by Patricia Bosworth, Vanity Fair;

“Killers Gave Rosselli Drink, Shot Him in Belly,” August 10, 1976, by William Tucker, The Miami News; 

“The Thug. The Actress. Her Daughter. And Homicide” September 8, 2023, by John S. Caragoizan, Caragozian Daily Journal;

TheMobMuseum,org;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

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“HABITS, COLLARS & CLOSEUPS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 1/12/2026 (122)

Classic cinema has always had a fascination with clergy and nuns — not just as religious figures, but as real people caught between faith and the challenges of the world. When these characters take center stage, the stories often become less about doctrine and more about conscience, compassion, and moral choices.  Sometimes with a good dose of humor thrown in. In today’s episode, we’re going to dive into classic films that put nuns and clergy at the heart of the story. The characters portrayed are thoughtful, conflicted, sometimes heroic, and always deeply human, with stories that explore grace, hope, and the consequences of our choices.  This week, we take a look back at some unforgettable films where the collar or the veil isn’t just a costume—it’s the core of the story.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

“Let’s Talk About ‘Black Narcissus’,” April 17, 2025, by Sailor Monsoon

“The Story Behind ‘Stars in My Crown’,” May 29, 2024, by Henry C. Parke, www.insp.com;

“‘The Nun’s Story’: Revisiting Audrey Hepburn’s Most Overlooked Film,” January 24, 2020, by Nadra Nittle, America Magazine;

“My Favourite Hitchcock: I Confess,” August 8, 2012, by Philip Oltermann, The Guardian;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

RogerEbert.com

Movies Mentioned:

Boys Town (1938), starring Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney & Bobs Watson;

Keys of the Kingdom (1944), starring Gregory Peck, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price, Edmund Gwenn & Roddy McDowell;

Black Narcissus (1947) starring Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Kathleen Byron, Flora Robson & Jean Simmons;

Stars In My Crown (1950), starring Joel McCrea, Ellen Drew, Dean Stockwell, James Mitchell, Amanda Blake, Juano Hernandez & Ed Begley;

Thunder on the Hill (1951), starring Claudette Colbert, Ann Blyth, Robert Douglas, Phillip Friend, Connie Gilchrist, Norma Varden & Gladys Cooper;

I, Confess (1953), starring Montgomery Clift, Anne Baxter & Karl Malden;

The Nun Story (1959), starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Dean Jagger, Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans, Beatrice Staright & Colleen Dewhurst;

The Trouble With Angels (1966), starring Rosalind Russell, Hayley Mills, June Harding, Camilla Sparv, Binnie Barnes, Marge Redmond, Mary Wickes, Jim Hutton & Barbara Hunter;

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EPISODE 121 -  “RICHARD BASEHART: CLASSIC STAR OF THE MONTH” - 1/05/2026 

RICHARD BASEHART wasn't the flashiest of actors, but he certainly was one of the most versatile. He always brought such haunting depth and emotional intensity to his roles, often portraying characters teetering on the edge of psychological turmoil. With his piercing blue eyes and floppy blonde hair, his sensitive, brooding presence gave him the appearance of an erudite or a poet. And that voice! He had a fantastic baritone voice that could convey both vulnerability and menace. He really excelled at playing sensitive, troubled men—sometimes deeply introspective, other times psychotic or dangerously unhinged. From his chilling portrayal of the deranged killer in “He Walked by Night” (1948) to the tormented clown in FEDERICO FELLINI’s “La Strada” (1954), Basehart always infused each performance with a profound humanity, sensitivity, and quiet strength, making him one of the most compelling and underrated actors of his generation. This week we honor him as our January Star of the Month.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

ActorsandOthers.com

ClassicMovieHub.com

WalkofFame.com

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Repeat Performance (1947), starring Joan Leslie, Louis Hayward, Richard Basehart, Tom Conway, and Virginia Field;

Cry Wolf (1947), starring Errol Flynn, Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Basehart & Geraldine Brooks;

He Walked By Night (1948), starring Scott Brady & Richard Basehart;

Rosanna McCoy (1949), starring Farley Granger & Joan Evans;

Tension (1949), starring Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Barry Sullivan, & Cyd Charisse;

Fourteen Hours (1951), starring Richard Basehart, Paul Douglas, Barbara Bel Geddes, Agnes Moorhead, Jeffrey Hunter, Debra Paget, & Grace Kelly;

The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), starring Richard Basehart & Valentina Cortese;

Decision Before Dawn (1951), starring Oskar Werner & Richard Basehart;

Titanic (1953), starring Barbara Stanwyck & Clifton Webb;

La Strada (1954), starring Anthony Quinn & Richard Basehart;

Il Bidone (1955), starring Richard Basehart & Broderick Crawford;

Moby Dick (1956), starring Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart & Orson Welles;

The Brothers Karamazov (1958), starring Yul Brynner & Richard Basehart;

Portrait in Black (1960), starring Lana Turner & Anthoy Quinn;

The Savage Guns (1961), starring Richard Basehart & Alex Nicol;

Hitler (1962);

The City Beneath The Sea (1971), starring Stuart Whitman & Rosemary Forsyth;

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), starring Burt Lancaster & Michael York;

Being There (1979), starring Peter Sellers & Shirley MacLaine;

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EPISODE 120 -  “REEL REFLECTIONS: STEVE & NAN’S FAVES IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 12/29/25 

As we say goodbye to 2025, Steve and Nan are wrapping up the year and ringing in the new one with much refection. In this fun episode, join the discussion as they talk about some of their favorite films, movie stars, and directors in a series of fun lists. Get to know our intrepid hosts better and find out just who they think was the Best Villain or Best Screen Kiss or Most Beautiful Actress in the golden era of Hollywood. Steve, Nan, Lindsay, and J.P. also want to thank you all for the steadfast support and kindness throughout the year.  May 2026 bring great things to all of you beautiful listeners out there!

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Ladies of Leisure (1930);

Platinum Blonde (1931);

Lady for a Day (1933);

Alice Adams (1935);

Stella Dallas (1936);

My Man Godfrey (1936);

These Three (1936);

Dodsworth (1936);

Come and Get It (1936);

Mr. Deed Goes to Town (1936);

The Awful Truth (1937);

Night Must Fall (1937);

Stella Dallas (1937);

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938);

You Can’t Take It With You (1938);

Jezebel (1938);

Love Affair (1939);

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939);

Wuthering Heights (1939);

Dark Victory (1939);

The Return of Frank James (1940);

The Letter (1940);

Citizen Kane (1941);

Penny Serenade (1941);

Suspicion (1941);

Western Union (1941);

Meet John Doe (1941);

The Little Foxes (1941);

Mrs. Miniver (1942);

Casablanca (1942);

Now, Voyager (1942);

Talk of the Town (1942);

The Spider Woman (1943);

Double Indemnity (1944);

Going My Way (1944);

The Woman in the Window (1944);

Phantom Lady (1944);

Christmas Holiday (1944);

Ministry of Fear (1944);

Woman In the Window (1944);

Arsenic & Old Lace (1944);

The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945);

Brief Encounter (1945);

Leave Her to Heaven (1945);

Mildred Pierce (1945);

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945);

The Great Flamarion (1945);

Two O’Clock Courage (1945);

The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945);

Scarlet Street (1945);

The Spiral Staircase (1946);

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946);

Notorious (1946);

Gilda (1946);

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946);

Kiss of Death (1947);

The Bishop’s Wife (1947);

T-Men (1947);

Nightmare Alley (1947);

I Remember Mama (1948);

Raw Deal (1948);

Cry of the City (1948);

They Live By Night (1948);

Come to the Stable (1949);

Criss Cross (1949);

The Heiress (1949);

White Heat (1949);

Sunset Boulevard (1950);

Harvey (1950);

Side Street (1950);

Winchester ’73 (1950);

The File on Thelma Jordan (1950);

A Place in the Sun (1951);

Clash By Night (1952);

In a Lonely Place (1953);

From Here to Eternity (1953);

The Big Heat (1953);

Shane (1953);

The Clown (1950);

White Christmas (1954);

A Star Is Born (1954);

The Night of the Hunter (1955);

The Man From Laramie (1955);

A Face in the Crowd (1957);

An Affair to Remember (1957);

The Tin Star (1957);

Giant (1956);

Elmer Gantry (1960);

Splendor In the Grass (1961);

The Manchurian Candidate (1962);

Take Her, She’s Mine (1963);

The Sound of Music (1965);

The Singing Nun (1966);

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966);

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968);

The Way We Were (1973);

The Godfather Part II (1974);

Ordinary People (1980);

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“FUN FACTS ABOUT CLASSIC HOLIDAY MOVIES” - 12/22/2025 (119)

We all know the iconic Holiday movies like “A Christmas Carol,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas.” This week, Nan and Steve go behind the scenes of some of your favorite classic holiday movies and dig up some fun facts about these films that you may or may not know. We talk about the snow, the casting, the locations, and a lot more! Join in the fun as they conjure up holiday cheer with these great films.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Christmas in The Movies (2023), by Jeremy Arnold;

Christmas In Classic Films (2022), by Jacqueline T. Lynch;

The Many Cinemas of Michael Curtiz (2018), edited by R. Barfton Palmer & Murray Pomerance;

Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas (2010), by Alonso Duaralde;

Ginger: My Story (2008), by Ginger Rogers;

Christmas At The Movies: Images of Christmas in American, British, and European Cinema (2000), edited by Mark Connelly;

It’s Christmas Time At The Movies (1998), by Gary J & Susan Svehla;

AMC American Movie Classics: Greatest Christmas Movies (1998), by Frank Thompson;

The ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ Book (1986), by Jeanine Basinger;

Great Movie Directors (1986), by Ted Sennett;

The Films of Frank Capra (1977), by Victor Scherle & Wiliam Turner Levy;

"35 Surprising ‘White Christmas’ Movie Facts About the Cast, Songs & More,” October 31, 2024, Good Housekeeping;

“A Short History of Fake Snow In Holiday Movies:  From ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ to Harry Potter,” December 15, 2021, LAist.com;

“The Song That Changed Christmas,”October 5, 2016, by Will Friedwald, Wall Street Journal;

“It’s A Wonderful Life: Rare Photos From the Set of a Holiday Classic,” November 26, 2013, by Ben Cosgrove, Time magazine;

“On A Wing and a Prayer,” December 23, 2006, by Stephen Cox, LA Times;

“Whose Life Was It, Anyway?” December 15, 1996, by Steven Smith, LA Times;

“White Christmas: Rosemary Clooney Remembers Everyone’s Favorite Christmas Musical,” December 1994, by Frank Thompson, Pulse! Magazine;

“Less Than Wonderful: James Walcott Reassesses Capra’s Christmas Classic,” December 1986, Vanity Fair;

“Capra’s Christmas Classic: Yes, Virginia, It’s A Wonderful Life,” December 1986, by Trea Hoving, Connoisseur;

“All I Want For Christmas is a VCR,” December 24, 1985, L.A. Herald-Examiner;

“Bing, Astaire Bow Out, Par Recasting ‘Xmas’,”January 7, 1953,  Variety;

“Bing Bobs Back into ‘Christmas’ Cast at Par,” January 22, 1953, Variety, 

“White Christmas: From Pop Tune to Picture,” October 18, 1953, by Thomas Wood, New York Times;

“Around the Sets,” August 13, 1944, L.A. Examiner;

TCM.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned: 

A Christmas Carol (1938), starring Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, Leo G. Carroll, June Lockhart, Terry Kilburn, Barry McKay, and Lynne Carver;

Christmas In Connecticut (1945), starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, S.Z. Sakall, Reginald Gardiner, Robert Shayne, and Una O’Connor;

It’s A Wonderful Life (1947), starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers, Thomas Mitchell, Beulah Bondi, Gloria Grahame, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, H.B. Warner,  Frank Albertson, Samuel S, Hind, Mary Treen, Todd Karnes, Virginia Patton, Sarah Edwards, Sheldon Leonard, and Lillian Randolph;

White Christmas (1954), starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Anne Whitfield, and Mary Wickes;

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12-15-2025. "HO! HO! HOLLYWOOD: SANTA CLAUS IN CLASSIC CINEMA" (118)

Long before special effects, CGI snowstorms, and big-budget holiday franchises, it fell to a small but memorable group of performers to embody the warmth, wonder, and whimsy of old St. Nick. Ever wonder about the actors who were called upon to portray Santa Claus in film and TV? These classic Santas weren’t just men in red suits — they were character actors, vaudevillians, radio veterans, and Hollywood workhorses who brought their own unique spark to the role, shaping how generations of moviegoers came to imagine Father Christmas. From the twinkle-eyed charmers to the unexpectedly gruff curmudgeons, from the iconic to the nearly forgotten, we’re unwrapping the stories behind the earliest portrayals that turned Santa into a cinematic tradition. So settle in with a mug of something warm, hang your stocking, and join us as we explore the jolly, joyful, and sometimes surprisingly complex history of Hollywood’s first Santas.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Ivanhoe (1913);

Scrooge (1913);

Santa Claus (1912), starring Leedham Bantok;

20th Century Fox Hour: Miracle on 34th Street (1955); starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, & Thomas Mitchell;

Shadow of a Doubt (1943), starring Joseph Cotten & Teresa Wright; 

Stagecoach (1939), starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, & Thomas Mitchell;

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, & Thomas Mitchell;

Gone With The Wind (1939), starring Vivien Leigh & Clark Gable;

Theodora Goes Wild (1936), starring Irene Dunne;

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), starring James Stewart & Jean Arthur;

Our Town (1940), starring Martha Scott & Henry Fonda;

High Noon (1952), starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly;

Wild Flowers (1943), starring José Elias Moreno;

Santa Claus (1959), starring José Elias Moreno;

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964), staring John Call;

Fearless Fagan (1952), staring Janet Leigh & Keenan Wynn; 

Boots Malone (also 1952), starring William Holden

Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), starring Marilyn Monroe & Richard Widmark;

The Long, Long Trailer (1954), starring Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz;

The Anderson Tapes (1971), starring Sean Connery & Dyan Cannon;

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EPISODE 117 -  “STEVE AND NAN DISCUSS: MOVIES ABOUT MOVIES” - 12/08/25 

In the latest episode of From Beneath the Hollywood Sign, we pull back the curtain on the cinematic world of making movies about... making movies. We dive deep into the movies that reveal what really happens behind the scenes in Tinseltown-sometimes with affection, sometimes as a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for. Movies like Sullivan's Travels (1941), Singin' in the Rain (1952), and Sunset Boulevard (1950) all offer a fascinating look at the machinations that go into making films. This week, we'll be discussing six lesser-known moves that give us a peek behind the scenes and reveal very different sides of the not-always-so-glamorous ways Hollywood works. Across genres and generations, these films offer an insider's view not just of how Hollywood works, but of the dreams, delusions, and dramas that make moviemaking an art form all its own.

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

What Price Hollywood? (1932) starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Gregory Ratoff, and Neil Hamilton;

Bombshell (1933), starring Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy, Franchot Tone, Frank Morgan, Una Merkel, Louise Beavers, and Pat O’Brien;

Stand-In (1937), starring Leslie Howard, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Mowbray, Marla Shelton, and Jack Carson;

The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941), starring Mary Beth Hughes, George Montgomery, Alan Mowbray, Richard Lane, Robert Conway, and John Miljan;

The Star (1952), starring Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood, Warner Anderson, Paul Frees, Barbara Lawrence, Fay Baker, and Herb Vigran;

The Goddess (1958), starring Kim Stanley, Steven Hill, Lloyd Bridges, Betty Lou Holland, Elizabeth Wilson, Bert Freed, and Louise Beavers;

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EPISODE 116 -  “CLASSIC STAR OF THE MONTH: DICK VAN DYKE” - 12/01/25 

Join us as we celebrate the life and career of someone who seemingly personifies joy — on-screen and off.  And maybe that’s the secret to his longevity, because he is about to celebrate his 100th birthday on December 13.  Of course, we’re talking about the one and only, DICK VAN DYKE, our December Star of the Month. His career spans The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and beyond. He’s danced across rooftops, flipped over ottomans, and shared his personal struggles with alcoholism in order to shine a light on a horrible disease -- at a time when that sort of thing wasn’t discussed. From his early years trying to make it in show business, to that breakout moment on Broadway, to becoming one of the most beloved stars on television and film - today, we celebrate the legendary Dick Van Dyke! 

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business (2011), Dick Van Dyke;

Columbia Pictures Press Release, (1968), by John C. Flinn;

Rogers & Cowan, Inc. Public Relations Biographical Notes on Dick Van Dyke, 1964

“A New Van Dyke Family Blooms in the Desert,” September 17, 1971,  Life Magazine;

“Dick Van Dyke Does It All, But In His Own Way,” March/April 1973, by Joseph N. Bell, The Saturday Evening Post;

“Dick Van Dyke Tells of Alcohol Problem”, December 7, 1973, by Marilyn Beck, Marilyn Beck’s Hollywood, Special Features;

“The Serious Side of Dick Van Dyke,” Jan/Feb 1982, by Sally Saunders, The Saturday Evening Post:

“Vintage Van Dyke,” October 1990, by Stuart Matranga, TV Time;

“Biography Dick Van Dyke,”Dec 14, 1998, by Michael A. Lipton & Champ Clark, People Magazine;

“Man With A Mission: Helping the Homeless Makes Dick Van Dyke’s Holidays,”Nov 13, 2007, by Debra Beyer, Los Angeles Times;

“Mary Tyler Moore & Dick Van Dyke Are Together Again on TV — But They’re Not Rob & Laura Anymore,”April 2003, by Sheldon Lessen, Southern California Senior Life;

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

Movies Mentioned:

Bye, Bye Birdie (1963), starring Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, & Maureen Stapleton;

What a Way to Go (1964), starring Shirley MacLaine, Dean Martin, Robert, Mitchum, Dick Van Dyke, Gene Kelly, & Paul Newman;

Mary Poppins (1964), starring Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke;

The Art of Love (1965), starring James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, & Angie Dickinson;

Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.  (1966), starring Dick Van Dyke & Nancy Kwan;

Divorce American Style (1967), starring Dick Van Dyke, Debbie Reynolds, Jason Robards & Jean Simmons;

Never a Dull Moment (1968), starring Dick Van Dyke, Edward G, Robinson & Dorothy Provine;

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), starring Dick Van Dyke & Sally Ann Howes;

Some Kind of Nut (1969), starring Dick Van Dyke, Angie Dickinson, Rosemary Forsyth, & Zohra Lambert;

The Comic (1969), starring Dick Van Dyke, Michelle Lee & Mickey Rooney;

Cold Turkey (1971), starring Dick Van Dyke, Pippa Scott, & Bob Newhart;

The Morning After (1974), starring Dick Van Dyke & Lynn Carlin;

The Runner Stumbles (1979), starring Dick Van Dyke & Kathleen Quinlan;

Dick Tracy (1990), starring Warren Beatty & Madonna;

The Gin Game (2003), starring Dick Van Dyke & Mary Tyler Moore;

Night at the Museum (2006), starring Ben Stiller & Carla Cugino;

Mary Poppins Returns (2018), starring Emily Blunt & Lin Manuel Miranda;

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