Hollywood Heritage Museum

Remembering Frank Sinatra today, on his birthday, December 12, for his many film roles (even though we’ve heard he had some other entertaining talent too ) What are your favorite Frank stories? #franksinatra #paljoey #manchuriancandidate #suddenly #themanwiththegoldenarm #oceans11 #fromheretoeternity

Hollywood awoke to the news that Douglas Fairbanks, the once King of Hollywood had died suddenly in the early morning of Monday, December 12, 1939 with his dog and his nurse by his side. He was only 56. In the many newspaper reports in the days following, the Los Angeles Times keyed in on Mary Pickford’s absence from the funeral, another article was specifically about the fact that he was born Douglas Elton Ullman and one referenced Doug as a former star. True enough (thoug...h it hurts our crowd to hear it), by 1939 a mention of Doug Fairbanks generally meant the dapper young Junior. Let’s remember Senior today in his prime for his many achievements in the early film industry. He was there, building studios, film schools, professional associations, innovating filmmaking techniques and adding some action to any scene- on camera or otherwise - that he entered! #douglasfairbanks #douglasfairbankssr #hollywoodhistory #charliechaplin #marypickford #pickfordfairbanksstudios #unitedartists #silentfilm #swashbuckler See more

As we head into eight nights of Hanukkah, we can't help thinking about the many Jewish moguls who built Hollywood. Early studio heads such as Irving Thalberg, the Warner Brothers and Carl Laemmle were among those who built a temple that rivaled any movie palace for opulence - from the Hugo Ballin murals to gilded ceilings and filagreed doors. The rabbi Edgar Magnin was himself a star. Reigning as a strong leader of the Jewish community in Los Angeles for 70 years. He was rabb...i to the Marx Brothers, Jack Benny and even the Three Stooges. Neal Gabler writes in his book An Empire of His Own, that because of social hierarchies and prejudices which created barriers for Jews and other new immigrants, there were many professions that Jews were not allowed to enter in the 1920's and 1930's. The new movie industry had appeal as it was a small investment to buy a projector and rent a theater-- and profits ran high. As immigrants, the new producers were sensitive to the dreams and aspirations of other immigrants and working class people for whom the movies provided recreation and escape. Jews adapted quickly to the business; having come from the garment industry and retailing, they understood the market swings, how to package and sell films and how to deal with competition. Gabler notes that what united them deeply was their utter and absolute rejection of their pasts and the absolute deep devotion to their new country. Above all they wanted to be regarded as Americans; they wanted to reinvent themselves here as new men. Deprived of access to status and gentile institutions, this driven group of men in the movie business saw the possibilities in Los Angeles and over a decade built a powerful motion picture industry, along with a new vision of the American Dream. #WilshireBoulevardTemple #HistoricCulturalMonument #JewishTemple #HollywoodHistory #JackWarner #TheMarxBrothers #TheWarnerBrothers #OldHollywood #IrvingThalberg

Born December 9, 1909, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps as an actor, but his long life encompasses much more. He was a commander in the US Navy during WWII and in 1949 he was made an Honorary Knight of the British Empire for "furthering Anglo-American amity." Other honours included the Légion d'Honneur and Knight Grand Officer of King George I of Greece. He was also famously married to actress Joan Crawford in 1929. Fairbanks lived until the year 2000. The first portrait is by George Hurrell. The 2nd is Doug in character as villain Rupert of Hentzau in The Prisoner of Zelda, followed by Jr. with father Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and step-mother Mary Pickford and in the last photo, Jr. with wife Joan Crawford. #douglasfairbanksjr #douglasfairbanks #marypickford #oldhollywood #joancrawford #hollywoodhistory

Please help save the Chili Bowl building today Dec. 8 at a city hearing at 2pm! 1.) Dial in to today’s PLUM meeting at (669) 254-5252 and use the Meeting ID No. 161 644 663 and then press #. When giving your public comment press *9 to request to speak. 2.) Submit written comments online at LACouncilComment.com (Council file 20-0246).... 3.) Email your support for the nomination to the Council District 11’s Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office by emailing [email protected] . (Please cc Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy so we may track support ([email protected]). Subject line: RE: Support for Historic-Cultural Monument Nomination of the Chili Bowl (Council File 20-0246). See more

What holiday movie do you always watch to get in the spirit of the season? #classichollywood #holidayfilm #whitechristmas #christmasmovie #classicmovie