New “Sweethearts” book released!
UPDATE: it was released in May 2014 and the feedback from all of you has been great! Thank you!!!
The new book link is here.
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TCM Schedule April 2014
Just one film showing this month, starring Nelson Eddy:
Saturday, April 12: 6 am Eastern: Rosalie
Jeanette MacDonald “The Love Parade” wedding gown up for auction
Jeanette MacDonald’s wedding gown from her very first movie, The Love Parade (1929), is up for auction.
Here is the description:
An ivory silk satin wedding gown worn by Jeanette MacDonald in her debut film role as Queen Louise in Love Parade (Paramount, 1929). The slender-fitting long-sleeve gown is heavily hand embellished with rhinestones, paste stones, silver tone bugle beads, and artificial pearls in a foliate motif with a center front gathering and slit to the trained skirt. Costume design by Travis Banton. Accompanied by two black and white studio images and an original Christie’s lot tag.
PROVENANCE Partial lot 50, “Entertainment Memorabilia Including Costumes from The Collection of Paramount Pictures,” Christie’s, New York, Sale number 7117, December 12, 1990
From the Collection of Glenn Brown
Below are photos of the actual gown – 85 years old and still in remarkable condition!
To bid on the Jeanette MacDonald wedding gown, go to this link.
Jeanette MacDonald “The Firefly” cape ornament up for auction!
Jeanette MacDonald’s gold cape ornament as worn in her 1937 film, The Firefly, is up for auction.
Here is the description:
A gold bullion braided cape ornament worn by Jeanette MacDonald in her role as Nina Maria, a beautiful singing spy for Spain during the Napoleonic Wars in The Firefly (MGM, 1937). The ornament is embellished with small gold sequins, beaded and sequin fringes, and a rosette closure. Costume design by Adrian. Accompanied by a copy of the film and a studio image.
PROVENANCE From the MGM haberdashery department
From the Collection of Glenn Brown
Below are photos of her wearing it in the film.
And the actual item “in person.”
To bid on this item worn by Jeanette MacDonald, visit this link.
Jeanette MacDonald “The Firefly” spencer jacket auction
Jeanette MacDonald’s red Spencer Jacket from her 1937 film The Firefly is up for auction.
From the auction description:
A crimson silk velvet Spencer style jacket worn by Jeanette MacDonald in her role as Nina Maria, a beautiful singing spy for Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, in The Firefly (MGM, 1937). The tailored jacket has puffed long sleeves and is embellished with silk faille frogs to the sleeves and center front, with silk faille cord trim to collar and tails, box pleated organdy to the collar, and hand finishing work. Costume design by Adrian. Accompanied by a copy of the film.
Previously exhibited at The Sharon Landa Gallery in Hollywood, California, 1971.
PROVENANCE “M-G-M Auction After Sale,” David Weisz Co., Los Angeles, 1970
From the Collection of Glenn Brown
You can see the auction at this link.
Jeanette MacDonald’s “Broadway Serenade” dress up for sale
Jeanette MacDonald’s dress by MGM designer Adrian, is up for sale on Ebay.
The link for this item is here.
Nelson Eddy – March 6 – Today we remember
Nelson Eddy passed away 47 years ago today.
He remains an inspiration for many who admire his life, his music, his art, his films…and his beauty.
Please post your remembrances in the “comments” section.
Yes, Nelson, we will remember.
TCM schedule March 2014
Only one Jeanette and Nelson movie this month showing on the TCM schedule:
March 3: 10:15 AM eastern time: Naughty Marietta
Shirley Temple remembered, made her radio debut with Nelson Eddy
“As long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right.” – Franklin Roosevelt
Shirley Temple Black, the darling of Depression years and the most famous child star ever in Hollywood history, passed away last night at the age of 85.
Shirley Temple’s life story is well known – she was a child star who, as an adult, used her fame to help others…but the Nelson Eddy connection may not be so well remembered. Shirley herself referred to it in her autobiography. Nelson was working with her the night of her radio debut and also the night she was almost killed! The date was December 24, 1939. Nelson was the host and narrator for the Screen Guild presentation of “The Blue Bird,” young Shirley Temple’s radio debut. During this live broadcast, a mentally unbalanced woman stood up in the studio audience and aimed a gun at Shirley. The woman was hauled away before she could pull the trigger… Amazingly, both Shirley and Nelson had a “show must go on” attitude and they continued the program without a hitch. Near the end, Nelson and Shirley sang a duet of “Silent Night” and he gave her a protective hug as they smiled for the cameras.
Many celebrity teenagers go through a bratty or rebellious period…but not so many in fully recover, or transition into their adult lives with the grace, optimism and good deeds that Shirley Temple displayed.
Her last major public appearance was receiving the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and she was just as bubbly and gracious “in person” as she appeared on screen all those years ago. You can watch a video clip of it here.
Our very best thoughts and wishes go to her family and friends…and to all of us who mourn today and feel she was a national treasure and “one of our own.” For several generations, whether you saw her films in theaters or on TV, she was a part of our childhoods.
TCM Schedule February 2014
This month is fairly meager for films of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, despite the fact that it’s the “31 Days of Oscar” month! Here’s the schedule (all times Eastern):
February 9, 10:30 AM: San Francisco
Feb 15: 2 AM (actually is early Sunday morning on the east coast) The Love Parade