Stars of the Golden Age: An Old Hollywood Podcast

JOAN BLONDELL: The stunning actress who busted onto the Hollywood scene in 1930, making the world fall instantly in love with her. She went through a lot of pain and trauma to get to that point, though... AND she had already been working in show business for most of her life. Listen to the story of Joan Blondell's early life and first few years in Hollywood, and then check back in with Part Two to hear the rest of her story.Support the show on PATREON! https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: Joan Blondell: A Life Between Takes by Matthew Kennedy; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sir Laurence Olivier (Part One:) Sir Laurence Olivier brought Shakespeare's stories to life in legendary ways on London's West End and on Broadway, and he (reluctantly) shared his great gifts on the silver screen as well. He was a man fueled by passion, with the great love of his life being Vivien Leigh. In this episode, learn about Sir Laurence Olivier's early life, his rise to fame on the stage, his early relationships and first marriage, the early days of his relationship to Vivien Leigh, and just get to know him as the man he was. In the next episode, we will dive more into that relationship with Vivien Leigh, and I will tell you the rest of his story.Support the show & receive great BONUS content: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: Olivier by Terry Coleman; Sir Larry: The Life of Laurence Olivier by Thomas Kiernan; Love Scene: The Story of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh by Jesse L. Laskey Jr. and Pat Silver; Laurence Olivier: A Biography by Donald Spoto; vivandlarry.com; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

BUTTERFLY McQUEEN: Best known for playing Prissy in Gone with the Wind, Butterfly McQueen spent most of her adult life trying to free herself from racially stereotypical roles like the one that made her a star... and what seemed like the only kind of roles she and her fellow black Hollywood actors were being offered. She stood up for herself, but more importantly she stood up for others. Butterfly McQueen was a force who lived her life helping and advocating for others. A true hero.BONUS CONTENT! https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled Butterfly McQueen Remembered by Stephen Bourne; a 1990 interview of Butterfly McQueen with Del Ward of WMAZ of Macon, Georgia; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dorothy Dandridge: Performing since she was a small child, Dorothy Dandridge was the first black actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. But that wasn't the only "first" she contributed to history. Dorothy Dandridge was a trailblazer, and she paved the way for every black actor who came after her. She endured racism and was denied opportunities because of the color of her skin. Her story is not a very happy one, but it is an important one.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: The book Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography by the great Donald Bogle; the book Dorothy Dandridge: The Life and Legacy of One of Hollywood’s First Successful Black Actresses by Charles River Editors; the A&E Biography documentary, Dorothy Dandridge: Little Lost Girl from 1998; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy