Throw a Classic Hollywood Fancy Dress Party

10 Tips for Your Old Hollywood Celebrity
Fancy Dress Party,
See the stars themselves

Janet Gaynor
with designer
Adrian 1941

In the Golden Age of Hollywood they threw some amazing parties and that definitely included fancy dress parties. Here are some tips, some things to think about when planning your party whether it be at Halloween or any time of the year. This is a unique Halloween idea. A cake and cocktail recipe is below, also a list of classic movies that have scenes of costume or masquerade balls. Can you add anything?

1) Don't sweat it if some people don't dress up. A portion of your guests just aren't going to be comfortable with fancy dress or costume parties.

Charlie Chaplin
(as a philosopher)
and Paulette Goddard
1935

At the 1935 costume party attended by Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard (who was about to become Mrs. Charles Chaplin), she chose not to dress in costume.
 
You might offer masks, mustaches, hats, wigs for those who didn't dress up if they want to try something on. If you have old costumes and accessories of your own or from your kids' costumes this is a great way to use those.

2) Also don't worry if people dress up minimally. Like those who don't dressing up at all, you'll probably have some who come in a hat or a T-shirt costume. At the same time some other friends you'll barely recognize!

They have Star Wars Jedi robes, or Rocky and Superman robes too. Easy costumes. 

Jane Ayr knows about Spirit Gum and Spirit Gum Remover.
She was appearing in The Latest Craze in London, 1919

About costume parties in general

Sylvia Sidney was known as one of Hollywood's premiere hostesses. Back in 1936, a reporter from Silver Screen magazine interviewed her about the etiquette of party giving. Here's a short excerpt from that interview:

"As one who hates tinsel hats and tin horns, I approached Sylvia upon a matter near to my heart. 'Would you,' I asked anxiously, 'give a costume party?'
And she said yes, she would. I felt pretty badly about that. But she explained.

"'You see costumes spell escape for most persons. After all, if you dig down a little, you'll agree the entire psychology of party giving is for people to get away from themselves. Dress up nonsense helps. They shed their inhibitions with their street clothes.'" 

Harpo Marx and
Marie Dressler

3) Will you have a costume contest? Will there be prizes. At Marion Davies' 1931 fancy dress party, Harpo Marx, left won best disguise as he portrayed Kaiser Bill. There he is with Marie Dressler.

Marie was clever. She reused some clothes that she'd worn in a movie, Anna Christie. You may not have a professional costume lying around but always remember to shop your closet. 

A DIY costume can be fantastic. Between what you already have and what you can make you could come up with something genius. 
It'll certainly be one-of-a-kind.

1940, Mischa Auer tries on a series of hats for a party

4) Consider a theme party. This can make it easier for guests to figure out costumes. If the theme is Classic Hollywood, suggest an era with costume features or props to your guests. It can still be a Halloween themed party but this would help that much more with decor, music and costume.

Carole Lombard gave a hospital party. The guests were given traditional white doctor's robes and ate their meals from bed trays. She met you at the door in a stiffly starched nurse's cap and dress and ushering you into the consultation room. Apparently some of the drinks were served in hot water bottles, etc.

Betty Grable and
Jackie Coogan (later Uncle Fester)
at a
Tahiti themed party 1941

There was a Roman party where the Lombard drawing room suddenly became a sunken garden with togas and grape juice offered. For another party it has been suggested that people wear slacks. 

"She took her guests down to the House of Fun in Venice. Carole rented the House of Fun for the evening so no one could get in but the somebodies invited." 

Guests included Marlene Dietrich, Cary Grant and Claudette Colbert. Imagine yourself at a 1930s Hollywood party. People love to dress as their favorite stars, in movie costumes.



A romance may begin at one of your parties. The famous Gable/Lombard romance began at a film colony party six months after Gable left his wife. It was an all-white party and Miss Lombard wore red. Gable danced with her all evening.

For a 1933 fancy dress party suggested that guests dress as movie stars. Joan Bennett was Jean Harlow in Dinner at Eight. Dolores Del Rio was Katharine Hepburn. Myrna Loy was Pola Negri in Passion. (above)

Even after they divorced, good friends Carole Lombard and William Powell
went out together. They dressed up and went to Kay Francis' 1934
Barn Dance Party.

Alfred Hitchcock, who had a penchant for practical jokes, threw a couple of dinner parties where he had all of the food colored blue. In the finale of the 2014 series Top Chef Duels, the finalists were asked to create dishes where the food was first all black and then all white. An all blue entree was not requested.

Joan Crawford with a mask
of Joan Crawford 1932...
Would people guess who's behind that mask?

"Did you ever give a party where everyone had to come in costume just down to the neck? That is a dress the head party? The idea is to arrive as a character in history, a real person like Napoleon or Pocahontas but one not easily guessed. 

"Then the one who guesses the most gets a prize or you can give it to the one who wears the best disguise. I suppose everyone is playing that crazy game with the bottle and the matches but if you've never tried it you can't imagine  how much fun you can have out of being silly!" 
-- Maureen O'Sullivan, Screenland November 1935

Agnes Ayres
Pierrot costume

5) Set up a place for photos, a backdrop like we see on the red carpet events. It can be a blank or decorated wall. This might also be a time for a photo booth or instant camera so you can give guests photos that they can take home.

6) Offer some cool party favors, swag, especially if your guests might be party-hopping: 

"So many Saturday night affairs are held that progressive partying is coming to be the rule on that gay night in movieland. So it was that many guests from David Selznick's big party at the Venetian Room in the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel went on to Winfield Sheehan's big party at his home. 

"Leis and Hawaiian dolls gave color to the David Selznick party so that everybody arriving at the Sheehan party from the other one wore the Honolulu emblem about his or her neck." 
-- New Movie July 1934

Businesses do this all the time, it's a form of branding & advertising, to have customers leave wearing beads with your business name or carrying a cup with the logo. Don't forget the T-shirt give-aways. Do the same for your party. 

Party supplies don't have to be expensive. They can even be homemade. Think about the sparkly, extravagant look of diamond confetti. Try black and white, but it's not your only option. Definitely great to re-use for other occasions. Like stars in the sky we have so many diamonds, they're just scattered everywhere.

7) Will you have kids there? A family party will effect time of day, decor and what's

Shirley Temple parties with
Harold Lloyd's daughters 1935

served. 

Also if it's a Halloween party, you may have less scary effects. Choose funny music and sound effects.

Maybe someone could act as a caregiver or people could rotate in a separate room with activities for the kids?


At approx 6:55 on this 1930's Hollywood on Parade, you'll see coverage of a Hollywood costume party

Gene Tierney as a
peasant girl
Ruth Hussey is
Raggedy Ann 1941

8) What to wear... If there isn't a theme there are always classic costumes to fall back on in a pinch. 

Old bridesmaids' dresses, school or work uniforms could be worn. Do you have a web site? Show some photos of a 1920s celebrity party or your favorite 1930s movies if that's your favorite era. Examples of what people could wear.

If you and no one in your family will wear them again, think about donating them or having a costume swap with friends. Think of colors. Black and white is a good color combo. Think of a harlequin or Pierrot outfit. If the party is near or based on a holiday choose colors associated with that holiday.


Raggedy Ann Inspired : Womens & Girls Ragdoll Costumes Go for the classic, traditional Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes for your couples look or add to your DIY costume. The infant versions of this costume are so cute, too.
Dress like a living doll and celebrate your favorite doll with a Rag Doll costume & red yarn wig. The Raggedy Ann doll, introduced in 1915, turns 100 years old in 2015. Raggedy Andy was introduced in 1920.

9)  Consider playing some games or have other activites. Especially while in costume, friends might be looser and more willing to play silly games.

Choose games that go with your theme. Marion Davies was known for throwing Baby parties where guests dressed like babies.

Don Wilson and Mary Brian play
Pin the tail on the Donkey
(I think she's peeking)

You could show movies, maybe have them in one room for people who want to watch movies and let those who want to mingle and party be in other rooms of the house. Movies with masquerade balls or fancy dress parties?

There are Alfred Hitchcock films, Rebecca and To Catch a Thief. Phantom of the Opera (1943), Masque of the Red Death (1964), Romeo and Juliet (1968) and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) are some older movies to rent, stream or buy. A few that might have masquerade scenes are Marie Antoinette (1938), A Clockwork Orange, An American in Paris (1951). Can anyone confirm that they have these scenes?

Marion Davies, Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer 1935

10) Think about what you'll serve your guests.

Think about seasonal foods, things that fit in with your theme. Halloween foods? Deviled eggs can be made to look like eyes with the addition of sliced olives and a little imagination. Squash soup is a warm, cozy and welcome treat on a cold night.

It's All Hallow's Eve 1941. Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland and Ann Rutherford are planning a grand Hallowe'en party. They're going to have sandwiches and cider, doughnuts and coffee, it says. And here is the recipe for the Orange and Chocolate Cake that they're making:

Hallowe'en Cake
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/4 cups scalded milk
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, unbeaten
1 1/4 teaspoons soda
2 cups sifted flour

Mix and sift cocoa with 1/3 cup sugar. Add scalded milk gradually until smooth. Cool. Bland shortening, salt and vanilla. Add 1 cup sugar gradually and cream well. Add eggs, singly, beating well after each addition. 

Sift soda with flour 3 times. Add flour to creamed mixture, alternately with cocoa mixture after each addition until smooth. Bake in three 9-inch greased layer pans in moderate oven (350 degrees F). 25 minutes. 

To substitute  chocolate for cocoa, use 4 oz chocolate. Cream 1 1/3 cups sugar with shortening, salt and vanilla. Beat in eggs singly; add melted chocolate and blend. Add sifted dry ingredients, alternately with milk.

Hallowe'en Frosting
4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons orange juice (about)
7 chocolate creams

* I double checked the recipe. Unless you/they think the orange juice and orange rind is 'orange coloring' it isn't listed in the ingredients. You may want to include some food coloring or your other choice of coloring when gathering ingredients.
 

Fay Wray
Delores Del Rio
Clive Brook

Blend butter, salt and orange rind. Add 1/2 sugar gradually creaming well. Add remaining sugar alternately with orange juice beating until smooth. Add just enough orange juice to make a nice spreading consistency.

Tint with the orange coloring. Spread frosting between layers and on top of the cake reserving a little for making candy faces.

Arrange chocolate candies around rim and in the center of the cake, pressing gently into frosting. On each candy make eyes, nose and mouth using a toothpick dipped in frosting.

 
How about a cocktail:
Staying with the color orange, here's Fay Wray's American Beauty Punch from 1934. You can make large or small quantities, like a cocktail.
 
Use a large bar glass, filled with fine ice. Dissolve a half-teaspoonful of sugar in the juice of half an orange. Pour one teaspoonful of creme-de-menthe over the ice then add the sugared orange juice, a jigger of brandy and a jigger of French Vermouth. Shake, strain into goblets and float a teaspoonful of Port wine on the top. Dress with fresh fruit and serve.

Swan is Swell

Marlene Dietrich, dressed in swan costume 1935
Liz Allen is dressed as Marlene Dietrich in tux and top hat

   
Icelandic singer Bjork wore a swan dress to the 73rd Academy Awards, March 25, 2001. The dress, emulated by Ellen DeGeneres at the 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards, was originally designed by Marjan Pejoski. 

Dietrich's 1935 costume might be two pieces and it had wings. 

If you wear a swan costume you could screen the movies called The Black Swan. From 1942 it's a pirate movie, swashbucklers. It stars Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara, and it is Helene Costello's last film. The 2010 movie stars Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis.

Majestic 3-Dimensional White Swan Costume
Princess : 7th Day of Christmas
3-Dimensional White Swan Costume
Kids can climb into this majestic three-dimensional white Swan!
Body is wool body with plump polyester stuffing
Adjustable felt shoulder straps, leather crown and wool wings accented with blue felt
Fits most children ages 4-8 

Cave Men are always popular

Myrna Loy, her husband and Fredric March

Mischa Auer, Corporate Cave Man

Related Pages of Interest:

Alfred Hitchcock's Blue Food Dinner Parties

Costume Judge Shirts by HolidayZazzle
Browse more Costume T-Shirts at Zazzle

Sources of quotes and images not already cited:

Modern Screen Jun 1931, Dec 1934, Dec 1940
New Movie Feb 1935
Photoplay Jul 1919, Jan 1941
Screenland Jun 1935 

Hey Stella Dallas Kay Francis Barbara Stanwyck Angela Bassett

Hey Stella!

Barbara Stanwyck
Publicity Still for Stella Dallas

"Offhand how many girls or women whose names are Stella can you name? Not very many we think. However we may be wrong and perhaps you can rattle off the names of 10. So if you name happens to be Stella you don't have to go any further....

"What has caused the interest in this particular feminine name and inspired this search in the motion picture Stella Dallas, the famous story of mother love and sacrifice which comes to the Aldine Theatre on Friday.

Poster for the 1925 silent film
version of Stella Dallas

"Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Anne Shirley and Alan Hale are the stars of the new Samuel Goldwyn production, Miss Stanwyck playing the title role, Mr. Boles her husband and Ann Shirley her daughter.

Movie Star News Photo Print
I Found Stella Parish was 1935

"Perhaps this new and modernized motion picture production which brought fame before to Belle Bennett, Ronald Colman and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. will again rejuvenate the name of Stella."
-- excerpts from The Sunday Morning Star Wilmington NC, August 22, 1937

When the silent film version of Olive Higgins Prouty's story, Stella Dallas came out in 1925 a marked increase in the use of Stella as a birth name was noted over the next few years.

Prouty also wrote Now, Voyager. It was made into a 1942 film which starred Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Gladys Cooper and Claude Rains.

Do you share a name with a famous movie character? In High Anxiety, Mel Brooks played Dr. Richard H. Thorndyke. The H was for Harpo. His mother loved the Marx brothers. :-) 

Stella is a Latin name meaning Star. Looking for celestial names? Maybe you're into astronomy or science fiction. In the 16th century Sir Philip Sidney wrote a collection of sonnets, Astrophel and Stella. In some texts, the title is amended to Astrophil and Stella. Was this the first appearance of the name?

Stellaluna is a popular children's book written and illustrated by Janell Cannon. It's about a mother fruit bat protecting her child. The images are as wonderful as the story. I've heard of a mother of twins who named her children Stella (star) and Luna (moon).

What other movies are there with a character named Stella? Maybe even a title character? There was even a radio soap opera called Stella Dallas. 1930s movies are getting more popular. Check out Stella Adler's The Art of Acting, a great tool if you want to become an actor.

In 1937 that local newspaper was running a contest in conjunction with the film's opening to see how many women or girls named Stella they could find. A business can use something like this as a promotion. The first ten people with this name get in free.

I Found Stella Parish, starring Kay Francis 1935

Maybe the first one that comes to people's minds is A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.




The 2nd Annual Tony Awards in 1948 saw three women share the award for Best Actress in a Play. They were Judith Anderson in Medea, Katharine Cornell in Antony and Cleopatra and Jessica Tandy in the newly opened A Streetcar Named Desire. Interesting to note that there were no pre-announced Tony nominees before 1956.

Tandy played Blanche Dubois. Some others in that very first cast were Karl Malden as Harold "Mitch" Mitchell,  Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski and Kim Hunter as Stella Kowalski.

Hollywood impacting fashion: When Clark Gable appeared without an undershirt in It Happened One Night (1934) sales of undershirts plummeted. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Marlon Brando made the undershirt and t-shirt back cool again and sales picked up noticeably. 



 
In the 1951 film, A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Elia Kazan, the cast was virtually the same with one difference. Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski, Kim Hunter as Stella Kowalski, Karl Malden as Harold "Mitch" Mitchell. Vivien Leigh was Blanche DuBois.

Leigh won an Oscar for Best Actress at the 24th Academy Awards presented in 1952. Hunter and Malden received Oscars for Best Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor respectively. The film had even more nominations.

In a 1980 Sidney Lumet film called Just Tell Me What You Want, Myrna Loy plays Stella Liberti. The movie also stars Ali MacGraw and Alan King. This was Myrna Loy's final feature film.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back with an all-star cast, 1998. Angela Bassett is Stella. The film is from the Terry McMillan book. 


 

Angela Bassett Autograph 8x10

The first thing my friend thought of with the name Stella was Stella D'Oro Italian Cookies and Toasts. The biscotti can be dipped in wine or coffee, cappuccino is nice. We have relatives who make their own biscotti. You can dip it in chocolate, yum.

Stella Artois Belgian Beer 40-Centiliter Star Chalice

Vintage Ziegfeld Girl Makeup Mirrors by naughtybits
See other French Compact Mirror
Choose size and shape of compact
 

Double Indemnity(1944) Pillows by RetroQueen
Browse for Pillows at Zazzle

Links to Books and Related Pages of Interest:

Nurses in Movies: Drama

Keeping Time with Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor

Academy Awards Pre-1950: Auctions, Collecting, Returning

Mermaid and Aquatic Baby Name Ideas 

Stella Adler - The Art of Acting: preface by Marlon Brando compiled & edited by Howard Kissel

Fashions of the 1920s Silent Film Stars

Here is some rare color footage of Hollywood fashion of the 1920s featuring actresses from the early talkies and the silent film

1921 Barbara Bedford Evans
Last Mohicans Portrait Film Star
Original Rotogravure

era. This is the type of Hollywood glamour we try to replicate today. Are you a fashion designer, illustrator, model or a stylist? You should love this. A Mary Pickford Hair tutorial is included.

We see Laura La Plante, Corliss Palmer, Edna Murphy, Jeanette Loff, Barbara Bedford. The film ends with Ruth Elder who was an actress and a pilot. They even show her with her airplane.

Jeanette Loff worked with actors the likes of Rod La Rocque and James Parrott. In the silent film Love Over Night (1928), she costarred with Richard Tucker, the first official member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Loff was only 35 when she died in 1942.

Edna Murphy was voted "Most Photographed Movie Star of 1925" by ScreenLand Magazine. If that was today, Edna would be featured by entertainment TV shows and seen on magazine covers at every store checkout 
stand in the country.

 
Link below to open links referenced on the video. Can close the popups and/or open the YouTube page in a new window.

Edna Murphy Film Daily June 12, 1921

Her films included 45 Minutes from Hollywood with Theda Bara, Laurel & Hardy and Janet Gaynor, Into the Net with Constance Bennett, Ridin' Wild (1922) and Tarzan and the Golden Lion with James Pierce and Boris Karloff.

Ruth Elder

Ruth Elder "was a movie actress and aviation adventurer. Her first fifteen minutes of fame came at a propitious time in 1927 just five months after Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic. She and Register pilot George Haldeman made an attempt to cross the Atlantic together in a yellow Stinson Detroiter named "The American Girl" (NC1384, not a Register airplane)." ....

In 1929, Ruth Elder was a competitor in what was known as the Powder Puff Derby. "In the shadow of the unsuccessful trans-Atlantic effort, Ruth kept her chin up and entered the first Women's Air Derby. 

"She flew against the best of competition and finished in the money. Flying her Swallow NC8730, she placed a reasonable 5th behind the likes of Louise Thaden, Gladys O'Donnell, Amelia Earhart and Blanche Noyes."
-- excerpts from article, see below




You can drive along Laura La Plante Road in Agoura Hills, California. Her last films included King of Jazz (1930) with Bing Crosby, Arizona (1931), with John Wayne, God's Gift to Women (1931) with Joan Blondell and Man of the Moment (1935) with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

1921 Clay & Bock
Susini Tobacco Cards, Cuba

In May, 1954, Laura LaPlante (then Mrs. Asher) had retired from show business. She appeared on the show, You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx. [Shhhh. The secret word was House.]

Corliss Palmer was in films with Walter Pidgeon, June Collyer, Noah Beery, Jason Robards Sr.,Richard Barthemless and Thelma Todd, Alphonse Martell and even famous Strongheart the Dog. She is known for Leo McCarey's 1926 Bromo and Juliet which also featured Charley Chase and Oliver Hardy. 

By the way, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy had both appeared in the same film before but not worked together. They would not make a film as a double act until Putting Pants on Philip in 1927.

Barbara Beford's birth name was Violet Rose.  On the British comedy, Keeping Up Appearances, Hyacinth Bucket has sisters named Violet and Rose (and Daisy). 

Barbara Bedford appeared in The Last of the Mohicans (1920) and a Tod Browning movie, Man Under Cover with Herbert Rawlinson, George Hernandez and William Courtright. She made The Big Punch with Buck Jones in 1921. Her 1922 silent film The Power of Love is said to be the very first 3D feature film worldwide. The flat or 2D version was screened with the title, Forbidden Lover.



Give yourself a Mary Pickford Inspired Hairstyle (1920's). She points out that yes they did have curling irons in the 20's! :-)

Louise Brooks Necklace by VintagePostcard
Make custom photo pendants
There are many Louise Brooks and Ziegfeld items at Zazzle.

Mechanical Maria Vintage Movie Poster by VintageArtCabaret
Find more Vinatge Posters at Zazzle

Related Pages of Interest:

Amelia Earhart Anniversary: Inspiration

William Powell and Carole Lombard married 1931-1933; their sapphires, My Man Godfrey. Pre-Jean Harlow and Clark Gable 

Dressing Male Hollywood Film Stars of the 1930s-1950s, Provide your own clothes, tax deductions and more Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, William Powell, Spencer Tracy, Peter Lorre ....

Project Gemini Corned Beef Sandwich in Space, Gus Grissom

Laurel & Hardy Putting the Pants on Philip : Celebrate w/ Pants, Shirts songs

Ducks and Geese in film and classic television: Fowl on Film


Sources Cited, More Information:

Ruth Elder page at the Davis Monthan Aviation Field

YouTube web site to open popup links referenced on the Hollywood Glamour video above. These are some outstanding videos and they deserve Likes and comments.

Ten Commandments for Choosing a Story- Irving Thalberg

Irving Thalberg's Ten Commandments for Studio Readers. He distributed them early in his tenure at MGM.

1. Your most important duty is to find great ideas.  You'll find them buried under tons of mediocre suggestions.

2. Read at least two newspapers daily. Photoplays sell best which are based on timely topics.

3. Analyze all material on the basis of the players who are working for us.

4. Remember that you are dealing with a pictorial medium.

5. Make a close notation of all books you see the public reading.



Who was Irving Thalberg?

6. See at least two full-length motion pictures each week, one from this company, one by a competitor.

7. Everything else is secondary in your work to the finding of a strong dramatic situation... an interesting clash between principal characters.

8. Prove your ability to recognize creative material by writing and submitting stories of your own.

9. Be proficient in one language besides your own. The competition for good stories is so keen that the supply written in English was long ago insufficient.

10. Above all, train yourself to recognize sincerity in a story. Talking pictures, particularly, have made the public very sensitive to false notes in plots. 

Interesting how timeless much of this is and how it can cross over to different businesses. How do you formulate a good plot? How do you hone your own romantic comedy? How about creating a viral YouTube video? Always the same questions and answers.



Groucho Marx was thankful to Irving Thalberg for restarting the Marx Brothers' careers at MGM.

Thalberg died in 1936 at the age of 37.  The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award was created by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for "Creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production." It's not given out yearly. The first aware was given in 1937 at the 10th annual Academy Awards to Darryl F. Zanuck. It was given in 2010 at the 83rd annual Academy Awards to Francis Ford Coppola.

In 1967 at the 40th Academy Awards, it was presented to Alfred Hitchcock.
 



Related Books of Interest: (Available on Kindle other eReaders)

 A Ship Without A Sail: The Life of Lorenz Hart by Gary Marmorstein 

Irving Thalberg: Boy Wonder to Producer Prince by Mark A. Vieira 

Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer (of Metro Goldwyn Mayer) by Scott Eyman

Raymond Burr Rear Window to the Senate floor

Raymond Burr for the People

From His Kind of Woman

"First of all, let me say that I find myself perfectly sober, reasonably sane and not at all surprised...."
Please Murder Me 1956 Raymond Burr as Attorney Craig Carlson dictates into a tape recorder. With Angela Lansbury, John Dehner, Denver Pyle

It was the late 1940s. We were celebrating the end of WW2 and starting up the baby boom. Canadian actor Raymond Burr worked on radio and in the movies. Some fans may be surprised to know that he was a successful character actor who played a number of heavies or bad guys. In 1946 he made his first films, San Quentin and Without Reservations.

On radio he was sometimes the authoritative good guy as a cop, private eye. He had an extended run in the show, Ft. Laramie. There were recurring roles as the Chief of Detectives on Dragnet. (He'd again have this job in Ironside.) His radio career lasted from the late 1940s through the late 1950s. 

In 1951 he appeared on a rado episode of Dr. Kildare, playing Dr. Conlon, a fake doctor who advertises a machine that will cure what ails you. Patients suffer the consequences of visiting him instead of a licensed doctor. Then Dr. Conlon suffers the wrath of Drs. Kildare and Gillespie, Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. 

In the movies, Raymond Burr is remembered for playing Steve Martin -- but not THAT Steve Martin. (Jimmy Stewart played a different Steve Martin in 1953's Thunder Bay. This time Steve is an ex-Navy engineer.)





"My name is Steve Martin. I am a foreign correspondent for United World News. I was headed for an assignment in Cairo, when I stopped off in Tokyo for a social call. But it turned out to be a visit to the living HELL of another world."
-- from Godzila, King of the Monsters

He worked with Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, the Marx Brothers, Barbara Stanwyck, Lon Chaney, Lucille Ball, Vincent Price, John Candy, Errol Flynn and of course, Godzilla to name just a few.

There was a rumor that he'd had a romance with Natalie Wood. 

In one of his most

With Natalie Wood
A Cry in the Dark

famous films where he worked with James Stewart and was seen grabbing Grace Kelly. 

Burr worked in radio, film and television. Not only did he appear in some of the great TV anthology series such as Playhouse 90, but he also appeared as a guest on comedy shows like Jack Benny and Red Skelton.

"There's a file I keep in my office. Strange offenses committed by  seemingly normal people. All of them searching for an answer." RB
Barbara Stanyck: "I'd like to see that file."
RB: "I'd be very happy to show it to you."

Burr as Police Inspector Anthony (Tony) Pope 

to Kathy Ferguson Doyle (Stanwyck) in Crime of Passion 1957

Fay Wray and Sterling Hayden also starred.

On TV, he even worked opposite himself: good guy vs bad guy personas in an episode of Perry Mason, The Case of the Dead Ringer.

Perry Mason with baddie, Seaman Grimes
The Case of The Dead Ringer
Raymond Burr faces himself

A small role, but a really bad guy in a George Raft, Virginia Mayo film, Red Light got him attention in 1949. In Love Happy, the Marx Brothers' final film also 1949, Burr is Alphonse Zoto. He's a bad guy but a humorous one, a henchman for Ilona Massey.

Major film roles were as D.A. R Frank Marlow in A Place in the Sun. Lars Thorwald in Rear Window, Steve Martin in Godzilla King of the Monsters and A Cry in the Night with Natalie Wood. These films got him status and recognition. DA Marlow in A Place in the Sun is said to be a precursor to Perry Mason. 

When asked why Perry Mason never lost a case, Raymond Burr replied that Mason had actually lost many cases, "But we only show the cases he won."
When Television Was Young: The Inside Story with Memories by Legends ...Ed McMahon

While Raymond Burr was first making pictures, the character of Perry Mason was on the big screen solving cases.

From 1934-1937, the movie version of the Perry Mason character was played by Ricardo Cortez, Donald Woods and most often by Warren William.  Perry Mason was on radio 1943-1955. A 15 minute show starred Bartlett Robinson, Santos Ortega, Donald Briggs and John Larkin as the title character. Some of the actors who'd played the part in film or on radio would guest on the television show.

Godzilla is coming for us

The Perry Mason television series ran 1957-1966. He began making special tv movies with the character in 1985. A final film in 1993 aired after Burr's death from kidney cancer.

Many famous and soon to be famous guest stars appeared both on Perry Mason and Ironside, including Bette Davis, Robert Redford, Myrna Loy, Angie Dickinson, James Coburn, Lee Meriwether, Paul Winfield, George Takei and Leonard Nimoy.

Both Jodie Foster and Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone appeared on 1972 Ironside called Bubble Bubble Toil and Murder.

Cast of Ironside

While he is most famous for playing Perry Mason, a role he would later play again in TV movies, he played the character of Chief of Detectives Robert Ironside for nearly ten years. Burr, known for his expressive blue eyes, had said that his eyes were damaged making the show, seated for long periods of time looking up into the hot, bright studio lights.

In 2013 when Blair Underwood reprised the role of Ironside, the show was canceled almost immediately, within the same month. 

There was a controversy from the disabled community. Why should an able bodied actor play the role? 

One point is that there are not as many roles for disabled actors to choose from as there are able bodied actors. Another is that an actor who lives what the character lives may be able to bring another dimension of authenticity to the role and consequently to the film or show as a whole. 

This sort of thing was rarely spoken of in the 1970s. There were other complaints about the new show in general.




Burr and his characterization of Perry Mason are very ingrained in American culture. In July 2009 then-noimnee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor was going through her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken included a question about Perry Mason.  

Fans sometimes forget about how varied, interesting and full his career was.

As Thorwald seen through a telephoto lens
in Rear Window

"What do you want from me? ... What is it you want, a lot of money? I don't have any money. Say something. Say something! Tell me what you want. "
-- Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald to "Jeff" Jefferies (James Stewart) in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window 1954

Quite a bit of Burr's biographical data is convoluted. Through the years chunks of his background were either created or exaggerated by publicists and as some of his friends said, Mr. Burr mythologized himself in print and interviews. 

This may have become somewhat unintentional as time went on and we'd assume that many celebrities' bios have been smoothed or punched up by publicists. 

Serpent of the Nile
Burr is Marc Antony
Rhonda Fleming is Cleopatra

"A woman like you ought to travel, wear pretty clothes, have some fun. Life runs away too fast if you don't hold onto it with both hands. .... You're confusing gratitude with love -- a woman wants to be loved."
-- Burr as Barney Chavez to Mrs. Dina Van Gelder (Barbara Payton) in Bride of the Gorilla

The fact that Raymond Burr was gay had to be kept a secret from the public. This appears to be as much Mr. Burr's choice as anyone else's. In the times when he was acting, starting in the 1940s-50s, it's believed that coming out of the closet would have really hurt his career. We saw this with other actors such as Rock Hudson and George Nader. George Nader's Amazon page] Nader went on to have a later career writing science fiction and gay novels, such as Chrome. The stigma was so great, some of his books he wanted published only after his death.

As with other actors, several stories were created about Burr's being married and having children; so many stories that it's hard now to separate fact from fiction. 

The times were different, the press was different then. In the 1960s he purchased an island in Fiji, a place where he could go, be himself and get away from everything.

In Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, there are some quotes from the actress and some history of the relationship between Burr and Wood. Their public relationship, appearing ambiguously have had an affair, served both of them well. They were good friends. This is confirmed in different sources.
-- Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad




In a 2010 interview in the magazine, The Advocate the actor Richard Chamberlain said, "It's complicated. There's still a tremendous amount of homophobia in our culture. It's regrettable. It's stupid, it's heartless and it's immoral, but there it is. 

"For an actor to be working is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't, so it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' ...  especially if you're a leading man. Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out."

We can look at a list of some popular actors who have come out, Sir Ian McKellen, George Takei, Neil Patrick Harris, Rupert Everett and Richard Chamberlain, but it's up to the individual. We don't know every person's story, male and female.

Raymond Burr had a great sense of humor. Film historian Leonard Maltin once said that his sense of humor may have been one thing that set him apart from other character actors. His guest appearance on programs such as the Jack Benny show are must-sees for any Burr fan.






His companion of over thirty years was Robert Benevides. Mr. Benevides continues to run the Raymond Burr Vineyards which is in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California. They ship wines and you may join the Ray Burr Wine Club. If you visit the Winery you get a treat of seeing the Emmys that he won for Perry Mason. Barbara Hale, who played Mason's right-hand woman Della Street, won an Emmy in 1959.

Raymond Burr's last feature film was with John Candy, Delirious 1991. Tom Mankiewicz was director. 

Burr died before he finished filming a television movie in 1993. Sadly John Candy died in 1994 at age 43. John Candy's last films were Cool Runnings and Wagons East. His very last film, Canadian Bacon was released posthumously.

If you live near Ventura, California you may find a walking tour dedicated to places related to the author and lawyer, creator of Perry Mason, Erle Stanley Gardner. I haven't seen it advertised for a couple of years. It may still exist.




The Erle Stanley Gardner Building in Ventura, now a Historic Landmark was put up for sale in 2013. I haven't been able to find the current status of the building. There is an Erle Stanley Gardner virtual tour. 

There is an Erle Stanley Gardner Museum in Temecula, California. Gardner had other interesting books, radio and television shows. Check out The Court of Last Resort. He was a mystery guest on What's My Line.

Raymond Burr has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work on Television. The address is 6656 Hollywood Blvd.  He also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame (as do John Candy, Dan Aykroyd and SCTV, started by the Toronto version of The Second City franchise).

In 1986 Burr worked on both Perry Mason Returns and Godzilla 1985: The Legend Is Reborn.  

In May 2014 a new Godzilla movie is set go come out. Stars are Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston.

At the end of the 1986 movie, Godzilla 1985: The Legend Is Reborn, Burr's character, Steve Martin, gave a speech:

"Nature has a way sometimes of reminding man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the unbearable offsprings of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake or a Godzilla. 

"The reckless ambitions of man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now Godzilla that strangely innocent and tragic monster  has gone to earth whether he returns or not or is never again seen by human eyes the things he has taught us remain."

Godzilla is one of the few fictional characters with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame 6925 Hollywood Blvd.
 


The Perry Mason Theme... with lyrics by The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi) Elwood Blues supplies the lyrics. "You see, we're recidivists..." They're looking for "good, honest legal help."

This article is part of The Big Stars on The Small Screen Blogathon

 



Some books of interest:
(Don't forget to visit your local library or used bookstore. Some bookstores will trade books and give you credit toward other books. You might also do this with videos and music.)

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Secret Life of Raymond Burr This book has its positives and negatives, but it appears to be the main Burr biography on the market.

Lawyers in Your Living Room!: Law on Television Perry Mason is included

Perry Mason DVD set (50th Anniversary Edition) Includes great extras like his audition to play Paul Drake. At first they thought Burr might have too bad a reputation to play Perry Mason. [Mr. Burr was did not get the role of Paul Drake. But he was just right for the lead.]

Screened Out: Playing Gay in Hollywood from Edison to Stonewall

No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement Ironside is included

On the Air:The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio This great book is now available in digital format. If you create or are just a fan of podcasts, it's a real gem.

Made in America You can find The Perry Mason Theme on several of The Blues Brothers' vinyl albums, audio CDs. I believe it's in MP3.It is definitely available in MP3 version by other artists in different versions. If you ever get the opportunity to hear it live it's really worth it. Check your local symphony's schedule. They may be doing a theme devoted to film and television, noir or to crime drama, etc.

More About Perry Mason, Related pages of interest:

Perry Mason (1957 - 1966) An article by Caftan Woman written for the Sleuthathon Blogathon

Warren William as Perry Mason An article from Outspoken & Freckled written for the Sleuthathon Blogathon

Black cats bring stars good luck

Perry Mason Immortality Shirt by iniquity
More Perry T-Shirts

Psycho Tees by PsychoBudgieRags
Design your own customized t-shirts at Zazzle.