The Film Colony ♛

So a couple of weeks ago - around the same time as I stumbled across the mystery manuscript, which you might remember - I promised I would share two letters from Joan Crawford that were in my grandmother Mitzi's papers. I took this photo last night when maybe the lighting was a bit too moody … Continue reading Two lovely notes from Joan Crawford to my grandmother will make you miss the lost art of letter writing

Do you have a nickname? I didn't really have one growing up, although close family and friends often call me Ali. Does that qualify as a nickname? Anyway, when I was in my late teens I had a boyfriend who insisted on calling me 'Bunny', which I thought was just ridiculous. In Australia, nicknames are … Continue reading A man called Mary is one of the reasons why I love Australians.

We should bring back telegrams, don't you think? Surely a Silicon Valley entrepreneur can create a network of kids on bikes who hand deliver paper missives to your door. And if they do a smart brand licensing deal, they can call it Uber Notes! You'd be sitting at home, minding your own business, and hear … Continue reading Vintage Hollywood #RoshHashanah telegrams and you’ll want Silicon Valley to bring back this retro awesomeness!

Happy heavenly birthday to Greta Garbo, born on September 18, 1905 in Stockholm, Sweden. Although she was appearing in commercials and local films, it wasn't until my great-uncle, Louis B. Mayer, discovered her and brought her to M-G-M that she became a screen siren and ultimately one of Hollywood's greatest icons. And really we can … Continue reading There would be no Greta Garbo without Louis B. Mayer sailing to Italy to fix the epic mess that was BEN-HUR

If you follow my Facebook page you'll remember that just a couple of days ago I posted a mysterious two and half page 'autobiography', which I found in my grandmother Mitzi's papers. The woman described a life so tough it was enough to make you gulp and by the end of the first page you … Continue reading UPDATE: Remember the mystery autobiography in my grandmother Mitzi’s papers?

During my live presentations in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, I shared a handful of photos from my cousin Jillian, Gerald Mayer's older daughter. If his name rings a bell, that's because along with producing and directing at M-G-M, he was the only one in the family to make the leap into TV. Gerald … Continue reading Early team bonding! What else would explain a Hollywood mogul on a scooter?

Here's a very interesting letter from Norma Shearer from 1972 to my grandmother, Mitzi Cummings Fielding, which is essentially the most affectionate 'No' you're ever going to read. Reading between the lines, it appears my grandmother had contacted Norma requesting an interview in relation to Mitzi's book about her uncle, Louis B. Mayer. As a … Continue reading Norma Shearer’s remarkable letter about Louis B. Mayer sent to my grandmother Mitzi in 1972

Happy birthday, Dearest Mitzi ❤️ Today, Mitzi Cummings Fielding, my glamorous, talented, and funny grandmother would have been 110 years old. She was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada but in the early 1920s moved to Los Angeles, California with her mother, Ida Mayer Cummings, and three siblings (Ruth, Jack, and Leonard). She graduated … Continue reading Happy birthday to my glamorous, talented grandmother, Mitzi, once a Hollywood princess.

More from the JHA* scanfest during my recent trip to Los Angeles! Here's Bob Hope, who emceed so many of great-grandma Ida Mayer Cummings' events that the family story is that she discovered him. I have no idea if that's true or not but remember she did move in the right circles thanks to her … Continue reading Bob Hope emceed so many of great-grandma Ida’s events the family story is she discovered him…