The Film Colony ♛

My gorgeous grandmother, Mitzi Cummings. She could've been a goddess of the silver screen but as far as I know, other than a bit part in one or two Ramon Novarro movies, she was not allowed to pursue this. Was this right? Who's to say. But she was a talented writer and lyricist and wrote … Continue reading My gorgeous grandmother, Mitzi: Hollywood was her playground…

My great uncle, Louis B. Mayer, loved being an American so much he claimed to be born on the 4th of July. He was actually born on the 12th but I am sure he loved any fuss being made for his birthday at the same time as Americans celebrated around the country. Over the years … Continue reading Louis B. Mayer wasn’t actually born on the 4th of July, but it was a symbol of his hopes and dreams…

ALICIA MAYER In-Person Q&A PRESENTATION ON MGM & LOUIS B. MAYER In Celebration of the Culver City Centennial Everyone who has any connection to Culver City, or who has ever seen a movie, knows the name of “Mayer.” Louis B. Mayer was the legendary head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the studio with “more stars than there are in heaven.” … Continue reading Event: ALICIA MAYER In-Person, In Celebration of the Culver City Centennial

Clues: Aristocracy, King Kong, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the friendly sister of a silent movie star... Last week I posted the photo below of four men on an unknown MGM film set: director and choreographer, Stanley Donen, my grandfather, producer, Sol Baer Fielding, a very tall, older mystery man, and famous actor and dancer, Gene Kelly. … Continue reading Newsflash: The Mystery of the Tall Hatted Man Has Been Solved!

Anyone know who the tall older fellow is in this photo? Of course, you probably all recognized the incomparable Gene Kelly next to him. On the other side of the mystery man is my grandfather, Sol Baer Fielding, and next to him is the legendary choreographer Stanley Donen. By the way, Mr Hatted Man is … Continue reading Can you help me identify the tall hatted man standing in between Gene Kelly and my grandfather?

This Memorial Day our family honors the memory of my great uncle Leonard 'Sonny' Cummings, who was my grandmother Mitzi's younger brother, and from my great-grandmother Ida's second marriage. I don't know much about his service but we are privileged to have several photos from this time, including those shared here. Of these, the only … Continue reading The little known nephew of Louis B. Mayer who served proudly in WWII #MemorialDay

My grandmother Mitzi introduced her friend Esther "Kitty" Buhler, who was a fellow writer and screenwriter, to the five-star General Omar Bradley, and they fell in love and married in 1966. The two couples - my grandparents, Sol and Mitzi, and the Bradleys - remained friends and would have dinner now and again. I think … Continue reading That time five-star General Omar Bradley taught me how to eat oysters

It's a gorgeous autumn morning here in Sydney, which for reasons unknown inspired me to share a few of the male publicity shots from my collection. They are all so different and I love the various inscriptions. 'To "Emotional Mitzi" Oi what a Secretary But Sweet like Sugar On this side of my face I … Continue reading Male publicity photos from the Alicia Mayer Collection.