The Belousoff's lived at 808 N. Linden Drive in Beverly Hills, and twice within just a few months they would be feet away from shocking, violent events reported around the world.
Tag: ida mayer cummings
Documentary about Restoring the Hollywood Moguls’ Temple Picked up for Theatrical Release
I am so proud of my friend Aaron Wolf's documentary, Restoring Tomorrow, about the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, which my great uncle, Louis B. Mayer, and other studio moguls helped to build so long ago. I actually wrote about this mammoth $150 million restoration project when it was announced several years ago, partly to explain the … Continue reading Documentary about Restoring the Hollywood Moguls’ Temple Picked up for Theatrical Release
Ida and the Sinner, Mae West
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." Mae West ONE OF THE hardest things to do is to accurately judge the impact of a rebel after society has morphed in their direction. It’s the difference between falling down a set of stairs and remembering it as stubbing your toe. … Continue reading Ida and the Sinner, Mae West
What Ben Urwand has taught us: the package is not the product
For those of you who follow my blog or follow me on Twitter and elsewhere, you will know that I have been shocked at the instant acceptance that Ben Urwand received from the media and in other forums for his sensationalist claims that Hollywood's Jewish moguls collaborated with Hitler and his regime. Basically, as soon … Continue reading What Ben Urwand has taught us: the package is not the product
The Perfect Pickford Family
"Things didn't work out that much, you know. But I'll never forget her. I think that she was a good woman." Ron Pickford Rogers, Mary Pickford and Buddy Roger's adopted son, who later became homeless. THE PICKFORD FAMILY portrait, probably taken in 1945, was most likely Mary Pickford’s and Buddy Roger’s first official photo with … Continue reading The Perfect Pickford Family
Judy Garland – the tragic arc of the child star.
My grandmother, Mitzi Cummings, interviews a very young Judy Garland, who in this photo looks like she may be promoting her first movie, musical short Every Sunday, which included fellow child actor, Deanna Durbin. Date unknown, however the location is most likely an MGM set. Like any starry-eyed teenager, the young singer was ready to … Continue reading Judy Garland – the tragic arc of the child star.
Me, the ghost of the future past
Knowing what I know about my family, the good and the bad – thanks to the books, old newspaper articles, the fragments of overheard conversations or stories told to me – I still ache to be in that photo. Oh, how I love this photo and wish for all the tea in China that I … Continue reading Me, the ghost of the future past
Sid Grauman: the hair, the theaters, the chutzpah.
Anyone who comments about a rare early morning start to play himself in a movie that, "Birds were singing. How long has that been going on?" I could have had a lot of fun with. Of all the early Hollywood elite that I have written about, the one I most wished I could have met … Continue reading Sid Grauman: the hair, the theaters, the chutzpah.
RIP Louis B. Mayer, The Lion of Hollywood
On October 29th, 1957 Louis B. Mayer died from leukemia, a disease which would claim his nephew, Leonard Cummings, the youngest child of my great-grandmother, Ida Mayer Cummings, just eight years later.
The tailor’s son takes a wife…
When Popa mentioned he had also done this on windy, precipitous mountain roads, I had a vision of a wiry, redheaded kid with a huge smile and a constellation of freckles across his face, loving the fresh mountain breeze through the windows and Death not able to catch up with him. In my previous post, … Continue reading The tailor’s son takes a wife…
The Film Colony ♛ 
You must be logged in to post a comment.