Welcome to People of Color in Classic Film--a blog dedicated to People of Color who made contributions to (particularly, but not exclusively) American film and television between the Silent Era and 1980.
It's a little hard to find information about Vivian's life online (Donald Bogle's biography on Dorothy may provide the best information), so the information you're about to read is mainly from Wikipedia and not all facts are available.
Vivian was married five times--first to a Jack Montgomery (1942-1943), Warren Bracken (?-?), Ralph Bledsoe (1946-1947), Forace Stead (1951-1953), and Gustav Friedrich (1958-?) and was romantically linked to entertainer Emmett "Babe" Wallace (with whom had a son, Michael in 1943). All of Vivian's marriages ended in divorce unfortunately.
Here is a photo of entertainer "Babe" Wallace.
Also, click HERE to read a small article on Vivian's divorce from her fourth husband, Forace.
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Throughout the 1950s, Vivian continued to struggle to find work. She had only two minor film roles--one as a "native girl" named Melisse in the classic film I Walked With a Zombie and the other in an uncredited role as a schoolteacher in Bright Road, a film in which her sister was the star. In 1955 she would attend the Academy Awards with her Oscar nominated sister and would also replace Thelma Carpenter in the Broadway play Anchors Aweigh.
In post four, we will look at a sad decision in Vivian's life that may have had a major affect on the entire Dandridge family.
I absolutely believed that I would be able to continue working on the blog while out of town but I was so wrong. I promise this weekend every post WILL be up that was supposed to be up this week and I will continue to straight into the week.
After much success throughout the years of 1938 and 1939, Dorothy Dandridge decided she wanted to go pursue an acting a career in about 1940, leaving Vivian and Etta to find work of their own.
Vivian tried to find work in nightclubs, but very few were interested. Vivian was to get a few uncredited roles in movies like Cabin in the Skyand Stormy Weather.
I personally was able to spot Vivian in a couple of scenes in Stormy Weather, and she's the dancer dancing in at 0:55 of this clip from Cabin in the Sky and the one jumping up beside Duke Ellington towards the end:
(Clip from "Cabin in the Sky")
However, Vivian's most popular work (unfortunately) would probably be as the voice of lead characters in some of Old Hollywood's most racist cartoons--cartoons that were eventually banned.
She provides the voice of "The Girl" at about 4:34 in this banned cartoon called "Scrub Me Mama With a Boogie Beat":
She also provided the voice of "So White" in the more controversial Merry Melodies cartoon: "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs". Her mother, Ruby also provided the voice of Mammy and by the way it sounds, I believe she may have also portrayed the voice of the child too (Ruby was popular for her high pitched voice in certain TV/Movie/Radio roles).
In Post Three tomorrow, we will talk more about Vivian's personal life and life under her sister and her mother's shadow.
MGM's biggest money maker of 1937 stars Clark Gable and Jean Harlow (in her last film). Also in the cast are Lionel Barrymore, Frank Morgan, Walter Pidgeon, Una Merkel, Hattie McDaniel, and Margaret Hamilton.
After being given a stud farm in place of the owner's gambling debts, Duke Bradley (Gable) turns his eye to the now deceased gambler's daughter (Harlow) and her rich fiancee (Pidgeon).
(Clark Gable and Jean Harlow)
According to IMDB, when the film was about 90% complete, Jean Harlow collapsed on set and died a week later of kidney failure. MGM planned to re-film with another actress, but due to the public's objection, her scenes were kept in the film and Mary Dees was hired as Harlow's double (shot only from behind) and Paula Winslowe supplied the voice.
Actor Lionel Barrymore also suffered an injury on set--he tripped over a cable and re-broke his hip just before the film wrapped up.
Vivian Alferetta Dandridge was born on April 22, 1921 to Ruby and Cyril Dandridge. Her mother Ruby would leave Cyril with her baby Vivian in hand and baby Dorothy in her belly.
Ruby, an aspiring actress would put her dreams on hold to push Vivian and Dorothy into show business once she discovered their talents (they were about three and four years old). They were billed as "The Wonder Children" (or "The Wonder Kids") and they sang, danced, did skits, and performed acrobatics. Unfortunately, Ruby knew that she had to go out and find more work to support her family, so she would let a pianist named Geneva Williams move in to care for and train the children as she went out for work. Auntie was a strict disciplinarian and could be quite rough on the girls. In her autobiography, Dorothy would write that if they missed a step, a cue, anything--she would beat them with anything that was within reach.
Today's Classic Film of the Day is the 1929 film titled Dangerous Curves, starring Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, and Kay Francis.
Pat Delaney (Clara Bow) is a young bareback rider in a circus who is in love with a trapeze artist (played by Richard Arlen). However, she goes unnoticed by him and is also in a relationship with a vamp-type woman and his partner, Zara Flynn (played by Kay Francis).
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Clara Bow, Hollywood's first "It Girl"
Actor (and pilot) Richard Arlen
Kay Francis, the highest paid American actress of the early 1930s.
According to ABC News, Alex Trebek has been hospitalized after suffering a mild heart attack. He is expected to have a speedy recovery. All prayers and best wishes to him!
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opened in theaters today and already some reviews are pouring in, especially on Rotten Tomatoes. I'd say the reviews have been pretty "mixed" (more bad than good however) and basically I see a lot of reviewers saying just about the same thing:
It's too serious. Too serious and too dark for such a silly and different concept. Go on and click the Rotten Tomatoes link to check out the reviews.
Late night legend Arsenio Hall will be returning to television for a new late night show in September of 2013!
I was barely a toddler when the show actually went off the air, but I am excited for this comeback. I wonder if he'll come back with a show to direct towards the younger audience like he did over 20 years ago or will he direct the show towards that same audience who is older now?
It doesn't matter to me, I'll be tuning in anyway. Will you?
According to TVLine, the pretty faced actress we all know as Lauren London will be joining the cast of "The Game".
Lauren will be playing the role of Kiera, a former child star. This is the role that is to fill the void left by Tia Mowry's dismissal from the show.
Another role to be filled--the character of "Bryce", Ivy League draft pick and Heisman trophy winner with the intelligence that the character Derwin (played by Pooch Hall, who was also dismissed) seemed to lack a bit.
I think Lauren London is an interesting choice and out of curiosity I will be tuning in next season--probably along with a lot of other curious folk and the folks who lust after Lauren London. I also can't wait to hear who will be cast as Bryce.
Who do you think should be cast as Bryce?
Do you think BET made a smart move in casting Lauren London?
I'm becoming a big fan of "the webseries" and as you may know "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" or "Awkward Black Girl" as its simply called is my favorite.
Check out the Season 2 Premiere!
(Warning: Some language and sexual references)
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I also suggest that you check out the shows on "Black and Sexy TV". They upload new shows every Sunday at 4PM(Pacific), 7PM (Eastern).
Here is the first episode of one of the shows called "The Number".
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You should also check out The Year After. New episodes air every second Sunday!
I've finally made some more changes to the blog that I'm more comfortable with and the new changes will officially be "in effect" starting next Monday.
This 1958 film (directed by black-listed American director, John Berry) was banned in France's West African colonies (for fear that it would "cause dissent among the natives". It was released in New York City in 1959, but wasn't distributed nationwide until 1962 because it violated the miscegenation section of the Hays Code (which also led to its banning in the United States).
Originally, I planned to go completely off on MGM, Ethel Gumm, and many others. However, Ms. Garland's own children have said that they hate when their mother is portrayed as a "tragedy"--which I also hate. Her life was quite sad, but Judy Garland loved life. Out of respect and understanding of that, I don't want to make this a rant about all the wrongdoers in Ms. Garland's life. Okay, it won't exactly be a "rant" but it will be more like a "vent" and some things that I wish I were old enough and around to tell Ms. Garland.
A trip down memory lane for us 90s (and 80s) babies!
Remember waking up early around 8AM to turn to ABC?
Disney's 'One Saturday Morning' on ABC was originally set to premiere on September 6, 1997, but sadly a few days before, Princess Diana had passed away and her funeral was aired on that day.
One Saturday Morning first officially aired on September 13, 1997.
I couldn't insert a shorter clip, but the Green Bay Packers won 35 to 10. There are no tapes of the entire game in existence--networks recorded over them--tapes were very expensive during that time and the networks didn't really think the Super Bowl would become as big as it has become.
Read more about the First Super bowl on Wikipedia (if you're not too good for Wikipedia).
Basketball Wives has officially wrapped up its fourth season with part two of the reunion this week. After all of the drama, the backlash, petitions, lawsuits, and everything else the show is still returning for a fifth season, but Shaunie has already informed us that three members won't be there for it.
Now, I have some thoughts about Season 5 of Basketball Wives. First, I must ask:
What do we want from the next season? Do will still want the drama? The slaps, the bottle throwing, the arguments--do we still want that? Or do we want the show to take a more positive route--the route that (Shaunie says) it was originally supposed to take?
Hollywood has lost another one of its legendary gems.
Ann Rutherford, the wide-eyed beauty probably most known for her roles in the "Andy Hardy" films and as one of Scarlett O'Hara's little sisters in Gone With the Wind passed away yesterday due to heart problems.
A more recent television moment, Charlie Sheen's "Winning" era.
I wanted to use the Good Morning America interview, but for some reason couldn't put it in this post, so I'm using a compilation of his quotes from Youtube.
The film of the week, the lost Gold Diggers of Broadway was also produced by Warner Brothers in 1929.
And finally, Busby Berkeley's Gold Diggers of 1933 (also produced by Warner Brothers) was created and is probably the only preserved version of this entire "Gold Diggers" collection.
Season 2 of the popular webseries "The Misadventure of Awkward Black Girl" begins this coming Thursday! June 14th!
The webseries is about J (played by its creator Issa Rae), a passive and non-confrontational woman (who happens to be black...and awkward) who awkwardly survives an awkward social life and a painfully awkward work life.
This is a series that ANYONE can relate to and it's just downright hilarious!
If you haven't seen the show before, check out the first episode.
The performance that created an uproar and had conservative folk and media all over America flippin' wigs and goin' crazy!!! (As for the chicks, this performance had them going crazy in a good way).
Here is Elvis Presley performing his popular rendition of Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" on The Milton Berle Show, the performance that would also get him the nickname "Elvis the Pelvis" (lol).
This week, the classic being honored is 1929's Gold Diggers of Broadway.
This week's film is particularly special and I want to do it justice. Why?
Because this film is basically a 'lost film'. Only a few bits and pieces of the film has been found and even some of that is either missing picture or sound.
Today in honor of Judy Garland, I am prepared to watching "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows"!
I haven't seen this movie probably since it aired on ABC in 2001 (wow! 11 years ago). I remember being so excited for it to come on, I fell in love with the fact the actresses who played Judy and how they looked so much like her and I believe it was a really good movie, especially to be a television movie.
Of course, I haven't seen it since it aired so I'm happy to brush up again and see if I'll have the same feelings after knowing a little bit more about Judy and knowing a little bit more about the world of "filmmaking" and such.
Honestly, I feel like I just may even love it even more. It's a highly praised piece of work. I think I may review as well, just to sort of encourage others to watch it.
One of my favorite actresses and singers, the legendary and incomparable Judy Garland would have been 90 years old today.
Born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, 'Baby Gumm', as she would soon become known as--was introduced to both music and movies at a very young age. Her parents were both vaudevillians and by the time she was born, her father owned a movie theatre and her mother played piano for silent films. Little Frances would join her sisters Mary Jane ("Suzy") and Dorothy ("Jimmie") in singing in public at two-and-a-half years old, yes--two-and-a-half!
The girls had become known as "The Gumm Sisters" and Frances would be known as "The Little Girl With The Big Voice".
Check out some early Gumm Sisters recordings (Frances sings lead on "Blue Butterfly" and "Hang on to the Rainbow")
In September of 1935, 13 year old Frances would become 'Judy Garland' when the infamous and powerful Louis B. Mayer signed her to MGM.
She would appear in 31 films for MGM (27 of them were full-length film).
During Judy's early years at MGM, she was merely just one of their young actresses, but her performance of "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" in MGM's 1937 musical Broadway Melody of 1938 would make her an overnight star. MGM immediately began preparation to cast Judy Garland in the role that would make her a superstar and would lead to her becoming one of MGM's (and Hollywood's) biggest box office draws.
The Wizard of Oz was one of 1939's (second-place in gross-income, behind Gone With the Wind) many big hits, as well as another film starring Judy and her off-screen buddy, Mickey Rooney called Babes in Arms.
As stated before, almost all films starring Judy Garland were big box office hits and today are considered some of the most beloved films in Hollywood history.
(A personal favorite and very underrated film--Judy's first "non-musical")
Due to some problems with MGM (as stars always had problems with MGM--particularly Louis B. Meyer *eye roll*), Summer Stock would be Judy's last film at Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer.
Ms. Garland would marry five times, but her second marriage to director Vincente Minnelli would bring forth both Judy and Vincent's first child, Liza.
Judy Garland's first film after leaving MGM would become my favorite film of hers--A Star is Born. May I interject some of my personality here? Thank you.
Judy was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award for her work in A Star is Born.
Also nominated for Best Actress was Dorothy Dandridge for her role in Carmen Jones, Audrey Hepburn for role in Sabrina, Jane Wyman in her role for The Lost Weekend, and Grace Kelly for her role in The Country Girl. All bets were on Judy--people were happy for her after she'd suffered so much personal turmoil--depression, suicide attempts, a lot of sad things. She hadn't been in movies for four years and she came back in this film with full force! Her BEST performance in my opinion and a lot of other people's opinions.
Now, as much as I love, love, love Dorothy Dandridge--this Oscar BELONGED to Judy Garland. Her performance brings me nearly to tears every time I watch A Star is Born.
But, Grace Kelly would win the Oscar (I like Grace Kelly too and I think she was very beautiful, but I still have yet to see the movie she won for and even if I did I'm quite sure it wouldn't change my mind).
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Judy would go on to do a few movies after A Star is Born and would provide her voice on an animated feature.
Later in her career she would have nothing but success with albums, tours, television appearances, and a television show!