From Beneath the Hollywood Sign

6d ago

12-15-2025. "HO! HO! HOLLYWOOD: SANTA CLAUS IN CLASSIC CINEMA" (118) Long before special effects, CGI snowstorms, and big-budget holiday franchises, it fell to a small but memorable group of performers to embody the warmth, wonder, and whimsy of old St. Nick. Ever wonder about the actors who were called upon to portray Santa Claus in film and TV? These classic Santas weren’t just men in red suits — they were character actors, vaudevillians, radio veterans, and Hollywood workhorses who brought their own unique spark to the role, shaping how generations of moviegoers came to imagine Father Christmas. From the twinkle-eyed charmers to the unexpectedly gruff curmudgeons, from the iconic to the nearly forgotten, we’re unwrapping the stories behind the earliest portrayals that turned Santa into a cinematic tradition. So settle in with a mug of something warm, hang your stocking, and join us as we explore the jolly, joyful, and sometimes surprisingly complex history of Hollywood’s first Santas. SHOW NOTES: Sources: Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: Ivanhoe (1913); Scrooge (1913); Santa Claus (1912), starring Leedham Bantok; 20th Century Fox Hour: Miracle on 34th Street (1955); starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, & Thomas Mitchell; Shadow of a Doubt (1943), starring Joseph Cotten & Teresa Wright; Stagecoach (1939), starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, & Thomas Mitchell; It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, & Thomas Mitchell; Gone With The Wind (1939), starring Vivien Leigh & Clark Gable; Theodora Goes Wild (1936), starring Irene Dunne; Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), starring James Stewart & Jean Arthur; Our Town (1940), starring Martha Scott & Henry Fonda; High Noon (1952), starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly; Wild Flowers (1943), starring José Elias Moreno; Santa Claus (1959), starring José Elias Moreno; Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964), staring John Call; Fearless Fagan (1952), staring Janet Leigh & Keenan Wynn; Boots Malone (also 1952), starring William Holden Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), starring Marilyn Monroe & Richard Widmark; The Long, Long Trailer (1954), starring Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz; The Anderson Tapes (1971), starring Sean Connery & Dyan Cannon; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 8

EPISODE 117 - “STEVE AND NAN DISCUSS: MOVIES ABOUT MOVIES” - 12/08/25 In the latest episode of From Beneath the Hollywood Sign, we pull back the curtain on the cinematic world of making movies about... making movies. We dive deep into the movies that reveal what really happens behind the scenes in Tinseltown-sometimes with affection, sometimes as a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for. Movies like Sullivan's Travels (1941), Singin' in the Rain (1952), and Sunset Boulevard (1950) all offer a fascinating look at the machinations that go into making films. This week, we'll be discussing six lesser-known moves that give us a peek behind the scenes and reveal very different sides of the not-always-so-glamorous ways Hollywood works. Across genres and generations, these films offer an insider's view not just of how Hollywood works, but of the dreams, delusions, and dramas that make moviemaking an art form all its own. SHOW NOTES: Sources: Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: What Price Hollywood? (1932) starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Gregory Ratoff, and Neil Hamilton; Bombshell (1933), starring Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy, Franchot Tone, Frank Morgan, Una Merkel, Louise Beavers, and Pat O’Brien; Stand-In (1937), starring Leslie Howard, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Mowbray, Marla Shelton, and Jack Carson; The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941), starring Mary Beth Hughes, George Montgomery, Alan Mowbray, Richard Lane, Robert Conway, and John Miljan; The Star (1952), starring Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood, Warner Anderson, Paul Frees, Barbara Lawrence, Fay Baker, and Herb Vigran; The Goddess (1958), starring Kim Stanley, Steven Hill, Lloyd Bridges, Betty Lou Holland, Elizabeth Wilson, Bert Freed, and Louise Beavers; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 1

EPISODE 116 - “CLASSIC STAR OF THE MONTH: DICK VAN DYKE” - 12/01/25 Join us as we celebrate the life and career of someone who seemingly personifies joy — on-screen and off. And maybe that’s the secret to his longevity, because he is about to celebrate his 100th birthday on December 13. Of course, we’re talking about the one and only, DICK VAN DYKE , our December Star of the Month. His career spans The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , and beyond. He’s danced across rooftops, flipped over ottomans, and shared his personal struggles with alcoholism in order to shine a light on a horrible disease -- at a time when that sort of thing wasn’t discussed. From his early years trying to make it in show business, to that breakout moment on Broadway, to becoming one of the most beloved stars on television and film - today, we celebrate the legendary Dick Van Dyke! SHOW NOTES: Sources: My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business (2011), Dick Van Dyke; Columbia Pictures Press Release , (1968), by John C. Flinn; Rogers & Cowan, Inc. Public Relations Biographical Notes on Dick Van Dyke, 1964 “A New Van Dyke Family Blooms in the Desert,” September 17, 1971, Life Magazine ; “Dick Van Dyke Does It All, But In His Own Way,” March/April 1973, by Joseph N. Bell, The Saturday Evening Post ; “Dick Van Dyke Tells of Alcohol Problem”, December 7, 1973, by Marilyn Beck, Marilyn Beck’s Hollywood, Special Features ; “The Serious Side of Dick Van Dyke,” Jan/Feb 1982, by Sally Saunders, The Saturday Evening Post : “Vintage Van Dyke,” October 1990, by Stuart Matranga, TV Time ; “Biography Dick Van Dyke,”Dec 14, 1998, by Michael A. Lipton & Champ Clark, People Magazine; “ Man With A Mission: Helping the Homeless Makes Dick Van Dyke’s Holidays,”Nov 13, 2007, by Debra Beyer, Los Angeles Times; “ Mary Tyler Moore & Dick Van Dyke Are Together Again on TV — But They’re Not Rob & Laura Anymore,”April 2003, by Sheldon Lessen, Southern California Senior Life ; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: Bye, Bye Birdie (1963), starring Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, & Maureen Stapleton; What a Way to Go (1964), starring Shirley MacLaine, Dean Martin, Robert, Mitchum, Dick Van Dyke, Gene Kelly, & Paul Newman; Mary Poppins (1964), starring Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke; The Art of Love (1965), starring James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, & Angie Dickinson; Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. (1966), starring Dick Van Dyke & Nancy Kwan; Divorce American Style (1967), starring Dick Van Dyke, Debbie Reynolds, Jason Robards & Jean Simmons; Never a Dull Moment (1968), starring Dick Van Dyke, Edward G, Robinson & Dorothy Provine; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), starring Dick Van Dyke & Sally Ann Howes; Some Kind of Nut (1969), starring Dick Van Dyke, Angie Dickinson, Rosemary Forsyth, & Zohra Lambert; The Comic (1969), starring Dick Van Dyke, Michelle Lee & Mickey Rooney; Cold Turkey (1971), starring Dick Van Dyke, Pippa Scott, & Bob Newhart; The Morning After (1974), starring Dick Van Dyke & Lynn Carlin; The Runner Stumbles (1979), starring Dick Van Dyke & Kathleen Quinlan; Dick Tracy (1990), starring Warren Beatty & Madonna; The Gin Game (2003), starring Dick Van Dyke & Mary Tyler Moore; Night at the Museum (2006), starring Ben Stiller & Carla Cugino; Mary Poppins Returns (2018), starring Emily Blunt & Lin Manuel Miranda; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 24

“THE HOLMES ACTING DYNASTY: FROM STAGE TO SCREEN” - 11/24/25 (115) When we think of the great acting family dynasties of Hollywood, we often think of the Barrymores, the Carradines, or the Fondas, but today we’ll be discussing another acting dynasty that may not be as familiar, but is every bit as interesting. The HOLMES family consisted of prolific character actor TAYLOR HOLMES, whose career spanned from Broadway to film to TV, his actress wife, EDNA PHILLIPS, and their talented children, PHILLIPS HOLMES, a leading man of the early 1930s, MADELEINE TAYLOR HOLMES, a gifted character performer in her own right, and actor RALPH HOLMES, whose early promise was tragically cut short. Joining us is special guest actress/musician MICHELLE HOLMES, who is a cousin of Taylor Holmes. Together, we’ll explore how the Holmes family helped shape the Golden Age of Hollywood — and how their influence still lingers today. SHOW NOTES: Sources: Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: Fool For Luck (1917); Ruggles of Red Gap (1918); Kiss of Death (1947); Nightmare Alley (1947); Joan of Arc (1948); A Christmas Carol (1949); Father of the Bride (1950); Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953); Sleeping Beauty (1959); An American Tragedy (1931); Broken Lullaby (1932); Dinner at Eight (1933); Nana (1934); Great Expectations (1934); The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976); Fatso (1980); Undersea Kingdom (1936); Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17

"FROM SILENT DREAMS TO SILVER SCREENS - THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN STORY" Nov 17, 2025 - (114) Each year thousands of people flock to Hollywood, and most are usually stopped in their tracks upon the first sighting of the iconic Hollywood Sign. Sitting high atop Mount Lee 1400 feet above the city, the Sign is a mesmerizing beacon of light that has come to symbolize the hopes and dreams of so many who’ve come here to become a star. This week, we get (really) up-close and personal with the Hollywood Sign. At the invitation of the Hollywood Sign Trust, the organization in charge of maintaining, protecting, and publicizing the Sign, we were able to record at the base of the Sign, a location that is off-limits to the public. Joining us to tell the fascinating and fanciful history of the Hollywood Sign is DIANA WRIGHT, who works with the Trust. You won’t want to miss this one! SHOW NOTES: Sources: “20 Fun Facts About The Hollywood Sign,” January 22, 2017, by Nelson James, Signs.com ; Hollywoodsign.org; laconservancy.org; Hollywoodchamber.net; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 10

EPISODE 113 - “BIG STAR, SMALL SCREEN - A CONVERSATION WITH FRONT ROW CLASSICS’ BRANDON DAVIS” - 11/10/25 In the early days of television, many classic film actors were hesitant—or even outright refused—to appear on TV for a multitude of reasons. Many thought that TV was low-brow. Others thought they would get overexposed and it would somehow diminish their box-office power. Slowly stars like LORETTA YOUNG, BARBARA STANWYCK, ROBERT MONTGOMERY, and LUCILLE BALL figured out that TV could enhance and elongate their popularity and appeal. Slowly, classic stars began to pop up on the boob-tube. Joining us this week is BRANDON DAVIS, host extraordinaire of the fantastic podcast Front Row Classics, who will discuss the migration of classic film stars to the small screen and how it affected their popularity and careers. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen IDA LUPINO doing her best “Norma Desmond” on an episode of “Charlie’s Angels” in 1977. SHOW NOTES: Sources: Columbo: The Series (2017), by Scott V. Palmer; Wagon Train: The Television Series (2011), by James Rosin; I Love Lucy: The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular TV Show Ever (1998), by Michael McClay; Perry Mason TV Show Book (1987), by Brian Kelleher and Diana Merrill; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; TV Series Mentioned: I Love Lucy The Lucy Show The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour Here’s Lucy The Barbara Stanwyck Show Dr. Kildare Gunsmoke Perry Mason Route 66 Wagon Train The Big Valley Batman Petticoat Junction The Brady Bunch The Carol Burnett Show Columbo Murder She Wrote The Love Boat Fantasy Island Hotel Falcon Crest Charlie’s Angels The Colbys --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 3

EPISODE 112 - “CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH: JACQUELINE WHITE” - 11/03/25 When we think of our beloved Classic film stars who are still with us, we tend to think of EVA MARIE SAINT , ANN BLYTH , KIM NOVAK , ROBERT WAGNOR , or DICK VAN DYKE , however, there is one star among us who will be turning 103 in November. The name JACQUELINE WHITE may not ring any bells today, but for a brief time in the 1940s, she was a beautiful, talented leading lady with much promise. In fact, when she was up for the lead role of the mother in the 1946 film The Yearling , she was told by the producers that she was too beautiful to portray the simple pioneer woman. The role went to JANE WYMAN , who probably would have been none-too-pleased to know that, apparently, she was just fine playing such a plain and simple woman! But as a consolation prize, Wyman was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress. Join us as we pay tribute to Jacqueline White and her contribution to classic cinema. SHOW NOTES: Sources: Jacqueline White Official Biography, 1946, RKO Studios ; “Jacqueline White May Be The New Irene Dunne, December 1, 1946, Los Angeles Times ; “Jacqueline White to Wed,” September 20, 1948, by Louella Parsons, Los Angeles Examiner ; “Snappy Shots,” October 24, 1948, by Dorothy Manners, Los Angeles Examiner ; “An Interview With…Jacqueline White,” by Mike Fitzgerald, Western Clippings ; Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: Dr. Gillespie’s New Assistant (1942), starring Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson, & Susan Peters; Reunion in France (1942), starring Joan Crawford & John Wayne; Air Raid Wardens (1943), starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, & Jacqueline White; Three Hearts for Julia (1943), starring Ann Sothern & Melvyn Douglas; Pilot #5 (1943), starring Franchot Tone, Marsha Hunt, & Gene Kelly; Swing Shift Maisie (1943), starring Ann Sothern & James Craig; A Guy Named Joe (1943), starring Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, & Van Johnson; Song of Russia (1944), starring Robert Taylor & Susan Peters; Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), starring Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson, & Robert Walker; The Harvey Girls (1946), starring Judy Garland, John Hodiak, & Angela Lansbury; The Show Off (1946), starring Red Skelton, Marilyn Maxwell, & Marjorie Main; Banjo (1947), starring Sharron Moffat & Jacqueline White; Seven Keys To Baldpate (1947), starring Phillip Terry & Jacqueline White; Crossfire (1947), starring Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, & Gloria Grahame; Night Song (1947); starring Dana Andrews & Merle Oberon; Return of the Bad Men (1948), starring Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffries, & Jacqueline White; Mystery In Mexico (1948), starring William Lundigan & Jacqueline White; Riders on The Range (1950), starring Tim Holt & Jacqueline White; The Capture (1950), starring Lew Ayres & Teresa Wright The Narrow Margin (1952), starring Charles MacGRaw, Marie Windsor & Jacqueline White; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27

EPISODE 111 - “CELEBRATING DIANE KEATON: THE HIDDEN GEMS OF A HOLLYWOOD ORIGINAL” - 10/27/25 When DIANE KEATON passed away on October 11, 2025, she left behind an incredible legacy of important films and stunning performances that were some of the best of the era. Her youthful effervescence, her fashion style, everything about her belied mortality. Most people think of her masterful, Oscar-winning performance in Annie Hall , (1977) but her career is so much more than that one role. Over the past five decades, her filmography is a study in contrasts: farce, heart wrenching dramas, rom-coms with a twist — she’s taken risks, playing complicated women (even in the lighter faire), and made some really interesting choices. In this episode, we’re going to take a look at some of the films Diane Keaton made that don’t always get the spotlight they deserve. Watching these films, whether for the first time or a revisit, you realize just how bold and varied her work was. Whether in a quiet drama focusing on an intimate character study, a quirky comedy, or something completely unexpected, Diane Keaton always brought a mix of honesty, humor, and heart that was entirely her own. So, today we honor the life and legacy of the multifaceted Diane Keaton. SHOW NOTES: Sources: Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: Play It Again, Sam (1972), starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, & Tony Roberts; Looking For Mr, Goodbar (1977), starring Diane Keaton, Tuesday Weld, William Atherton, Richard Gere, Richard Riley, Allen Fienstein, Tom Berenger, Priscilla Pointer, & LaVar Burton; Interiors (1978), starring Diane Keaton, Mary Beth Hurt, Kristin Griffith, Geraldine Page, E.G. Marshall, Richard Jordan, Sam Waterston, & Maureen Stapleton; Shoot The Moon (1978), starring Diane Keaton, Albert Finney, Dana Hill, Karen Allen, Peter Weller, Tracy Gold, Tina Yothers, & Viveka Davis; Marvin’s Room (1996), starring Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert DeNiro, Gwen Verdon, Hume Cronyn, & Hal Scardino; Sometime’s Gotta Give (2003), starring Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand, & Jon Favreau; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices