Flappers, Charlie Chaplin, art deco, and the Charleston were among the iconic trends that defined the 1920s. Besides Chaplin and Buster Keaton, there was another actor who was doing comedy scenes with facial and physical expressions rather than verbal jokes as we are used to watching today. That other iconic actor was Harold Lloyd, the […]
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Chinese actors were not common in Hollywood like other nationalities, but slowly they were welcomed after Anna May Wong created a path for fellow Asians. Western cinema began embracing Asian actors because of their almond-shaped eyes, black hair, and porcelain skin as well as for their abilities to do martial arts and look authentic while wearing their […]
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When the bright lights of Hollywood aim at you, there’s a great amount of pressure from the industry, press, and society. Dorothy Dandridge had some struggles during her life, but her talent for acting and singing proved that she was just as worthy as any white Hollywood actor. That is just before the spark of her career and […]
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Behind every great man is a great woman. That’s how the saying goes, right? If you read last month’s column, you know that Natacha Rambova was the second wife of the 1920s silent movie actor Rudolph Valentino. That role was not what defined her, however. She was a dancer, an actress, and an art designer […]
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It’s been a morbid anticipation for October to arrive with its spider web décor, horror films, and dark clothing. As you know, this monthly column is where I write about stars from Hollywood’s past who have changed the industry and the world. This month is no exception. Now, who is someone who will welcome us with a shriek into […]
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We all experience feelings of not belonging, of thinking we’re the only one standing alone at a party when everyone else is having a great time. You hope and pray that humiliating sensation will fade once you graduate high school. Surely in college or out in the working world we’ll all be members of the […]
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To this day, Hollywood is mostly made up of white actors. There have only been a few African-Americans, Mexicans, and Asians who were able to break into the Hollywood spotlight. March is Women’s History Month, and it honors the women of diverse ages and races who have made groundbreaking changes. To celebrate this month, Old Hollywood Spotlight commemorates America’s first Chinese-American […]
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Damien Chazelle’s widely anticipated film La La Land has broken Golden Globe records, impressed critics, and introduced movie-goers to an exciting new side of the highly acclaimed stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. It’s easy to agree that the directing and musical numbers are a feat of genius, but without them the movie would struggle […]
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By the age of 24, James Dean had starred in three major Hollywood films, but his career ended after his tragic death 61 years ago this month. Growing up on a farm, Dean spent his time being around animals, which helped him pretend scenarios. In his first press release, he said the farm animals taught […]
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