Back to Golden Days

Today is Ginger Rogers' 115th birthday. Born Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence, Missouri, on July 16, 1911, she began her entertainment career as a teenager, performing in a travelling vaudeville act. In 1930, she became an overnight star with a lead role in the Broadway musical Girl Crazy by George and Ira Gershwin. Her success on the stage soon led to a contract with Paramount Pictures, and she made her feature film debut in Monta Bell's Young Man of Manhattan (1930). Dissatisfied with the parts she was given, she moved to RKO and was put to work with Fred Astaire in Flying Down to Rio (1933), which started a highly successful partnership between the two stars. In their ten films together, they redefined the movie musical with their graceful performances and memorable dance routines. Beyond musicals, Rogers proved her versatility as a dramatic actress, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Kitty Foyle (1940).

Today is Errol Flynn's 117th birthday. Renowned for his charisma, good looks and adventurous screen presence, he established himself as one of the most celebrated stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. Born in Hobart, Tasmania, on June 20, 1909, he spent his early years travelling and working various jobs, before pursuing a career in acting. His breakthrough came with Captain Blood (1935), a role that established as a leading man and launched a successful partnership with Olivia de Havilland . Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Flynn became synonymous with swashbuckling adventures films, starring in a series of popular classics, including The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Sea Hawk (1940) and Adventures of Don Juan (1948). Known for his athleticism, charm and screen presence, he embodied the romantic hero and became one of the era's biggest box-office attractions. Off-screen, Flynn was equally famous for his adventurous lifestyle and reputation as a playboy. His personal ...

One of my favourite things to do is look at pictures of Old Hollywood stars, and I am always amazed by the charm and glamour of the actors and actresses of that time. So, as a complement to this blog, I have finally done something that I have been wanting to do for a while: I have created an Instagram page to continue sharing the love for an era that has fascinated me since my university days. If you feel that this is a page you would like to follow, please feel free to do so. You can find it at @backtogoldendaysblog .

Ginger Rogers sunbathing in 1936 (Side note: I LOVE her shoes!) Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart with their son, Steven (early 1950s) Ava Gardner in Phillip Island, Australia during the making of On the Beach (1959) Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum in Trinidad and Tobago during the filming of Fire Down Below (1957) Natalie Wood and Steve Rowland at the Thalians Beach Ball in Malibu (July 1956) Henry Fonda at the Atlantic Beach Club (1936) Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks at Catalina Beach in 1929 Diane Ellis and Carole Lombard at the beach in 1929 Rock Hudson at the pool (1950s) Audrey Hepburn in Monaco during the making of Monte Carlo Baby (1951) Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan in their pool (1940) Randolph Scott and Cary Grant poolside at their Santa Monica beach house (1935) I hope you are having an amazing summer!