Stars of the Golden Age: An Old Hollywood Podcast

Dorothy Dandridge: Performing since she was a small child, Dorothy Dandridge was the first black actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. But that wasn't the only "first" she contributed to history. Dorothy Dandridge was a trailblazer, and she paved the way for every black actor who came after her. She endured racism and was denied opportunities because of the color of her skin. Her story is not a very happy one, but it is an important one.
BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast
Episode Sources: The book Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography by the great Donald Bogle; the book Dorothy Dandridge: The Life and Legacy of One of Hollywood’s First Successful Black Actresses by Charles River Editors; the A&E Biography documentary, Dorothy Dandridge: Little Lost Girl from 1998; IMDB
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GENE KELLY: A dance legend! He devoted most of his life to his art of dance, and it turned out he could act, too! He left behind some unforgettable classic film performances and truly unique dance numbers within them. Listen to his story now.
BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast
Episode Sources: A book titled He’s Got Rhythm: The Life and Career of Gene Kelly by Cynthia Brideson and Sara Brideson; an article from PBS titled The Star Perfromers: Gene Kelly; the January 1946 issue of Photoplay magazine; IMDB
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VIVIEN LEIGH: Vivien Leigh changed Hollywood forever with her dynamic portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. She was a beloved figure on the London stage. But life wasn't easy for Vivien Leigh. She attained a lot of success in her life, but she also suffered a lot of distress. Listen to her story now.
BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast
Episode Sources: A book titled Dark Star, A Biography of Vivien Leigh by Alan Strachan; a book titled Vivien Leigh: A Biography by Hugo Vickers; a Washington Post article by Eve Auchincloss from July 17th, 1977, titled The Two Faces of Vivien Leigh; Harper's Bazaar article by Chanel Vargas from October 9th, 2017, titled A Timeline of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier's Tragic Love Story; an article from Bravo Magazine from February 15, 2025 titled A Legend in Two Acts: The Life and Complexity of Vivien Leigh by MiscelAna; biography.com; IMDB
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FRED MacMURRAY: The underrated leading man of Hollywood's golden age, Fred MacMurray was the wholesome guy next door who all of the hottest leading ladies of the 1930's and 1940's wanted to play opposite. But he didn't always hold up that wholesome image on screen... he showed us a darker side in two iconic classic films. Double Indemnity and The Apartment. Listen now to Fred MacMurray's story!
BONUS CONTENT!! https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast
Episode Sources: A book titled Fred MacMurrary: A Biography by Charles Tranberg; a documentary titled Fred MacMurray: The Guy Next Door by The Hollywood Collection; an article from the LA Times by Sam Watters from October 1, 2011; The Walt Disney Archives; IMDB
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NATALIE WOOD (Part Three:)
The conclusion of Natalie Wood's story. Please listen to parts one and two first. In this episode, Natalie's relationship with Robert Wagner, her dreams coming true, becoming a mother, and the fateful weekend that marked the tragic end of her life.
PATREON Bonus Content: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast
Episode Sources: A book titled Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography, by Suzanne Finstad; an article from Los Angeles Magazine by Suzanne Finstad; a 48 Hours documentary titled Death in Dark Water, Season 31, episode 14; IMDB
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