Old Yeller Played by Spike, a Lab/Mastiff Mix
Old Yeller, or the dog that played Old Yeller, was a homeless dog found in a shelter in Van Nuys, California. The dog’s real name was Spike. Spike almost didn’t …
Movies
World War II and Hollywood: Participating in the War Effort
During World War II the movie-making business in Los Angeles continued but was changed by the fact that the nation was at war. Like other companies, Hollywood was affected by shortages.
Rationing, blackouts, and other wartime restrictions meant that filmmakers had to cut back on location shooting, set construction, and materials for costumes.
Skippy: Asta from The Thin Man
In the 1930s, Skippy (Asta) was a huge dog star. He lifted the hearts of people during the Depression, and everyone loved him. But Skippy had a head start. He …
The Story of Toto/Terry
The 1939 film of The Wizard of Oz is memorable for many reasons. Toto, Dorothy’s adorable dog, is certainly near the top of the list. How the dog came to …
Dog Training for the Early Movies
Dog trainer Carl Spitz (1894 –1976) was a German immigrant who made his way to Los Angeles where he founded the Hollywood Dog Training School in 1927 and became famous …
A Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
This weekend I had the opportunity to go on a behind-the-scenes visit to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre at an event sponsored by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (LAHTF). We were led from lobby to basement to backstage and on up into the inner sanctum of the special VIP seating. It was quite a thrill.
