From Schwartz to Curtis—Hollywood Actors and Their Name Changes

By Kathy Kovach

Back in the day, actors often changed their names. Some did it because the names given to them were hard to pronounce or would be confusing on a marquee. Others needed to shed their ethnicity per their studio’s suggestion, which was the case for Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino. I mentioned this, as well as how the studio head also altered Hayworth physically, in my article “The Manufacturing of a Hollywood Star”. In all, they simply needed their monikers to stand out, be marketable, and most of all, memorable.

Tony Curtis

The ethnic name changes were never more prevalent than within the Jewish community. Discrimination ran rampant, particularly throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s. Bernard Schwartz became Tony Curtis, shedding his Hungarian-Jewish moniker to one sounding more leading man-like. Eventually, however, both he and his daughter, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, became philanthropic in helping to finance The Great Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary, known today as the largest in Europe. Curtis continued to embrace his heritage through further interests in Hungary.

Audrey Hepburn

A reversal of the ethnic name change was that of Audrey Kathleen Ruston, aka Audrey Hepburn. Not Jewish, the Belgium-born actress held British citizenship through her father. She and her family lived in Nazi-occupied Holland while she attended ballet classes. Her mother, a Dutch baroness, changed Audrey's name to Edda van Heemstra to protect her. The name Edda was the Dutch translation of the name Audrey, and van Heemstra was her mother’s maiden name. Once Hepburn began her film career, she took back her first name of Audrey and adopted the first half of her father’s surname of Hepburn-Ruston.

In some cases, the change came about due to pronunciation. Joan Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSeuer. The studio bosses at MGM were quite interested in her, but not her name. They felt it sounded too European, and even worse, too closely resembled the word “sewer”. In a smart marketing move, they turned to a magazine and held a contest to determine her stage name. Joan Crawford was the result, but the actress hated it because it sounded too much like “crawfish”. Go figure.

Mary Jane, Dorothy Virginia, and Frances Gumm, aka the Garland Sisters

A billing mishap renamed the singing Gumm Sisters, resulting in the horrific typo, Glum Sisters. There are a couple of myths as to how they came to adopt their new title, the Garland Sisters, but my favorite comes from comedian George Jessel who said the trio “looked prettier than a garland of flowers”. One of the sisters sang under her given name Frances Gumm. When she stepped into the Hollywood lights, she decided to keep the beautiful Garland and changed her first to Judy.

Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine

One reason for changing a name was because the actor shared it with a sibling. Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland unfortunately didn’t become noticed until her sister Olivia de Havilland had claimed her star in Hollywood. Her mother went as far as to forbid Joan from signing with Warner Brothers because that was “Olivia’s studio.” And to add further injury, her real name was taboo because “two de Havillands on the marquee would be too many.” Therefore, she simply took her stepfather’s last name, Fontaine.

Let’s play a fun game. Match the actor’s REAL NAME with their STAGE NAME. The ANSWER is below. No peeking!

REAL NAME    

1. Frederic Austerlitz (Dancing genius)

2. Benjamin Kubelsky (Violin-playing comic)

3. Harry Lillis Crosby (Crooner with big ears)

4. Frank James Cooper (Slow talking cowboy)

5. Milton Berlinger (Comic with a funny face)

6. Nathan Birnbaum (Comic married to Gracie Allen)

7. Doris Kappelhoff (Sang “Que Sera”)

8. Archibald Leach (Suave sophisticated ex-acrobat)

9. Joseph Levitch (Comic known for “Hey, lady!)

10. Dino Crocetti (Crooner with a glass in his hand)

11. Ruby Stevens (played matriarch Victoria Barkley)

12. Marion Morrison (Cowboy with a swagger)

13. William Henry Pratt (Frankenstein)

14. Béla Blaskó (Dracula)

15. Asa Yoelson (Sang “My Mammy”)

16. Issur Danielovitch (Intense actor with cleft in chin)

17. Joseph Yule Jr. (Versatile actor of short stature)

18. Betty Joan Perske (Smokey actress who loved Bogey)

19. Frances Smith (Married to Roy)

20. Leonard Slye (Married to Dale)

 

STAGE NAME

Dean Martin

John Wayne

Jack Benny

Boris Karloff

Doris Day

Bela Lugosi

Fred Astaire

Jerry Lewis

Cary Grant

Kirk Douglas

Gary Cooper

Lauren Bacall

Al Jolson

Bing Crosby

Dale Evans

Mickey Rooney

Barbara Stanwyck

George Burns

Roy Rogers

Milton Berle

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1597) 2.2. Too bad Hollywood never consulted the bard before rebranding their stars.

What would your Hollywood name be?

*************

ANSWERS

1. Frederic Austerlitz / Fred Astaire

2. Benjamin Kubelsky / Jack Benny

3. Harry Lillis Crosby / Bing Crosby

4. Frank James Cooper / Gary Cooper

5. Milton Berlinger / Milton Berle

6. Nathan Birnbaum / George Burns

7. Doris Kappelhoff / Doris Day

8. Archibald Leach / Cary Grant

9. Joseph Levitch / Jerry Lewis

10. Dino Crocetti / Dean Martin

11. Ruby Stevens / Barbara Stanwyck

12. Marion Morrison / John Wayne

13. William Henry Pratt / Boris Karloff

14. Béla Blaskó / Bela Lugosi

15. Asa Yoelson / Al Jolson

16. Issur Danielovitch / Kirk Douglas

17. Joseph Yule Jr. / Mickey Rooney

18. Betty Joan Perske / Lauren Bacall

19. Frances Smith / Dale Evans

20. Leonard Slye / Roy Rogers

Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

A TIME-SLIP NOVEL

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection.

Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart.

To buy: Amazon

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother and a great-grandmother—though much too young for either. Kathleen has been a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

Website

Blog With A Giggle
CraftCinema

Facebook

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The Manufacturing of a Hollywood Star

 

By Kathy Kovach

It can be said that Hollywood stars are not discovered, they’re manufactured.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, some Hollywood stars didn’t start out glamorous. Cary Grant had been a rough and tumble kid from Bristol, England determined to join an acrobatic troupe. His demeanor was uncouth, his language unrefined, and no doubt, his fashion sense was non-existent. However, once Hollywood got hold of him, she polished up his accent, put him in a tuxedo, and somewhat tamed his exuberance. Because of Hollywood, he became the suave and sophisticated gentleman we all grew to love. One could assert that Cary Grant, born Archibald Leach, wasn’t discovered; he was manufactured.

Have you ever listened to Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and others to determine where their accents are from? Well, good luck. The practice of dropping the ‘R’ and softening the vowels makes one wonder if it’s an English accent or American. In fact, it’s both. And it’s fake. This mid-Atlantic accent, also known as the Trans-Atlantic accent, was a manufactured form of speech that early studios taught to their young actors. Rather than a decidedly Boston accent or one bourn of the upper crust of royal society, it imparts a general sophistication and wealth without adding backstory. Check out this clip from The Philadelphia Story. It's a good example of both Hepburn and Grant, as well as the child actress Virginia Weidler, speaking as if they weren’t from Hartford, Connecticut, Bristol, England, and Eagle Rock, California, respectively. 

Physical image seemed important, as well. Just as Cary Grant went from street urchin to James Bond wannabe, others underwent changes. In some cases, quite drastic.

Rita Cansino 1935, Rita Hayworth 1942

Rita Hayworth was one of many actresses who, in her raw form, was not Hollywood material. Born Margarita Carmen Cansino (1918-1987), her Hispanic origins limited the roles that studios were wanting to fill. Her exotic looks got her typecast as a visiting foreigner. Her first speaking role was that of an Argentinian girl in Under the Pampas Moon (1935). She also played an Egyptian in Charlie Chan in Egypt. She eventually signed a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures, whereon studio head Harry Cohn decided her image was too Mediterranean, and he set about to change her appearance.

A natural beauty, she underwent painful electrolysis to raise her hairline and broaden her forehead. Her dark brown hair was died ginger. She took her Irish/English mother’s maiden name and became Rita Hayworth. Throughout 1940, she enjoyed steady work with her breakout role happening in 1941 opposite Fred Astaire in You’ll Never Get Rich.

Rita Hayworth became a Hollywood icon, punctuated by the honor of having her picture hanging in many a lonely soldier’s tent. She was the first of two pin-up girls during WWII, the other being Betty Grable in 1943.

Not all manufacturing had to do with appearances. Lauren Bacall, known for her deep, sultry voice, didn’t always sound that way. Just as Hollywood refined Cary Grant’s accent, Bacall was put through vocal training to create the persona she’s known for today. Director Howard Hawks instructed her to read out loud when she was alone. In her memoir By Myself she recalled, "He felt it most important to keep the voice in a low register.” He went on to state, “When a woman gets excited or emotional ... there is nothing more unattractive than screeching" (via Vulture). Here's a link of Bacall quoting her most famous line, "You know how to whistle, don't you?" 

Riders of Destiny 1933, El Dorado 1966

Marion Robert Morrison (John Wayne) wasn’t always the tough, leather vest wearing cowboy with a swagger. Discovered while a prop boy, which the actor Tom Mix arranged, at Fox Film Corporation in the 1920s, director Raoul Walsh took to him right away. Neither Walsh, nor the studio, could envision their new star with the name Marion Morrison. The name Anthony Wayne, inspired by an American Revolution general, was bandied about, but the studio felt it sounded too Italian. Walsh then suggested the name John Wayne, and an American icon was born. You’d think Wayne would have been in the room while these men discussed this major change, but you’d be wrong. After attempting to shed his given name of Marion for a couple of decades, he no doubt had little trouble accepting the new moniker.

Wyatt Earp

The next thing to change was the walk, which Wayne did have a say in. Tom Mix had a friendship with the historic figure Wyatt Earp, who lived long enough to be an advisor on many of the early western movies. Stories differ on whether he introduced Wayne to Earp or whether Wayne merely heard him talk about his friend, but it’s clear that Wayne adopted his larger-than-life persona from Earp.

Laurel and Hardy

While we’re talking about manufactured stars, many of the comic actors of the day could arguably portray themselves with two different personas, one on stage and one in private. Abbott and Costello, the Three Stooges, and most notably, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy—brilliant men who played buffoons.

After starting out individually in vaudeville, Laurel and Hardy each had film careers as actors, writers, and directors, with Stan also billed as a producer. However, it wasn’t until they were paired together in the silent film The Lucky Dog (1921) that their iconic chemistry and unforgettable images exploded into glittering giggles and gargantuan guffaws. Off stage, Stan Laurel, whose character portrayed the weak weepy one, was actually the driving creative force of the comedy team. Often, when Oliver Hardy was asked about a particular routine, he would say, “Ask Stan.”

One cannot talk about manufactured comedians without mentioning the top-notch, killer-diller, A-1 comic genius ever (today we’d say he’s the GOAT—Greatest Of All Time) Charlie Chaplin.

Charles Spencer Chaplin (1889-1977) was born in London, England and tragically lived on his own from age fourteen due to an absent father and a mother relegated to a mental asylum. He found solace in the entertainment industry, in which he’d been involved since the age of eight as a traveling troupe member. At age nineteen, he came to America via the Fred Karno company, the owner known for slapstick and popularizing the pie-in-the-face routine. Chaplin developed his identity, the Little Tramp, and was henceforth known for his down-trodden appearance and somber facial features.

Behind the scenes, Chaplin was ingenious and a shrewd businessman. Not only did he invent his iconic role, becoming the highest paid and most known personality of his generation by 1918, he went on to co-found the United Artists Corporation with actors Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffith, giving him complete control over his films. He was an actor, writer, director, producer, editor, and composer.

Charlie Chaplin’s personal and professional personas were so different that he could pass you on the street and you’d never know you were in the presence of an icon.

Little has changed in regards to the manufacturing of Hollywood stars. The person on the screen is rarely synonymous with who they are in real life. Like Cary Grant, many have changed their appearance, their speech, their image, and in the case of Chaplin, they became an entirely different person.

And this is why we pay the big bucks at the box office.

Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

A TIME-SLIP NOVEL

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection.

Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart.

To buy: Amazon

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother and a great-grandmother—though much too young for either. Kathleen has been a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

Website
Blog With A Giggle
CraftCinema

Facebook

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Goodreads

For the Love of Hollywood

By Kathy Kovach

Think of your favorite classic movie stars. Mine are Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Gene Kelly, Fred Astair, and Ginger Rogers, among many others. They have all drawn us in, stroked our cheeks, gazed into our eyes from the cinematic screen. Wooed us, if you will.

But how were they wooed? How were they convinced that Hollywood would be much better off if only they said yes? If only they linked arms and marched down the proverbial aisle?

One such “paramour” was William Meiklejohn, a talent scout who got his start in 1921 as a booking agent in Los Angeles for 80 vaudeville theaters. While there, he helped such stars as Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, and Betty Grable rise from the dying vaudeville ashes. Once film entered the picture in the late 1920s, he began working exclusively with motion-picture actors.

Robert Taylor

In the 1930s, while working for Paramount, he discovered several stars. Ray Milland, who went on to become that studio’s most bankable star, was set to begin a new job as a gasoline station attendant when Meiklejohn snatched him up. Other prominent stars under the agent’s care were Lucille Ball and Alan Ladd. Robert Taylor—my mother’s heartthrob—was making only $35 a week when Meiklejohn helped him become an MGM staple. Incidentally, Taylor’s real name was Spangler Arlington Brugh. The Hollywood Star System obviously felt the need to give their new leading man a strong masculine name. More on the Star System in a later article.

Ronald Reagan

William Meiklejohn’s most accomplished discovery not only became a prolific actor, making over eighty films and television shows in 28 years, but also went on to become the 40th President of the United States. Ronald Reagan had approached Meiklejohn to help jumpstart his acting career. He was working as a sportscaster at a radio station in Des Moines, Iowa at the time. Meiklejohn’s daughter, actress Linda Meiklejohn, relates this story: “My dad looked at him (Reagan) and called Max Arnold at Warner Brothers and said ‘Max, I've got a new Robert Taylor sitting right in my office.’ Max said, ‘God made only one’ and my father said, ‘That's not true because the other one’s sitting right here.’” I find this ironic since Taylor was MGM’s answer to Tyrone Power who was working at a different studio. Reagan and Taylor went on to become close friends.

William Meiklejohn became known as “The Star Maker” during his twenty-year stint at Paramount. When asked how he judged talent, he replied: “It’s a seventh sense, I suppose. You acquire the knack over a period of years. Star potential consists of a combination of personality, type, appearance, voice, and manners. If they gel, you may have something.”

Lana Turner

Other stories about star discovery include the infamous one about Lana Turner, who was noticed by a publisher at the Hollywood Reporter when she was sipping soda at a local café. He then introduced her to Zeppo Marx who took her to see Max Arnold at MGM where she acquired a permanent contract.

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth was a professional dancer from the age of 12. At age 16, she was performing in a club with her father when a Fox executive spotted her. She must have impressed him because she received a contract instantly.

Bette Davis

Bette Davis’ story is more tragic. Her unconventional looks were a detriment, but she desperately wanted to become an actress. After finding some work on Broadway in a stock company, she was offered a screen test from Universal Studios. She and her mother traveled by train across country to California. When they debarked, she was left on the platform because the studio executives who went there to pick her up “didn’t see anyone get off the train who looked like an actress.” Eventually, they reluctantly signed her on, but she refused to change her appearance or name. After producing several flops for the studio, she was let go. Nearly returning to New York, she found herself cast with George Arliss in 1932’s The Man Who Played God, a Warner Bros. Production. The rest of her career speaks for itself.

Many a Hollywood star has courted us from the silver screen. For me, it’s why I’m drawn to the movies. For two hours, I can leave my obligations behind, take their hand, and step into their world—and I’m grateful that they answered their call and stepped into mine.

Who are your favorites from the Golden Age of Hollywood?

Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

A TIME-SLIP NOVEL

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection.

Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart.

To buy: Amazon

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother and a great-grandmother—though much too young for either. Kathleen has been a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

Website
Blog With A Giggle
CraftCinema

Facebook

X

Goodreads

How Hollywood Got Her Name in Lights

 By Kathy Kovach

 

Like it or not, Hollywood has become entrenched in American culture. From her humble agricultural beginnings to the glitz and glamor we know of today.

Even the little ingénue of a town had to start somewhere. This is her story.

Daeida "Ida" and H. H. Wilcox

She started out in 1853 as an adobe hut, plain but functional. Over the next few years, she developed into a thriving farming community and became known as the Cahuenga Valley, accessorized with fig and apricot trees. But like many starlets, she had other dreams and aspirations. It wasn’t easy for her. She had to pay her dues. Her first real development happened in 1883 at the hands of Harvey Henry Wilcox, a politician and real estate developer from Topeka, Kansas, who bought 120 acres to try his hand at ranching. The source of the name is shrouded in myth, but many a successful icon has a mysterious past.

Some say Hollywood got her name from Harvey’s second wife, Daeida, aka “Ida”, taking inspiration from the bushes in the area. They were thought to be holly but were actually toyon, otherwise known as the Christmas Berry or California Holly.

Toyon plant

American Holly plant

Or, Ida may have received inspiration for the name after attending mass at Holy Wood of the Cross. Another thought was that she learned of the name from a wealthy landowner from Ohio whom she met on a train. Ida became so enamored with the name of his estate, Hollywood, that she encouraged Harvey to put the name on the subdivision map. Wherever the name originated, one cannot deny the worldwide appeal.

Excuse me. Did you say subdivision? Yes, it appears that Harvey Wilcox was not great at raising fruit, so he decided to put his real estate skills to use and subdivide the area into lots at $1000 a pop. With this development, our girl Hollywood was well on her way.

H. J. Whitley

Finally, by the turn of the century, someone came along and saw her potential. By this time, Hollywood had become a pretty little town, complete with a post office, hotel, livery, and a street car. Banker and real estate mogul H. J. Whitley opened the Hollywood Hotel, on the site which became the Dolby Theater that now hosts the annual Oscars Ceremony. He also developed an upscale neighborhood called Ocean View Tract, financed the building of a bank, and was ultimately responsible for electricity to be brought into the area. As a result, Whitley became known as “The Father of Hollywood.”

The Count of Monte Cristo, Selig Production, 1908

Soon to become a shining star, Hollywood was incorporated in 1903 and merged with Los Angeles in 1910. Testing her acting chops, a movie that began production in Chicago moved to Hollywood and completed filming in 1908, entitled The Count of Monte Cristo. She reached her full potential at the appearance of the first movie studio in 1911, and by 1915, she was courted by many major motion picture studios relocating from the East Coast.

Hollywood’s allure included the mild California weather and diverse terrain. She became a success story and went on to achieve full stardom.

Stay tuned as we dive into the highs and lows of what would soon become The Golden Age of Hollywood.

***

When I chose this topic, the fires in Southern California had not yet happened. As of this writing, the Pacific Palisades Fire has been the most devastating with the Sunset Fire affecting many Hollywood landmarks, however, that fire has been 100% contained. The Dolby Theater, which I mentioned in the article, was in the evacuation zone. Please join me in praying for the victims, their animals, and their property.

Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

A TIME-SLIP NOVEL

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection.

Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart.

To buy: Amazon

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother and a great-grandmother—though much too young for either. Kathleen has been a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

Website
Blog With A Giggle
CraftCinema

Facebook

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Goodreads

The Hays Code in Early Hollywood

 by Edwina Kiernan

From the early 1930s until the mid-1960s, the Hays Code - also known as the Motion Picture Production Code - was a set of guidelines that regulated the content of Hollywood movies. 

The Hays Code sought to preserve moral values and advance social responsibility within the film industry. During its inception, there was a genuine apprehension that movies were capable of influencing and potentially corrupting societal morals, especially among the younger generation. The code was designed to ensure that films conveyed messages that were wholesome and ethically sound.

Cover of a paper copy of the Hays Code

Here are ten facts about the Hays Code:

1. Named After Will H. Hays: The Hays Code was named after Will H. Hays, who served as the president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), the organization that developed and enforced the code.

2. Enforced in 1934: The Hays Code was officially implemented in 1934, although it was created in 1930. It was a response to increasing concerns about the content of films, which many considered morally objectionable. 

3. Strict Moral Guidelines: The code imposed strict moral guidelines on the content of films. It prohibited the portrayal of certain themes, such as nudity, explicit sexuality, and excessive violence. This was viewed as a measure to shield audiences, especially children, from exposure to harmful or inappropriate content.

4. Forbidden Subjects: The code explicitly forbade the depiction of a wide range of subjects, including drug use, and any content that was blasphemous or sacrilegious.

5. Clean Romance: The Hays Code placed significant restrictions on the portrayal of romantic relationships. It mandated that on-screen romances should not "arouse passion or lust." The Hays Code promoted the production of family-friendly and wholesome entertainment so people of all ages could enjoy watching movies together without apprehensions regarding offensive or objectionable content.

Will H. Hays (left) with movie camera

6. Seal of Approval: Films that adhered to the Hays Code were granted a "seal of approval" by the Production Code Administration (PCA), indicating that the film was in compliance with the code. The code offered a consistent and dependable set of guidelines for filmmakers to adhere to. This minimized uncertainty and controversy within the film industry, allowing studios to create movies with reasonable expectations of what would be deemed acceptable by the public and censors.

7. Enforcing Uniform Standards: The PCA, headed by Joseph Breen, was responsible for enforcing the Hays Code. Breen and his team reviewed film scripts and provided feedback to ensure compliance. The code worked in tandem with local censorship boards, giving them a standardized set of regulations to follow. This facilitated uniform standards in film regulation across the United States.

8. Loopholes and Rule-Bending: Filmmakers often found creative ways to work around the code's restrictions. Subtle innuendos and coded language were used to convey forbidden themes without explicit depiction.

9. Decline and Erosion: In the 1950s and 1960s, the Hays Code began to erode as filmmakers and studios challenged its restrictions. The rise of foreign cinema and changing social norms also played a role in its decline.

10. Replaced by the MPAA: The Hays Code was replaced by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) film rating system in 1968. This new system offered content ratings (G, PG, R, etc.) to inform viewers about a film's content rather than imposing strict censorship.

The Hays Code had a significant impact on the content and themes in Hollywood films during its existence, shaping the industry's approach to storytelling and content for several decades.

Hedy Lamarr - More Than A Pretty Face

By Kathy Kovach

Who do we have to thank for the cell phone that has become an extra appendage? Could it have been a dusty old electronics enthusiast with a scraggly goatee? Or a buttoned-up scientist who has made inroads in the field of technology? Surprisingly, the person we have to thank for the cell phone that’s taken over our lives is the exquisite actress and producer Hedy Lamarr.

Born in Vienna, Austria on November 9, 1914, Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler became interested in acting at an early age. By the time she turned eighteen, she had starred in two German films, catching the eye of Hollywood producers which led to her signing on with MGM. She changed her name, and from there, she costarred with some of the most popular leading men in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Charles Boyer, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart among others. She soon earned her moniker as “the most beautiful woman in film” and would go on to star in thirty productions and produce two movies.

All very impressive, but there was so much more to the Austrian-born actress.

Her intelligence exceeded that of her peers. While hitting her stride in Hollywood, Lamarr met with other brilliant minds. In particular, Howard Hughes, who helped her set up equipment in her trailer on her movie sets to conduct experiments in her down time. In 1942, she and composer George Antheil, teamed up to patent what they called the “Secret Communication System.”

“The original idea, meant to solve the problem of enemies blocking signals from radio-controlled missiles during World War II, involved changing radio frequencies simultaneously to prevent enemies from being able to detect the messages. While the technology of the time prevented the feasibility of the idea at first, the advent of the transistor and its later downsizing made Hedy’s idea very important to both the military and the cell phone industry.” -Biography – Hedy Lamarr

The frequency-hopping technology prevented Allied torpedoes from being detected by Nazis. Sadly, neither Lamarr nor Antheil received any compensation for the life-saving multi-billion-dollar invention. They were, however, finally honored in 1997 with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Pioneer Award. That same year Lamarr became the first female to receive the BULBIE™ Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award. This award is considered the "Oscars" of inventing. Hedy Lamarr would only enjoy this honor for three years as she passed away in 2000 at the age of 86.

The invention eventually led to ground-breaking future technology, making Bluetooth and Wi-Fi possible for those of us who wear our cell phones on the end of our sleeves. Yes, we have a beautiful actress and a talented composer to thank for moving our communications into the 21st Century.

My novella "Riders of the Painted Star" is set at the dawn of the Golden Age of Hollywood when singing cowboys were heroes and their horses held a special place in their hearts. Royce Rutger was the exception. An actor who merely pretended to be a cowboy could never win Zadie Fitzpatrick's love, especially knowing how much stock she put into the idols of the big screen. Can she see past his deception to get to know the real man inside?

MissAdventure Brides Collection
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures? Includes:

"Riders of the Painted Star" by Kathleen E. Kovach

1936 Arizona
Zadie Fitzpatrick, an artist from New York, is commissioned to go on location in Arizona to paint illustrations for an author of western novels and falls for the male model.

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother, though much too young for that. Kathleen is a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

Website

Blog With A Giggle
CraftCinema

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