The Errol Flynn Blog

From Karl Holmberg:

The BRILLIANT comedy writer for the 50’s TV show Topper… had a Flynn tie-in:

George Oppenheimer had a prolific career as a critic, playwright, screenwriter and publisher. A graduate of Williams College, he was first engaged as an advertising publications manager by Alfred A. Knopf, before venturing into the publishing business as co-founder of Viking Press (with Harold Guinzburg) in 1925. Eight years later, Oppenheimer moved to Hollywood, contracted by the writing team of George S. Kaufmanand Robert E. Sherwood to complete the screenplay of Samuel Goldwyn’s spoof comedy Roman Scandals (1933). Kaufman and Sherwood had concocted the original story, but decided to leave the project because of star Eddie Cantor’s continued micro-management of their script. For the remainder of the decade, Oppenheimer worked at MGM, where he was often employed as a script doctor, ironing out incongruities and improving the work of his fellow writers. He had a hand in several major box-office hits, including Libeled Lady(1936), A Day at the Races (1937) and A Yank at Oxford (1938).

After wartime service with South-East Asia Command (First Motion Picture Unit) in India as writer, producer and director of training films and documentaries, Oppenheimer resumed his work in Hollywood, co-writing Adventures of Don Juan (1948) and scripting twenty-five episodes of the popular comedy series Topper (1953). In 1955, he forsook the screen for a position as drama critic for Newsday, based in New York. From 1970 to 1972, he held a position as president of the New York Drama Critics Circle.

Thanks, Karl!

— David DeWitt

We received a nice email today referring to a photo published on the blog with the question Who is the lady? Although our Author Mary Ann discovered the answer, this, too, confirms the facts from a great source.

The  mystery woman is my mother, Lorraine Issa and that photo was taken at The Tower Isle Hotel which was built and owned by My father, Abe Issa (Jamaica’s Father Of Tourism). It opened in 1949 and hosted many celebrities from around the world.  Errol Flynn was A friend of both my parents and was a frequent visitor to the hotel.  In 1978, the hotel became the worlds 1st all-inclusive hotel for couples only. It was called Couples Ocho Rios but after an extensive renovation years later, changed the name to Couples Tower Isle which it is now called.

Suzanne Issa

Thanks, Suzanne!

— David DeWitt

A good friend of The Errol Flynn Blog sends us this:

Here is an interesting mosaic of little known magazines with articles about Flynn. Shown here are:

Climax, June 1959
Screen Western, Spring 1950
True, January, 1960
Men August, 1960

Prices vary, I think Screen Western is the rarest.

Good hunting!

— David DeWitt

To add to Tassie Devil’s keen finding, pal Martin Ryder sent this along,too. Click the picture!

— David DeWitt

Mailbag! Karl Holmberg, Flynn & Fettucini

18 May

Our dear chum Karl Holmberg writes in part recently:

Recently, through Tim, on EFB appeared a photo of Flynn and Fettuccini.

There is a story behind it, actually more than one, so… read on.

This photo is displayed rather prominently at one restaurant in Rome, Italy. And it wasn’t always the case. The Restaurant goes by the name of Alfredo Alla Scofa. And it was here that the photo was taken (probably in 1953 and around the time of the William Tell production). And this physical location also happens to be where, reputedly, Fettucini Alfredo was born.

But, there is more than one Alfredo’s also making this claim- each with a slightly different slant on the controversy. So here’s the general background:

m.huffpost.com…

Now having read through the previous link, it turns out that “Alfredo alla Scrofa”, begun in 1911 or 1914, wins the prize for being not only the oldest establishment but also, the only one to make the claim of being the 1st Alfredo’s that Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford visited on their honeymoon in 1920.

[This is the restaurant that Doug Sr and Pickford put on the “Ocean Liner” (currently “Jet”) set list of places to “BE”. And the story goes because they so loved the (new and unknown) Fettucini Alfredo dish, their entire visit was spent dining every evening at Alfredos. And on their final night they gifted him a golden fork and spoon; another version says it was in exchange for the secret recipe).

As you will see, through the virtual tour link below, this restaurant is decorated throughout with the many celebrity visitors’ photographs taken over the years.

The 1950 born restaurant, Il Vero Alfredo, (next to the tomb of Augustus) is a much newer and larger building and filled with photos of celebrities as well. All of their photos are labeled with the recognizable star names (first and last) except for 2:  “Mr. Hitchcock” and “Perry Mason”. It’s has a different (more modern) feel to it. And, as Douglas Fairbanks Sr. passed in December, 1939 it would not have been possible for him to have “visited”.

The “background” link above also speaks of  2 additional sites, both in America. And they came well after: Alfredo’s at Epcot, and another in NYC (see it’s famous icon image attached). Epcot has since closed, and Alfredo of  Rome of NY has relocated near Rockefeller Center to 7 East 54 street.

And now to the point of mentioning all this.

I have visited  Alfredo alla Scrofa over the years; my last time being in July 2013.  And at that time was delightfully surprised in finding a “decorating change”. It was such a change that it prompted me to pick up a hard cover copy of the McNulty book, send it to Tom for a dedication, (after explaining the story, of course) and ultimately on to the (alla Scrofa) owner himself.

Here, then, is a virtual tour of Alfredo alla Scrofa. As you first walk into the restaurant, there is an large archway flanked by paneling with a double row of photographs and ABOVE THIS, FLANKING THE ARCHWAY, and above all the rest, are 2 much larger photos: the “Fettuccine Flynn” shot and “Brigitte Bardot leaving the restaurant”. If you take the tour through the link you will see the “lay of the land” and the “complement” being paid:

Tour

So, as you can see, a MOST REVERED position of photo placement at the original home of Fettuccine Alfredo in Rome: Alfredo Alla Scrofa!

So, until next time, may I wish you…

Buon Appetito!

Karl

Thanks, Karl!

— David DeWitt

The Errol Flynn Mailbag had this from Bonny Cother whose father was hired by Errol Flynn to Captain the Zaca in Spain. She writes:

I might be looking to sell some photos, etc. of my father’s time on board Zaca……….. only sincere inquiries will be answered. Thanks!

Bonny Cother

— David DeWitt

Our Mailbag brings a tough question from Jolene, can anybody help her with an answer?

Hi there at The Errol Flynn Blog! I enjoy y’alls blog very much and I was curious. Is there any picture of Errol Flynn and Cary Grant together? An odd question I know but they are my two favorite people/actors so I was just curious. I haven’t found one yet so I thought to ask the great Errol Flynn Blog!

Thanks so much,

Jolene

— David DeWitt