GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER
BORN DECEMBER 5,1839
— Tim
Mail Bag! A kid named after Errol Flynn …
05
Dec
I got this message from Jack Marino today, as I was about to go to bed but I wanted to put this on the blog because it is important …
Jack writes:
Years ago, I did some work for Rider Mcdowell and Victoria Knight McDowell. They are the founders of Air-Borne and Pine Bros cough drops. Rider is also a filmmaker and a big Errol Flynn aficionado, so much so that he named his first born son ERROL McDowell.
“Today, I found out that their son Errol passed away last June at the age of 18 of cancer from a brain tumor. Before Errol left this earth he raised over a million dollars for cancer research and his parents are continuing to this very day. Their goal is to raise 325 million for a cure for cancer by raising one dollar per American or anything you feel like giving towards this goal.
“Go to canceragogo.com… and read about this incredibly talented young man and what he went through. I asked all my friends on Facebook, to share this link, and those of you that have lost loved ones to cancer here is an opportunity to help out.
“You won’t find a more determined couple in Rider and Victoria McDowell that can pull this Herculean feat off to raise this money to end cancer once and for all. Let’s all get on an donate not only for Errol but all these young children and adults that have cancer …”
There is a video on the page that is all about how young Errol was (and is, even after his passing) helping others. At the time, he had been cured of his cancer and was full of promise. He wanted to spend a day with YoutTube star Casey Neistat and had that day. Watch the video!
You can help, too, to save others.
— David DeWitt
North to Unalaska
04
Dec
Pauper for a Princely Sum
03
Dec
Reported December 3, 1936
HOLLYWOOD CITIZEN NEWS
by ELIZABETH YEAMAN
The highly publicized reunion of Errol Flynn and Lili Damita and their departure for a “second honeymoon” in Europe may all be called off. That is to say, the trip to Europe may be canceled. Warner’s will decide today if they shall summon Flynn back to take the adult male lead in The Prince and the Pauper</em. This picture is growing daily in budget and production plans. Some enormous sets have been built, and the studio expects the film to be one of its most ambitious efforts. Now Bobby and Billy Mauch, the twin child stars, have the leads, but the are little known to the public and can't be regarded as a box office lure. Errol Flynn is well established with the fans, and while the role for him is of far less scope and importance than any he has been given in the past, it could be built up a little and his presence would insure a certain fan following. The point is, a picture which costs a lot of money needs some star with fan appeal to insure return on the money invested.
Ian Hunter was mentioned frequently for the role now pending for Flynn.
Reported December 14, 1936
by SHEILA GRAHAM
Errol Flynn demanded— and received— a $20,000 bonus for cutting short his European reconciliation trip with wife Lili Damita, returning instead to Hollywood for the leading role in the kiddie story, The Prince and the Pauper*
* A “kiddie story” beloved by adults around the globe.
—
BTW, I wonder if Errol ever read this advice from Mark Twain? I’d bet he did.
— Tim
Partying with the Countess
02
Dec
Reported December 1, 1935
LOS ANGELES EXAMINER
“COUNTESS DI FRASSO PARTIES”
Placarded with FOR RENT signs and others announcing ITALIAN FOOD, the Countess di Frasso’s Beverly Hills home gave her guests a few moments of bafflement when they drove up to attend her huge Thanksgiving Eve party.
All of which, of course, were in fun and, as usual, the Countess’ buffet dinner party was truly an artistic production, featuring an autumnal motif with fall fruits and gourds decorating the tables.
Kay Francis was there with Delmar Daves; Dr. Joel Pressman escorted Claudette Colbert, and others were Virginia Bruce, cavaliered by Cesar Romero; Merle Oberon with David Niven, Countess Maigret, Dr. Harry Martin, Louella Parsons and
MESSRS. AND MESDAMES
David Selznick
Cedric Gibbons
Errol Flynn
Louis Lighton
Watterson Rothaker
Irving Thalberg
Charles Boyer
Darryl Zanuck
Walter Wanger
Lewis Milestone
Frank Capra
Donald Ogden Stewart
Charles Feldman
Milton Bren
Frank Lawton
Gene Markey
Myron Selznick
William Goetz
Herman Mankiewicz
Sonny Chalif
Billy Wilkerson
Raoul Walsh
Ricardo Cortez
Frank Chapman
Valentin Parera
Ernst Lubitsch
Mervyn LeRoy
Ben Lyon
Clarence Brown
Steve Roberts
Nigel Bruce
MISSES
Mary Pickford
Marelle Webb
Elizabeth Cobb Brody
MESSRS
Tom Tyler
Clark Gable
Charlie Chaplin
Herbert Marshall
Ivan Leberdeff
Clifton Webb
Michael Bartlett
Irvin S. Cobb
Jack Holt
Jimmy Wallington
Gregory Ratoff
George Cukor
Eddie Lowe
Victor McLaglen
Jack Oakie
Jesse Lasky
Harry Crocker
Robert Taylor
Whitney de Rham
Ronald Colman
Gene Raymond
Lloyd Pantages
George Brent
Rouben Mamoulian
Randy Scott
Eddie Belandi
Marc Connolly
Marion Parsonette
Charles Lederer
Mitchell Leisen
Irving Reese
John Zanft
Jack Moos
Jack Ruben
Brian Donlevy
Fritz Lang
Al Kaufman
Lloyd Wright
Edmund Goulding
John Considine Jr.
—
Here’s how Countess Di Frasso’s Beverly Hills estate looks, after being lived in briefly (possibly only in 1935) by Marlene Dietrich, and later owned by Jose Iturbi. It was kept in nearly original design, inside and out, until 2007, when its furnishings were auctioned off for the Jose Iturbi Foundation.
— Tim
“Errol Flynn with Breasts”
02
Dec
A First Lady of the Vegas Strip*
“Her time with Grant was recalled by Deirdre Flynn, Errol Flynn’s daughter, whom Medford had met in Los Angeles.
“I used to see Cary when he came to pick her up,” said Flynn, who now lives in Las Vegas. “She mentioned that he did want her to have his child, but that wasn’t for Lisa. Even to this day, she’s still full of the devil, still feisty.”
* “Medford , 74, shows a real $100 chip from the Riviera Hotel on the Las Vegas strip paying tribute to Kim Krantz (from left), the first dancer signed to a contract at the Riviera; Ruth Gillis, the first showgirl ever signed at the Riviera; and herself, the first semi-nude showgirl ever signed at the Riviera.”
— Tim
Mail Bag! Flynn, Mulholland Farm and Ghosts!
01
Dec
The morning Mail Bag brings this from Audie, who says this may not be new, but take a look!
Thanks, Audie …
— David DeWitt
“Columbus” Discovers Flynn — Sends Him to America
01
Dec
NOVEMBER 30, 1934
EVENING HERALD EXPRESS
JIMMY STARR
Irving Asher, Warners’ London laddie in charge of the foreign studio, played “Colombus” and discovered a handsome Irish chap by the name of Errol Flynn . The young newcomer proved himself in Murder at Monte Carlo.
Asher figured Flynn had a better chance in Hollywood, and sent him to Jack Warner, who took a quick look at the English-made movie, snapped a contract under his nose and gave him one of the featured leads with Kay Francis in A Present from Margate, her next film following the current Living on Velvet.
Mr. Flynn it seems has made quite an impression— and good leading men are scarse, you know.
Was it Asher? Or Doug Jr.? Or JB?
Asher and Warner found gold in England when the found Flynn. The public really dug Errol.
— Tim
History’s Best Boating Outfits
30
Nov
Aussie born Errol Flynn went on to become a massive movie star in America during the 1930’s and is best known for portraying Robin Hood in The Adventures Of Robin Hood. The flamboyant Flynn was known as a womanising, heavy drinking smoker who was married three times
Despite only wearing a pair of lightly coloured shorts and vintage sunglasses, Flynn gives off a masculine vibe as he lounges on a boat while smoking. It’s easy to see why he was such a ladies man in his heyday.
— tassie devil
First Time in Paris? — L’intrigue se Corse
29
Nov
THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER, 1936
EVENING HERALD EXPRESS
HARRISON CARROLL
You Asked Me and I’m Telling You!
[Question from] Ada Hefflin, Chicago:
Errol Flynn first met Lili Damita at a party in Paris and they met again on shipboard coming to this country. But the third time was the charm. Lili was lunching with Dolores Del Rio at the Warners Brothers Studios. Flynn stopped to speak and the romance dated from there.
—
Here is a famous photo of lightning striking the Eiffel Tower in 1933. Did lightning also strike in 1933 for Errol and Lili in Paris?
Or was it in 1934 aboard the SS Paris?
Or was it later in ’34 at Warner Bros. with these two contintental cinestars ?
— Tim
