“Spotlight on Errol Flynn”, Movie-Radio Guide, June 1940
“Unfortunate for Flynn fans, Proud Papa Errol has set his foot down on having photos taken of the infant.”
— Tim
Mail Bag! Errol Flynn Ranch Architects!
08
Jul
We received a great Mail Bag item from Shel Weisbach about Errol’s Mulholland Farm Architects:
Dave,
A permit at the LA Department of Building & Safety, 1941LA16356, dated July 8, 1941, lists William A Lundberg and J. Cecil Strawn as architects. The document was signed by an Angus Ralston,(but, honestly, of this I am a tad unsure as his penmanship and I are at odds), contractor, on behalf of Flynn. The document lists the architects’ license as C343 which was Strawn’s license. No license is noted for Lundberg.
Strawn, earlier in his career, was employed by the legendary starchitect, or star architect, Paul R. Williams. The Flynn ranch house bears some similarities to Oakridge, the Northridge estate of Barbara Stanwyck and, later, Jack Oakie, and the Talton R. Craig Ranch, West Hills. Oakridge was designed by either Williams or Robert Finkelhor, the architect of Bob Hope’s Toluca Lake mansion.
Williams and Finkelhor were part of a small corps of society architects who occasionally traded commissions and at other times collaborated on them. I have found less information on Lundberg – save that he partnered with his son, Harry L., in the design and construction of a number of homes in the well-to-do Hancock Park community. My guess, stress guess, is that Strawn associated with the Lundbergs for the Flynn commission.
California law allows for a single or two-story home to be designed by a non-architect or a non-engineer.
Elite architects employed elite and proven contractors as their clients were demanding and involved. The Lundbergs were craftsmen of a higher order.
The Flynn home was constructed with superior care and materials but may have appeared on the sedate side to an outside observer — a trademark of the Great Depression — those who were blessed tended to control flaunting it amid the poverty of the time. The home is two-story; but, a pitched, or angled, roof and dormers give it a humbler profile. Horizontal boards on the facade is in keeping with a degree of humility. The husky chimneys emit auras of ranch life and, yes, prosperity. I suspect, like Oakridge, there were carryovers of Victorian class distinctions, such as lower ceilings or door knobs vs. levers, to distinguish family rooms from house staff rooms.
If you have a chance, you may enjoy checking out my work, Pathways of the San Fernando Valley, on Amazon books. Thoughts/opinions would be appreciated. If I can again assist I will glad to offer a hand. If I find more info on the home and/or architects, I will share it with you.
Sincerely,
Shel
Thanks Shel, much appreciated!
— David DeWitt
“Into the Star Horizon”
07
Jul
February 10, 1936
Los Angeles Evening Herald Express – Harrison Carroll
The Warner Bros fan mail dept is swamped by requests for pictures of Errol Flynn.
More than 15,000 were sent out in the month of January.
February 14, 1936
Los Angeles Examiner – Hollywood Parade – Lloyd Pantages
Since Errol Flynn zoomed into the star horizon as Captain Blood, his fan mail has
increased to such a degree that Warners added two more mail clerks to their department.
— Tim
ERROL FLYNN, No. 1 in ’41
07
Jul
Motion Picture Herald – October 25, 1941
New York Daily Mirror
Hollywood Actors Popularity Poll Among Readers:
1. ERROL FLYNN …………………………..16,714
2. Clark Gable ……………………………….15,777
3. Tyrone Power ……………………………..12,587
4. Spencer Tracy …………………………….10,351
5. Nelson Eddy ………………………………..9,672
6. Gene Autry ………………………………….9,410
7. Mickey Rooney ……………………………..9,284
8. Ray Milland ………………………………….8,529
9. Robert Taylor ………………………………..7,781
10. Cary Grant …………………………………7,496
11. Gary Cooper ……………………………….7,089
12. Bob Hope …………………………………..6,852
— Tim
Errol Does the Big Apple
06
Jul
Dancin’ like Flynn.
Los Angeles Examiner – Louella Parsons – February 3, 1938
The commotion on the Gold Diggers of Paris set at Warner’s yesterday was caused by the chorines teaching Errol Fynn the Big Apple.
— Tim
Errol Flynn – “Icon of Liberty”
04
Jul
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
Can you imagine how epic Flynn could have been as Nathan Hale?! Per this article it almost happened!
Fourth of January, 1938.
Los Angeles Daily News – “Raves and Raps” – by Harry Mines
“American patriot Nathan Hale, who had but one life to give for his country,
will be portrayed by Errol Flynn within the near future.”
— Tim
Mail Bag! Donna Juan delivers Birthday Wishes To Olivia from EFB!
03
Jul
Donna, we thank you from the bottom our Flynn loving hearts!
— David DeWitt
Errol Flynn – The Great White Hope of Hollywood
03
Jul
July 3, 1938
Los Angeles Examiner – by Dorothy Manners
Errol Flynn: White Hope of Color Writers
Errol Flynn may be a bit of a problem child to Warner Brothers, but he’s the white hope of the “color” writes for magazines and newspapers, who’ll take their movie heroes with a dash of excitement every time.
The same reasons that turn the hair on Errol’s bosses gray are the very ones that make him the pet of the scribes. No one ever seems to know where the dashing Flynn is going to be at any given time.
Hollywood used to be filled with gay adventuresome blades like Flynn in the “good old days.” Remember when John Gilbert and Great Garbo used to stage an “elopement” almost every weekend – and there was also the memorable occasion when John walked into the Beverly Hills police station and told the amazed captain he wanted to stay there for the night!
Wally Reid used to make Hollywood Boulevard sizzle as he tore by in his bright blue sportster with the top down, his blaring automoble horn heard for miles.
Rudy Valentino used to overwhelm lovely strange ladies by inviting them to tangle with him. After the dance was over, he would bow politely, escort them to their tables, and they might never see him again except on the screen! But what an adventure to write home about!
The present-day movie star has changed. Careers have been put above the excitement of being devil-may-care personalities playing for the crowds. Dignity has set in, in large doses.
Only Errol Flynn remains, a last remaining adventurer in a colony of actors who seldom do the unexpected anymore.
— Tim
“Hiya, Toots”
02
Jul
— Songwritin’ Like Flynn —
Hollywood Citizen News – December 5, 1940
by Zuma Palmer
Errol Flynn, Benny Rubin and Cliff Nazarro will make up the Music Hall guest list at 6 over KFI. Flynn has written a song called “Hiya’ Toots,” which he will sing. “Remember Me” and “We Three” will be sung by Connie Boswell. “Ferryboat Serenade,” “You are the One,” and “Trade Winds” by Bing Crosby.
— Tim
