Stars of the Golden Age: An Old Hollywood Podcast

GENE KELLY: A dance legend! He devoted most of his life to his art of dance, and it turned out he could act, too! He left behind some unforgettable classic film performances and truly unique dance numbers within them. Listen to his story now.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled He’s Got Rhythm: The Life and Career of Gene Kelly by Cynthia Brideson and Sara Brideson; an article from PBS titled The Star Perfromers: Gene Kelly; the January 1946 issue of Photoplay magazine; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

VIVIEN LEIGH: Vivien Leigh changed Hollywood forever with her dynamic portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. She was a beloved figure on the London stage. But life wasn't easy for Vivien Leigh. She attained a lot of success in her life, but she also suffered a lot of distress. Listen to her story now.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled Dark Star, A Biography of Vivien Leigh by Alan Strachan; a book titled Vivien Leigh: A Biography by Hugo Vickers; a Washington Post article by Eve Auchincloss from July 17th, 1977, titled The Two Faces of Vivien Leigh; Harper's Bazaar article by Chanel Vargas from October 9th, 2017, titled A Timeline of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier's Tragic Love Story; an article from Bravo Magazine from February 15, 2025 titled A Legend in Two Acts: The Life and Complexity of Vivien Leigh by MiscelAna; biography.com; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

FRED MacMURRAY: The underrated leading man of Hollywood's golden age, Fred MacMurray was the wholesome guy next door who all of the hottest leading ladies of the 1930's and 1940's wanted to play opposite. But he didn't always hold up that wholesome image on screen... he showed us a darker side in two iconic classic films. Double Indemnity and The Apartment. Listen now to Fred MacMurray's story!BONUS CONTENT!! https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled Fred MacMurrary: A Biography by Charles Tranberg; a documentary titled Fred MacMurray: The Guy Next Door by The Hollywood Collection; an article from the LA Times by Sam Watters from October 1, 2011; The Walt Disney Archives; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

NATALIE WOOD (Part Three:)The conclusion of Natalie Wood's story. Please listen to parts one and two first. In this episode, Natalie's relationship with Robert Wagner, her dreams coming true, becoming a mother, and the fateful weekend that marked the tragic end of her life.PATREON Bonus Content: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography, by Suzanne Finstad; an article from Los Angeles Magazine by Suzanne Finstad; a 48 Hours documentary titled Death in Dark Water, Season 31, episode 14; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

NATALIE WOOD (Part Two:)Please listen to Part One first. In this episode, you will hear about Natalie's transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, and the struggles she faced along the way. You will learn about her early loves and her first marriage, and what led to the end of that marriage. Our story will conclude with Part Three next week.SUPPORT THE SHOW & Receive Awesome Bonus Content!! https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: The book Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography by Suzanne Finstad; an article from Los Angeles Magazine by Suzanne Finstad, from May 21, 2020; an article from BBC News from November 5, 2021; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

NATALIE WOOD: The little girl who's childhood was stripped away so she could fulfill her mother's dreams of her being a star. The child star who made the difficult transition from a successful childhood acting career to a successful adult acting career. And a woman who's life was cut tragically short. This episode is dedicated to Natalie's childhood... the years before stardom, the experiences leading up to her Hollywood career, and her family dynamics. Part two and part three will cover her adult life and her mysterious death.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: A book titled Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography by Suzanne Finstad; the documentary Intimate Portrait: Natalie Wood; IMDB.Image Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dick Van Dyke: In celebration of his 100th birthday, this episode dives into the long, remarkable life of this one-of-a-kind TV and film legend. He gave the world iconic beloved characters, and he is a role model for positivity and humanitarianism. 100 years of greatness, and he doesn't seem to be ready to stop quite yet. Happy Birthday, Dick Van Dyke!BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: Dick Van Dyke: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, A Memoir by Dick Van Dyke; Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore: The Premiere Sitcom Stars of the 60s and 70s by Charles River Editors; an article from People Magazine by Carly Tagen-Dye and Liz McNeil from November 26, 2025; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Edward G. Robinson: A tough guy on the silver screen but a surprisingly different character in his real life. He immigrated to the land of dreams at the turn of the century, and he succeeded at making those big dreams come true. Best yet, he used his success to help others.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: A book titled Legends of Hollywood: The Life and Legacy of Edward G. Robinson by Charles River Editors; an article from the Library of Congress titled Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History: The Lower East Side; an article from the USO from March 12, 2015, titled Everyone’s Favorite Gangster; an article from the New York Times from January 27, 1973; an interview with Tony Thomas from 1964; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeanne Crain: A beloved presence on the silver screen in the 1940s and 1950s, Jeanne Crain brought joy to millions. But behind the scenes, her life was often filled with heartache and tragedy. She may have had one of Hollywood's longest-lasting marriages, but that doesn't mean it was easy. Listen now to hear all about it!BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: A book titled Girl Next Door: The Life and Career of Jeanne Crain by Rupert Alistair; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

George Burns: Together with his soul mate, Gracie Allen, George Burns provided the world with decades of laughs. He entertained audiences from the age of 7 to 100. The best years of his life and career were spent alongside his comedy partner and wife, Gracie. Their brand of humor and chemistry was beloved by everyone who heard or saw them. They worked their way up the vaudeville circuit, they did radio, they did television, and they did movies. This is a story of strength, endurance, determination, positivity, humor, and most of all... love.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: All My Best Friends by George Burns; Gracie: A Love Story by George Burns; A Conversation with George Burns from1989; The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of George Burns from 1978; an article from The University of Arizona titled George Burns and Gracie Allen: Vaudeville’s Greatest Comic Duo by David Soren; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thelma Todd (Part Two:)She was one half of one of the funniest comedy duos of the early 1930s and the positive energy behind Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe. She was beautiful, unique, funny, and kind. But she endured unimaginable tragedy in her life, too. Please visit PART ONE before indulging in this episode, where you will hear about her early life, her road to stardom, her film career, and her romances. In this episode, you will hear about her life as a proud restauranteur, her tragic death, and the circumstances and theories surrounding it. And, of course, the legacy she left behind.SUPPORT THE SHOW & Receive Bonus Content: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: A book titled The Ice Cream Blonde: The Whirlwind Life and Mysterious Death of Screwball Thelma Todd by Michelle Morgan; a book titled Testimony of a Death: Thelma Todd: Mystery, Media, and Myth in 1935 Los Angeles by Marshall Croddy and Patrick Jenning; an article from the New York Times from December 18, 1935; an article from PBS by Hadley Meares from October 8, 2014; Dawe’s Kakaput Store on Ebay; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thelma Todd (Part One:)She was one half of one of the funniest comedy duos of the early 1930s. She was beautiful, unique, funny, and kind. But she endured unimaginable tragedy in her life, too. In this episode, you will hear about her early life, her road to stardom, her film career, and her romances. In part two, you will hear about her life as a proud restauranteur, her tragic death, and the circumstances and theories surrounding it. And, of course, the legacy she left behind.SUPPORT THE SHOW & Receive Bonus Content: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastMERCH STORE: Stars of the Golden Age Podcast Merch Store | SpreadshopEpisode Sources: My primary source for this episode was the book The Ice Cream Blonde: The Whirlwind Life and Mysterious Death of Screwball Thelma Todd by Michelle Morgan; an article from PBS by Hadley Meares from October 8, 2014; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Boris Karloff: The original Monster of Frankenstein! He departed from the path his family wanted for his life and set forth into the world of acting. But it wouldn't be until he was in his 40s when he saw success and fame. He never lost faith in his dreams, and as a result he went down as one of the most iconic horror stars of all time.SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled Boris Karloff: The Biography by Brian Schell; a documentary titled Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster by Thomas Hamilton and Ron MacCloskey; an article on the Monsters of Makeup website by Luke Munson from November 12, 2020 at monstersofmakeup.com; IMDBImage Source: IMDBhttps://www.podpage.com/stars-of-the-golden-age/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Bea Arthur: She built a very successful theater career and transitioned to television in the 1970s and 1980s, starring in two of the most popular shows of those decades... Maude and The Golden Girls. Her talent was strong and her heart was big, and that showed in her generous advocacy work.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: Lifetime Intimate Portrait of Bea Arthur from 2002; an article from the Reserve & National Guard Magazine by Kari Williams from 2021; an article from Biography by Sara Kettler from March 16, 2020; an article from the New York Post by Barbara Hoffman from January 28, 2002 Image Source: IMDB/WikipediaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Theda Bara: Part TwoPlease listen to Part One before listening to this episode. In this episode, you will hear about the second half of Theda Bara's silent film career and what her life held after it was over, including the legacy she left behind.BONUS CONTENT: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Source: A book titled Vamp: The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara by Eve GoldenImage Source: IMDB; Vamp by Eve GoldenAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Theda Bara: One of the biggest stars of the silent film era... until she wasn't. In this episode, you will hear about her childhood, the chase to her dreams, her overnight fame, and the careful image the studio curated for her.SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled Vamp: The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara by Eve Golden; rottentomatoes.com; IMDBImage Source: IMDB; Vamp by Eve GoldenAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is a special crossover episode with The Wanted Files Podcast. Two shows come together to discuss the life and mystery of Marilyn Monroe. Erin brings you through Marilyn's early life, rise to stardom, struggles, and her last days. A.C. talks about the events of the day of her death and the theories surrounding her death.You can expect a deeper dive of Marilyn's Life from Stars of the Golden Age sometime in the future. Episode Sources: A book titled Marilyn Monroe: A Life from Beginning to End (Hourly History Series;) a Netflix documentary titled The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes; IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

James Cagney: A kid from a large poor family in turn-of-the century New York City who made it to the big time in Hollywood. In his time there, he continually stood up to the studio and made sure he was being compensated fairly for what he was providing for them. And then he did the same for others. Listen to his story now!PATREON: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled American Legends: The Life of James Cagney by Charles River Editors; sagaftra.org; an article from Martha’s Vineyard Magazine by Karla Araujo; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

RITA HAYWORTH: The Love Goddess... The stunning femme fatale. She was raised in a world of dance and made it big as a huge Hollywood movie star. But she was stripped of choice, love, peace, and her Spanish heritage. Most people probably thought she had it all... but Rita Hayworth never felt she had the simplest things she wanted.RAINN: https://rainn.org/National Domestic Abuse Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org/PATREON Bonus Content: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: A book titled American Legends: The Life of Rita Hayworth by Charles River Editors; a book titled Rita Hayworth: Legacy of a Leading Lady; a TCM documentary titled Rita; a Vanity Fair article by Hadley Hall Meares from September 23, 2020; the US Naval Institute; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

MYRNA LOY: One of MGMs biggest stars of the 1930s, Myrna Loy brought a wide range of characters to life on the big screen. But it was her pairings with William Powell in the Thin Man movies that really made her stand out. Aside from her work on the silver screen, Myrna Loy was a fierce advocate for the causes she believed in and held strong her political beliefs. She was a woman who made things happen. Listen now to hear her amazing story!PATREON: https://patreon.com/StarsoftheGoldenAgePodcastEpisode Sources: Being and Becoming: A Memoir by Myrna Loy; IMDBImage Source: IMDBAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy