the foxling: A few old Hollywood photos

Like a magpie I was drawn to the shiny gold cover of a book called "Are the Stars Out Tonight?" which I found in a charity shop the other day. It's a history of the Ambassador Hotel and Cocoanut Grove, the haunt of Hollywood's finest. It's well out of print, but I've had a look on abebooks and there are still many reasonably priced second-hand copies available if you'd like an interesting addition to your Hollywood bookshelves. It's not a great print, it reminds me of those old film annuals from the forties, but I've scanned in a few photos I thought some of you might like.

Pola Negri (Maid of Honour), Mae Murray (Bride), Prince David Mdivani (Groom), and Rudolph Valentino (Host)

Mae Murray and the self styled "Prince" David Mdivani's wedding reception was held at the Ambassador Hotel on the 26th of June 1926. Pola Negri (far left) was the Maid of Honour, and Rudolph Valentino (far right) was the host. He lived at the hotel at the time and died a few months after this photo was taken. David Mdivani later became Mae's manager and his brother, Serge, married Pola Negri in 1927. His other brother, Alexis, married Barbara Hutton, so there are three lads who did well for themselves.

Jean Harlow and Paul Bern's wedding reception. Jean does the honours, flanked by Irving Thalberg and his wife Norma Shearer (who seems to be hogging the photo), while the groom hides behind the cake

More under the cut

Jean Harlow and Howard Hughes on the set of "Hell's Angels".

Marlene Dietrich and her daughter, Maria Riva.

Carole Lombard and Russ Columbo. Columbo was a crooner, violinist and actor and reportedly the love of Carole's life. He was killed when his best friend, Lansing Brown, accidentally shot him in the eye. Ooops. Here's one of his songs set to lovely photos of Carole.

Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and Olivia de Havilland at the Oscars, during which Vivien won her Best Actress award for her performance in "Gone with the Wind".