Richard Du Bois and Andy Kozak in Bel Air

This group includes what may be the latest appearance of Andy Kozak at AMG.

Ed Fury in Bel Air

This image is credited both to AMG and Richard Fontaine’s Apollo, from a film called DAY OF FURY (1953). 

Larry Carr in Bel Air

More Mizer in Bel Air

David Harem and Bob James

From the first AMG duals catalogue with new photography.

The Neff-Wurtzel-Norvell House

Massive Bob McCune fits right in.

Bob Mizer in Bel Air

There is some dispute about who owned the house Bob Mizer leased for photo sessions on Bellagio Road in Bel Air. It was built between 1930 and 1932 by Wallace Neff for the producer Sol M. Wurtzel and his wife Marian, and acquired by Anthony Norvell, the celebrity astrologer, and his wife Edna Dodge Johnson following their marriage in 1948. (The Norvells separated in 1954; Mrs. Norvell survived her estranged husband and died in 1990, aged 104.)

The first appearance of the house I can place in the AMG canon is in Dale Curry’s catalogue from 1949, when it might still have belonged to the Wurtzels. 

Acting with his jaw

Swimsuit weather

Old Los Angeles

At some point I would like to focus on backgrounds of old Los Angeles — Carr’s session at Anthony Norvell’s house features some interesting vistas.

His AMG album photo

This image was not Larry Carr’s first at AMG, but it did introduce him as a solo model.

Larry Carr Day

Larry Carr started out modeling clothes before moving into small roles in Hollywood films and then a career in Brazil playing lead parts. 

Photo by Kovert of Hollywood, where Bob Mizer got his start.

“What a doll!”

Names and places

Cecil W. Allen, Brookhaven, Mississippi

Robert E. Hartzberg, Vincennes, Indiana

Orville Eugene Stevens, Huntington, West Virginia

Jesse C. Davis, Brookhaven, Mississippi

Anton Dolin

(Sir) Anton Dolin (Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay, 1904-1983) by Constantine (Constantine Hassalevris, 1913-1982, who also photographed under the moniker Spartan of Hollywood).

Albert Carroll last appeared on Broadway in Billy Rose’s 1944-45 review SEVEN LIVELY ARTS at the Ziegfeld Theatre. This was a prestige program, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by George S. Kaufman and Ben Hecht, and ballet music by Igor Stravinsky.

Dion Titheradge, Laurette Taylor, and Philip Merivale

Dion Titheradge (1889-1934), Laurette Taylor (Loretta Helen Cooney, 1883-1946), and Philip Merivale in THE HARP OF LIFE (1916-17), a play written by Miss Taylor’s husband J. Hartley Manners. Photo by White Studios

Carroll and Merivale appeared in another Henderson production, THE DUKE IN DARKNESS (1944): Carroll played the Count d’Aublaye, Merivale the Duke of Laterraine, and Raymond Burr appeared as Voulain.

Estelle Winwood

Estelle Winwood (Estelle Ruth Goodwin, 1883-1984) in HELEN WITH THE HIGH HAND (1917). Photo by James Abbe (1883-1973)

Carroll played Slender in Estelle Winwood and (her husband) Robert Henderson’s production of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, which ran for four performances at the Empire Theatre in April 1938; Winwood appeared as Mistress Margaret Page. (Lex Barker was a member of the Ensemble.)

Eleanor Phelps and Blaine Cordner

Eleanor Phelps (1907-2001) and Blaine Cordner (1895-1971) in WE, THE PEOPLE (1933). Photo by Maurice Goldberg (1881-1949)

Like Cagney and Carroll, Blaine Cordner appeared in the 1929 edition of THE GRAND STREET FOLLIES.

James Cagney

James Cagney (1899-1986) in COME FILL THE CUP (1951). Photo by Bert Six (1902-1967)

Cagney and Carroll were members of the 1928 and 1929 GRAND STREET FOLLIES casts.

More of Albert Carroll’s circle

Carroll signed this photo to his friend Rudy.

Academy Founders 20

N.B. The member numbers follow The Internet Movie Database's list order announcing the Academy in January 1927. 

20. Joseph M. Schenck (1876-1961) of the Producers Branch, shown here (at right) with Dr. and Mrs. Harry W. Martin. Mrs. Martin is better known as Louella Parsons (Louella Rose Oettinger, 1881-1972), the scenarist and gossip columnist.

Joseph M. Schenck came to New York in 1893 and to Hollywood in 1917, the year after he married Norma Talmadge (1894-1957). He had previously been in partnership with his brother Nick; he now worked with Marcus Loew to combine Metro Pictures with Goldwyn Pictures, the precursor to the merger that produced MGM. In the same period, Schenck became the chairman and then president of United Artists. By the late 1920s, he was one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.

Grover Burgess

Grover Burgess (1892-1948) and Jane Kim in the short-lived PEOPLE ON THE HILL (1931). Photo by DeBarron Studio 

Burgess and Carroll appeared in THE GRAND STREET FOLLIES of 1926.

Zita Johann

Zita Johann (Elizabeth Johann, 1904-1993) and [William] Clark Gable (1901-1960) in MACHINAL (1928). Photo by Vandamm Studio

The first wife of the actor John Houseman, Zita Johann appeared with Albert Carroll in THE GRAND STREET FOLLIES of 1925.

Helen Westley

I posted yesterday about Joseph Schildkraut, who played the title role in the Theatre Guild’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s PEER GYNT (1923); Carroll was a dancer as well as Monsieur Ballon, and Helen Westley (Henrietta Remsen Meserole Manney, 1875-1942) was featured as the Troll King’s Daughter. She is shown here in a photograph by Marcia Stein (Marcia Mishkin, 1880?-1927).

Adrienne Morrison

Carroll played the part of Jimmy Grupton in MAKERS OF LIGHT (1922). Ian Maclaren was another member of the cast, along with Adrienne Morrison (1883-1940), the wife of Richard Bennett and the mother of Barbara, Constance, and Joan Bennett. This photo, identified as Mrs. Bennett, is by Paul Hansen (1902-2000).

Adrienne Morrison also appeared with Albert Carroll in THE GRAND STREET FOLLIES of 1922 and 1924.

George Abbott

Photo by White Studios 

Albert Carroll first appeared on Broadway with the Gertrude Kingston Company in 1916. One of his roles in the repertory program was as Tharrabas in Lord Dunsany’s THE QUEEN’S ENEMIES; George Abbott (1887-1995) appeared as the Twin Duke of Ethiopia.

Albert Carroll Day

Irene Lewisohn (1886-1944) and Albert Carroll (1895-1956) in THE ROYAL FANDANGO (1921). Photo by Francis Bruguière (1879-1945)

While not a name to conjure with today, Carroll was an important figure in Manhattan cultural circles a hundred years ago. There is something Zelig-like in the career of this journeyman actor, singer, dancer, diarist, and crossword puzzle author who appeared in the 1931 ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, the last edition produced by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.

Philip Merivale

Philip Merivale (1886-1946) was a Broadway stalwart. His second wife was the legendary British actress Gladys Cooper; his sons-in-law included Robert Morley and Robert Hardy. Photo by Muray Studios