Category Archives: Hollywood history

Vera Marshe and the Lucky ‘E’

Posted on February 16, 2026 by ahcadmin

Few performers can claim they’ve danced with Fred Astaire, acted alongside the voice of Winnie the Pooh, and collected autographs from Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Vera Marshe did all three. She was a Minnesota native, and an early performer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Collections Highlights, Hollywood history, Performing Arts, Uncategorized, Women in Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carroll Baker – More Than a Sex Symbol of the Silver Screen

Posted on December 8, 2025 by ahcadmin

With her large blue eyes and lithe figure, Carroll Baker was a Hollywood sensation. Papers of the day described her as “a little like Marilyn Monroe, a little like Jean Harlow, and altogether a platinum blonde.” She earned millions from … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography and profiles, Collections Highlights, Film History, Hollywood history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

After “Psycho”: Robert Bloch in the 1960s

Posted on October 27, 2025 by lwaggen2

Last Halloween, we introduced the recently processed papers of author Robert Bloch, best known as the author of the novel Psycho (1959), which was adapted in 1960 by Alfred Hitchcock into the legendary film of the same name.  In that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adaptations, American Literature, Authors, Biography and profiles, Film History, Hollywood history, Horror, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Married to the Story: Fay and Michael Kanin’s Life in Scripts

Posted on September 29, 2025 by lwaggen2

In the golden age of Hollywood—a time when stars were larger than life and scripts were golden tickets to silver screens—Fay and Michael Kanin were busily crafting standout, human, funny, and thought-provoking stories in American entertainment. Together, they formed one … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Film History, Hollywood history, Screenwriting, television history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On the Air and in the Aisles: How Kraft Music Hall Sold a Show and a Brand 

Posted on March 10, 2025 by ahcadmin

A standard of the Golden Age of Radio, musical-variety radio programs surged in popularity in the early 1930s as consumers gained access to affordable radio units. These shows, often blending comedy with music, remained beloved throughout the Great Depression. Typically … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Entertainment history, Golden Age of Radio, Hollywood history, radio history, television history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Joker – The Clown Prince of Crime

Posted on September 30, 2024 by ahcadmin

Joker is one of the most recognizable and iconic fictional characters in pop culture. The character’s origin dates to the publication of DC Comics Batman #1 in the spring of 1940. Joker was introduced as a criminal mastermind and Batman’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Adaptations, Batman Franchise, Comic Book Villains, Hollywood history, Pop Culture, Pop Culture Icons, television history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Behind the Curtain: A Look at The Wizard of Oz’s Difficult Production 85 Years Later

Posted on August 5, 2024 by ahcadmin

As a lifelong Oz fan, 1939’s The Wizard of Oz has been a throughline of positive memories for me. My parents called me “munchky” growing up, a nickname that would be apt when I made my stage debut as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Entertainment history, Film History, Hollywood history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tuppence a Tune: A Sherman Brothers Retrospective

Posted on July 15, 2024 by ahcadmin

Today, the American Heritage Center highlights Richard and Robert Sherman, in honor of Richard M. Sherman, who passed away earlier this year at age 95. The Center is honored to hold the papers of the brothers documenting a portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography and profiles, Composers, Film History, Film Music, Hollywood history, Songwriters, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Truth to Power: US Senator McGee’s Fight Echoed in “Oppenheimer”

Posted on March 4, 2024 by ahcadmin

Senator Gale McGee of Wyoming was an important figure in the groundswell of political change occurring in his time. Notably, as one of the rare Democrats in the state’s predominantly political sphere, he brought his extensive knowledge of history to … Continue reading →

Posted in American history, Biography and profiles, Entertainment history, Film History, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, Political controversy, Political history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Talking Movies to Looney Tunes – Celebrating 100 Years of Warner Brothers

Posted on April 3, 2023 by ahcadmin

April 4, 2023, marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Warner Brothers Pictures. Here at the American Heritage Center, we have the papers of some of the creative personalities behind the films for which Warner Brothers is revered. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, cartoons, Film History, Hollywood history, motion picture history, music, popular culture, television history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment