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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · 13d

Had a wonderful time being part of the 42nd Hollywood Forever Cemetery Tour produced by The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. Huge thank you to Sherri Snyder for bringing me onboard for a second year! #losangeles #hollywoodforevercemetery #artdecosocietyoflosangeles

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · 19d

On this day, September 30, 1955, James Dead died tragically in a car crash on his way to Salinas, California. After 70 years, we still remember. This is a clip from my documentary, Griffith Park - The Curse of Dona Petranilla Part Two. Written and narrated by Allison Marie. #jamesdean #onthisday

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · 21d

(2/2) This walking tour of the 126-year-old Hollywood Forever Cemetery is not to be missed. I will introduce you to a man who was not only friends with Abraham Lincoln, but was his last official visitor before his death!

Get your tickets here: artdecola.org/events-calen...

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Living History Tour 2025 — Art Deco Society of Los Angeles

For the 42nd year, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles “digs up the dirt” on Hollywood history - including a few scandals - via a living history walking tour of the 126-year-old Hollywood Forever Cem...

artdecola.org

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · 21d

(1/2) Next Sunday, October 5th!
Join me and other fellow historians and living history performers with the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, as we “dig up the dirt” on Hollywood history! #hollywood #losangeles #OldHollywood #tours #cemetery #hollywoodhistory #spookymonth

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 7

(2/2) At the time it was being auctioned off, it was expected to go for $10,000 - $12,000. Curious what the final bid was.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 7

(1/2) Since we were unable to make it to the Old Town Music Hall‘s screening of Valentino’s The Eagle, here is the original 1925, six-sheet poster. It had significant restoration and some recreation in the bottom title area and linen backed. #rudolphvalentino #vintageposter

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 6

It’s the weekend! To celebrate, caption this photograph! This is the fabulous Clara Bow in full clown makeup! Photographed by George P. Hommel for the 1929 Paramount film, Dangerous Curves. I can’t wait to see your captions!
#SaturdayCaption #silentfilm #oldhollywood #clarabow #dangerouscurves

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 4

(3/3) Funny enough, when Mary would be asked about her real birthday, she would simple say that it was negotiable.

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 4

(2/3) For the film, the studio felt that her character Wendy could be no more than 16 years old. So, they took a couple of years off Mary’s age during Peter Pan’s advertising. This ended up creating a strange situation when the studio wanted her as their leading lady.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 4

(1/3) Mary Brian was born Louise Byrd Dantzler on February 17, 1906 in Texas. Her name was changed by the studio, Famous Players-Lasky, when at the age of 18, she made her film debut in their movie, Peter Pan.
#silentfilm #marybrian #actress #peterpan #silentera #oldhollywood

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 1

(3/3) They would eventually marry after his wife died, but Frances would die a year later.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 1

(2/3) This was Arbuckle’s last film he would make in New York before heading to the West Coast.
Both sisters would also star together in multiple films like Fruits of Passion in 1919.
Frances Mann was the longtime mistress of Murdock Pemberton, the New Yorker’s first art critic.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Sep 1

(1/3) Frances Mann was a silent film actress and the sister of actress Alice Mann. Frances would work with Vitagraph and Pathe while Alice would be known as Roscoe Arbuckle’s leading lady at Paramount and even play in Coney Island with Buster Keaton. #silentfilm #oldhollywood #actress

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 30

Anna May Wong And Hattie McDaniel spotted in Hollywood!

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 26

Well played Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. I will go see your little shark exhibit. Lol. #jaws #museum #losangeles

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 26

(2/2) - The movie moguls, and the pioneers who shaped Los Angeles, hearing fascinating tales about their lives (both their accomplishments and misdeeds) from historians and living history performances. Click the link for more info! I hope to see you there!

artdecola.org/events-calen...

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Living History Tour 2025 — Art Deco Society of Los Angeles

For the 42nd year, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles “digs up the dirt” on Hollywood history - including a few scandals - via a living history walking tour of the 126-year-old Hollywood Forever Cem...

artdecola.org

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 26

(1/2) Hey everyone! I will once again be one of the tour guides for a special living history walking tour of the 126-year-old Hollywood Forever Cemetery! For 42 years, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles has brought guests to the gravesites of early Hollywood stars -

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Living History Tour 2025 — Art Deco Society of Los Angeles

For the 42nd year, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles “digs up the dirt” on Hollywood history - including a few scandals - via a living history walking tour of the 126-year-old Hollywood Forever Cem...

artdecola.org

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 24

(3/3) Bonus, Allison read one of my favorite poems written by Valentino, At Sunrise Tomorrow.

Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 24

(2/3) It featured a 100th anniversary salute to Rudolph’s film, The Eagle, a beautiful tribute to Donna Hill, memories of June Mathis discussed by her family member Diane Mathis Madsen. Author Thomas J. Slater spoke on his new book about June Mathis. Which we quickly purchased after the service.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 24

(1/3) Yesterday, I had the honor of helping out with the 98th Valentino Memorial Service at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Tracy Terhune put together an amazing program! #rudolphvalentino #memorialservice #hollywood #oldhollywood #silentfilm #silentfilmstars #junemathis

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 10

(11/11) Carl Laemmle would create The Independent Motion Picture Company to stand against Edison and his Motion Picture Patents Company. The Warner brothers would support Laemmle and headed to California to get back into film distribution. This was 1912.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 10

(10/11) They would take the film on the road making enough money to start making their own short films.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 10

(9/11) The Warner brothers simply did not have the money, or the man power to battle this type of brutality. It wasn’t until a couple months later that Sam came back from New York with the rights to the film Dante’s Inferno.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 10

(8/11) Edison’s group made sure independent producers were not distributing their products without giving them a weekly payment for each of there equipment that was used. This would be enforced by hired thugs. It would get very violent.

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Forgotten Nitrate @realmfrancis.bsky.social · Aug 10

(7/11) By 1908, the Warner brothers were renting out over 200 film titles to theaters all over Western Pennsylvania. Their business would grow until they were forced to sell it due to Thomas Edison and his Motion Picture Patents Company.

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