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28 July 2009

Hello Everyone!

August is going to start with a Marion-a-thon on Turner Classic movies!  Tune in on August 3rd (actually it starts at 3am Eastern on the 2nd) to see the following schedule:

This is a fantastic tribute to Marion and it’s not even her Birth or Death date!  This is your big chance to see these films if you’re a new “Marionite” or just want to spend a pleasant day watching our favorite star on the screen.

Warner Brothers Archives at:

http://www.wbshop.com/Warner-Archive/ARCHIVE,default,sc.html

has over 150 classic movie titles for sale, including three of Marion’s films.  For the first time you may purchase studio quality DVD’s (no Blu-Ray yet, sorry) of OPERATOR 13, CAIN AND MABEL and THE RED MILL.  You may also purchase a copy of QUALITY STREET, which is included with the DVD of “Captured on Film – The True Story of Marion Davies.”   

The remains of Marion’s beach house, frequently nick-named “Ocean House” has opened to the public after much refurbishing.  It is now known as the Annenberg Beach House, and for a small fee you may swim in Marion’s 110 foot long Italian marble pool!  The servants quarters, which the proprietors are incorrectly calling “The Guest House” has been restored, with photos of Marion everywhere, it’s really a nice tribute.

I had to laugh when I saw the servant’s quarters being billed as the guest house.  I might remind you that Ocean House could have made the White House blush, it was massive and extremely elegant.  It had 34 bedrooms and over 60 bathrooms if my memory prevails.  Marion would not have allowed any guest to stay in that little house and use those tiny bathrooms when the mansion was right there with ultra luxurious digs.  The property had the servant’s quarters, a changing room for the pool and the main house (and garages and tennis courts).  Of course the main house is gone and all that’s left is the pool and the servant’s quarters.  But they have built a nice club house which I believe may be rented out for special occasions.  If you find yourself in the Santa Monica area you really should check it out.

Ok, now it’s time to bring you up to date on the saga of IT’S A WISE CHILD.  I was finally able to get through to the right people at UCLA and for the first time was able to start a communication about restoration or preservation work on their print.  They only have an original 1931 nitrate print, which I might remind those who aren’t aware, could either explode or disintegrate at any moment!  It is in quite beautiful shape, although they are missing the last reel, but they have never transferred it to safety film.  I made some inquiries about funding a preservation/restoration and was told that it was possible but they would have to get clearance from Warner Brothers.  You probably know where this is leading, as Warner Brothers routinely turns into a quince when that title is mentioned.  At any rate, I was warned that the ok for such a project could take some time, and thus far I have not heard back from my contacts.  In the meantime, I have lined up a few potential donors who may help us fund the project.  If we get a green light I would be able to set up a foundation through UCLA so that people could contribute tax deductible dollars toward the project.  I will be sure to keep everyone posted when I learn any new details.

Marion Davies Chat Room




MARION ON DVD!
Grapevine Video releases LITTLE OLD NEW YORK ON DVD!

Grapevine Video has released LITTLE OLD NEW YORK on DVD. The title can be purchased online from the following link:
http://www.grapevinevideo.com/Little_Old_NY.htm
Grapevine Video
Thanks to David Apolloni for bringing this to our attention!

Marion's bed has been returned to her bedroom in the Hearst Castle! The bed was removed after W.R. died so that the Hearst twins could have twin beds in the room. I go on record stating that I griped and moaned on every visit to the castle (and there have been many) about the bed being missing so it was with a bit of shock on my last visit when I walked into Marion's room and there it was!


Bob Board's added an annex! Below is a shot of Bob holding two new prized possessions, two European movie magazines with Marion on the cover. The odd thing is that they're both from the 40's, which means that someone at the magazine really loved Marion at the time since she stopped making films in 1937. Bob's new annex houses all the miniature movie sets he's built, including FLORODORA GIRL, GOING HOLLYWOOD, OPERATOR 13, SHOW PEOPLE, PAGE MISS GLORY and CAIN AND MABEL. There are also replicas of the main hall of San Simeon (behind Bob in the photo), Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Coconut Grove.





Marion at the swearing in for President Kennedy, at left with a hanky over her face.

As many of you now know we have a message board. I've been fairly faithful about answering questions when I can and I appreciate others who've helped out as well. You can access the message board at:

http://www.decofilms.com/forum/default.asp

 
Until next time....

Nick Langdon

The Marion Davies Home Page

A 1941 European Magazine
with Marion on the cover,
Courtesy of Bob Board

From
The Cardboard Lover

A Note From
Marion

Click on the above
link to read a note
from Marion!

Marion's beloved Ocean House will somewhat rise
again as a public park in Santa Monica!

A shot of Sacramento's Crest Theatre with the opening titles of The Bachelor Father.  Ok, notice there is no one in the theatre....  I superimposed the titles onto a previous photo of the theatre.

The beautiful Crest Theatre
all lit up for the Davies
double feature!









Marion posing for a publicity shot
for PAGE MISS GLORY, at
Warner Brothers, 1935.