From Beneath the Hollywood Sign

“CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH: BARBARA STANWYCK” - 7/06/2026  (147) Anyone who’s listened to From Beneath the Hollywood Sign for any length of time, knows that BARBARA STANWYCK is the all-time favorite actress of Steve and Nan. This week, we will be discussing the remarkable life and career of this legend. What can you say about Stanwyck? Tough, talented, fiercely independent, and endlessly ve...

“REEL PATRIOTS: AMERICA’S STORY ON SCREEN” - 6/29/2026 (146) As America gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, Steve and Nan take a cinematic journey through some of the most patriotic films ever made in the latest episode of From Beneath the Hollywood Sign. From stirring wartime dramas to inspiring stories of courage, sacrifice, and the American spirit, Steve and Nan share their personal favor...

“STEVE & NAN CELEBRATE MARILYN MONROE’S 100th BIRTHDAY” - 6/22/2026 (145) In honor of what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, From Beneath the Hollywood Sign celebrates the enduring magic of one of Hollywood’s most beloved and influential stars. In this special episode, we revisit some of our favorite Marilyn Monroe films, exploring the performances, charisma, comedic brilliance, and...

EPISODE 144 -  “HOLLYWOOD BLOODLINES: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD'S LEGENDARY FAMILIES” - 6/15/2026  Hollywood has always been a family affair. In this episode, we explore some of the entertainment industry's most enduring dynasties, from the swashbuckling legacy of the Fairbanks family to the influential Montgomerys to the acclaimed generations of the Fondas and the multi-talented Hustons. Discover how the...

EPISODE 143 -  “GUESS WHO’S NUMBER ONE?: STEVE & NAN RANK TRACY/HEPBURN FILMS” - 6/08/2026  One of the most dynamic duos in film history is undoubtedly the teaming of SPENCER TRACY and KATHARINE HEPBURN. This chemistry was electric. Over the course of their careers, they appeared in nine films together — covering a wide range of genres. They were in everything from Westerns (“The Sea of Grass”) to...

EPISODE 142 -  “LUCILLE BREMER: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 6/01/2026  One of those fascinating “what happened to her?” MGM stories is LUCILLE BREMER. Bremer was an elegant redheaded dancer who MGM clearly thought was going to be their next big musical star after ELEANOR POWELL had stepped away. She had the glamour, the dancing ability, the carriage… she looked like she belonged in Technic...

“THE GARDEN OF ALLAH: COCKTAILS, SCANDALS & MISCHIEF” - 5/25/2026 (141) Once upon a time, there was a magical, decadent hotel in Hollywood where stars could avoid the scrutiny of the public and studio executives and really let their hair down. And, boy, did they! It was a place where there were no rules, there was a party every night, and the rich and famous could frolic carelessly around the pool...

EPISODE 140 -  “THE GARBO MYSTIQUE: A CONVERSATION WITH HER GREAT NEPHEW” - 5/11/2026  Scott Reisfield brings a very unique and personal perspective to this episode about GRETA GARBO. As Garbo’s great nephew, he knew his great aunt simply as "Kata," not as the international superstar and mysterious Hollywood actress. Join us as we invite Scott to discuss his new book, "Greta Garbo and the Rise of...

EPISODE 139 -  “TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL WRAP UP” - 5/11/2026  In this episode, hosts Steve and Nan take listeners along to the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival, where Hollywood history comes alive through restored screenings, celebrity panels, and unforgettable fan moments. Based in the heart of Hollywood at the famed TCL Chinese Theatre, the Egyptian Theatre, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, th...

EPISODE 138 -  “NORMAN LLOYD: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 5/4/2026  Few figures in Hollywood history have had careers as long—or as varied—as NORMAN LLOYD.  Spanning nearly a century, his work bridges the worlds of theater, radio, and film, with collaborations that include legends like CHARLIE CHAPLIN, ALFRED HITCHCOCK and ORSON WELLES. Whether appearing on stage, on screen or shaping stor...

EPISODE 137 -  “THE BIG SCREEN ‘I DO’: WEDDINGS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 4/27/2026  Weddings in classic films aren’t just about romance—they’re about timing, tension, and sometimes total chaos. Join us as we step into a world of whirlwind courtships, last-minute doubts, and grand gestures that don’t always go according to plan. From glamorous, music-filled celebrations to sharp, fast-talking battles o...

“TURNER CLASSIC MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW 2026” - 4/20/2026 (136) From Beneath the Hollywood Sign is excited to be covering the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival for the third year in a row. The festival is going to be bigger and better than ever, with star appearances by JANE FONDA, CAROL BURNETT, LAURA DERN, ALEXANDER PAYNE, BARBARA HERSHEY, and GLENN CLOSE, who will be receiving her hand and...

“BESS FLOWERS & FRANKLYN FARNUM: QUEEN & KING OF THE EXTRAS” - 4/13/2026 (135) Actors BESS FLOWERS and FRANKLYN FARNUM were absolute legends of the “blink and you’ll miss them” world. They weren’t headliners — in fact, they often were not credited or even noticed, but honestly, that’s what makes them so fascinating—their careers quietly stitched together the fabric of classic cinema. They were Ext...

“MAGGIE McNAMARA: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 4/06/2026 (134) The history of Hollywood is filled with stories of actors who experienced meteoric rises and then faded into obscurity just as quickly. Among the most poignant examples of this is the life of MAGGIE McNAMARA, an actress whose career began with remarkable promise but ended in obscurity and tragedy. With her pixie haircut, big doe...

“BETTE vs MIRIAM: WHEN STARS COLLIDED” - 3/30/2026 (133) What would Hollywood be without a good, old fashioned rivalry. It’s well documented that BETTE DAVIS and JOAN CRAWFORD were not exactly besties. But did you know that Davis had another rivalry that was even uglier and more intense? That’s right, the rivalry between Davis and her co-star in The Old Maid (1939) and Old Acquaintance (1943) was...

“JAMES WONG HOWE: THE MAN WHO PAINTED WITH LIGHT” - 3/16/2026 (132) Today, we’re going to step behind the camera and shine a spotlight—quite literally—on one of the most brilliant craftsmen Hollywood has ever seen. A man who helped shape the way movies look. If you’ve ever admired the stark black-and-white photography in Hud, the shadowy nighttime streets of Sweet Smell of Success, or the striking...

What does HUMPHREY BOGART in “The Maltese Falcon,” INGRID BERGMAN in “Casablanca” (1942), and GARY GRANT & ROSALIND RUSSELL in “His Girl Friday” (1940), all have in common? They are all iconic screen performances that were not — clutch your pearls! — even nominated for an Academy Award. This week, in our annual Oscar episode, we take a look at some of the classic film performances that were comple...

"THE MANY FACES OF ROBERT DUVALL" (130) --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE 129 -  “FRANK LOVEJOY: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 3/02/2026  I think many people know that one of our favorite films is In a Lonely Place (1950). Directed by NICHOLAS RAY, this film noir is the tragic story of a love affair unraveling at the hands of doubt and distrust. It stars HUMPHREY BOGART and GLORIA GRAHAME in roles that would be career-defining. However, adding quiet streng...

“THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THELMA TODD – A CHAT WITH SANDY ADOMAITIS” - 2/23/2026  (128) On this week’s riveting episode, we dive into the tragic and mysterious 1935 death of beloved Hollywood comedienne THELMA TODD, weaving together the glamour and shadowy intrigue of early Tinseltown with the unsolved questions that have gripped fans for nearly a century. The conversation is elevated by their gues...

EPISODE 127 -  “HOLLYWOOD FIGHTS BACK: THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT” - 2/16/2026  On October 1st, a group of entertainment professionals—led by iconic actress and activist JANE FONDA—relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment. They did so in response to what they see as troubling actions by the current government, including renewed efforts to silence critics across government, media...

EPISODE 126 -  “THE WESTMORE DYNASTY: MAKE-UP TO THE STARS AND BEYOND” - 2/09/2026  Hollywood loves dynasties—acting families, directing families, producing families—but one of the most powerful dynasties in film history didn’t appear on screen at all. And it’s one of the rare family dynasties that began in silent films and continues working in film and TV to this very day: THE WESTMORE FAMILY.  ...

EPISODE 125 -  “VIRGINIA MAYO: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD STAR OF THE MONTH” - 2/02/2026  One of the most glamorous actresses in old Hollywood undoubtedly was VIRGINIA MAYO. This peaches-and-cream, midwestern beauty started her career wrangling two men in a horse costume on stage before being discovered by producer SAMUEL GOLDWYN and transformed into a full-blown movie star. Often playing the fantasy girl...

EPISODE 124 -  “EARL CARROLL VANITIES: SCANDAL, SPECTACLE AND THE JAZZ AGE” - 1/27/2026  When we think about the great showmen of early Hollywood, we often think of FLO ZIEGFELD, SID GRAUMAN or maybe BUSBY BERKELEY, but another man who certainly fits well into this fraternity of daring, flamboyant, and imaginative purveyors of entertainment was EARL CARROLL. Carroll was a producer, songwriter, and...

“ALMOST MARRIED TO THE MOB: HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES WHO DATED MOBSTERS” - 1/19/2026  (123) In this episode, we slip into the shadows where classic Hollywood glamour meets organized crime, exploring the classic Hollywood actresses who found themselves romantically entangled with real-life mobsters. At a time when studios tightly controlled female stars’ images, these notorious bad boys offered somethin...