From Beneath the Hollywood Sign

“HABITS, COLLARS & CLOSEUPS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 1/12/2026 (122) Classic cinema has always had a fascination with clergy and nuns — not just as religious figures, but as real people caught between faith and the challenges of the world. When these characters take center stage, the stories often become less about doctrine and more about conscience, compassion, and moral choices.  Sometimes with a go...

EPISODE 121 -  “RICHARD BASEHART: CLASSIC STAR OF THE MONTH” - 1/05/2026  RICHARD BASEHART wasn't the flashiest of actors, but he certainly was one of the most versatile. He always brought such haunting depth and emotional intensity to his roles, often portraying characters teetering on the edge of psychological turmoil. With his piercing blue eyes and floppy blonde hair, his sensitive, brooding p...

EPISODE 120 -  “REEL REFLECTIONS: STEVE & NAN’S FAVES IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 12/29/25  As we say goodbye to 2025, Steve and Nan are wrapping up the year and ringing in the new one with much refection. In this fun episode, join the discussion as they talk about some of their favorite films, movie stars, and directors in a series of fun lists. Get to know our intrepid hosts better and find out just wh...

“FUN FACTS ABOUT CLASSIC HOLIDAY MOVIES” - 12/22/2025 (119) We all know the iconic Holiday movies like “A Christmas Carol,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas.” This week, Nan and Steve go behind the scenes of some of your favorite classic holiday movies and dig up some fun facts about these films that you may or may not know. We talk about the snow, the casting, the locations, and a lot mo...

12-15-2025. "HO! HO! HOLLYWOOD: SANTA CLAUS IN CLASSIC CINEMA" (118) Long before special effects, CGI snowstorms, and big-budget holiday franchises, it fell to a small but memorable group of performers to embody the warmth, wonder, and whimsy of old St. Nick. Ever wonder about the actors who were called upon to portray Santa Claus in film and TV? These classic Santas weren’t just men in red suits...

EPISODE 117 -  “STEVE AND NAN DISCUSS: MOVIES ABOUT MOVIES” - 12/08/25  In the latest episode of From Beneath the Hollywood Sign, we pull back the curtain on the cinematic world of making movies about... making movies. We dive deep into the movies that reveal what really happens behind the scenes in Tinseltown-sometimes with affection, sometimes as a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for...

EPISODE 116 -  “CLASSIC STAR OF THE MONTH: DICK VAN DYKE” - 12/01/25  Join us as we celebrate the life and career of someone who seemingly personifies joy — on-screen and off.  And maybe that’s the secret to his longevity, because he is about to celebrate his 100th birthday on December 13.  Of course, we’re talking about the one and only, DICK VAN DYKE, our December Star of the Month. His career s...

“THE HOLMES ACTING DYNASTY: FROM STAGE TO SCREEN” - 11/24/25  (115) When we think of the great acting family dynasties of Hollywood, we often think of the Barrymores, the Carradines, or the Fondas, but today we’ll be discussing another acting dynasty that may not be as familiar, but is every bit as interesting. The HOLMES family consisted of prolific character actor TAYLOR HOLMES, whose career spa...

"FROM SILENT DREAMS TO SILVER SCREENS - THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN STORY" Nov 17, 2025 - (114) Each year thousands of people flock to Hollywood, and most are usually stopped in their tracks upon the first sighting of the iconic Hollywood Sign. Sitting high atop Mount Lee 1400 feet above the city, the Sign is a mesmerizing beacon of light that has come to symbolize the hopes and dreams of so many who’ve co...

EPISODE 113 -  “BIG STAR, SMALL SCREEN - A CONVERSATION WITH FRONT ROW CLASSICS’ BRANDON DAVIS” - 11/10/25 In the early days of television, many classic film actors were hesitant—or even outright refused—to appear on TV for a multitude of reasons. Many thought that TV was low-brow. Others thought they would get overexposed and it would somehow diminish their box-office power. Slowly stars like LOR...

EPISODE 112 -  “CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH: JACQUELINE WHITE” - 11/03/25 When we think of our beloved Classic film stars who are still with us, we tend to think of EVA MARIE SAINT, ANN BLYTH, KIM NOVAK, ROBERT WAGNOR, or DICK VAN DYKE, however, there is one star among us who will be turning 103 in November. The name JACQUELINE WHITE may not ring any bells today, but for a brief time in the 1...

EPISODE 111 -  “CELEBRATING DIANE KEATON: THE HIDDEN GEMS OF A HOLLYWOOD ORIGINAL” - 10/27/25 When DIANE KEATON passed away on October 11, 2025, she left behind an incredible legacy of important films and stunning performances that were some of the best of the era. Her youthful effervescence, her fashion style, everything about her belied mortality.  Most people think of her masterful, Oscar-winni...

EPISODE 110 -  “LON CHANEY SR, and LON CHANEY JR” - 10/25 LON CHANEY, known as the 'Man of a Thousand Faces,' amazed audiences in the silent era with his unforgettable performances in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). He was a master of transformation, using makeup, physicality, and raw emotion to create these classic characters no one had ever seen before. Hi...

“HOLLYWOOD GOLDEN BOY: THE LEGACY OF ROBERT REDORD” - 10/13/25 - (109) On September 16, 2025, the world lost a cinematic giant when ROBERT REDFORD, the golden boy of Hollywood, passed away at the age of 89 in his beloved Utah. Redford was a towering figure in American cinema whose influence spanned over six decades as an actor, director, producer, and environmental activist. Known for his striking...

EPISODE 108 -  “HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY: GLENN FORD & ELEANOR POWELL, REMEMBERED BY SON PETER FORD” - 10/06/25 PETER FORD was born into Hollywood royalty. As the son of MGM dancing sensation ELEANOR POWELL, and rugged leading man GLENN FORD, he was born into a world stat few can imagine. He lived in a mansion in Beverly Hills with a staff of 8. He called RITA HAYWORTH “Aunt Rita,” was babysat by JAMES M...

EPISODE 107 -  “SUSAN PETERS: A CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD TRAGEDY” - 9/29/25 SUSAN PETERS was a rising star in Hollywood’s Golden Age, a gifted actress whose poise, talent, and beauty quickly earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination. With a promising career ahead of her, she seemed destined for lasting stardom—until a devastating accident abruptly changed everything, marking the beginni...

EPISODE 106 -  “FROM THE BAD SEED TO THE WONDER YEARS: PATTY MCCORMACK AND DAN LAURIA IN CONVERSATION” - 9/22/25 This week, we are thrilled to welcome two celebrated actors —  PATTY McCORMACK, who made an indelible mark on cinema as the unforgettable child star of “The Bad Seed,” and Dan Lauria, beloved for his role as the father on “The Wonder Years” and his extensive work on stage and screen. Pa...

EPISODE 105 -  “LOUELLA AND HEDDA: THE GOLDEN AGE’S GOSSIP GIRLS” - 9/15/25 This week, we explore the legendary rivalry between Hollywood gossip columnists LOUELLA PARSONS and HEDDA HOPPER. Parsons, backed by media tycoon WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST, became a powerful figure in the 1920s with close ties to the studios. Hopper, a former actress, entered the scene later with a more aggressive style and...

EPISODE 104 -  “MEMORABLE MINUTES: JOHN DILEO ON ACTORS WHO MADE THE MOST OF LESS” - 9/08/25 Back by popular demand! This week we welcome author and friend of the podcast JOHN DILEO who will talk about his 2022 book THERE ARE NO SMALL PARTS: 100 OUTSTANDING FILM PERFORMANCES WITH SCREEN TIME OF 10 MINUTES OR LESS, a fun, insightful look at the incredible actors who made the most with the limited s...

EPISODE 103 - “ELEANOR PARKER: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 9/01/25 This week, we celebrate our Star of the Month: the extraordinary ELEANOR PARKER. Known as “the woman of a thousand faces,” Parker built a remarkable career defined by range, subtlety, and strength. From her Oscar-nominated turn as a wrongly imprisoned woman in Caged, to her quietly powerful presence as the Baroness in The S...

EPISODE 102 -  “TALKIES, GANGSTERS, & BUGS BUNNY: THE WARNER BROTHERS JOURNEY” - 8/25/25 In this week’s episode, we’re turning the spotlight on the incredible journey of the Warner brothers—Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack—four ambitious siblings who rose from modest immigrant roots to create one of the most influential movie studios in the world: Warner Bros. Studios. Their story begins in the early...

EPISODE 101 -  “UNCOVERING URSULA PARROTT: DR. MARSHA GORDON ON THE LOST LITERARY STAR” - 8/18/25 This week, we are thrilled to welcome film professor and author DR. MARSHA GORDON to discuss the life, career, and lost legacy of early feminist writer URSULA PARROTT. Parrott was a colorful character — a prolific and best-selling author, Hollywood screenwriter, and consistent headline-grabber during...

EPISODE 100 -  “LIGHTS! CAMERA! KARGER! TCM’s DAVE KARGER HELPS US CELEBRATE 100 EPISODES” - 8/11/25 We're thrilled to celebrate the 100th episode of FROM BENEATH THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN with a very special guest: DAVE KARGER, beloved host of Turner Classic Movies and one of the most respected voices in entertainment journalism. In this milestone episode, Dave joins us to discuss his fascinating new bo...

EPISODE 99 -  “GRANT WITHERS: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 8/04/25 The name GRANT WITHERS is usually met with blank stares and shrugs these days, but back in the late 1920s and 1930s, he was a much-in-demand leading man who capitalized on his boyish good looks, athletic, 6-foot-3-inch frame, natural charisma, and effortless acting ability. And as dynamic as his screen persona was, his perso...

See J.P.'s thirty second version of "The Birds" here: https://youtu.be/kjiSyts0xnk?si=1KZK5e7fOymLmtLU EPISODE 98 -  “BEHIND THE SCENES: GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM BEHIND FBTHS” - 7/28/25 As they say, it takes a village. And that is very true here at FROM BENEATH THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN podcast. This week, we decided to pull the curtain back and reveal two unsung heroes of the show who work tirelessly be...