Hollywood’s Golden Age – How Much Do You Know?

The film industry prospered greatly during what has been dubbed Hollywood’s Golden Age from the early 20^th Century to the 1950’s. The big studios had under contract the most famous actors of all time and Hollywood was the center of the entertainment universe. 

While you will surely know the big name stars, there are fun facts about them and some surprising ones, too. Check out our True/False questions and test your knowledge of the era’s movie star trivia. The answers are at the bottom of the article.

1) Clark Gable started his acting career in summer stock and touring companies.

2) Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier both won Oscars in 1939.  

3) Debbie Reynolds once owned and operated a nightclub in Las Vegas. 

4) Elizabeth Taylor’s first acting role was in Lassie Come Home. 

5) Shirley Temple was the studio’s first choice for Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

6) Grace Kelly was never involved in another film after she left Hollywood and married Monaco’s Prince Rainier.

7) Frank Sinatra formed the first “Rat Pack” with his closest friends and fellow performers. 

8) Judy Garland suffered financial distresses for much of her performance career.  

9) Joan Crawford and Bette Davis appeared in a total of three movies together.

10) Louella Parsons is best known for her screenwriting.   

ANSWERS:

1. True. Clark Gable had a deep desire to be an actor and took whatever roles he could get to start his career.
2. False. In 1939 Sir Laurence Oliver was nominated for Best Actor in Wuthering Heights and Vivien Leigh was nominated for Best Actress in Gone With The Wind but only Leigh won.
3. True. Debbie Reynolds owned a nightclub and hotel in Las Vegas where she hoped to have a successful Hollywood memorabilia museum.
4. False. Elizabeth Taylor made her film debut in 1942 in There’s One Born Every Minute.
5. True. Shirley Temple was under contract to 20^th Century Fox and the studio refused to loan her to MGM to star in The Wizard of Oz.
6. False. In 1977, Grace Kelly narrated the film, The Children of Theatre Street, a ballet documentary.
7. False. The very first “Rat Pack” was formed by Humphrey Bogart and fellow actors that included Errol Flynn and Mickey Rooney. 
8. True. Judy Garland did not handle her own finances and there were multiple people that took advantage of the star.
9. False. Even though Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were stars during the Hollywood’s Golden Age, they only performed in one movie together, the 1962 cult classic, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.
10. Louella Parsons was considered one of the most influential columnists in Hollywood along with Hedda Hopper. Their columns were syndicated across many publications.

So how did you do? Let us know and we can keep the fun facts coming!

Top photo: Bigstock