Nita Naldi, Jed Clampett, and Hedda’s Hollywood Appeal

[John Bengtson]

A remarkable episode of The Beverly Hillbillies includes an impassioned appeal by Hedda Hopper to preserve Hollywood history, while Jed attempts to atone for Mary Pickford’s vandalism by patching over her handprints at the Chinese Theater forecourt, and Miss Hathaway and Jethro Bodine channel Nita Naldi and Rudolph Valentino in a seductive tango.



Within her office, Hedda pleads to preserve a golden era studio as more than just a valuable piece of real estate - "It’s a priceless chapter of Hollywood history, written by stars who the world will never, never forget. … a studio so rich in memories should and must be preserved.” Behind Hedda, left to right top row: George Arliss, possibly Marie Dressler (thanks Steve Massa – does anyone have this image?), Douglas Fairbanks, John Barrymore, Lillian Gish, and Clara Bow. The bottom row, left to right: Janet Gaynor, Wm. S. Hart, Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino (blocked from view), Hedda Hopper herself, and Mae West. [Note: Buster Keaton and Hedda both died February 1, 1966, the same day.]

A Filmways production, the TV series was filmed at what was originally the Hollywood Metropolitan Studios, where Harold Lloyd produced his feature films, beginning with Girl Shy in 1924.

There much more to see and read here - https://wp.me/p11nfB-4Ci

Be safe and well, John