HAL BATES AND MR. BLACKWELL

And .. ?

Thanks to Gail for the I.D.!

HAL BATES AND .... ?? NUMBER FOUR

Now here's a happy couple with Hal. But who are they? The guy on the left looks like Noddy Holder of Slade, but that's not possible. Ha. (NOTE: He is wearing an I.D. tag that reads "Beth Coombes." Maybe that's hers??)

HAL BATES AND ... ? NUMBER THREE

Hmmm... Could be a realtor or insurance guy. Maybe not. Need help on this one. 

Nice coats, guys!

HAL BATES AND KITTY CARLISLE

This was going to be "HAL BATES AND ... ? NUMBER THREE" but an earlier photo was identified. Unless this is not Kitty Carlisle??

HAL BATES AND ... ? NUMBER TWO

So, who is she?

HAL BATES AND .... ? NUMBER ONE (PLAYBOY MANSION)

Today we start posting a few of the many photographs found with Hal Bates and persons unknown. These photos have no identification as to who is included. Some of the folks look mighty darn familiar, but their identity remains tantalizingly out of reach.

Perhaps someone (like you?) knows who is in the photo. Let us all know, please!

Today we start with an image taken inside Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion. Hal is "darting" with a lovely Bunny. But who is she?

HAL BATES AND ALAN HALE AND MICHAEL MUSTO

Apparently,  Musto has only one credit, as per IMDB: Producer and screenwriter for the Jayne Mansfield vehicle, "Single Room Furnished," in 1966.

HAL BATES, LITA BARON, SELMA BATES, AND GEORGE BURNS

Lita Baron (Isabel Beth Castro, 8 August 1929, Spain) was Mrs. Rory Calhoun, singer with Xavier Cugat, acted in many films and television shows. Her "escort around town" since 1972 was George Burns.

HAL BATES AND THOMAS BRADLEY

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND HUNTINGTON HARTFORD

George Huntington Hartford II (April 18, 1911 – May 19, 2008) was an heir to the A&P supermarket fortune. When he died in 2008, obituaries noted that, Hartford "had once ranked among the world's richest people." Hartford was an American businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and art collector. He owned Paradise Island in the Bahamas, and had numerous other business and real estate interests over his lifetime including the Oil Shale Corporation (TOSCO), which he founded in 1955.

Huntington was a strong patron of the arts, building an artists colony above Los Angeles and later a gallery in New York City, and his opinions the arts were equally strong. He criticized Abstract Expressionists, believing they had ushered in a great "ice age of art," freezing out the grand traditions of music, painting and sculpture; he described Pablo Picasso as a "mountebank." Beyond expressionism, he derided the "beatnik, the Existentialist, the juvenile delinquent, the zaniest of abstract art, the weirdest aberrations of the mentally unbalanced, the do-nothing philosophy of Zen Buddhism" as a result of wanton "abuse of liberty and freedom." He had strong opinions against the work of Tennessee Williams, T.S. Eliot, and Willem de Kooning, as well as art dealer Sidney Janis.

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND SELMA BATES AND CHARLES GRODIN

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND RONALD REAGAN

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND SIMON OAKLAND

And ... ?

Simon Oakland (August 28, 1915 – August 29, 1983) was an American actor of stage, screen, and television.

Oakland made his film debut as the "tough, but compassionate" journalist who speaks up for Susan Hayward's Barbara Graham in I Want to Live! in 1958. Oakland would wind up playing this type often over the course of his career.

He went on to play a long series of tough guy types, usually in positions of authority, most notably in Psycho, in which he plays the psychiatrist who explains Norman Bates's multiple personality disorder. He also appeared in West Side Story, Bullitt, and the science fiction television series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. He made two guest appearances on CBS's Perry Mason, both times as the murder victim. He also appeared in the syndicated crime drama, Decoy, starring Beverly Garland. Oakland appeared once each on the CBS western, Dundee and the Culhane and in another syndicated crime drama series, Sheriff of Cochise, starring John Bromfield. Oakland played General Thomas Moore on NBC's Baa Baa Black Sheep, starring Robert Conrad.

HAL BATES AND KATHY CRONKITE

Kathy Cronkite (born September 5, 1950) is an American actress and mental health professional. She is also the daughter of former CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite. In 1979 she co-starred on the short-lived NBC sitcom "Hizzonner^.." She also had roles in the movies "Network," "Billy Jack," "The Trial of Billy Jack," "Billy Jack Goes to Washington" and "Which Way Is Up."

HAL BATES AND ARCHIE MOORE

With Bob Walsh of KABC Radio + And ... ?

HAL BATES AND MICHAEL ANSARA AND AL COOMBS

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND RONA BARRETT AND DAVID FROST

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND GLENN FORD

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND MONTY HALL

HAL BATES AND JOE SOUTH

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND JACKIE GAYLE

Jackie Gayle (March 1, 1926 – November 23, 2002), born Jack Potovsky, was an American standup comedian and actor. He performed as a comedian for 40 years, appearing in nightclubs and in Las Vegas, including working as the opening act for such performers as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. He also appeared on more than 20 episodes of "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast." His acting credits include the 1987 film "Tin Men" and Woody Allen's "Broadway Danny Rose."

With AL COOMBS (on right), a television actor ("The Terry Fox Story," 1983).

HAL BATES AND KAREN BLACK AND WILLIAM DEVANE

Perhaps during the filming of "Family Plot" (1976). With AL COOMBS (on right), a television actor ("The Terry Fox Story," 1983).

HAL BATES AND WILLIAM GRANT STILL

With Bob Walsh of KABC Radio and Mrs. Still.

HAL BATES AND ANN-MARGRET AND JULIET PROUSE

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND BOB CRANE AND BARBI BENTON

With my father's cousin LARRY LIPSON to Ms. Benson's left. Person on far right of picture still unknown. Lipson was long-time restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Daily News: http://www.dailynews.com/20080215/longtime-daily-news-restaurant-reviewer-larry-lipson-retires

HAL BATES AND LESLIE UGGAMS

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND ROUBEN MAMOULIAN

Distinguished film director of such classics as "Love Me Tonight," "Queen Christina," "Silk Stockings," and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

HAL BATES AND ROSE MARIE AND KITTY CARLISLE

... And ... ??

HAL BATES AND SAM YORTY

 (Mayor of Los Angeles 1961-1973) + Bob Walsh of KABC Radio

HAL BATES AND EDY WILLIAMS

And ... ? (Owner of the Steak 'n Stein?)

HAL BATES AND SELMA BATES AND WALTER BRENNAN

HAL BATES AND MARTY ALLEN AND POUPEE BOCAR

And GRANT GRIFFIN.

HAL BATES AND MAE WEST

HAL BATES AND RAY MILLAND AND ROSEY GRIER

And ... ?

HAL BATES AND CONNIE KRESKI

HAL BATES AND PHYLLIS DILLER

INTRODUCTION / HAL BATES AND JOHN WAYNE

INTRODUCTION

Hal Bates (Born Harold Simon Joseph Braitman, 26 Aug 1929 - 14 Jan 2008) was an active member of the entertainment media in Los Angeles for many years. At various times he was an editor and writer for publications including the Hollywood Reporter, Daily News, National Enquirer, Hollywood Now, and others. He was also president of the Hollywood Press Club.

As often as he could, Hal Bates would have pictures taken with movie stars and other luminaries. He loved being in their reflected limelight. At one time he tried acting himself, got a few small parts, but quickly moved into media where he was more comfortable.

The photographs of this blog were discovered in a box of personal possessions after his death. It seemed like it would be a good thing to put them out in the world, since the world has much to do about who these notable people were and their historical impact.

Not everyone in these photographs is identified. Any information would be appreciated.

The articles that follow the bulk of the photographs are from original copies of the various newspapers and magazines for which Hal Bates edited and wrote. 

HAL BATES AND JOHN WAYNE

And ... ?