[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND ROUBEN MAMOULIAN

Roupen Zachary Mamoulian (pronunciation perhaps roo-BEN mah-mool-YAHN) (October 8, 1897 – December 4, 1987) was an Armenian-American film and theatre director.

He directed his first feature film in 1929, Applause, which was one of the earliest talkies. It was a landmark film owing to Mamoulian's innovative use of camera movement and sound, and these qualities were carried through to his other films released in the 1930s. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) benefits from having been made before the Production Code came into full force, and is regularly considered the best version of Robert Louis Stevenson's tale. Queen Christina (1933) was the last film Greta Garbo made with John Gilbert. The musical film Love Me Tonight was released in 1932.
He directed the first three-strip Technicolor film, Becky Sharp (1935), based on Thackeray's Vanity Fair, as well as the 1937 musical High, Wide, and Handsome. His next two films earned him wide admiration, The Mark of Zorro (1940) and Blood and Sand (1941), both remakes of silent films. Blood and Sand, on bull fighting, was filmed in Technicolor, and used color schemes based on the work of Spanish artists such as Diego Velázquez and El Greco. His foray into screwball comedy genre in 1942 was a success with Rings on Her Fingers starring Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney.
His last completed musical film was MGM's 1957 film version of the Cole Porter musical Silk Stockings. This had been one of Porter's less successful stage musicals and was based on the 1939 Greta Garbo classic Ninotchka. The film Silk Stockings starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, with Janis Paige and Peter Lorre in support (with Lorre singing in the film).

Mamoulian's film directing career came to an end when he was fired from two consecutive films, Porgy and Bess (1959) and Cleopatra (1963). He had previously been fired as director of Laura (1944). After directing the highly successful original stage productions of Oklahoma! and Carousel, he worked on only a few other theatrical productions, such as St. Louis Woman, which introduced Pearl Bailey to Broadway audiences.

He was personally recruited by Directors Guild of America (DGA) co-founder King Vidor in 1936 to help unionize fellow movie directors. Mamoulian's lifelong allegiance to the DGA, and more so his general unwillingness to compromise, contributed to his being targeted in Hollywood blacklisting of the 1950s.



He died in 1987 of natural causes at the age of 90 in Woodland Hills, California. His wife Azadia died in 1999 at the age of 97.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND AGNES MOOREHEAD

At a Hollywood Press Club function. Date unknown.

Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900 – April 30, 1974) was an American actress whose career of more than three decades included work in radio, stage, film, and television. She is chiefly known for her role as Endora on the television series Bewitched. She was also notable for her film roles in Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons, All That Heaven Allows, and Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

While rarely playing leads in films, Moorehead's skill at character development and range earned her one Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe awards in addition to four Academy Award and six Emmy Award nominations. Moorehead's transition to television won acclaim for drama and comedy. She could play many different types, but often portrayed haughty, arrogant characters.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AT THE CONTROLS

Possibly in the KABC-Radio plane, circa 1970.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND WILLIAM GRANT STILL

With Bob Walsh, ABC Radio (left) and Mrs. Grant (center.

William Grant Still (May 11, 1895 – December 3, 1978) was an African-American classical composer who wrote more than 150 compositions. He was the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony (his first symphony) performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company, and the first to have an opera performed on national television. He is often referred to as "the Dean" of African-American composers.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND RONALD REAGAN

And with a whole bunch of other people. Date unknown; location unknown.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND FERDINAND MENDENHALL

With Bob Walsh of ABC Radio on right. Presentation made in June 1970.

From the New York Times, 17 February 1981: 

MONTEREY, Calif., Feb. 16— Ferdinand Mendenhall, a vice president of The Daily News of Los Angeles, died of an apparent heart attack here Saturday. He was 72 years old. Mr. Mendenhall, of Beverly Hills, was in Monterey to attend the California Newspaper Publishers Association convention. 

He was found unconscious in his hotel room. 

Mr. Mendenhall, born in Burlington Junction, Miss., grew up in the suburban San Fernando Valley. His newspaper recently changed its name from The Valley News to The Daily News. It is owned by the Tribune Company of Chicago. 

Mr. Mendenhall served as deputy chief of protocol for California for his friend, Gov. Ronald Reagan. He is survived by his wife, Doris; three daughters, Doris Anne, Laura Kate and Margo Mia, and a brother, John, of Seattle, Wash. 

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND MICHAEL ANSARA AND AL COOMBS

Michael George Ansara (April 15, 1922 – July 31, 2013) was a Syrian-born American stage, screen, and voice actor who portrayed Cochise in the American television series Broken Arrow, Kane in the 1979–1981 series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Commander Kang on three different Star Trek television series, Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart on the NBC series, Law of the Plainsman, and providing the voice for Mr. Freeze in Batman: The Animated Series and several of its spin-offs.

Photograph by Peter C. Borsari.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND RAY MILLAND AND ROSY GRIER

Most probably during production of "The Beast With Two Heads" (1972).

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND NATIONAL ENQUIRER STAFF

Hal Bates with persons unknown, date unknown. May be National Enquirer event, recently opened Los Angeles bureau. Photographer: Walter Zurlinden.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES ON THE DANCEFLOOR

Date unknown; unknown location. Perhaps Cocoanut Grove?

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND THE ELEGANT COUPLE

Hal Bates with persons unknown. Photographer: Peter C. Borari.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND WALTER BRENNAN

With Selma Bates. Photography by Allan J. Studley.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND ARCHIE MOORE

Famed boxer Archie Moore with Bob Walsh of ABC Radio (left), Hal Bates (right), and (Mrs. Archie Moore?).

Archie Moore (born Archibald Lee Wright; December 13, 1916 – December 9, 1998) was an American professional boxer and the Light Heavyweight World Champion (December 1952 – May 1962), who had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport. Nicknamed "The Old Mongoose," Moore holds the record for the most career knockouts (131). He ranks #4 on The Ring's list of "100 greatest punchers of all time," has the longest reign in Light Heavyweight history, and is rated by prominent boxing website BoxRec as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all-time.

A native of Benoit, Mississippi, Moore was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. An important figure in the American black community, he became involved in African-American causes once his days as a fighter were over. He also established himself as a successful character actor in television and film. Moore died in his adopted home of San Diego, California.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND MAYOR SAM YORTY

"SPECIAL COMMENDATION --Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty is flanked by Hal Bates, left, and Bob Walsh of KABC Radio during presentation of citation from City of Los Angeles which pays tribute to station's 'Distinguished American Salutes' series. Commendation cites KABC series for its recognition of minority group members who have contributed to society."

Photograph by William R. Eastbrook.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND SIMON OAKLAND AT THE HOLLYWOOD PRESS CLUB

Hal Bates, Simon Oakland (center at table) and various members of the Hollywood Press Club. (Other identifications appreciated.)

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.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND CANDLESTICK

Unknown location; unknown date. Photographer: Peter C. Borsari.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND MAE WEST

Hal Bates and Mae West. Date and location unknown.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES WITH ROSE MARIE AND KITTY CARLISLE

Hal Bates with Rose Marie, Kitty Carlisle, and  (?)

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES HELPING OUT AT THE PLAYBOY CLUB

Date and lass unknown. Jules Davis photographer.

[NEW SERIES] HAL BATES AND GLENN FORD

Undated press photograph. Hal Bates with Glenn Ford and ... ?

THE NEW SERIES: A recently uncovered set of photographs of Hal Bates with famous people and other images. Several have been published on this blog previously, but these are new, improved scans.