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PODCAST

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign

Steve Cubine & Nan McNamara

If the Golden era of Old Hollywood is your thing, our podcast is for you! If you want TYRONE POWER instead of TOM HARDY, JENNIFER JONES instead of JENNIFER LAWRENCE, or ROBERT MITCHUM rather than ROBERT PATTINSON, thenFROM BENEATH THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN is the gin joint for you. Each week, writer and producer STEVE CUBINE and actress and writer NAN MCNAMARA explore, discuss, and dissect the magical, mysterious, amusing, and sometimes bizarre tales of Old Hollywood. So sit back and revisit a time when

tv & film film history

All Episodes

50:54

“THE GARBO MYSTIQUE: A CONVERSATION WITH HER GREAT...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/05/18

EPISODE 140 - “THE GARBO MYSTIQUE: A CONVERSATION WITH HER GREAT NEPHEW” - 5/11/2026 Scott Reisfield brings a very unique and personal perspective to this episode about GRETA GARBO. As Garbo’s great nephew, he knew his great aunt simply as "Kata," not as the international superstar and mysterious Hollywood actress. Join us as we invite Scott to discuss his new book, "Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman," where he debunks many false theories about this illustrious star, and shares what

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50:05

“TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL WRAP UP” - 5/11/2026 (139)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/05/11

EPISODE 139 - “TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL WRAP UP” - 5/11/2026 In this episode, hosts Steve and Nan take listeners along to the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival, where Hollywood history comes alive through restored screenings, celebrity panels, and unforgettable fan moments. Based in the heart of Hollywood at the famed TCL Chinese Theatre, the Egyptian Theatre, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the pair share stories from the trenches, discuss classic films shown in historic theaters, and reflect

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39:58

“NORMAN LLOYD: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” -...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/05/04

EPISODE 138 - “NORMAN LLOYD: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 5/4/2026 Few figures in Hollywood history have had careers as long—or as varied—as NORMAN LLOYD. Spanning nearly a century, his work bridges the worlds of theater, radio, and film, with collaborations that include legends like CHARLIE CHAPLIN, ALFRED HITCHCOCK and ORSON WELLES. Whether appearing on stage, on screen or shaping stories behind the scenes, Lloyd’s presence has always carried a quiet intensity and sharp intelligence

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47:09

“THE BIG SCREEN ‘I DO’: WEDDINGS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” -...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/04/27

EPISODE 137 - “THE BIG SCREEN ‘I DO’: WEDDINGS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” - 4/27/2026 Weddings in classic films aren’t just about romance—they’re about timing, tension, and sometimes total chaos. Join us as we step into a world of whirlwind courtships, last-minute doubts, and grand gestures that don’t always go according to plan. From glamorous, music-filled celebrations to sharp, fast-talking battles of love versus ambition, these stories remind us that the walk down the aisle is rarely simple—and

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49:25

“TURNER CLASSIC MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW 2026” -...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/04/20

“TURNER CLASSIC MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW 2026” - 4/20/2026 (136) From Beneath the Hollywood Sign is excited to be covering the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival for the third year in a row. The festival is going to be bigger and better than ever, with star appearances by JANE FONDA, CAROL BURNETT, LAURA DERN, ALEXANDER PAYNE, BARBARA HERSHEY, and GLENN CLOSE, who will be receiving her hand and footprints in cement at the TCL (Grauman's) Chinese Theatre. In this episode, we will discuss what

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34:28

“BESS FLOWERS & FRANKLYN FARNUM- QUEEN & KING OF THE...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/04/13

“BESS FLOWERS & FRANKLYN FARNUM: QUEEN & KING OF THE EXTRAS” - 4/13/2026 (135) Actors BESS FLOWERS and FRANKLYN FARNUM were absolute legends of the “blink and you’ll miss them” world. They weren’t headliners — in fact, they often were not credited or even noticed, but honestly, that’s what makes them so fascinating—their careers quietly stitched together the fabric of classic cinema. They were Extras. Without them and other extras like them, all those iconic movie moments would feel a lot less

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29:44

"Star Of The Month - Maggie McNamara" (134)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/04/06

“MAGGIE McNAMARA: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 4/06/2026 (134)The history of Hollywood is filled with stories of actors who experienced meteoric rises and then faded into obscurity just as quickly. Among the most poignant examples of this is the life of MAGGIE McNAMARA, an actress whose career began with remarkable promise but ended in obscurity and tragedy. With her pixie haircut, big doe eyes, lithe frame, and graceful moves, MAGGIE McNAMARA was poised to join the likes of AUDREY

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39:53

“BETTE vs MIRIAM: WHEN STARS COLLIDED” - 3/30/2026 (133)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/03/30

“BETTE vs MIRIAM: WHEN STARS COLLIDED” - 3/30/2026 (133) What would Hollywood be without a good, old fashioned rivalry. It’s well documented that BETTE DAVIS and JOAN CRAWFORD were not exactly besties. But did you know that Davis had another rivalry that was even uglier and more intense? That’s right, the rivalry between Davis and her co-star in The Old Maid (1939) and Old Acquaintance (1943) was one for the ages. Completely different in upbringing, temperament, and acting styles, these two grand

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34:49

JAMES WONG HOWE: THE MAN WHO PAINTED WITH LIGHT (132)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/03/23

“JAMES WONG HOWE: THE MAN WHO PAINTED WITH LIGHT” - 3/16/2026 (132)Today, we’re going to step behind the camera and shine a spotlight—quite literally—on one of the most brilliant craftsmen Hollywood has ever seen. A man who helped shape the way movies look. If you’ve ever admired the stark black-and-white photography in Hud, the shadowy nighttime streets of Sweet Smell of Success, or the striking boxing scenes in Body and Soul, then you’ve already seen the artistry of cinematographer JAMES WONG

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49:58

"SNUBBED BY THE OSCARS: CLASSIC PERFORMANCES THE...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/03/15

What does HUMPHREY BOGART in “The Maltese Falcon,” INGRID BERGMAN in “Casablanca” (1942), and GARY GRANT & ROSALIND RUSSELL in “His Girl Friday” (1940), all have in common? They are all iconic screen performances that were not — clutch your pearls! — even nominated for an Academy Award. This week, in our annual Oscar episode, we take a look at some of the classic film performances that were completely ignored by the Academy when it came time to hand out the Oscar statues. Some will shock you, some

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43:48

"THE MANY FACES OF ROBERT DUVALL" (130)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/03/09

"THE MANY FACES OF ROBERT DUVALL" (130)--------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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28:38

“FRANK LOVEJOY: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” (129)

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/03/02

EPISODE 129 - “FRANK LOVEJOY: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 3/02/2026 I think many people know that one of our favorite films is In a Lonely Place (1950). Directed by NICHOLAS RAY, this film noir is the tragic story of a love affair unraveling at the hands of doubt and distrust. It stars HUMPHREY BOGART and GLORIA GRAHAME in roles that would be career-defining. However, adding quiet strength to the film is FRANK LOVEJOY, who played Brub Nicolai, Bogart’s ex-army buddy turned private

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42:05

“THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THELMA TODD – A CHAT WITH...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/02/23

“THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THELMA TODD – A CHAT WITH SANDY ADOMAITIS” - 2/23/2026 (128)On this week’s riveting episode, we dive into the tragic and mysterious 1935 death of beloved Hollywood comedienne THELMA TODD, weaving together the glamour and shadowy intrigue of early Tinseltown with the unsolved questions that have gripped fans for nearly a century. The conversation is elevated by their guest, SANDY ADOMAITIS — creator of The Writer’s Hangout podcast — whose keen insight, deep research,

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35:42

"HOLLYWOOD FIGHTS BACK: THE COMMITTEE FOR THE 1ST...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/02/16

EPISODE 127 - “HOLLYWOOD FIGHTS BACK: THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT” - 2/16/2026 On October 1st, a group of entertainment professionals—led by iconic actress and activist JANE FONDA—relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment. They did so in response to what they see as troubling actions by the current government, including renewed efforts to silence critics across government, media, the courts, universities, and the entertainment industry. The group is standing up for free speech

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39:27

"THE WESTMORE DYNASTY: MAKEUP TO THE STARS AND...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/02/09

EPISODE 126 - “THE WESTMORE DYNASTY: MAKE-UP TO THE STARS AND BEYOND” - 2/09/2026 Hollywood loves dynasties—acting families, directing families, producing families—but one of the most powerful dynasties in film history didn’t appear on screen at all. And it’s one of the rare family dynasties that began in silent films and continues working in film and TV to this very day: THE WESTMORE FAMILY. The Westmores were the architects of illusion and the sculptors of stardom. From the pioneering

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36:42

EPISODE 125 - “VIRGINIA MAYO: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD STAR...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/02/02

EPISODE 125 - “VIRGINIA MAYO: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD STAR OF THE MONTH” - 2/02/2026 One of the most glamorous actresses in old Hollywood undoubtedly was VIRGINIA MAYO. This peaches-and-cream, midwestern beauty started her career wrangling two men in a horse costume on stage before being discovered by producer SAMUEL GOLDWYN and transformed into a full-blown movie star. Often playing the fantasy girl to leading men like BOB HOPE and DANNY KAYE, her beauty sometimes made people miss the fact that she

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36:14

“EARL CARROLL VANITIES: SCANDAL, SPECTACLE AND THE...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/01/26

EPISODE 124 - “EARL CARROLL VANITIES: SCANDAL, SPECTACLE AND THE JAZZ AGE” - 1/27/2026 When we think about the great showmen of early Hollywood, we often think of FLO ZIEGFELD, SID GRAUMAN or maybe BUSBY BERKELEY, but another man who certainly fits well into this fraternity of daring, flamboyant, and imaginative purveyors of entertainment was EARL CARROLL. Carroll was a producer, songwriter, and impresario whose career helped define the glamour and excess of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Rising to

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39:17

“ALMOST MARRIED TO THE MOB: HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES WHO...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/01/19

“ALMOST MARRIED TO THE MOB: HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES WHO DATED MOBSTERS” - 1/19/2026 (123) In this episode, we slip into the shadows where classic Hollywood glamour meets organized crime, exploring the classic Hollywood actresses who found themselves romantically entangled with real-life mobsters. At a time when studios tightly controlled female stars’ images, these notorious bad boys offered something intoxicatingly different: raw power beyond the backlot, fierce loyalty, protection from predators

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46:37

“HABITS, COLLARS & CLOSEUPS IN CLASSIC CINEMA” -...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/01/12

“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 good dose of humor thrown in. In today’s episode, we’re going to dive into classic films that put nuns

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22:07

“RICHARD BASEHART: CLASSIC STAR OF THE MONTH” -...

From Beneath the Hollywood Sign ·

2026/01/05

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 presence gave him the appearance of an erudite or a poet. And that voice! He had a fantastic baritone

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