Dear Rowan

... a continuation... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Desert Places by: Robert Frost Snow falling and night falling fast, oh, fast In a field I looked into going past, And the ground almost covered smooth in snow, But a few weeds and stubble showing last. The woods around it have it - it is theirs. All animals are smothered in their lairs. I am too absent-spirited to count; The loneliness includes me unawares. And lonely as it is, that loneliness Will be more lonely ere it will be less - A blanker whiteness of benighted snow With no expression, nothing to express. They cannot scare me with their empty spaces Between stars - on stars where no human race is. I have it in me so much nearer home To scare myself with my own desert places. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

An intro to our next multi-part episode. The Eartha Evolution. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Tonight on a very special episode of Dear Rowan... a tale of Olivia De Havilland brought to us by our friend and fellow podcaster of Hollywood History Mr. Zach Eastman. Zach is also a Film Director and I strongly encourage you to check out his latest short film "Leather Brown" Connect with Zach via Facebook websites: The Yesteryear Ballyhoo Review The Reel Nerds Podcast Instagram: @reelnerdzach @ballyhoorevuepod Twitter: @zachreelnerd @BallyhooRevue and @reelnerds on both Twitter and Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Now that we've previously introduced Eartha, in this episode we begin learning about her upbringing and how she stepped onto the road to fame. I highly recommend picking up a copy of the Biography written by Eartha's daughter Kitt Shapiro. I just received my copy and I will be offering a review of the tome a few episodes down the road. The book is entitled "Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter's Love Story in Black and White" and follow Kitt Shapiro on Twitter, she is an amazing source for anecdotes and memories from a daughters perspective. They shared an extraordinary bond and no one carries Eartha's Legend as gracefully as she. @kittshapiro Music provided by Epidemic Sound All information related in this episode was gleaned from televised interviews given by Eartha over the years. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Join me as I give Rowan a brief introduction to the legendary Eartha Kitt. I just adored this woman and her story is remarkable. More to follow as we take a dive into her upbringing and various stages of her career in addition to the legacy she left behind. Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Films have always been, are and will forever remain a relevant art form. They reflect us, depict us and sometimes shape us. Here is what movies mean to me... Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Today we're taking a look at Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life". --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

The Barrymore Legacy meets Pulitzer Prize winning writer (and native Hoosier) Booth Tarkington. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Dear Rowan, It’s a chilly, rainy day in December 2020. I’m beginning my deep dive into research on the Barrymore family legacy and have found a rather interesting book based on Lionel Barrymore's tales of his cat Becky. Lionel himself did the illustrations. Benson Wheeler committed the tales to paper in honor of Lionel Barrymore, one of the greatest actors in the world. One of the main goals for the Dear Rowan podcast is to leave life lessons, words of wisdom, reasons for hopefulness and even a cautionary tale from time to time. All of these based in the history of Cinemas Golden Age. With this in mind there is a chapter “Canto One” in point of fact, which is very much in line with my parenting philosophy. That is to encourage you to reach for the stars, chase your dreams, put in the work and focus your efforts to achieve any goal you set your mind to. With all my Love and Admiration, Papa P.S. C.J. This one's for you. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Fifteen (the final chapter) of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Fourteen of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Thirteen of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter 12 of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Dear Rowan, This is the second part of the episode where we talk about the film Freud, directed by John Huston and starring Montgomery Clift as Freud, Eric Portman as Professor Meynert …among a cast of other talented actors. We’ll speak mainly about a key scene in the film where Freud and Meynert officially part ways. It’s a beautifully acted scene between two illustrious professionals in which we see Sigmund Freud break off from the relative comfort of the life he knows, in order to begin his own research. As with most things in life for which we have a passion, there comes a time to decide whether or not to “hang our hat” on it. That is to say, do we put it at the forefront of our life and be defined by this thing or the other? Or do we keep it on a backburner somewhere, only to take it out occasionally for inspection? Freud could have stayed where he was, working for others. In particular for a fellow like Meynert who seemed to have a particularly nasty dislike for him. Then on the side, in his own time he could have poked around at the concepts of hypnosis and psychoanalysis. But if he’d chosen that path, we would not know him as The Father of Psychoanalysis. We may not have ever known his name at all. If there is a take-a-way that I would hope for you in this discussion, it is that pursuing knowledge is never futile. Everything we learn is another tool in our arsenal for living a happy life. Even if we make mistakes along the way or decide at some point to pivot from one thing to another, all of your life experiences go into the recipe that makes you who you are. So if you one day find yourself consumed by a an interest, vocation, occupation, artistic medium, area of study or even want to invent something of your own… there will be Professor Meynerts in your path to discourage you. Don’t let them. Stay the course and never let anyone tell you who you are and what you stand for. With all my Love and Admiration, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Eleven of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Ten of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Nine of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Eight of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Seven of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Six of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Dear Rowan I wanted to take a moment to correct some misconceptions about Montgomery Clift that I just can't allow to stand. Since the last episode I have begun looking into Monty and have found him to be a multi-layered man who cannot be summed up as a beautiful loser. I won't take much of your time but a retraction was due. All My Love, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter 5 of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Part 1 of the Portman Season Finale Dear Rowan, We are gathered here today to begin a fine farewell to Eric Portman. In this two-part episode we will take a look at one of his finest films by my account. At least one of my favorite films for which he was a part. That is not to say any of his other roles are less engaging, but this is one of Papa’s favorite films and I came to it only through my research into Mr. Portman. Otherwise I may never have discovered it as even the films director John Huston rarely speaks of it. Luckily, I was able to track down a copy of the film on DVD, which was no simple affair but it was ever so worth it. Here we go with a look into a Director and two Actors as they look into the Father of Psychoanalysis. With all my Love and Admiration, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Four of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Three of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter Two of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Chapter One of Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee Petkin Newman 1966 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Including this brief introduction the first 16 parts of Season 2 will be chapter readings from Ethel Barrymore Girl Actress by Shirlee P. Newman. I have chosen to release each chapter individually. Since the main conceit of this podcast is for my daughter... well we all know how the attention span of a child works. Not for long at a time. I had a wonderful time reading these chapters as the book is a fun, childs eye view of Ethel Barrymore from a child in a family of great actors, to a grown up woman with a theatre named after her. It's an inspiring story and a fantastic little bit of historical fiction for the wee ones. Us grown ups are likely to learn a thing or two as well regarding America's preeminent family of stage and screen... The Barrymores! Love, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

This time we're examining a couple of my favorite quotes by Ethel Barrymore. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

When backed into a corner by a weapon yielding assassin who orders you to choose one singular film as your all time favorite comfort film; as one does, what is your answer? Make an assessment. Here's mine. Love, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

The Mermaid by Alfred Lord Tennyson I. Who would be A mermaid fair, Singing alone, Combing her hair Under the sea, In a golden curl With a comb of pearl, On a throne? II. I would be a mermaid fair; I would sing to myself the whole of the day; With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; And still as I comb'd I would sing and say, Who is it loves me? who loves not me? I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall Low adown, low adown, From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold Springing alone With a shrill inner sound, Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. And all the mermen under the sea Would feel their immortality Die in their hearts for the love of me. III. But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks, And lightly vault from the throne and play With the mermen in and out of the rocks; We would run to and fro, and hide and seek, On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells, Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea. But if any came near I would call, and shriek, And adown the steep like a wave I would leap From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells; For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list, Of the bold merry mermen under the sea; They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me, In the purple twilights under the sea; But the king of them all would carry me, Woo me, and win me, and marry me, In the branching jaspers under the sea; Then all the dry pied things that be In the hueless mosses under the sea Would curl round my silver feet silently, All looking up for the love of me. And if I should carol aloud, from aloft All things that are forked, and horned, and soft Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea, All looking down for the love of me. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

The Water-Nymph and the Boy by Roden Berkeley Wriothesley Noel I flung me round him, I drew him under; I clung, I drown’d him, My own white wonder! . . . Father and mother, Weeping and wild, Came to the forest, Calling the child, Came from the palace, Down to the pool, Calling my darling, My beautiful! Under the water, Cold and so pale! Could it be love made Beauty to fail? Ah me for mortals! In a few moons, If I had left him, After some Junes He would have faded, Faded away, He, the young monarch, whom All would obey, Fairer than day; Alien to springtime, Joyless and gray, He would have faded, Faded away, Moving a mockery, Scorn’d of the day! Now I have taken him All in his prime, Saved from slow poisoning Pitiless Time, Fill’d with his happiness, One with the prime, Saved from the cruel Dishonour of Time. Laid him, my beautiful, Laid him to rest, Loving, adorable, Softly to rest, Here in my crystalline, Here in my breast! WJE --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

The Witch Mary Elizabeth Coleridge (1893) I have walked a great while over the snow, And I am not tall nor strong. My clothes are wet, and my teeth are set, And the way was hard and long. I have wandered over the fruitful earth, But I never came here before. Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door! The cutting wind is a cruel foe. I dare not stand in the blast. My hands are stone, and my voice a groan, And the worst of death is past. I am but a little maiden still, My little white feet are sore. Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door! Her voice was the voice that women have, Who plead for their heart’s desire. She came—she came—and the quivering flame Sunk and died in the fire. It never was lit again on my hearth Since I hurried across the floor, To lift her over the threshold, and let her in at the door. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

It's Halloween season so here goes a tale of true crime for which there was a 1935 film titled "Murder in the Red Barn" which was one of Eric Portman's first film roles. Also in this episode are lyrics by Tom Waits of a song by the same title as the film, but released on 1992. Happy Halloween! Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

This episode is a reading from Playing to the Camera: Film Actors Discuss Their Craft --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

What is this guy rambling on about? Do we really need another podcast cluttering up the internet? Probably not. ... and yet... Just a tiny blurb on what to expect and why I started this podcast. Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

In this one I read the 1959 Playbill review of Eugene O'Neill's "A Touch of the Poet" which starred Eric Portman, Helen Hayes and Cloris Leachman at the Helen Hayes Theatre. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

I've been digging deep for Ericcentric ephemera. Wow he's a difficult guy to track down, especially so many decades after his illustrious career was in full swing. It's nearly 100 years since he made his stage debut! Pick up a copy of "Our Eric" by Andy Owens. It's a great bio and the only one written on Mr. Portman. This article was a blurb in a little publication known as The Morwell Advertiser in Morwell, Victoria Australia. The mention in the article that the 49th Parallel was his screen debut. It wasn't. But it was arguably his largest and most popular of his films. The 49th Parallel was basically written as a propaganda piece for the war effort. Some of the most in-demand talents of the day appeared in the film and took sizable pay cuts in order to get the film produced. Actors from Europe, Canada and Europe teamed up to rally against the Nazi Party. It's a passionate film with excellent performances and wonderful monologues. One given by Eric himself. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

More from the ephemera files. Eric's June 1st, 1959 bio from Playbill. "Touch of the Poet" was the production and one Miss Cloris Leachman also starred along with Helen Hayes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

From the Ephemera Files. I was able to obtain a Playbill for a show that Eric Portman starred in and found a fun fashion article inside. Broadway... NYC... Fashion... the trifecta. So here is the article as read by Yours Truly. More to come from the Playbill in between the main Eric episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Research based on available filmography, matters of public record and most of all the biography of Eric Portman titled "Our Eric" by Andy Owens of Halifax. Please click here to purchase a copy of this well written, thoroughly researched and dignified biography of our Eric. If you are Andy Owens and happen to be listening... I would love to speak with you. Thank you for navigating over to my maiden voyage here at Dear Rowan. This is part one of ... three? I feel like it will be three parts. Time will tell. This entertainment would not be the same without dear Mr. Adam Roche of The Secret History of Hollywood and Attaboy Clarence Podcast. Please, for the love of all things Holy and Just, go join him at his Patreon for the finest audio entertainment available today. Sincerely, it's true. Adam was such a gentleman to lend his velvety smooth vocals to bring you a quote by Eric Portman himself. Stay tuned for part two in ... 2 weeks? Let's remain hopeful. Until then, go look up and enjoy some of Erics films on Youtube. There are quite a few available surprisingly. Dear Murderer, Corridor of Mirrors and The 49th Parallel are the ones I speak of in this episode. Please join me on social media to share vintage movie memes and get chatty. Sincerely, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Dear Rowan, It’s a warm evening in early September and I’ve just placed you peacefully in your crib for the night. I’m sitting nearby while taking in a chapter of “Our Eric” by Andy Owens. It’s the only biography of a phenomenal British actor named Eric Portman. I had located a film called “Corridor of Mirrors” during some research on Christopher Lee. This was one of Mr. Lee’s first films, often miscredited as his first film appearance. As expected it was a treat to see one of my favorite icons of Horror in a sophisticated black and white film from 1948. Little did I know that by the time I had finished watching the movie, I would be a devoted fan of Eric Portman. He so captivated me in the film that I immediately went looking for any and all information I could find on this mesmerizing man! After an exhaustive search I came to the conclusion that most of his legacy is on the screen as he was a private sort of fellow. However… I did not end up empty handed. I have much to report on his life, career and legacy. I’m so excited to introduce you to Eric Portman. Now sleep little angel while Daddy does his research. With all my Love and Admiration, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Dear Rowan, For much of its history, the machine that is Hollywood has been synonymous with overindulgence, hedonism, glamour, vice and greed. But did you know that it was originally a Christian settlement? Free plots were given to churches. The list of ordinances and “do-nots” were long and the promises of “good wholesome living away from the devilish city” were strong. Harvey Henderson Wilcox and his wife Daeida settled Hollywood from their own plot of land west of Los Angeles in 1887. Currently Hollywood is the town where careers are made and broken, worlds are created and sold to the masses and the most fantastical imaginations are set free, for a price. In the beginning though it was a wheelchair bound, prohibitionist shoemaker who; along with his wife and grieving over the loss of their newborn son, just wanted to build a utopian paradise. From its humble beginnings to becoming the bastion of excess that it is today, the story of how Hollywood came to be is appropriately dramatic. I’m excited to tell the tale in future correspondence with you Precious girl. With All My Love and Admiration, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Join me as I write to tell Rowan all about the Barrymore Dynasty --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Dear Rowan, Very soon I will be telling you all about a remarkably accomplished lady named Alice Ida Antoinette Guy-Blaché who was the very first female film maker. Not only that… she was the first film maker to create a fictional narrative movie. The men were busy making films of themselves gardening and racing cars while Alice was letting her imagination soar! She experimented with amazing elements of film making that few others were at the time. She took a crack at syncing sound with her films, color tinting and she even cast her films interracially which was incredibly progressive for the late 19thcentury. We can learn a great deal from such a strong and worthy role model. A visionary. Leader. Artist. … and Force of Nature. All before women even had the right to vote. One could say she was quite the rebel as well. More to follow on Alice Guy-Blache, my dear Rowan. I just know that you’re going to love her. With All My Love and Admiration, Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support

Here we go! Just a quick announcement that there's a new Hollywood History Podcast on the block. Welcome to "Dear Rowan" The concept here is that I'm writing letters to my newborn daughter for a time capsule. These letters are for her to read and/or listen later in life. Rowan was born this summer during the pandemic. I love Hollywood History so much and we all know that children come to things in their own time so I don't want to force my obsession on her. This way she can enjoy this content at her leisure at any point in the future. In the meantime I invite you to follow along as I cover some of the more obscure parts of Hollywood History. Sure, for true Hollywood Historians there may be some oft-tread material but for a girl born in 2020 who may not listen to these for another 20 years, they will certainly be "lost history" by that point. Stay tuned for a few more announcements to follow to wet your whistle and prepare you for the style of content you'll expect from us here at "Dear Rowan". Thanks for listening! Papa --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dearrowan/support