Errol was once a guest at a giant St. Patrick’s Day Party. Where was it and who was the host?
– It may have been the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration ever thrown by a private person.
– Many dozens of Hollywood celebrities attended.
– The millionaire host wore sunglasses the day of the party, reportedly because he had a black eye he earned in a fistfight while greeting or preparing to greet celebrities.
— Tim
The party cost over a million dollars.
A plane was bought by the host to fly in Hollywood celebrities for the party. He bought it from Howard Hughes.
The plane used to fly in celebrities was a uniquely luxurious Boeing 307 Stratoliner, aka Howard Hughes’ “Office on Wings”. The 307 Stratoliner was the first commercial airliner pressurized to fly over weather (over 20,000 feet.)
The location of the party was the newly built largest hotel in America.
Over 150 Hollywood celebrities, including Errol Flynn, Dorothy Lamour, Pat O’Brien, Edgar Bergen, Kirk Douglas, Dorothy Lamour and Ginger Rogers. Plus over 50,000 non-celebrities were there!
Errol was 39 at the time. Speaking of being 39, the St. Patty party was held four years and two months before Errol took this USO tour photo with “39 years-old” Jack Benny.
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Just from the gif, I was thinking profligate spender Mike Todd, whom I believe to have been the love of Dame Elizabeth’s life. But, based on these clues, I think this party occurred earlier than when they got together. Regardless, I wish I could’ve been there!
A world class answer, Paula! The reason I emphasized the Giant clues is because the fictional story of Giant was inspired by the real life story of Glenn McCarthy, with the Conquistador Hotel based on the Shamrock Hotel.
An Around the World in 80 Days Lucky Charm Bracelet for you, Paula!
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That is some serious film bling, Tim! Was that created in connection with the movie? Congrats, Paula!
Only the finest for EFB Quiz participants, barb!
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Oooh it’s lovely, thanks!
I thought the same thing about Mike Todd, Paula! But my efforts with Google came up with zilch. Then I thought that with the gif from the movie Giant, maybe the setting was Texas? That’s as far as I’ve gotten.
Texcellent, barb! Texas is right! Therefore, you have a choice of either yellow roses, a green shamrock pendant, or a lone star medallion!!!
How’s this?
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Or this?
www.preciousaccents.com…
One can never have too much good luck, Tim, so I will take the shamrock. :-) Thank you!
Another tough one, Tim – just the way we love them!
Some Google research brought me to Glenn McCarthy who bought Howard Hughes‘ Stratoliner and who also built the Shamrock Hotel in Houston, Texas, which opened on St. Patrick‘s Day in 1949, an event that was celebrated with „Houston‘s biggest party“. He also inspired the character Rock Hudson played in „Giants“.
That’s it, Claudia! The Shamrock Hotel Grand Opening St. Patty’s Day Party of 1949 in Houston Texas! By the powers vested in me by the half-and-half I just drank, I hereby award you the not-so-potluck prize of a pot o’ gold from St. Patty himself.
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“Wildcatter Glenn McCarthy opened his Shamrock Hotel on St. Patrick’s Day, 1949, with over 150 Hollywood celebrities and a huge bash.
Ginger Rogers, Hedda Hopper, Robert Preston, Errol Flynn, Dorothy Lamour, Alan Hale, Van Heflin, Edgar Bergen – even the Goodyear Blimp and more arrived, and stayed for next day’s premier of McCarthy’s film “The Green Promise“. (Natalie Woods. Walter Brennan.)
Days before the opening, Howard Hughes sold McCarthy a customized Boeing 307 Stratoliner in order to fly in movie stars, Los Angeles business executives, and reporters.
For those not wishing to fly, McCarthy rented a Santa Fe Chief to haul Hollywood guests across country. Apparently everyone was pretty hooted up upon arrival. McCarthy himself wore dark glasses to the opening to cover up a black eye from one of the fist fights at the train station.
Over 50,000 crowded inside with another 3,000 milling around outside and in the public areas of the hotel. So over crowded that Houston’s mayor had trouble getting in.”
Great job, Claudia .. and another fun quiz, Tim!
Thanks Barb, and thank you Tim for another fun quiz! I just love those!
This dude knew how to par-tay
Nice job Barb and Claudia