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Author Archive

Signature Move

22 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

“To inscribe or to imbibe?“ That was the question.

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

 

At the Hut

21 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

Christian’s Hut opened on Catalina Island in 1935, as a bar for the crew working on the film “Mutiny on the Bounty” The bar was located right under Clark Gable’s room and was named after Clark Gable’s character in the film.

After filming was completed, owners Art LaShelle and Joe Guido moved the operation (in name only) to to Balboa Island in Newport Beach in a building that was the old Southern Seas Club. They draped the building with netting, added a dock, and introduced the Tahitian-style restaurant Christian’s Hut.  The sand-floored ground-level bar was frequented by the likes of Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart and Fred MacMurray.  Their bouncer, Don Vaughn invented a new concept in throwing out unruly customers; he carried them out to the end of the pier and threw them into the bay.

Read more here: tikicentral.com…

The mascot for Christian’s Hut was “the Goof,” whose genesis is not known; it was basically just a funny-looking head that topped the building. The Goof can now be seen atop Bali Hai (www.balihairestaurant.com…) in San Diego.

There were a handful of other locations that were never as popular as the original on Balboa Island.  Unfortunately, Christian’s Hut burned down in 1963 and the site is now home to the Newport Towers condominiums.

Here is Errol at the hut. He lingers on in tour guide Mang’s memories.

Balboa Island Museum’s “Golden Age of Newport Harbor” Movie Premieres at Balboa Yacht Club

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

 

A Cad And His Jag

20 Feb


Dear Flynnstones,

Suicide Freddie aka Freddy McEvoy is always a terrific topic.

ERROL’S BEST MATE – YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS ONE EITHER!!!

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

 

Harley Flynn

19 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

here is a postcard from Errol to his Doc in Harley Street of London.

He writes from Monaco, where a few weeks ago the dream wedding of fellow actress Grace Kelly with Prince Ranier had taken place.

While his pal David Niven was a guest of honor, Flynn had been busy filming.

Enjoy,

 

 

— shangheinz

 

In the Shin Like Flynn

18 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

Errol leaves a downtown NY court with advocate Morris Green after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct and paying a fine 50 dollars for kicking a cop in the shin on December 8, 1948.

It is unconfirmed, that he vowed to change his kicked, kicked ways.

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

 

Errol Goes National

17 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

a pencil drawing of Errol by artist Henry Major made it into the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute. It dates from around 1934-38 and despite the missspelling depicts the Old Sport rather swell. Doesn‘t it?

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

 

Zaca at War

16 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

to Errol his yacht Zaca meant “Peace“, during wartime she widely became known as IX 73.

www.history.navy.mil…

Enjoy,

 

 

— shangheinz

 

Flynn and Frankenstein

15 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

on June 24, 1954 at midnight Errol attended “The Night of 100 Stars“, a charity event staged at the London Palladium and hosted by Noel Coward.

He met amongst others Boris Karloff, Marlene Dietrich, Douglas Fairbanks, Vivian Leigh and Michael Redgrave.

One famous photo was taken of Flynn, though not with Frankie, but with Larry.

Enjoy,

 

— shangheinz

 

Talk of Frown

14 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

here is a vintage Tiger Lil‘ moment courtesy of PHOTOPLAY Magazine.

“Miss Damita, what do you think about the talking pictures?“

The Damita paused for two minutes‘ thought.

“Tell my pooblic“, said Damita, while the reporters scribbled furiously, “that I never wear stockeengs. See?“. And she held out one of those immortal Damita stems- quite, quite bare.

Enjoy,

— shangheinz

 

Cane But Able

13 Feb

Dear Flynnstones,

here is a resurfaced newspaper article published in the Jamaica Gleaner on January 3, 1947.

Film fans mob Errol Flynn at the Myrtle Bank Hotel

Errol Flynn came ashore from his yacht at the Myrtle Bank Hotel at noon yesterday and nearly created a riot.  As the handsome, dashing screen star entered the lobby, a waiting ‘army’ of female hotel fans, who had impatiently been awaiting his coming ashore, mobbed him in traditional style.

Since news of his arrival spread throughout Kingston and St Andrew yesterday, local cinematics have been concentrating on the Myrtle Bank Hotel in an effort to secure autographs snapshots, or just look at the daring he-man lover of the screen in the flesh.

Gathering yesterday morning, a battery of woman fans filled the lobby and from the verandahs of the hotel.  ‘Bobby-soxers’ were a lot of grownups, too.  Impatiently, they looked out across the hotel lawn to the pier, and beyond it, where the Zaea rode at anchor on the quiet Caribbean Sea.  Came at 12 o’clock and still no sign of the tall hero of Captain Blood, Elizabeth and Essex and other screen successes which have thrilled local audiences.  The now-retired movie actor, who arrived here on Wednesday, stayed aboard his yacht all forenoon, along with party members.

THE WORD GOES UP

Suddenly, there was a sensation.  The word went up that he was coming.  Large as life, as handsome as he appears on the screen, Errol Flynn walked into the lobby.  Something like a cross between a scream and a sigh issued from a hundred lips.  The actor smiled at the demonstration.

When they crowded around him, however, he decided that it was too much of a good thing.  Quickly getting into a waiting motorcar, he left the hotel and did not return until the evening.  The fans, torn between partial satisfaction and partial disappointment, went away.

The presence of the popular actor, whose exploits on and off the screen have won him wide mention, has made the Myrtle Bank Hotel the focus of local attention. The busiest switchboard in town is the PBX at Myrtle Bank Hotel, where the telephone operator spent half the day yesterday saying, “Yes, he is here.  No, he hasn’t come ashore yet”

CLERKS KEPT BUSY

No less busy has been the desk where the clerks have been equally engaged in answering queries as to the whereabouts of Flynn.  Autograph books and baby cameras have been greatly in evidence, while the staff have been kept on their toes coping with the extra demand on their time and attention as a result of the increased number of visitors to the hotel.

So far, Flynn’s plans are to remain in town for a week and then go out in the country, perhaps to Montego Bay.  His yacht is due to go on drydock for overhauling while he stays ashore and identifies himself more closely with local social life.

Last night, Flynn and his party were guests at a private cocktail party in St Andrew. They later went to the Colony Club where he was entertained with a specially prepared native floor show, featuring leading local entertainers.

Enjoy,

— shangheinz