Jean Rogers, June Gale, Ann Sothern and Linda Darnell in “Hotel for Women” (20th Century-Fox, 1939)

Darnell’s first film—she does pretty well in the lead role until the film turns dramatic and her performance stays light and airy.

Based on its release date of August 4, 1939, this was likely the last picture Sothern filmed before the runaway success of “Maisie” (1939), released in late June, transformed her career.

#OldHollywood #LindaDarnell #AnnSothern

Ann Sothern at the Emmy Awards, Mar. 7, 1955. Photo by Earl Leaf.

#AnnSothern #EmmyAwards #ClassicTV

Ann Sothern at the Emmy Awards, Mar. 7, 1955. Photo by Earl Leaf.

#AnnSothern #EmmyAwards #ClassicTV

Ann Sothern and Lew Ayres in “Maisie Was a Lady” (1941) — another strong entry in the Maisie series, although the title would be more accurate as “Maisie Was a Servant” or “Maisie Serves a Lady”

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #Maisie

Ann Sothern and Lew Ayres in “Maisie Was a Lady” (1941) — another strong entry in the Maisie series, although the title would be more accurate as “Maisie Was a Servant” or “Maisie Serves a Lady”

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #Maisie

The quote is from this article published Dec. 8, 1940 in the Baltimore Sun: “The Girl With the Movable Face”

#AnnSothern

The quote is from this article published Dec. 8, 1940 in the Baltimore Sun: “The Girl With the Moveable Face”

#AnnSothern

Ann Sothern, 1940

“If you think I'lI ever be a star—I mean a leading lady in the glamor traditiona—you're crazy. And if I thought so, I'd be crazy. I'm a character actress and I love it. I have to act hard, and act all over.”

#AnnSothern #Maisie #OldHollywood

Three television comedy legends of the 1950s at the 1954 Emmys: George Burns, Ann Sothern and Jack Benny.

#ClassicTV #GeorgeBurns #AnnSothern #JackBenny

Joan Blondell and Ann Sothern — in costume for “Cry Havoc” (1943)

#JoanBlondell #AnnSothern #CryHavoc

May 1936: “Brunettes Preferred!” shouts the headline.

“Blondes will be passé by 1937, is Hollywood’s prediction, based on the effects of the action of Jean Harlow… in changing back to brunette.”

Some of the first to adandon the platinum look are Ann Sothern and Alice Faye.

Ann: “I always hated being a blonde.”

Alice: “You just can’t help feeling more dignified with dark hair.”

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #AliceFaye

May 1936: “Brunettes Preferred!” shouts the headline.

“Blondes will be passé by 1937, is Hollywood’s prediction, based on the effects of the action of Jean Harlow… in changing back to brunette.”

Some of the first to adandon the platinum look are Ann Sothern and Alice Faye.

Ann: “I always hated being a blonde.”

Alice: “You just can’t help feeling more dignified with dark hair.”

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #AliceFaye

Ann Sothern with Jean Rogers and James Craig in “Swing Shift Maisie” (1943)

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #Maisie

Ann Sothern with Jean Rogers and James Craig in “Swing Shift Maisie” (1943)

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #Maisie

Ann Sothern, 1939

“On Location For Maisie: American director Edwin L. Marin at lunch with members of the cast of his comedy film, 'Maisie'… . Left to right: Ann Sothern, Marin, Cliff Edwards and Ruth Hussey”

#OldHollywood #AnnSothern #Maisie

TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY

PRIVATE SECRETARY - 5/27/1956, CBS

Gay-coded roles were the specialty of comic actor FRANKLIN PANGBORN (1889–1958), who made a career playing prissy, giddy, cheerful characters in 1930s–40s movies and later on television.

In a few episodes of PRIVATE SECRETARY, he guest stars as Henry Hollis, originally seen as a fussy secretary though here he has opened a photo studio and changed his name to Armond for business purposes.

Henry was the type of "prissy, polite, elegant, highly energetic, often officious, fastidious, somewhat nervous" role that Pangborn played for years, "prone to becoming flustered but essentially upbeat." (That apt description comes from the Wikipedia article about him.) He appears in this scene with this sitcom's star, Ann Sothern. The episode is "Susie's Crusade."

https://youtu.be/FpUINewy5m8

#MediaStudies #gay #queer #LGBTQ #GayCoded #FranklinPangborn #AnnSothern #PrivateSecretary

Ann Sothern in an outfit designed by Howard Shoup for her role in “Brother Orchid” (1940). Photo by Scotty Welbourne.

#OldHollywood #BrotherOrchid #AnnSothern

Ann Sothern in an outfit designed by Howard Shoup for her role in “Brother Orchid” (1940). Photo by Scotty Welbourne.

#OldHollywood #BrotherOrchid #AnnSothern

Robert Young and Ann Sothern in “Dangerous Number” (1937) — one of Sothern’s films I haven’t seen yet

#OldHollywood #ClassicHollywood #AnnSothern #RobertYoung

Ann Sothern in Photoplay, Nov. 1944

#OldHollywood #Magazines #AnnSothern