Top 10 Dark Truths About Old Hollywood

Behind the glamour, Old Hollywood was full of dark truths. For this list, we’ll be ranking the most surprising, disturbing, and/or controversial things about the industry’s so-called Golden Age. Our countdown includes contract pressure, spying, morality clauses, and more! Did any of these stories surprise YOU? Let us know in the comments!
Watch more great Hollywood videos here:
Top 5 Dark Secrets Hollywood is Trying to Hide - • Top 5 Dark Secrets Hol...
Top 10 Savage Burns from Classic Hollywood Movies - • Top 10 Savage Burns fr...
The Shocking True Story of Netflix’s Hollywood - • The Shocking True Stor...
Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!
www.watchmojo.com/play/id/61984
Have Your Idea Become A Video!
wmojo.com/msmojo-suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/msmojo-subscribe
MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#OldHollywood #Hollywood #DarkTruths #History #Movies

[@MsMojo]

Did any of these stories surprise YOU? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Savage Burns from Classic Hollywood Movies - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH3CaoCooduhoLs

[@stormshadowproductions1660]

Why not do the top 10 worst things penny has ever done

[@manueltapia1859]

The child actors punishments no wonder why Judy Garland, Shirley Temple quit acting. And what about animal abuse in movies??? Pull horses with wires to simulate they fall thank God nowdays are not like that.

[@tiararoxeanne1318]

You didn't mentioned the sexual abuse and pedophilia. No concrete proof yet?

[@tiananesbitt7156]

Sammy and Kim 😳

[@mariaboletsis3188]

NOPE! None of them.

[@xtina6569]

Marilyn stood up to them turning a movie down, they suspended her and she made her own production company. She was so much more intelligent than some ppl think. Marilyn was a character she played, she could turn it on or off.

[@unluckyone1655]

Honestly if she would have lived longer I can totally see her being an amazing screen writer and script doctor, among other things. She was surprisingly brilliant writer.

[@thehair1474]

Marilyn's dear friend, Shelley Winters said she was very intelligent, and that was Marilyn's problem. Shelley reasoned that because Marilyn was bright, and not dumb, she had problems.

[@SJ-ni6iy]

It’s really sad that her childhood was riddled in trauma. I don’t think she ever felt loved and she was robbed of trust in her early years.

[@thehair1474]

@@SJ-ni6iy and very sad she got involved with JFK and RFK. Fatal.

[@kathleenking47]

She WAS I knew Joe DJ maggios cousin She met her, and said, her character an ACT. Similar to Pee wee Herman to Paul Rubens

[@eliothorowitz5627]

When criticized for playing maids, Hattie Mac Daniel said. "I'd rather make $3,000 for playing a maid than $30, being one."

[@Torihappyness]

She did nothing wrong,it was the times. At least she wasn't playing a baffoon.

[@angelcitygirl]

Incorrect quote. It was $700 a week playing one then $7 being one. $3k would have been an insane amount paid to a black actor in the 30s.

[@debbieking5171]

Hattie McDaniel was a classy lady

[@eliothorowitz5627]

@@debbieking5171 She wasn't going to attend the Oscars, but Clark Gable convinced her to go...and then, they had her seated outside the kitchen.

[@margaretkerr4591]

Hattie McDaniel was a true legend ❤

[@randomobserver8168]

Always especially disappointing how many of the child stars' worst enemies were their own parents. First for putting them in the business at all, second for stealing all their money.

[@MsKaz1000]

yeah even becoming agents when they had no training or background to be, I hope modern agencies ensure that the child earning are put in a trust for them once they become of age

[@CC3193]

Natalie Wood's mother. Brooke Shields' mother.

[@AxelQC]

Like Will & Jayda Smith

[@MF-zj3zl]

And third, not protecting them from sexual abuse.

[@user-rq2es2io8y]

Stage Mothers exist in every culture, but Hollywood brought out the worst of them.

[@Kiraiko44]

I remember learning about how Judy Garland was treated during the filming of The Wizard of Oz, and that that was pretty common back then and for a good chunk of Hollywood history. On top of a lot of the things mentioned here, she was on a strict diet of chicken soup, black coffee, and cigarettes, that's literally what the studio told her to consume to keep her weight down. She was 17 years old. The guy who played the cowardly lion slapped her on set one day during filming because she couldn't stop giggling, because the studio also made her take a lot of uppers to keep her energy level up for long filming days. She was also sexually harassed constantly on set, mostly about the fact that she apparently had a pretty large chest for a teenager, which they actually bound for filming to keep Dorothy looking young and innocent. And all of this was accepted as normal. It sickens me to be perfectly honest.

[@storywala88]

Horrifying indeed

[@andreasmeelie1889]

Poor Judy Garland.;(

[@josephinenanyonga8085]

That slap that happen to Judy, wasn't by the cowardly lion actor, it was the director. He then later felt bad about it and asked one of the crew members to punch him in the face.

[@Kiraiko44]

@@josephinenanyonga8085 honestly that's even worse because he was one of the people forcing her to eat this way and take drugs. And I doubt he felt bad, he was probably embarrassed he did it in front of everyone. He clearly didn't actually care about her as a person.

[@thehair1474]

It seems Judy's wretched mother whored her off to executives. Her mother should have been in jail, as should Louis B Mayer for child abuse

[@angelaholmes8888]

Sadly I'm not surprised that child stars were treated so cruelly 😢

[@vgbcp3rs0na41]

Shirley Temple

[@manueltapia1859]

Yes really not good, some are still have problems when grow up as they are only considered child actors only!!! 😢

[@janel.8921]

I had a cousin who had a chance to become part of the Little Rascals. She was a plump little girl, so she was pegged to play Joe Cobb’s sister. Her uncle, a film actor, told the family that acting was too rough of a job for children.

[@fenian123]

Still are, just the fact that they work at all is abusive. A young child cannot possibly consent to it

[@user-rq2es2io8y]

Judy Garland once described her stage mother Ethel Gumm as a "real life witch."

[@DanGamingFan2846]

Harsh contracts, Child labor, substance abuse, and casting couches. For the longest time, being a in Tinsel Town was one of the worst occupations in the world. As the saying goes, "All that glitters is not gold."

[@andresciahooten9598]

That is so true, but lots and lots of people come to Los Angeles, CA to still become a star

[@michaelmonthey5974]

@@andresciahooten9598 Sadly, their pursuit to stardom comes at unimaginable costs.

[@debbylou5729]

It still is. It’s only gotten worse

[@Foxxil.]

@@debbylou5729 It's not just tinsel town if you pay attention to what's happening in the US.

[@thehair1474]

Orson Welles once said years ago, that no one wanted to become movie stars anymore as it was "not the best thing you can be." Orson had that right.

[@emiliobello2538]

They should have put racism in the top of the list. And what about asbestos as snow?

[@bailysbeads2057]

Muh racism. Nobody cares.

[@emiliobello2538]

@@bailysbeads2057 oh really?

[@spiritualginga2064]

God bless u

[@christineparis5607]

It wasn't near as racist as a lot of other places during those abusive times. At least Hollywood hired black actors, jewish actors, Vaudevillians, and other "outcasts" of that era. No, they were not treated fairly, for which there is no excuse, but it's better to look at all the truths of a situation instead of just looking for convenient ways of condemning....again, I'm not at all excusing it, I'm trying to look at all the facts, and most people deny facts that don't agree with what they think. When great comedians fled programs, wars, starvation, etc., to get to America, they brought an entirely new way of entertainment, comedy and music. People like Jimmy Durante, who were brilliant writers and performers opened the door for so many, and names famous today were there in the beginning, like Milton Berle, who stayed on stage for almost a hundred years...

[@LunaOrgana]

That’s a drop in the bucket, not to mention they did mention racism if you actually payed any attention to this… Number 5 btw

[@heatherr0420]

Ah, the Romanticism of the golden age of Hollywood, so false, yet so beautiful. But as compared to Hollywood today, let's just put it this way, the more things change the more they stay the same😢

[@angelaholmes8888]

Totally agree with you

[@starguard4122]

So True

[@heatherr0420]

It's almost as if Hollywood is a movie in and of itself. It has all the elements of the best story ever; intrigue, deceit, drama, drama, and more drama, betrayal, horror, & touches of comedy, I could go on and on, you know what I mean? It's just one big semi-fctional story being told

[@manueltapia1859]

Thats why, don't remember which filmaker once said Hollywood has the personality of a paper cup (something like that) refering to the empty and shallow is.

[@mielissa100ify]

I think people just thought the standards were better which is also subjective but not the conditions.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

Alfred Hitchcock’s treatment of Tippi Hedren is a classic example of the casting couch scandals. She resisted his advances towards her, and he destroyed her career in retaliation.

[@grahamdamberger7130]

I once read an interactive story called Red Carpet Diaries 2, and it involved a case like that, where an executive of a film studio tried to commit SA on the MC. She rejected him, which made him say that classic line "I always get what I want". He went as far as to prevent her from going back to her home because she rejected his advances. And sadly, there have been film and TV executives who believed and still believe they "control" the industry just because they have vaults filled with money. It's sick how mankind will go to many lengths to show they are superior above one another. Many of those execs who have that mindset today should be stripped of everything and either rotting in prison or living on the streets.

[@jaengen]

I loved Tippi in her few movie roles. She should have had a better career.

[@markelijio6012]

@@jaengen She made one hell of a comeback in TV and film since 1990.

[@katieb3059]

​@@grahamdamberger7130how can you reject SA? It's not an offer.

[@Pablorcct]

Substance abuse, sexual harassment, child abuse, some performers even surgery for a role, hard schedule, the golden age hide so many secrets but the movies are timeless and still really beautiful

[@grahamdamberger7130]

I won't argue that, but all the behind the scenes drama would ruin the viewing experiences for many audiences today.

[@jdsiv3]

but these things are still present and its not the golden age.

[@Pablorcct]

@@jdsiv3 i know on both music & movies but people don't talk about that

[@lindakahler4799]

Jean Arthur was my acting coach. She warned me that I would have to be married if I wanted to act. He would have to be my agent if I wanted to avoid the casting couch. Told me to be an SLP and live a good life. It was fifty years ago. She was a great lady

[@lasv15]

SLP?

[@fionaobrien3818]

What is SLP ?

[@lindakahler4799]

Sorry speech language pathologist. A modern Henry Higgins

[@lindakahler4799]

Fifty years ago speech therapy and drama disciplines were combined Part of the rational was that one needed to know how to learn dialects.

[@jaengen]

One of my absolute favorite actresses.

[@angelaholmes8888]

It's disgusting there was a casting couch nobody deserves to go through that 🤢🤮

[@trinaq]

It's so horrible that child actors were overworked or abused back in the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, forced to work way past their allocated hours. Fortunately, they'd never let this fly nowadays on a modern set.

[@kamsismith]

I remember hearing about that through Modern Gurlz’s video about the media’s mistreatment of women with Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shirley Temple being notable examples of that. Almost everyone forgets, myself included, that Elizabeth Taylor was a child actor.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I really hope that things have changed for child actors today

[@as3957]

​@@angelaholmes8888 If it didn't, the studios are breaking the law, child labor laws have changed.

[@christineparis5607]

Unless you're working for John Landis on a Twilight Zone movie....

[@LucienSabre]

They have. It’s the reason why child roles have been and are played by twins - so that directors can do longer hours and still comply with the laws.

[@cooperwesley1536]

1) With respect to Garland, she was treated horribly as a child star. Her biggest issue was "weight," and the drugs she was forced to take were mostly given to keep her very thin. Other actresses were treated similarly, but Garland got it the worst. 2) You failed to mention the pedo element... Shirley Temple's autobiography alludes to it, but as we know, it was a lot worse and it is still happening. 3) The lavender closet was a nightmare for LGB stars, especially the men, and there were many victims. Read Tab Hunter's autobiography. Men like Rock Hudson and (arguably) Cary Grant were forced to play straight and marry just to keep their careers and even stay out of jail.

[@JohnSydney225]

In that spying section with Harry Cohn, he had Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford's dressing rooms on "Gilda" (1946) bugged in an attempt to discover the affair the two stars were having. Harry Cohn was always furious that Rita Hayworth, Columbia's biggest star in the 1940s, never slept with him. That, on one hand, explains why most of her movies don't have great writing or the best love interest. He and Columbia were more concerned with showing how popular Rita was just by her name being attached to a film rather than giving her an actual good movie. And the story of Judy Garland's life always leaves me in tears. She had to fight and go through so much.

[@chelseacanales8763]

So tragic. No actors and actress should suffer from this abuse. 😢😢😢😢😢

[@capribubb9659]

Just on the The Thomas Edison thing, that’s not entirely true. A Frenchman named Louie Le Prince created the first moving movie camera , at least 3 years before Thomas Edison. It’s well known that Thomas Edison was one to rip off the inventions of others and pass them off as his own. It’s also been proven that one the first images Louie shot with his camera- known as the Roundtree Garden screen- exists and has been verified, because one of the subjects in it, passed away 10 days after the shot was created . Louie Le Prince is the one to thank for the very reason that movies exist, he created the very first movie camera, not Thomas Edison- Credit Hog!!!!!

[@vgbcp3rs0na41]

THOMAS EDISON IS A THIEF! NICOLA TESLA INVENTED EVERYTHING! YOU CAN’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ!

[@kaiceeholloway8830]

Thank you for this 👍🏾 not a lot of people know how "sus" Edison was.

[@ailsasublett9885]

Edison was a snake

[@davestang5454]

I wouldn't go so far as to make the claim that movies wouldn't exist without Louie La Prince. Inventions and innovations are 2 different advancements. Edison was an innovator as well as an inventor. Being the first doesn't mean being the most effective.

[@meking6327]

Edison stole the inventions of others. Too bad people look the other way and defend it.

[@MagTheSag90]

Ethnic secrecy in name changes were a big one. Like a certain Rita Hayworth.

[@fromthehaven94]

John Gavin of Psycho, he became a U.S. ambassador to Mexico after retiring from acting.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Lots got their names changed to make them less ethnic, smoother, more commercial, more memorable. Rock Hudson, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Doris Day, Michael Caine, Joan Crawford.

[@jimmydaves]

Rita Hayworth was born "Margarita Cansino". She would have never been a star with that name.

[@Bert-the-Pooch]

@@michaelplunkett8059Although I love their stage names, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Maurice Micklewhite and Archibald Leach flick 😊

[@cadiza315]

My understanding was that Hattie McDaniel was not even allowed to sit in the audience when she won an Academy award. The reason is the hotel where the Oscars were held, did not allow African-American guests. So they only let her in to accept the award. Then she had to leave. I’m unclear if they let her sit in some other part of the hotel, but she wasn’t at the actual ceremony. Her acceptance speech was not written by her, she was not allowed to say a single original word. It was written by the production company. I actually don’t like that speech because its it is overkill on the gratitude, subservience, and humility,. Although Hattie McDaniel did a beautiful job reading her lines. But I would like to hear what she would’ve chosen to say. Also of interest… Clark Gable was actually a friend to Hattie McDaniel.. They had been in several movies together. When Gone with the Wind premiered, Hattie McDaniels was not invited to the premiere. This pissed Clark Gable off so much he was going to refuse to go. But Hattie McDaniel herself begged him not to make a fuss and go anyway. I am unclear of how he reacted to the whole Academy Awards snub. But there are several noted incidents of Clark Gable trying to make things right for his African-American costars and crewmembers.

[@user-rq2es2io8y]

Hattie was a victim of stereotyping. To his credit, Clark Gable stood up for her and remained friends.

[@gl3913]

I wonder if Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia was a victim of the casting couch and that was at least in part of why she ended up dead..... May she always rest in peace.

[@Tomboyy9818]

Dahlia*

[@margaret91]

@@Tomboyy9818 that's what the original person wrote Twit

[@fashiondiva6972]

@@margaret91 they likely corrected it after the comment pointing out the misspelling🤦🏾‍♀️ Maybe you should edit your comment🙄

[@margaret91]

@@fashiondiva6972 maybe u should delete ur original comment 🙄. Bcuz u obviously never heard of autocorrect.

[@ok-fv6dm]

I always wondered this too, I've heard in another video before that she had an "appointment" with some new doctor. Have you heard of George Hodel? It's pretty interesting to read into.

[@SnakeRoadComicsOfficial3677]

Damn Watchmojo's been posting more dark secrets lately. I approve please do more.

[@abrahamesparza01]

They're not secrets

[@SnakeRoadComicsOfficial3677]

@@abrahamesparza01 not anymore obviously.

[@abrahamesparza01]

@@SnakeRoadComicsOfficial3677 they were known or at least rumored

[@barney7822]

Back then, there was no such thing as "No Pain, No Gain" for women Just Pain

[@emanymton5789]

Not just for women, for men as well. Many of the big names of that era went through the casting couch as well. Giving "favors" was not just for women. Agents took from both aisles.

[@kevinbergin9971]

@@emanymton5789 You mean took it UP the aisles!

[@emanymton5789]

@@kevinbergin9971 No, i mean Gary Cooper got just as fucked as Ingmar Bergmann. Financially and literally

[@HoosierSHU]

While some of the best films were made during that time period, the behind the scenes were literally criminal. What they did to women and children to line their own pockets was really shocking. Morality clauses were just "you want to be famous, sign here, we own you." Talk about the devil's contract. Don't forget the teamsters. They were also worked long hours and in terrible conditions.

[@jerricablackcat4303]

"They say I'm whistle bait. Could be, but I'm forever meeting guys who don't stop at a whistle. I've learned to handle them all." - Marilyn Monroe

[@markelijio6012]

Yeah!

[@morganhampton9908]

My uncle was a small part of Old Hollywood. I’m saying that because he was an extra in a lot of movies. Janet Leigh write him a letter and they worked on Angles on the Outfield together

[@donnielledorsey6582]

People always make the Golden Age of Hollywood sound so amazing buuut, it's pretty abysmal 😅

[@davestang5454]

I will still take that era over Hollywood as it is today. We would all be better off if modern Hollywood went bankrupt and left Los Angeles forever.

[@rocketmansapprentice]

I wonder if the newer Hollywood after WWll came up with the name Old Hollywood 🤔

[@thehair1474]

The one good thing about Old Hollywood is they made better films.

[@dragonflyy000]

All of this wasn't a HUGE shock, I can see "Hollywood" having her dirty, shameful secrets, she always has, and probably always will. Some were things though, I had absolutely NO clue about, and those few really shook me to my core. Very, very sad what some of these people & CHILDREN had to endure. I know Hollywood is still far from perfect today, but I PRAY it's nothing like it was back in the golden years. May God Bless Those Souls who were tormented, mistreated, & subjected to miserable things & cruel treatment, ALL in the name of "Entertainment". I pray they are ALLat peace now. ♡

[@firstname__lastname]

Black face, yellow face, brown face. How did anybody think that was acceptable?!

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Because it was. It avoided having films banned in miscegenation areas. Used established stars already heavily invested in. And people once thought acting was creating a personna for a dramatic purpose. Thus Luise Rainer was Oscarworthy for the Good Earth and James Earl Jones was Tony worthy for his Shakespeare.

[@user-rq2es2io8y]

It was common. Al Jolson did it all the time. Judy and Mickey were once forced to do a silly number in blackface.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

Although this has been around before Hollywood, painting colors on white actors faces was also common Old Hollywood. The Jazz Singer, Breakfast At Tiffany’s, and West Side Story foe examples.

[@nanasewdear]

Back in the 60's my mother's movie magazines helped me learn to read, still I was surprised by some of these facts.

[@RayMcElroy50]

Nowadays, we have Disney and their own tricks to maintain a good image Like forcing actors to date each other

[@manueltapia1859]

Talking about Disney hipocresy only cares the money!!!!

[@user-ix1rp9ff3p]

regarding the second part, smells like the *Philippine entertainment industry* where "love teams" are still part of showbiz, no different from Bollywood

[@uglybetty8747]

Forcing actors to date each other seems cringe fr

[@sandramorryssa]

Realizing they gave their actors drugs is painting celebrities' deaths like Marilyn Monroe in a different light for me. It's almost like an assisted suicide for everyone who died from an overdose.

[@audreyoriordan5926]

I remember reading Shirley Temple's biography and it was horrifying. Nobody questioned why the majority of her co stars were men. She was the breadwinner in her family. As she was becoming a teenager, she was forced to wear tight bandages across her chest in order to stop her breasts from growing. Her hair was naturally straight, and she had to endure tightly bound ringlets being foisted upon her every night, to continue the myth that she had naturally curly hair. As an adult, she hinted in her book that most of the producers and directors were men, who sexually assaulted her. 😢

[@MatteoPrezioso]

Horrifying.

[@TheDukeofMadness]

Like I said when Harvey Weinstein was accused by all those actresses, the casting couch has been around since before Gladys Mary Smith came down from East York, Ontario and married Jack Pickford.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

You just had to say no. But many wanted the money and fame and were willing to say yes.

[@OutOfAmmoOutOfTime]

A great list! For those who want to know more: Karina Longworth’s podcast “You Must Remember This” goes into a lot of these issues in great detail……about the lost and/or forgotten histories of Hollywoods first century……

[@alp852]

#5 doesn’t do the racism in hollywood justice. It wasn’t just at awards shows- but in the industry at large. The few awards that were given to black people were oftentimes based on subservient roles-

[@lornam1142]

Facts.

[@Wigfield84]

This is why, as a classic film fan, I don’t relate to all those that comment about them representing “a simpler innocent time”.

[@bernadettekenaghan3246]

That needs to change ,there are alot of amazing black actors and they should have alot more recognitions the same level as white actors

[@markelijio6012]

Yeah!

[@Dogcatlover2432]

Who says they don’t?

[@Dogcatlover2432]

It’s about old Hollywood. It’s changed…where have you been?? It’s 2023 not the 59s

[@liverpool2005]

Literally every actor and actress in the old Hollywood all had affairs it was so normal back in the day

[@davestang5454]

Big deal. Why are the actors any better now?

[@liverpool2005]

@@davestang5454 well yeah

[@Blakeneyd]

With growing trends on nudity and graphic sex (even in tv shows), I’d say they just moved the casting couch in front of the camera.

[@maryaltshuller885]

I used to live in So Cal - not LA - and it's not really a nice place. Trash, filth, homelessness and graffiti everywhere. So glad I was able to get out and put CA in my rearview!

[@christineparis5607]

I was born and raised in the California Bay Area and we really disliked LA. We went there to go to Disneyland every summer, but in the 60s the car pollution was unbelievable! Especially in LA. There was alway huge brown pollution smudges of gas clogging up the air. I had a great aunt who worked as an actress at Universal studios in the 30s, and she said that in the first part of the century, LA was so beautiful, surrounded by farms and ranches and fruit orchards. You could get a house on the beach for almost nothing, even Greta Garbo lived on the beach before she was famous. It was the hippie enclave of that time. I would have loved to have been there then. Even my mom as a kid did extra work (for ice cream!) If they followed the production crews around downtown watching and begging to be in a scene, which they often were, since kids were a sure fire draw for audiences back then...

[@grahamdamberger7130]

I think a lot of people had to form gangs as a way of looking out for each other as well, since they weren't getting that help from the people who should be helping them in the first place.

[@christineparis5607]

@@grahamdamberger7130 I think you are right! There were no systems back in the day to protect people, or they were just getting going, so people really were on their own and I think it would have motivated people to congregate into neighborhoods and groups where they felt comfortable. The movie, "The Godfather" was so incredible for showing exactly how important it was for people to have someone who understood them to go to. My dad said in Boston the Irish were so distrusted and feared that they had to form their own organizations to survive, which often led to violence and chaos. They had nothing else at the time, unfortunately...

[@jaengen]

Good riddance.

[@craigtalbott731]

Much obliged. Now maybe you can explain just exactly what the hell does that has to do w/ the motion picture industry in and of itself?

[@thomasm.longiii3752]

I do feel bad for what they had to go through but I’m glad they come a long way with the industry.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I absolutely enjoyed the pre code Hollywood films

[@christineparis5607]

My absolute favorite pre code movie is "Babyface" with a very young Barbara Stanwyck. Anyone who saw her in the tv series, "Big Valley" would be amazed at how incredibly sexy she was in the 30s....

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@christineparis5607 I really enjoyed babyface

[@christineparis5607]

@@angelaholmes8888 I loved it, especially the great friendship between her and her companion who backs her up in her new life...

[@spikemufc]

Of course. Hayes code was nothing more than another example of Hollywood's hypocrisy, especially when you consider these facts from the video and many similar ones.

[@nelliethursday1812]

@@christineparis5607 Plus her companion was African American a definite rarity

[@darkangel_1978]

None of this surprised me, but that's because my Mom told me about all of these, when I would watch movies with her. She and my Grandma knew all about this and told me about it when I was growing up.

[@moodyseb]

And they said that "Blonde" is unrealistic.

[@craigtalbott731]

I had an Aunt who was a film/TV actress for over thirty years, and she was familiar w/ several of these aspects presented here. She started out as a child performer (fortunately steering clear of the difficulties occasionally inherent), and then later on transitioning into mature roles. She didn't go in for grandiose productions so thereby she could keep a low profile publicity-wise, and was also able to avoid the problems involving drugs, booze or other addictions, and very morality-based, although I'm certain she probably would now be a lifetime member (involuntarily) of the #MeToo movement. She eventually bowed out of the entertainment biz altogether to settle-down for a family-life, stating that she didn't relish the idea of possessing the drive to continually strive onwards and upwards, but I also have a suspicion that it was to ensure that she wouldn't get burned or eaten up, both from w/in herself and w/out.

[@alienmoosestudios]

Great video 😊 Thanks for sharing 🎥🎞️🎭🎬

[@mojo500100]

Good presentation. It’s ironic, though-nowadays child actors have a heap of protective laws, while “wholesomeness” has practically vanished from the movies themselves. Except for little-kiddie releases, try and find a big-studio picture now--even excellently produced ones--without abundant profanity, sexuality, and all the vices. It’s kind of sad.

[@randomfacts3764]

In the Sulivan's Travel clip it sounds like she is saying "yes mr. smeerkees, no mr. smeerkees". In Dutch a smeerkees is a synonym for a person who is filthy or dirty. Quite fitting in the context of the casting couch. 😂

[@randomobserver8168]

The segment about pre code and Hays Code seems to offer pros and cons of both and makes neither one seem a "dark truth".

[@muffassa6739]

I love watching your videos but I've always subscribed more than once .

[@michellem3050]

I've always thought it revealing that so many actors talk enthusiastically about a project where they felt "safe" to do their work. What other occupations have to worry about that?

[@MariaLopez-ti4oo]

This list makes us see those old shows and movie different now

[@madelainekane760]

All of these facts are very unfortunate, but also very true. Despite them being so horrible, I have a kind of morbid curiosity toward the history of Old Hollywood.

[@user-rq2es2io8y]

Elizabeth Taylor once remarked that when she (or rather, her parents) signed a contract with MGM she began "serving my sentence" at the studio. She stated the studio treated her "like a chattel."

[@mielissa100ify]

Why do people act like these problems only exist in Hollywood?

[@markelijio6012]

Because these people were always acted liked that in the industry over the years.

[@rodscarbrough2337]

with all the drugs, abuse and other things . I'm a little surprised anyone would want to be an actor.

[@vellbariaofficial]

Rita Hayworth got the worst experience and had to drastically change her appearance to look more white than her usual Latina look 😢

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Made her gorgeous and broadened her opportunities from just an ethnic dancer. Dietrich lived on coffee and cigarettes, relocated her eyebrows and used makeup and contractual lighting control to build her career and break out of the "fat German Hausfrau" pigeonhole. Or poor Harlow, fame came at the cost of having the color stripped from her hair regularly.

[@jaengen]

Rita was white. She was Half Spanish and half English/Irish.

[@northernlights6459]

@@jaengen, I was just going to post exactly the same comment!The lovely Rita Hayworth’s roots were European on both sides.

[@freya8133]

Bette Davis never succumbed to the "I have to look beautiful" myth.

[@anacristinamonteiro418]

@@markelijio6012,in what context,that supose quote was said from Bette Davis?!

[@markelijio6012]

@@anacristinamonteiro418 One of them were "I am just too much." Plus, "I've lost my faith in science," "I work to stay alive," "Everybody has a heart. Except some people," "I will never below the title," "To look back is to relax one's vigil," "I survived because I was tougher than anyone else." Those were Bette Davis' excellent quotes.

[@markelijio6012]

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night" - "All About Eve"

[@OldBittyGrandma]

This video has more truth in it than Scorsese’s history of American Cinema. Bravo!

[@fredltyler-wt9bn]

The golden age of Hollywood wasn't so golden some of those women had to do something just to get a part and some man had to do the same things a lot of blackmail back the day

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Just ONE MORE REASON why I don't believe in the time-honored idiom "the good ol'days."

[@Lorna8264]

Old Hollywood stars were not real people. Not everyone is beautiful. Thank God we got into it the industry after those days.

[@hrhargyll]

I think you should call rape “rape”.

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

It makes my flesh crawl thinking about the number of actors who were so horribly abused - physically, sexually and emotionally.

[@Phoenix73377]

Hollywoodland still has so many 'Dark Sides' to it. It was still, at least another Decade or so that they, I guess you could say, 'found the right moments,' to introduce Native Americans and Latinos into the Spotlight and not as battling or in anything else. Most younger people have no idea about these kinds of things, so Thank you @MsMojo and everyone that is in the think tank for all of this.

[@dmr1537]

That's why I'm looking forward to the time when A.I. play the roles of actors and actresses.

[@blugreen123]

Child labor should have been higher. 😐

[@dinonuggetzz]

Marilyn Monroe words of Hollywood: Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you $1,000 for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul

[@liviaforeign6630]

6:01🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂 I wasn't expecting that

[@raymondtitano3819]

Yeah, I know I can search on it, but... Would you care to expand on John Gilbert?

[@randomobserver8168]

In most lines of work, you don't get to pick which days you work or which specific tasks you might be assigned. There must be a better way to address the infelicities of studio contracts than that.

[@safahmie]

#DarkHistory Bailey Sarian needs to do a child labor law episode.

[@PAZO2FAN]

YES

[@haleyrose-tq8ck]

My favorite is A Star Is Born

[@Rosewolf29]

This all just proves being an actor or in entertainment is not as fun as Hollywood makes it seem. as I've said for years, its all about then Benjamins.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

I’ll never look at movies, especially Old Hollywood movies, in the same light again.

[@julianaylor4351]

We all know what has happened to the modern people, who have tried to re start the casting couch culture, like Harvey Weinstein. Let's hope it never comes back.

[@scotnick59]

John Gilbert had a fine speaking voice; wonder what all the fuss was about (his voice being inadequate, I meant)

[@ballybunion9]

Were stars back then _forced_ to smoke on screen? I know smoking was more socially accepted back then, but it seems like absolutely every big star smoked onscreen. And please don't tell all of them genuinely liked that nasty smell.

[@PAZO2FAN]

some of the females were forced to smoke to surpress their appetite to keep them thinner

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Back then, smoking was considered cool, sexy and people enjoyed it. Studios recommended it to keep stars thin as an appetite suppressant and to help lower the register of high pitched voices to make them sexier.

[@worstnetizenbasedonmicroso653]

Please create chapters ❤

[@storywala88]

Very troubling

[@blueraccoon1088]

This is why I prefer voice acting i refuse to work on camera and if i get asked I'll request minor cameo. I remember Ashley Johnson made 2 cameos in avengers (the voice of Gwen Tennyson and Rennet) i say 2 is because the ending and a deleted scene as the waitress Beth and one other reason I want voice actors as well acknowledged.

[@outinsider]

The Hays Code made all of these toxicities codified. I don't see how people would want film to returned to heavily censored standards that the Hays Code brought. So many star stories are survival stories.

[@sheilaholmes996]

Hattie’s speech was not even written by her. It wasn’t moving it was disgusting.

[@donnaleach8119]

@Sheila Holmes: how so?

[@sheilaholmes996]

@@donnaleach8119 have you listened to it? It’s a White person having a Black person talking about being a “credit to her race.” That is racist and something she probably would not have said.

[@cadiza315]

I agree! It was written in a way that showed her as very subservient and over-the-top grateful. The speech was written in a way that made her paint the white men in Hollywood, as the heros of HER successes……And because of their brave actions racism is over! The speech showed her as overwhelmed with gratitude for their “generosity”. While in reality, she wasn’t even allowed to sit in the awards ceremony audience, because the hotel didn’t allow African-American guests and the Academy did not stick up for her. I really would’ve liked to have heard what she would’ve liked to have said.

[@sheilaholmes996]

@@cadiza315 right on!

[@donnaleach8119]

@@sheilaholmes996 : very interesting. Thank you!

[@markelijio6012]

Just like Lana Turner who was letting go at Warners in 1956 but she made a comeback for one last time with star/executive producer Bob Hope on Academy Award nominated filmmaker Jack Arnold's Oscar nominated romantic classic, "Bachelor in Paradise" - 1961. Produced by Ted Richmond. Robert Dorfmann in his American film as co-producer after he won an 1953 Honorary Oscar for "Forbidden Games" and continues to work until Fall 1994. Written for the screen by Valentine Davies and Hal Kanter from a story by Vera Caspary. TM and (c)1961, renewed 1989 Turner Entertainment Co., an AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. (c)2002 Warner Bros., an AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.

[@EmilyKresl]

I thought you were going to mention the "casting couch," and how they used asbestos as snow in the wizard of oz, and how they paid women way less for the same hours PLUS controlled their marriages and sex lives, countless actresses were fired simply for being pregnant. Not to mention the fact that women weren't even allowed to direct or work the cameras and they were left out of key production meetings. It was all a good ol' boys club. In fact- can you name 5 female directors???

[@markelijio6012]

Barbra Streisand, Kathryn Bigelow, Christine Lahti, Debbie Allen, Lili Fini Zanuck. Five Female Filmmakers.

[@markelijio6012]

Plus Callie Khouri, Shirley Sun, Penny Marshall, Sofia Coppola, Nancy Meyers, Shirley MacLaine etc. The List That Goes On and On.

[@gorge5412]

I believe that you are correct, EK. Of course, your comment impliedly focuses on the older, so-called golden age of Hollywood. The only (!) female director (from that earlier era) that I can think of is Ida Lupino.

[@tifanyb3954]

This is why we call Hollywood "Hollyweird".

[@thomaskinne2357]

Many people don't know that Henson Studios which used to be A&M Studios was bulit by Charlie Chaplin, when there was nothing else at Sunset & La Brea!

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

When you wish upon a Star 🎭

[@jameshildebrand176]

Hollywood needs to reevaluate there morality laws.

[@lorihansen8674]

You make it seem like these behaviors and attitudes have disappeared. I don't think so. The "Time's Up" movement proved this. Child labor laws may have changed the number of on-screen hours but that has nothing to do with other pressures children face, especially young women and body image/ weight gain. Furthermore, the perception Hollywood dispels to the public via movie and tv plots results in societal changes. These changes are not always good.

[@MarquisDeSacks]

Hollywood gives Babylon a bad name 😆

[@laissezfaire9762]

“The lack of diverse representation at Hollywood award shows…” What planet are you living on???

[@imtoooldforthisstuff]

3:33 Having "organized crime" people harm SDJ would probably have really pissed off Frank Sinatra a bit. It would not have gone well to whoever ordered the hit.

[@Durermac]

I don't think anything has really changed In Hollywood.

[@lornam1142]

It’s certainly not as bad as it once was. Human rights have improved in the US overall.

[@vic5015]

The old studio system was pretty awful. In multiple ways.

[@Elitist20]

If you're only used to the Hollywood movies of the Production Code era (from 1934 to the 1960s) then the pre-Code films are a revelation. They got away with stuff that would have been impossible a few years later.

[@PrettyPrincess9609]

Why is racism only number 5 ?!

[@nicocarlos6628]

#10 Rita Hayworth