In this ongoing series we look at the stars of the Walk of Fame in fabulous Hollywood, California. While many of the stars are well known, others have been forgotten over the years.
Hopefully now, at least you will remember them!
Today, we continue with the "B"s.
Tallulah Bankhead MP
Tallulah Bankhead was an actress and talk show host. She was stunningly beautiful in the 1920s and continued to be a star for the rest of her life. Perhaps her most famous movie was Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat, but her most famous role was as the Black Widow on television's Batman.
She was also known for her heavy drinking and would often appear on TV drunk (according to her co-stars.)
Vilma Banky MP
Vilma was MGM's top star in the mid and late 1920s. Her best known roles were opposite Rudolph Valentino.
Theda Bara MP
Her most famous role was of Cleopatra in the lavish 1917 production. Sadly this film (and most of her films) has been lost since the 1930s. Since there is no one that can prove me wrong, I am going to start telling everyone I played "Freddie the Naked Guard" in this film.
Lynn Bari MP
Lynn Bari TV
One of the hardest working women in Hollywood, Lynn earned two stars on the Walk for appearing in over 130 different projects. She played the lead in some of the earliest TV sitcoms. She appeared in a 1950's film called "I Dream of Jeannie" (not connected in anyway with the TV show) and one called "The Kid From Cleveland" (not connected in anyway with my cousin Sal who lived in Cleveland when he was a kid.)
Bob Barker TV
The noted host of The Price is Right; Bob holds a karate black belt and appears twice in the Guinness Book of World Records. One record is "Most Durable Performer," the other "Most Generous Host in Television history" (for awarding a higher prize total than anyone else.)
Lohman & Barkley Radio
Roger Barkley and Al Lohman were talk show hosts in Los Angeles for over 25 years. In addition they were hosts of an NBC game show called Name Droppers. The duo were honored with the star in 1985 and retired one year later.
Binnie Barnes MP
Accomplished actress who usually played the lead's best friend. Among her many films is the 1939 Three Musketeers. The
IMDB also lists her as being one of the celebrities on hand for a 1974 TV special called
Herbie Day at Disneyland.
On the Herbie Day page the following words appear "If you like this title, we also recommend...
Alcohol and Your Body: Assessing the Damage (1997)".
Perhaps there is a dark side to that loveable bug. I hope he finds the help he needs.
Pepe Barreto Radio
Pepe got his star in 2004. He is an entertainment reporter for KMEX in Los Angeles. According to his
site, he also does voice over work for commercials, video games and cartoons.
Mona Barrie MP
London born actress starred in several films including "Dawn on the Great Divide".
Wendy Barrie MP
British actress known for her work in the film "The Private Life of Henry VIII". She also shares a connection with two notorious people. She was engaged briefly to gangster Bugsy Siegel and her godfather is Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie. She took his name as her stage name.
Bessie Barriscale MP
Appeared in almost 60 films. One of Bessie's last films was the 1934 film Beloved. The star of that film was Gloria Stuart who played "Old Rose" in Titanic (1997).
Blue Barron Rec
Performer of big band music with his own orchestra. Still, with a name like Blue Barron I will always pretend he was a superhero.
Gene Barry LT
Vaudeville star who later won fame as TVs Bat Masterson. Sadly, this was a western, and not a superhero show.
Bat Masterson: So we meet again, Blue Barron.
Blue Barron: Yes, I suppose we do.
Bat Masterson: You wanna go shoot some pool.
Blue Barron: Sure! I'll skinny dip.
Bat Masterson: No, I mean "pool" as in "billiards".
Blue Barron: So did I.
Ethel Barrymore MP
The great aunt of Drew Barrymore, Ethel and her brothers John and Lionel were one of the most successful acting families in Hollywood history.
John Barrymore MP
He is Drew's grandfather and one of theater's legendary performers. He was called "The Great Profile". Among his famous films was the 1930 film Moby Dick.
John D. Barrymore TV
The son of John Barrymore and the father of Drew Barrymore. Not as successful as his father or Daughter, John performed in a number of foreign films in addition to his TV series and TV movie work. Drew claims he was an abusive father.
Lionel Barrymore MP
Lionel Barrymore Radio
The third of the three Barrymore siblings. He is best remembered as the mean Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life.
Drew Barrymore MP
She's related to a bunch of people. Plus she was Gertie in E.T.
Richard Barthelmess MP
A movie star with a last name that looks like a typo. He started his career in 1919 and received to Academy Award nominations.
Freddie Bartholomew MP
Famed child actor from the 1930s. Freddie starred in David Copperfield, Little Lord Fauntleroy and Captains Courageous.
Billy Barty TV
Dwarf actor and advocate, Billy has most likely appeared in something you have seen. He appeared in H. R. Pufnstuf as well as many of the Sid & Marty Krofft programs. He played Noodles in the Weird Al Yankovic film UHF and he appeared in the Elvis film Roustabout. He was 39" tall.
That's all I can handle right now. Something tells me that we have a LOT more "B"s to go!
Every so often I check my email and find letters from people in need of advice. The letters touch me dearly, tortured souls crying out for help from me. So, I exploit them and put them on this site.
Benjamin Harrison was elected President in 1888. He was no stranger to the office since his grandfather was President William Henry Harrison.
In perhaps the most shameless, self aggrandizing moment in the history of mankind, George Lucas has started a website for people to thank him.