Showing posts with label Archie Leach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Archie Leach. Show all posts

Sunday, November 29, 2020

On This Day...Cary Grant's Last Rehearsal (1986)

On the 29th November 1986, Cary Grant passed away at St. Luke's Hospital, Davenport, Iowa. He was 82 years old.


With his wife Barbara.

After feeling unwell in the afternoon whilst finalising the set up for his "A Conversation With Cary Grant" show, at the Adler Theatre, his health deteriorated and at 11.22pm he succumbed to what was noted on his death certificate as a "massive intracerebral hemorrhage".


Certificate of Death.


With Davenport's Adler Theatre Chief Stagehand, Jack Dexter.

How the news reported it:


"Cary Grant looks weary and pensive as wife Barbara whispers in his ear, in this tragic last picture taken on stage only moments before his fatal collapse on Saturday night. "I'm sorry I can't go on" Grant told her. Six hours later the beloved 82 year old actor, who had been rehearsing for a charity performance in the Mississippi River town of Davenport, Iowa was dead - a trouper to the very last" - New York Post











Many articles and books have been written that cover the final hours of Cary Grant's life. Today this post simply marks the occasion and puts some interesting and common articles together in one place.

My only comment is that is influence, style, charm and humour are still here today in the huge body of work that he left behind as his legacy.

Archie did good!

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

"I Know You!"...The Cameos of Cary Grant.

Cary Grant produced quite a body of work, starring in over 70 full length films.

But if you think you'd seen everything...think again!!

He made a number of cameo appearances, on film, as listed below.

Singapore Sue (1932):


Starring Anna Chang, this was the first short film that Cary Grant made. It was released in the summer of 1932.
Three of his full length films were already in distribution.

Interestingly, he is credited as Archie Leach.



Pirate Party on Catalina Island (1936):

Running at just 20 minutes, MGM released this colour film, with a number of stars appearing as themselves.




Topper Takes a Trip (1939):


Originally, Cary Grant was to appear in this sequel to Topper, however, he was unavailable and the script was rewritten.

Although, he didn't work on the film at all, he appears in film clips from Topper, as a way of explaining the story!


The Road to Victory (1944):


This was a 10 minute short, by Warner Bros., to support the war effort.

The Shining Future (1944):

This was a much longer version of "The Road to Victory", using the same footage of Cary Grant, reading a letter from a Canadian soldier.





Without Reservations (1946):


This film starring Claudette Colbert and John Wayne, including a number of cameo appearances.

However, Cary Grant, is referenced throughout until making an appearance towards the end of the film.




Polio and Communicable Diseases Hospital trailer (1940)

An appearance.


Ken Murray's Hollywood (1965);


Ken Murray's candid home movies caught the stars off set, including Cary Grant.


Elvis: Thats the Way It Is (1970):



This film was a documentary about the Elvis Summer Festival in Las Vegas. Cary Grant is one of a number of celebrities who attended.

Appearance comes at rhe end credits.




Sunday, April 12, 2020

"Better Times" on Broadway! (1922)


This is a rare souvenir program from the Original Broadway production of the R.H. Burnside and Raymond Hubbell Mammoth Musical Spectacle "BETTER TIMES" which played the New York Hippodrome in New York City.


The production opened on September 2nd, 1922 and ran for 405 performances.

The Eighth and Twelfth Episodes included a young man by the name of Archie Leach.


"Better Times " Program, 1922
(Centre Pages)


Eighth Episode: The Land of Mystery 
(The Joyful Girls............Archie Leach and Jack Notman)


Twelfth Episode: At the Grand Opera Ball 
(Meistersingers no.4..........Archie Leach)