Blythe Quake
Blythe-a-Day August#7. The Happiest Place on Earth
. What Happens Here Stays Here: LaVern La Rue with Mr. and Mrs. Strongheart
Strongheart was a real-life German Shepherd who came from Germany and became a popular movie star during the silent era. He was the forerunner of such dogs as Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin. The 3 of them are the only animals with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
LaVern La Rue recalls her early days in films during the Jazz Age:
LaVern: "Some of the things performers used to have to do for publicity would make me wish I could say--illogically--even as I was doing them, 'What happens here stays here.' Yet, at the same time, certain ridiculous things I was a part of were also fun, in an absurd way."
"For instance, soon after I started making films, the studio had me go to a very ritzy hotel in New York to appear with Strongheart, who was there on a publicity tour. The publicity angle was that photographers would be taking pictures of him sitting on a sofa in a room at the Waldorf Astoria along with "Mrs. Strongheart." The photos would make it seem as if we were in the happiest place on earth, as in a fairy tale. Actually, they would go on to have puppies who would grow up and appear in small roles in films. I doubt, however, that the Mr. and Mrs. ever got a marriage certificate!"*
*On YouTube, there's a short film about the real Strongheart that shows him and Mrs. Strongheart sitting on the sofa in a hotel room.
Blythe-a-Day August#7. The Happiest Place on Earth
. What Happens Here Stays Here: LaVern La Rue with Mr. and Mrs. Strongheart
Strongheart was a real-life German Shepherd who came from Germany and became a popular movie star during the silent era. He was the forerunner of such dogs as Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin. The 3 of them are the only animals with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
LaVern La Rue recalls her early days in films during the Jazz Age:
LaVern: "Some of the things performers used to have to do for publicity would make me wish I could say--illogically--even as I was doing them, 'What happens here stays here.' Yet, at the same time, certain ridiculous things I was a part of were also fun, in an absurd way."
"For instance, soon after I started making films, the studio had me go to a very ritzy hotel in New York to appear with Strongheart, who was there on a publicity tour. The publicity angle was that photographers would be taking pictures of him sitting on a sofa in a room at the Waldorf Astoria along with "Mrs. Strongheart." The photos would make it seem as if we were in the happiest place on earth, as in a fairy tale. Actually, they would go on to have puppies who would grow up and appear in small roles in films. I doubt, however, that the Mr. and Mrs. ever got a marriage certificate!"*
*On YouTube, there's a short film about the real Strongheart that shows him and Mrs. Strongheart sitting on the sofa in a hotel room.