Above, we’ve posted some of our favorite snaps from The Donald Gordon Collection. We’ve been pleased to bring you these never seen before photos of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 1940s.

Hello Everybody.  This is Mr. Joe Morella and Mr. Frank Segers., your classic movie guys.  Mrs. Norman Maine is still backstage looking for her husband.

We’re here to wish you a Happy New Year, and to tell you that in 2012 we intend to keep bringing you exciting new photos and some (we hope) insightful tidbits about classic films.

Just in case you tuned in late, you might well ask, who was Donald Gordon?

Donald was a young actor who found himself under contract at Columbia Pictures during World War II.

The studios in this wartime period were a bit less fussy about male hires, so Donald made the grade although he never quite made it big. He appears to have spent much of his time making friends on and off the studio lot, made easier by the fact that Donald was an outgoing, amiable type, easy to like.

And, if you were a friend, Donald took your picture. Then to seal the deal he had someone else snap a shot of him posing with his famous pal.

As you’ll continue to see on our blog in 2012, the amazing informality – almost intimacy – of Donald with his subjects is a pleasure to behold.  No posed studio shots in full makeup, staged with the precision of a Swiss watch.

These were shots of some of Hollywood’s best-known personalities in mufti, so to speak, lounging around pools, front lawns, departing restaurants or in actual costume on the set.

By the way, can you identify those of Donald’s palls who are pictured above?

Have a safe and festive New Year’s Eve!

Did you like this? Share it: