Forgotten Hollywood

James Lott Jr is IN Chicago this weekend and lists 10 films set in Chicago.

Doug Hess and James Lott Jr have 4 Books out on Amazon! Take a listen and then go buy one or all four! 

Some are super famous. Some are forgotten..until now! 

Host Doug Hess talks with author Whitney Dilley and her book "The Cinema of Wes Anderson"

Doug Hess and James Lott Jr come together and talk to YOU!

In this episode I spoke with author David Stereitt about his book "The Films of Alfred Hitchcock."

Being the Number 5 show during a season could mean several things, but does it mean a show becomes iconic? Take a listen to hear the list. James Lott Jr is the guest host. Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook.

American daytime network soap operas that aired at some point from 1950 through 1975, it's a surprisingly large group. I'm including shows that began before 1950 if they were still airing during this period, and shows that premiered by the end of 1975. Guest Host James Lott Jr

It’s one of the saddest parts of television history. Thousands of episodes of American daytime soap operas from the 1950s, ’60s and into the ’70s are gone, and in many cases the networks themselves deliberately erased them. Guest Host talks about the whole debacle. 

James Lott Jr talks about the importance of shows like this one.Forgotten Hollywood books on Amazon.Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook! 

In this episode I spoke with Xavier Aldana Reyes about his book "Body Horror". Xavier Aldana Reyes provides an engaging introduction to the inner workings of body horror, tracing its evolution from foundational works such as The Fly (1986) and Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) to recent films like Raw (2016) and The Substance (2024).

IN this episode I spoke with Meyer Lansky grandson, Meyer Lansky II about his new book "The Lansky Lagacy: The Life and Letters of Meyer Lansky".  Written by Meyer Lansky’s grandson, this definitive portrait of the legendary “Mob’s Accountant” chronicles the singular life of the business entrepreneur who built a gambling empire, perfected money laundering, established a more efficient Mafia, and changed the course of organized crime forever—featuring never-before-seen personal letters, photographs, and firsthand stories.

James Young Deer (born James Young Johnson; 1876–1946) was one of the earliest Native American filmmakers in American cinema and a true pioneer of the silent film era. He was an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer at a time when the motion picture industry was still in its infancy. Although he was long identified as Winnebago, modern research indicates his ancestry was from the Nanticoke people of Delaware, and aspects of his public identity were later embellished for show business. Young Deer married Lillian St. Cyr on April 9, 1906, after they met in Washington, D.C. Together, they reinvented themselves as "Young Deer" and "Princess Red Wing" and performed in Wild West shows before moving into the motion picture industry. They are widely regarded as one of Hollywood's first Native American power couples

Guest host James Lott Jr spotlights the Silent Film actress.Lillian St. Cyr's career was groundbreaking. She became one of the first Native American women to achieve star status in American motion pictures, working during the silent era alongside her husband, director James Young Deer. Although many of her early films are now lost, she remains a pioneering figure in Hollywood history and is widely recognized as one of the first Native American film star

In this episode, Warren Croom and I spoke with Tom T. Tran the actor who played Taun in the film "Good Morning, Vietnam". Forgotten Hollywood is on FacebookForgotten Hollywood books are on amazon! 

On August 5, 2026, Donelle Dadigan (Founder/President of The Hollywood Museum) The Hollywood Museum  located the Historic Max Factor Building) and some of our celebrities and personalities that have performed over the past 70 years thru today, will commemorate the 64th Anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death by holding a special event surrounded by the recently unveiled 100th birthday Marilyn Exhibit. Stars of today will read letters they wrote to Marilyn. The Hollywood Museum has re-dedicated the Blondes Only Room that houses many of Marilyn Monroe’s  most personal items, clothing, jewelry, shoes, her delicates & undergarments, her makeup chair & case, her million-dollar honeymoon dress worn on her honeymoon with Joe Dimaggio and to entertain the U.S. troops in Korea, and the bottles of prescription medication found on the nightstand the night she died. Other items include Marilyn's personal clothing, jewelry that Arthur Miller gave her. The Hollywood Museum offers a rare and exclusive look at personal photos of Marilyn. FOLLOW THE MUSEUM:WEBSITE: www.TheHollywoodMuseum.comFACEBOOK: Facebook.com/TheHollywoodMuseum TWITTER: @HollywoodMuseum  INSTAGRAM: @HollywoodMuseum

Forgotten Hollywood is on FB!Forgotten Hollywood Books on Amazon.Produced/Hosted by Doug Hess! 

TO date, the youngest actor nominated for an Academy Award. He co starred at 8 years old in Kramer vs Kramer. 

JLJ shares the Top 10 grossing films of 1926

In this episode I spoke with author Thomas "Tom" Schatz about his latest book "Power Surge: Conglomerate Hollywood and The Studio System's Last Hurrah". Between 1989 and 2004, all the old studios either merged with other media giants or were swallowed up by even bigger diversified behemoths, leading to an infusion of money and fast-tracking the digital revolution. Yet even as CGI and piles of cash fueled a new breed of blockbusters―Batman and Titanic, Toy Story and The Lord of the Rings―an indie ethos permeated the industry. And at the crossroads of commodification and aesthetic vision, auteurs ranging from Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino to Sofia Coppola and Ang Lee became household names.

Guest host James Lott Jr talks about the number one of 1926 and its director! 

In this episode, I spoke with author Andrew Wilson about his book " I Wanna Be Loved By You: Marilyn Monroe A Life In 100 Takes". Publishing one hundred years after her birth, Andrew Wilson’s biography of Marilyn Monroe is a kaleidoscopic tour of her life told through 100 captivating snapshots.

In this episode I spoke with author Kristen Lopez about her latest book "But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition". What makes a good love story endure? Is it the courtship? The obstacles along the way? The happy endings (or in some cases, heartbreaking conclusions)? Author Kristen Lopez explores 40 beloved screen adaptations of the book world's great romances to reveal what makes these works resonate across decades. Out on July 28, 2026

Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about looking back at all parts of Forgotten Hollywood! 

There is more to read than just the WIzard of Oz. James Lott Jr is the host. 

In this episode I spoke with the author and grandnephew to Greta, Scott Reisfield. Greta Garbo didn't just change film. She changed what it meant to be a woman. Long before "feminism" entered the mainstream, Greta Garbo was showing women around the world how to live, love, work, and claim independence on their own terms. Her performances felt startlingly real at a time when acting was still theatrical and restrained. Women didn't just watch Garbo. They recognized themselves in her.

There are two answers! James Lott Jr guest hosts and explains.

Follow Forgotten Hollywood on Facebook.Buy the books on Amazon.Doug Hess is the creator and producer, he shares some news with you all! 

For Pride Month June 2026, James Lott JR guest stars. The film most often considered the first major film to feature an explicitly gay character/storyline is Different from the Others (Anders als die Andern), a 1919 German silent film. It starred Conrad Veidt as a gay violinist whose relationship with a male student leads to blackmail and tragedy. It was also made with sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld and is often called the first gay-rights film in history. For American/Hollywood film, it gets more complicated because gay characters were often coded for decades because of censorship. A major milestone is The Boys in the Band from 1970, one of the first mainstream American films to openly focus on gay male characters and gay life.

This is the debut of a mini episode called FH Mini Spotlight. For this one we are spotlighting Sydney Pollack (listen to Episode 439) and his time as an actor on the hit TV show Will and Grace for Gay Pride Month. 

In this episode, I spoke with Patrick McGilligan who was one of the editors of the book "Sydney Pollack: Collected Interviews". Sydney Pollack was a true actor's director―a filmmaker who came up through the ranks, starting as a bit-part TV performer before turning to directing. From his debut feature The Slender Thread (1965) to his final film, The Interpreter (2005), Pollack built a reputation for intelligent, emotionally resonant storytelling.

In this episode, Warren Croom joins me for a conversation with Cindy Mitchum, daughter of John Mitchum and niece of Robert Mitchum. We also speak with Joe Cornett, who is developing a limited series about the two Mitchum brothers.

In this episode, I spoke with author Marilyn S. Greenwald about her book "Jane Fonda: There's a Great Deal to Say". Since the late 1960s, Jane Fonda has identified as an activist first and an actor second, using her celebrity as a vehicle to convey her views and her advocacy. Few stars of her stature have been as simultaneously acclaimed and vilified as Fonda.

In this episode I spoke with authors Taylor Cole Miller and Alfred L. Martin Jr. about their book "The Golden Girls: Tales from the Lanai". The Golden Girls: Tales from the Lanai is an accessible collection that explores the cultural, industrial, and historical impact of that beloved American sitcom. Edited by Taylor Cole Miller and Alfred L. Martin, Jr., this anthology brings together a diverse range of voices that model different media studies approach to researching and critically analyzing television texts. 

In this epiosde, I spoke with Andrew Lampert about his book "Jackie Gleason: Library of the Paranormal". "I want to make hypnotic therapy and psychology my livelihood when I get out of this racket…And I'm going to spend as much time as possible investigating psychic phenomena." ―Jackie Gleason, Parade, 1952

In this episode, I spoke with author Samuel Garza Bernstein about his latest book "Roddy McDowall: An Actor's Life". As one of the very few naturally gifted child actors who graduated into adult roles with relative ease, Roddy McDowall exuded charm throughout a glorious Hollywood run that included film, television, and Broadway. John Ford’s 1941 classic How Green Was My Valley put Roddy on the map at 12-years-old. It won Best Picture over Citizen Kane and is Clint Eastwood’s favorite film of all time. But Roddy’s biggest claim to fame was yet to come.

The first  crossover episode with the podcast Have You Heard of Me. Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about 10 episodes from TV's past that tackled Memorial Day or PTSD, casualties of war, etc. We honor the fallen who served!! 

In this episode I spoke with Peter Hoffman, former CEO of Carolco Pictures, and we discussed this book "Karmic Winds: Reflections from the "Smartest Guy in Hollywood". KARMIC WINDS is a memoir of power, collapse, and reckoning by Peter M. Hoffman, a Yale-trained lawyer and Hollywood insider who once stood at the center of the independent film boom and later found himself stripped of status, freedom, and certainty.The book will be out on June 16, 2026.

In this episode, I spoke with Michael Benson about his book "Hollywood vs Nazis: How The Movie Studios Took On Nazis Infiltrating Los Angeles". The true story of Hitler’s plot to turn Hollywood’s Dream Factory into a Nazi propaganda machine—and the Jewish moguls’ clandestine operation to sabotage the Reich’s insidious reach.

In this episode, I spoke with author Tony Lee Moral about his book "A Century of Hitchcock: The Man, the Myths, the Legacy". For over a century, Alfred Hitchcock has remained one of the cinema's most influential directors. Known as the Master of Suspense, this visionary filmmaker directed more than fifty films over six decades. His thriller The Lodger (1927) marked the start of his signature style, which was later exemplified in classic films like Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963).The book will be out on June 9, 2026.

In this episode I spoke with actress Kathy Garver who played "Cissy" in the television show "Family Affairs".  The sitcom ran from 1966-1971 and Terre Haute, Indiana is the established hometown on Cissy, Buffy, and Jody Davis.  Kathy has also written 5 books and also down voice acting and audiobooks.

Guest Host James Lott Jr, spotlights the first soap opera created for Radio, Painted Dreams and its successor Todays Children. Irna Philips created both and changed the course of dramas forever! 

In this episode I spoke with William Bernhart about his latest book "The Superman Wars: A Battle For Truth, Justice, and An American Icon". Almost everyone knows about the man from Krypton who, disguised as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent working with the fearless Lois Lane, fights for the vulnerable and the oppressed. But few know the truth about this indelible character’s creation.

In this episode, I spoke with mobster expert Larry Gragg about the film "Bugsy". 

In this episode, I spoke with author Mayukh Sen about his book "Love Queenie: Merlie Oberon, Hollywood's First South Asian Star". A beautiful reclamation of a pioneering South Asian actress captures her glittering, complicated life and lasting impact on Hollywood.

In this episode, I spoke with author Joseph Hulihan about his book "Vietnam on the Big Screen: How the Vietnam War Changed Hollywood". America, it is said, deals with its trauma through the medium of Hollywood, and few experiences have been more traumatic than its involvement in the Vietnam War. As the last US helicopters fled the American Embassy compound during the fall of Saigon, they left behind a country devastated by twenty years of death and destruction.

In this episode, I spoke with author Robert Guffey about his Book "Hollywood Haunts the World".  In Hollywood Haunts the World: An Investigation into the Cinema of Occulted Taboos, Robert Guffey deconstructs the most powerful taboos of the twentieth century (and the initial decades of the twenty-first century) by analyzing how disturbing and transgressive ideas involving Theosophy, Gnosticism, Freemasonry, Darwinian Evolution, Surrealism, Freudian and Jungian psychology, race relations, paranoia, UFOs, xenophobia, political conspiracies, the JFK assassination, virtual reality, and alternate dimensions have been reflected in films―both American and foreign―throughout the past one hundred years.