Ann Rutherford, 2 November 1917 – 11 June 2012

source unknown, but likely an MGM publicity shot

The face of a doll coupled with the legs of Aphrodite herself—so might one aptly describe Ann Rutherford, Vancouver-born yet California-bred, whose luminous presence graced Hollywood’s aureate epoch. She commenced her cinematic career in the saddle, starring in westerns for Republic Pictures alongside such burgeoning luminaries as John Wayne and Gene Autry, before ascending to the illustrious ranks of MGM in 1937. There she achieved enduring fame as Polly Benedict in the Andy Hardy series and as the demure, ill-fated little sister of Scarlett O’Hara in the epic of all epics, Gone with the Wind. Brimming with warmth and ineffable girl-next-door charm, Ann Rutherford was also one of many beloved pin-up icons of the Second World War—an era when the beauty and grace of young women such as she performed a service of no small consequence, sustaining the spirits of those who bore the weight of history’s greatest conflict upon distant battlefields. Indeed, the genre of glamour photography—or ‘cheesecake’ in the vernacular of the time— achieved perhaps its most profound significance during this particular historical juncture, and the lady’s contributions to this morale-fortifying enterprise were nothing short of exemplary. Confectionery for the spirit. —Arthur Newhook, 2 November 2025.

Copyright 2025, Arthur Newhook.

Glamorous actress Martha Hyer, clad in a white towel, prepares to toast with champagne

Actress Martha Hyer, circa 1955, wearing a strapless white towel that she is holding up in front of her, giving the impression that she has just stepped out of a bath. Several bottles of champagne lined up along the edge. Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images.

The daughter of a well-respected Texas lawyer and a devout Methodist family, Martha Hyer ventured to Hollywood in her early 20s and landed a contract with RKO. She subsequently married two Hollywood producers, the latter being Hal B. Wallis, who was responsible for classics like ‘Casablanca’ (1942) and ‘True Grit’ (1969). Martha Hyer was a successful supporting player on film throughout the 1950s, and also served as a screenwriter for the 1974 John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn film ‘Rooster Cogburn’.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Adele Mara, 1923-2010

Adele Mara, an American actress of Spanish descent, here depicted adorning the pages of Cinelandia magazine, circa 1947. Hailing from the Detroit area, this noble lady was not only a skilled actress but also an accomplished singer and dancer. She is best remembered for her roles in westerns, having appeared in numerous film and television productions over a span of 37 years. Of particular note, she did share the screen with John Wayne in the iconic films 'Wake of the Red Witch' (1948) and 'Sands of Iwo Jima' (1949). Furthermore, she did attain top billing in the 1945 film noir 'The Tiger Woman', as well as the 1948 western 'Angel in Exile'. Adele Mara lived a life replete with accomplishment, departing from this mortal realm at the venerable age of 87 in 2010.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social, and @arthurnewhook on POST. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.