There's a particular thrill that comes with expanding a collection, especially when it delves into the rich history of cinema. This week, I had the distinct pleasure of adding a fantastic lot of stills from the 1937 classic, The Last Gangster, to my ever-growing archives. Each black and white image, crisp and evocative, serves as a tangible link to a golden era of Hollywood, a time when narratives of crime and consequence captivated audiences.

For those unfamiliar, The Last Gangster is a compelling pre-Code crime drama starring the incomparable Edward G. Robinson. He plays Joe Krozac, a powerful mobster whose life takes a dramatic turn when he's imprisoned, only to face a changed world and a grown son upon his release. The film explores themes of redemption, reputation, and the enduring shadow of a criminal past, all wrapped in the gritty realism that defined the genre. It's a testament to the power of early cinematic storytelling and Robinson's magnetic presence.

Speaking of Edward G. Robinson, it's impossible to discuss classic Hollywood gangsters without acknowledging his monumental contribution. More than almost any other actor, Robinson, alongside contemporaries like James Cagney, created the archetype of the Hollywood gangster. His intensity, his piercing gaze, and his masterful command of dialogue forged an image that has permeated popular culture for decades. What many might not immediately realize is that this iconic figure of American cinema was born Emanuel Goldenberg in Bucharest, Romania, to a Jewish-Romanian family. His journey from an immigrant background to becoming one of Hollywood's most revered actors is a testament to his talent and determination, adding another layer of depth to the characters he so brilliantly brought to life.

Beyond his legendary acting career, Robinson was also a man of immense cultural sophistication with a deep and abiding love for art. He was a passionate art collector, amassing an extraordinary collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces throughout his life, including works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, and Cézanne. This facet of his personality, often overshadowed by his on-screen persona, reveals a man of refined taste and intellectual curiosity. It's fascinating to consider the complex individual behind the tough-guy roles, a man who could seamlessly transition from portraying a hardened criminal to appreciating the delicate brushstrokes of a Renoir.

Holding these stills in my hands, I don't just see images from a film; I see fragments of history, echoes of a brilliant career, and a connection to the enduring legacy of Hollywood's golden age. They are a welcome and cherished addition to the collection.

HERE is a three-bedroom house that should appeal to the conservative home builder. The exterior is in brick featured by a bay window in the living room, and the garage is detached.

The front entrance is dignified and in excellent taste, and enters directly into a living room, the principal feature of which is the picture window on one side and the fireplace on the other. An unusual feature of the living room is an alcove for books. This enters a bedroom which can easily be converted into a study or den. Adjacent to the living room is the dining room, with exposures on two sides, and separated from the living room by sliding doors.

Between the dining room and the kitchen is the breakfast room, accessible from the hall and equipped with a built-in sideboard and corner china cabinets. The kitchen, which adjoins the breakfast room, has the usual kitchen appointments.

The bedrooms are of generous size and well ventilated, with large closets and direct connections with baths. One bath is accessible from the hall, for visiting guests. The hall is the center of all activity and contains the usual appointments of telephone desk, mop and broom closet, and linen storage cabinets. The garage is located directly back of the house, is connected with the kitchen by means of the service porch, and has in it a laundry and toolroom. This garage may be placed anywhere else on the site, if you wish. A design of landscaping is suggested for the garden lover, and the toolroom can easily be adapted to a workroom by installation of necessary facilities.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

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HERE is presented the rambling-type house developed to meet the particular requirements of the small-home builder in the South.

Generous porches with low sweeping roofs are designed for outdoor living and dining, and for the development of recreation and hobby areas. The kitchen is small and designed to provide the greatest convenience in minimum space. It has a streamlined cabinet at the north end, and space for the hot-water heater, range, refrigerator, and a small table.

The isolation of the sleeping units from all noise of operation of the household makes this plan particularly desirable. The hall is minimum in size.

The bath is in an ideal location for convenience of the sleeping units, and still close enough to the semipublic spaces to make its use convenient for guests.

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This house was planned for a young family—it is a house designed to grow. The original unit, composed of three rooms and bath, has all the essentials of comfortable living. The rooms are of good size, the exterior has attractive lines and good proportion, and the arrangement affords the maximum in convenience.

A generous, covered porch is supported by iron trellises on which climbing vines may be trained.

From the porch one enters a foyer into which all three rooms open. This foyer gives a further effect of spaciousness and eliminates traffic through the living room in reaching the bedroom and kitchen.

The living room features an attractive open fireplace, and the windows in this room are grouped in such a way as to provide plenty of light and ventilation.

The bedroom has an ample closet and a private bath with shower. Windows on three sides of the bedroom give the good ventilation so necessary in our warm Southern climate.

The kitchen has a built-in dining space immediately to the right of the door, where it is out of the way of sink-to-stove traffic. Sink, drainboards and cabinets are on the right; stove, refrigerator and water heater on the left. There is a window at the end of the breakfast nook and another above the sink. In the original unit the back door opens directly into the yard.

The extension provides for a bedroom, a bathroom with tub (accessible from hall), a dining room (this room can be used as a third bedroom if the family prefers), three large closets, and a service area just outside the kitchen.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

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THROUGH its pleasing, balanced proportions this small Colonial house achieves beauty and character. The plan arrangement solves the problems of economy through compactness and a most intelligent relationship of all living areas. Each room is easily reached from the large living room or any other part of the house. Even with the compact arrangement, every room is provided with large windows on two or more walls to provide light and good ventilation.

The large entrance porch is beautifully designed in the Colonial style as a feature to the front of the house. Upon entering the living room, the first thing that meets the eye is the fireplace which has been designed to give charm and dignity to the entire room. There is a built-in book alcove between the living room and dining room for choice books.

Each bedroom is large and provided with ample closet space. The master bedroom has its own bath and two closets. Both the dining and breakfast rooms are large and nicely located for serving either formal or informal meals. The rear screened porch offers many advantages for afternoon and evening visiting and games.

A stairway is shown to the attic which may be used for additional rooms or storage space. The second floor plan indicates how this space may be developed into two large bedrooms, a play room and a bath. The cost of making use of this feature would be small. However, the stairway may be omitted entirely and turned into closets instead.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

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The central bedroom is a dual purpose room, separated sufficiently from the other bedrooms so that it may be used as a guest room, study, sitting room or den, and is conveniently located to the breakfast room and kitchen. Note how generous the living room has been made and how the wall and furniture space is increased by the use of an entry. The living and dining rooms may be shut off entirely when not actually in use and passage made through the back center room.

A well located breakfast room, necessary for comfort and convenience when the dining room is not required, is included in this plan. The kitchen and dining rooms are both large and well arranged for service and beauty. The double car garage is placed close to the house and connected by a screened breezeway for protection in bad weather; it may be used also as a sitting porch, or outdoor living or dining room.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

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