8 Times Classic Hollywood Stars Were Spotted In Cleveland Throughout The Years
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Cleveland – who would want to take a trip to a city like that? Believe it or not, Cleveland tourism grows in popularity with each passing year, and the city has attracted attention from some notable individuals. Since the days of Old Hollywood, some of the most famous Americans have stopped in our charming city… and they’ve been photographed here! Whether on vacation or visiting on business, these fascinating famous figures took advantage of their time in The Land and visited some of the area’s top attractions. Check it out these old school celebrities in Cleveland:
Here, Carrie A. Nation is pictured in front of E & C Cafe on Public Square. She's watching as her followers conduct a raid... yes, you read that right. The most infamous prohibitionist in U.S. history conducted a raid right here in Cleveland. This woman is famous for smashing barrels and bottles of alcohol with a hatchet in several U.S. cities, and Cleveland was one of her stops. As a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and an iconic figure in the temperance movement, Nation helped usher in Prohibition. While she may not have been a Hollywood star herself, Nation has been a character on the big screen and evolved into an unforgettable character in American history.
That iconic leather jacket, those smiling eyes, and that pilot-approved long pixie cut... Amelia Earhart is instantly recognizable to any aviation enthusiast or lover of mystery. This aviator and author grew famous as the first woman to make a nonstop transatlantic flight on her own. Her celebrity grew as she became a fashion icon and married an accomplished gentleman that become the head of Paramount Pictures. While already famous, she become a legend when she disappeared attempting to circumnavigate the globe. While her disappearance is ultimately a mystery, one thing we know for sure is that this accomplished aviator participated in the Cleveland Air Races and landed in the city on several different occasions.
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Beauty and brains are an incredible weapon when they're coexistent traits, but when a woman is funny? Why, she can conquer the world. Beatrice Lillie built a following as a performer of parodies, but she capitalized upon her flair for the dramatic and moved into downright goofy roles. Some said she was the "Funniest Woman in the World," a sobriquet that doubtlessly assisted in earning her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. Judy Garland had just finished filming the Wizard of Oz a month before her visit to Cleveland. During her stay, she caught an Indians Home Opener at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. While her charms doubtlessly delighted those she met, Clevelanders had another reason to flaunt big smiles: we won the game!
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When someone holds a microphone that confidently, you just know they can use it. Dorothy Lamour got her start as a big band singer, but her charms and talents exceeded musicianship. She moved to Hollywood in 1936 and signed with Paramount Pictures almost instantly. That very year she made her big-screen debut. She was at the height of her career when she came to Cleveland in 1942, though her celebrity would soon start to wane. Just five years later, she would leave Paramount Pictures and begin acting in lesser-known films. She eventually settled into television roles, and she quietly captivated audiences in concerts and interviews through the 1990s.
At 38 years old, Lana Turner seemed every bit as vivacious and inspired during her interview at radio station WERE as when she first shared the screen with Clark Gable at 20. This femme fatale was an iconic model, actress, and radio personality throughout her career. However, just one year before her visit to Cleveland, Turner and her teenage daughter took the life of infamous mobster Johnny Stompanato. They were absolved of any wrongdoing, however, as their testimony revealed that Stompanato was attacking Turner when her daughter, Cheryl, came to her defense and stabbed him in the stomach.
If you watched television and movies between roughly 1948 and 2000, then you've surely seen Jack Lemmon. While his vast filmography is impressive, what is even more fascinating is catching such an iconic actor letting his guard down to hang out with Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell (right) to watch a Browns-Vikings game. This seasoned actor was on the field for back-to-back games just one year before he welcomed his daughter into the world.
If you're a Cleveland native, you've surely heard that The Deer Hunter was filmed here in 1978. What you may not realize is that actress Rutanya Alda played a role in it. Don't recognize the name? While Alda doesn't have a particularly extensive filmography, she would go on to have a role in cult classic Mommie Dearest. This 1981 film was a box office success, but it became an unintentional comedy for its over-the-top performances.
While one may not expect to spot icons and celebrities in Cleveland, figures from American history, the big screen, and legend has visited our iconic city. Have you ever unexpectedly bumped into a celebrity in Cleveland?
Believe it or not, many famous people have come from Cleveland, as well. You can see if you recognize any of these famous faces in our full article here.
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