Old Hollywood Realness!

Kathleen Noll and Philip Estrada brought a unique lens to old Hollywood that most other shows miss entirely: costume design, fashion, and the visual artistry of the studio system. Old Hollywood Realness ran for 96 episodes from 2016 to 2020, covering films like Some Like It Hot, Victor/Victoria, Paris is Burning, and Hairspray with particular attention to how costumes, sets, and styling choices shaped both the films themselves and broader fashion culture of the time. The 4.1-star rating from 109 reviews reflects a show with passionate fans who appreciated this specialized focus on craft. Episodes typically ran 60-90 minutes, and both hosts brought genuine expertise in costume and set design to their discussions, often catching details that even dedicated film fans might overlook. The show has concluded and is no longer releasing new episodes, but the full 96-episode archive remains available and holds up remarkably well. If you care about the visual craft side of old Hollywood — the Edith Head dresses, the Adrian gowns, the way lighting and wardrobe told stories that the script sometimes left unsaid — this back catalog is absolutely worth your time. Not many podcasts in this space focus on the design and fashion side with this level of knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for the artisans who worked behind the camera.