My Ohio: Sons of Humphrey Bogart and Tyrone Power tour Richland County spot

LUCAS, Ohio - I am a fan of the vintage years of Hollywood where tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and Tyrone Power, and screen sirens like Lauren Bacall filled the movie screens. I still see them regularly as I keep my television on cable channels that specialize in older and classic Hollywood movies.

So when I got a chance to interview the son of Bogart and Bacall and the son of Power, I jumped at the chance. To interview them in the historic setting where Bogart and Bacall married and where Power often visited made it an even better assignment.

It was in Lucas, near Mansfield, nestled in the rolling hills of Richland County where Steve Bogart and Tyrone Power Jr. were telling stories of their famous parents. The two are at Malabar Farm, a famous gathering spot for dozens of Hollywood stars because the late owner, Louis Bromfield, a best-selling novelist, invited to get away from the hectic paces of the tinsel town.

Bogart and Power are at Malabar Farm, now part of the Ohio state parks system, to raise money for restoration of the huge house where the stars stayed as guests of Bromfield. Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, there are tours of the house and other special events, all hosted by Bogart and Power. Their fathers died in 1957 and 1958, respectively.

The place is special for Bogart because in 1945, his parents were married there. They had met on the set of the hit movie, "To Have and To Have Not," where the 45-year-old Bogart wooed the 20-year-old Bacall. The tours of the big house will include a walk-through of the bridal suite occupied by Bogart and Bacall. Along the way, visitors can see Bromfield's collection of photographs of Hollywood stars.

There are even vintage Life Magazines throughout the house, just as if some of the stars were still there to turn the pages. Indeed, it is a walk back to a different time. The house was built in 1938.  It was there Bromfield often penned his novels, among them "The Man Who Had Everything," "The Rains Came," and "Mr. Smith."  Bromfield died in 1955.

Both Steve Bogart and Tyrone Power Jr. have a special fondness for Malabar Farms because so many Hollywood stars took the train there. It was on the farm owner Louis Bromfield put them to work. They actually had chores to do while they were away from the Hollywood film cameras.

Ticket information on the tours and other events over the "Hollywood Returns" weekend may be obtained at www.malabarfarm.org or by telephoning 800-323-0550.