Book Review - Theda Bara, My Mentor by Joan Craig

Theda Bara is one of the most iconic stars of all time.  If you bring up the famous stars of the Silent Era, she is certainly one of the very first names that comes up.  Unfortunately, while her image may be familiar to many, her acting and the lightning impact she made on society is not.  Time has not been kind to her nitrate films, most are lost.  Mysterious and intriguing, she became the Vamp, THE sex symbol of the era.  Even though she was active a mere decade, she has an amazing 44 credits to her name.

Rockwell Represents Russell

     I've finally been going through some comments I hadn't moderated yet.   I apologize to anyone waiting for an immediate answer.  Most of my post views are of items three years or older, so I haven't checked the comment tab.  Sorry to those waiting for an immediate answer.  

On My Mind

     Marilyn Monroe's 1954 visit to Korea brightened a lot of servicemen's lives.  She and Joe DiMaggio were on their honeymoon when she got the call.  But did Marilyn say no?  Absolutely not!  She flew right over there and got to work, cheering up over 100,000.  Get a behind the scenes look at her visit.

 

Move Into Marion's Mansion

     Marion Davies Rancho Mirage, California estate at 1 Von Dehn Road is for sale.  It was built in 1956 for the well known actress.  It is 13,908 square feet with 9 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.  Clearly every room has their own bathroom with more to spare.  It resides on almost 3 acres.  The asking price is almost $4 million.  Clearly, the interior has been redone recently and wouldn't have been anything Marion would have used. 

Marilyn and Miller - Part 3

More Marilyn and Miller photographs from 1957

Marilyn and Miller - Part 2

 

Marilyn and her third husband 

playwright Arthur Miller.

Pulp Fiction - Hospital Doctor by Edward Young (1957)

      I'm usually a little reticent to read medical novels or watch medical television shows because of all the medical drama I've had myself.  Bad thoughts abound usually, but I decided to give one of my pulp novels a try,  Hospital Doctor by Edward Young, published in 1952.   Medical novels and romances were all the rage at the time this book was published.  While they may not be bestsellers today, the medically based television shows are still a TV staple.  And surprisingly, I do enjoy The Knick and Ripper Street, which often have medical scenes, but the others are too much for me.  Maybe the historical context helps diminish the trauma.  Or maybe it's because of the lack of all the medical device beeping which seems to amplify anxiety.

Fashion Friday - Loving Lucy

For Fashion Friday, I thought I'd put up the remaining sketches for I Love Lucy I have saved.  

Fashion Friday - Lucy's Looks

Elois Jenssen thumbnail costume sketches for Lucille Ball 

as “Lucy” in I Love Lucy. (Desilu, 1951-1957)

Fashion Friday - Lucky Lucy

Elois Jenssen black and pink gown costume sketch for Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (Desilu, 1951-1957)

Warner Archive Wednesday - The Swan (1956)

The Swan (1956) [1]

The Swan (1956) - Grace Kelly (Princess Alexandra), Alec Guinness (Prince Albert), Louis Jourdan (Dr. Nicholas Agi), Agnes Moorehead (Queen Maria Dominika), Jessie Royce Landis (Princess Beatrix), Brian Aherne (Father Carl Hyacinth), Leo G. Carroll (Caesar), Estelle Winwood (Symphorosa), Van Dyke Parks (George), Christopher Cook (Arsene).  Directed by Charles Vidor. Studio - MGM.


Fun Fact: This film was released the same day Grace Kelly became a real princess - April 18, 1956, the day she married Prince Ranier of Monoco [2].


Fun Fact: Many thought this would be Grace Kelly's "swan song".  She would star in only 1 film after this, High Society, released July 17, 1956 [3].

Feed Sack Fashion

One printed, plain weave cotton feed sack, unstitched wtih band paper label.
Print is a purple ground with a pattern of mandolins with green and orange accents.
Label reads "PILLSBURY'S BEST/XXXX/FEEDS." "100 LBS." Circa 1940s.; MNHS

My Marilyn in a Potato Sack Post got me thinking about I adore feed cloth.  It's beautiful and usable.  Our industrious ancestors used this cloth not only to fold the life giving flour, but for a multitude of cloth articles in the home including towels, rags, clothing, toys, blankets, aprons, and a multitude of other amazing things.

Marilyn Monday

Marilyn in a Potato Sack

Marilyn and Miller

     Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller by taken by Sam Shaw in 1957.  Monroe and Miller were married from 1956 to 1961.  Here are some gorgeous pictures of "The Egghead and the Hourglass". 

Another Man's Poison (1951)

Another Man's Poison (1951) - Bette Davis (Janet Frobisher), Gary Merrill (George Bates), Emlyn Williams (Dr. Henderson), Anthony Steele (Larry Stevens), Barbara Murray (Chris Dale)

Marilyn and Jane Immortalized

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell immortalizing their hand and foot prints in front of Graumann's Chinese Theater, June 26, 1953.

Vintage Inspiration - The Dinah Shore Show

As you all know, I love vintage films and television.  Lately I have been obsessed with the vintage shows on JLTV.  One of them is the Dinah Shore Show.  Dinah Shore was a fantastic singer who had several variety shows.  Lately JLTV has been playing the Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1957-1963).  It's a variety show which usually has a comic, a dance act, a singer, a musician, and of course, Dinah sings some lovely songs.  One of the cool things about it is I find out about some lovely acts I did not know about.  And frankly, some are next to impossible to find out about.  A recent episode I watched was the April 24, 1960 episode.  Some of the cool acts that day were:

Fashion Friday - Scattered Sketches

Female Costume Sketch (Black and White Gown)

I saved these female costume sketches on my computer and I'm not sure exactly what they are from.  They are obviously stunning, whomever sketched them.  From the look, I'm thinking they are 1950's or 1960's.  Do you agree?

Marilyn Monday - Beautiful Birthday Belle

Marilyn Monroe in Amagansett, Long Island by Sam Shaw; May 1957

Today is Marilyn Monroe's birthday (June 1, 1926), so it seemed logical to do another Marilyn Monday.  These fun, sunny pictures also happen to feature fashion that is on trend again, specifically the crop top. 

Fashion Friday - Smart Suits

Model Dorian Leigh wearing softly tailored suit by Adele Simpson with long gloves, hat and flower at neck; 1950