Marvelous Mover Mitzi

Mitzi Gaynor practicing for her early 1960's nightclub act

Black Cat Fever

Black Cat auditions in Hollywood from Life Magazine; 1961

152 cats auditioned for the role of the black cat in the 1962 film Tales of Terror for the short based on Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat.

Of course you can't have any good black cat judging contest without Peter Lorre and Vincent Price!


Source: Time

Fitness Friday - Moving with Mitzi

I definitely need to exercise more, so today for Fitness Friday, I thought I'd look to the lovely Mitzi Gaynor's 1962 spread from Life Magazine for inspiration.

Fashion Friday - Fath and Fashion

Genevieve Fath; March 1948

The lovely Genevieve Boucher de la Bruyere and French fashion designer Jacques Fath are my fashion inspirations for today.  Jacques postwar fashion (post World War II, that is), made him a contemporary of Dior and his "New Look".  Fath is probably best known for designing Moira Shearer's costumes in The Red Shoes as well as Rita Hayworth's wedding dress to Prince Aly Khan.

Vintage Inspiration - Fabulous Fiber Optics

Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany, Scientist who has experimented with fiber optics technique which emits light through glass fibers to photograph hard-to-see objects, from 1960.

Gypsy Rose, birthday girl

Gypsy Rose Lee's birthday is today.  

Fashion Friday - Lace Lid

Woman wearing a navy dress with red stitching outlines on the collar. The hat is covered with openwork ruffles in 1940.

Fashion Friday - Designer Duds

Woman wearing a designer suit; 1948

Fashion Friday - Perfect Petticoat

Plaid Taffeta Petticoat from 1947.  It's absolutely adorable!  I would love a petticoat like that.  I assume the whiteness around the picture was for publication purposes.  If that isn't one of the cutest petticoats, I don't know what is.

Groucho Acting Goofy

In honor of what would have been Groucho Marx's 123rd birthday, here are some pictures from Night in Casablanca (1946).

I haven't seen it in a while, but the Marx Brothers are quite funny.

Fashion Friday - Pageant Posers

Miss Junior America Shirley Arrow and Miss America Jacque Mercer getting adjusted during a photo shoot in 1946.  I couldn't find any information on Shirley Arrow, but there is plenty out there about Jacque Mercer. 

Fashion Friday - Cloche Cool 2

Just like last week, I've got another cute example of a cute cloche hat.  This cool woman looks like she is on the way home from work.  A chic polka dot dress, cute heels, and a cloche hat make this the perfect work day attire in 1928, when this picture was taken.

Fashion Friday - Cloche Cool

Love this chic cloche hat look from 1950.  The hat is adorable.  I love the sleek black pencil skirt, checked jacket, gorgeous gloves, and cute black pumps.  I'd love to wear an every day outfit this chic.

Fashion Friday - 1946

A model showing a cute jacket and pants combination in 1946.  Very cute.

Sporting with Carole

October 1938

Carole Lombard wearing sunglasses to do some skeet shooting

Fashion Friday - Eyelet Hat and Collar

Eyelet Embroidery Hat and Eyelet Collar from Life Magazine; 1940

Fashion Friday - 1952 Glamour

Two lovely fashion photos from 1952.  How gorgeous!

RIP Esther Williams

Esther Williams; 1950

Today we lost one of our film gems.  I adore Esther and am saddened to hear of her passing.  What beauty, strength, talent, joy, and zest for life in one package.  She will be greatly missed.

Dean Martin Mocked

Dean Martin Roast; 1958

George Jessel roasting Dean Martin, with Jack Benny joining in the laughter at the Friar's Club Roast of Dean Martin in 1958.  How I wish I would have been there, or there was a recording of it.  It looks like they are having a fabulous time, and I could use a good laugh these days.

Curtis Cavorting with his Crew

Life Magazine; 1958

Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, and Milton Berle playing cards with their unidentified cronies.  I imagine this happened a lot during Hollywood's Golden Age.  It must have been really fun.  I would have loved to be a fly on the wall.  What these guys must have talked about!