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.

Links of the Week

Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle (R) with Gen. George S. Patton saluting as they review troops after landing at airfield.

Daytonian in Manhattan highlights the Humphrey Bogart House, where little Humphrey Bogart was born in 1899.

Paintings of the Stars - Part 1

Beatrice Lillie; 1963

Life Magazine did a series on paintings done by celebrities in 1963.  I find it interesting to see what artists do in art fields other than their own.  Well, it turns out that several actors and actresses were wonderful painters as well.  Beatrice Lillie was an actress I would have loved to see.  While known for her wonderful stage work, she made some films as well.

Beatrice Lillie; 1963

One of the stories about her I find most striking is from World War II.  Lillie entertained the troops quite frequently.  One day, she found out her son had been killed in action and refused to cancel her performance. Her quote:  "I'll cry tomorrow" (Source).  Beatrice Lillie sounds like an amazing woman I would loved to have met.  Her strength, generosity, and talent are worth remembering.

As to these paintings, I'm not sure what happened to these particular ones, but several of her paintings are stored at the New York Public Library. 

WACs Working Wonders

These lovely WACs are getting beauty treatments at Fort Des Moines in 1942.  How fantastic is it that there was basically a beauty salon at the fort?  One thing I love about the 1940's is that even when they were busy saving the world, women always made time to look good.  How awesome is that?  I don't think I'd have enough energy to do anything more than throw my hair in a ponytail, yet these fantastic women slept in pincurls and made sure their makeup was perfect.  Amazing.

Nuggets of Note December 17, 2012

1879 Hats

I adore Jessica's Vintage Holiday Buying Guide.  Not a thing on their I wouldn't want.  Great choices, Jessica.


Lynn at 19th Century Historical Tidbits has a great series about 1879 Hats.  Part 2 and Part 3 are now up.

Thelma Todd

Los Angeles Morgue Files has a fascinating post about Lupe Velez's suicide and Thelma Todd's death.

Hoover Ad; 1950

Reminisce Magazine has a great feature about Santa Ads from the Past.  

Geneva Hand Fluter

American Duchess is a constant inspiration.  I adore her costumes.  Her latest post is her Year in Review.  I wish I could make just one costume that looked that fabulous.  She also experiments with a Geneva Hand Fluter iron.  I always wanted to try using a vintage iron, and she makes it sound easy.

Christmas Meal for Louis XVIII

I love food history, so the Old Foodie is a must-read blog.  Rationing during WWII and some Rationing Recipes is the subject of her latest post.  She also had an interesting Christmas Meal for Louis XVIII.  


Daytonian in Manhattan features the Anson McCook Beard House.  The daughter of local legend James J. Hill lived there, so I was personally very interested. 

1933 Fortune Magazine

Letterology had some great posts this week.  My favorites were about 19th C Cold Type and Fortune Magazine.

Kemps Ice Cream ad

Neatorama sheds light on the only Christmas Song to hit #1 on the Billboard charts and some great tidbits on Frank Sinatra.

Mental Floss has a number of fantastic posts.  A few that sparked my fancy were: 12 Technological Advances of WWI, 12 Proposed Disney Attractions That Were Never Built, 12 Essential American Cartoons (I agree with the first 9), and 12 Toys From the 1980s That Didn't Take Off (I remember every one!).

History-wise in my neck of the woods, I was made aware of a fun bit of history.  The 1921 Kissing Contest winner - French actor Andre Brule.  Apparently he knew how to give the perfect kiss.

And my Christmas sentimental side has been in full force this year, thanks to Christmas specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas.  So it was fun to see what Movie Morlocks had to say about it.

On the book front, there were two exciting finds recently:  The Cardiff Library recently realized they had a book from Sir Isaac Newton's library and Hans Christian Anderson's First Fairy Tale was discovered in the Danish National Archives.

Go Retro!  has a fun post about a sex-ed video Disney put out in the 1940s.  I've never heard of this video.  The animation was great, as with most Disney cartoons.  Very sweet.  While the video would never be shown these days, all the information is still pretty accurate.  It's a fun way to learn about a not-fun topic.

Nuggets of Note - December 10, 2012

Christmas Girl from Chronically Vintage

Jessica over at Chronically Vintage has a delightful article about 25 Reasons to Smile this December.  Each reason is absolutely true and she features each reason with such wonderful vintage photographs.  I think I Pinned almost everything!  Her Flicker Favorites are great this week, too.

Book of Snowflakes; 1863

Letterology has a great post about 1863 Book of Snowflakes.  The illustrations are marvelous.

Gertie has a wonderful post about organizing her sewing room.  It has really inspired me to get my craft room in order.

Baby Peggy

Noir and Chick Flicks featured Baby Peggy, whose films were featured on TCM 12/3/2012.


Daytonian in Manhattan has a wonderful post about the Mrs Osborn Company building.  Another clothing great I'll have to research more.

306th Bomb Group

For the actor in me, Neatorama tries to find the origin of the phrase "break a leg".

Collectors Weekly has a great story about Bomber Jacket Art.  I just love the pinup and bomber art.

And who knew canoeing could be so risque?

Perm Machine; 1934

And a fun post about strange beauty practices of the past.  I have featured a few of these gizmos in my Weird Wednesday posts.  The most popular Weird Wednesday post is not a beauty post, but my post about the Kiddie Koup.

I had no idea some flappers could be so scheming.  The New York Times Review had a fascinating article about a flapper ponzi scheme.  The article also had a mini flapper dictionary at the end.

Mansion of Happiness Board Game

But then again, they ahead of their time.  It reminds me of a great article I read about the history of greedy board games, like Monopoly.  I adore vintage board games, so this post was right up my alley.

First Lady Grace Coolidge; 1923

And since December is basically cookie central in my home, this article about Girl Scout Cookie history seems timely.  I mostly give baked goods out as presents the past few years because of no job, but I love baking so it's good. I find it soothing.  If only I more room in my kitchen.

19th Century Doll House

I've always loved dolls and dollhouses, so I was really excited to see this article about a child's butcher shop dollhouse.  When I was in middle school, a project we had was to build a colonial model.  I was obsessed with Colonial Williamsburg, so I decided to build a model of its Bakery.  I still have parts of the Bakery.  I wish I would have taken better care of it.








  

Bea Lillie on Television

Bea Lillie:  "Television has grown up to be just summer stock in an iron lung."




[Source:  Point;  August 1954]






Ouch!  Beatrice Lillie (May 29, 1894 – January 20, 1989) is known as being an amazing talent.  She shined on stage. She is an amazing woman and entertained the troops during WWII - even on the day she found out that her only son had perished in action.  Best known for her Tony Award winning 1953 revue An Evening with Beatrice Lillie.  She retired from the stage due to Alzheimer's.

Weird Wednesday - Sticking it to the Fuhrer

I found this fun ad on the back of my December 5-11, 1942 issue of Movie Radio Guide. I thought it would be a perfect fit for Weird Wednesday.

How did they know what I've always wanted to do?

Fantastic! It lasts a lifetime and even has his Prussian boots.

I looked all over the place for photos and video of FDR and the pin cushion, but was unsuccessful. It's got to be out there somewhere, but I haven't been able to find any today.

Definitely think Hitler would be hollering, but this women looks awfully pained having to stick him in the bum.

It's a club? And 10 days to decide? And a special 3 for $3.49? How could you not buy one?

Can you believe Hitler wouldn't endorse such an item? It's like he doesn't think it's funny that someone would stick pins in his bum. Obviously he needed a sense of humor

If you have one of these gems lying around your house today or see one at a yard sale, they go for $100 - $450. Not bad for a novelty pin cushion!

Weird Wednesday - Can Toilet Paper Stop Germs?

It never would occur to me that toilet paper could double as a surgical mask, but I suppose in wartime you had to do what you had to do. I'm not quite sure if this remedy worked but since I've always been a Charmin girl, I guess I'll never know.

Foreign Beauties #2 - Karen Verne

""How do you do?" from Sweden, we have this blond vision, Karen Verne, definitely a Hollywood prospect." (Film Fun, 1941)

I couldn't find anything about a Karen Verne from Sweden. The only actress I found named Karen Verne, was born in Berlin, Germany and married to Peter Lorre at one point in time. Many sources say that Karen's German heritage was disguised because of her debut during World War II. Perhaps they said she was from Sweden.

Film Title Quiz 6

"Get Up, Sweetheart"

Some Clues (If You Need Help)

• It stars the two pictured stars
• It is apparently Claudette Colbert's favorite film the she was in (imdb)
• It's from 1940

Vivien Leigh is Gone With The Wind to England

One never knows what Movietown will do to a girl - Lady Hamilton becomes That Hamilton Woman. And as far as the star of the picture, Vivien Leigh, is concerned in Hollywood, she has gone with the wind, and returned to her native England for war work.

That Hamilton Woman will be on TCM September 21, 2010 at 9:45 pm est in conjunction with Vivien Leigh as Star of the Month.

Who Knew a Cornflower Could Cause So Much Trouble?

The lowly cornflower, known to many who still have old fashioned gardens as bachelor buttons, caused more commotion than a mouse in a herd of elephants recently on the set of Miss Wheelwright Discovers America (Million Dollar Baby - 1941). In fact they suspended production, and as far as the director was concerned for good reason. He had lived in Naziland during the days when a cornflower in the lapels of German citizens symbolized that the wearers had made their contributions to the Nazi party.

Although the script called for them, the director halted work until it was changed, and the posies removed from the lapels of Ronald Reagan and Jeffrey Lynn, two 100% Americans. Whether the boys will wear sunflowers in the scene, or be undecorated when the picture is released, remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain, they will be free from any shadow of suspicion insofar as Nazi symbols are concerned. Which is mighty important right now.