One of my favorite topics on the subject of fashion history are the quaint little trendy accessories that dot every era; some stuck it out and eventually matured into timeless classics, like the Sixties miniskirt; some are entirely off-kilter today, such as the 'jingle garter' of the Twenties. Old Hollywood publicity portraits are a great … Continue reading Harlow and Bygone Fashion Trends: The Evening Hood
Author: Sophia D'Aurelio Adair
Writer, researcher, and film historian focusing especially on the silent/pre-Code eras
A real “Double Wedding”!
August 31, 1936: Jean Harlow and William Powell—lovers as well as costars—leave the set of Libeled Lady at MGM to attend the wedding of Powell’s lookalike double, Warren ‘Doc’ Dearborn, to Miss Edith Bresnahan. As you can tell, I’m very pleased with myself over the joke in the title; Doc was in that one, too. … Continue reading A real “Double Wedding”!
From My Collection: A Letter From Maydelle Jewell
Meant to share this letter from my collection written by one of Harlow’s secretaries, Maydelle Jewell, while the actress was recuperating from appendicitis in October 1933. Signed October 25, just five days before Harlow was released from Good Samaritan. Stamp close-up You don’t see Maydelle’s signature very often, as she was only briefly employed, so … Continue reading From My Collection: A Letter From Maydelle Jewell
Harlow’s Halo Hat
Posting this on the blog, as I’m finding myself increasingly fed up with the state of social media in 2023. Character limits and other restrictions aside, posting on Instagram or “X” to provide “content” gives me the heebie-jeebies, to put it lightly. I just like to share with people who have like interests—I’m not interested … Continue reading Harlow’s Halo Hat
Jean Harlow a Feminist!
To start: long time, no see. To put it lightly, I've been through the wringer a lot over the past year---health difficulties, death, and heavy work schedules aside, I had to set aside time to rest, grieve, and work on other un-Harlow-related projects that I've been tackling headlong. Days really aren't as long as they … Continue reading Jean Harlow a Feminist!
From My Collection: Jean Harlow by Clarence Sinclair Bull (1932)
From my collection: a rare bedside portrait of Jean Harlow taken by Clarence Sinclair Bull in her majestic Club View Drive bedroom, spring 1932. I’m a big fan of the incredibly Harlowesque fur-trimmed robe—is that ermine, or marabou? If my hunch is correct, I think this is from the same ‘32 Bull session (swipe) that … Continue reading From My Collection: Jean Harlow by Clarence Sinclair Bull (1932)
Harlow History: Bombshell
August 11, 1933: Jean Harlow models a phenomenal gold lamé costume in publicity for Bombshell (1933), crafted by Adrian for Lola Burns, the flighty, exuberant heroine of the same movie. The high in Los Angeles on this day was an apparent 92 degrees, which renders Harlow (and everyone else at the studio that day) a … Continue reading Harlow History: Bombshell
From My Collection: Harlow by William Fraker (1931)
From my collection: Jean Harlow poses on a streetcar in a Columbia publicity photo for Three Wise Girls (1932), taken in October of 1931 by William A. Fraker. I did a little digital cleanup (took off some dark spots, etc.) on this one, and I’m very happy with how clear this picture is in general. … Continue reading From My Collection: Harlow by William Fraker (1931)
MGM’s “Star Suites”
Jean Harlow photographed strolling outside the recently constructed Star Suites on the MGM lot during the production of Suzy, spring 1936. (Thread) I’ve posted these “candid” portraits before, but revisiting one of my favorite books gave me a new appreciation for them—realized this lovely picture of soon-to-be fellow platinum gal Lana Turner was taken in … Continue reading MGM’s “Star Suites”
From My Collection: Harlow by Hurrell (April 1937)
From my collection: an original press photo of Jean Harlow, from a portrait taken by George Hurrell in his Hollywood studio for Saratoga publicity, April 1937. One of the last professional portrait sittings with her before she crossed through the mortal plane. Snipe on verso from day of publication, the day after Harlow’s funeral, June … Continue reading From My Collection: Harlow by Hurrell (April 1937)
