As part of our fashion portrait theme, here is a very early shot of Harlow modeling a satin gown and large scarf from September 1928. Taken just months before signing on to a five-year contract with Hal Roach, this young model was using her married name of Harlean McGrew II on official documents. Harlow … Continue reading Fashion Portraits: Harlean McGrew AKA Jean Harlow for the Herald-Express
Author: Sophia D'Aurelio
Writer and film historian
Fashion Portraits: Harlow gets dressed by I. Magnin & Co, 1934
A magnificent Jean Harlow photographed by Clarence Sinclair Bull for a fashion spread, 1934. A few photos from this session appear in the August 1934 issue of Photoplay, and this particular dress is described in it: "Dinner time finds Jean dining out, so she wears a black and white polka dotted gown with a slight … Continue reading Fashion Portraits: Harlow gets dressed by I. Magnin & Co, 1934
Fashion Portraits: Jean Harlow by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1932
A new week calls for a new theme and I’ve decided on fashion portraits. I do themes on my instagram weekly solely to keep track of what I'm posting. However, it's well known at this point my posts get pretty long and with more info than Instagram can handle. I'll be crossposting longer ones here … Continue reading Fashion Portraits: Jean Harlow by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1932
1933: Jean Harlow and William Haggin Perry
The year 1933 was a big one for Jean Harlow; riddled with blockbuster films, social outings, and quite a few dates. After Harlow's mourning period for Paul Bern ended in March, she kept the company of a few different men including young Jesse Lasky, John Arledge (who bore a striking resemblance to Charles McGrew), and … Continue reading 1933: Jean Harlow and William Haggin Perry
Jean Harlow in the 1920s: Kansas City and Camp Cha-Ton-Ka, 1925-1926
After being exposed to the glamorous and thriving environment of Los Angeles, Harlean's return to Kansas City in March 1925 must have seemed lackluster. Perturbed by his daughter and concerned for his granddaughter, Skip Harlow decided the two needed something to keep them apart as Harlean turned fourteen. That something was a French convent; and … Continue reading Jean Harlow in the 1920s: Kansas City and Camp Cha-Ton-Ka, 1925-1926
Jean Harlow in the 1920s: The Hollywood School for Girls, 1923-1924
This blog post is part of the current weekly theme on Harlow Heaven's social media; Jean Harlow in the 1920s. 1922 would be Harlean’s last year in Kansas City, at least for a little while. On September 29th, Jean Carpenter obtained a divorce from her husband and sole custody of Harlean. Complete with a little … Continue reading Jean Harlow in the 1920s: The Hollywood School for Girls, 1923-1924
A Simple Portrait of Jean Harlow: Inside and Out
I’ve been discovering a lot of previously overlooked shots that are quickly becoming favorites; this one taken by Ted Allan for Suzy (1936) is so impossibly beautiful. The tenderness of her face and the composition of the image remind me almost of a pre-Raphaelite beauty. Another thing that makes this image special is she … Continue reading A Simple Portrait of Jean Harlow: Inside and Out
The Story Of RIFFRAFF (1936)
Riffraff (1936) was my first Jean Harlow movie. Strange that a mediocre box office bomb started my love for her. Most fans start off with Hell's Angels (1930), which created Harlow, or one of her 1932 MGM blockbusters; not in my case. I can't recall how that came to be, but I remember being absolutely … Continue reading The Story Of RIFFRAFF (1936)
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the official blog incarnate of Harlow Heaven, a social media project for Jean Harlow running since May 2017. My posts have been steadily outgrowing the character limit, and I figured it was high time to give my Jean research an official home, beyond the menial scope of Instagram and Twitter. It's … Continue reading Welcome!
Harlow Heaven 