A peek at what was better known as “The Whitest House in the World,” a 1.3 acre achromatic wonderland built for Hollywood’s crowning “Platinum Blonde” in the early 1930s. You can buy it for $16.8M There are few sacred spaces left in Los Angeles in 2026, especially celebrity residences from the city’s now long-evaporated Golden … Continue reading Inside Jean Harlow’s “Platinum Palace”
Category: Harlow History
Harlow History at the Cocoanut Grove, June 1933
93 years ago today in Harlow History, June 3, 1933: Jean Harlow attends the West Coast opening of Abe Lyman’s orchestra at the Cocoanut Grove with new beau, cinematographer Harold Rosson, who was pointed out as Harlow’s date to the event by the LA Times on the 4th. “Hal Rosson’s apparently ‘making time’ with Jean … Continue reading Harlow History at the Cocoanut Grove, June 1933
Harlow at the Hotel St. Francis (December 27, 1932)
This wonderful, uncommon candid is courtesy of the Fang family photographic archive in the digital collections of the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley: Jean Harlow at the Hotel St. Francis in San Francisco on December 27, 1932, for a week’s post-Christmas shopping sojourn, according to the local Examiner. P.S. The wallpaper’s one thing, and the … Continue reading Harlow at the Hotel St. Francis (December 27, 1932)
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”!
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
Harlow History with Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt and Jean Harlow celebrating FDR’s fifty-fifth birthday inside the Wardman Park Hotel eighty-six years ago tonight, January 30, 1937. This was just one leg of the festivities, as previously mentioned; FDR’s fourth annual birthday ball was held in numerous hotels throughout D.C. and was being celebrated nationwide. Harlow pairs a white ermine wrap … Continue reading Harlow History with Eleanor Roosevelt
Harlow and Chuck McGrew
Thought about “Chuck” McGrew and his role in young Harlow’s life after noticing an upcoming date: September 21. It seems I have a disease called “remembering Jean Harlow milestones on their anniversaries”, so thought I’d put my thoughts on the blog while they’re relevant. They’re too wordy for social media and too brief for much … Continue reading Harlow and Chuck McGrew
Harlow History: March 29, 1934
88 years ago in Harlow History, March 29, 1934: Jean Harlow and Lewis Stone film an initial take of their shared scene in The Girl From Missouri. Shown is a dated MGM studio production still that has Jean Harlow’s character, Eadie Chapman, in frills and stockings from an earlier scene—in the final version that moviegoers … Continue reading Harlow History: March 29, 1934
Fashion Portraits: Jean Harlow by Herbert Mitchell, 1932
Been awhile since I’ve done a “Fashion Portraits” post, but I always enjoy doing them, so here’s another. In early 1932, Jean Harlow was deep in a personal appearance tour that would last from December 1931 to April 1932, when her cinematic efforts were rewarded with an MGM contract. I’ve written a bit about this … Continue reading Fashion Portraits: Jean Harlow by Herbert Mitchell, 1932
Harlow and Taylor Go To D.C., January 1937
Not quite today in Harlow History, but 85 years ago yesterday; didn’t quite realize the date on these in time. Better late than never. On January 26, 1937, Jean Harlow and her Personal Property costar Robert Taylor were photographed at the Pasadena Train Station getting ready to embark on the Santa Fe “Chief” for their … Continue reading Harlow and Taylor Go To D.C., January 1937
Harlow Heaven 