On September 3, 1951, Time rather oddly asked the question "Whatever become of 'It'?" directly below a tinted photograph of Miss Ava Gardner. I would say that she's the answer, with all due apologies to Miss Bow, in spades.
This was what a movie star looked like, 61 years ago. Think of that, the next time you see Kristen Stewart, or worse (is there?).
Theda Bara was the vamp.
ReplyDeleteClara Bow was the "it" girl.
Or did you mean Cousin Itt?
My God! What was I thinking? Fixed, immediately, with many thanks, Caro.
DeleteThat's what I get, I suppose, for blogging on Nyquil...
You are so right about movie stars then and now. Even the few that have that movie star aura like Charlize Theron are all to happy to make sure we know they are just plain folks. Who wants that? Give me the mystery and a bit of remoteness. Like Joan Crawford said "If you want to see the girl next door go next door, I'm a Movie Star!"
ReplyDeleteKristen Stewart? Charlize Theron? Keira Knightley? Lindsay Lohan? Not one of them worthy of the photographic attentions of Hurrell, Richee or Hoyningen-Heune... Jx
ReplyDeleteOh, for the days when movie stars were gods and goddesses who graced us, from afar, with shimmers of their heavenly light.
ReplyDeleteThese days they appear, more often than not, to be sadly human, quite common, and proud of their average status (however contrived).
I'm with Joan Crawford.
AND she had corgis!
ReplyDeleteAll the more reason to be more Ava!
DeleteBut so did Mickey Rooney, Norma.
DeleteOh, I think the combined beneficence of Ava Gardner and a Certain Other Lady who's known for her corgis (and dear Norma as well, of course) more than defeats the negative Rooney karma.
Delete