Late 1930s Movie Ads from Exhibitor's Guides

I run the Pre-Code Movies page on Facebook and I have tons of magazine scans and digitally saved photos from that era to keep the page going! I also have lots of scans from 1935-1939 (actually, into 1962, but for the sake of this post 1935-1939!) Here are a few bits of gorgeous eye candies I have found in exhibitor's newspapers such as Film Daily. Enjoy.

She Couldn't Take It (1935)

Front Page Woman (1935)

Dark Angel (1935)

Born To Dance (1936)

Carole Lombard (1936)

First A Girl (1936)

Follow The Fleet (1936)

His Brother's Wife (1936)

Ladies In Love (1936)

Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

You're A Sweetheart (1937)

It's Love I'm After (1937)

Imperial Pictures (1937)

Night Must Fall (1937)

Danielle Darrieux (1938)

Girls On Probation (1938)

Gold Diggers In Paris (1938)

Vivacious Lady (1938)

Ann Sheridan (1939)

Let Us Live (1939)

Paramount (1939)

The Women (1939)

Best and Worst Vintage Clothing Years (Mainstream Clothing)

I recently roused everyone on my FB up when I asked what was your favourite single year for vintage clothing and your least favourite single year for clothing. Miss Lisa Freemont Street liked the idea so much she asked the same on her FB page and blog. She chose 1956 for the best and 1981 as the worst. My picks were 1932 as the best and 1949 for the worst. A very popular answer for favourite year was 1939. The most popular answers I got for worst was any of the later 1940s years from 1947-1949.

1932 in all it's fashion glory! I love the lines. I *love* long, slim skirts with a bell shape at the bottom. I think this shape of skirt flatters my figure the most. I love the creative use of fabrics and patterns and the very feminine use to bows, ties, and buttons to make the garment stand out. I also love that 1920s drapey-ness is still evident, but art deco embellishments are beginning to take over. Gah! Could swoon 1932 all day long...

1939 was a popular choice amongst my FB friends. I can't blame them. When I sewed I almost exclusively made dresses from the 1937-1941 time period.

My FB friends almost universally did not like the late 1940s. 1949 was a year most people chose as "the worst." It was described as "frumpy", "bad lines", and "square dance dresses" by those on my FB. 1949 is my choice also. I don't like the very high necklines with ruffles and bowties and I think most of the sleeves during this time period were unflattering.

Currently on FB I am posting swimwear from 1897 to 1993. While the 1930s is my favourite decade for dresses, I have to admit I am underwhelmed by most 1930s swimwear. I don't like the lines and find them to have mostly uncreative designs. They remind me of a wool mini-dress...lol.

My favourite decade for swimwear is the 1950s, HANDS DOWN! Look at these lovelies from 1954! They are feminine, creative, flattering, and hug in all the right places. The whole "pin up" look is one I admire. It's hard to be "pinup" in a 30s swimsuit.

So, what are your most and least favourites?

The Badass 28

In my late-night Internet travels last night I kept coming across this photo with the explanation "Does anyone know the story behind this?" I'm sure a majority of the people know it's photoshop, but this is the source and the story behind it if you ever wondered....

The "Badass 28" are actually 1928 WAMPAS Baby Stars in a promotional photo. This is only 8 of the 13, which included Lupe Velez! In the photo above I can definitely identify Gwen Lee (W), Molly O'Day (first A), Sue Carol (P), and Audrey Ferris (28). Here are more photos of the ladies:

And each lady individually....

Flora Bramley

Alice Day

Ann Christy

Audrey Ferris

Dorothy Gulliver

Gwen Lee

June Collyer

Lina Basquette

Lupe Velez

Molly O'Day

Ruth Taylor

Sally Eilers

Sue Carol

There you have it. Not as "badass" as it seems. I have no clue who photoshopped it, though. Lol.

Asphalt (1929)

I watched the German silent film ASPHALT last night and I gotta say -- Betty Amann was like nothing I've ever seen on screen. NOTHING.

She was the single embodiment of early Joan Crawford, Clara Bow, and Louise Brooks. Why Betty did not play Lulu instead for the dreadful Louise Brooks is beyond me. She was so striking I could not take my eyes off her.

The film is actually pretty silly. There's far too much melodrama for the situations. And it's somewhat annoying when Betty's character pleads Gustav Frolich's character to be with her and when he finally proposes marriage she explodes with anger and tries to blow him off. The characters just seem to get mad for no reason and it's over the top. Other than that, the actors were good and the cinematography was good and VERY GERMAN! Great use of shadows, silhouettes, and camera angles.

But Betty Amann! Anyone can fall for her. Although she had some Louise Brooks-esque qualities, Betty could act. But she did not over-do it like Clara Bow tended to do sometimes. Betty was like a perfect medium. She was very expressive, yet natural. She looked much like Joan, Clara, and Louise all in one person. She was mesmerizing.

You can watch ASPHALT here!

Pretty Dresses

I'm sorry, I don't know where some of these came from (a few are from Etsy) as I got most of them from FB. If they are from your shop/website, please let me know and I will be more than happy to link!!

My great-great grandmother's dress