Golden Age of Hollywood Book Club discussion

Jill wrote: "I love hats and am sad that they have fallen out of style....well, at least those that weren't so extravagant. Women in those periods didn't leave the house without a hat and gloves And those cloch..."

I just adore the style of the 40s. So feminine and put together.

So many of the suits worn by women were very stylish, although I must admit that their pencil slim skirts could be a problem, such as in the great scene from 'His Girl Friday' when Hildy hitches up her skirt to chase the snitch.

I didn't like some of those clothes with huge shoulder pads (Joan Crawford comes to mind) but otherwise the styles were great.

I agree about the shoulder pads. Strangely enough, shoulder pads made a comeback when I was younger because I remember cutting them out of my clothes because they were so uncomfortable.

This may not be the right thread but I was thinking about how movie/stage names have become less popular as opposed to using the actors real names. Archie Leach, Norma Jean Baker, Marion Michael Morrison are no more. I guess when the studios were controlling things, it was in their interest to have 'star' names on their roster, but now it's talent that counts or is it? I know there are some actors who change their names, but who makes that decision--the actors themselves? What's in a name anyway? Would Maurice Micklewhite be as famous as Michael Caine?

Betsy wrote: "This may not be the right thread but I was thinking about how movie/stage names have become less popular as opposed to using the actors real names. Archie Leach, Norma Jean Baker, Marion Michael Mo..."

I suppose that depends on why the name was changed in the first place. No longer are actors forced to pick another name because theirs sounds too ethnic. But sometimes there are other good reasons, such as another actor with the same name, so you need to pick another one. Its also a great opportunity to reinvent yourself, something I think actors are keen to do.

Fun fact: Katy Perry's real name is Kate Hudson. When she was still a Bible thumper, she made a CD under that name. OK, I am sliding well off subject.

Stewart Granger's name was James Stewart, so he had to change it. But the greatest and most obvious name change was that of Cyd Charisse whose real name was Tula Finkleah.I would agree, Tara, that it gave the actor a chance to reinvent themselves and some names just weren't reflective of the image they were trying to present. Can you imagine John Wayne called Marion?

I can understand changing a name if it was the same as someone else. That reminds me of the Richard Barthelmess movie. The warden's name was William Holden, but obviously not the one from 'Stalag 17'. That's a good point about reinventing yourself.

Tula Finkleah? Wow!

I don't know if this is a quaint custom but it certainly unusual and only Fred Astaire could pull it off............wearing a necktie as a belt.

I didn't remember that. Was it in a specific film?

He did it in personal life but also in some films. He thought a belt was too constricting while dancing, so he opted for a necktie. You can see it in some of his color films and it might have been Silk Stockings where I first noticed it but I''m not sure.

Shoe shine boys.

That makes me think of Fred MacMurray in The Apartment' when he tosses a single coin to the shoe shine man who has come especially to his office to do his shoes. What generosity!

I recently watched all the Naked Gun movies and Police Squad episodes. Lt. Drevon always goes to the shoeshine guy for the inside scoop.

I remember seeing those seats in Grand Central where you'd get your shoes shined. Wonder if they're still there?

Doctors, patients, and nurses smoking in hospitals. Lots of other places that no one would ever smoke in today.

Let's hope not anyway. It does look strange to see them puffing away.

I can understand why smoking was so popular during WWII. After all, the government sent cigarettes to the soldiers, not realizing (hopefully) the future problems they were unleashing.

At least for women it took longer to be acceptable, but who can forget the famous scene in 'Now, Voyager'?

It was pretty acceptable if not downright sultry for women. Especially if they had one of those black holders. I think Ava and Lauren were pretty regularly seen smoking.

You're right about it being more for the 'sultry' female, but I think many regular females didn't want to be seen smoking in public although what they did in private was another matter.

Just joined the group and I need some advice.

I'm about to publish an alt history novel that begins in 1938 with the filming of The Wizard of Oz. I'd like to notify club members when the book is released so they can pick up a free copy.

Where would it be best to post this offer?

To get the most publicity for your book, you probably should post it on the Goodreads home page. That reaches a huge audience.

Remember those pointy bras that women word in the 1950s? Truly ridiculous looking and no one naturally looks like that. Always worn with a tight sweater. And it appears that an actress would still be wearing it when they had on their pajamas.

Those were atrocious. Really natural looking too. 😊

I haven't reviewed all the other posts on this thread for a while so I don't remember if we mentioned monocles. Talk about affected!!! But is was supposed to look dignified......it just looked silly to me although a few actors could pull it off to a point.........Eric von Stroheim comes to mind.

I always associate monocles with German officers or diplomatic personnel. They seem natural to them--like Colonel Klink.

I think that is why von Stroheim came to mind since he usually wore one when playing a German officer. For some reason it didn't seem as silly as some of them are. To be truthful, he was made to wear a monocle since he was so affected and even added the "von" to his name.

Pocket watches on a gold chain across the vest of a man's suit! I thought it was really rather attractive but you don't see it anymore. Some men still use pocket watches but they are in their pocket rather than visible. I have my grandfather's watch displayed in my home....but it is unfortunately missing one of the hands.

My grandfather collected them He had some valuable ones but somebody broke in and stole most of them.

I just saw another quaint custom in a film a while ago........fur muffs.
Remember those? I actually had one as a child and they did keep your hands warm but they are rather silly looking to the modern eye.

I don't remember ever having one, but I've seen them in movies. They don't look too practical, except for warm hands.

Cigarette holders. Cigarettes themselves are becoming a thing of the past.

Cigarettes still thrive in many areas, but at least restaurants and other facilities have taken a step forward for health.

In the films of the 30/40/50s, people smoked like furnaces and everyone had a cigarette case. Men lit women's cigarettes and there was, of course, the two cigarette scene from Now Voyager.

Here in Athens GA, indoor smoking was banned years ago. Atlanta still allowed it much later. I doubt they still do. Lots of people still smoke outside in Athens, but vapes are pretty popular.

'This Man Is Mine' reminded me of the habit women used to have of wearing gloves to be well dressed. White or black seemed to be the favored colors.

Hey, what do you know? Ralph Bellamy finally got the girl!

I wonder how he felt about that since he forever lost the girl!

I remember, when dressing up, wearing little white gloves when I was a kid.......and a hat. I love hats and wish that would come back in style. Plus they hide a bad haircut!!

I love most of the hats you see in the classic movies, except for a few (such as one of Laura's).

I know exactly what hat you are talking about in the Laura film. It was unusual, to say the least.

Those tight in the waist double breasted suits that men wore.Double breasted suit are fine but that particular cut is ugly. They always look too small. And the belted rain coats.......I really hate them and don't care if even Bogart wore one in a couple of films.

You mean trench coats? But that's practically the 'uniform' of the private detective. Have you noticed that both Paul Drake and Perry Mason wear them at times? 😊

And Paul wears his with the collar turned up. Ugh!

I kind of like them. Have you ever noticed how much rain there is in the episodes? No drought then evidently.

Yes and the opening scenes seem to always be taken at night.

Opposite of Batman. Unlike every other depiction of Gotham City, it's always a beautiful day in 60's Gotham. And, while most Gothams bear a strong resemblance to NYC, 60's Gotham is a lot more LA. There's even a surfer culture.

Fur!!....fur coats, fur collars, fur linings, fur stoles, fur cuffs,ad infinitum. Even people that were not wealthy characters in films, wore something with fur on it. Faux fur has now taken its place, thank heavens, but you don't even see much of that.

I agree that people are now aware more of the cruelties of the fur trade. Have you seen the 'Perry Mason', Jill, where Constance Ford is allergic to fur in one of her multiple personalities? Della commiserates with her, but I'll bet they wouldn't make that version today.

I did see that episode and you are right.....they would never make that one again.

Tie bars/clips. Those metal clip-on things that men wore to hold their tie in place. I wonder if they thought the tie was going to fly off if not held in place. There were also tie pins but you didn't see those as often.

Speaking of pins, those looong hat pins that women used to keep their hats on. Definitely lethal weapons. Some were quite adorned.