20's were marked by a lot of drastic changes in the style of women, the discovery of insulin and penicillin, prohibition, to new and previously unseen dance moves that were worshiped – Charleston. It was also a time of great change within movies, music and media. What made biggest impact on me from this period was the style of women, that encouraged them to live rapidly, dress boldly and live in the same manner - the age of jazz, whiskey and flapper girls. Despite Great depression, this time was marked by glamor, unique and bold style in which today the artists and creators still find tremendous inspiration. Here are my favorite style icons of 20’s:
Zelda Fitzgerald
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (July 24, 1900 – March 10, 1948), born Zelda Sayre in Montgomery, Alabama, was an American novelist, dancer, painter and the wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. She was an icon of the 1920’s — dubbed by her husband "the first American Flapper". After the success of his first novel, This Side of Paradise (1920), the Fitzgerald’s became celebrities. Zelda and Scott had become icons of youth and success of the Jazz Age.
Their marriage had a lot of ups and downs. As a major inspiration and muse for the novels of her husband, she lived constantly in his shadow while trying to express herself through different arts - she was a ballet dancer, writer and painter (Zelda's mother had much of the art burned because she disliked it). After long and exhausting dance trainings (8 hours per day) and overpressure, she damaged her health, and prompted her first mental breakdown, diagnosed as "nervous exhaustion". In 1930. Zelda was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.
By August 1943 she returned to the Highland Hospital. She worked on her novel while checking in and out of the hospital. She never really got better and never finished the novel. On the night of March 10, 1948, a fire broke out in the hospital kitchen. Zelda was locked into a room, awaiting electroshock therapy. The fire moved through the dumbwaiter shaft, spreading onto every floor. The fire escapes were wooden, and caught fire as well. Nine women, including Zelda, died.
Louise Brooks
Mary Louise Brooks (1906 - 1985).Best known by her stage name Louise Brooks, was an American dancer, model, showgirl and actress of the silent movie era (popularized bobbed haircut). Brooks is best known for her roles in the next two movies: “Pandora's Box” (1929) and “Diary of a lost girl” (1929). She starred in seventeen silent movies and later wrote a memoir titled “Lulu in Hollywood”.
Helen Kane
Helen Kane (1904 - 1966) was an American singer, whose trademark was the "boop-boop-a-dup" and the song "I wanna be loved by you". Fleischer studios animator took Kane (along with Clara Bow) for the study of his most famous creations, Betty Boop.
Cyndi Lauper processed her song "He's so unusual" on her debut album (1983).
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow (1905 - 1965). Was an American actress and sex symbol who gained fame in the silent movie era of the 1920s. Bow was known for sexual magnetism, lively and cheerful character, as well as the nickname "The It girl", where "It" meant sex appeal. It became known as the epitome of flapper girls.
She was also one of the models for famous Betty Boop creation.
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo (1905 - 1990) was an American actress of Swedish descent, and one of the biggest movie stars of the 20th century. With her third film “Flesh and the devil" (1926) , Garbo became so popular that her first sound movie , “Anna Christie” , enticed the public with the catch-phrase "Garbo talks!" . This movie brought her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress and the status of international star. Other well-known movies in which she played are “Grand Hotel”, “Anna Karenina”, “Camille”, “Ninotchka”. After the failure of the movie “Woman with two faces”, Greta withdrew from the movies - she was 36 years old. At the end of the career, she had four Oscar nominations. The American Film Institute has ranked among the top five actresses of the twentieth century.
Greta never married, had no children and lived alone. Love affair she had with a number of actresses were an open secret. Garbo skillfully avoided interviews and public appearances, until her death in 1990. They created a sort of myth of herself as one of the most mysterious public figures. It was mysterious and uncommunicative, and no wonder she gave one of the shortest interview in history. When a reporter began the conversation by saying“I wonder …" - Garbo cut in with, "Why wonder?", and stalked off.
Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong (1905 - 1961). Was an American actress of Chinese descent, who is regarded as the first Chinese-American movie star, and the first Asian American woman who gained international status. During her long career she has performed in film, television, radio and the stage.
Mary Pickford
(1893. - 1979.)
Movie and theater actress ,she became very popular and has a reputation of "America's sweetheart".
She is a watershed figure in the history of modern celebrity and, as one of silent film's most important performers and producers, her contract demands were central to shaping the Hollywood industry. In consideration of her contributions to American cinema, the American Film Institute named Pickford 24th among the greatest female stars of all time.
Barbara La Marr
(1896 - 1926)
She was American movie actress and scenarist from the silent movies era. After she went to New York with her second husband, she began to write movie scenarios and thus formed acquaintances, that will along with her attractive appearing, enable access to high cream of society and role-plays in several prestigious movie productions and great blockbusters at the beginning of 1920’s. She was recognized as “The Girl Who Is Too Beautiful”, along with her worldwide fame. Married five times and gave birth to a son, that was later adopt by her fellow actress ZaSu Pitts. Her carrier was stopped by tuberculosis, from which she died.
Gilda Gray
Gilda Gray (1901 - 1959), She was American dancer and actress born in Poland, most famous by invention of popular dance named “shimmy”. She performed it in several silent movies, including a lead role-play in movie “Aloma of the south seas” witch presented one of the biggest Hollywood hits of silent era.
Josephine Baker
(1906 — 1975)
African-American entertainer, singer and dancer. Born in Saint louis – she became French citizen in 1937. As a twelve year old, she runaway from school and lived on the streets, where she danced. Later, she began to dance with one dance group and was remember by “banana” dance, when her whole body was covered up in bananas. She was also successful at singing, and performed many times in Parisian Olympia. She was bisexual, and amongst her many relations was one with Mexican painter Frida Calo. She gave resistance during the second world war and was humanitarian who adopted many children. She made tremendous impact on upcoming generations of singers, like Shirley Besy, who mentioned her as great inspiration.
Claudette Colbert
( 1903.–1996.)
American movie actress, born in Saint-Mandeu (France) and raised in New York. Her carrier began to rise in 1920s, by her roles in Broadway. After the initial wave of sound movies she transferred to Hollywood, and as a freelancer (prior to her contract for Paramount Pictures), she was one of the most payed movie actress of her time. Colbert became synonym for “screwball” comedies, “It happened one night” (1934) is the best example .She was American movie actress, born in Saint-Mandeu (France) and raised in New York. Her carrier began to rise in 1920s, by her roles in Broadway. After the initial wave of sound movies she transferred to Hollywood, and as a freelancer (prior to her contract for Paramount Pictures), she was one of the most payed movie actress of her time.. She was also two times nominated for drama roles – in movies “Private Worlds” (1935) and “Since you went away” (1944).
In the 1950’s her carrier began to weaken, and her last role was in recorded in 1961 and occasionally performing on television. Her last resort was Barbados.
Gloria Swanson
(1899 - 1983)
American theater and film actress. The most successful films she made during the silent era, and her popularity is decreasing the advent of sound. She is best known for his role as Norm Dezmont, failed actress in the film Sunset Boulevard (1950).
Hazel Forbes
(1910 – 1980)
American dancer and actress from Gettysburg,South Dakota She was blond and petite. Her true surname was Froidevaux.
Forbes was 16 when she was chosen Miss United States in the Paris International Beauty Pageant of 1926.
She was hired from Florenz Ziegfeld and his Ziegfeld Follies by Broadway theatre.
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