Monday, February 23, 2009

Women and mirrors

Helen Twelvetrees (1908-1958)


Joan Blondell (1906-1979) Thank you, Kate Gabrielle!

Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968)

Ruth Hussey (1911-2005)

Mary Pickford (1892-1979)

Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

Lana Turner (1921-1995)

Gloria Swanson (1899-1983)

Gail Patrick and Edward Arnold (1911-1980 and 1890-1956)

Florine McKinney (1909-1975)


Betty Grable (1916-1973)

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Great pictures! I think the Mary Pickford one is my favorite, I love her pose!

Lolita of the Classics said...

Kate Gabrielle:
Yes, that on is so beautiful!
When I realized that many classic actresses seemed to like to have their photo taken in front of a mirror, I thought that I should collect some and post them here!
I love the Gail Patrick and the Eleanor Parker pictures too!

Anonymous said...

My those were some lovely shots.

Eleanor Parker is just divine and MM was just darling.

Lolita of the Classics said...

Graciebird:
Indeed, you're right!

© John Warwick Arden said...

Stumbled onto your site by accident. Hope you don't mind strangers.

These shots are gorgeous; I just can't quite place the breathtaking femme fatale in the black dress with the wine glass at the top of the page.

Lolita of the Classics said...

Mandingo:
You are very welcome!
Oh, how sweet of you! So I'm as femme fatale as my role model Louise Brooks, then?

© John Warwick Arden said...

Yes, I wasn't going to say it, as I think she is probably the most archetypal and recognisable image of feminine allure in the history of motion pictures- to those with taste. Any troglodyte can identify Marilyn Monroe or Marlene Dietrich in a line-up, but the true afficiandos tend to be a little more discerning when it comes to the iconic.

Your choice is- shall I say- more dignified, than the endless parade of Betty's Boop and Page flooding the market; in an online climate gagging with imitation and plagiarism, subtlety and imagination rule. And you...

Let me just stop here before I slide into the cynical and judgemental, which is not my intention. The internet is designed for the freedom of expression, and people can model themselves on anyone or anything they like- from Donald Duck to the Talking Arsehole in 'Naked Lunch'- and it is not my place to rain on their ever-loving parade.

Suffice it to say, your site has inspired me to chase up 'Pandora's Box', which has just been released in a tasty special edition in our country. And is that not the aim of any blog, in the final analysis, to give the bloggist free reign to express themselves and to inspire others??

Well done you; I won't say 'you rock', because to be candid, I detest that expression, but imagine right now I am using words to that effect.

Take care, stay safe, be well and keep the faith...

Lolita of the Classics said...

Mandingo:
That was might fine words, I have to say. My eyes are not entirely dry!

Oh, cynisism is only good. If it's not directed at me, of course!

Hmm... maybe I should see Pandora's Box, no that you say it. Have it on my computer, I love Brooks.

Thank you again, and be sure to come back!

© John Warwick Arden said...

I will.

It is late now, time to log off and find my bed; my one consolation is that you will be there, in my dreams, waiting for me. Can't wait...

Unknown said...

Hi! I just was browsing the Doctor Macro site for pictures to sketch, and I found these 2 great mirror images of Joan Blondell-- I thought you could add them to your women and mirrors post :)

Image 1

Image 2

Lolita of the Classics said...

Mandingo:
No comment...

Kate Gabrielle:
Very kind of you to share beautiful pics with me! They're up and runnin'! Thank you.

© John Warwick Arden said...

...Louise I meant, of course, not you! Let's be perfectly clear...

As forthright as I am, I have some sense of etiquette...

Lolita of the Classics said...

Mandingo:
That sounds a little more sensible!
Watch out for writing "you" on someones blog if your not adressing that person ;)

© John Warwick Arden said...

Blogging is interesting; it's not meant to be real, in my experience it is mostly play acting, assumed personas, and all that. My imagination is so vivid, at four in the morning after a few drinks it is like I am communicating with the spirit of some of these characters; they are nothing like actors today. And they do visit me in my dreams. It's beautiful.

I am reading a book at the moment about a medium who channels the spirits of dead silent film stars, and I was reminded as a child, I swear, I was visited by the spirit of Buster Keaton.

I didn't even know Buster Keaton, or realise who it was until eventually I saw him in a 'short' right before seeing my first ever feature, 'Wizard of Oz'. I would have freaked, but I truly assumed everyone saw these people; Chaplain, W.C. Fields, etc. To me, they were real.

Or were they? Or was it merely an escape- a means of coping with an abusive childhood?

As I grew up, this 'ability' disappeared- until now.

I get this feeling these people are coming back, just like when I was a kid. Either that, or I'm going mad.

Sites like yours, and- there is another amazing site covering old silent movie decor- all resonate for me. When in this space, I have noticed once or twice I get into it, and it is only when you inadvertantly cause offence playing with the mythology that you encounter a 'real' person, with 'real' feelings.

You can tend to forget there is a real human being driving these sites; that is part of the magic. But when you put a foot wrong, the myth evaporates pretty quickly.

Anyway, time for me to see what else is out there in the ether of the WWW. It's not like real life- it's more like diving into the collective unconscious; shared mythology. True, here, I do tend to make the same kinds of mistakes as I do out 'there', usually because I speak from the heart, and this is foolishness, I know; but by God! The joys and treasures to be found here!

I never thought I'd say it, but I think I prefer it here!!

Feel free to delete these when I go...I learned what I came here to learn, and it is time for me to move on. Boris Karloff is sitting here to the right of the comment box on your page, and I might just as well be speaking to him.

Keep Louise alive, whomever you are; whether her spirit incarnate, or merely 'playing her'...