The Magic of Old Hollywood

Lusha Nelson, “Katherine Hepburn” (1933), gelatin silver print 

Roman Holiday (dir. by William Wyler, 1953).

I only had radio growing up, so I loved going to the movies. I always had a thing for a fairy-tale ending. - Debbie Reynolds

One of the great things to pretend is that you’re not only alright, you’re in great shape. Now to have that come true - I’ve actually gone on stage depressed and that’s worked its magic on me, ‘cause if I can convince you that I’m alright, then maybe I can convince me.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963

dir. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly

Carole Lombard photographed by Robert Coburn, 1941.

A bevy of lingerie models (and Joan Crawford) in Our Blushing Brides (1930).

Paul Newman, 1958

Paul Newman  💘 Joanne Woodward

In November 1957, shortly before her marriage to Mickey Hargitay, Mansfield bought a 40-room Mediterranean-style mansion formerly owned by Rudy Vallée at 10100 Sunset Boulevard in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles Much of the investment to buy the house came from the $81,340 ($685,318 in 2016 dollars) she inherited from her maternal grandfather Elmer Palmer. Mansfield had the house painted pink, with cupids surrounded by pink fluorescent lights, pink furs in the bathrooms, a pink heart-shaped bathtub, and a fountain spurting pink champagne, and then dubbed it the “Pink Palace”. Hargitay, a plumber and carpenter before getting into bodybuilding, built a pink heart-shaped swimming pool. Mansfield decorated the Pink Palace by writing to furniture and building suppliers requesting free samples. She received over $150,000 ($1,263,803 in 2016 dollars) in free merchandise, paying only $76,000 ($640,327 in 2016 dollars) for the mansion itself. It was still a large sum, when the average cost of a house at the time was under $7,500 ($63,190 in 2016 dollars). The Pink Palace was sold and its subsequent owners have included Ringo Starr, Cass Elliot and Engelbert Humperdinck. In 2002, Humperdinck sold it to developers, and the house was demolished in November of that year. (x)

Joan Crawford for Rain, 1932

City Lights (1931)

Constance Bennett in Three Faces East (1930)