In the Golden Age of movies the 1930's and 1940's produced class, style and elegance not seen today. Nowhere now does any actress resemble or match the likes of Carole Lombard or Jean Harlow. Movie-goers then saw the best movies, with the best stars in their most magnificent appearances.

I'm sure that if Marilyn Monroe were attired in t-shirts, blue jeans and tennis shoes {sneakers} in her movies she would not have become the star that she was. That's why MILLIONS of men loved to gaze at her: she was a female and LOOKED it. Austria's Hedy Lamarr was described as "spectacular" by a photographer who was in awe of her. Those women wore the most beautiful clothes!!! What actress wouldn't enjoy being a girl when she got to wear gorgeous long gowns? MGM's beauties were advantageous in wearing gowns by Gilbert Adrian, a genius in fashion design.

The concept of man-woman attraction seems to be lost or gone completely today. There is no glamour or elegance anymore. Most people today are dressed DOWN in basic costume: t-shirts, blue jeans and tennis shoes on a daily basis. Not many young people wear LEATHER shoes, or dress up as teens did long ago. Mickey Rooney wore suits and fedoras {who knows what a fedora is?} when he picked up Judy Garland at her house. In those MGM musicals Judy appeared wearing dresses, hats, gloves and high heels. Their interest then was "Let's put on a show!", and they did so with talent and enthusiasm.

The ultimate image of how a female should be and look is Ginger Rogers in RKO's "Top Hat", made in 1935 with Fred Astaire. We should all look that good! Ginger was the perfect image of femininity, elegance, style and grace. Remember the scene where Scarlett O'Hara first appeared in 1939's spectacle "Gone With the Wind"? England's Vivien Leigh looked her most beautiful as the engaging southern belle. Myrna Loy, Bonita Granville, Eleanor Powell, Rita Hayworth {Ginger Roger's cousin} Betty Grable and their peers always appeared at their absolute best.

The men were images of masculine attractiveness, with the likes of James Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable and others like them. In the 1930's and 1940's Adolphe Menjou was named one of the ten best-dressed men. Robert Taylor {"Nature Boy", as wife Barbara Stanwyck named him}, was popular in England as well as here. Handsome Bob was magnificent in suits, ties, and tuxedos. Chinese detective Charlie Chan, portrayed by Warner Oland and Sidney Toler, wore suits and tuxedos in their quests for #1 mystery. Thank you so much.

Glamour and style were also depicted in the lavish sets of moviedom. Look at the hotel in "Top Hat", the Astaire=Rogers sparkler. Homes and houses also were showplaces of style, with chandeliers, impressive staircases, knickknacks, beautiful furnishings, immaculate interiors, polished and clean.

It is indeed sad but true: in order to see anything that represents the best and finest in entertainment, one must look to the early days. To see how people SHOULD be, look at the stars of the Golden Age. They were really something to remember.

Nostalgically,

Stephanie

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