January 10, 2011

Vintage 365: Dazzling video of a 1932 fashion show featuring the WAMPAS Baby Stars

Day 10 of Vintage 365

 



There is a number of things to love about this fantastic video clip of a 1930s fashion show that comes via one of Youtube's reigning queens of all things spectacularly vintage, Glamourdaze. First up, there's the sea of elegance that flows through the eveningwear fashions these beauties are sporting, followed by their impeccable 30s hairstyles (oh how I love those tight curls and rippling waves!), their chic make-up that would surely have charmed the fedora off any fellow of the day, and perhaps above all, the fact that these lovely ladies here were all part of the WAMPAS Baby Stars promotional campaign.

This project was spearheaded by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers and involved selecting (and promoting) a different baker's dozen of hopeful young women that were trying to make it big in movie industry every year between 1922 and 1934 (if you’re interested in learning more about these women, I recommend checking out Roy Liberman’s engaging book “The WAMPAS Baby Star: A Biographical Dictionary”).

Each year the group of thirteen women was officially introduced (to the public) at a big party that was dubbed "The Frolic",  and which was widely covered by the media of the day. The batch featured in this clip were the ladies of 1932 and included such (soon to be household) names as Gloria Stuart and (Fred Astaire's dancing partner) Ginger Rogers. Though over the years, other highly known stars emerged from the selections as well, including Clara Bow, Fay Wrap, Dolores del Rio, Loretta Young, and Joan Crawford.

It's fascinating to look at these gorgeous and talented women now nearly eighty years later and know that while not all of them ended up making it big, amongst this group alone two of the most famous actresses of the 30s and 40s emerged. While not all thirteen of these WAMPAS Baby Stars went on to achieve lasting Hollywood fame, I think that each of them was a star - and certainly a vintage fashionista - in their own sparkling right, don’t you?

5 comments:

  1. This is adorable Jessica honey. How I've missed you so! Hope you are doing well and had a fabulous weekend. Kori xoxo

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  2. oh, how swoony! 1933 is my favourite year in fashion history of all, and I adore Glamour Daze's videos!

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  3. Great post! For some reason, I find the WAMPAS intriguing. Who made it and who didn't. It's totally fascinating. And another fun book to read.

    Best Wishes,
    Amanda

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  4. hi hun, hope you are feeling well and getting on top of your health difficulties. You're too young for those kind of problems. Thank you so much for your sweet words and for blogging about GlamourDaze. Adore your blog [ though I'm very lazy with comments]. Have a wonderful year.x

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  5. What a fun video!! I adore "It Had to Be You." In fact, I think I have it 3 times on my blog's playlist---Artie Shaw, instrumental only; Frank Sinatra; and Harry Connick, Jr. So, that lovely song added to my enjoyment of the video.

    My husband totally adores Ginger Rogers (one of our dogs is named Ginger in her honor!). While he loves her always, he especially loves her in the early 30's.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Patti

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