(Note: This is the first in a new series comparing stars and celebs of yesteryear with the folks who end up famous today.)
Many celebrities today are famous simply for being grossly rich, or for allowing every single second of their "real" life be filmed for television. Those who are famous for appearing in film or television shows seemto suffer less from talent than from excessive attractiveness (yes, there is a limit), scandals, or an arrest record. They Had Stars Then is intended to take you back to the days when celebrities were famous for doing something that was worth something and stars at least attempted to display some iota of talent or ability.
I'm not going to bore you with a recitation of Jean Harlow's life and career. There are too many excellent, well-researched (and some NOT so) books and documentaries about her for me to rehash it all here. There are only a few matters I want to mention when comparing Jean with today's Hollywood bombshells.
Jean was, of course, the first Blonde Bombshell to strike out of Hollywood and into the consciousness of the American people and, eventually, the world at large. There had been gorgeous blonde actresses in films before, but something about Jean struck a chord.
Jean was kind-hearted as well, friendly with co-stars and with the members of the crews on her films. She most often played characters who seemed approachable, spirited, amiable...and she was all of those things herself. Many celebrities today are famous for being rich or attractive, but have little or no talent. Jean, like so many of her peers in Old Hollywood, was famous for her films
A bit of trivia: Jean lived in Hollywood next door to Lee Duncan, the man who owned and trained many of the dogs who played Rin Tin Tin over the years. She was a "friend" of the original Rin, going over to play with him and help walk him. When the first Rin died, he was on the front lawn of his owner's home, cradled in Jean's arms.
People act amazed at Kim Kardashian's 20+ carat engagement ring...but Jean received a sapphire ring from William Powell that, according to many varied reports, was anywhere from 50 to 150 carats (most say it was in the 90-95 range). And that was basically a FRIENDSHIP RING! (Though William and Jean had a somewhat intimate relationship, Powell was reluctant to agree to marriage, as he and Jean both had a number of failed marriages behind them.
Above all else, Jean was one of the originals of a cult-Godhead that has haunted the modern entertainment industry for decades: the gorgeous star who died too young, at or near the very height of fame (see James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, any of the Rock'n'Roll 27 Club) and whose legend endures for generations after.
Many celebrities today are famous simply for being grossly rich, or for allowing every single second of their "real" life be filmed for television. Those who are famous for appearing in film or television shows seemto suffer less from talent than from excessive attractiveness (yes, there is a limit), scandals, or an arrest record. They Had Stars Then is intended to take you back to the days when celebrities were famous for doing something that was worth something and stars at least attempted to display some iota of talent or ability.
I'm not going to bore you with a recitation of Jean Harlow's life and career. There are too many excellent, well-researched (and some NOT so) books and documentaries about her for me to rehash it all here. There are only a few matters I want to mention when comparing Jean with today's Hollywood bombshells.
Jean was, of course, the first Blonde Bombshell to strike out of Hollywood and into the consciousness of the American people and, eventually, the world at large. There had been gorgeous blonde actresses in films before, but something about Jean struck a chord.
Jean was kind-hearted as well, friendly with co-stars and with the members of the crews on her films. She most often played characters who seemed approachable, spirited, amiable...and she was all of those things herself. Many celebrities today are famous for being rich or attractive, but have little or no talent. Jean, like so many of her peers in Old Hollywood, was famous for her films
A bit of trivia: Jean lived in Hollywood next door to Lee Duncan, the man who owned and trained many of the dogs who played Rin Tin Tin over the years. She was a "friend" of the original Rin, going over to play with him and help walk him. When the first Rin died, he was on the front lawn of his owner's home, cradled in Jean's arms.
People act amazed at Kim Kardashian's 20+ carat engagement ring...but Jean received a sapphire ring from William Powell that, according to many varied reports, was anywhere from 50 to 150 carats (most say it was in the 90-95 range). And that was basically a FRIENDSHIP RING! (Though William and Jean had a somewhat intimate relationship, Powell was reluctant to agree to marriage, as he and Jean both had a number of failed marriages behind them.
Above all else, Jean was one of the originals of a cult-Godhead that has haunted the modern entertainment industry for decades: the gorgeous star who died too young, at or near the very height of fame (see James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, any of the Rock'n'Roll 27 Club) and whose legend endures for generations after.
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| One of the last known photos of Jean Harlow, taken on the set of her final film, "Saratoga" |
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