Wednesday, May 7, 2008

LEGEND'S


CHER
Andi is the best-- she gave me the idea for this post. She is also my blog mentor and I know she showed me how to do fast links but I spaced it before I turned the corner so she's got to give me written instructions. I now make lists of where I put my keys and glasses and then can't find the list. But I digress.


In the mid 70's I became interested in the "WHAT BECOMES A LEGEND MOST" ads. Probably because I was an avid 30, 40, & 50 movie buff. I started collecting them and in the beginning realized I would have a hard time just going through old magazine so------


I decided to call The Peter Rogers Agency -remember this was before the Internet-- anyway I just got the little phone number and called. A terrific assistant to Mr. Rogers took pity on me and sent me "tear sheets" of most of the ones I was missing. Many thanks to Blue-- yes, that was her name. Each year after that I would call and she would send me "tear sheets" of the current years "Legends". They put out a book about 1979 with little stories about the photo shoot up until that time.


I have three copies ---- Andi gets one tomorrow .

ANN-MARGARET







Richard Avedon was the photographer until 1972 when Bill King took over.



AUDREY HEPBURN


The first "Legends" were photographed in 1968






DEBBIE REYNOLDS


There are no elaborate costumes. A selection of coats is supplied that complements the sitter's personality for the photo shoot.


JESSICA TANDY

A famous actor once said this lady was the most beautiful actress at the Oscars


JOAN CRAWFORD


Peter Rogers says the lady above was loving and giving and a true professional

NATALIE WOOD

The Legend pictured above was photographed just the year before she died.


PAULETTE GODDARD

The coat - not the "Legend" was retouched in the above photo because the furrier didn't think the original photo "showed the coat to the best advantage"

GLORIA SWANSON


For remuneration most wait to have a coat custom designed for them.

Bette Davis chose one "off the rack.

SHIRLEY MACLAINE


Between 1968 and 1979 there were multiple "Legends" each year. Some years 5, some

years 3 and 1979 there were only two.

ROSELAND RUSSELL























MARTHA GRAHAM AND RUDOLF NUREYEU WITH MARGOT FONTAINE-- MR. NUREYEV WAS THE ARTIST WHO WOULD NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO HAVE THE PHOTO REPRINTED FOR THE BLACKGLAMA BOOK

The two pages above made a double facing page. When the book was published one of the "Legends" refused to give permission to have it reprinted in the book. I was able to get tear sheets of the pages and I'll probably be sued for putting them in my blog. Maybe not--everyone has died.

RITA HAYWORTH


Two hundred people called the Times the first day this ad was run to ask "who is it".




The ads fell out of favor with the backlash against wearing fur that started in the late 80's. They have shot a few over the last 10 years but I never see them in the magazines I subscribe to.


18 comments:

andi said...

That's it, Judy -- I am buying you a mink. This is a really great post and it is too bad that they were selling furs instead of iPods. I miss the allure of a real ad.

(Actually, would you believe I have a mink? I inherited it so it's a friendly-fire fur.)

Unknown said...

A very enjoyable post!

I was okay naming most of them....but the last couple I couldn't remember the names of.

Thanks for stopping by earlier;).

Lori said...

Well, I recognize Cher, Audrey Hepburn and Natalie Wood. I know the faces of lots of others but for some reason can't remember their names now. What a good idea for a post!

Wendy said...

Yup, I got Cher and Audrey Hepburn. That's about it!! Guess I"m not too good at this.

Well, I sure hope you don't get sued for posting pics to your blog. I also post pics (the last flower one and some Beltane ones) that weren't mine. Really - I think the person who actually took the pics and posted them on the net, should be happy we chose their pics!

Rue said...

Hi Judy :)

Thank you so much for coming by!

I remember these ads and I know everyone of those legends except the last 3. I have fur and I wear it. I don't think they have PETA in Ohio anyway LOL My aunt won't wear her coats unless it's a special occasion, but she lives in California. They are not kind to the fur wearer out there... yikes! ;)

rue

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What fantastic women in all those blackgama fur ads!

Thanks for "risking it" and putting them all here!

Hugs, Pat

Anonymous said...

Very cool posters. I like Blue's name. ;-)

Paz

andi said...

Hurray for hot-links and fur coats!

Jan said...

I remember most of them, but not the last few. Great post.

Gigi Ann said...

What a lovely stroll down memory lane!!

I got Cher, Debbie, Audrey, Natalie, Gloria Swanson, Joan, that's all I can remember, I will have to go look them over again. Oh! now where did I put the mouse;)

Gigi Ann said...

It's me again, I forgot Ann M. What a beautiful lady, how could I have forgotten her? Some of the rest I would need a reminder as to who they are. This was fun. I always like quizzes, as long as they are not difficult;)

無料提供!!情報商材・商品徹底分析!!(初心者向け) said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Wendy said...

Thanks for the update. Now I recognize most of them - it's much easier with the names. LOL!

Anonymous said...

Very nice additions. Enjoyable to see these posters.

Paz

Jan said...

Wow, the update really helps. I probably wouldn't have recognized GODDARD, GRAHAM OR NUREYEU WITH FONTAINE on my own.

Paul Pincus said...

What a fantastic post!

Martha Graham...incredible.

Cheers.

Rue said...

I still have no idea who that man is, so I'll have to google him. I remember the ad though. Thank you for letting me know you updated it :)

rue

Ming the Merciless said...

Joan Crawford looked surprisingly gorgeous in the ad. I say that because she always managed to look mean or evil in her other photos.

Gloria Swanson looked like a man. :-)

During first visit to NYC in 1996 (that was before I moved here permanently), I saw the Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard, based on the movie starring Gloria Swanson. I was so naive then that I got up and left during intermission, thinking the show was over. :-)