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.