Historians Mary Mallory and Karie Bible have invited all their favorite old movie stars over to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July in their new book Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays.
The picture-packed volume has more than 200 images of old-time celebs ranging from forgotten silent-era actresses like Mae Busch to go go era stars Sally Field and Barbara Eden celebrating Independence Day with beach balls and firecrackers. Mallory is a freelance researcher and Bible leads tours of Hollywood Forever Cemetery and they have unearthed some real oddities. Back in the days when studios had actors under contract they could make all kinds of weird demands. Who knows how many hours poor Joan Crawford had to balance on top of that snow-covered chimney wearing a fur bathing suit and clutching a baby doll and a shotgun? The photos were originally sent out to fan magazines to humanize the stars and stoke interest in them as personalities. Bible and Mallory spent years hunting private collections, movie collectible stores, and paper shows for the best of the faux festivities.
Here’s a peek at the star-spangled holidays.
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph courtesy Marc Wanamaker/ Bison Archives
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph from author's collection
Photograph courtesy Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives
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