By David Stenn
(Editor’s note:The San Francisco Silent Film Festival will return to the restored Castro Theatre on Sunday, March 22 at 7pm with Clara Bow in “IT” live accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. Information and tickets here. Best selling author David Stenn shares his chapter on the making of “IT” and we have added a gallery of stunning images at the end.)
1921 Elinor Glyn, author with actress Gloria Swanson on the set of “Beyond the Rocks” which was based on one of Elinor’s novels. Both Elinor and Gloria wear fur and dresses by Elinor’s designer sister, Lucile. Mrs. Glyn’s hat is by famous Paris hat designer Caroline Reboux.
From the opening credits of “It.“
Elinor Glyn selects Clara as “The ‘It” Girl.” Neither realized what impact the title would have..
© David Stenn 1988
Reprinted from Clara Bow Runnin’ Wild courtesy of David Stenn and Cooper Square Press. More information here.
Watch the full hour long documentary after the photos and posters.
Read and watch about the long lost Clara Bow silent film, “The Pill Pounder,” found in a parking lot 100 years later.
Film distribution companies used to take out elaborate ads in “trade” magazines published for theater owners and managers to promote upcoming and successful movies.
Here is a collection of Clara Bow ads.
Nickolas Muray shot this stunning portrait of 1921’s Fame and Fortune Contest winner. Clara was sixteen. Her mother had just tried to kill her. (IMP/Eastman House)
View the Clara Bow Glass Slides show
“Silent Jay” has collected wonderful materials related to his favorite silent era movie stars including Clara Bow. We thank him for these visual delights.
Enjoy his Clara Bow Lobby Cards.
David Stenn is the author of Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild, and Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, both edited by Jacqueline Onassis. His writer-producer television credits include Hill Street Blues, 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills 90210, The L Word, and Boardwalk Empire. His discovery of Hollywood’s best-suppressed scandal for Vanity Fair brought vindication to rape survivor Patricia Douglas and became his documentary film Girl 27. David is a passionate supporter of film preservation. He serves on the Film Committee of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Board of Directors at the UCLA Film & Television Archive in Los Angeles. Read about some of his projects here.
Follow David on Instagram where he posts rare images of Hollywood stars.
Enjoy rare film on his YouTube channel.
David joins Leonard and Jessie at the Maltin on Movies podcast.