Clara Bow | Hollywood Yesterday

Clara Bow was Born on this Day in 1905 in Brooklyn

July 29, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, True to the Navy

“We had individuality. We did as we pleased. We stayed up late. We dressed the way we wanted. I used to whiz down Sunset Boulevard in my open Kissel, with several red Chow dogs to match my hair. Today, they’re sensible and end up with better health. But we had more fun.” ~ Clara Bow

The lovely Clara Bow was born on this day in 1905 in Brooklyn, New York. She’s best remembered for the movie It, movie (1927) and even became known as the “It girl.”

Clara was married to actor Rex Bell from 1931 to his death in 1962. They had two sons. She refused to write her memoirs for a beautiful reason: she was afraid there were things that might embarrass her two sons and their families. Protecting them meant more to her than any money an autobiography would have brought to her.

That makes her even more fabulous in my world.

Clara Bow

Clara Bow: It Lobby Cards

January 21, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow

Clara Bow was a wonderfully beautiful, colorful, charismatic, and talented star. While I’m forever grateful that we still have access to existing Clara Bow films, I feel so much frustration for the ones that are lost. It’s a frustration silent movie fans never completely escape.

Fortunately, one of Clara’s most popular movies (one she’s pretty synonymous with, actually) is still very much with us. You can find It (link to the dvd on Amazon) online – unfortunately it isn’t available on Prime Video. Hopefully, in the near future more silents will be available.

Beautiful Clara Bow, Wings Promotional Photo

November 20, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, Wings

Wings (1927) was the very first winner of the category of Best Picture (then called “Best Production”) at the VERY 1st Annual Academy Awards on May 16, 1929.

The historical film was lost for decades until a copy was discovered in the Cinematheque Francaise film archive in Paris, France. This is why those of us who grieve over lost movies still hold on to hope – happy endings sometimes actually happen!

Clara Bow Promotional Pictures for Call Her Savage

November 10, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow

One of my favorite actresses is also one of my greatest sources of frustration…. I adore Clara Bow and can get my hands on so few of her films! I want to collect (and see) everything she made, but sadly, it’s impossible.

Frustrating!

As it is, I will enjoy and collect those that I can. She really was a phenomenal actress with an indescribable amount of charisma.

Clara Bow, Call Her Savage

Clara Bow, True to the Navy Promotional Picture (So, how gorgeous was she??!!)

October 23, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, True to the Navy

One of my favorite actresses is pictured above, in all her radiant glory. Clara Bow wasn’t just an obvious beauty, she had a certain, unmistakable charm and charisma that comes through her every photo and every film. She had something magical about her – a one in a million radiance that’s almost impossible to describe.

I mean, I work with words every single day and count them among my most cherished friends and she leaves me hunting for adjectives all the time.

Most of the time, I simply recommend one of her films and/or show one of her photographs and let HER do all the speaking.

This is one of those times.

Clara Bow and Fredric March, True to the Navy

Clara Bow Collection (3-DVD)v

Clara Bow and the Cast of the Lost Silent Film Wine

September 30, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, Robert Agnew, and the Cast of Wine

As I’ve bemoaned before, it is incredibly frustrating when you come across films for favorite stars that are now considered “lost.” It happens fairly often with really early silent films and it always feels like a punch in the spleen.

I want to see them all!

Wine (1924) is one of the Clara Bow films listed as lost. When I look at the promotional photos (here are a few more), it drives me nuts… I want to see this one! Seriously, look at the pictures here… what could be going on?

Clara Bow, Robert Agnew, and Others from Wine

Clara Bow in Wine (1924)

September 12, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, Wine (1924)

One of the most frustrating things about loving silent films is living with the fact that so many of them are now lost. When you love so many of the stars from this era, you can’t help but feel that you’ve lost something precious. My personal favorite silent era stars are Clara Bow, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Georgia Hale, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford. I want to see everything they ever did!

Wine (1924) is one of the Clara Bow films listed as lost. The promotional photos make me even more anxious to see it!

Clara Bow and Robert Agnew, Wine

Clara Bow: Gorgeous “Call Her Savage” Promotional Pictures

September 5, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, Call Her Savage

As I’ve said before, when you watch a lot of old movies (especially if you cover all genres and all decades!), you pick up new favorites along the way. You’re going along, minding your own business, and BOOM, an actress or actor climbs over hundreds of other names and lands on sacred grounds…. your “ABSOLUTE favorites” or your “Top Ten.”

I’ve always liked Clara Bow, but she recently tromped up my list of favorite stars… curls bouncing fetchingly as she ascended.

Sometimes all it takes for like to grow into love is seeing just one more film… other times you have to see them in just the right role. For me, it was finally having the chance to see her in more than one film! Clara Bow films are hard to come by and they are RARELY shown on television.

Clara Bow

I’ve also found that, very often, the more I learn about an actor or actress, the more I like them. Not only has seeing more Clara Bow films made me love her more, but reading about her colorful personality and vivaciousness has also endeared her to me even more.

If you haven’t had the chance to see Clara Bow films, I hope you will search them out. I have a feeling you’re going to love her as much as I do.

Clara Bow

Clara Bow: Pictures of the Day from The Fleet’s In

August 7, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, The Fleet’s In (1928)

Compared to my “talkie” Old Movie viewing, I’m relatively new to silents. I believe it was a mere 4 years ago when I watched my first silent film, in fact. I started off with Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid and have never looked back.

My favorite silent film stars (so far) are:

Buster Keaton
Clara Bow
Charlie Chaplin
Georgia Hale
Harold Lloyd
Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle
Lothar Mehnert
Marion Davies
Mildred Davis
Marceline Day
Marion Mack
Marion Byron
Mary Pickford
Zasu Pitts

But I’m picking up new favorites to add along the way. Having said that, there will never (I’m certain of that) be a silent film star I enjoy any more than I do the wonderful, one-in-a-billion Clara Bow. A few I enjoy as much… but more than??… NEVER!

These great photos are from her film The Fleet’s In (1928) – a movie that is, unfortunately, considered lost. Isn’t that as criminally frustrating as it gets?!

Clara Bow’s Last Film…. Hoopla, 1933

June 23, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, Hoopla

The beautiful, colorful, and talented Clara Bow’s last film was Hoopla (1933, directed by Frank Lloyd). She plays Lou, a carnival dancer at a carnival who is bent on seducing Chris Miller, played by Richard Cromwell. After she is paid to make him fall for her… she falls for him.

You can find the photo above as a photo print (perfect for framing) on Amazon. The movie poster is also available on Amazon.