“Hurry up and wait!”
Anyone who has worked on a major Hollywood production is familiar with this ironic cry.
There is a tremendous amount of down time on a Hollywood film. It takes hours to set up lights, rig camera and sound, and make sure the sets and props are in place. Thus, actors spend a huge amount of time waiting, waiting, waiting for the the cameras to roll.
In the past, especially in the 1930s, scores of Hollywood actresses took up knitting to help pass the countless hours between takes.
Several years ago, at a swanky Hollywood party, I met the wealthy widow of a prominent producer who had been active during Hollywood’s Golden Age. After dispensing with a few glasses of champagne the elderly lady talked about, well, the good ol’ days. When I expressed my admiration for classic Hollywood movies she told me that at the tender age of 15, she was one of Busby Berkeley’s chorus girls.
“We didn’t really dance, y’know, just walked up and down those darn stairs and tried not to break our necks, while Buzz whipped the camera around on a huge crane.”
After a few more glasses of champagne, the lovely ex-chorus girl explained that setting up Buzz’s excruciatingly complicated shots took so long that the chorus girls nearly went crazy with boredom.
“Some girls drank bootleg and flirted outrageously with front office wolves,” she said. “Other girls quietly knitted.”
“Which one were you?”
“Honey, I figured it out very quickly: Men had a good time with the girls who drank gin — but they married the girls who knitted.”
Robert,
More on the “hurry up and wait”. It occurred to me how much the military and Hollywood are alike. Your description of a set reminded me of the army, training (rehearsal), logistics (the set), orders, movement, and battle (the filming), victory or defeat (film release). In both you also have very few chances to get it right, and they both cost a lot of money.
My dear mother tried to teach me to sew, knit, crochet, etc., because “a lady needs to know how to make do in hard times”–but the only thing I managed was to sew (but at least I can sew a suit to rival Chanel). I’ve always looked at this as a failing of mine–who can’t learn to knit? Love these peeks into old Hollywood, Robert.
I would have loved to have had a drink and a long chat with that gal! With out fail that is when you hear the truth.
The best picture of all is that beautiful Ariel — not that all those knitters aren’t special but honestly they can’t hold a candle to her.
Thanks so much. It’s easy to get confused, but this Ariel is a he:-)
All the photos are great, but I especially enjoyed the one at the top of Cary Grant in one of my favorite of his movies, “Mr Lucky” from 1943.
“Honey, I figured it out very quickly: Men had a good time with the girls who drank gin — but they married the girls who knitted.”
Smart lady!
Robert – how has Hollywood changed from the 1930s to now? I would think some things have radically changed – other things remain the same.
A good friend made a point that studios used to crank out movies by the dozens each year – hoping for a blockbuster.
Now they try to put all their eggs in one basket and pick the blockbusters?
I guess the cost of production has something to do with that…
Guess knitting is out too these days….but those pictures are priceless!
I get the feeling nowadays that audiences are no longer very good at suspending their disbelief.
Until they get into the voting booth, anyway.
Robert, I was drawn by this post and stayed around to read more. Very interesting. Great site!
Bill Brant, knitting is still very in – in certain circles, anyway. The knitters and other assorted fiber freaks form a subculture that seems to be able to cross other social and political barriers. At some gatherings, I have been the first pro-Israel, Conservative, Christian, gun-owner that some people have actually met and spoken with in a social setting. I’ve seen meat sheep farmers eat next to evangelical vegans and pierced, tattooed young people chat amiably with great-grandmothers. Usually the most passionate debates are reserved for such things as the relative merits of straight vs. circular needles. Besides filling in otherwise wasted time and increasing the world’s supply of sweaters and socks, knitting does bring a little goodwill into our contentious society. I hope that kind of thing will never go out of style. Now, if only we could make knitting a requirement for public office …
RoseandRooster – I have heard there is even an NFL player who likes to knit.
Thanks so much for dropping by and giving us some insight into your kitting culture. I will post more Hollywood in Stitches pics in the near future. Do stay in touch.