Anna May Wong

Hollywood Friday Photos — The Beautiful and the Damned

February 28, 2014 by Robert J. Avrech 4 Comments

Anna May Wong (1905 – 1961) was the first American-Chinese movie star. Her long career spanned silent and sound movies, radio, stage and television.Her first film role was Toll of the Sea (1922) one of the first movies produced in color. Tragically, the Production Code instituted by the studios to protect against outside censorship, which forbade race-mixing, Wong was never cast as a leading opposite a Caucasian star. Thus, she was relegated to support roles and often as a stereotypical dragon lady. This wonderful photo is by artist Man Ray, real name Emmanuel Radnitzky. — Anna May Wong (1905 – 1961) was the first American-Chinese movie star. Her long career spanned silent and sound movies, radio, stage and television. Her first film role was in *Toll of the Sea* (1922) one of the first movies produced in Technicolor. Tragically, the Production Code instituted by the studios to protect against government censorship, upheld anti-miscegenation laws. Thus, Wong was never cast as a leading lady opposite a Caucasian star. Her greatest disappointment, and a notorious outrage, was when MGM refused to cast her as O-lan, the leading role in their adaptation of Pearl S. Buck’s huge best-seller, “The Good Earth.” Instead, the plum assignment went to the competent but dreary Luise Rainer. For most of her career, the enormously talented and beautiful Anna May was relegated to supporting roles and B movies, frequently as a stereotypical dragon lady. This evocative photo, which views Anna May’s silken, waterfall hair, as a distinct character, is by artist Man Ray, real name Emmanuel Radnitzky.

Classic Hollywood Passport Photos

February 14, 2014 by Robert J. Avrech 8 Comments

Here's Anna May Wong in the 1930s, in a studio publicity still. — Anna May Wong in a studio publicity still from the 1930s.

If you want to torture yourself, take a look at your passport.

Chances are you look pretty awful. With flat lighting, a grim full frontal pose, and that look of bafflement, your photo probably looks like a mug shot.

Are glamorous Hollywood stars just like us when they submit to the artless lens of the passport photographer?

You be the judge.

Flashback: When Hollywood Celebrated Christmas

December 25, 2013 by Robert J. Avrech 20 Comments

Mary Pickford helps Hollywood celebrate Christmas, 1920s.

There was a time when Hollywood openly and joyously celebrated Christmas. Now, among the Hollywood elite, the greeting I hear is “Happy Holidays.”

Look, we at Seraphic Secret are Orthodox Jews. This is not our holiday.

But we want our Christian friends to celebrate Christmas. The politically correct Happy Holidays shtick is another nail in the coffin of American culture; another instance where a minority of obnoxious liberals bully the larger culture into secular nothingness.

American Christianity is a unique force in world history. It is not the Christianity of Europe that is poisoned with genocidal Jew-hatred.

Hollywood used to celebrate Christmas using every tool in the cinematic playbook.

Friday Photos: Hollywood Celebrates Christmas

December 21, 2012 by Robert J. Avrech 22 Comments

Hollywood pioneer Mary Pickford, makes Christmas official, 1920's. — Hollywood pioneer Mary Pickford makes Christmas official, 1920s.

During Hollywood’s Golden Age, the studios took thousands of photos of their stars celebrating Christmas. In this way, Hollywood—though founded by poor immigrant Jews—let America know that it and the heartland were aligned.

Seraphic Secret — Karen and I — are Orthodox Jews. We observe the Sabbath and eat only kosher food. Our lives and values are dictated by the Written and Oral Torah. But we enjoy and honor Christmas, and we shudder at every postmodern assault on this most Christian of holidays. We want America to remain a Judeo-Christian country, for without G-d, individual liberty vanishes, replaced by an all-powerful centralized state and a cult of personality.

Here’s a sample of Hollywood and Christmas as it used to be.

Friday Fashion: The Past Is The Present

February 17, 2012 by Robert J. Avrech 16 Comments

automotivator(86) — Legendary costume designer Orry-Kelly makes some adjustments on Marilyn Monroe's wardrobe on the set of “Some Like It Hot,” 1959.

Seraphic Secret likes to check out the latest fashions, scouting for beautiful but modest clothing. We don’t believe that women have to reveal acres of flesh in order to appear and feel attractive. In fact, the opposite. The more chaste the surface, the more mystery and depth.

This season, it’s kind of obvious that designers have been marinating in Hollywood movies. Everywhere we see ladylike silhouettes that bring to mind the irreverant slink of Jean Harlow, the confident stride of Carole Lombard, and the animal heat of Marlene Dietrich. Also making spectral appearances are Hitchcock’s tailored blondes: Tippi Hedrin, Kim Novak and Eva Marie Saint.

We’re delighted to report that scores of design houses are featuring elbow length leather gloves, a sure sign that those who make fashion are determined to revive the classic look of the proper and elegant lady who sweeps into a room—think Loretta Young—then tugs off her gloves a finger at a time before sitting down to tea.

Here are a few looks that made us sit up smile.