My mini beauty hint – Madge Evans

This is a 1932 beauty hint by actress Madge Evans. Enjoy!

The arms should be included in any beauty treatment and if one has not a beauty specialist handy one can easily give ones own hands the proper kind of weekly massage. First comes a thorough cleansing of the hands and arms with warm water, soap and a hand brush. When hands and arms are dry massage them with olive oil in which lemon juice has been mixed using the same motion as in putting on gloves The oil mixture is forced into the pores with hot towels. This Is followed by another soap and water bath after which corn meal is rubbed on.

Joan Weldon

This is a 1954 Lydia Lane article where actress Joan Weldon talks about dieting. Enjoy!

Joan Weldon’s career is sailing right along and she is happiest when she is working. “Show business is in my blood,” Joan told me the other day on the set of “The High and the Mighty.’ “My grandfather was in vaudeville and my parents had no objections to my wanting to follow in his foot steps.” Joan started her career as a singer and has a really beautiful voice. “I don’t mind that Hollywood has not put me in musicals,” Joan confided. “I’m learning a lot about acting and I can always practice voice in my free time.

“One big thing I’ve discovered since working in pictures is that be screen makes you look so much heavier than you really are,” she added. “On the stage my figure was very acceptable but after I saw my first screen test I couldn’t begin dieting fast enough.” “What did you do?” “I’m not temperamentally suited for going around with a piece of paper which has written down every mouthful I’m supposed to ;at. I know some people like planned diets and get wonderful results with them, but I much prefer just staying from high caloric foods. I eat no bread and butter, sweets, potatoes, or fancy desserts. I concentrate on lean meat, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and salads until I’ve lost as much weight as I want.

‘But” Joan warned, “once you lave slimmed down you can’t throw all the good rules out of the window and go on an eating binge. Let’s face the facts–we are fat for one reason: because we eat more than our body consumes. It’s just as simple as a problem in arithmetic. What your system can not use is stored as fat. The only way to lick a weight problem is to discover how many calories your body consumes in the normal run of things,” she added.

“If you don’t want to keep an account of every mouthful, then write down what you eat during a period when you maintain your weight. “I know what makes me gain- it’s going to parties and eating too much. But when I’ve been out a lot, I keep the scales handy and check my weight every day. Jf I find I’ve gone up one or two pounds I begin to cut down. If you catch new weight right away,” Joan advised, “it’s easy to take off, and if you learn how to balance your intake you need never have a weight problem.”

Molly Bee

This is a 1954 Lydia Lydia Lane article where actress Molly Bee talks about face care. Enjoy!

Though you Molly Bee every day on the Pinky Lee television show, she Is continuing her schooling every afternoon. “I have to get at the studio at 9 o’clock in the morning for rehearsals and stay until after the show ends at 2:30 but I am not busy all of this time so I have a chance to prepare my lessons,” she told me as we chatted on the set the other day. I asked Molly what happened to her long pigtails.

“I celebrated my 14th birthday by cutting them off,” she said, “and now I don’t know if I’m glad or not. When you braid’your hair it’s so easy to keep it the way you want. But now that it’s shorter it takes a lot of time to curl but it is easier to wash. “I used to be able to sit on my hair before I cut it and when I would go to the beauty parlor I’d sit with my head under the dryer while they used a hand dryer on the ends. And it took hours because it was so thick.” I asked Molly Bee to tell me how she happened to come to Hollywood. “It all started four years ago when I entered an amateur contest in Tucson, Ariz. I never had taken singing lessons but everyone used to tell me I had a nice voice so when I won a prize I began to think about Hollywood.

“My family came here later for a vacation and I entered another contest and won again so this decided the family to let me have a try at becoming a professional.” I asked Molly if she had any beauty problems. “The only thing is having makeup on my face so many hours everyday has made it break out,” she told me. “It’s a temptation to pick the pimples and I know I shouldn’t so I’ve solved my problem by wearing those little skin-colored patches which are medicated. Then every time I want to put my hand up I can’t reach the bump and they clear u much faster.” “When do you wear this patch?” “At night, and sometimes if I have a bad bump I wear a patch during the day,” she answered. “How much make-up do you wear when you are not work- ins?” ‘Mother doesn’t allow me to wear anything,” Molly confided, “but a lipstick in a very light shade.”

Karen Sharpe

This is a 1954 Lydia Lane article where actress Karen Sharpe talks about her shampooing habit. Enjoy!

“I can’t remember when I didn’t dream of being an actress and coming to Hollywood,” Texas-born Karen Sharpe told me as we lunched recently in Beverly Hills. “As soon as they would let me I worked in the Little Theater in San Antonio, and when I felt I wanted more professional training I persuaded my mother to let me come to California. ‘I went to school here but in order to pay for my dramatic lessons I Worked after classes in a little bakery. I used to sell coffee cake every day to a pleasant man who turned out to be an agent. “The funny thing is that he didn’t become interested in me until he heard me doing a scene one day with my dramatic coach who was a friend of his. ‘I want to meet that girl, he said. ‘I like her voice.’ And when he came into the room he began to laugh, because he had seen me every day for months. “But a few days later,” Karen confided, “he took me to meet John Wayne and I began work in “The High and the Mighty.’ ”

“That’s a Cinderella story!” I remarked. “And a true one,” Karen insisted. We chatted about adjusting to life in Hollywood. “I FIND SUCH a high standard on appearance here that it has made me more carefully groomed. I used to wash my hair once a week ‘ because I was told it was not good for the hair to do it more often. But when I was on the picture they washed it every day and it stayed in lovely condition.” “Do you still wash it every day?” I asked. “No, but I do every other day and it is very healthy. The girl at the studio advised that I use three different shampoos so that I don’t use any more often than once a week. This has turned out very well for me. I alternate with a detergent, which gives wonderful high lights, an oil type shampoo and a creamy one. “It’s not washing your hair that does harm,” Karen insisted, “but failing to rinse all the soap out. You must rinse for one full minute but never with water which is too hot. “And once a week I use a conditioner on my hair, Karen added. “I rub this cream in, tie a wax paper cap over my head and sit close to an electric wall heater in my bath room. You can buy an electric cap but I don’t happen to have one and my method has worked out very well for me.”

Peggy Lee

This is a 1952 Lydia Lane article where songstress Peggy Lee talks about the importance of hard work and belief in yourself.

The popularity of songbird Peggy Lee is growing so fast that she is now one of the top record sellers. Peggy also has a TV show on the fire. When I met her last week at tea time I wasn’t a bit surprised to find that she was on top of the world. Tell me what is your formula for success? “To work hard and believe in yourself.” Peggy admitted that there was nothing startling or new about this concept. “What about appearance doesn’t that enter?” I asked. “It’s important, of course” Peggy hesitated a moment before she added, “but not as important as some girls feel it is.”

“One of my classmates at school was exceptionally pretty and very ambitious to become an actress. More than anything else she wanted to attract the eye of a talent scout and get to Hollywood. Her family was large and there was no money to have her teeth straightened but she worked after school and on Sundays until she had saved enough to go to the best dentist in town. She worked in the Summer, too. Saved her money for clothes and a trip to New York. She got What she wanted a screen test and a Hollywood contract, but she didn’t last. She had been so occupied in making herself attractive that she had neglected to learn how to act.”

I asked Peggy to tell me her top beauty secret. “I have a glamour secret to tell you, Peggy confided, “but it isn’t mine. Its something a friend of mine has done which has transformed her appearance. My friend had nice features but she just never went over with the time,” Peggy said. Then one day she was persuaded to change her hairline .Her forehead had been quite low and with an electric needle it was brought back until her face bad better balance. Now she is really beautiful.” “Wasn’t it awfully painful?” I asked. “They didn’t work too long at a time” Peggy said “and she was in the hands of a skilled operator. But the joy she will get from being admired will make the experience more than worth while

 

Ina Ray Hutton

This is a 1952 Lydia Lane article where songstress  Ina Ray Hutton talks about good posture. Enjoy!

Ina Ray Hutton is a busy girl with her TV appearances and touring with her band but she took time out to have a chat over a cup of tea with me at her San Fernando home last week. “What is your top beauty secret?” I asked getting directly down to business “I’m more conscious than most women of my posture” she said “Are you insinuating that most women are not conscious enough of theirs?” I wanted to know.

“It’s true” Miss Hutton confided “that women are more concerned with winning compliments on the shape of their bodies than on pie way they look in action– And this is short-sighted because a well proportioned body fails to be attractive when it is not carried well” “This is understandable” I commented ‘It is so easy for women to see how they look standing in front of a mirror and so difficult to have any knowledge of what they look like moving about or even walking.” Miss Hutton agreed but remarked “One thing which has had a constructive influence on posture is the home movie — I know of a whole family who were horrified at how awkward they looked when they saw themselves on the screen ‘I had no idea’ the mother told me ‘that all these years I was walking so badly'” “Have you any suggestions how one can improve posture?

“There is one exercise I’m quite fond of” Ina confided “It’s simple but it gets results. This exercise helps you to have limber knees and a straight spine “Try taking a pack of cards and scatter them all over the rug of your largest room” she suggested. “Now pick them up one at a time but as you do this bend your knees keeping your spine straight and your head erect. You may not be able to go through the entire pack the first time but If you keep at it you may want a double pack before you are through.” “Funny thing,” I said, “I’ve heard of scattering cards but with instructions to pick them up without bending your knees as an exercise for the tummy.” “Should work very well for both,” our maestro commented. “and I’ve found that people who ordinarily were bored doing exercises have had fun with this one because it seems more like a game.”

Yvette Dugay – Take two

This is a 1953 Lydia Lane article where actress Yvette Dugay talks about neatness. Enjoy!

Yvette Dugay began her professional career when she was 6 months old, by modeling for talcum powder. She made her stage debut when Be neat Yvette Dugay, the exotic beauty from Patterson, N. J., feels that neatness is such an important part of charm that it should be observed at all times. she was 2. Even though she is still in her teens, Yvette feels like quite a theatrical veteran. As we sat in her dressing room at Universal sipping cool drinks, Yvette was enthusiastic about her picture with Francis, the talking mule, called Francis Covers the Big Town.

“What is your pet peeve?” I asked, getting down to the business of beauty. “It may sound silly,” Yvette said, “but I hate seeing anyone use a soiled powder puff. And it is amazing how fastidious a girl can be about everything else, but somehow overlook the inside of her vanity. It is always a shock to me to see someone exposing to the public a puff which should have been thrown away long ago.” “What kind of powder puff do you use?” I asked.  “I USE SQUARES of cotton which fit into my vanity and as soon as I come home I throw away the cotton and put in a clean piece.”

“This not only looks better but it certainly is more sanitary. Yvette laughed, I think comedians are right when they take off women for keeping so much in their purses and never being able to find anything. Neatness is a part of charm and keeping an untidy purse makes a bad impression If you have a place for everything and everything in its place you not only save time, but it is easy to change what you need from one purse to another.”

Yvette let me look inside her bag and I found that here was a girl who practiced what she preached. There was a plastic container with her lipstick, tissues and a lipstick brush. She kept her loose change and her bills in a special purse. Even her car key was on a clamp which was clasped to the inside pocket, which contained a comb, mirror and vanity. “I usually have a small brush, a pencil and a little notebook.” Yvette said, “but even if you are carrying dark glasses, a cigarette case and a few other things you can be neat. And while we are on the subject of neatness”, our dark-haired beauty added, “combs and brushes should be washed regularly or they will tell a sad, sad story of neglect.”

Elaine Stewart

This is a 1952 Lydia Lane article where actress Elaine Stewart talks about dieting. Enjoy!

Every studio in Hollywood has sent their scouts out to search for talent. Elaine Stewart is one of the MGM discoveries and you’ll soon see her in “Everything I Have Is Yours”. When I met Elaine I was impressed with her natural beauty and quiet seriousness. But all of these newcomers seem to love to work and have a co-operative attitude. When I asked Elaine what phase of beauty she was most preoccupied with she told me. “It’s my figure” “The screen makes you look heavier so it is important to control your weight” she went on “I have a scale in my bathroom and I weigh every night and morning. Since I’ve been doing this I’ve discovered that my weight normally fluctuates two pounds but if I go over this I known I will gain a sweet figure and I immediately start to diet.”

”What makes you gain weight?” I asked “A sweet tooth?”  “Fortunately I’m not too fond of sweets” Elaine answered. “I can easily take them or leave them. But I have to confess that I’m great nibbler. When I put on weight the damage is done by the little things I eat in between meals” she went on to say “There will be a bowl of nuts or some cheese and crackers or tea and cinnamon roast. So when I want to lose I keep raw vegetables on ice” she added “If I feel like nibbling I have just as much fun with a stalk of celery or a slice of carrot and I’m dieting without thinking ‘about it.””How much can you lose by eliminating snacks?” I asked “I never allow myself to put oh more than two pounds so I don’t know how much I could take off” Elaine confessed “But in a couple” of days I usually go back to normal” “You make dieting seem so easy” I remarked “New fat goes more quickly that old fat.”

Miriam Hopkins – Take two

This is a 1952 Lydia Lane article where actress Miriam Hopkins talks about keeping your skin well cared for. Enjoy!

Miriam Hopkins believes that a woman’s complexion Is her most important beauty asset “Cosmetics are so Wonderful” Miriam told me one day Paramount “so that there is no excuse tor a girl to neglect her skin.” “Well your complexion Is certainly clear and unlined” I asked “How do you keep it so lovely?” “The most important thing Is never to let your skin become dried out” Miriam confided.

“I’ve always been careful with mine because I belong to the stitch-In-time school. It is’ funny bow a woman will polish her furniture with the best of oils to keep cracks away but won’t treat her face as well “A young skin can stand a lot of abuse but as you grow older your complexion loses Its natural oils and you have to keep your skin from drying out or it will become full of wrinkle lines.

“I love the sun but after I have been out in it I always oil my skin well.” Miriam continued. “I like to apply it warm and press it into my pores with my finger tips” “How do you heat it?” I asked “I use a candle and pour some in a kitchen spoon I find that my skin can drink up more oil when it Is warm and the ports are open?

“That’s very Interesting” I commented. “Do you have any other beauty secrets?” Miss Hopkins was thoughtful for a moment. “Yes I have something’ I’m very fond of. When my face is clean I like to smooth on a layer of yogurt. It drys quickly and after washing it off my skin is clearer and smoother” “Do you use any special kind of yogurt?” “I don’t think that matters” Miss Hopkins remarked ”When my tan is fading at the end of summer and I want to’bleach it out I put on a film yogurt at the end of a week then my skin is noticeably lighter.”

Suzanne Cloutier

This is a 1952 Lydia Lane article where actress and model Suzanne Cloutier talks about feminine walking. Enjoy!

Though Suzanne Cloutier grew up in Que bee Canada, Hollywood discovered her when she was a cover girl in New York. When I met her at Paramount Suzanne bad very dell-‘elite ideas on what makes a person attractive . “Most girls in the United States know how to dress themselves very well and at a surprisingly young age they have learned make-up tricks” she told me. “But I’m sorry to say this eagerness for perfection does not include correcting their posture or in acquiring a graceful walk”

I agreed with Miss Cloutier that not enough stress has been put on the importance of walking attractively. “Walking in high heels in uncomfortable shoes or skirts which are too tight causes bad habits” she said “A natural step comes from the hip with the weight being transferred with rhythm and ease. But many women have developed a jerky movement which makes them noisy walkers” I asked Susanna what was is her formula for acquiring a graceful walk it “I don’t that at you can pin it down to a formula” she said cautiously “but I think it’s helpful to be as objective as possible about yourself. Try walking towards a large mirror first in high heels and a tight girdle or skirt and then without shoes and in a comfortable dress and see how much easier it is to walk gracefully when you have freedom of movement”

“Do you think exercise helps?” I asked. “Having a lithe body is bound to make your movements more graceful” Suzanne agreed “Even if you have no desire to slim down your figure I think it is a good Idea to do some stretching and lumbering exercises for a few minutes every day” “What do you suggest?” “There is nothing like an old-fashioned somersault to keep you in shape and even if you can’t go all the way over just rolling hack and forth on your spine gives a wonderful stretch” she said “And for your—equilibrium rising on your toes and bending your knees creates a—sense of balance which will help you to walk and handle yourself with more grace”