Virginia Gibson

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Virginia Gibson talks about hair care and sunbathing. Enjoy!

When I first met Virginia Gibson she was a dancer under contract to a major studio but now she is devoting her time and talent to TV. Virginia co-stars on NBC-TV’s “So This Is Hollywood” show — a non-musical production. “Even though I am not doing any dancing on the show,” Virginia told me when I visited her at NBC, “I’m sticking with my dancing lessons. I love the way it makes me feel. It’s wonderful exercise.” I thought Virginia’s hair looked lighter, and I asked what she had done to it “It is lighter,” she admitted. “I’m a natural redhead but my hair is actually an auburn tone and I think a lighter shade is more becoming to me. I’m my own hair dresser,” she informed me when I admired her coiffure. “I used to go to a beauty salon regularly but often when a last minute date came up or I got a hurried call from tbh studio, I couldn’t get an appointment so I learned to do my awn hair in self- defense.”

I asked Virginia if she had permanents regularly. “My hair is very fine and every time I went in for a permanent I would come out so badly frizzed up I bated to look in the mirror. Then one day my mother asked me to give her a home permanent and it turned out so soft and natural-looking that I decided my next permanent was going to be one of those. That was quite a few years ago and Mother and I still have what we call our PW (permanent wave) sessions.” “How often do you have to get a wave?” I asked. “With my hair so short,” Virginia explained,” it gets cut so often I need a fresh wave about every nine or ten weeks’.” “Don’t you find it hard on your hair using a bleach and getting permanent as often?” I wanted to know. “No, because I ate the very mildest permanent wave and I condition my hair and scalp regularly with an oil treatment. I’m also very careful to have some kind of covering on my hair when I’m in the sun.”

Virginia’s tan it spectacular and she admitted that she got it by taking the sun in small doses. “Being a redhead, I have to be extra careful or I turn a lobster red. I make my own suntan lotion out of baby oil and iodine — about six drops of Iodine to a small bottle of oil, I usually start out by lying on one side for about seven minutes, then turning over for an other seven minutes. I gradually increase this until I can take an hour or more each side, and after a few weeks I can stay out as long as I like. “If you want a really good tan you mustn’t be too eager and try for it in one day. If you do you’ll end up red and sore instead of tan and healthy.”

Vanessa Brown

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Vanessa Brown talks about a bunch of beauty stuff. Enjoy!

When I first met Vanessa Brown she was a teenager on the contract list at 20th Century Fox, shy and unsophisticated. But two years in New York and the lead in a hit play, “The Seven Year Itch,” has given Vanessa poise and confidence -and lots of sex appeal. “When you are busy growing up, you don’t always realize how important appearance is,” she told me as we chatted on the “Climax” set at CBS-TV. “I find that going through my beauty routine is a cheerful thing. Everyone loves beauty. It’s a challenge to see how much beauty you can bring out in yourself. “I don’t mean that a woman should be preoccupied with her appearance. Once you are dressed, have done with it. But,” Vanessa advised, “take adequate time. You can’t rush through your grooming and look attractive.

“Start with a slow bath to put you in a relaxed frame of mind. I love the festiveness of bubbles in – m y water. “Next be sure your hair is clean sad neat. Mine, is naturally curly and doesn’t give me any trouble. “When dressing,, I choose a color to suit my mood. I love color. I’m very partial to blues, red and orange. I don’t like pastels but I’m very fond of white. “I learned at the studio how important alterations are. I know that a dress has to be wei – fitted to t? becoming. I’m very particular about the bustline being right and a-Miut becoming sleeve and skirt lengths.” It was evident that Vanessa practiced what she preached because the simple silk print dress she was wearing fit her slender figure to perfection. When I commented on her lovely figure she smiled. “I have to black – list chocolate, cakes and pies,” she admitted, “in order to stay trim. And I love bread and butter but I try to talk myself out of it. I’m really not an extremist about dieting, feel best at 113 and I’m content to stay there.

“I’ve no intention of letting myself become starved in order to be slimmer. Being undernourished makes people edgy and nervous. That starved look the fashion magazines feature is greatly overplayed and it’s time it were done away with.” Before saying goodbye I asked Vanessa what she considered her top glamor trick. ‘It’s using a colorless sealer on top of my lipstick,” she said obligingly. “It makes my lipstick stay on and look perfect all day — I can play love scenes without even a smear. I think the less fussing a girl has to do with her makeup the better and it’s a great satisfaction not to have to freshen your lipstick several times a day. You can buy the sealer in any cosmetic department.”

My mini beauty hint – Charlotte Henry

This is a 1933 beauty hint by actress Charlotte Henry. Enjoy!

In shampooing reddish-blond hair, It la Important to use Just the right kind of soap and rinse. A lemon-castille soap, shaved and boiled In a little water, Is excellent. After the hair is thoroughly cleansed, Juice of half a lemon In the last rinse water Is effective.

Mari Blanchard – Take Two

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Mari Blanchard talks about a bunch of beauty stuff. Enjoy!  

If you’d like lo know if gentlemen really prefer blondes, the girl to ask is Mari Blanchard because although she is a natural blonde, almost every time she makes a picture the studio asks her to change the color of her hair. She is a brunette again in “Destry”, her latest release for Universal-International. We discussed this switch at lunch recently and although I know that dyeing the hair often takes its toll, Mari’s hair seemed to be in exceptionally good condition. “It’s no accident,” she explained. “I give my hair a lot of attention. I have a routine worked out to condition my scalp after every shampoo and I always brush my hair with a natural bristle hairbrush. Synthetic bristles have a tendency to cause breakage.” “Have you ever worn a wig Instead of changing the color of your hair?” I asked. “No, that would be worse,” Mari replied, “A wig compresses the scalp so that the blood supply is choked off and it is the bloodstream that nourishes the growth of the hair.”

“I see you’ve made a study of it,” I commented. A friend of Mari’s who was having lunch with us commented at this point that Mari was quite a student of anything that Interested her. “Did you know she majored In international law at USC?” her friend added. “Were you thinking seriously of being a lawyer?” I asked Mari. “I was until I discovered the extent to which they discriminate against women,” Mari replied. “Even blondes?” I queried. “Especially blondes,” she answered with emphasis. “It’s really true that men don’t expect blondes to have as much intelligence or to be as dependable as brunettes. They probably wouldn’t admit this but I know it’s true. I’ve switched colors often enough to have noticed that men are more inclined to take me seriously when I’m a brunette. I guess they expect blondes to be play girls, or just generally flighty.”

“I think the reason for the popularity of blonde hair with most women is that it softens the face. When a woman’s features are not regular, blonde hair is more flattering. That’s why so many plain girls tend to bleach their hair. “An argument for dark hair, on the other hand, is that it intensifies blue eyes, and if you have delicate features it acts as a frame and gives your face more definition. This is especially true in photographs. “When I was a model in New York,” Mari continued, “someone in authority advised me to cut my hair. He thought long hair was old-fashioned. I did what he suggested and as a result lost out on some big modeling jobs. I learned a valuable lesson.”

“I believe that every woman has the right to experiment, and no matter what type you become you will find that someone will admire you. The important thing is for you to feel right. You’ve got to accept the fact that you can’t please everyone. If you try, you’ll become a nonentity.” “Beauty is more than in the eye of the beholder,” Mari said seriously. “All that is said about the power of inner beauty is true. But at the same time, I believe you should take every opportunity to develop jour good points.” “Your teeth are certainly one of your good points,” I remarked. “I think even, white teeth and an attractive smile do wonderful things for your face and I take good care of mine,” she replied. “In addition to daily brushings, I go over my teeth two or three times a week with salt and warm water.

“But,” Mari added, “teeth, like hair, depend largely on basic good health.” “You are right about that,” I agreed. “Do you follow any special routine to maintain good health?” “I’ve always believed that if you have not paid much attention to food except how it tastes, you’re headed for trouble,” Mari answered. A knowledge of proper eating is important for good health. “And on the subject of hair again,” she added, “I fed that the first place to start is from within the body. Once you have a good plan for health, half of your problem has been solved for you.”

Marjorie Reynolds

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Marjorie Reynolds talks about diet and hair care. Enjoy!

Marjorie Reynolds is a doctor’s daughter and was raised on health food. “It’s a funny thing but when you don’t know any other kind of diet you can really enjoy all the things that are good for you,” she told me as we chatted on the “Life of Kiley” set at the television studios. “We were never served anything at home that was highly seasoned, and never had rich desserts. But we were seldom sick and had low of vitality. “Then I suppose you never have a weight problem,” I ventured. “Well, never is a big word an I’d hate to stick my neck out that far,” she replied with a laugh]

“When I’m working very hard am upset about something, I nibble. Without realizing it, I’m constantly chewing on something an pretty soon I notice that my be feels a bit tight. “Of course checking on you bathroom scale every day prevents those extra pounds from sneaking up on you, but the important test is how you look and feel in your clothes. Two or three added pound doesn’t seem very alarming the scales but with some girls eve that little bit of extra weigh means moving a skirt button over or trouble pulling up a zipper.” “Do you have any suggestions t get rid of a few extra pounds quickly?” I asked. ‘ “No special diet,” she replied “Once you are convinced that foo makes fat the only sensible solution to those extra pounds is to cut down on your intake of food. If you can keep from dwelling on food, that’s half the problem. Keep yourself busy in between meals with something really diverting and you’ll find the hours have passed and it’s mealtime am you’ve kept to your diet without even thinking about cheating.

Marjorie’s hair was darker than I’d ever seen it and I asked her about this. “Take some advice from a former blonde,” she said firmly “Think hard and long before you start bleaching your hair. It took up so much of my time  trying to keep my hair evenly lightened There seemed always to be dark roots to worry about and ends that needed touching up. And then I have a brunette skin tone and it was a problem choosing colors that didn’t make me look hard.” “I suppose in some cases it’s worth the trouble, though,” I remarked. “Yes,” she agreed. “I know a girl who was rather plain looking, had a drab personality and was very unsure of herself. She bleached her brown to a platinum blonde and underwent a tremendous change. She felt younger, more attractive and her personality blossomed. The whole trend of her life was changed. In her case, it was certainly worth the effort.”

Mitzi Green

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Mitzi Green talks about a bunch of beauty stuff. Enjoy!

Mitzi Green’s fans are happy that she has her own TV show, “So This Is Hollywood.” And Mitzi is happy to be able to work so close to her valley home and her husband and four sons. I used to read the things that were said about not having two careers in one family” Mitzi told me on the set at NBC, “but when .there Is Understanding;,’ consideration and love in a family, it’s not difficult to work things out.” We chatted about Easter, spring bonnets and the fact that Mitzi had never cut’ her hair. “You have to be sensible about fashion and take from it what is suitable for you. I knew short hair would do nothing for me so I didn’t follow the trend.” Mitzi said. Mitzi’s long blonde hair is very pretty and I agreed that her long bob was very becoming. She thanked me but confessed that she has been bleaching her hair ever since she made “Little Orphan Annie” years and years ago.

“It isn’t hard to keep a pale blonde shade if you accept the” fact that It takes time. I like taking care of my hair. I wash it every four day and I have a time-saving gimmick. I keep a plastic bottle of shampoo in the shower and wash my hair as I bathe. It’s much less trouble that way,” said Mitzi “I like to brush it vigorously while it is still slightly wet,” Mitzi continued, “and my favorite brushes are those with nylon bristles. I don’t get permanents because they’re too risky with bleached hair but I’ve found that by rolling my hair up on curlers made of I cleansing tissues. I get a soft wave and have curler that’s easy to sleep on. I tie the end just as they used to do with the old “rig” curlers. There’s nothing simpler, “I learned a long time ago how Important it is to look your best a well-groomed appear

“WHEN I WAS in the musical “Babes In Arms” in New York. I used to leave the theater in slacks and an old sweater, without make-up generally looking pretty bedraggled. Dwight Wyman, the producer, called me down for this. He said any actress owed it to her public to look her best at all times, and he made me feel very much ashamed of myself. He was right except that I don’t think it applies only to actresses but to every woman who takes any pride in her appearance. “Since then I’ve always paid attention to basic grooming and I know it has paid off. You don’t need a lot of make-up but your hair can be brushed, your face clean and your clothes neatly pressed. “I had a skin problem.” Mitzi went on, “until I found it was due to careless cleansing habits. Since I’ve learned the value of scrubbing until there isn’t a trace of old make-up remaining, I’ve been rewarded with a much better complexion.”

Claudette Colbert – Take Two

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Claudette Colbert talks about a bunch of beauty stuff. Enjoy!

I first met Claudette Colbert during the war years when we worked in the tame canteen. Despite the passage of time, she looks just Die same today, with a figure worthy of pin-up art. “I’ve always been a bit underweight,” she told me as we drank lea in their beautiful home in Holmby Hills which she has had for many years. But I think there is more to food than just calories. Your meals must be well-balanced if you want to be healthy.” “Aha–you belong to the ‘we- are-what-we-eat’ school,” I commented, “And sleep,” Miss Colbert added firmly. “The body needs rest just as much as it needs protein, vitamins and minerals. When your body sends out fatigue signals, you should listen. If you stop for a few minutes at the right time, you’ll accomplish more than going on for several hours when you are in a state of exhaustion.

“I like to eat something light before I go to bed–like a dish of apple sauce. It helps me go to sleep. But no sweets ever. I’ve never had a craving for candy. “I guess I’m lucky because I like health foods. Usually, I have two eggs for breakfast, ground round steak and fruit for lunch and a full dinner in the evening. Although I’m pretty hungry by dinner time, I never s t u f f myself with lots of bread and butler or hors d’oeuvres before I’m served my dinner.” I asked Miss Colbert her secret for turning her back on age. “Age today means nothing,” she exclaimed. “If you have respect for your body, it doesn’t have to deteriorate. And the worst thing you can do is dwell on your age. “Of course, the other extreme is just as stupid, These women who cling frantically to youth are pitiful. They should realize that maturity has an attractiveness all I its own.” Miss Colbert’s hair is her trademark. She has always worn hangs because they give better balance to her face. “I started out wanting to be a painter (she still paints, and does i it very well) so I found it easy to do my own make-up. Besides, I don’t like people fussing over me.

“I do my own hair now, too. I wash it, bleach it and cut it myself. For years I used to have permanents but now I’ve discovered a natural wave which gives me just enough curl,” Miss Colbert’s hair is soft and shining as a fine wig. I commented that she must brush it a lot and she said she did. “I’m rabid on the subject of clean brushes,” she added. “I use mine once and it gels a bath. You accomplish very little when you use a d i r t y brush. I prefer nylon bristles because they dry so fast. “lint cleanliness Is important everywhere.” she continued. “It’s something men are quick to notice. “Recently I went to a party in Palm Springs and I wore a simple white eyelet embroidered dress. It’s a dress I wear only once and then it goes to the laundry to be crisply starched again.

“There were several women at the party who pride themselves On being pretty chic dressers hut with all due modesty I can say that my simple white dress inspired more compliments than their spangles and beads. “That proverbial ‘band-box’ look is something every girl can afford. There are certain fundamentals of fashion which never fail,” Miss Colbert explained. “You have to have a feeling about what is right for you–an appreciation for basics line and fabric. Simplicity is something only talented designers come up with,” she said firmly.

“If you don’t trust your own judgement, ask a man. He may not know one fabric from another but he will he able to tell you what looks good. “A girl can go far on cleanliness and charm. So few people take time out today to be gracious. They let themselves tall. into the habit of being brusque and often rude. You can spend lots of time and money on your appearance but the effect can lie completely spoiled by had manner’s or an ugly expression.

“It’s a mistake to think t h a t a bored expression passes for sophistication, as a lot of teen-agers seem to do. That, and over-exposure to the sun are mistakes that so many young girls make. Too much sun will drain the natural oil and make your skin look old and wrinkled long before its time.” “What do you do for your skin?” I asked. “I use a sulphur soap, avoid too much sun, and use a hormone cream to keep my skin from drying out. When you find something that does a good job,” Miss Colbert concluded, “it’s better to stay with it than to try everything new which comes along,”

My mini beauty hint – Sally O’Neill

This is a 1933 beauty hint by actress Sally O’Neill. Enjoy!

I prefer a home shampoo. mother melts for me a simple, clear. pure soap. I use very hot water at first. gradually change to tepid water and then finish with a cold rinse, which I am careful to follow with clear water.

Cleo Moore

This is a 1955 Lydia Lane article where actress Cleo Moore talks about a bunch of beauty stuff. Enjoy!

When I took Cleo Moire to visit the paraplegic ward at the veteran’s hospital, the men took one look at her, gave out w i t h a loud whistle and shouted, “Who’s Marilyn Monroe?” On the way back lo Hollywood, Cleo admitted that she was flattered., “I think the secret of a healthy and beautiful body lies in diet and circulation. This means stressing high  protein foods and sticking to a short hut effective exercise routine once a day to keep you limber. “When I need lo reduce,” she continued, “I ride my electric bicycle. It’s not so much a mater of pounds as of inches. The first place I put on weight is in my hips and this machine is especially good,for riding off those inches. Both the seat and handle bars move and in no lime at all you get a real workout,” Cleo said with enthusiasm. “This electric bicycle is wonderful for releasing tension and by stimulating the circulation, it helps you lo sleep better. I think it’s great for anyone who works behind a desk all day, or a counter.”

I couldn’t’ help but agree (hat his was the painless way lo get rid of those extra inches, but I questioned the expense involved. “Do you think this bicycle is something the average work- girl can afford?” I asked Cleo, who is currently being seen in ‘Women’s Prison” for Columbia Pictures. “Well,” she replied, “it depends on how important it is to you lo trim down your figure and keep in condition. I know that these machines are available on the installment plan. It might be just a matter of budgeting for a while to make the payments. “I’m convinced half a half-hour of exercise a day is what keeps the doctor away,” Cleo said firmly “Looks and personality are so closely tied together t hat it can’t help but make you more interesting and charming, knowing that you arc attractive and look your very best.

“I remember just before I left the south to come to Hollywood, our family doctor gave me some darn good advice. ‘Remember that being well – loved is better than being rich or famous, but this doesn’t mean you can’t be both, he told me. “Keeping that in mind helped me get a contract with one of the big studios,” Cleo admitted. “I had made a picture called ‘Bait’ for Hugo Haas which Columbia was releasing and they sent me to New York to help promote it. My schedule was so tight, I had appointments almost as I dashed from TV show to a guest spot on a disc jockey show. When it was all over, though, the head of the publicity department was so appreciative of my cooperation and the way I handled myself, he urged the studio to put me under contract.

“I was afraid the studio would decide I needed to be changed -make me cut my hair. I especially wanted to keep it long. With everyone wearing short hair, I thought this would give me a certain amount of individuality. “Fortunately, all they did was lighten my hair,” she added. “I didn’t mind the bleaching because it doesn’t harm the hair if it is done right. I found that it is using too much ammonia that makes the hair shaft bridle.” Cleo’s hair is truly her crowning glory. It is bright, lustrous and silky – looking, “I have a fetish about clean hair,” she told me. “I wash it every other day. It doesn’t dry out from this frequent washing because I always massage some apricot oil into my hair and scalp when it is still wet. I learned this trick from my grandmother. And I also use apricot oil for removing make – up because it lubricates my skin.” Apricot oil. 1 found, is a good beauty preparation. It is inexpensive and can be purchased at almost any drug store.

My mini beauty hint – Lilian Harvey

This is a 1933 beauty hint by actress Lillian Harvey. Enjoy!

My beauty hint concerns the hair. The simplest way to obtain soft, lustrous lucks is to stroke the hair one hundred times a day. Even the driest, most brittle hair will respond to tills treatment, the natural oil of the hair thus being spread, and there is nothing more invigorating to a dormant scalp. I divide this treatment, stroking the hair 50 times upon arising in the morning and the remainder just before bedtime.