Joan, before coat hangers.

Iconista has a theory that all Hollywood stars are profoundly damaged. If they were well-adjusted and fulfilled, they'd stay home and knit.

Who would seek stardom unless driven by some screaming inner demon?

But, with all damaged people, there was a time when they were the victims, soon to be survivors; a time before they became the damagers of others.

With that in mind, enjoy these early pictures of Ms Crawford, freshly escaped from a nightmare childhood; simply in search of something better.

I was Marlene's Double

Marlene's Body double. I can see why. She has that same way of standing. Like she's only here because she has to be.

"Actress Tala Birell was born on September 10, 1907 in Romania. She was a body double for Marlene Dietrich in many of her German films. Birell is best remembered for her film appearance in Bringing Up Baby (1938). Other notable film credits include Lets Fall in Love (1933) and Crime and Punishment (1935). She died on February 17, 1958 in Landstuhl, Germany and is buried at the Cemetery of Marquartstein in Bayern, Germany."

More Gwili

The mourning continues.

Gwili Andre by Ernest Bachrach

Gwili is a doll. Killed herself in a fire fuelled by old movie stills after her career fizzled. Iconista mourns her. Daft cow.

A. L. Whitey Schaefer

Iconista can find no mention of this dude. His work must speak for him. Though it sings rather than speaks. This is not a prosaic man.

Muses Ain't What They Used to Be

"Anna Karina is a Danish-born, French actress who was the muse of the director, Jean-Luc Godard." 

A dull description of an essentially dull doll, but Iconista likes the idea of Anna Karina because she's so Nouvelle Vague, bless. Looks-wise, Iconista puts her in a similar category to Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn - cute. It's not a good category unless you want to get laid, or adopted. But enjoy. Three pictures were all Iconista could bear before nausea crept in. 

Iconista is willing to concede that this is probably the coolest dance scene ever.

Little and Often

A trying week for Iconista, not without its highlights although, having come within a whisker of running down a cyclist and a pedestrian in her two-seater, she has decided to dust off her chauffeur. But, before she goes to blow away his cobwebs, she'd like to share today's sweetest finds.