Gender Fuck Thursday

I don’t know why, perhaps it was researching the great Greta last week, but I’ve been in a retro mood lately. Last Thursday we had The Original Gender Fuck Fatale, Marlene Dietrich. But Marlene wasn’t the only lady back in the day who could mess with what is masculine. Let’s face it, women in suits and menswear are hot now, then and forever. Another look back, in wonder.

Josephine BakerAmelia Earhart(Young) Joan CrawfordClara BowCarole LombardLauren BacallKatharine HepburnGreta Garbo

A look back in wonder

So as those of you who’ve been following my exercise in personal archeology known as moving have probably figured out by now that I am a fucking pack rat. I keep all sorts of things all kinds of long past their usefulness date. Good for nostalgia, bad for sanity. But today, instead of culling the past, how about we revel in it? So let’s get into our wayback machines and enjoy these snapshots from another era. Starlets of today, take note.

Julie AndrewsCirca 1957, in “Cinderella.”

Elizabeth TaylorCirca 1956, on the set of “Giant.”

Grace Kelly & Audrey HepburnCirca 1956, backstage at the Oscars.

Greta GarboCirca 1926, posing at USC.

Marilyn MonroeCirca I have no idea, but ohmygod those glasses.

Frida KahloCirca any year, any time, any place – just stunning.

My Weekend Crush

In honor of this weekend’s Academy Awards, I had wanted to make this Weekend Crush one of the nominated actresses. But then I realized that aside from the age-inappropriate ones and Amy Ryan (who, to be honest, I simply don’t know anything about), I had already pretty much crushed them all. Instead, I decided to take a trip back into Oscar’s 80-year history to honor an actress who, while she never won a statuette, left her indelible mark on both the awards and cinema. Greta Garbo was nominated three times for best actress, the first time in 1923 at only the third Academy Awards ever. Eventually in 1954, she was given an honorary Oscar. But Garbo’s greatness isn’t about the hardware. It transcends the normal trappings of fame and gets down to the heart of what it means to be a star.

That face, dear God, that face. With her perfect, broad cheekbones, intimidating arched eyebrows and slow, steady gaze, she gave nothing away. Some faces are open books, hers was a locked diary. But, oh, the secrets that waited inside, if only you knew the combination. Just her name alone, Garbo, has become synonymous with beauty and mystery. As an actress who emerged in the silent era, her first talkie was promoted breathlessly with “Garbo Talks!” -- which gives you an idea of the enigmatic figure she cut even back then. Her early exit from the industry, at age 36, only contributed to her mystique. Her sexuality was just as shrouded in mystery. Since her death in 1990, biographies have delved into her affairs with women including the poet Mercedes de Acosta and fellow actress Marlene Dietrich. And today, people still use her oft-quoted line from “Grand Hotel” as a plea for privacy: “I vant to be alone!” But a face like that will always leave us wanting more. Happy Oscars and happy weekend, all.