I love the intimacy of performers' dressing rooms. The excitement, the rush, mixed with a strong sense of quiet and calm, preparation and meditation.
The creative and charming clutter, makeup and dresses everywhere. The smell of sweat and perfume. The knock on the door: "You have three minutes!". The nervous giggles, the sound of the orchestra warming up. The silence.
Did I ever mention how I always wanted to be a performer? A dancer, a singer, an actress, a vaudeville star? :)
~ Entertainer Josephine Baker reflected in dressing room mirror while having her four-ft. chignon wound up into a three-tiered bun by her French maid before a show at the Strand theater during her US tour. ~
~ Dancer Gypsy Rose Lee relaxing in her trailer dressing room, with typewriter on her lap to use for writing between acts. ~
~ French Cancan dancers in various states of deshabille, getting ready in the dressing room of the Moulin Rouge nightclub before their performance. ~
~ Actress Betty Grable showing off black mesh stocking she is wearing for a scene that will feature her legs, in her dressing room at 20th Century Fox studios. ~
~ Debutante-actress Tina L. Meyer putting on false eyelashes in dressing room. (later known as Tina Louise, aka Ginger on TV show Gilligan's Island) ~
~ Actress Lucille Ball wearing tomato red lounging robe while lying on chaise longue in front of mirror in her dressing room. ~
~ Actor Charlie Chaplin at dressing room mirror giving himself a wide grin as a clown on set of his film "Limelight." ~
~ Natalia Ryzhenko, in dressing room of Bolshoi Theater, before performing "Swan Lake". ~
xoxoxo
{photos LIFE archive}
You made my day with pics of Josephine Baker (share a birthday with her!) and Gypsy Rose Lee! They're two of my matron saints! :) Great post.
Posted by: Miss Absinthe | June 17, 2009 at 04:04 PM
I love that color shot! So rich!
Posted by: Nicole | June 18, 2009 at 05:48 PM
i think you would make an INCREDIBLE vaudeville star!
Posted by: jasmine | June 18, 2009 at 08:47 PM
fabulous photos. luv them all.
Posted by: JAQ | June 19, 2009 at 11:31 AM