We are delighted to welcome back our friend Mollie Cox Bryan, whose new book, The Jean Harlow Bombshell, is out this month. We Chicks can’t wait to read it, especially since Mollie told us an incredible story about her connection to Jean the last time she was here. Welcome back and congratulations on the book, Mollie!
Chances are, if you’ve heard of the movie star Jean Harlow, one of the first things you think about is her platinum blonde hair. Indeed, she was famous for it—among other things, her snappy one-liners, her comedic acting talent, and her curves.
Today, if you want to sport that platinum shade of blonde, it’s much easier to attain than it was in 1930. The eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes came up with a moniker for her “the Platinum Blonde.” So, the name came first, then the color. The secret recipe was revealed decades later by her personal hairdresser: peroxide, ammonia, Clorox and Lux flakes. Which probably burned like heck.
Harlow repeated the painful process once a week, knowing that her hair was as much a part of her image as the long silky tight-fitting gowns she donned. This regime took a toll and she lost huge chunks of her hair prompting her to use wigs and, later, sport dark hair colors.
In 1937, age 26, and at the height of her career, Harlow died of kidney failure and uremic poisoning. Some believe that the heavy-duty dying process may have led to her demise. Ammonia and Clorox, when mixed, create hydrochloric acid, a noxious gas that can lead to kidney damage when inhaled. But this is just a theory.
Most likely, Harlow’s kidneys were damaged when she contracted scarlet fever at age 14. Kidney damage is a slow progressing disease often remaining undetected for years, especially in the 1930s. Harlow was also plagued with a host of health problems during her short life, including polio, meningitis, pneumonia, multiple bouts of influenza, and alcoholism—though the harsh hair bleach probably didn’t help matters.
But Jean Harlow was not the only movie star to go to such beauty extremes. It goes without saying (I hope) that you should not try any of this at home:
• Audrey Hepburn’s signature doe-eyed look came by separating her lashes one by one using a safety pin.
• Joan Crawford made her eyes “sparkle” by cleaning them twice a day with boric acid.
• Clara Bow restricted her diet to only 500 calories a day and rolled around the ground in tight clothing to lose weight.
• To achieve baby soft skin, Elizabeth Taylor exfoliated her face with a razor instead of a facial scrub.
Even though my newest book, The Jean Harlow Bombshell, is not a historical, I researched the time period, Hollywood, and actors, and I have to say I was the most fun research I’ve ever done. I have special place in my heart for Jean Harlow, as we’re distantly related. So she’s my favorite actor of the time—how about you? Who’s your favorite classic Hollywood actor? Answer in the comments to be entered to win an e-book of The Jean Harlow Bombshell.
Mollie Cox Bryan is a writer of women’s stories. Her stories have many forms: cookbooks, articles, essays, poetry and fiction. Mollie grew up near Pittsburgh, Pa., and attended Point Park University, where she received a B.A. in Journalism and Communications.
Mollie moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where she held a number of writing jobs, and has written about a diverse array of subjects, such as construction, mathematics education, and life insurance.
While working in the editorial field, Mollie lead local poetry workshops and was selected to participate in the prestigious Jenny McKean Moore Poetry Workshop. She was honored with an Agatha Award nomination for her first novel, SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS. Several books in the Cumberland Creek series have received People’s Choice nominations from the Library of Virginia.
Goodreads: MollieCoxBryan
Chicks on the Case 
Whoah! I am officially stopping complaining about beauty regimens of the 2000s.
Bette Davis is another wonderful actor of the day. Anybody see the television miniseries with her and Joan, The Feud?
Congratulations on the new book. Looks like a great read!
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Yes, I watched The Feud–great, but so sad!
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Thank you!
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I loved that show so much that when it was over, I rewatched the whole thing from the beginning. 🙂
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I probably have to go with Audrey Hepburn as my favorite classic actor, although admittedly I haven’t seen many classic movies. I did not know about all those beauty routines though. Scary. I would like to think we know better nowadays, but I suspect some would still go to any length to be beautiful regardless of the associated health hazards.
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Loved the Audrey movies too!
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Me too–the next book in the series focuses on Audrey!
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Yay! Can’t wait!
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My husband refers to that shade as Suicide Blonde (“dyed by her own hand”), and I see that there was some truth to that in Jean Harlow’s case. Bleagh.
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Suicide Blonde! Love it!
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Now I have that INXS song stuck in my head. Which I don’t mind at all…
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I hadn’t realized Harlow had died so young. Sigh… For me, it has to be Myrna Loy. Love her sass and smarts. And she went to Venice High School, near where I grew up.
Thanks for visiting us today, Mollie, and congrats on the new book!
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I look at some of those “beauty secrets” and I marvel at what stars put themselves through. Yikes! I’m glad I’m not a star of any age so I don’t have to worry about it.
I love old Hollywood, but I don’t know that I have a favorite star from that era – probably because I haven’t seen enough movies from the era to have one.
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Barbara Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell, Jean Harlow, and of course on the male side Cary Grant!
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Having just recently watched Rear Window and High Society, I would have to say Grace Kelly ~
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Grace was my first thought, too!
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Love her–and those movies!!
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Congrats on the new book, Mollie — looking forward to reading it! Thanks for hanging out today with the Chicks! As an old movies fan I can’t pick one fave, but I agree with the stars already mentioned, and I’ll add Judy Garland to the list.:)
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Oh, I love this!! I’m fascinated by the old-time movie stars, with a particular interest in the silent film actors. I don’t know why. I think it’s the period in Hollywood’s history that intrigues me. It’s sad how many succumbed to alcoholism.
Do I have a favorite? Hmm. Maybe Laurence Olivier? Or Tyrone Power? He was brilliant in NIGHTMARE ALLEY.
Congratulations, Molly! I can’t wait to read this!
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Welcome, Mollie, and congrats on the book! It sounds fantastic!!
Holy MOLY, these beauty regimens! Talk about dying to be gorgeous. Like Leslie, I didn’t realize that Harlow died so young. So sad.
As for a favorite actor/actress, that’s nearly impossible to say because I love so many! Today it’s Katharine Hepburn. 🙂
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That’s who I was going to say! 😀
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She was all kinds of wonderful. ❤
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Just loved your post, Mollie! And I’lll never complain about touching up my highlights every 4 months again. The book sounds like a lot of fun–great cover, too. My fave classic actress? ‘Tis Maureen O’Hara herself.
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Thank you!
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My favorite old Hollywood actor is Cary Gtant, and Katherine Hepbern.
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I already have the book and am enjoying it! My favorite actress is Greta Garbo and favorite actor is Cary Grant.
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Thank you!
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Hey Karen, thank you!
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Interesting info on Jean Harlow and other authors of that era. One of my favorite actresses was Katherine Hepburn.
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Also a Hepburn fan–both Kate and Audrey! Thanks so much for visiting us, Mollie, and I can’t wait to read your book.
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I loved Doris Day! Thanks for the chance
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I’m with Jess above on Doris Day–so wonderful! Also, a big Audrey Hepburn fan. How did she get that beautiful, graceful long neck? Actually, after reading the beauty regimens above, maybe I don’t want to know! Your new book sounds great–going on the TBR list. Thanks!
-Melanie
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I love Clark Gable! Legallyblonde1961 at yahoo dot com
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I love the Thin Man movies beyond measure. Myrna Loy and William Powell – together they were magical. Congratulations on the new series.
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Jean Harlow would certainly be one of my favorites as would William Powell, Maureen O’Hara, David Niven and Ginger Rogers…Movies were just “swell” back then. Thank you for the Contest.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
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I can’t believe what she went through – then again, I think no one should dye their hair – even today, it’s toxic. I don’t think I really have a favorite actor or actress from the classics, but I love old movies – even got a dvd set of Charlie Chaplin movies. Thanks for the contest.
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