Hair Today Gone Tomorrow February 21, 2010

The Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028

Co-presented with the American Cinematheque.

What could a world class tennis player, a murderous housewife, a female evangelist, and a Hollywood star possibly have in common? Bobbed hair! The turbulent years from the mid-1910s until the stock market crashed in 1929 provided the ideal climate for political and social change -- and any hairstyle that could become the topic of editorials, sermons, and cartoons during that time bears investigation. In addition to reflecting upon the broader impact of the bob, we’ll examine the lives of both famous and infamous women who sported this provocative hairdo. Some of these women behaved well and others badly, but at least they all looked chic.

Lecture presented by Joan Renner. Joan is a social historian and writer. She volunteers for the Los Angeles Police Historical Society, Los Angeles Art Deco Society, Los Angeles Conservancy, and is a board member for the non-profit organization, Photo Friends. As a guide for the LA-based tour company Esotouric, she has created a personality profile of Elizabeth Short (aka The Black Dahlia), based upon Short’s choice of makeup. Joan’s blog, vintagepowderroom.com, explores history, women, and art, and provides her with a transparent excuse to add to her extensive collection of over 500 beauty related items.

Following the lecture will be a screening of "IT", 1927, Kino, 72 min. Dir. Clarence G. Badger. The film that launched a thousand bobbed hairdos, IT stars the remarkably sassy Clara Bow as Betty Lou, a department store worker who has "It" (a.k.a. sex appeal). What does an It Girl do when the man of her dreams doesn't know she exists? She dates his best friend! This attention-getting technique works swimmingly, but complications arise when Betty Lou is mistakenly written up in the daily newspaper as an unwed mother. A flirty, fashionable romp about class politics.

Tickets are $7 for members of ADSLA and American Cinematheque. Regular American Cinematheque prices apply for the general public ($11) and students/seniors ($9) and will be available shortly at Fandango.com, or purchased on the day of the event at the door. Please bring your ADSLA membership card with you to the box office.

The Egyptian Theatre is located between Las Palmas and McCadden, just east of Highland Avenue, north of Selma Avenue. $2 per hour metered and parking available near the theatre. $2 for four hours validated parking available at Hollywood & Highland. There are also pay parking lots on Las Palmas and Cherokee that cost approximately $10. Why not take the metro? The Egyptian is a very short walk east from the Hollywood & Highland METRO station.

Official Website: http://adsla.org/