The "It" Girls

Clara Bow

&

Louise Brooks

The "It" Girls

The 1920s saw America booming,  Clara Bow & Louise Brooks represented the era of the Flapper to millions.  The term "It" Girl began with Clara Bow starring in the film, "It" in 1927. Even so, both Louise & Clara already had "It" before the name stuck.

Clara Bow

Their lives took very different turns.  Louise Brooks made 25 Movies before deciding to leave the business to pursue reading, painting and writing books in 1938.  The end of Silent films did not prove to be the end of Louise's career as it did with many Silent film stars...including Clara Bow. 

Clara Bow made over 50 films but "Talkies" were a problem for her.  Her thick Brooklyn accent did not transfer.  Clara had a hard life as a child and again after her career ended.  She suffered through both money and relationship trouble.  Her mother was declared legally insane. Mom had attempted to cut Clara's throat when Clara told her she wanted to become an actress.  That's what I would call "lack of support."

Well Ain't She Stylin'???

No Date On This Photo But I Have To Assume It Was In The Late 1920's Prior To International Awareness Of The Nazi's Attrocities Or, In Most Cases, Even The Awareness That The Nazi's Were Using The Swastika As Their Symbol At The Time. The Swastika Dates Back Centuries And Was Used By The Hindu and Budist Religions.  

This Picture Has Caused A Lot Of Debate Over The Years.

I Would Think This Picture Has Caused A Lot Of Debate As Well...With Clara's Family

And This One...

And This One...

This One Not So Much...ALTHOUGH,

Her Mother Did Try To Kill Her For Becoming An Actress.

Let's Just Assume Everything Caused A Debate Back Then.

 

Louise Brooks

Both women hit their professional peak in the time of Flappers, Speak Easys and flowing money.  The 1st World War ("The Great War") had recently ended (1918). The Second World War was 10 to 12 years away and it was time to have some fun. Prohibition be damned.  People were drinking, dancing and raising hell.  Just an assumption but I would bet a few of them were also having sex...

Especially since women appear to have been running around naked in the 1920s.

Cool Pic...Nothing Like A Naked Woman Hula Hooping Unless It's

A Naked Woman On A Trampoline

Louise Left America For Europe At The End Of The 1920's. Her Two Biggest Films Were "Pandora's Box" and "Diary of a Lost Girl," which were both filmed in Weimar Germany in 1929.  You Would Think That Would Cause More Of An Uproar Than Clara Bow's Goofy Clothes.  Louise Was Actually Filming In Germany!?

In fairness, Clara Bow was considered THE "It" Girl of the 1920s. But Louise Brooks was the one of was far ahead of her time.  She was a feminist without really realizing it.  She believed woman had the same rights as men and people in general should do what they wanted in order to be happy.  That sounds like a real "It" Girl to me.