My Oscar Night Tribute to the Movies

I turned my attention back to more frivolous and fun matters after 10 days buried in 2011 bookkeeping. The tax preparation is complete & FAXed to the CPA.  Except for a meeting next Thursday to review the numbers, the bulk of my work is done for 2011.  What a relief!!!!!!!!

I grew up in LA, in the 1950s. Our parents owned a business in Hollywood and would park my brother and I in the movie theatre on Saturdays while they worked. We first watched the serial, a short chapter film, ending with a cliff- hanger, to be continued next week. Film series included Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon, Billy the Kid and Buck Rogers. Captain Marvel, Rocketman, Perils of the Darkest Jungle, King of the Carnival & Blazing the Overland Trail. The short movie serial was followed by a cartoon, then Movietone newsreels then the main feature.  One of our favorite theaters was the glamourous, popular & famous Grauman's Chinese Theater, coveted for Hollywood studio premiers. I was one of those fans who flocked to these events to see the celebrities arrive and walk up the red carpet into the theatre.  Rich in movie tradition, with its cement handprints & footprints in the forecourt, the Chinese Theatre immortalizes the brightest stars.  

Tonight, while watching the Oscars I reflected on those days and my style.  I moved to Berkeley in 1960 to go to the University of California, CAL Berkeley. Berkeley is true to it's stereotype, a place for serious intellectual endeavors; and does not embrace glamour.  I arrived with bleached blond bouffant hair & immediately died it brown and wore it straight down to match the norm. But I continued to love glamour.  I embraced the "back to nature girl" look in the 60s while a student & women's liberation stance, working in academia in the early 70s.  But as soon as I began working in the real world I embraced my love for glamour; I learned that being pretty & stylish was the perfect complement to being smart, serous, competent & successful. I dressed up. People often asked me where I was visiting from!!  You can take the girl out of Hollywood but you cannot take Hollywood out of the girl. So here I am wearing my red furry tribute to Hollywood glamour, handmade for me by my dear & talented friend, Ethel.