New Forum for all you Flappers and Baby Vamps!

Hey you guys! I'm still slightly exiled, as I'm wrapping up this book project this weekend. There were some delays, mainly UPS hating me (their one day shipping took a week to get here...I know it makes no sense). Rodolfo orders will ship next week and there will be some cool stuff to announce then as well.

I feel bad being quiet over here at Perpetual Flapper, so I have a treat for you! We've had a Forum in the works for awhile over at The Rudolph Valentino Society, but it wasn't ready until now. Originally meant only for Rudy, I decided to expand it as what the hell...it's all costing me the same anyways! My hope is that it will be 'THE' place for any and everything related to silent film, for people as kooky as myself.

So there is a Rudy section, a silent film section, a preservation section, and the one you'll just adore: A Perpetual Flapper section! This will replace the ghetto yahoo groups we had for awhile, and God willing it will be much more active.

I've always wanted to see a place where people could make requests and share tips and photos. We Baby Vamps are at the forefront of something that Disney will surely make in vogue by Halloween next year. None the less who doesn't want a place to share tips about the plentiful $10 hat clearance section a most Urban Outfitters?

So join kids and spread the word (and post away like now): http://therudolphvalentinofilmfestival.com/phpbb/

Conversations with Rodolfo: Official Release date

Title: Conversations with Rodolfo: A Novel
Author: Hala Pickford
Publisher: 1921 PVG Publishing
Pages: 248
Price: $21
Release Date: December 1st, 2009 (preorders ship early!)
Click here to buy!
Click here to read an excerpt!

Hello kiddies! Yes I've disappeared, you would not believe how massively hard it is to get a book ready for publishing. There might not be many articles here this month, but come December I promise I will return to not pulling my hair out again!

For those of you not in the know (for shame!) "Conversations with Rodolfo" is my first novel, based on the idea of "What if Rudolph Valentino didn't die in 1926? What would have happened?" I followed two basic rules: 1) Whatever happened really happened (so his whole life before 1926) and 2) Everything in the future would stay the same, unless he influenced it in some way. Needless to say its pure fiction (sorry kookies Rudy doesn't take my calls, must rely on my imagination only) but its fun. I got to 'fix' a lot of things I didn't like in film history, and I got to weave people together who really should have worked together more than they did.

The story starts with Rudy, now a 109 year old man (yes, men can live that long), being interviewed by his granddaughter Gloria's boyfriend Michael. Thus the title. Through the interviews we get to hear his life story, everything from his childhood in Italy to his honorary Oscar in the 70s.

Preliminary reviews are good, so I'm very eager to see what everyone else has to say. Presales have been quite good too. Preorders will start shipping in 2 weeks, so if you order now you'll get it the minute its off the presses. Also I'll be autographing the preorders...so that must add a value of 5 cents or something like it. To preoder click here.

The 'official' release date is December 1st, as it will be available at all online retailers by then (including Amazon). There will be some really cool contests coming up, but don't worry if you preorder I'll make sure you still get a chance at the goodies. I'm really excited...I don't think I can wait 2 weeks!!!

So...spread the word! And I must quote The Critic here, "Buy my book! Buy my book! Buy my book!" And yes I will be back to writing here and FTT soon...just let me finish pulling my hair out.

Things that make me happy: bobby pins tip!

This is gonna sound a bit like a bad Seinfeld joke: What's the deal with those bobby pins sold on cardboard slips? I mean...what do I do with them once I use them?

Long long ago, before I even really knew why I'd ever use them, I bought some Conair bobby pins that came in their own little nifty plastic box. Recently I decided to by some gold ones for actual wear instead of styling...and I found there is a severe annoyance involved: no holders.

Sure I could buy the big honking packs that came with a newer, cheaper looking plastic box (uglier too!) But those didn't come in gold. The only gold ones came on that damn cardboard slip...and after one attempt at using them I became quite annoyed as I was losing them all over the bathroom.

Now to another Seinfeld joke: What is the deal with gelatin in everything? I mean...why?!

As a vegetarian I'm always on the look out for gelatin (stick with me, yes this is still related to the bobby pins!) I'll spare you meaties the details (click here, but you were warned!) but lets just say it ain't a pretty process. Usually used to make foods gooey (like Jello or Marshmellows) they stick it in the damnedest places including mints. WHY would a hard mint need gelatin? God only knows. So for much of my life I had to go mint-less.

Until at a little store here in LA I seen the cutest mint tins, and even though they were $7 they had no gelatin! So I bought one. Then I used all the mints. I figured the little tin must be good for something, so I kept it.

In a moment of serendipity the two connected: these tins are PERFECT to hold bobby pins! Not only that but they are quite cute and perfect to stick in a purse and look all chic like. They're made by Lucy Lu, and you can pick like a million designs. Click here to purchase.

Who is your favorite actress?

I think it goes without saying my favorite actress would be either Mary Pickford or Gloria Swanson. Wild parallels, but both were quite fantastic in their own rights. Both were also quite hands on behind the scenes as well (Mary more so, but Gloria totally went behind everyone's backs to make Sadie Thompson...so...again tie!)

After bumbling my way to the 50s with the Top Style Icon article I wanted some input as I know so many of you out there love the 30s-50s more than I do. So flappers and baby vamps...who is your favorite actress? The only rule is it must be someone from between 1910 and 1960. If you like you could go decade by decade as well.

For an upcoming project I'm in need of finding out which actresses or film types (if any...color me skeptical) worked behind the scenes especially 1930-1960. Seems once the 20s ended so did women's role in film.

Post your opinions in the comments section!

Books update!

So I have some wicked news! Conversations with Rodolfo is preselling so well I'm moving the official release date to December 9th (so everyone can get it by Xmas!) Order now and it will ship first thing on the 9th. Editing is a boring process, but its nearing completion. Click here for more information/orders (and a an excerpt!). I'm super proud of it really...I finally wrapped the ending to perfection...almost made myself cry!

Then the crappy news. I think I shot myself in the foot with Perpetual Flapper...the DVD goody confused everyone and presales have been weak because of it (and presales are important because thats how I'm able to publish without eating from the garbage can for a year). So I'm fixing it: preorder "Perpetual Flapper" BEFORE January 1st, 2010 AND you will get the instructional DVD. The book will be released April 3rd, 2010 (yes I had to move it back a little). But if you order after the start of the year well...no special DVD for you! Click here for more information/orders.

Creative Blogger Award QnA

I don't usually do these things because they are silly and when they ask questions its usually about 30s stars I don't know. But I decided to take Kate Gabrielle's cue and make it a little mini self interview. I loves it! No one ever interviews me anyways...so I'll do it myself!

1. I never watched movies as a kid. My parents were rural hicks who didn't see much point to it, so movies were basically a means of babysitting as evidenced by the fact that after 10 years of not seeing Disney's Cinderella I could still remember every word.

2. When I grew up and moved to Orlando I decided to take in more of the world around me and enjoy the arty films they showed. One small venue, which closed soon after, was screening "Beyond the Rocks" as it had just been rediscovered. I went as I had always wanted to see a silent for reasons I don't really know. Here is an article about my impressions. The main one? "I don't know who this Valentino guy is but its a shame he's dead!"

3. For the most part Gloria Swanson and Mary Pickford are my idols (yes I bet you knew that). I admire Mary' business sense and skill, while I have taken Gloria's health advice to heart which has oddly been helpful these past few emergency surgery filled years. I'm gonna try macrobiotics soon inspired by her. However if I lived in the 20s I'd rather have been a vamp...I can't lie the whole 'woman takes man's money and life and sexuality and runs off laughing' speaks to me somehow. I think I just heard the sound of many men running for the hills...

4. I have a real conundrum if time travel was ever invented: marry Charlie Chaplin or Rudy? Needless to say Rudy is a major part of my life but Charlie Chaplin (praise be his name) is my religion (Chaplinism). He was hellit handsome too. These are the things that keep me up at night.

5. The thing that inspired Perpetual Flapper was my want of Pickford curls. I googled and googled but could not find the recipe. Finally via some book and interview research I found it (ironically though Mary used hot tools for hers in the early years). But why would the old men of FTT want to read about that? I figured there was much more I'd like to relearn so I started this site. And wrote a book (preorder by December 1st to get the free DVD!)

6. No I don't think like many other vintage people that I was born in the wrong era. Of course I believe in reincarnation too.

7. In all sorts of irony I hate writing. Ever since I was little I've been good at it but I never considered it a career. Its basically something I get in spurts to do (which explains my bursts of activity and then months of inactivity), and then I go all out. I read a lot (in similar spurts) but I barely ever read fiction. Conversations with Rodolfo was supposed to be a short story for the film festival's anthology.

Many things led up to the story but the key was after I had been bitching about the death fests my Grandmother asked me, "Well what do you think would have happened if he lived?" (I should note here my Grandmother barely knew who he was, and despite her insistence she has, she has never seen Son of the Sheik). So I wrote it out despite my aversion to fiction. I actually started reading more fiction to prep for it. I must say I'm very proud of the final product, particularly after I let it sit for a few months and then read it over only to discover a certain death scene made me very sad (hint: its not Rudy's). It is perhaps the greatest novel ever written towards a silent film fan audience as there are so many winks and nudges I am certain they will love it. Or I'll cry.

Well I'll be damned: A Flapper in Fringe!

KC from The Classic Movie blog sent me the most interesting email: she found a flapper wearing a fringe dress! Above is dancer Bee Jackson in a fringe dress, taken from the wonderful Art Deco blog. The book Mariana found it in claims it was from the 1920s wearing a 'style that was popular at the time'. The book also claims she's wearing slave bracelets, which I think they've confused with Valentino. Ironically Mariana posted it right before my fringe question! I wonder what year in the 20s it was taken...

After a little googling I found Bee Jackson was a dancer mostly known for the Charelston which she claimed to invent (but did not). She made a film in 1925 and it was apparently dreadful. Seems her fame and dancing was mostly 1925-1929ish. So I'm betting this photo is from between those years .

This is quite surprising! KC noted, "It's the first one I've ever seen!" Ditto. Most dresses from that time followed the Anita Page style: an accent of fringe usually near the skirt. This is by far and wide the first I've seen really on a legitimate flapper! If you look closely it looks like the fringe is below the breasts only, and I'm not sure it goes around to the back of the dress. But still its the closest thing anyone has found so far!

So this raises the question: did the full fringe start with Bee? Was it really widespread at the time (anyone got more photos?) Or did someone see a photo of the self proclaimed Charleston inventor and decide this was indeed the look to define the 20s? I am so very curious!