Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Only A Day Away

Following the end of the First World War the public was in the mood for a change.

Hemlines got higher and Hollywood embraced hedonism.

For America's girl-next-door Colleen Moore (born in 1900) the between-war Hollywood era appears to be one of scandal-free fun and adventure, not mention extremely profitable.

Getting her Hollywood break thanks to an uncle with movie connections, Moore received great notices for the 1917 film The Savage and as the lead in 1918's Little Orphant (sic) Annie but it was in 1923's Flaming Youth which cemented Moore as a style leader of the flapper era with her chic short hairstyle and gamine features.

Her star faded somewhat with the advent of talkies with her last film, an adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorn's classic The Scarlet Letter released in 1934.

Moore was an astute investor and remained independently weathy throughout her life. She wrote a book about stock market investment in 1969, established a film studio with King Vidor and built a lavish doll house, The Fairy Castle which regularly tours the United States under the care the Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago.

Moore died in 1988 of cancer.

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