The above is a 1931 photograph of Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich. Does anyone have any more details to add? The patterned wall looks distinct. Where are they?
Well, i know little more about dietrich than the tiny bio I published of her a while ago ( http://theyhadfaces-silentfilmblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/blue-angel-marlene-dietrich-and-why-we.html ) . but when it comes to Joan, I happen to know a great deal. Ever since she saw "Morocco", Joan was OBSESSED with dietrich. playing her records constantly (which almost killed Greta when they were making grand hotel) and attending every one of her films she could possibly see. Many assume the two had an affair (like dietrich, Joan was bisexual) which is ironic, because in a few years Joan's then husband, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., would leave her and pursue an affair with dietrich... Sometimes it feels as if there are only ten people in Hollywood and they just keep fighting or sleeping with eachother (or maybe both) Venus
Amen. Most of what I've read about the personal lives of '30s film stars would lead me to believe they were playing a game of Six Degrees of Greta Garbo, who has allegedly been Dietrich's lover and rival even though little evidence exists to prove that they even met. I wonder whether Joan knew that Dietrich (according to Maria Riva) regarded her as a "cheap tap dancer."
This photo was, I believe, taken in 1934, at the Kit-Kat Club, in Hollywood. As to how much the two stars knew one another, I learned this, from a 1933 movie magazine: " The first time I met Marlene Dietrich she said (and Marlene was not speaking English so very "goot" then): "I think Joan Crawford is fascinating. I see all of her pictures." And this: "When Marlene Dietrich first arrived in this country, it looked as if she and Joan were to become the closest of pals. She was frequently a guest at Joan's house. But she has not been among those enjoying the Crawford hospitality for the past six months. Pure, unadulterated gossip has it that Marlene felt a little hurt after she had raved about Joan so much in print, to read in an article that Joan had selected Greta Garbo as her favorite actress!".
Do you happen to recall which movie magazine contains these quotes? I have never heard of the Kit-Kat Club in Hollywood (my research has only led me to one that Miss Crawford and Miss Dietrich certainly did not patronize, at least not in the state in which it appears in that linked page). I could, however, see this being a 1934 photo.
Unfortunately, the author and the name of the mag are not on the page, but I know it is from 1933, since the reverse side has a photo article on legal beer. The article was about the fickle nature of Crawford's friendships with other female stars. I will do more research on the KitKat/Cat Club. I know that I've seen that same wall background in several other photos, in which the club is named.
The name of the club may have been the Tingle Tangle club. I am searching my archives for verification. I have a photo of the two stars at a 1931 premiere(Joan with blonde hair), and two photos from 1932, of Joan, posing in her dressing room, with photos of Marlene and Maria, " the daughter of".
If you could, please share the photo from the 1931 premiere, which sounds like something I have never seen. I find the photos of Joan with the photos of Marlene and Maria in her dressing room charming and would venture to speculate that Marlene could have embodied some sort of ideal of combined Hollywood glamor and motherhood.
It was called the TINGLE TANGLE THEATRE. I found another photo, of others, that identifies the theatre.The article was " Joan, Jean and Connie- How Do They Rate With Women?, by Nancy Prior, 1933, movie magazine still unknown. Will try again to post photos. In case I can not, email me at mauryd1933@gmail.com, and I will email photos to anyone wishing to see them.
Thanks for following up! Do you mean New Movie Magazine? If so, could you identify which month that 1933 issue is? Many movie magazines from the '30s are now readily accessible online, and I can add a link to it if I know exactly which magazine and issue in which this article appears.
Buster's Pal, thanks for the info! The Tingel-Tangel opened in March 1934 with a revue called "Allez-oop". It was run by Friedrich Hollaender (who wrote the songs for "The Blue Angel") so Marlene's support isn't surprising.
In "Photoplay" later that year, Cal York reported that the behaviour of Joan Crawford's supposed romantic interest, Frances Lederer (whose girlfriend, Steffi Duna, worked at the Tingel-Tangel) at the nightspot, had upset Franchot Tone.(But not so much that Tone didn't return to the club on another evening, although he did look "glum").
On another evening Joan also went solo, having booked the entire last row (to be alone, according to "Modern Screen" of July 1934). Marlene was there that evening with von Sternberg, and went to chat with Joan for about 10 - 15 mins.Must be when the photo was taken?
Thank you, missladiva! I love to read all of your comments and info! Joseph, thank you for your interest, too! I do not know which movie mag printed the story by Nancy Pryor. I can't post any photos until I have the money to pay for a domain. As I said in my last post, I will email anyone the photo of the 1931 premiere with Marlene and a very blonde Joan, and the photo that has a caption about the Tingle Tangle Theatre. My email is mauryd1933@gmail.com.
Does anyone know the address of the U.S. Tingel-Tangel Theater? After reading a bit about this theater name in relation to Hollaender, I see that he had opened a Tingel-Tangel in Berlin, but--being Jewish--he left Germany by 1933 and unsuccessfully tried to re-establish the theater in the U.S. In Dorothy L. Crawford's A Windfall of Musicians, the author stated that the theater was in converted garage on Santa Monica Boulevard and that it opened in May 1934. Apparently, there was a guestbook signed by stars such as Chaplin. I wonder where that guestbook now is because it may have Dietrich and Crawford's signatures in it as well.
Well, that was fast! I found the answer to my own question. The Tingel-Tangel Theatre was at 8533 Santa Monica Blvd. I found a little ad for it that someone digitized.
Well, i know little more about dietrich than the tiny bio I published of her a while ago ( http://theyhadfaces-silentfilmblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/blue-angel-marlene-dietrich-and-why-we.html ) . but when it comes to Joan, I happen to know a great deal. Ever since she saw "Morocco", Joan was OBSESSED with dietrich. playing her records constantly (which almost killed Greta when they were making grand hotel) and attending every one of her films she could possibly see. Many assume the two had an affair (like dietrich, Joan was bisexual) which is ironic, because in a few years Joan's then husband, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., would leave her and pursue an affair with dietrich... Sometimes it feels as if there are only ten people in Hollywood and they just keep fighting or sleeping with eachother (or maybe both)
ReplyDeleteVenus
Amen. Most of what I've read about the personal lives of '30s film stars would lead me to believe they were playing a game of Six Degrees of Greta Garbo, who has allegedly been Dietrich's lover and rival even though little evidence exists to prove that they even met. I wonder whether Joan knew that Dietrich (according to Maria Riva) regarded her as a "cheap tap dancer."
ReplyDeleteThis photo was, I believe, taken in 1934, at the Kit-Kat Club, in Hollywood. As to how much the two stars knew one another, I learned this, from a 1933 movie magazine: " The first time I met Marlene Dietrich she said (and Marlene was not speaking English so very "goot" then): "I think Joan Crawford is fascinating. I see all of her pictures." And this: "When Marlene Dietrich first arrived in this country, it looked as if she and Joan were to become the closest of pals. She was frequently a guest at Joan's house. But she has not been among those enjoying the Crawford hospitality for the past six months. Pure, unadulterated gossip has it that Marlene felt a little hurt after she had raved about Joan so much in print, to read in an article that Joan had selected Greta Garbo as her favorite actress!".
ReplyDeleteDo you happen to recall which movie magazine contains these quotes? I have never heard of the Kit-Kat Club in Hollywood (my research has only led me to one that Miss Crawford and Miss Dietrich certainly did not patronize, at least not in the state in which it appears in that linked page). I could, however, see this being a 1934 photo.
DeleteUnfortunately, the author and the name of the mag are not on the page, but I know it is from 1933, since the reverse side has a photo article on legal beer. The article was about the fickle nature of Crawford's friendships with other female stars. I will do more research on the KitKat/Cat Club. I know that I've seen that same wall background in several other photos, in which the club is named.
DeleteThe name of the club may have been the Tingle Tangle club. I am searching my archives for verification. I have a photo of the two stars at a 1931 premiere(Joan with blonde hair), and two photos from 1932, of Joan, posing in her dressing room, with photos of Marlene and Maria, " the daughter of".
DeleteIf you could, please share the photo from the 1931 premiere, which sounds like something I have never seen. I find the photos of Joan with the photos of Marlene and Maria in her dressing room charming and would venture to speculate that Marlene could have embodied some sort of ideal of combined Hollywood glamor and motherhood.
DeleteIt was called the TINGLE TANGLE THEATRE. I found another photo, of others, that identifies the theatre.The article was " Joan, Jean and Connie- How Do They Rate With Women?, by Nancy Prior, 1933, movie magazine still unknown.
DeleteWill try again to post photos. In case I can not, email me at mauryd1933@gmail.com, and I will email photos to anyone wishing to see them.
spelling correction: Nancy Pryor
DeleteThanks for following up! Do you mean New Movie Magazine? If so, could you identify which month that 1933 issue is? Many movie magazines from the '30s are now readily accessible online, and I can add a link to it if I know exactly which magazine and issue in which this article appears.
DeleteBuster's Pal, thanks for the info! The Tingel-Tangel opened in March 1934 with a revue called "Allez-oop". It was run by Friedrich Hollaender (who wrote the songs for "The Blue Angel") so Marlene's support isn't surprising.
DeleteIn "Photoplay" later that year, Cal York reported that the behaviour of Joan Crawford's supposed romantic interest, Frances Lederer (whose girlfriend, Steffi Duna, worked at the Tingel-Tangel) at the nightspot, had upset Franchot Tone.(But not so much that Tone didn't return to the club on another evening, although he did look "glum").
On another evening Joan also went solo, having booked the entire last row (to be alone, according to "Modern Screen" of July 1934). Marlene was there that evening with von Sternberg, and went to chat with Joan for about 10 - 15 mins.Must be when the photo was taken?
Thank you, missladiva! I love to read all of your comments and info! Joseph, thank you for your interest, too! I do not know which movie mag printed the story by Nancy Pryor. I can't post any photos until I have the money to pay for a domain. As I said in my last post, I will email anyone the photo of the 1931 premiere with Marlene and a very blonde Joan, and the photo that has a caption about the Tingle Tangle Theatre. My email is mauryd1933@gmail.com.
DeleteDoes anyone know the address of the U.S. Tingel-Tangel Theater? After reading a bit about this theater name in relation to Hollaender, I see that he had opened a Tingel-Tangel in Berlin, but--being Jewish--he left Germany by 1933 and unsuccessfully tried to re-establish the theater in the U.S. In Dorothy L. Crawford's A Windfall of Musicians, the author stated that the theater was in converted garage on Santa Monica Boulevard and that it opened in May 1934. Apparently, there was a guestbook signed by stars such as Chaplin. I wonder where that guestbook now is because it may have Dietrich and Crawford's signatures in it as well.
DeleteWell, that was fast! I found the answer to my own question. The Tingel-Tangel Theatre was at 8533 Santa Monica Blvd. I found a little ad for it that someone digitized.
DeleteFor the record, here is a nice collection of fan movie magazines for anyone interested in perusing them: http://mediahistoryproject.org/fanmagazines/.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joseph! An informative and valuable collection to peruse!
Delete