The Vivacious Clara Bow
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010“A sex symbol is a heavy load to carry when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.”- Clara Bow
It is the perfect day to reminisce about the forgotten stars of yesterday. I’ve been reading about Clara Bow and while I knew she was a famous actress in the 20’s, I wanted to learn more about her. I feel as though a part of me can identify with Clara. After learning so much about her life, I no longer look at her as a flapper and actress, I have a lot of respect for her and sympathize with what she went through.
There was something about Clara Bow; she truly did break the mold. She is a style icon among many things. While she was not the one who started the whole “Flapper” trend, Clara is best remembered at one of the first & finest Flapper gals of her time. On the exterior she was a bubbly energetic person but inside she was terribly lonely and was still very much affected by her destitute, troubled childhood filled with hatred & mental illness (which affected her the rest of her life).
She was not a woman of elegance & grace. But she was vivacious, passionate, and untamed – but most of all, she was genuine. She was not “book smart”, but she knew how to work an audience with her eyes. She always kept them coming back for more. She personified sex appeal. She definitely had “It”.
I’ve always been intrigued with the whirlwind passionate love affairs of Old Hollywood. Yes, it’s totally uncultivated but there is something so fascinating about it all. Clara’s life was definitely filled with plenty of affairs & engagements to some of Hollywood’s handsome men (passing up on Gilbert Roland and young Gary Cooper? What were you thinking, girl?!).
Clara was no different than the rest of the Hollywood crowd-wild parties, drinking, sex-they all did it. But what I found so interesting is that many actresses of the day had to sign moral clauses in their contracts. Clara got out of signing one. Her public did not care about what she did off-screen; they loved her.
What I find so tragic about her life and career is that she was constantly taken advantage of by those close to her, including her father. Producer Ben Schulberg exploited Clara the most, making as much money as he could off of her, giving her a mere $200 a week; she was worth way more.
I will always admire Clara Bow for her genuine personality & amazing acting abilities-she really could talk with her eyes. She truly was and will always be the original “It” girl.
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