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Norma Shearer - Galleries - Norma et les autres
 
 
 

INTRODUCTION

 

HER STORY

 

QUOTES

 

TRIVIA

 

NICKNAME

 

GALLERY

 

CURIOS

 

VOX POPULI

 

SHOP

 

LINKS

 

FILMS

 

BOOKS

 

WALLPAPERS

 

E-CARDS

 

MAGIC

 

SORCERESS

 

VAULTS

 

CHAT


 

at peace

buttons & bows

diva wallpapers

divine links

eye-catching

from I do to I'll sue

kiddies' korner

life-savers

spawn of diva

mommie dearest

star-studded

when divas meet



 

Ciro's, Earl Carroll's, the Mocambo, Slapsy Maxie's, the Trocadero, the Cocoanut Grove. For the average filmgoer, the names of these famous Hollywood night spots were enough to evoke an atmosphere of glamour and sophistication.


 
Scandal


The Hollywood Book of Scandals : The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds and Affairs of Over 100 American Movie and TV Idols by James Robert Parish

Dishing Hollywood: The Real Scoop on Tinseltown's Most Notorious Scandals by Laurie Jacobson

Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets by Kenneth Anger

Hollywood Haunted: A Ghostly Tour of Filmland by Laurie Jacobson

The Hollywood Book of Extravagance by James Robert Parish

Celebrity Secrets: Official Government Files on the Rich and Famous by Nick Redfern
 

 

The subject of who were the best party-givers in Hollywood was much discussed in the fan magazines. In an August 1939 Photoplay story, Elsa Maxwell-- who certainly qualified as an expert-- rated her movieland correspondents. High on her list were the Bennett sisters, Constance and Joan, Kay Francis, the Gary Coopers, Mrs. Samuel Goldwyn, Myrna Loy and Arthur Hornblow ("best chicken sandwiches and cake at their Sunday afternoons"), the Rathbones, Louella Parsons ("greatest barbecue thrower"), Chaplin ("educational evenings" with Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann), Douglas Fairbanks (the "Continental touch"), the Darryl Zanucks ("most elaborate dinners west of the Hudson"), and the Jack Warners ("spectacular").


 
Books


Hollywood Ghosts and Gravesites

The Hollywood Book of Death : The Bizarre, Often Sordid, Passings of More than 125 American Movie and TV Idols by James Robert Parish

Death Certificates of the Rich and Famous by Gerard H. Reinert

Rock 'n' Roll Heaven by Nikki Corvette

Final Curtain: Deaths of Noted Movie and Television Personalities by Everett Grant Jarvis, Lois A. Johe

Going Out in Style: The Architecture of Eternity by Douglas Keister, Xavier Cronin

What a Way to Go : Fabulous Funerals of the Famous and Infamous by Chronicle Books LLC Staff, Adele Q.

Hollywood Death and Scandal Sites: Sixteen Driving Tours with Directions and the Full Story, from Tallulah Bankhead to River Phoenix by E. J. Fleming

Hollywood Death Scenes by Corey Mitchell

Hollywood Remains to Be Seen: A Guide to the Movie Stars' Final Homes by Mark J. Masek
 

 

Shearer's film career can be easily organized: from 1920 to 1929, in which she rose to stardom and married Thalberg; 1929 to 1931, in which she moved successfully into sound, won an Oscar, and defined Hollywood's idea of the sophisticated, glamorous modern woman; 1932 to 1939, in which every role she played was designed to be "important"; and 1940 to 1942, her fairly sad swan song in which she struggled to deal with a world that had changed but her roles hadn't.


Norma's beauty and charisma cast a spell upon whomever was fortunate enough to be graced with her presence. Modest and gracious as she was, her nevertheless vibrant glow was reflected and multiplied a thousandfold thanks to her multi-faceted inner glow. Witness...

 

Agnes De Mille Agnes De Mille Agnes De Mille George Cukor
       
George Cukor George Cukor, cast and crew of Romeo and Juliet George Cukor, cast of The Women cast of The Women
       
Cast and Crew of The Women George Cukor, cast of The Women Gilbert Adrian Gilbert Adrian
       
Gilbert Adrian Gilbert Adrian Gilbert Adrian Gilbert Adrian
       
Gilbert Adrian Gilbert Adrian Gilbert Adrian Norma Shearer, Douglas Shearer
       
Douglas Shearer Douglas Shearer Douglas Shearer Douglas Shearer
       
Conrad Nagel Conrad Nagel Conrad Nagel Marie Dressler
       
George Arliss, Marie Dressler, Lionel Barrymore George Arliss, Marie Dressler, Lionel Barrymore Marie Dressler Marie Dressler
       
Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler Lionel Barrymore Leslie Howard, Gary Cooper, Lionel Barrymore Eddie Mannix, Clark Gable
       
Mickey Rooney, Robert Montgomery, Clark Gable, Louis B. Mayer, William Powell, Robert Taylor, Rosalind Russell, Lionel Barrymore Rooney, Montgomery, Gable, Mayer, Powell, Taylor, Russell, Barrymore Mickey Rooney, Robert Montgomery, Lionel Barrymore, Clark Gable, L.B. Mayer, Robert Taylor, Rosalind Russell Clark Gable
       
Clark Gable and Ria Langham Irving Thalberg, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gable This is the famous, tricked photo that fan magazines ran announcing Norma and Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind Clark Gable
       
Herbert Marshall Clark Gable Herbert Marshall Clark Gable Clarence Brown, Leslie Howard, Clark Gable Helen Hayes, Clark Gable
       
Helen Hayes Irving Thalberg, Mr and Mrs Clark Gable, Mr and Mrs Robert Montgomery Luise Rainer, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow Clark Gable, Clarence Brown
       
Clark Gable, Hunt Stromberg Mr and Mrs Gary Cooper, Myrna Loy Gary Cooper Gary Cooper
       
Gary Cooper George Raft Mr and Mrs Cooper George Raft and Gary Cooper Mignon Weidemann,  Mrs Ned McLean, Van Johnson, Mrs Gary Cooper
       
Tyrone Power Tyrone Power Tyrone Power Tyrone Power
       
Louis B. Mayer, Helen Hayes, Tyrone Power Helen Hayes W.S. Van Dyke Hunt Stromberg, W.S. Van Dyke
       
William Randolph Hearst Marion Davies Ernst Lubitsch, Marion Davies, Ramon Novarro, Philippe DeLacy Ramon Novarro, Ernst Lubitsch, other crew members of The Student Prince
       
Ramon Novarro, Ernst Lubitsch, other crew members of The Student Prince Ramon Novarro, Jean Hersholt Robert Z. Leonard Robert Z. Leonard
       
Johnny Mack Brown, Robert Z. Leonard Sam Wood and Johnny Mack Brown Sam Wood and other crew member of The Latest from Paris Irving Thalberg, Jean Harlow
       
Irving Thalberg, Jean Harlow, Jean Harlow Carpenter, Marino Bello, Paul Bern Mary Pickford Mary Pickford and Lady Sylvia Ashley Robert Evans
       
Robert Evans naturalization official Don Wilson unknown announcer
       
Irving Thalberg, Jr. Irving Thalberg, Jr. Brian Aherne Brian Aherne
       
James Kirkwood, Reginald Barker George Fitzmaurice Lord Marley, Ralph Forbes, Edmund Goulding, Herbert Marshall Clifton Web, Reginald Denny and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
       
Jean Simmons, Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr Mrs. Jorge Guinle, Robert Cummings, Martin Arrouge and Mary Cummings Thomas Mitchell, Charles Boyer, Edward G. Robinson Franklin Ardell, Paulette Goddard, Charlie Chaplin
       
Athole Shearer, Binnie Barnes, ski instructors Louis B. Mayer and Lord Astor Victor Fleming and Mervyn LeRoy production team of He Who Gets Slapped
       
Mae Busch, Reginald Barker Professor W. D. MacDonald and the dean of the University of Southern California Professor W. D. MacDonald and the dean of the University of Southern California the dean of the University of Southern California
       
Basil Rathbone, Sidney Franklin, and crew member of The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Owen Moore, Sidney Franklin Robert Montgomery, Lewis Stone and other cast members of The Divorcee Robert Montgomery
       
June Allyson Hobart Henley studio nurse Irma Petersen, injured set electrician cast and crew of "We Were Dancing"
       
MGM Manicurist Lola Beardsley Louella Parsons Louella Parsons Sydney Guilaroff
       
Kalloch Darryl Zanuck George Murphy Leslie Howard
       
Van Johnson William Wyler, Howard Hawks Sid Grauman Edith Shearer
       
Lily Pons Robert Montgomery Robert Montgomery Billy Burke (with Judy Garland in background)
       
Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins Dolores Del Rio Dolores Del Rio Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, Dolores Del rio, Countess di Frasso
       
Louis B. Mayer Louis B. Mayer Louis B. Mayer Moss Hart
       
Marjorie Moss-Goulding and Lady Stanley Irving Thalberg, Jr. Edith Shearer Spencer Tracy
       
Hedda Hopper Alfred C. Vanderbilt Claudette Colbert, George Raft Edith Shearer, Athole Shearer
       
Canadian Olympic Team Rosalind Russell, Burgess Meredith James Stewart, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Merle Oberon James Stewart, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Merle Oberon
       
Hedy Lamarr, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., James Stewart, Reginald Gardiner Sir Adrian Baillie, Cedric Gibbons, Dolores Del Rio Leslie Howard wardrobe mistress
       
Jean Arthur Paul Bern, Louis B. Mayer, Aileen Pringle, H. L. Mencken, Irving Thalberg, Harry Rapf Irene Rich, John E. Abbott Princess De Rethy (fourth from left), wife of King Leopold III of Belgium
       
Lana Turner, Martin Arrouge Martin Arrouge, Lana Turner George Cukor Oliver Messel Louis Hayward
       
Mrs. Compton Bilicks, Dolores Del Rio Robert Taylor Robert Taylor Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks
       
Peggy Hamilton postman Kay Francis, William Powell William Powell, Errol Flynn, Marion Davies, Kay Francis, Jack Warner
       
Irving Thalberg, Douglas Fairbanks, Marion Davies Don Wilson, Jack Carson, Nelson Eddy Robert Z. Leonard, crew members Strange Interlude Sam Wood
       
Fredric March, Lee Garmes, Sidney Franklin Mickey Rooney Van Johnson, Janet Leigh Janet Leigh, Van Johnson,
       
Robert Taylor, Mervyn LeRoy, Lawrence Weingarten, Alla Nazimova Merle Oberon Merle Oberon Merle Oberon
       
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon Chris McArthur, James Stewart, Helen Hayes Gracie Allen
       
Cedric Gibbons Peggy Shannon Nancy Carroll Ralph Forbes Edna May Oliver Robert Evans
       
Louis B. Mayer Hobart Henley Lew Cody Bebe Daniels James Montgomery Flagg Miss Waterbury Merle Oberon
       
Melvyn Douglas Lee Bowman Melvyn Douglas Lee Bowman Robert Z. Leonard Prince William of Sweden Sam Wood Ralph Forbes
       
Polly Moran Jackie Cooper Greer Garson Jack Holt Eva von Berne
       
Carl Laemmle Marion Davies, Merle Oberon Yves Montand Irving Thalberg, Marion Davies, Mr and Mrs Will Hays
       
Irving Thalberg, Marion Davies, Mr and Mrs Will Hays Irving Thalberg, Marion Davies, Matt Moore Norma Shearer, Arthur Rubinstein, Patricia Knight, Cornel Wilde, Martin Arrouge ???
       
Norma Shearer, Lew Cody Martin Arrouge and ??? Norma Shearer, Louis B. Mayer, Will Hays Brian Aherne, Chico Marx, Martha Raye
       
Irving Thalberg Marion Davies Louis B. Mayer Irving Thalberg, Leila Hyams, S. Charles Lee, Owen Lee, Raquel Torres,  Sidney Weisman Charles Laughton, Fredric March
       
cast of The Women Lucille_Watson Mary Pickford, Martin Arrouge Melvyn Douglas, Louella Parsons
       
William Powell, Louella Parsons Gene Raymond, Jeanette MacDonald and ??? J. Robert Rubin, Nicholas M. Schenck, Irving Thalberg Norma Shearer, Greer Garson, Donald Crisp, Mary Pickford, Claudette Colbert
       
Norma Shearer, Robert Taylor, Chill Wills Mrs Compton Belicke, Dolores Del Rio David Niven Lon Chaney
       
Leslie Howard Leslie Howard Leslie Howard
       
Leslie Howard Leslie Howard and ??? Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard Leslie Howard
       
Leslie Howard Leslie Howard Maurice Chevalier, Gloria Swanson, Irving Thalberg, Herbert Marshall Clark Gable, Clarence Brown and Hunt Stromberg
       
George Raft and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cooper George Raft and Alex Korda Mary Alden, Huntley Gordon and Reginald Barker Martin Arrouge, Constance Collier
       
Arch Oboler Hedy Lamarr, Samuel Goldwyn, Claudette Colbert, Adolphe Menjou Donald Ogden Stewart, Fredric March, Mrs. Howard Hawks (Athole Shearer), Irving Thalberg, Sidney Franklin, Albert Lewin, Leslie Howard Irving Thalberg, John Gilbert, Virginia Bruce
       
Gary Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Fredric March studio musicians Janice Babliona, Frank Shields  
       

 

Additional photographs of Norma socializing can be found in following galleries :

Mrs. Thalberg     beyond Thalberg     dueling eyebrows     color photographs

 

[ click here to return to Norma's galleries ]

 


 

 
Most recent


Irving Thalberg, Marcus Loew, Harry Rapf

David O. Selznick, Irene Mayer

Fredric March, Barbara Stanwyck

George Raft

George Raft, Adolphe Menjou

Woody Van Dyke, Tyrone Power

Peter Ward, Athole, Andrew & Edith Shearer, J. Robert Rubin

Aileen Pringle, Rosalind Russell, George Cukor

Herbert Marshall

Douglas Shearer

Joan Crawford

Pierre Balmain

unidentified fan

Gary Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Fredric March.jpg

Leslie Howard

Martin Arrouge, Mrs. Quentin Reynolds, Lt. Stehlin

wardrobe mistress

George Raft, Charles Boyer, Pat Patterso

Jeanette MacDonald, Gene Raymond

Sidney Franklin, Fredric March, Charles Laughton

Hedda Hopper

Martin Arrouge, Joan Crawford
 



 

Going Out


Out With the Stars: Hollywood Nightlife in the Golden Era by Jim Heimann

Hollywood Then and Now by Rosemary Lord

Nightclub Nights: Art, Legend, and Style 1920-1960 by Susan Waggoner

Chasen'S, Where Hollywood Dined: Recipes and Memories by Betty Goodwin

Hollywood Du Jour: Lost Recipes of Legendary Hollywood Haunts by Betty Goodwin

Brown Derby Restaurant by Sally Wright Cobb

Dancing at Ciro's: A Family's Love, Loss, and Scandal on the Sunset Strip by Sheila Weller

Stork Club : America's Most Famous Nightspot and the Lost World of Cafe Society by Ralph Blumenthal

21: Every Day Was New Year's Eve by H. Peter Kriendler
 

 

At a partry thrown by William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies, with an all-American theme, Norma Shearer, who disliked being dictated to, chose to disregard the terms of the invitation and arrived as Marie Antoinette. Her period skirts were so voluminous that the seats had to be removed from her car before she could enter it, and she was unable to pass through the main door of the Davies beach house. Marion, according to her own account, told Shearer she would have to take off the dress. A noisy argument ensued, which was joined by Hedda Hopper, who berated Shearer for indelicately appearing as a Frenchwoman when Mr. Hearst had just been thrown out of France. The Queen of the M-G-M lot eventually managed to effect an entrance by way of the ballroom.



 

 
Party Girl


Hearst and Davies were the movie colony's most inveterate and extravagant part-givers. Marion, in particular, was never more ebullient than when she was playing the role of hostess.

Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House by Victoria Kastner

The Times We Had by Marion Davies

Hearst Castle: An American Palace by Barbara Knox, Stephen F. Brown

The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst by David Nasaw
 

 

Mary Pickford was one of the organizers of the Mayfair Society, the club comprising the aristocracy of the film community, which held ceremoniously elegant white-tie dinner-dances each month, first at the Biltmore, later at other hotels. In 1936 Carole Lombard was chairman of the ball and her escort that evening, Cesar Romero, recollects an incident that came close to upsetting the decorous traditions of the society: "Carole was in charge of the ball and she decreed that all of the ladies should wear white. Carole and I got there early, because she was to be in the reception line. The ladies were all coming in, everybody beautifully gowned in white. Except Norma Shearer. she was wearing bright red. And Miss Lombard had a few words to say to her! But nobody was going to tell Norma Shearer.


 

Offscreen, Norma Shearer grasped as well as any female star-- including Joan Crawford and Lana Turner-- that she had to play the role of Movie Queen in her private life and play it to the hilt. She embraced glamour, appearing at premieres and nightclubs and parties dressed as lavishly as any of her on-screen sophisticates.

 
Books


Encyclopedia of Famous Suicides by David Lester

Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy by Tod Benoit