Los Angeles: The “Loretta Young: Hollywood Legend” exhibit opens

Hollywood Celebrates the life & fashions of Loretta Young

Every week my grandmother had to watch the Loretta Young TV show.  Like thousands of women, she tuned in just to see what fashions the great movie star Loretta Young would wear.  Each show opened with Loretta literally twirling through a doorway into the program wearing a different designer gown.   Way before consumers had the chance to watch runway fashions on a livestream via the Internet, Loretta bought fashion directly into the mainstream with her TV show.  Fashion and glamour were a big part of her life and her image.  “Glamour is something you can’t bear to be without once you’re used to it,” said Loretta Young. She proved it by wearing designers like Christian Dior, Daniel Werle, William Travilla and Jean Louis.

Loretta Young died in 2000, but her spirit and style have been bought back to life in a new exhibit at the Hollywood Museum which opened this week.  I was privileged to attend the opening night gala for a  “Loretta Young: 100 years of Glamour & Grace” celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Loretta’s birthday.  The exhibit is on display until April 28th at the old Max Factor Building (now the Hollywood Museum) where Loretta once worked as the first Max Factor make-up model.  Loretta’s friends, family and former co-stars (The Riflemen’s Johnny Crawford) were on hand to celebrate Loretta’s life and legacy.  This exhibit is a must see for both fans of Hollywood and fashion lovers.   On display are Loretta’s gowns, her handbags, her hats, even her sewing patterns and sewing machine. Loretta loved fashion so much, she even sewed some of her own clothes (including her caftans) and lent her name to a line of sewing patterns.

But this exhibit is much more than fashion.  There are pieces of Loretta’s life, heartaches and passions on display as well as beautiful dresses.  A steamy love letter she wrote to actor Spencer Tracy when she was in her early 20s is beautifully preserved and fully legible. In the words of fashion and film blogger Kimberly Truhler of GlamAmor, “it is hot!” Significantly, there are no love letters to Clark Gable, the father of Loretta’s daughter Judy Lewis, on display.

Loretta Young’s The Crusades Dress, plaid dress & Letter to Spencer Tracy (photos M. Hall)

The exhibit was a labor of love for Loretta’s daughter-in-law, Linda Lewis who worked tirelessly to collect Loretta memorabilia from private collections.  She also worked with style consultant Karen Noske to refresh and sometimes recreate fashions Loretta wore.  So how did all this come about? I interviewed Ms. Noske to get the back story on this exhibit.

“Back in May, Linda Lewis (Loretta’s daughter-in-law) and I brainstormed a zillion ideas to celebrate 100 years of Loretta’s life and legacy—this amazing Hollywood Museum exhibit is only the kick-off to what we’re calling Loretta’s year of glamour & grace, ” says Ms. Noske. “As a style and image consultant, naturally I adore Loretta’s dedication to always looking her best. I was thrilled to do everything I could to make the exhibit exciting and beautiful for her fans, including sewing up that pretty plaid 1960’s day dress and helping make the reproduction bridal headpiece that’s displayed with the genuine 1935 velvet wedding gown worn by Loretta in The Crusades. I’m overjoyed to be part of the team that’s working to ensure Loretta assumes her proper place among the truly great stars.  She’s truly a role model for today’s women because of her positive outlook and joie de vivre!”

Actor Johnny Crawford & Mike Reagan (son of Pres. Reagan) turned up to honor Loretta (photo : M.Hall)

Attendees at the opening party shared fond memories of Loretta Young and her positive spirit. Actor Johnny Crawford of The Rifleman, had worked with Loretta and appeared with her on the Loretta Young show.   “I was intimidated by her, because she was such a professional, “says Mr. Crawford. “But I enjoyed working with her.” He pointed to her “Recipe for Life,”  hand written on a card in a case at the exhibit, which prescribes  ” Think Big,  talk little, love much, laugh easily, give freely, pay cash and be kind.”  Mr. Crawford, like many others at the event spoke, highly of Loretta’s  generosity and her work ethic.

Loretta Young’s Recipe for Life, courtesy of Linda Lewis. Written for Johnny Crawford.

“Loretta had a light that shown from within,” say her goddaughter Marlo Thomas in a tribute to Loretta on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) this month. I think some of that light still shines in the exhibit at the Hollywood Museum–there’s definitely a lot of positive energy in that space.

If you’re in Los Angeles, or visiting, don’t miss a chance to see this exhibit.  The exhibit “Loretta Young 100 years of Glamour & Grace” is located at the  Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building located at 1660 N. Highland Ave. at Hollywood Blvd. For Exhibit.  The exhibit is open until April 28th, 2013.

To see the screen magic of Loretta Young, check out Turner Classic Movies (TCM) this month.  TCM is featuring Young as their star of the month for January.  Loretta Young movies will be shown every Wednesday during the month of Jan.  Check the schedule on the TCM website.