Picture theatres were all the rage in the Hills during the 1920s. It’s not surprising, then, that the Fern Tree Gully News of 1929 was talking about film stars and the fashions that they wore.
You may recall in our April edition this year we reported that a reader from Sydney had found a tattered old copy of the Fern Tree Gully News, dated May 4 1929, in her garage amongst family papers – a true gem of Ranges history.
Among advertisements for the Tecoma Picture Theatre, Pictures at Boronia Hall and Sassafras Mechanics Hall, the paper also reported on all the top fashions wore by Paramount Studio stars of the day. We include the following excerpts:
Smart Winter Suit
A gay coloring is the predominating note in the new winter modes. The color chosen is not so important, provided that it suits the wearer, and is bright and attractive. All materials from tweeds and velours to the finest silks follow the craze for brightness.
A smart tweed suit worn by Doris Hill in the Paramount all-talking picture, ‘The Studio Murder Mystery,’ has gray and blue as its two chief colors. A gray silk waist and gayly printed scarf in harmonising tones complete the outfit.
Charming Dinner Ensemble
Chiffon is the most fascinating of all materials for the dinner ensemble, and Esther Ralston, one of Paramount’s youngest players, who is appearing with Emil Jannings in ‘Betrayal,’ has a charming outfit which she wears for these occasions.
Rose lavender is the color chosen by Miss Ralston, and the untrimmed frock falls into a series of ankle-length drapes. The three-quarter coatee of the same material is traced with crystal beading. A single velvet rose is the only trimming on the large chiffon and baku straw hat. Miss Ralston has added satin pumps and hose to tone.
A new fur
The latest material for coats this winter is dyed lamb’s wool, and Mary Brian, Paramount’s young player, who is now appearing in the Paramount all-talking picture, ‘The Man I Love’, has just added a deep brown coat of this material to her wardrobe.
The coat is cut on straight lines, and is trimmed with the same material in the form of a large shawl collar and deep cuffs.
Miss Brian wears a felt hat in a lighter tone, and lizard skin shoes and bag to match.
