Wednesday, January 4, 2017

WHAT BECOMES A LEGEND MOST?

One of the most famous advertising campaigns of the 20th century began in MID 60'S: the series of full-page, black-and-white print ads for "Blackglama" furs, with the memorable, never-changing question: "What becomes a Legend most?"

The story goes that, in the 60's, the Great Lakes Mink Association, a group of about 400 mink ranchers, were looking around for an advertising firm that would help them "remodel public opinion," though the notorious red-paint attacks on fur-wearing women were still a few years off.   New York ad executive Jane Trahey conceived the campaign and it was executed by her associate, who later bought out the firm and continued with the campaign.  The "Blackglama" brand name was invented by Trahey, who also came up with the "legend" tagline, and the idea of spotlighting high-profile....legends, mostly from the movies and Broadway, swathed in a Blackglama mink garments, which they were allowed to take home after the shoot. It went on the be one of the most successful and long running ad campaigns.

Ann Miller

Roz Russel

Debbie Reynolds

Judy Garland

Marlene Dietrich

Beverly Sills

Carol Channing

Lucille Ball

Lena Horne

Diana Vreeland

Lana Turner

Carol Burnett

Peggy Lee

Tis fur season after all.

25 comments:

  1. Who doesn't remember this iconic ad campaign from the last century? I'm not a proponent of wearing fur, but this roster of "legends" cannot be surpassed.

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  2. Holy Moly, I had forgotten about these!!!! I remember them well. I can remember being very impatient waiting to see who would be next when my mom's fashion mags would arrive. How they form this gay boy's mind.

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  3. I remember these gorgeous photographs of the Hollywood beauties over the years. and what a treat to see them again. Nothing like the Legends as depicted. Lucille Ball, Lana Turner. I also recall Elizabeth Taylor,Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, did them as well. What an assortment of unique incomparable pulchritude! If we could only turn back time to that wonderful era.

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  4. I haven't seen those in ages. This is a nice midweek surprise from the past. Thanks for sharing this!

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  5. They look better when they're naked under the fur.

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  6. I too remember these ads. but I would NEVER wear fur. the ladies DO look elegant though; sadly, most of them are dearly departed.

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  7. Believe it or not, I've never heard of Blackglama - but I love those ads.

    Life is too damn restrictive (due to all the spoilsports). I say eat steak and wear fur!!

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    1. Daddy Warbucks actually has a whole comforter made of mink. I wake up in the middle of the night sweating. And these are only a selection of the lengends to pose.

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  8. I remember all these ads. An inspired idea, although PETA does NOT approve.

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  9. I'm not sure Lucille Ball was very happy with the fur she got to take home.

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  10. remember, "the pat stevens show" on SNL? nora dunn was pat, a snobby not so bright talk show host. she mentioned walking by some graffiti on the street that read, FUR IS MURDER. she told her audience how she took a pen and underneath the graffiti wrote, "to clean."

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  11. And, my favorite of all of them: Babs. I've got a book with every ad. Classic, and classy - just like you! Hugs!!

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  13. Aren't mink furs supposed to be kind of expensive? Where in the world did these ads run--Good Mansionkeeping?

    As a fan of most of the ladies pictured, they could be wearing windbreakers for all I care.

    January 5, 2017 at 11:03 AM

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    1. Lol!!!!! T he only place I ever saw them was town and country and vogue.

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  14. Isn't a fur all you sleep in?

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    1. NAKED......dresses in nothing but pearls and fur.

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  15. Here's a fun tidbit. I believe Claudette Colbert and Janet Jackson are the only two to appear twice. I used to love the advertisements to dee who would accept next. I believe I also read that Carol Burnett turned down the coat, but instead asked the amount be made to to her favorite charity.

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    1. I also heard Marlene was difficult to work with and her shoot, and Lauren Bacall who did a ad also demanded a limo pick her up.

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    2. Anonymous1/06/2017

      I'm with Lauren.
      JP

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  16. The late Debbie Reynalds! R.I.P.

    : (

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  17. My personal favorite was the fabulous Anne Miller. She has makes me happy. One of the most memorable ad campaigns for sure.

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  18. I used to love these ads. I really loved the Ann Miller and the Lena Horne. I adored them.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!