As we near the
centennial anniversary of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the stars of
Tinseltown’s black and white era have
taken on somewhat of a folklore status.
While still a popular subject among fans of classic
films, when looking back at these former
screen icons, rumors are subject for
interpretation. For these stars, time has proven
to be the gateway to immortality. While certain
truths get blurred as time goes on, these tales only add
to the legendary mystique of
these iconic stars.
It all started in
1941. The film was I Wanted Wings, a military suspense drama
starring Ray Milland and William Holden. The film also starred a
newcomer named Veronica Lake. Lake’s performance immediately
catapulted her to stardom, and as a result, would inspire a fashion
trend that would sweep the nation. Lake played nightclub singer Sally
Vaughn, but it was her natural beauty and long cascading hair that
stole the show. In one scene, her hair fell over her face obscuring
one eye, and just like that the Peek-a-Boo hairstyle was born. Being
relatively unknown at the time, studios across Hollywood all wanted
to know more about “the girl with the hair.”
That
sultry
and mysterious look launched Lake’s
career into Hollywood
stardom.
That same year Lake would also star in the comedy Sullivan’s Travels opposite Joel McCrea. The film screened for critics on December 4, 1941. Three days later the Japanese would bomb Peal Harbor, setting in motion American’s entry into WWII. The war would change the aspects of life for all Americans, including Veronica Lake’s signature hairstyle. The following year Lake starred in three more films, and in each movie her hair seemed longer and wavier than the last. In I Married A Witch, her long locks practically seemed a character of their own. Paired with her natural comedic charm and good looks, it became one of the most successful comedies of the year. By the year’s end, salons were specializing in the Peek-a-Boo hair style while hundreds of women were spending hours in the mirror torturing their hair, trying to perfect the Veronica Lake look. Lake also had a cameo in the patriotic musical Star Spangled Rhythm, in which she co-sings the song A Sweater, Sarong, and Peek-A-Boo Bang with Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour. The song was specially written for the actresses by Johnny Mercer and playfully pokes fun at each girl’s rise to fame on the silver screen.
That same year Lake would also star in the comedy Sullivan’s Travels opposite Joel McCrea. The film screened for critics on December 4, 1941. Three days later the Japanese would bomb Peal Harbor, setting in motion American’s entry into WWII. The war would change the aspects of life for all Americans, including Veronica Lake’s signature hairstyle. The following year Lake starred in three more films, and in each movie her hair seemed longer and wavier than the last. In I Married A Witch, her long locks practically seemed a character of their own. Paired with her natural comedic charm and good looks, it became one of the most successful comedies of the year. By the year’s end, salons were specializing in the Peek-a-Boo hair style while hundreds of women were spending hours in the mirror torturing their hair, trying to perfect the Veronica Lake look. Lake also had a cameo in the patriotic musical Star Spangled Rhythm, in which she co-sings the song A Sweater, Sarong, and Peek-A-Boo Bang with Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour. The song was specially written for the actresses by Johnny Mercer and playfully pokes fun at each girl’s rise to fame on the silver screen.
While
the wartime efforts
were
taking shape overseas, photos
of Lake were popular with the soldiers. Pinups
of Lake were hung on barrack
walls next to the
likes of actresses Rita
Hayworth
and Betty Grable. Using her popularity to help the cause, Lake and
her golden curls made
appearances across the US to raise money for War Bonds. As more and
more men were drafted, the demographic
of America began to change and called upon women to take the jobs
normally performed by men. Before
Rosie the Riveter immortalized
the now classic look of the wartime female worker, quite a lot of
women entered the workforce doing their best to look like Veronica
Lake. A machine filled warehouse of long locked women quickly proved
to be hazardous. It got to be such a problem that the US government
contacted Lake and asked her to change her hair
to a more practical style for
a working
environment. Lake agreed and appeared
in a PSA film
that featured a
stylist putting her hair up
into tight rolled braids
behind her head. A
staged photo
was also taken of
Lake with her
hair entangled in a drill press to highlight the dangers of unkempt
hair when dealing with machinery. Often
shown during news reels before a motion picture, Lake’s PSA helped
in the rapid decline
of
hair relate work
injuries.
As the war waged on she continued to wear her hair up, and
would only display her long locks for the camera.
Subsequently
the Peek-a-Boo
hairstyle
quickly lost popularity, and
unfortunately was one of many
contributing factors
to Lake’s decline in Hollywood. Yet to
this day, the memorable
style remains one of the most
endearing from Hollywood’s Golden
Age,
solidifying
Lake as one of the original blonde bombshells
of the industry.
--Lee L. Lind