Back somewhere along the late 30s to the late 40s, the Earl Carroll Theater was on of the premiere see-and-be-seen spots in Hollywood. I have a love of this place and (you avid readers may recall) I went to Palm Springs some 18 months ago or so to interview the divine, delicious, and devastating Shirley Claire, jazz singer extraordinaire and one-time Earl Carroll showgirl.
Carroll (an old hand at the marketing and publicity game) even offered sets of drinking glasses (see advert above) for sale at the club or my mail. The glasses were in sets of eight with colored reproductions of stars' autographs on each. The colors were: white, yellow, orange, red, maroon, green, blue and black. Each glass in the set had different names and the entire set could be had for $3.00. I know that sounds like a steal, but not so much. The marquee in 1939 boasted that $2.50 got you a table, dinner, show and dancing!!!
Well through the kindness of our dear friends at ebay, I am the proud owner of 5 of these little beauties:
They cost a bit more than $3.00 and I am missing the black, white and maroon ones, but I couldn't be happier.
Maybe now a game of chess!
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Living Chess Match at the1945 Pan American chess games held at the Hollywood
Athletic Club. Earl Carroll girls (in shorties) are the white pawns
and 'Latin American Beauties' (in gowns and shawls) are the black pawns.
