The man responsible for creating the "star system" that produced some of Old Hollywood's major talents died on this date in 1957.
Louis B. Mayer, along with the Metro-Goldwyn division of the legendary MGM Studios, co-founded the powerhouse studio that dominated the movie business from 1924 to 1954.
Irene Sharaff was a favored costume designer for many of MGM's finest films. Often designing for both Hollywood and Broadway, she won five Academy Awards and a Tony Award for her costumes.
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| Gertrude Lawrence in Stage Production of "The King and I" Costumes by Irene Sharaff 1951 Tony Award Winner in Costume Design |
According to her obituary in The New York Times, Sharaff's use of luxurious Thai silks in the stage production of "The King and I" created a sensation in high fashion and started a trend in interior decorating. She won a Tony Award for her costumes and set design.
Miss Sharaff is quoted in a 1967 interview as saying, "You can acquire chic and elegance, but style itself is a rare thing. The only theater people I know of who have it are Audrey Hepburn and Betty Bacall. The one who had it to the greatest degree was Gertie Lawrence. She could make a sackcloth tied with a belt look stylish."
Sharaff also won an Oscar for her costume designs in the film version of "The King and I."
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| Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in "The King and I" Costumes by Irene Sharaff 1956 Academy Award Winner in Costume Design Photographer Loomis Dean Courtesy of Google Life |
Starring Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Marlon Brando, and Vivian Blaine, "Guys and Dolls" was just one of the MGM and Irene Sharaff collaborations.
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| Vivian Blaine in Costume for "Guys and Dolls" Costumes by Irene Sharaff 1955 Photographer Gjon Mili Courtesy Google Life |
Sharaff was the production designer for the 1954 film "A Star is Born" with Judy Garland. A sketch of Judy Garland's costumes for the film sold in 2000 for $1175.
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| Irene Sharaff Sketch for Judy Garland's Costumes 1955 "A Star Is Born" ©Christie's 2000 |
Irene Sharaff died on August 10, 1993 in New York City.
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