Christmas Wishes Golden Age Hollywood Stars Seasons Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

1938 Holiday Greetings from Carole Lombard, Cecil B. DeMille, Gary Cooper, Ginger Rogers, Will Hay, Stanley Lupino, George Formby

 "Season's Greetings from The Thin Man and Family"
aka Nick and Nora Charles, Nick Jr and Asta
William Powell and Myrna Loy

MGM Stars wishing you a Merry Christmas 1921:
Bert Lytell, Viola Dana, May Allison, Alice Lake, Ina Claire, Buster Keaton

1923, silent movie star,  actress Shirley Mason's audio greeting Christmas in Hollywood

1924 Paramount Stars wish you a Merry Christmas. 

Left to right: Lois Wilson, Noah Beery, Lillian Rich, Vera Reynolds, Rod LaRocque, Betty Compson, Ernest Torrence, Jane Winton, Raymond Hatton, Mary Brian, Agnes Ayres, Betty Bronson, Constance Bennett and Esther Ralston. 

"They are all busy at the West Coast Studios."

Joan Crawford audio/radio Christmas message

Christmas Card featuring Katharine Hepburn in Little Women

Every good wish for 1921 from Silent film star Harrison Ford

Christmas Parade of Stars 1960 

Best Wishes from Houdini

Yuletide Greetings from
Harold Lloyd

Santa George Burns and Gracie Allen

Merry Christmas from Douglas Fairbanks 1919

Christmas clips with a song
 

A Christmas Lullaby by Cary Grant



Merry Christmas from John Wayne and Bob Hope 1976



The stars speak for charities at Christmastime:

Clark Gable for Christmas Seals:



Doris Day - Christmas Message for Toys for Tots 1954



Jack Webb for Christmas Seals



James Coburn for Christmas Seals



Joan Crawford for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Greetings from Will H. Hays  1924

"Greetings! With a proper feeling of gratification for what has been accomplished during the year now drawing to a close, but with much greater feeling of gratitude to the public which has made our accomplishments possible by its encouragement and support, the motion picture industry looks forward hopefully to the beginning of another year of opportunity to serve you. 

"During the twelve months now ending more really fine motion pictures have been produced and exhibited than ever before in the history of this form of entertainment. Of that fact we are proud. The success of 1924, however is but the urge for larger accomplishments in 1925.
 
"To all the men and women of the industry who have given their sincerest efforts to this great service of providing the public with its most popular form of entertainment, I offer my thanks and my most genuine good wishes that their Christmas may be happy and their New Year be one of attainment and the rewards that attainment brings."
Will H. Hays (above)

Related Pages of Interest: 

Watch favorite old holiday-themed television episodes

A Christmas Wish: Kermit the Frog and John Denver

Charles Boyer receives The Gift at Christmas, parents and grown children

Harrison Ford, Strong, Silent Movie Star

Five child photography tips 

Dirty Business, Film Censorship in the early days of cinema 

Gift ideas from the stars hobbies comfort outerspace

Gift ideas from the stars
Thank you! Thank you very much

Robert Taylor
Barbara Stanwyck
1941

Making your gifts personal. Customizing a gift can show you thought of them in particular, commemorate something special in your lives.  If someone wants something simple, it can be all in how you present it that makes it memorable.

Choosing a theme like someone's hobby or job can be an idea. Maybe a gift basket when it comes to friends or coworkers. Simply fill up a coffee or soup mug. Nice idea as a get well or thinking of you gift, too Tailor gifts to the recipient's hobbies. 

Think of something beyond the expected. Are they going through a tough time? What might bring them some comfort, lift their spirits? 

Of course if they're stars, they could reach for the moon and treat their loved ones to wonderful things such as jewelry and cars. When did husbands and wives buy one another pets one another pets? 

Remember Christmas 1968? There's a Christmas Eve message from the Apollo astronauts on video at the end of this page. Relive the memory of the message that interrupted Christmas programming back in 1968.
 
Gifts for your Hobby

Choosing a theme like someone's hobby can also be an idea for a gift basket when it comes to friends or coworkers. Simply fill up a coffee or soup mug. Nice idea as a get well or thinking of you gift, too.

William Powell's youthful bride has had an imitation chief train made for him and a ruby ring. Bill is crazy about trains. Myrna Loy is also catering to that hobby by giving him a stop whistle as well as a mandarin tree. 

Lana Turner's present to Tony Martin is a set of golf sticks. 

Edward G Robinson's eyes sparkled when let it be known that he simply wants a nice new painting and a box of cigars from London ... 

Dick Powell would like a new set of sails for his boat. He'll be spending the holiday at home with his wife Joan Blondell ... 

Ginger Rogers will be in her new home with her mother, cousin and some close friends. She's looking forward to a complete outfit of painting brushes and other art paraphernalia. 
-- Christmas 1937

Arline Judge gets her son a motor scooter 

The wives of Clark Gable and Fred MacMurray gave them hunting equipment.


Are you a woodworker? We have a luthier in the family. My husband designs and builds guitars. He has apprentices who are learning to make ukuleles.

The trailer from the movie, Reckless focused on more than just the movie

One of Jean Harlow's avocations was writing. She'd mentioned that she kept running out of the items she needed to write. An interview with a friend of Jean Harlow's, where the friend told of a gift from Bill Powell.

"I know one thing he did that pleased Jean more than anything else. One day there was a ring at her door and there arrived two uniformed messenger boys carrying two huge and heavy packages. 

"Jean opened them and found two enormous bales of writing paper, one yellow foolscap the other of white bond paper, with several boxes of clips, two erasers, and four dozen pencils. With the paper was a note from Bill which said, 'Just fill these all up with words.'" -- 1935 

 

Glamorous Joan Crawford
hangs her stockings

Joan Crawford gave her husband, Franchot Tone a room. She re-did a room in their home all for him.

"Franchot's room is a combination of artistic beauty and masculine comfort. Typical of Joan she kept it a secret until Christmas eve. Promptly at five in the afternoon seven men in a huge truck drove up in front of the house. Orders had been given weeks before and everything was in readiness. When Franchot went down to the library to wrap some last-minute packages, Joan turned up the radio to full blast. 

"The men were then given the signal to start work. Exactly 30 minutes later Franchot Tone was the proud possessor of a brand new room. Furniture had been placed, rugs put down, draperies hung with each man having his own particular job to do.  Brown and white is the color scheme. ... 

"The moment the workmen were finished Joan raced downstairs. Grabbing Franchot by the hand, she made him close his eyes as she led the way. Piloting him to the center of the room, Joan cried, 'Merry Christmas!'"
- Christmas 1935


I've got you a Brand New Car!!

Tom Gallery, Zasu Pitts and their children

Ray Milland will give his wife an automobile in 1940. 

Olivia de Havilland wants a 'snorky sports roadster.' She's set a goal for herself that she must have a certain amount in her savings account or no car. 

Christmas 1924
Caption said Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. got a car from The Thief of Bagdad
aka his dad, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.

Stuart Erwin and June Collyer Last Christmas in the morning all of the presents were wrapped under the tree and there was a tiny box for me with a card in it reading 'Mommie dear your present is too big to go under the tree. It's in the garage!"  Christmas 1935

1937, John Barrymore is "looking a new motor cars."

 

New car for Christmas!
Funny old photo late 1920s Customize Christmas Ornament
Joan Crawford wants an autographed photo of Garbo. 

Shirley Temple wants to be a boy scout, knife merit badges and all. 

Janie Withers wants to captain a professional football team. 1939

Jackie Cooper's Christmas Party 1931
 

Bling, Please

Sterling Silver Diamond Heart
Pendant Necklace (1/4 cttw), 18"

Barbara Stanwyck will find "a pair of matching bracelets in gold and set with sapphires. Robert Taylor is her Santy, of course."


Christmas 1935  Carole Lombard mentioned the gifts she's given to her friend and secretary, Fieldsie. Gifts included a couple of evening gowns, an evening bag and other luxurious accessories. 

Madeline Fields Lang was a former Sennett bathing beauty. You'll see her first name spelled a number of different ways.

Christmas 1935 Fred MacMurray surprised Lillian Lamont with the breakfast set for her dinette that she'd asked for. They were married in 1936. That Christmas it was written that he gave his wife "an armload of jewels."

Ida Lupino's gift from Louis Hayward is a sapphire ring. 

An article told how Harlow was among the Hollywood hostesses planning a big Christmas dinner in 1936. Bill Powell sat at the head of her table. Powell gave Harlow a nice amount of jewelry. 

Dolores Del Rio who will probably be Mrs Orson Welles within the year is giving him a suede lamp.

Carole Lombard shirt

This year Wallace Beery will surprise little Carol Ann Beery with a collection of dolls, one from almost every country in the world which Wally collected himself on his recent trip to Europe.  Christmas 1935

An interview with a toy dealer in 1922:
"Last year the Charlie Chaplin doll was very popular. But no one wants them now. The Jackie Coogan doll has come in and is all the rage. 

"The Kewpie dolls which were so popular for many seasons are giving way to other character dolls. Of course we still have a steady demand for the old-fashioned golden-curled doll but most new dolls are made to look more like babies and real children and the little girls seem to prefer them."

This was over a decade before anyone would hear of a golden-curled child star by the name of Shirley Temple. Are you an Addams Family fan?

Old Movie/Design your own Soup Popcorn
Ice Cream Snacks Mug alone or filled with another special gift

Gifts of Comfort

Mrs. Jean Bello mother of the late Jean Harlow received an unusual present from William Powell - a trip to New Orleans Cuba and New York. He is paying for everything. Christmas 1937

 "During all these months I saw almost no one except Bill Powell, the Baby's Poppy, whom she loves so dearly. I went nowhere. Bill hoping that a change might help me. He persuaded me to take a sea trip to go on to New York. I wen to please him in appreciation of his thoughtfulness and his gift. For my trip was his Christmas gift to me. But I took my grief with me and found that I was more desolate away than I was at home."
A 1938 article, Without My Jean, "By Jean Harlow's Mother"

Loretta Young would like some comfy slippers, enough pairs for one in every room of her house, including her dressing room on the  set. 

A 1931 interview revealed that in Greta Garbo's bedroom she had "a big rough wooden box in plane sight shoved under a dressing table. It arrived soon after Christmas," said the housekeeper. 'Filled with an assortment of canned anchovies, sardines, caviar and liver pate. Miss Garbo had the cover ripped off and the box left in her bedroom. 

"'She must have gotten up in the night and lunched on the canned delicacies as we often found empty tin boxes in her bedroom in the morning. Other times we found them in the kitchen sink. It seemed that Garbo never has learned to take American food. .... The housekeeper said she also had "a mania for watching a burning fireplace."

Families of more than one religion

Celebrity families, like many others, have to deal with what to do when couples of different religions marry. George Burns and Gracie Allen, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, Harpo and Susan Marx talked about how they raised their children. Burns and Allen always had a Christmas tree. It was one of Gracie's favorite times of year.

Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher celebrated all the holidays his and hers. At Christmas they had a tree but they also had a Menorah for Chanukah with more candles burning each night till all were lit. When they had children they thought the kids would be taught the principles of both religions and be allowed to choose their own.

All five Marx brothers 1961
An appearance they made on the Tonight! show
From left, Harpo, Zeppo, Chico, Groucho and Gummo

The Marx family, too had a Christmas tree. Harpo Marx tells a cute story in his book.

"When I asked her what she wanted for Christmas that year she said that just for once she she'd like money. She'd like a thousand dollars to spend any crazy way she felt like, on paints, brushes, sewing machine attachments, curtain fabrics, rose bushes, whatever. To Susan, who was very practical with dough, this sounded like a mad splurge. It would have been dull to put a single envelope under the Christmas tree for her.

"That was no kind of present and lousy showmanship.So I went to work long before Christmas up in town at Hillcrest. Early in December mysterious cards addressed to Susan and marked personal began to trickle in. Ten of them came together. Inside each was a card made out to Susan in some odd meaningless amount like $82.97, $73.33 or $26.56. Each was signed by some absolute stranger, a name that meant nothing to her.

"She decided not to worry me about the checks until after the holidays so she hid them. She herself was plenty worried. She was sure it was some kind of new extortion racket. On Christmas morning she found seven more cards with checks inside beneath the Christmas tree.

"These checks were also made out to her for odd amounts but they weren't signed by strangers. They were signed by George Burns, George Jessell, Danny Kaye, Harry Ritz, Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny and Milton Berle. Susan puzzled over them for a minute. 

"Then she gave me a sly smile. She ran to get the mysterious checks hidden in her dresser drawer, and her adding machine. The seventeen checks added up to one thousand bucks on the nose. She said it was her nicest Christmas ever."
-- Harpo Speaks! by Harpo Marx, Rowland Barber





Esther Williams had been working on helping blind and visually impaired children learn to swim. Christmas 1950, she and her her husband Ben Gage presented a school for blind children with a specially constructed swimming pool. Esther trained the teachers in instructing the children how to swim.  

Pets in our lives

Buddy Rogers
and Baron

For a happier and less stressful outcome, person or a family should adopt a pet together after thinking considering that you're signing up for a life-long relationship that can last 10-20 years depending on the animal. Best to leave this sort of gift to very close family members or the recipient themselves.

Buddy Rogers' German Shepherd dog, Baron was a Christmas gift.

Christmas 1937 Clark Gable gave Carol Lombard a sheep dog. Lombard had received some ducks from friends at work and she had at least one rescue cat. When the sheepdog came into the family, there was a period of adjustment especially between the dog and Lombard's Siamese cats.

Jeanette MacDonald gave her husband Gene Raymond an Irish setter for Christmas 1935

Claudette Colbert has asked for a cat. Claudette has had five cats and they refuse to stick around. She wants to try again.  Barbara Stanwood wants a dog. "Alas she is allergic to dog hair and sneezes to beat the band when a canine shows his face around her. Dion, he son owns a pooch but it has to stay in the stables."

Marlon Brando gave Josanne Mariani a dog and myna bird, Christmas 1954.


The Legend of Silent Night aired on Christmas Day 1968. Kirk Douglas, the on-camera host narrates the story at the United Nations surrounded by a group of children who belong to the United Nations dignitaries. To add drama to the telling, James Mason, John Leyton and an international cast bring it to life in a film set in the Austria of 1818 where it took place." 

Christmas 1968, special newspaper sections
were devoted to Christmas programming.
The above message about Apollo 8 coverage
appeared alongside.

During the first ever manned trip to another space object, while orbiting the Moon for the very first time by human beings, on Christmas Eve 1968 the crew of Apollo 8: astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders have appropriately decided to send a message to Earth by reciting first 10 verses from Book of Genesis (English King James Bible version).
-- description

Related Pages of Interest:

Harpo Marx Comedy Legend

Samantha Stephens' Bewitched Pave Heart Necklace

Stars from around the world celebrate Christmas

Princess Bedrooms, Pink Rooms, Furniture Bed and crib crowns, cornices and coronas : How to choose, design and style, Selecting the right paint colors....

William Powell, Jean Harlow and that 152-carat sapphire ring

Oliver, a poodle fit for a princess, Grace Kelly getting married 

Rocketship space playhouses, DIY recycled cardboard Astronaut videos, Rocket Man

Hospital Gifts, Footzyrolls, Custom Greeting Cards for Caregivers, Patients, Survivors

Clara Bow vintage hat advertisement Tshirt by Jakestuff
Get fast custom shirts online at zazzle

Sources

The Palm Beach Post - December 12, 1937

Modern Screen Magazine 1938, 1952, 1957

The Milwaukee Journal - December 22, 1935

The Evening News - December 15, 1922

The Miami News - December 25, 1937 

Throw a Classic Hollywood Fancy Dress Party

10 Tips for Your Old Hollywood Celebrity
Fancy Dress Party,
See the stars themselves

Janet Gaynor
with designer
Adrian 1941

In the Golden Age of Hollywood they threw some amazing parties and that definitely included fancy dress parties. Here are some tips, some things to think about when planning your party whether it be at Halloween or any time of the year. This is a unique Halloween idea. A cake and cocktail recipe is below, also a list of classic movies that have scenes of costume or masquerade balls. Can you add anything?

1) Don't sweat it if some people don't dress up. A portion of your guests just aren't going to be comfortable with fancy dress or costume parties.

Charlie Chaplin
(as a philosopher)
and Paulette Goddard
1935

At the 1935 costume party attended by Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard (who was about to become Mrs. Charles Chaplin), she chose not to dress in costume.
 
You might offer masks, mustaches, hats, wigs for those who didn't dress up if they want to try something on. If you have old costumes and accessories of your own or from your kids' costumes this is a great way to use those.

2) Also don't worry if people dress up minimally. Like those who don't dressing up at all, you'll probably have some who come in a hat or a T-shirt costume. At the same time some other friends you'll barely recognize!

They have Star Wars Jedi robes, or Rocky and Superman robes too. Easy costumes. 

Jane Ayr knows about Spirit Gum and Spirit Gum Remover.
She was appearing in The Latest Craze in London, 1919

About costume parties in general

Sylvia Sidney was known as one of Hollywood's premiere hostesses. Back in 1936, a reporter from Silver Screen magazine interviewed her about the etiquette of party giving. Here's a short excerpt from that interview:

"As one who hates tinsel hats and tin horns, I approached Sylvia upon a matter near to my heart. 'Would you,' I asked anxiously, 'give a costume party?'
And she said yes, she would. I felt pretty badly about that. But she explained.

"'You see costumes spell escape for most persons. After all, if you dig down a little, you'll agree the entire psychology of party giving is for people to get away from themselves. Dress up nonsense helps. They shed their inhibitions with their street clothes.'" 

Harpo Marx and
Marie Dressler

3) Will you have a costume contest? Will there be prizes. At Marion Davies' 1931 fancy dress party, Harpo Marx, left won best disguise as he portrayed Kaiser Bill. There he is with Marie Dressler.

Marie was clever. She reused some clothes that she'd worn in a movie, Anna Christie. You may not have a professional costume lying around but always remember to shop your closet. 

A DIY costume can be fantastic. Between what you already have and what you can make you could come up with something genius. 
It'll certainly be one-of-a-kind.

1940, Mischa Auer tries on a series of hats for a party

4) Consider a theme party. This can make it easier for guests to figure out costumes. If the theme is Classic Hollywood, suggest an era with costume features or props to your guests. It can still be a Halloween themed party but this would help that much more with decor, music and costume.

Carole Lombard gave a hospital party. The guests were given traditional white doctor's robes and ate their meals from bed trays. She met you at the door in a stiffly starched nurse's cap and dress and ushering you into the consultation room. Apparently some of the drinks were served in hot water bottles, etc.

Betty Grable and
Jackie Coogan (later Uncle Fester)
at a
Tahiti themed party 1941

There was a Roman party where the Lombard drawing room suddenly became a sunken garden with togas and grape juice offered. For another party it has been suggested that people wear slacks. 

"She took her guests down to the House of Fun in Venice. Carole rented the House of Fun for the evening so no one could get in but the somebodies invited." 

Guests included Marlene Dietrich, Cary Grant and Claudette Colbert. Imagine yourself at a 1930s Hollywood party. People love to dress as their favorite stars, in movie costumes.



A romance may begin at one of your parties. The famous Gable/Lombard romance began at a film colony party six months after Gable left his wife. It was an all-white party and Miss Lombard wore red. Gable danced with her all evening.

For a 1933 fancy dress party suggested that guests dress as movie stars. Joan Bennett was Jean Harlow in Dinner at Eight. Dolores Del Rio was Katharine Hepburn. Myrna Loy was Pola Negri in Passion. (above)

Even after they divorced, good friends Carole Lombard and William Powell
went out together. They dressed up and went to Kay Francis' 1934
Barn Dance Party.

Alfred Hitchcock, who had a penchant for practical jokes, threw a couple of dinner parties where he had all of the food colored blue. In the finale of the 2014 series Top Chef Duels, the finalists were asked to create dishes where the food was first all black and then all white. An all blue entree was not requested.

Joan Crawford with a mask
of Joan Crawford 1932...
Would people guess who's behind that mask?

"Did you ever give a party where everyone had to come in costume just down to the neck? That is a dress the head party? The idea is to arrive as a character in history, a real person like Napoleon or Pocahontas but one not easily guessed. 

"Then the one who guesses the most gets a prize or you can give it to the one who wears the best disguise. I suppose everyone is playing that crazy game with the bottle and the matches but if you've never tried it you can't imagine  how much fun you can have out of being silly!" 
-- Maureen O'Sullivan, Screenland November 1935

Agnes Ayres
Pierrot costume

5) Set up a place for photos, a backdrop like we see on the red carpet events. It can be a blank or decorated wall. This might also be a time for a photo booth or instant camera so you can give guests photos that they can take home.

6) Offer some cool party favors, swag, especially if your guests might be party-hopping: 

"So many Saturday night affairs are held that progressive partying is coming to be the rule on that gay night in movieland. So it was that many guests from David Selznick's big party at the Venetian Room in the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel went on to Winfield Sheehan's big party at his home. 

"Leis and Hawaiian dolls gave color to the David Selznick party so that everybody arriving at the Sheehan party from the other one wore the Honolulu emblem about his or her neck." 
-- New Movie July 1934

Businesses do this all the time, it's a form of branding & advertising, to have customers leave wearing beads with your business name or carrying a cup with the logo. Don't forget the T-shirt give-aways. Do the same for your party. 

Party supplies don't have to be expensive. They can even be homemade. Think about the sparkly, extravagant look of diamond confetti. Try black and white, but it's not your only option. Definitely great to re-use for other occasions. Like stars in the sky we have so many diamonds, they're just scattered everywhere.

7) Will you have kids there? A family party will effect time of day, decor and what's

Shirley Temple parties with
Harold Lloyd's daughters 1935

served. 

Also if it's a Halloween party, you may have less scary effects. Choose funny music and sound effects.

Maybe someone could act as a caregiver or people could rotate in a separate room with activities for the kids?


At approx 6:55 on this 1930's Hollywood on Parade, you'll see coverage of a Hollywood costume party

Gene Tierney as a
peasant girl
Ruth Hussey is
Raggedy Ann 1941

8) What to wear... If there isn't a theme there are always classic costumes to fall back on in a pinch. 

Old bridesmaids' dresses, school or work uniforms could be worn. Do you have a web site? Show some photos of a 1920s celebrity party or your favorite 1930s movies if that's your favorite era. Examples of what people could wear.

If you and no one in your family will wear them again, think about donating them or having a costume swap with friends. Think of colors. Black and white is a good color combo. Think of a harlequin or Pierrot outfit. If the party is near or based on a holiday choose colors associated with that holiday.


Raggedy Ann Inspired : Womens & Girls Ragdoll Costumes Go for the classic, traditional Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes for your couples look or add to your DIY costume. The infant versions of this costume are so cute, too.
Dress like a living doll and celebrate your favorite doll with a Rag Doll costume & red yarn wig. The Raggedy Ann doll, introduced in 1915, turns 100 years old in 2015. Raggedy Andy was introduced in 1920.

9)  Consider playing some games or have other activites. Especially while in costume, friends might be looser and more willing to play silly games.

Choose games that go with your theme. Marion Davies was known for throwing Baby parties where guests dressed like babies.

Don Wilson and Mary Brian play
Pin the tail on the Donkey
(I think she's peeking)

You could show movies, maybe have them in one room for people who want to watch movies and let those who want to mingle and party be in other rooms of the house. Movies with masquerade balls or fancy dress parties?

There are Alfred Hitchcock films, Rebecca and To Catch a Thief. Phantom of the Opera (1943), Masque of the Red Death (1964), Romeo and Juliet (1968) and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) are some older movies to rent, stream or buy. A few that might have masquerade scenes are Marie Antoinette (1938), A Clockwork Orange, An American in Paris (1951). Can anyone confirm that they have these scenes?

Marion Davies, Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer 1935

10) Think about what you'll serve your guests.

Think about seasonal foods, things that fit in with your theme. Halloween foods? Deviled eggs can be made to look like eyes with the addition of sliced olives and a little imagination. Squash soup is a warm, cozy and welcome treat on a cold night.

It's All Hallow's Eve 1941. Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland and Ann Rutherford are planning a grand Hallowe'en party. They're going to have sandwiches and cider, doughnuts and coffee, it says. And here is the recipe for the Orange and Chocolate Cake that they're making:

Hallowe'en Cake
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/4 cups scalded milk
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, unbeaten
1 1/4 teaspoons soda
2 cups sifted flour

Mix and sift cocoa with 1/3 cup sugar. Add scalded milk gradually until smooth. Cool. Bland shortening, salt and vanilla. Add 1 cup sugar gradually and cream well. Add eggs, singly, beating well after each addition. 

Sift soda with flour 3 times. Add flour to creamed mixture, alternately with cocoa mixture after each addition until smooth. Bake in three 9-inch greased layer pans in moderate oven (350 degrees F). 25 minutes. 

To substitute  chocolate for cocoa, use 4 oz chocolate. Cream 1 1/3 cups sugar with shortening, salt and vanilla. Beat in eggs singly; add melted chocolate and blend. Add sifted dry ingredients, alternately with milk.

Hallowe'en Frosting
4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons orange juice (about)
7 chocolate creams

* I double checked the recipe. Unless you/they think the orange juice and orange rind is 'orange coloring' it isn't listed in the ingredients. You may want to include some food coloring or your other choice of coloring when gathering ingredients.
 

Fay Wray
Delores Del Rio
Clive Brook

Blend butter, salt and orange rind. Add 1/2 sugar gradually creaming well. Add remaining sugar alternately with orange juice beating until smooth. Add just enough orange juice to make a nice spreading consistency.

Tint with the orange coloring. Spread frosting between layers and on top of the cake reserving a little for making candy faces.

Arrange chocolate candies around rim and in the center of the cake, pressing gently into frosting. On each candy make eyes, nose and mouth using a toothpick dipped in frosting.

 
How about a cocktail:
Staying with the color orange, here's Fay Wray's American Beauty Punch from 1934. You can make large or small quantities, like a cocktail.
 
Use a large bar glass, filled with fine ice. Dissolve a half-teaspoonful of sugar in the juice of half an orange. Pour one teaspoonful of creme-de-menthe over the ice then add the sugared orange juice, a jigger of brandy and a jigger of French Vermouth. Shake, strain into goblets and float a teaspoonful of Port wine on the top. Dress with fresh fruit and serve.

Swan is Swell

Marlene Dietrich, dressed in swan costume 1935
Liz Allen is dressed as Marlene Dietrich in tux and top hat

   
Icelandic singer Bjork wore a swan dress to the 73rd Academy Awards, March 25, 2001. The dress, emulated by Ellen DeGeneres at the 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards, was originally designed by Marjan Pejoski. 

Dietrich's 1935 costume might be two pieces and it had wings. 

If you wear a swan costume you could screen the movies called The Black Swan. From 1942 it's a pirate movie, swashbucklers. It stars Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara, and it is Helene Costello's last film. The 2010 movie stars Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis.

Majestic 3-Dimensional White Swan Costume
Princess : 7th Day of Christmas
3-Dimensional White Swan Costume
Kids can climb into this majestic three-dimensional white Swan!
Body is wool body with plump polyester stuffing
Adjustable felt shoulder straps, leather crown and wool wings accented with blue felt
Fits most children ages 4-8 

Cave Men are always popular

Myrna Loy, her husband and Fredric March

Mischa Auer, Corporate Cave Man

Related Pages of Interest:

Alfred Hitchcock's Blue Food Dinner Parties

Costume Judge Shirts by HolidayZazzle
Browse more Costume T-Shirts at Zazzle

Sources of quotes and images not already cited:

Modern Screen Jun 1931, Dec 1934, Dec 1940
New Movie Feb 1935
Photoplay Jul 1919, Jan 1941
Screenland Jun 1935