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decomarc · 11 months ago

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When Veronica Lake arrived in Hollywood in 1939 she came in with the decade but was gone by the end of it. But at least Lake and the public did have a good time while it lasted. For a time Lake held some sway over some cinema circles. When Joan Bennett went from blonde to brunette her hair color changed the course of her career. Bennett went from sweet leading lady to dangerous femme fatale overnight while her career soared higher than before lasting until the 1980"s. Veronica Lake's blonde hair was styled to completely cover one side of her face becoming her trademark was very successful. The name of her hair style was known as the "Peekaboo Bang" Her initial cinema popularity was extended by a fortuitous teaming with stone-faced Alan Ladd. They created a new brand of screen lovers: calculating, conscienceless, and as self-possessed individuals. Their love scenes together were the epitome of restrained sexuality, filled with non-sequitur conversations, wisps of cigarette smoke, and bristling icy stares. Ah, the tension which would build up in a film as one waited for the invitation in that strangely husky voice, in the provocative swing of of the sequinned box shoulder, to reach its consummation at a moment of abandonment when the face-obscuring hank of blonde hair would be swept aside in a embrace and reveal the full glory of her large, lustrous eyes, the slightly sunken cheeks, and then her heavily made-up lips which mark the true essence of the 1940's floozy.

In 1941 Lake was given the opportunity star in her most successful film French director Rene Clair's supernatural comedy I Married A Witch." Lake received some of her best notices of her career. She was beguiling, she was biting and she could be scampish, but she was a lot fun. She plays Jennifer a witch who along with her (Cecil Kellaway) were burnt at the stake by Puritans some 300 years ago before dying they both put a curse on him and all his descendants. Both are released to present day when a freak lightning bolt hits the tree trunk and they are free. Jennifer immediately makes trouble gubernatorial candidate Fredric March where eventually falls in love with thus losing all her supernatural powers and who out foxed March's fiancee a young Susan Hayward. They marry and have three children and as the film ends one child is shown wearing a "Peekapoo Bang" hair style.

Constance Frances Marie Ockleman was born on November 14, 1922 in Brooklyn New York. Her parents were Harry Eugene (he was of German and half Irish descent) and Constance Charlotta (Trimble, her mother was of Irish descent). Her father worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yards as an employee for an oil shipping company. When Connie was 12 her father died in an explosion on a ship. Two years later her mother remarried to Anthony Keane soon Connie took his last name as her own. In 1934 her step-father was diagnosed with tuberculosis. They moved to Miami, Florida. Two years after graduating from High School her natural beauty charm and a talent for acting prompted the family to move to Beverly Hills, California, where Constance was enrolled in the well known Bliss-Hayden school of Acting. Constance around this time had been diagnosed as a classic schizophrenic but her parents thought acting might be seen as a treatment. They did not have to wait too long.

After doing a few bit roles at Paramount, Paramount thought that she would be perfect for a role in a big budget A-picture I Wanted Wings even thought she was the female lead her name was seventh in the cast. Also Paramount wanted her name changed to Veronica Lake and with that Paramount signed the new Veronica Lake to a standard seven-year contract. The big build-up now began in earnest. Her next picture was the comedy by Preston Sturges Sullivan's Travels costarring Joel McCrea. For much of the film Lake's hair was held under a cap. For her next film she made her match when she starred on This Gun For Hire and costar was Alan Ladd and audiences got to her Lake's new sensation her "Peekaboo Bang" hair style that swept the country. Ladd and Lake proved so successful that Paramount starred them together for an additional three more films and they also stared in three all-star musicals where they did not have scenes together: Star Spangled Rhythm (1943) the highlight of the musical was the one number titled: A Sweater, A Sarong and a Peekaboo Bang" this song was a spoof on what made famous actresses Paulette Goddard, Dorothy Lamour and Veronica Lake made famous. The other all-star musicals were: Duffy's Tavern (1947) and Variety Girl (1948) in between Lake had a few more successful films as the two other films that so costarred with Alan Ladd: The Glass Key (1943) and The Blue Dahlia (1946) other less successful were The Hour Before Dawn (1944), Hold That Blonde (1946) Another film that Lake will be remembered for which I consider her best was in So Proudly We Hail (1943) where she played Lieutenant Olivia D'Arcy as nurses in the South Pacific who are captured by the Japanese. Her two other costars were Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard. The scene that still packs quick q punch had Lake calmly walking up to a group of Japanese soldiers while holding a hand grenade when she blows up herself and all the soldiers. She had lost her fiancee and had made a vow to revenge his death

She died there on July 7, 1973, of acute hepatitis and acute kidney injury. Her son Michael claimed her body. Lake's memorial service was held at the Universal Chapel in New York City on July 11th. Veronica was only 53 years old when she passed away. A sad and final ending to a screen beauty.

Goodbye, Jennifer. Be a bad girl.

I MARRIED A WITCH 1942, dir. René Clair

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ithinkibetterfollowyouaround · 5 days ago

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M(h)aol - "Snare"

M(h)aol have shared a new single, “Snare”, available now via Merge Records and Tulle Collective. The video for the song was directed by the band (Constance Keane (She/Her), Jamie Hyland (She/Her), and Sean Nolan (He/Him). Constance Keane shared this about the song: “‘Snare’ is about countless conversations I’ve had since my first drum lesson on my ninth birthday about how bizarre it is that I…

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yamamiya · 9 months ago

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youtube

Fears - 4th Of The 1st

Fears will release new album Affinity on March 22nd. Real name Constance Keane – won acclaim for her debut album, 2021's remarkable Oíche.

youtube

Fears - 11249 (feat. Jemima Coulter and Ailbhe Reddy)

#dreampop #fears #Youtube

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primal-req-studios · 11 months ago

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Art by @wierdmrart

"Her name was Constance. She was considered a spinster by most but a beauty nonetheless. Her nightly walks through the forest paths lead many to believe she was meeting up with someone in the woods, the gossips of the Hollow hoped that she had finally found someone. But it only ended like many things did here in Keane's Hollow..."

#indie game dev #indie game #character art #character design #original character #oc artwork #salem witch trials #witchcraft #colonial america #artwork #art #digital art

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53rdcenturyhero · 5 months ago

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Veronica Lake demonstrating fail of safety at work due to fashionably loose long hair, hence the very short hair promotion.

LANA TURNER shows off her new WWII "Victory" hairstyle, September 1942

#lana turner #safe for work

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rcmndedlisten · 2 years ago

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Recommended Album: M(h)aol - ‘Attachment Styles’

Throughout Attachment Styles, M(h)aol vocalist Róisín Nic Ghearailt is more than blunt, and often, her lyricism is presented through the art of repetition. There’s an intentionality behind the coarse energy flowing in and out of the themes that ultimately bubble over the surface of each track on the Dublin noise-punk band’s sophomore album. Be it monologuing her boredom with men and their brash, toxic behavior, lackluster climax skills, and the trauma they leave behind in their wake on top of the anxieties (or physical pleasures!) of existing within the margins in the current state of our world, Ghearailt’s sharpened, wry writ always finds its way to heal over the frayed circuitboards -- a gnarled clash of raw angles, searing rhythm and overheated electronics created by her 'mates Constance Keane, Jamie Hyland, Zoë Greenway, and Sean Nolan -- that eventually find a solid connection. Consider it circulating the kind of mania that only comes from living through the same tired shit daily, but creating a different end result by your own willpower.

Highlights: “Asking for It”, “Nice Guys”, “Period Sex”

Attachment Styles by M(h)aol

M(h)aol’s Attachment Styles will be released February 3rd on TULLE Collective. Buy | Stream

#albums #m(h)aol #tulle collective

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alwaysmarilynmonroe · 5 years ago

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When most people hear the name, “Veronica Lake” usually one of three things comes to mind – that incredible peek-a-boo hair, the Film Noir’s with Alan Ladd or possibly Kim Basigner playing a Miss Lake lookalike in L.A. Confidential (1997) – fun fact, she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for that role. Although, with Veronica’s heyday being well over half a century old, that’s sadly usually as far as it goes.

However, with the Classic Hollywood Era being hugely timeless and forever coming back into fashion, the genre is becoming less of a niché subject and more Stars are on the public radar. If you’re a long time Vintage Lover like myself, you’ll be aware that unfortunately, a lot of our favourites don’t have many books written about them, or if they do, they’ve been out of print for a number of years and can be hard to find, or very expensive. Therefore, when I came across the news that Dean Street Press were publishing a reprint of Veronica’s Autobiography, which was first released in 1969, I was absolutely ecstatic! As most who know me are probably aware of my love for Blonde Bombshells, it may not be as well known that Veronica is my other favourite, after Marilyn.

There have only been two books published on Veronica, which I must add, astounds me – and one of them is this one which was co-written by ghost writer Donald Bain, who sadly passed away in October of 2017. The other is by Jeff Lenburg and I am fortunate enough to have both. However, Lenburg’s book is fairly controversial as he takes a lot of his information from Veronica’s mother, who claims a lot of detrimental things about her daughter – yet was estranged from her for many, many years. I think it’s actually being reprinted this summer and I will read it again, but would definitely advise new fans to stick to Veronica’s own words.

The republished version of Veronica’s Autobiography features a new cover with a stunning publicity photo of her in Ramrod (1947) which was directed by her then Husband, André de Toth. The book is a shiny paperback, with a non crease format, so even when you’ve finished reading, it will be in great condition and can take pride of place on your bookshelf! At 215 pages and 27 chapters, it’s not a huge length, but definitely a substantial read and full of personal anecdotes from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Broadcaster and writer, Eddie Muller adds a new Introduction and his following words really stuck with me, their relevancy still to this day does not go unnoticed,

“I’ll point out instead that while the public has granted Sterling Hayden, a legendary boozer and hash-head, a legacy as a heroic, larger-than-life iconoclast, it has branded Lake’s life after Hollywood a steady downward spiral of abasement, worthy of only pity. Blame a cultural double standard that applauds reckless rebellion in men but shames it in women.”

As the chapters do not have titles, I’ve decided to write down a snippet of information which sums up the pivotal points and various timelines in each section.

______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 1:

– Starts in 1938 and traces Veronica’s move to Hollywood with her mother, step-father and cousin on the 4th of July. Veronica enrolls in the Bliss Hayden School of Acting and has her first role in a movie as an extra in RKO’s Sorority House (1939).

Chapter 2:

– Veronica’s signature peek-a-boo hairstyle is unintentionally created on the set of Forty Little Mothers (1940) by Director, Busby Berkeley who stated, “I still say let it fall. It distinguishes her from the rest”.

Chapter 3:

– Director, Freddie Wilcox sets up Veronica’s first Screen Test, whilst at home her step-father suffers a collapsed lung.

Chapter 4:

– Veronica joins the iconic William Morris Agency and recounts her knowledge of the infamous Hollywood Casting Couch and how she turned away from the many advances.

Chapter 5:

– Veronica meets her first husband, John Detlie and has her named changed by Producer, Arthur Hornblow Jr., who, after a second Screen Test, decides to cast her as Sally Vaughn in her breakout movie, I Wanted Wings (1941).

Chapter 6:

– Focuses on the location filming of I Wanted Wings (1941) from August 26th 1940 in San Antonio, Texas.

Chapter 7:

– Continues filming in Hollywood for I Wanted Wings (1941) and elopes to marry her first husband, John Detlie.

Chapter 8:

– Veronica discusses the first 8 years of her childhood and her move to Florida in her teen years and the two schools she attended in Montreal and Miami.

Chapter 9:

– Recounts various appearances in Miami Beauty Pageants as a teenager.

Chapter 10:

– Returns to 1941 with the release of I Wanted Wings (1941) and focuses on the worldwide phenomenon of the famous hair. Also finishes with Director Preston Sturges hiring Veronica for the role of The Girl in Sullivan’s Travels (1941).

Chapter 11:

Veronica shares the news of her first pregnancy with her mother and how her third trimester would coincide with the physical demands of filming Sullivan’s Travels (1941).

Chapter 12:

– Covers the filming of Sullivan’s Travels (1941) from May 12th 1941 and the revelation of Veronica’s pregnancy. It’s simply incredible when watching the film all these years later to come to the realization that she was between six to eight months pregnant!

Chapter 13: – The filming of This Gun For Hire (1942) and The Glass Key (1942).

Chapter 14:

– The filming of I Married A Witch (1942), So Proudly We Hail! (1943) and The Hour Before The Dawn (1944). Veronica also discusses the deterioration of her marriage and the tragic loss of her second baby, Anthony, who died a week after being born two months prematurely.

Chapter 15:

– Veronica divorces John and retells various anecdotes of the Hollywood Lifestyle in it’s heyday in the 1940s.

Chapter 16:

– Veronica discusses the filming of Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) and also her dating history during this period. She shares some fascinating stories of various celebrity anecdotes which include such Stars as, Errol Flynn, Katharine Hepburn, Howard Hughes and Gary Cooper.

Chapter 17:

– The filming of Bring On The Girls (1945), Duffy’s Tavern (1946) and Hold That Blonde! (1945). Veronica recalls marrying her second husband, Andre de Toth and shares a moving story from her visit to The White House in January 1945.

Chapter 18:

– The filming of Miss Susie Slagles (1946), Out Of This World (1945), Ramrod (1946), The Blue Dahlia (1946), Saigon (1947) and The Sainted Sisters (1948). Veronica and Andre expand their family as she has her third baby, a boy named Michael. She also talks about her and Andre obtaining their Pilot Licenses and how the death of her step-dad deeply affected her.

Chapter 19:

– Features a highly entertaining story of Veronica flying her plane, whilst carrying her forth child, in her fifth month of pregnancy. With her on board is her secretary Marge, who up until then had never flown before.

Chapter 20:

– Veronica gives birth to her forth baby, a girl named Diana and talks about the turmoil of her relationship with her mother, who decided to sue her for, “lack of filial love and responsibility” and over $17,000.

Chapter 21:

– The filming of Slattery’s Hurricane (1949) and Stronghold (1951). Veronica discusses her frustration with Andre’s prolific spending, which results in them filing for bankruptcy and ultimately, the deterioration of their marriage.

Chapter 22:

– Veronica moves to New York in 1951 and continues her acting career through various television appearances and the stage. She enters her third marriage to husband, Joe McCarthy, which she admits was volatile from the start and they divorce after just four years, in September 1959.

Chapter 23:

– Covers the years 1959 through to 1961. Veronica discusses her time taking a job as a cocktail waitress – which contrary to popular belief, she actually quite enjoyed. She also talks about the traumatic accident which resulted in a severely broken ankle, which caused her inability to act for two years.

Chapter 24:

– Delves into her relationship with Andy Elickson, a Merchant Seaman, who she met during her time working in the Martha Washington Hotel and focuses on the period between 1961 and 1966. She also writes about a high note in her stage career; appearing in Best Foot Forward in 1963.

Chapter 25:

– Veronica discusses her move to Miami from New York in 1966.

Chapter 26:

– The filming of Footsteps In The Snow (1966) and Flesh Feast (1970) which was then known as Time Is Terror and was originally shot in 1967.

Chapter 27:

– Ends in October 1967 with Veronica discussing her reading performance of The World of Carl Sandburg, which she describes as one of the, “finest moments” of her life.

______________________________________________________________________________

Veronica’s words are full of honesty, she does not sugar-coat her flaws and her anecdotes convey a great sense of humbleness towards her career and lots of self criticism to her talent, the latter which saddens me. I’ve noticed many of the great Stars rarely seem to have any belief in themselves. If only they could see how loved and appreciated they truly are. However, her loyalty and generosity towards her close friends and even acquaintances does not go unnoticed. It’s refreshing to see her be able to share her own story, without various opinions and conspiracies that have grown over the years being included.

Overall, there’s only two downsides that springs to mind. Firstly, as the book was originally published in 1969 and finishes at the end of 1967, we’re missing the six final years of her fascinating life and tragically nothing can be done to change this. Of course no one is at fault, it’s just a shame that those last years will remain mostly a mystery to us. It would have been wonderful to read about her time in England. Lastly, in the original edition, a number of pages featured very rare photos of Veronica throughout her years, including her own comments. Sadly, only a small version of the cover photo reappears at the end of the newly republished book. I’m assuming this is down to cost and or copyright, but it would be nice to see these rare treasures reappear in the latest edition for fans that are not fortunate enough to also own an original copy.

Ultimately, Veronica always maintains her true self and comes across as not a Screen Icon, but just like one of us – albeit with some extraordinary Hollywood stories. She’s simply, and I mean this in the most complimentary way – a human being. It’s been almost a decade since I discovered Veronica, eight years in fact and I for one have not only became even more endeared to Miss Lake, but, I have also developed a warm space in my heart for my fellow 5’2″ little lady, Miss Connie/Ronni Keane.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Dean Street Press for believing in the popularity of Veronica and so wonderfully reprinting hers and Donald Bain’s special words for us all to enjoy.

For anyone who wants to see more of Veronica, I’ve amassed a fairly large archive of photos over the years which can be viewed on my blog devoted entirely to her; missveronicalakes.

Follow me at;

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For inquiries or collaborations contact me at;

[email protected]

Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake; Book Review. When most people hear the name, "Veronica Lake" usually one of three things comes to mind - …

#1940s #1950s #1960s #autobiography #blonde bombshell #book review #classic hollywood #constance keane #donald bain #femme fatale #icon #legend #old hollywood #peek-a-boo blonde #veronica lake #vintage

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heavencanbeaprisontoo · 9 months ago

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OC fic premises:

Maeve Shelby - Tommy’s confidant and the Shelby sibling with the most social grace, Maeve Shelby is a busy woman. In 1921, she becomes Tommy’s envoy to Alfie Solomons. Though she tries to keep things strictly professional, there’s a growing tension they soon cannot deny.

Constance Kilroy - Looking for a new start, a humble girl from West Virginia goes as far as her father’s inheritance will take her— Small Heath. There, she finds work as the new clerk for the Shelby Family’s betting house. As she adapts to her new home, she becomes “close,” with the two eldest Shelby brothers.

Prudence Keane - Young Prudence leaves a broken home to seek refuge with her wealthy, distant cousin. Sadly, she arrives only to find her cousin’s widow, Thomas Shelby. Though they are strangers, Tommy takes pity on her by giving her a job as Charlie’s governess. A kindness turns into an obsession as Tommy falls for sweet Prudence.

#peaky blinders #peaky blinders oc #oc #peaky blinders x oc #thomas shelby #arthur shelby #alfie solomons x shelby!oc #alfie solomons x oc #arthur shelby x oc #thomas shelby x oc

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decomarc · 2 years ago

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When Veronica Lake arrived in Hollywood in 1939 she came in with the decade but was gone by the end of it. But at least Lake and the public did have a good time while it lasted. For a time Lake held some sway over some cinema circles. When Joan Bennett went from blonde to brunette her hair color changed the course of her career. Bennett went from sweet leading lady to dangerous femme fatale overnight while her career soared higher than before lasting until the 1980"s. But, poor Veronica Lake possibly no candidate for the pantheon of cinema love goddess was admitted on such a gimmicky whim, whose sulky but beautiful face was character-artistically is half-obscured by her tossed locks of her blonde hair which became known as her "Peekaboo Bang" hair style. Her initial cinema popularity was extended by a fortuitous teaming with stone-faced Alan Ladd. They created a new brand of screen lovers: calculating, conscienceless, and as self-possessed individuals. Their love scenes together were the epitome of restrained sexuality, filled with non-sequitur conversation, wisps of cigarette smoke, and bristling icy stares. Ah, the tension which would build up in a film as one waited for the invitation in that strangely husky voice, in the provocative swing of of the sequinned box shoulder, to reach its consummation at a moment of cilimctic abandon when the face-obscuring hank of blonde hair would be swept aside in a embrace and reveal the full glory of her large, lustrous eyes, the slightly sunken cheeks, and then her heavily made-up lips which mark the true essence of the 1940's floozy.

Constance Frances Marie Ockleman on November 14, 1922 in Brooklyn New York. Her parents were Harry Eugene (he was of German and half Irish descent)and Constance Charlotta (Trimble, her mother was of Irish descent). Her father worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yards as an employee for an oil shipping company. When Connie was 12 her father died in an explosion on a ship. Two years later her mother remarried to Anthony Keane soon Connie took his last name as her own. In 1934 her step-father was diagnosed with tuberculosis. They moved to Miami, Florida. Two years after graduating from High School her natural beauty charm and a talent for acting prompted the family to move to Beverly Hills, California, where Constance was enrolled in the well known Bliss-Hayden school of Acting. Constance around this time had been diagnosed as a classic schizophrenic but her parents thought acting might be seen as a treatment. They did not have to wait too long.

After doing a few bit roles at Paramount, Paramount thought that she would be perfect for a role in a big budget A-picture I Wanted Wings even thought she was the female lead her name was seventh in the cast. Also Paramount wanted her name changed to Veronica Lake and with that Paramount signed the new Veronica Lake to a standard seven-year contract. The big build-up now began in earnest. Her next picture was the comedy by Preston Sturges Sullivan's Travels costarring Joel McCrea. For much of the film Lake's hair was held under a cap. For her next film she made her match when she starred on This Gun For Hire and costar was Alan Ladd and audiences got to her Lake's new sensation her "Peekaboo Bang" hair style that swept the country. Ladd and Lake proved so successful that Paramount starred them together for an additional three more films and they also stared in three all-star musicals where they did not have scenes together: Star Spangled Rhythm (1943) the highlight of the musical was the one number titled: A Sweater, A Sarong and a Peekaboo Bang" this song was a spoof on what made famous actresses Paulette Goddard, Dorothy Lamour and Veronica Lake made famous. The other all-star musicals were: Duffy's Tavern (1947) and Variety Girl (1948) in between Lake had a few more successful films as the two other films that so costarred with Alan Ladd: The Glass Key (1943) and The Blue Dahlia (1946) other less successful were The Hour Before Dawn (1944), Hold That Blonde(1946) Another film that Lake will be remembered for which I consider her best was in So Proudly We Hail (1943) where she played Lieutenant Olivia D'Arcy as nurses in the South Pacific who are captured by the Japanese. Her two other costars were Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard. The scene that still packs quick q punch had Lake calmly walking up to a group of Japanese soldiers while holding a hand grenade when she blows up herself and all the soldiers. She had lost her fiancee and had made a vow to revenge his death.

During World War II, Lake changed her trademark peek-a-boo hairstyle at the urging of the United States government to encourage women working in war factories to adopt a more practical and safer hairstyles. Although the change helped to decrease accidents involving women getting their hair caught in machinery, doing so may have damaged Lake's career. She also became a popular pin-up girl for soldiers during World War II and traveled throughout the United States to raise money for war bonds. After World War II, Veronica and her "Peekaboo Bang" hairdo became as obsolete as a ration book. Paramount had phased out its line of fantasy-realistic films in the postwar return to cultural naivete. The few tough-broad roles that came up would normally go to superstar Barbara Stanwyck. Veronica's comeback attempts on the stage and on television only slowed her decline. Her downhill course was not atypical, but her no-nonsense reaction to the loss of looks, fame, and fortune proved noteworthy. Periodically, she would be rescued from oblivion by an enterprising journalist ferreting out her latest plight. In 1968 she lay bare her years past, in her auto-biography titled "Veronica" telling the world that she was no mere Hollywood concoction, but a game girl who was undaunted by alcoholism and poverty. In June 1973, Lake was traveling in Vermont when she visited a local doctor, complaining of stomach pains. She was discovered to have cirrhosis of the liver as a result of her years of drinking, and on June 26, she checked into the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

Remembering Veronica Lake 🌹🕊on her Birthday 🎂

November 22nd 1922

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