SECOND-HAND CLOTHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 11 (Supplement)

SECOND-HAND CLOTHES.

DEMAND IN HOLLYWOOD. NO ROOM FOR DEALERS. Hollywood, tho home of the best-dressed women in the world, is the starvingground of the second-hand clothes dealer. Film stars and second-hand clothes dealers simply do not get acquainted. The stars have far too many demands made upon their " cast-offs " to entertain even the though); of transactions of that kind. To start with, the screen clothes which are the envy and despair of picture patrons, belong not to tho stars but to the studios. These organisations, having paid for them, not unnaturally cherish very definite ideas as to what is to be done with them after they have served their original purpose. The First National, Fox and Paramount studios possess wardrobe departments which are among the wonders of the world. Occupying floor-space of 10,000 square feet, the Paramount wardrobe houses at least 72,000 dresses, of every conceivable style and period. Of the 115 gowns which constitute the perpetual output of the wardrobe department at this studio, about 45 are new, and are destined for the stars. The remaining 70 are. renovated or made-over " for the extras and other minor players. At the Metro-Goldwyn studio dresses no longer needed by the stars migrate to the property room, whence they emerge as cushions, lamp-shades, window draperies, etc. Only a comparatively small number are allowed to x'etain their original state, and these serve merely as models. Some film studios assume the role of second-hand clothes dealer and hold sales of the screen clothes for which they have no further use. This is especially true of the independent film units, which cater for the needs of the producer who, while releasing iiis pictures through a large organisation, does not use its studio. Stars working for these independent units are allowed a certain sum for the purchase of the screen gowns, with the option of retaining those they fancy at reduced rates upon completion of a picture. Any clothing which is not selected is auctioned off to the lesser studio lights. While the studios relieve their players of any anxiety regarding tho disposal of their discarded screen clothes, certain stars, for sentimental or other reasons, have retained portions of their film wardrobes " for keeps." Among these are A 1 Jolson, who has a special fondness for the cantor's robes which he wore in "The Jazz Singer"; Douglas Fairbanks, who has preserved most of his costumes from such favourite pictures as " The Three Musketeers," " Robin Hood," and " The Thief of Bagdad "; Mary Brough, for whom a particular pair of decrepit shoes has assumed the virtue of a mascot; and Charlie Chaplin, who cherishes even moi'e than his ancient screen waistcoat the immortal boots in which he has shuffled to fame.

Many garments from the private wardrobes of the stars find their way to the Screen Stars' Shop, which stands on Cahuenga Avenue, Hollywood. Organised by Mary Pickford, and run for the benefit of the Motion Picture Relief Fund, this romantic establishment caters for the clothing requirements of extras, who here may purchase at very moderate prices discarded clothes donated by the stars. The worth of the goods may be gauged by the fact that recently Mary Pickford presented to the shop a beautiful evening gown which she had worn but once