Since I’ve been running my tour company’s Facebook page, which is probably about five and a half years, I’ve been on the hunt for cool content to post that somehow relates to the city, Hollywood history or the people who live here. One of the things that has made things easier for me is a treasure trove of publicity photos that are attached to specific holidays. As long as the holiday was mainstream enough, you can bet that a studio publicity department took photos of its actors and actresses dressed in the theme of holidays.

There were a few reasons for this. One, as the movie industry grew so too did mass media in general. Magazines during Hollywood’s Golden Age were especially in need content and if stories or advertisements focused on a holiday, it was in a studio’s best interest to have pictures ready to accompany them.

There was another very practical reason for regularly photographing their stars—they were already on the lot every day. During the first decades of Hollywood, performers were under contract to a particular studio. That meant they were required to show up for a regular work schedule whether or not they were filming. When not currently making a movie, actors were taking lessons for dance, attending acting classes, practicing singing for their vocal coaches, getting their costumes fitted—and taking publicity photos. Studios had everything someone in the movie-making business might need right there.

Because they were required to be on the lot, taking holiday-themed photos was another good way to fill their time cards. It was easy to put a pretty actress in a Santa hat or witches hat when the occasion called for it. This has been a boon for me.

When there is a holiday, it makes it easier to post something. If there is a season surrounding that holiday, even better. If there is a season then I post photos every day. Christmas is a great example but I tend to really get into Halloween. I like all the classic pictures of Dracula and Frankenstein as much as anyone but there photographers loved to dress up the Hollywood’s glamour girls in pinup styles, with witches being a favorite. I love pinups and witches so it’s a great combination for me. 

I’ve gotten to the point now that just searching archives for holiday pictures is an entertaining hobby. At any rate, it’s a tradition in Hollywood that I wish still existed but I am so thankful for the fun pictures we do have.