Jazz Age Beauties: The Lost Collection of Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston

by Robert Hudovernik

Despite Prohibition, the '20s was the decade of jazz, flappers and hip flasks. While some took their vote and joined the Woman's Christian Temperance Movement, others, well, took liberties. Compiled here for the first time are more than 200 publicity stills and photos of some of America's first "It" girls—the silent film-era starlets who paved the way for the cacophony of Monroes and Madonnas to follow. Accompanying these iconic images are the stories behind them, including accounts from surviving Ziegfeld Girls, as well as ads featuring them that helped perpetuate the allure of It girl glamour. When rare and striking portraits of these women surfaced on the internet in 1995, author Robert Hudovernik began researching their source. What he discovered was the work of one of the first "star makers" identified most with the Ziegfeld Follies, Alfred Cheney Johnston. Johnston, a member of New York's famous Algonquin Round Table who photographed such celebrities as Mary Pickford, Fanny Brice, the Gish Sisters, and Louise Brooks, fell out of the spotlight with the demise of the revue. A sumptuous snapshot of an era, this book is also a look at the work of this "lost" photographer.

Genres: Photography, Art, History, Nonfiction, Art and Photography, Fashion, Biography

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2006

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing photos and fascinating stories (seems like the life of a Ziegfeld girl was not a happy one). Who knew that a Follies girl later retired and found a cure for syphillis afterwards?

However...early on, the writer talks about how Johnston was good friends with Bill Tilden, the tennis star, and his wife Theda Bara. Playing tennis in the morning with Tilden and "in the afternoon he photographed Tilden's famous wife, film actress and vamp Theda Bara". One huge problem, Tilden & Bara were never married (she was married to the director Charles Brabin) and by all accounts was a shy homebody who lived in Hollwyood while Johnston lived in NYC. Tilden is famously known as an athlete that just wasn't into women (see Encyclopedia of Scandal, under T)

Such a GIGANTIC mistake in the very beginning though, made me kind of question a lot of what I read, so nothing in the book will be taken as gospel. But again, more the photos of trailblazing women in the 1920s than the text. Five stars for the photographs, 2 for the text.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous images from Ziegfeld photographer Johnston. The text was mostly unmemorable, but the captions by the photos of the girls were sometimes fascinating. This book is outstanding, however, for the photos themselves...gorgeous shot after shot posed elegantly...sometimes nude, sometimes strategically covered. It is a perfect reference for anyone hoping to recreate an artistic and flattering studio shot.

Two or three of the photos were reproduced in too low of quality, and are grainy, and one image covers two pages with the actual girl in the photo hidden in the book's crease, but otherwise, it's outstanding.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Every picture is like a poem frozen in time. A perfect aesthetic moment. What a great Birthday Present.

[Kevin Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting to think that the impetus for the book was the author spotting the images for sale on eBay. It's good thing they were rescued and put out in the book. The research is generally solid and the author works with what he knows best. A quibble is these folks weren't members of the Algonquin Round Table, although they certainly ate lunch at the Hotel Algonquin. If you are seeking a photo collection of beautiful vintage images, you'd be hard pressed to top this one.

[Christine P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books on my shelf that I go back to again and again for photography and costume inspiration. I think it's a great resource for anyone interested in vintage glamour photography, 1920's portrait photography, Ziegfeld Girls, burlesque, nudes in art, etc. Most of the photos are excellent, a few of them are fuzzy or grainy, but it is well worth it.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are supremely lucky to see these photographs. The book is artfully produced in keeping with Johnson's masterful work and the women he photographed. I really appreciate books like this. Johnston left the world a wonderful legacy. IMO it's a must have.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with stunning pictures, and it seems to have been a real labour of love to compile and get published. I only wish it were coffee table size, rather than just bigger than a standard hardback novel.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this I’ve decided we clearly need some tasteful Ziegfeld nudes in the house.

[Bob Nedderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

features gals from the 1920's in various stages of undress, with captions. insightful. rip.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the photos in this book, but I don't know why some of them were blurry? It would've been better to have smaller copies of them so they wouldn't be blurry.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous view into the Jazz Age. It includes beautiful nude and semi-nude photos of some of the most famous of the Ziegfeld Follies girls and 20's movies stars.
The short write up on the photographer and the photo captions are a fascinating read. As witnessed by these photos, the Roaring 20's were a time of change for women and at least some embraced it wholeheartedly.

[Laren]

A forward...and photos of the beautiful Julie Newmar, whose mother was a Ziegfeld girl!

[Sabur76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning.

[Cake · Rating 4 out of 5]

a book of beautiful and artistic photos of the Ziegfeld follies girls, and others.

[Staś · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that some photos are printed from too low resolution scans (probably found somewhere on the Web) you still can't find any better.

[Redgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!!!!!