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The above photo of Carole Lombard trying out a gown designed for her by Paramount's Travis Banton ran in Photoplay's April 1936 in the first of a three-part series on the studio's fashion maven (https://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/452343.html). It also included this stylish early color shot of Carole:
But there's more to this issue -- which has Joan Crawford, in a rare George Hurrell color pic, on the cover -- than that:
For one thing, it includes a lengthy story on William Powell, at that time the only man who could claim himself to be a Lombard husband (though it may have been in the past tense). Remember, when this issue hit newsstands in mid-March, Carole's romance with Clark Gable was in its infancy.
It also came at a time when Powell was just starting his peak year of 1936, arguably the greatest single calendar year any actor has ever had. He was riding high, as this story makes evident:
See that ad about "Cinderella hands"? Well, Hollywood hands were profiled in this issue, and one of those pairs of hands belonged to Carole:
Plus there are stories on Warners' up-and-coming Errol Flynn, Shirley Temple's family, and more.
eBay has this issue up for auction; the seller says its 128 pages are in "very good" condition. Bidding begins at $17.95, with the auction closing at 12:48 p.m. (Eastern) May 28 (Memorial Day).
For additional information or to bid, visit https://www.ebay.com/itm/PHOTOPLAY-1936-JOAN-CRAWFORD-IRENE-DUNNE-ERROL-FLYNN-CAROLE-LOMBARD-BARRYMORE/362323602218?hash=item545c2b6b2a:g:kjUAAOSw9eVXWtwW.
