Sassy zipper talk...1933

[cactusandcattails]

I was eating lunch and channel surfing when I landed on TCM and caught the tail end of "Dancing Lady" (1933) with Clark Gable and Joan Crawford.

Anyway one line got my attention. The Joan Crawford character; "I got a perfect passion for zippers".

So I googled the phrase and came across this website which has quotes from the movie (right sidebar)

http://www.whosdatedwho.com/topic/6280/dancing-lady.htm

I noted this quote;
"Don`t buy shoes with ribbons on them. Don`t forget, what`s a striptease on 2nd Avenue is art on Broadway. The $50 is to buy you a dress without a zipper."

Since it seems common wisdom that women’s dresses didn’t use zippers until later 30s, I was intrigued.

Then I see one more quote conerning zippers
Judge: What`s your name? Rosette Henrietta LaRue: Rosette Henrietta LaRue! Occupation: hipswinging! [the court erupts in laughter] Judge: Now, Miss LaRue, just what constitutes a striptease? Rosette Henrietta LaRue: A good constitution and a couple of zippers. [the court erupts in laughter again] Judge: Don`t be ambiguous. Rosette Henrietta LaRue: Oh, I won`t if you won`t.

I have seen this movie before (and thoroughly enjoyed it) but never really noticed all the zipper talk. So I assume zippers were really big in the dance/striptease profession at the time.

To the trailblazers!

 

[vintageclothesline]

I never thought about zippers in that regard but it does make sense!

 

[Laura]

There was a discussion along these lines within the last six months or so. Someone had seen another movie that referenced zippers as being for fast women. Respectable women didn't wear clothing with zippers...

Laura

 

[debutanteclothing]

It was me who brought that up! :beach:
A reader sent in a question about this line from this movie. She was curious what the big scandal was about bows on shoes and zippers. I assumed the same thing about zippers. I thought it was easy access :wink:

 

[Jonathan]

The movie The Women in 1939 clearly shows a BIG SHINY BLACK zipper going straight down the middle back of Crystal's dress she wears at the perfume counter.

 

[thevintagebungalow]

It totally makes sense for Crystal to be wearing a dress with a zipper then! After all..."If Steven doesn't like something I'm wearing I just take it off."

 

[Linn]

I LOVE "The Women" !!!

Linn

 

[cactusandcattails]

Originally posted by Jonathan
The movie The Women in 1939 clearly shows a BIG SHINY BLACK zipper going straight down the middle back of Crystal's dress she wears at the perfume counter.

I noticed another back zipper in the opening scene of that movie Jonathan. Its the lady with her little dog entering the department store.