Film Noir Photos: September 2010

Monday, September 27, 2010

Sweater Girl: Madeline Balcar

16 year old fashion model Madeline Balcar graced the cover of the March 21, 1949 issue of Life. She was apparently never heard from again, but, fortunately for us, she left these attractive artifacts behind.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

For the Boys: Dame Vera Lynn

Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops. Nicknamed "The Forces' Sweetheart", the songs most associated with her are "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover".

In 1940, one year after the beginning of World War II, Lynn began her own radio programme,Sincerely Yours, sending messages to British troops serving abroad. She and her quartet would perform songs most requested by the soldiers. Lynn also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands overseas.

During the war years she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops.

(above and below) Vera Lynn with soldiers in the Far East

In 1942, Lynn recorded the Ross Parker/Hughie Charles song "We'll Meet Again", also appearing in the film of that name. The nostalgic lyrics ("We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day") were very popular during the war and became one of the emblematic songs of the war.

Vera Lynn was appointed an Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire in 1959, and a Dame Commander of the Order (DBE) in 1975. In 2000, she received a special "Spirit of the 20th Century" Award.

Biographical data courtesy wikipedia.