This compilation explores hair style fashion trends from the 1940s to the 1950s. This (5) five film collection visits beauty salons and barbershops for a rare look into the hair fashions of the 40s and 50s which were dominated by waves, curls, shoulder length hair and intricate up-dos for formal occasions.
Included Films:
Hair Dress Through the Ages
Hair Dress Through the Ages
Produced: 1950
Length: 10 Minutes
This is a ridiculous short film about the history of hairstyles (and hats) from cavemen to the renaissance. The narrator provides priceless deadpan commentary as the feature passes quickly and humorously through all of human history. Some of the actors and actresses sporting absurd wigs and hats add extra entertainment with their various looks of disgust or confusion regarding their wacky hairdos. Played strictly for silliness, Hair Dress Through the Ages is a hoot that just gets better and better.
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Caroll’s Beauty Salon
Produced: 1941
Length: 3 Minutes
This silent film features scenes from Carolls Beauty Salon in Hamtramck, Michigan. This film shows a variety of 1940s womens hair styles and hair styling techniques and equipment such as pin curls (pincurls), rolls, and dryers
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Much Ado About Hair-Do’s
Produced: 1950s
Length: 1 Minutes
This short newsreel clip features a hair stylist who uses feathers in his fashionable hair-dos
Barbers
Barbers
Produced: 1959
Length: 13 Minutes
Care Of The Hair and Nails
Care Of The Hair and Nails
Produced: 1951
Length: 9 Minutes
This 1950s personal hygiene film teaches young children care of the hair and fingernails. A somewhat disturbing magical fairy shows the picture of a very unkempt little boy with messy hair and long claw-like fingernails, saying I always keep that picture on my wall, just to remind me how many boys and girls still need my help. She waves her magic wand and introduces some other children who need tips from the fairy. She recommends that they wash their hair at least once a week, and advocated never using another persons comb or hat for fear of lice, which are shown in an animated diagram. She instructs one little girl, Alice, to brush her hair until it shines, or 100 strokes of the brush. She also tells the children, boys and girls, how to clean and manicure their fingernails. This is an interesting hygiene film, thanks to the creepy fairy godmother and wacky kids.
