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Here are some classic films stars and their real birth names:
Rita Hayworth = Margarita Carmen Cansino
Cary Grant = Archibald Leach
Barbara Stanwyck = Ruby Katherine Stevens
John Wayne = Marion Robert Morrison
Lauren Bacall = Betty Joan Perske
John Garfield = Jacob Julius Garfinkle
Veronica Lake = Constance Frances Marie Ockelman
Tony Curtis = Bernard Schwartz
Mary Pickford = Gladys Louise Smith
Kirk Douglas = Issur Danielovitch
Weren't these fun!? I can see now why many did change their names but many like Lauren Bacall still went by their birth names when it came to close family and friends. Today she still prefers to be called Betty.
The changing of the names is a reminder of how much control the film studios had on their actors and also how powerful a name can be in changing ones images or public persona.
I think Barbara Stanwyck's real name is much pretty and still kind of "Hollywood".
ReplyDeleteI agree-I love her name being Ruby. I think she acted and sounded like a Ruby for sure!! xox
DeleteThanks for this Bunny! So much fun! Hollywood controlled stars lives so much, but I think Cary Grant probably enjoyed not being Archibald Leach. Ha! Weren't old stars so glamorous?
ReplyDelete~xoxo, CoriLynn
Heheh I think you are SOOO right about Cary Grant! They were sooo glam-swoon! xox
DeleteAaaw, and tehy all looked so gorgeous! I'm not sure, but I think Lauren Bacall took her mother's maiden name as stage name. And oh yes, I agree, Archibald is probably not the name you can get famous with... :-) Nonetheless, compared to the names some people give to their kids today, I like the old ones more...
ReplyDeleteI so agree Doris! Yes I believe it was her mothers last name that she took :) xox
DeleteWhat a great post, Bunny! This was fascinating! :) Funnily enough, to me, most of their names were more interesting before they changed them - or at least, just as great sounding (especially Rita Hayworth's real name!)....but I totally understand why Cary Grant changed his name hahahahhahaha! :)
ReplyDeleteAwww thank you sweetie! Haha I agree-thank goodness Cary Grant changed his hehe xox
DeleteLove this! I had no idea so many of them changed their names. Why would you change from Ruby to Barbara? I would love to know how they made their decisions on these stage names ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you hun! A lot of them didn't have a choice. The studios or their managers did it for them. Geesh the things people do for fame. Its not going by a stage name today in a world of the internet where you do it for your privacy to an extent or safety but yeah it is soo interesting! xox
DeleteThis is so wonderfully cool! I knew a few, but certainly not all of them. I can't help but think, too, that this post seems especially well suited to kick October, a month when many of us will disguise our true identity with a costume (not a stage name, but still a form of altering part of how people see us), off with.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Hheeh I love that Jessica! You are such a smart cookie! Thank you! xox
DeleteOh I didn't know for all of them, like Lauren Bacall!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. How are you dear Bunny? Long time I didn't comment here! ♥♥
Oh thank you Nella!!! Happy to see you here! xox
DeleteYes! I just reopened my Google account and my blog. So long without blogging / reading cool blogs!
DeleteSuch an interesting topic
ReplyDeleteKate the old fashioned way
Oh, thank you Kate! xox
DeleteHow interesting is this post! It's amazing how the right name can give you the right image. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI know right?! Thank you Joanna! xox
DeleteGreat post, Bunny! Make you wonder how many other stars have changed their names.
ReplyDeleteThank you sweetie! Working on a part two post hehe xox
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