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Friday, June 12, 2020


Al Urban was the photographer for this early 1940's photo.

5 comments:

  1. Joseph Brian ScottJune 12, 2020 at 4:29 AM

    Swimsuits were so high-waisted even in the '40s; that's a riot.

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    1. In some circles showing one's navel was considered borderline obscene until World War II. I remember even Tarzan's skimpy loincloth managing to cover his navel.

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    2. I can remember a great grand aunt telling me that men could be issued tickets, on certain beaches, for not covering their chests. This wasn't uncommon on east coast beaches until the late 1930's in big cities. To most of us who grew up in the last 50 years, all these restrictions on clothing seem ridiculous.

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  2. I dream of Jeannie star was not allowed to show her naval - her genie costumes were somewhat skimpy, but her naval was always covered

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    1. Jeannie was one of the last to be covered that way. Other TV stars of the time, male and female, were allowed to show it, but with restrictions. For example, the girls on "Gilligan's Island" were allowed no more than three seconds of navel exposure each per episode. Cher was not allowed to show hers as recently as 1972, and she commented, "They got onto me for showing my belly button while Cheryl Ladd's boobs were all you saw for an hour after our show."

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