It’s hard not to be intrigued by the timeless glamour of old Hollywood stars. But behind the smiles and sparkles, there was a lot no one knew at the time. Actors and actresses were often subjected to impossible choices just to stay in the biz, and it was no easy ride. Some of it is downright cruel and even criminal! What seemed like a simpler, scandal-free time was really anything but. Here are some of the most spine-tingling stories that actually happened. If you thought today’s drama was bad, guess again!
Judy Garland Was Seriously Mistreated by the Execs
17-year old Judy Garland became a classic star as soon as The Wizard of Oz premiered. She appeared to have a bright future, by all accounts. But behind the scenes, Judy was surrounded by cynical adults who had their own agenda. First, there was the issue of body image, as a minor. Judy recalled: “From the time I was thirteen, there was a constant struggle between MGM and me — whether or not to eat, how much to eat, what to eat. I remember this more vividly than anything else about my childhood.”
Later, Hollywood executives made her have an abortion. Movie staff made her take different substances so she could work long, inhuman hours. By the time she was 16, she was already addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates! Later in life, that’s exactly how she overdosed and passed away. So sad!
Rock Hudson Had to Fake His Marriage
Rock Hudson was the definition of a marketable Hollywood hunk, in his day. The studios found incredible success selling his image as a sex symbol. Men wanted to be him, and ladies wanted to be with him. But the truth was a bit different than audiences knew. Rock was a gay man, and that didn’t make any sense for the business. As a result, executives made him marry a woman for appearance’s sake. Yes, really!
In the end, this sham marriage lasted for three years. Decades later, the world was surprised when Rock died of AIDS, and the secret was out: Fans finally understood who he was, all along.
Lauren Bacall Didn’t Mean to Look Sultry
Of all the classic Hollywood beauties, Lauren Bacall is a frequent favorite. There was just something about her, beyond her physical form. She had a low, sultry voice. And she started every scene with body language that hypnotized audiences. Lauren’s signature look was pressing her chin to her chest and looking up. Why did she really do that? As it turns out, she had tremendous problems with anxiety. She would shake, and this position helped her steady her face!
Lauren was honest: “Childhood anxieties, childhood fears, never disappear entirely. They fade, but not away.” On set, she had her own special way to cope. Incredibly, people found it visually appealing!
The Makeup They Used Was Poisonous
In The Wizard of Oz, the vividly green wicked witch of the west stood out in technicolor. We all loved the look, and most of us assumed the facepaint was safe. But it wasn’t! To get that hue of evil, makeup artists were using a weird formula on actress Margaret Hamilton. The makeup artist recalled: “Every night when I was taking off the Witch’s makeup, I would make sure that her face was thoroughly clean. Spotlessly clean. Because you don’t take chances with green.”
Why not? Well, the paint had toxic levels of copper. For some reason, professionals on set put Margaret on a liquid diet to deal with the daily poison. We’re glad dyes have come a long way!