Cover girls (l.-r., in order of appearance): Madge Bellamy, Estelle Taylor, Marion Davies, and “It Girl” Clara Bow.
Photoplay Dec. 1928- Janet Gaynor

- Photoplay’s December cover girl Janet Gaynor was on a roll when it came to roles. In 1929 she’d nab the first Best Actress Oscar for three of them: 7th Heaven and Sunrise–both 1927–and 1928’s Street Angel.
Filed under 1920s, Janet Gaynor
Photoplay Sep.-Nov. 1928
Filed under 1920s, Corinne Griffith, Evelyn Brent, Gloria Swanson, Photoplay
Photoplay May-Aug. 1928
- Cover girls (l.-r., in order of appearance): blondes Greta Garbo, Marion Davies, Ruth Taylor–and brunette Billie Dove.
- Garbo and John Gilbert (who “Writes His Own Story” in the June issue) had just appeared together in “Love”, a 1927 film adaptation of Anna Karenina. They’d next co-star in “A Woman of Affairs,” released in late 1928.
Filed under 1920s, Billie Dove, Greta Garbo, Marion Davies, Ruth Taylor
Photoplay Jan.-Apr. 1928
- Cover girls (l.-r., in order of appearance): Eleanor Boardman, Clara Bow, Mary Philbin, Esther Ralston.
- Hats, hats and more hats! The trend continues…
Filed under 1920s, Clara Bow, Eleanor Boardman, Esther Ralston, Mary Philbin
Photoplay Sep.-Dec. 1927
- Cover girls (l.-r., in order of appearance): May Allison, Dolores Costello, Jetta Goudal and–did you recognize December’s cover girl? I didn’t. It’s none other than Joan Crawford.
- All these actresses sport the latest in fashionable hats–mostly cloches, it seems–except for Joan, who bucks the trend by going sans chapeau.
Filed under 1920s, Dolores Costello, Jetta Goudal, Joan Crawford, May Allison
Who’s That Girl?
Louise Brooks on the cover of Picture Play (August 1927)…sans her famous bangs.
The more familiar Brooks look, with her trademark bob, on the October 1926 issue of Motion Picture Classic.
Filed under 1920s, Louise Brooks, Motion Picture Classic, Picture Play
Photoplay May-Aug. 1927: Back to Basics
- Cover girls (l.-r., in order of appearance): Mae Murray, Mary Brian, Norma Talmadge, Olive Borden.
- As you can see, the cover format has reverted to the close-up portrait.
Filed under 1920s, Mae Murray, Mary Brian, Norma Talmadge, Olive Borden, Photoplay
Photoplay Jan.-Apr. 1927
- Cover girls (l.-r., in order of appearance): Olive Borden, Louise Brooks (as if you couldn’t already tell), Arlette Marchal, and Lois Wilson.
- Brooks of course would be “rediscovered” in the last quarter of the 20th century. More on her in a later post.
- Lois Wilson was Daisy Buchanan in the silent film version of The Great Gatsby in late 1926, with actor Neil Hamilton portraying Nick Carraway. Yes, the same Neil Hamilton who later appeared as Commissioner Gordon in the famous 196os Batman TV series!
- The prolific Hamilton was also in 1927’s The Joy Girl co-starring with January cover subject Olive Borden.
Filed under 1920s, Arlette Marchal, Lois Wilson, Louise Brooks, Neil Hamilton, Olive Borden, Photoplay
Photoplay Nov.-Dec. 1926


- Cover girls: Renee Adorée (along with adorable Renee Adorée doll!) and Aileen Pringle.
- The new cover format continues. How long will it last?
Filed under 1920s, Aileen Pringle, Renee Adoree
