A little Pre-Code Hollywood, a little monkey business, and a whole lot of Halloween fun!
For this year's Cincinnati Actors' Studio costume party, I couldn't resist paying tribute to one of my favorite films, King Kong (1933), and its unforgettable scream queen, Fay Wray.
I've adored this film for years. There's something about the original King Kong, from its groundbreaking effects to its sheer movie magic, that still thrills me every time I watch it. I even introduced my nephew to the film when he was just five years old, and years later, we got to experience Kong together on Broadway.
I was fortunate enough to see the stage production at the Broadway Theatre in 2018, and what an experience that was! Sadly, the show eventually closed after 29 previews and 323 regular performances, but I'm so glad we got to see it. The music didn't quite win me over, and some of the changes to the story didn't work for me either. But Kong himself? Absolutely incredible! And knowing how the story ends, well, let's just say there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
All these years later, my affection for that magnificent ape hasn't faded a bit. So when Halloween came around, I couldn't resist bringing my own Ann Darrow to life.
The fun started with a battered gorilla hand I discovered in a costume shop last year. It was practically falling apart, but I saw the possibilities. After rebuilding it and piecing everything together, I got to work ripping and shredding a dress for that straight-out-of-Skull-Island look.
Add some blonde curls and a little 1930s glamour, and I was ready for my close-up! My husband joined the fun as a 1930s movie director, megaphone and all.
I had an absolute blast putting this together, and seeing the whole look finally come to life was such a treat!
And since Halloween has always been one of my favorite excuses to get creative, I thought I'd share a little look back at some of my costumes from years past, too. I've had so much fun dreaming up these looks, putting them together, and stepping into different characters along the way.
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| As The Bride from Bride of Frankenstein (1935), 1950s style |
| As Luna from Mark of the Vampire (1935) |
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| As Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
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| As Ripley from Alien (1979) |
