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Bench & pedestals, studio, Hollywood 1916 KY1650 Costume Unitards. Skirted maillot and tights. Leotard and tights. Maillot skirted pantaloons. Hats. T. TL. Actions In an era of moving pictures it is easy to underestimate the importance and information content of a single image. Single pictures are important because they have a way of compacting a series of relationships into a two-dimensional structure. Those relationships often include 3D-space and time, which is exceptional because the image only has 2D and an instant of time. The 3D comes because we can stare into it, in fact if one is able to relax sufficiently one can drift through the lens and discover the space in front of the camera. Temporally single frames often also depict a chain of events--a sequence of events that tell a story through time. So what chain of events is happening in this picture? The story here is not a sequence of things that happen in the room before us, no, these thirteen lasses are simultaneously standing here, all looking into the camera. The story here is the difference in the costumes among the Keystone Bathing Girls themselves, because some of the costumes are more conservative and some are more revealing (1). The most conservative of these Bathing Girls is wearing a high-neck shortsleeve unitard and is standing on the bench. At least five Bathing Girls wear scoop neck unitards, also with feet (at least one has her legs and feet blocked). One appears to be wearing a skirted maillot and tights (front right), and one could be wearing a leotard and tights (far right on the pedestal). But for all of these pinups the exposure is identical: bare face and arms, but legs covered. The most adventuresome Girls are fewest in number: these two wear maillot skirted pantaloons, and for these two and these two alone their legs and feet are completely uncovered and bare. Their bathing suits differ in sleeve length, with the short sleeve maillot having the only stripes in the baker dozen of girls. Finally, a mysterious girl peeks out from behind to our left. She is the only one not wearing a solid dark bathing suit, and her costume is more loose fitting and dress-like. She has bare knees centered on 18 inches of bare leg, with her calves covered in very short hose, possibly rolled down. So run your eyes around the room, examine these different cinema coquettes, and sort out the good girls from the naughty. But be quick about it, 'cause the times they are a changin', and naughty Keystone Bathing Girls may soon be nice! Commentary The first Keystone girl is Mable Norman, four years ago (MN1250). Since then film and the public has pursued leg. Keystone is pushing the limit of good taste here although its competition remains covered (DB1650). This is a excellent example of what Langer calls relative modesty. Source "Keystone Bathing Girls," Keystone Triangle Comedies, Keystone Triangle films, 1916. Daniel Blum, A Pictorial History of the SIlent Screen, G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1953, p. 109. 1 picture. |
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