Hollywood’s Golden Age was graced with thousands of breathtaking looks by a designer who was known simply as Irene. Based on unprecedented access to the records and remembrances of Irene’s personal artist, Virginia Fisher, this insider’s look tells the story of Irene’s years at MGM studios. Marvellously illustrated with more than 150 original sketches and photography from the time period, Irene’s exhilarating story, filled with memories that have a cloying edge and are, at times, chilling, comes to life in this thoroughly researched resource on her career and legacy. From her early years as a designer with a successful dress shop catering to Hollywood clientele to her ascendancy at MGM studios to the beginning of her own label, Irene, Inc., this volume captures Irene’s struggles and triumphs surrounding her time at MGM. Complete with a filmography of Irene’s designs and full of insightful cameos by stars like Judy Garland, Lana Turner, and others, this is the ideal book for film and costume historians, fashion designers, and fans of Hollywood’s Golden Age. AUTHOR: Frank Billecci was a freelance designer in Hollywood from 1983-1992. During that time, Frank designed for stage, independent films, and television productions. After receiving the NAACP Image Award nomination and the Dramalogue Critics Award of the Year for his work on Showgirls, Frank served as the designer for the ever popular TV series The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Leaving the field of entertainment, Frank returned to work in education, where, holding a master’s degree, he served as a teacher, an administrator, and the author of educational materials. As a college undergraduate, Frank was a ghost writer for articles that specialized in Biblical Studies and archaeological reports. He went on to teach writing classes at UC Davis while also writing curriculum guides to accompany materials developed by the National Science Foundation. In 2004, Frank was also the author of educational materials published by Easy Access Press.
Lauranne B. Fisher holds a master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science. For twenty-five years, Lauranne worked as a pathologist with students having severe handicaps. During that time Lauranne created the first SDL Program implemented by school districts in southern California. An avid world traveller, Lauranne was first a flight attendant for American Airlines. She is also known as a sports enthusiast, possessing both a pilot’s license and a licenses for deep water diving around the world. Acting as the Fisher Family historian, Lauranne has spent hundreds of hours recording the memories of her mother, Virginia Fisher, the guiding light of this book. 214 b/w and colour photographs