Clara Bow
She was the electric, untamed face of the 1920s flapper, whose raw energy on screen defined an era's rebellion and desire.
1905–1965 (age 60)·American actress·Birthday: July 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Clara Bow erupted from a childhood of profound poverty in Brooklyn to become the most potent symbol of the Jazz Age. Discovered through a magazine contest, her naturalism and vibrating vitality were a shock to the stylized silent screen. In 1927's 'It,' she didn't just play a part; she embodied a new kind of modern woman—brazen, ambitious, and sexually confident—earning her the permanent title 'The It Girl.' The studio machinery fed on her persona, churning out films at a breakneck pace until the pressures of fame, scandal, and the grueling transition to sound took their toll. Bow retreated from Hollywood in the early 1930s, but her legacy as cinema's first true tabloid star and the definitive flapper, whose grin and bob were copied by millions, remains indelible.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Clara was born in 1905, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clara Was Born
The biggest hits of 1905
Clara's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1905Born
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Started school
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1918Became a teenager
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could drive
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1923Could vote
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Turned 21
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1935Turned 30
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 40
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 50
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 60
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
Key Achievements
- Starred in the 1927 silent film 'It,' which cemented her status as the definitive flapper and coined the term 'It Girl.'
- Became the top box-office draw in 1928 and 1929, demonstrating immense popular appeal.
- Successfully transitioned to sound films with features like 'The Wild Party' (1929), proving her voice matched her energetic screen presence.
- Received a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for her contributions to film.
Did You Know?
She was discovered after winning a 'Fame and Fortune' contest run by a movie magazine in 1921.
Bow's distinctive Brooklyn accent was a major concern for Paramount during the transition to talkies.
She was an avid baseball fan and once tried out for a minor league team.
Later in life, she ran a ranch in Nevada with her husband, actor Rex Bell.
“Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.”
