Marie Wilson Stages A Protest Against “Fencing Her In” With A Corset

There was no news slug on the rear of this photograph, but tracking down what the commotion was all about was easy. It’s a publicity stunt of the silliest magnitude.

Film Lovelies Protest Corsets, Win Short Ribs
Hollywood, CA – Carrying signs and corsets Hollywood lovelies picket a movie studio. They are from left, with “No! To Corsets” sign is Marie Wilson, in background, Judy Cook, the picketed producer Albert Lewin and Darlene De Mos. photo: AP 5/15/1946

The Des Moines Register was one of the news outlets that carried the full story in typical cheesecake jargon of the day:

Five luscious ladies picketed a studio Wednesday in the interest – they insisted – of their figures. They announced with press agent aid, that they didn’t want to wear corsets. They weren’t encased in corsets or too much of anything else. It was one of Hollywood’s oldest stunts, but it attracted the usual throng.

Out in front was Marie Wilson , revue comedienne.

Said she of producer Albert Lewin’s  demand that for the sake of authenticity she and her companions must wear corsets in his newest film, a nineteenth century costume piece called, “Bel Ami.”

“They’re injurious. They hurt our ribs.” 

Their signs carried such legends as: “Don’t fence me in.” And, “No bodice barbarity.”

Lewin, who went along with the gag, made a show of surrendering to their demand. He announced a sort of “little steel” compromise, whereby the ribs of the corsets would be only half as high.

Judy Cook one of the picketers, probably sounded the keynote:

“What a way to make a living.”