And in the Beginning

Of all the exhibitions that presented the Art Deco style to the world, it was the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris during 1925 that brought it to preminence.The exposition was a homage to of French taste and luxury goods, with a special emphasis on modernity.

Lalique fountain at the 1925 Art Deco exposition in Paris France.

But it was European desginers, directors, producers and artists arriving in Hollywod that established the style that made Art Deco synonymous with Hollywood during its golden age. Hollywood spun tales,set against luxurious backgrounds, peopled with glamourous artists dressed in the highest of fashions. Movie themes reflected the times racy women and tall dark handsome men, always upwardly mobile, sexually liberal, young and beautiful. Hollywood was selling the American dream to the world, and introducing it to the rampant consumermism that we are addicted to still.