Signorina Grandi Firme
Le Grandi Firme (The Great Signatures) was an Italian literary magazine published as a fortnightly review from 1924 to 1936, and as a weekly review from 1937 to 1938. The weekly edition featured cover artwork by Gino Boccasile that always depicted an attractive young woman in a tight dress. These cover women became known as the "Signorine Grandi Firme."
The Signorine Grandi Firme became so popular that they inspired a national beauty contest to find a real-life "Signorina Grandi Firme," or Miss Grandi Firme. This was one of Italy's first beauty contests. It was won by 19-year-old Barbara Nardi.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any photos of Barbara Nardi, even though she went on to appear in a number of Italian movies.
Soon after the contest, Mussolini ordered the magazine to cease publication. Apparently he found its popularity to be a threat.
The beauty contest also inspired a swing song, Signorina Grandi Firme, sung by Carlo Moreno and the Trio Lescano.
More info: listal.com, MissItalia.it
Update: Paul succeeded in finding a photo of Barbara Nardi in an old Italian film magazine.
The Signorine Grandi Firme became so popular that they inspired a national beauty contest to find a real-life "Signorina Grandi Firme," or Miss Grandi Firme. This was one of Italy's first beauty contests. It was won by 19-year-old Barbara Nardi.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any photos of Barbara Nardi, even though she went on to appear in a number of Italian movies.
Soon after the contest, Mussolini ordered the magazine to cease publication. Apparently he found its popularity to be a threat.
The beauty contest also inspired a swing song, Signorina Grandi Firme, sung by Carlo Moreno and the Trio Lescano.
More info: listal.com, MissItalia.it
Update: Paul succeeded in finding a photo of Barbara Nardi in an old Italian film magazine.
"The beautiful smile of Barbara Nardi"
Cinema - Apr 23, 1940
Comments
Barbara looks like she stared in Reefer Madness.
Posted by F.U.D in Stockholm on 11/10/22 at 02:13 PM
LOL on that one, F.U.D. Probably tomorrow, too.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 11/11/22 at 07:44 AM
Just a little correction, but "Grandi firme" should rather translate as "Great brand names", here in reference to the clothes the pinup ladies are shown wearing.
On another note, Boccasile had an interesting life as an illustrator too. Outside of drawing illustrations for a lot of consumer products (some of which are still in use today here in Italy, like the art for baby talc Felce Azzurra), during WW2 he was a major propaganda artist, first for fascist Italy and then for the Italian Social Republic in the north.
On another note, Boccasile had an interesting life as an illustrator too. Outside of drawing illustrations for a lot of consumer products (some of which are still in use today here in Italy, like the art for baby talc Felce Azzurra), during WW2 he was a major propaganda artist, first for fascist Italy and then for the Italian Social Republic in the north.
Posted by Zammataro on 11/11/22 at 11:07 PM
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Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests | 1930s