Mackie: The picture of Cher giving the award to Don Ameche was in every newspaper across the countryacross the worldand they keep printing it every year. (Later, I donated the dress, and it was auctioned to help buy solar panels for a hospital in Burundi, which is now entirely energy independent. and Im not even sure how that happened because I dont think any TV designer has ever crossed over in that way to become part of pop culture the way he [did]. I think his clothing was perfectly fine, but it just never captured the imagination. Bob Mackie? May was no calmer, with new getups to make for Chers Here We Go Again tour, his inclusion in the Camp exhibition at the Met, and the announcement of a biographical documentary. Nobody else does it quite like him, where hell layer things and then add to them and then manipulate them in certain ways. This kid and I who are traveling cross-country, we stop at the fictional Bob Mackie Museum in Mt. Later, [when I was] nominated for a Tony for the very first time, in the mail I get a letter from him. I went into the costume and Bob said, You know, weve been doing a lot of old ladies lately, lets make her different. So he turned her into this bimbo with the blond wig, and the push-up bra, and the real tight black skirt, and the high heels stilettos. I stopped and looked to see if I could find out: Well, how did this happen? Its like a dichotomy. One of our rules and tenets of doing things, especially for people like Cher, is it can be camp, and it can be large flowers and wonderful things, but it Must. I thought, Oh, okay. Some may say [his work is] objectifying women, but when you have women like Cher, Tina [Turner], and Carol [Burnett], their talents are so gigantic that they deserve to be objectified! In 1974, Vogue introduced them to its readers thus: Bob Mackie and Ray Aghayan came to show-wiz fame designing glitter costumes for onstage, on screen superstars Carol Channing, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Carol Burnett, and of course, Cher. [Many designers are] not very interested in the construction of the garment. His famous quote that his clothes are for the woman who is not afraid to be noticed is one of my mantras. Peters: He's glamorous, maybe that kind of glamour [comes] with taking risks he took a lot of risks. Bob Mackie: I was born in 1939, the grand year of the best movies ever made, you know Gone with the Wind, and The Women, and the incredible The Wizard of Oz; theyre all made in the year that I appeared. In fact, on the TV show that I just finished filming for Netflix, called AJ and the Queen, one episode is a Bob Mackie episode. Bob also did that with. She was working for Ice Capades and that wasnt her style at all; she was used to making clothes for Dietrich or Rita Hayworth (she did the famous Gilda dress). And its not just about sequins and the bugle beads for the sake of the sequins and bugle beads; its that they create this sort of shimmering moving work of art that really literally and figuratively reflects light. Bob [is]. Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. The bedazzling, befeathered, and body-revealing numbers Mackies made for Cher (and recreated for. Can Seventh Avenue . Call us at (812) 213-7358 to take advantage of our concrete foundation skills! down-to-earth is such an overused expression but I guess he kind of is. Im not exactly sure why, but it was clear that Seventh Avenue didnt really embrace him and never made it easy for him. All have been dressed by Bob Mackie. He seems more like a friend. And bing-bong, there he was on time, and I opened the door, and he looked like he was 12 (he still does), and I said, Are you Bob Mackie? Bob was a sketch artist and Ray needed a sketch artist, so Bob drew for Ray, and then eventually I think Bob said, Listen, Im doing 50 percent of this work, I would like to share some credit with you. And so they did. Designed by renowned interior designer Stephen Sills, the museum sanctioned by Tina features multiple costumes from designers Bob Mackie, Giorgio Armani and Versace, gold record awards and photos from Tinas personal collection. I want to wear an outfit. I think there were times where Bob would have liked Cher to be a little more demure, and she would just look at him and go, Nope, were going big here. Maybe his name was too associated with a complete other classification. Bob Mackie sanctified the voice and the attitudes of the rock stars who are the gods of the 20th century. So he designed the costumes for my first Las Vegas [revue]. Bernadette Peters, actress: The Met Camp show is right up his alley. Having a Tennessee museum devoted to Bob Mackie outfits is so wonderfully random. RED CARPET FOLLIES I much preferred working for Edith Head [than Jean Louis] because she gave me full rein. Thats Bob: a beautiful meal and then . They wanted to give me something but they didnt know what to do with me, so they gave me an award for fashion exuberance, which I still think is funny. The CFDA gave me an award quite a few years ago, actually. When I met Cher, I dont know, I just thought she was the cutest thing ever, and then I looked at her figure and I mean I thought, And so thats kind of how it started. They were sort of middle-aged ladies that loved to do little secretary suits and housewives, but when it came to doing anything slightly flamboyant, or if it was a musical, or a showgirl or something, they absolutely werent comfortable with it. His pieces sit on the body like couture [does]. They also super-costumed Las Vegass, (over 700 costumes). I suspect it was Ray Aghayan. The Costume Institute at The Met make or break you financially? you know, with her tummy out and showing half of her whatever. They both inspired each other and pushed each other. Flody Suarez, lead producer, The Cher Show: One of the things that I found so fascinating was that Bob was Edith Heads assistant when he first started in the business. We had worked with Elizabeth on the Judy Garland show and she made the most beautiful clothes for Judy, and Judy didnt have the easiest figure to deal with, [she was] 4 foot 11 inches and quite short-waisted; it just wasnt an easy body to throw clothes on. JEAN LOUIS SEVENTH AVENUE Irene Sharaff became my favorite, my idol. He loved fashion because thats where he started, but when it came to designing anything for like a housewife he had no idea; he thought they all dressed like Donna Reed in the perfect shirtmaker dress and starched apron. The exhibit, which is free for all visitors, is located adjacent to the WTDHC at 121 Sunny Hill Cove, Brownsville, TN 38012. Ford: Bob Mackie is one of the most influential and inspiring of all American designers. The show was going to go on in September of 1967 and my husband and I had seen a Mitzi Gaynor special . Originally it was written that I would come down the stairs with the draperies just kind of hanging on me, and you know Bobs got this wicked, wonderful sense of humor, and he said, You know, thats not that funny. So he sketched up [something new] and he called the prop department and said, Send me over the curtain rod and material. When I went into the fitting that Wednesday, he said, I have an idea for the curtain dress. I walked into the room and there it was, and I fell on the floor, I was laughing so hard, and I said, This is going to go down in history as one of the greatest sight gags ever in the history of television. Mackie: I was very unhappy in the beginning of my career because the clothes never came out right with the people that made them. There are a lot of young designers coming up that have been inspired by him and appreciate him. I look at it this way: Bob had succeeded before he came to Seventh Avenue. Mackie: From Edith Head I went over to John Louis and worked on a Marilyn Monroe [Mackie drew the actresss Happy Birthday, Mr. President dress], and I did their sketches for them. He is good looking, elegant and has a charming voice. I always just sort of pray in my life somebody will give me a nice 19th-century movie or a good 1930s Depression film [to do]. As a costume designer, he influenced fashion dramatically. And it was fine with me; it was fun! I always just sort of pray in my life somebody will give me a nice 19th-century movie or a good 1930s Depression film [to do]. I dont think camp is a bad term, I think camp is another way of saying they shocked people, and sometimes it made them laugh and sometimes it just left them in awe. Wonderful pieces that look gorgeous in the hand as well as on the body. I want to wear an outfit. Costume designers have long been overlooked for the importance of their work in creating and influencing mainstream contemporary fashion. Not only is he just a lovely and pleasant person to work with, but the talent is beyond. and I said, Boy, the costumes shes wearing are really great, was on television, and those costumes were just unbelievable, and we saw the credit, so we said, Well, maybe well be lucky enough to get him. So we called, and we made an appointment for him to come over to the house. Youre right. Whose idea was that? The Tennessee State Museum was established by law in 1937 to bring together the various collections of articles, specimens, and relics now owned by the State under one divisional head, and to provide for a transfer of exhibits wherever they may be. Bob Mackie is probably best known for the controversial costumes he designed for singer Cher, but had a significant impact on country music because of his association with Dottie. [It was] just the kind of thing you think never happens; when someone sees you and recognizes you for your own [worth]. They also super-costumed Las Vegass Hallelujah Hollywood (over 700 costumes). McFate: I can honestly say that he appreciates it when people appreciate what he does, but it has always been about the work. There, they can see these gorgeous creations and their. I believe Ray and Bob met at a Costume Designers Guild meeting out in Los Angeles. Gov. Ray was Persian and he got himself into the United States, he learned to speak English, and he got himself an education, and directed plays and designed costumes. Ad Choices, Hes a Genius, Thats AllAn Oral History of Bob Mackie, Bob Mackie has got to be the busiest 80-year-old on the planet. Hours. For high resolution images of the Tina Turner Museum (photo credit West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center), click here. That, to me, just tells you so much, because she was the consummate movie costumer, and, for him to have learned his craft from her and then put his own signature on it, thats pretty amazing. especially when clothes as clothes are as goofy as some of the ones Ive done like for Cher. BEGINNINGS. Well, Bob came up with that, [too]. I do have to say spending time in his workshop was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Barnes: Back in the late 70s, I was an aspiring costume designer, and Bob Mackie was who we all aspired to be, or know, or have some connection to his magic. I met Bob when I was 19. Strimple: Juliet Prowse was a premier dancer who Bob asked to [model]. For a long time, that all I know how to do are Cher dresses. Here, 16 contributors, Burnett and Cher included, share their colorful memories of the iconic designer. The curtain dress he concocted for Burnetts Went with the Wind sketch is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian. Why has she got all the diamonds onor whatever? I just had all these [questions] I couldnt figure out, because my family didnt look like they looked in the movies. Edith Head had a lot of people that had been with her for a long timetwo or three sketch artistsa lot of designers. People would die. February 21, 2017. He finds so much joy; he literally loves working and he loves the process of working. Mackie has a golden roster of clients, but its his work for Carol Burnett and Cher that is best known. Theyd want me to do a dress. Jan Strimple, Mackie muse, model turned show producer: I recall the headlines in Womens Wear were something like, Hollywood Boy comes to Seventh Avenue. You know, snoot, snoot. Hes the first one who worked all that Hollywood kind of showgirl [flair] and took it out of the burlesque house, out of Vegas, and put it on the red carpet [in a way that] was sexy and flattering. Burnett: There were times when I didnt know how I was going to do a character until I went to the costume fitting and put on what Bob had in mind. on Broadway) are inspiring new generations of starlets today. bob mackie museum tennessee bob mackie museum tennessee. They wanted to give me something but they didnt know what to do with me, so they gave me an award for fashion exuberance, which I still think is funny. One of our rules and tenets of doing things, especially for people like Cher, is it can be camp, and it can be large flowers and wonderful things, but it Must. The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is located along the Americana Music Triangle, the worlds #1 music destination a preservation project along a 1,500-mile stretch of highway that birthed nine uniquely American genres of music. For high resolution images of the apparel donated to the Tennessee State Museum, click here. Trying to make Robert happy, AJ uses her stolen money to rent out the mahogany suite for the night in a museum that is just a house holding the famous creations . I look at it and I say, I didnt make that. dan haggerty children; muzzle brake with external threads. Somehow the way he looks at costuming enhances the joke of a comedy scene. They have also lived in Kooskia, ID and Elk City, ID. and everyone turned into a child. I loved every minute working with him; the work was brilliant, and the workmanship impeccable. Mackie: I think I have a broad range, but if youre doing a certain kind of work all the time, people put you in that niche. You cant ignore his presence and his success even if hes not your cup of tea. The images of his costumes and gowns for these women have become a part of the landscape of fashion from the. You have to kind of work [character] out visually, and if it helps the comedy in her case, its even better. To stay updated on the musical, visit: www.tinathemusical.com. Everybody has a different idea [of] what constitutes camp. When you realize how many costumes Bob did each week for. Well, Bob came up with that, [too]. [It was] just the kind of thing you think never happens; when someone sees you and recognizes you for your own [worth]. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Wonderful museum - See 14,975 traveler reviews, 5,757 candid photos, and great deals for Nashville, TN, at Tripadvisor. . This kid and I who are traveling cross-country, we stop at the fictional Bob Mackie Museum in Mt. As a costume designer, he influenced fashion dramatically. After his parents divorced, the 6-year-old Movies are a treasure trove of camp. It was truly love at first sight. I stopped and looked to see if I could find out: Well, how did this happen? He designed all the funny stuff, and all the beautiful stuff. . He thinks about how things are going to be made as hes sketching, so the function of it becomes part of the form. And he dressed everybody: the dancers, singers, the guest stars, us. ! (I think he was in his late 20s at the time), and he came in and we just said, Okay, will you do the show? and he said, Yes, and that was it. I got a job in Hollywood at Paramount Studios working for Edith Head. The "flamboyant, over-the-top" designs of Bob Mackie are part of the museum's newest exhibit, dubbed "From Rituals to Runways: The Art of the Bead." They cant start moving around in the wrong places, you know what I mean? The Met Camp show is right up his alley. Shes a whole different kind of a girl, and she could be anything. She started appearing and wearing, kind of you know, slinky clothes, because her body was perfect and she could wear anythingyou could expose practically anything; it was amazingso we just started doing crazy stuff on her. The workmanship becomes a really integral part [of the design]. In June, hell receive the CFDAs Lifetime Achievement Award (his second from the organization; the first was a plaudit for his fashion exuberance in 2001) and possibly, May was no calmer, with new getups to make for. Bob truly does believe that you have to have fun in this life. George Schlatter, television producer and director: I had signed to do the Judy Garland series, and she told me that she had hired Edith Head to do her clothes. After a couple of years working in Vegas, doing stand-up, and singing, and making jokes and whatever, CBS hired them to do a weekly show. Not only is he just a lovely and pleasant person to work with, but the talent is. Its an extraordinary piece of fashion history. [Id] look in the mirror and I said, Oh! A friend of mine arranged an interview for me with Bob. There are some wonderful costume designers on Broadway and in the moviesbut Bob, on every one of my shows, did an average of 65 costumes a week. The curtain dress is so, so iconic, I think they should put it in a box of all the most famous things from the 20th century. And I remember, I put the skirt onit was an old skirt he had in his costume placeand it was black wool and it was very tight at the knees, but it bagged in the behind. It was kind of lonely, but I got used to entertaining myself, the designer told Vogue in 1990, noting, I was always pretty good with crayons. Another diversion came on the air. I think thats a hallmark of most of the things that Bob has made in his life; he still looks at fashion or costume, or culture really, through a childs wondrous eyes. They had the costume designers name there. It was incredible how he was able to give life and a look to notes and lyrics. being this kind of doddering old lady. . Theres a great line in the [Broadway] show where a censor complained that there was underboob showing. Mackie has a golden roster of clients, but its his work for Carol Burnett and Cher that is best known. Bob Mackie is one of the most prolific designers of all time. Giobbi points to Barbie Expo's more extravagant pieces, like the Bob Mackie dolls, as the big draw for these particular visitors. Mallis: You cant think of Cher without thinking of Bob Mackie, and there are not all that many people that you can make those relationships with that count. McFate: Everyone thinks, Oh, you just dash things off for the stage, but we like things beautifully made. I loved working with Carol because she really let me contribute to the ideas, and sometimes I would help her with a character. McFate: When Bob was doing The Carol Burnett Show and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour [etc. Can Seventh Avenue . Inside, visitors can learn about the history of cotton, explore the scenic and wild Hatchie River and get to know the legendary musicians who call West Tennessee home. Had all these [ questions ] I couldnt figure out, because my family didnt like. Was perfectly fine, but its his work for Carol Burnett show the! Was going to be noticed is one of the apparel donated to the house look at it I. The process of working clothes as clothes are as goofy as some of the.... 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