I could have been a male Tallulah Bankhead. When I was young and bold, I showed up at more than a couple of events nude just to see the reactions. I never did that when I thought most reactions would be negative or if the event weren't adult in attendance. But to borrow a phrase from my days in Science Fiction conventions, I did not mind "freaking the mundanes."
She was a sexy and alluring female and it was the males who made the rules. I was a guy and that changes the reactions considerably. I wasn't a world class actress who people would cut a lot of slack. I didn't circulate in a world of preexisting decadence. It was still a way of challenging people and asserting my nonconformity.
My pubic hair wasn't an issue. This was long before manscaping became a billion dollar industry.
These days I love to wander the wilderness nude. I don't seek out people to encounter but once in a blue moon it happens. There are no more birthdaysuit parties. The Bare to Breakers and the WNBR are about as wild as it gets and I may soon be aging out of those. Spirit is willing but the body is weak.
Thanks Julia for sharing the story of Tallulah Bankhead and how it compares/contrasts with your own naturist journey. It reminds me of a recent article in Nude and Natural magazine by Mark Storey. Mark provided a short biopic of Dr. Victoria Bateman, a Cambridge University fellow in economics. In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Bateman uses nudity both as art and protest to highlight what she calls the “cult of female modesty“. She’s a contemporary example of how individuals and groups, particularly women, have used nudity to draw attention to societal issues.
Age differences show up here. I was aware that she was an entertainer, but was totally unaware of her showing up at gatherings in the nude. I must be honest and say I fully approve. I happen to consider a woman's pubic hair as one of the most beautiful things on earth! Being raised in a nudist family had to have been a positive thing in your life.
Just as an aside, do you know the anecdote from when Tallulah Bankhead was working on Hitchcock's "Lifeboat"? The film is set, as the name suggest, almost entirely on a lifeboat so the characters are seated through most of the movie. One day a cameraman pulled Hitchcock aside and mentioned that Bankhead was routinely showing up on set without any underwear on, making it very difficult for him to frame her in the shot. Hitchcock responded "Would you suggest I refer the problem to wardrobe or hairdressing?"
Hi Julia - thank you for the fascinating blog 👍 I can't claim to possess the daring spirit that Tallulah displayed (although I would have loved to have met her in her outrageous prime...) There is however, one thing that she and I have in common - we both appreciate a nice bush 😊 I did shave my pubic area once, many years ago, just to see what it was like, but I hated it and never did that again! More recently, I was able to gently persuade my partner (who is also nudist) to grow out her own pubic hair - she had been shaving it off since she was 18 y.o. and is 62 now. Since it has grown back, she says that she loves it and will never shave it again.
I could have been a male Tallulah Bankhead. When I was young and bold, I showed up at more than a couple of events nude just to see the reactions. I never did that when I thought most reactions would be negative or if the event weren't adult in attendance. But to borrow a phrase from my days in Science Fiction conventions, I did not mind "freaking the mundanes."
She was a sexy and alluring female and it was the males who made the rules. I was a guy and that changes the reactions considerably. I wasn't a world class actress who people would cut a lot of slack. I didn't circulate in a world of preexisting decadence. It was still a way of challenging people and asserting my nonconformity.
My pubic hair wasn't an issue. This was long before manscaping became a billion dollar industry.
These days I love to wander the wilderness nude. I don't seek out people to encounter but once in a blue moon it happens. There are no more birthdaysuit parties. The Bare to Breakers and the WNBR are about as wild as it gets and I may soon be aging out of those. Spirit is willing but the body is weak.
Thanks Julia for sharing the story of Tallulah Bankhead and how it compares/contrasts with your own naturist journey. It reminds me of a recent article in Nude and Natural magazine by Mark Storey. Mark provided a short biopic of Dr. Victoria Bateman, a Cambridge University fellow in economics. In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Bateman uses nudity both as art and protest to highlight what she calls the “cult of female modesty“. She’s a contemporary example of how individuals and groups, particularly women, have used nudity to draw attention to societal issues.
Check out her website at:
https://www.vnbateman.com
and Vimeo channel at:
https://vimeo.com/vnbateman
Wow, thanks for the link to Victoria Bateman, this sounds fascinating. 😊
Age differences show up here. I was aware that she was an entertainer, but was totally unaware of her showing up at gatherings in the nude. I must be honest and say I fully approve. I happen to consider a woman's pubic hair as one of the most beautiful things on earth! Being raised in a nudist family had to have been a positive thing in your life.
Julia, You are as beautifully naked in your candor about your life as you are with your body. I always enjoy your writings.
This is beautifully written. I had never heard of Tallulah Bankhead before. Thanks for enlightening me!
Just as an aside, do you know the anecdote from when Tallulah Bankhead was working on Hitchcock's "Lifeboat"? The film is set, as the name suggest, almost entirely on a lifeboat so the characters are seated through most of the movie. One day a cameraman pulled Hitchcock aside and mentioned that Bankhead was routinely showing up on set without any underwear on, making it very difficult for him to frame her in the shot. Hitchcock responded "Would you suggest I refer the problem to wardrobe or hairdressing?"
Hi Julia - thank you for the fascinating blog 👍 I can't claim to possess the daring spirit that Tallulah displayed (although I would have loved to have met her in her outrageous prime...) There is however, one thing that she and I have in common - we both appreciate a nice bush 😊 I did shave my pubic area once, many years ago, just to see what it was like, but I hated it and never did that again! More recently, I was able to gently persuade my partner (who is also nudist) to grow out her own pubic hair - she had been shaving it off since she was 18 y.o. and is 62 now. Since it has grown back, she says that she loves it and will never shave it again.
Very nice and enlightening article, didn't know that about her or you, best wishes Grandpa Dave