In 1928, actor William "Billy" Haines was one of the most famous, top-draw stars in silent films. And in 1930, the Quigley Poll, a survey of film exhibitors, listed Haines as the top box office attraction in the country starring is such films as "Brown of Harvard," "Tell It To The Marines," and "Alias Jimmy Valentine." But there was a disconnect between his public persona and his private life...Haines was openly gay, only to those in Hollywood, at a time when such information had to be kept secret. But the real problem was Haines was
unrepentantly gay.
So in 1933, Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM where Haines was under contract, gave Haines an ultimatum: give up his long-term relationship with his partner Jimmie Shields and submit to a sham marriage with a starlet chosen by the studio (these secret arrangements were called "lavender marriages" in Hollywood) or be fired, blacklisted, and forfeit his career. In 2023, such behavior is of course sexual harassment and extortion, both criminal offences, but then, Haines had no real legal recourse. He did however have his human dignity: he chose to remain an authentic human being and remain with his partner Shields. Indeed, they were together for the next 40 years until Haines' death in 1973. They were even dubbed "the happiest married couple in Hollywood."
But Haines had always been interested in homes and what goes into them and during his last few years in pictures, he had opened up--as a hobby--a furniture and antique shop in Los Angeles. After being forced from his very successful acting career, he concentrated on the shop full time. Soon he began furnishing rooms and then designing whole interiors for some of his movie star pals, including designing furniture. Haines pioneered a new blend of modern and traditional silhouettes that has since come to be known as Hollywood Regency. His taste spread like wildfire and even influenced set design for motion pictures in Hollywood.
I think one of his most beautiful and elegant creations is a chair he dubbed the Brentwood chair. A low slung slipper chair inspired by the classic Greek Klismos chair (look at the angle of the legs), the chair's proportions are meant to convey ease.
The gorgeous
Brentwood chair is still in production at the Los Angeles design studio Haines himself started,
William Haines Designs.
If you are interested in obtaining any of Haines' furniture, or adding some Hollywood Regency glamour to your home, please do give me a call.
Happy designing!
