In the golden age of Old Hollywood, starlets were expected to embody sensuality like iconic figures such as Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth.

However, behind the scenes, they were required to maintain a virginal image as motherhood was deemed incompatible with their on-screen allure.

This led to a disturbing trend of clandestine abortions that studio heads actively endorsed to preserve the pristine facade of their silver screen idols.

This practice became intertwined with the introduction of “morality clauses” by Will H. Hays in 1922, aimed at ensuring that top-earning stars would pledge to uphold a scandal-free reputation.

Any hint of pregnancy, intentional or not, was seen as a threat to the carefully crafted glamour of Hollywood, turning contracts into tools of manipulation and control.

Rumors swirled around instances where these clauses influenced the personal lives of actors.

For instance, it was speculated that Jean Harlow refrained from marriage due to the belief that a bombshell couldn’t also be a wife.

Despite this, she found herself pregnant while involved with William Powell, leading to a mysterious hospital visit under the guise of a minor medical procedure.

Similar stories emerged involving other prominent actresses such as Jeanette McDonald and Eva Gardner, who resorted to secretive measures to terminate pregnancies, often orchestrated by studio executives in collaboration with their families.

Judy Garland’s own mother allegedly played a role in orchestrating her daughter’s abortion, highlighting the pervasive nature of this dark aspect of Old Hollywood.

The callous attitude towards pregnancy within the industry prompted the intervention of a group of Hollywood “fixers” who arranged abortions without consideration for the physical or emotional toll on the actresses.

The normalization of these procedures behind the glamorous façade of Hollywood was exemplified by biographer Lee Israel’s comparison of Tallulah Bankhead’s frequent abortions to a common beauty treatment.

Tragically, the pressure and stigma surrounding pregnancy led some stars, like Lupe Velez, to tragic ends, while others felt compelled to undergo abortions to safeguard their careers.

Lana Turner’s harrowing experience of a crude, anaesthesia-free abortion in a hotel room, with the cost deducted from her earnings, sheds light on the grim reality faced by actresses of that era.

Despite the allure and power wielded by women in Old Hollywood through their performances and beauty, they were denied autonomy over their own bodies.

The industry’s contradictory expectations demanded actresses to captivate audiences with their charm and elegance while forsaking personal relationships and motherhood, perpetuating an unrealistic fantasy that disregarded their basic rights.

The legacy of Old Hollywood reveals a paradox where women held immense influence, propelling studio magnates to wealth and fame, yet remained subject to archaic norms that deprived them of agency over their bodies.

The era’s glittering exterior masked a darker truth, reflecting a troubling chapter in the history of women’s treatment both on and off the screen.