Trivia

* Carole was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn. She studied astrology and went to psychics for advice. A psychic once warned her that she "must beware of emotional entanglements with men you can't entirely possess".

* She was a feminist at an early age. Carole tried to form an all female football team at her high school but the principal stopped her because it was unladylike.

* In 1937 she got her very first fan letter from a woman named Peggy McKenna. Peggy later moved to Los Angeles and worked as her stand-in.

Decorating her homes

* One of her favorite hobbies was decorating. Carole decorated many of her homes herself with an Asian or Spanish theme. She even made her own drapes and lampshades.

* Carole always wore a small gold cross necklace. Her close friend Diana Lewis gave it to her in 1938. She was later buried wearing the necklace.

* She loved wearing expensive perfumes. One of her favorites scents was Gueilain's Vol de Nuit.

Reading a book

* Even though she never graduated from high school Carole was smart and she loved to read. She was a fan of Noel Coward and W. Somerset Maugham. 

 *In 1941 she had dinner with Ernest Hemingway who gave her a set of autographed books. He later said she was a "swell broad."

 * She once told a reporter that she always slept in the nude when she was alone. Carole said that if someone was with her she slept in a black nightgown. She also liked to swim in her pool naked!

Playing tennis in 1940

* Carole was very athletic and loved sports. She played tennis, badminton, and golf. In high school 

she was a pitcher on the baseball team.

* She took flying lessons with her second husband Willis Hunt and got her pilots license in 1941. During World War 2 she flew for the Civilian Air Patrol.

* Her favorite actress was Bette Davis. Carole said she watched all of Bette's films three times.

Playing the piano in 1941

* Carole could play the piano and bought one for her living room so she could practice. In 1941 she started taking lessons with renowned conductor Jacques Rachmilovich.

* She was a big fan of classical music and had a large collection of classical records. Her favorite composers were Debussy and Sibelius.

* Although she was never nominated for an Academy Award she was a presenter at the 1942 and 1944 Oscars. Carole caused a commotion at the 1941 ceremony when her slip fell out of her dress.

Carole at the 1941 and 1942  Academy Awards

* On April 24, 1942 she legally changed her name from Frances Ridste to Carole Landis. She had picked the name out of a phone book in 1936. Her mother Clara started calling herself "Clara Landis".

* She loved to lay out in the sun and get a deep tan. Carole used Elizabeth Arden suntan oil in the cafe shade.

* Carole often wore all of her wedding rings as once. She said it was a reminder to never get married again.

At the El Morocco

* She loved to go out dancing at nightclubs. Her favorite clubs were the El Morocco in Los Angeles and the Stork Club in New York City.

* The press often said that she looked a lot like actress Carole Lombard. Unfortunately Carole Lombard became very angry at Carole after she flirted with her husband Clark Gable at a nightclub.

* Carole never wore nail polish. She thought that polish looked vulgar so she would only put it on for photo shoots.

With blonde hair and brunette hair

* Throughout her career Carole often changed her hair color from blonde to brunette. She believed she would be taken more seriously as an actress with darker hair.

* Her dream was to become a serious dramatic actress. Carole thought Turnabout and A Scandal In Paris were her best movies. Her least favorite role was in Behind Green Lights.

* Carole was a very talented photographer. She loved to take pictures of her friends and pets. There was a dark room in her Pacific Palisades house where she could develop her own pictures.

At the Indy 500

 * In May of 1947 Carole attended the Indy 500 car race in Indianapolis. She presented the winner with a trophy.

* Carole wasn't a big drinker but she did enjoy an occasional cocktail. Her favorite drink was a Vodka Martini (3 oz. of vodka, 1 oz. Dry vermouth, stirred with one ice cube).

* She enjoyed eating and hated to diet. Her favorite foods were eggs, donuts, and corn on the cob. Carole's last meal on July 4, 1948 as roast chicken, a tossed salad, and lemon chiffon pie.

Serving a turkey dinner

* Carole was raised a Catholic and was deeply religious throughout her life. She often used prayer cards as bookmarks. In her diary she wrote that was afraid of going to Hell because of her affair with married Rex Harrison.

* She was going to star in the 1948 movie The Amazing Mr. X but tragically she died just one week before filming began. Lynn Bari was given her part in the movie.

* For her contribution to motion pictures she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can visit her star at 1765 Vine Street