Mack Sennett's Bathing Beauties
Featuring the sexiest knees in America
Alex Q. Arbuckle
1914-1925
In 1914, Keystone Pictures founder Mack Sennett was looking for a way to drum up extra press for his slapstick films in the crowded silent comedy market. While reading the newspaper one day, he noticed a front page, photo-illustrated story about a girl who had been in a fender bender. The content of the story did not seem to merit such a prominent placement — but the woman in the photo was pretty, and showing off her shapely knees.Sennett decided knees would grab people’s attention, and began sending out publicity photos of Keystone comedy stars surrounded by mischievous women baring their limbs. The publicity tactic was a success, and the women were soon incorporated into the films themselves.Overruling the hesitations of his costume designers, Sennett clad his “Bathing Beauties” in provocative and eye-catching apparel that flouted the conservative beach fashions of the time.The Bathing Beauties toured the country and inspired many imitations, a precursor for the flapper craze of the 1920s.
