What do Carol Burnett’s legendary curtain dress from her sketch show’s “Gone with the Wind” parody and Cher’s showstopping looks have in common? There’s one iconic name behind them.
The Palm Springs Art Museum is celebrating designer and Palm Springs resident Bob Mackie with Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie, a special presentation that offers an intimate look into his glamorous creations. The presentation is on display through March 30 and is located in the Jorgensen Gallery on the ground floor.
“Born and raised in Southern California, Bob Mackie embodies the creative spirit of this region,” Christine Vendredi, executive director and chief curator of the Palm Springs Art Museum, said in an email. “His work reflects an exceptional level of creativity and craftsmanship, which aligns with the museum’s commitment to excellence in art, architecture, and design.”
Mackie was honored for his work at the museum’s annual Art Party on Jan. 26 with Burnett in attendance. He has called Palm Springs home for the past five years.
Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie features five gowns and a number of sketches that reflect his creative collaborations and efforts from the 1960s through the 2000s. The display is not meant to be a comprehensive look at his career, Vendredi said, but “to offer a focused glimpse into his creative legacy through works that represent both iconic moments and the design process behind them.”
The most recognizable piece in the collection, and the one which will garner the most laughs, is the “Starlett O’Hara” gown that comedienne Burnett wore during her legendary parody “Went With the Wind” on “The Carol Burnett Show.” In the outlandish skit of the historical epic “Gone with the Wind,” Burnett plays Starlett (a play on Vivien Leigh’s strong-willed Scarlett) who, in an attempt to impress a man for money, creates a regal gown out of curtains.
“I saw it in a window and I just couldn’t resist it,” Starlett says as she descends a staircase in her extravagant getup, complete with a curtain rod across her shoulders. The scene ranked second in TV Guide’s 1999 list of the 50 funniest TV moments ever.
All the gown’s key features — a brass curtain rod balanced on the shoulders with green curtains draped over a pink and white dress and a matching hat — impressed visitors Ted Ketterhagen and David Heuer when they stopped by the museum on a recent Monday.
“There’s a lot of nostalgia, growing up and watching ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ and loving those things and remembering them all our lives,” Heuer said. “He’s so creative and so amazing with how he produces work of all kinds of context. There’s comedy and musicals and drama and award shows.”
The gown has been displayed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Another star-studded look includes a dress singer Cher wore at the 1985 Met Gala, complete with a bodice with applique, embroidery, jersey, rhinestones, beads, feathers and silk. The two were frequent collaborators over the decades, which is reflected in sketches hung in the exhibit. He created several of her groovy looks for “The Sonny & Cher Show,” as well as her iconic Oscars showgirl-inspired feather dress.
Also on display is a dramatic black gown with feathers, Carol Channing’s sparkly black ensemble for the 1974 Broadway production of “Lorelei” and a red sequin dress that Mitzi Gaynor wore for her 1976 television special “Mitzi… Roarin’ in the 20’s” in 1976.
“Seeing the works in person reinforces how much creative and structural thinking goes into what audiences often experience as glamour,” Vendredi said. “That deeper layer of construction and detail is something the museum values and wants visitors to notice.”
Mackie’s sketches also give insight into his endlessly entertaining roster of collaborators, including celebrities Pink, Tina Turner, Madonna, Diana Ross, Elton John and RuPaul. The drawings are brought to life utilizing a number of medias, including watercolor, marker, ink and serigraph.
Over his five-decade career, Mackie has received nine Emmy Awards, three Academy Award nominations and an induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
“These designs are part of a broader visual culture that shaped American entertainment. What stands out is the precision and discipline behind the glamour,” Vendredi said. “For the museum, that level of craftsmanship is central. We are always interested in how artistry and technical mastery come together.”
If you go
What: Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie at the Palm Springs Art Museum
When: On display now through March 30
Where: Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 N. Museum Drive, Palm Springs
How much: $25 (adult), $23 (senior 62 and older), $17 (student/teacher), free (children under 17, military/first responder, Thursdays 5-8 p.m.)
More info: www.psmuseum.org
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Iconic Cher, Carol Burnett looks on display in Palm Springs
Reporting by Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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