Gilbert Adrian — A Youthful Poiret of the Films (1925) 🇺🇸

Youth is meriting praise for its accomplishment in lines of motion-picture production other than acting. But assuredly the cut-glass teething-ring should be voted to Gilbert Adrian, whom Hollywood calls “the infant costume designer.” For at twenty-one Adrian enjoys the distinction of being intrusted with the costuming of Rudolph Valentino’s productions.

After some training in New York City, he went to Paris to complete his studies and his first recognition came to him, in a dramatic manner. He had designed a striking costume for a girl with whom he attended the Grand Prix ball. Irving Berlin, the song writer, was so impressed with the artistic gown that he inquired the name of its designer and suggested that Adrian call on him. The boy was at Berlin’s hotel the following morning with an armload of drawings. They so pleased Berlin that he engaged the youngster to do the costumes for the Music Box Revue for the seasons of 1922 and 1923.

Interested in the boy’s work, Valentino [Rudolph Valentino] employed him to design the costumes for Cobra and for The Hooded Falcon, the Spanish-Moorish drama of the fourteenth century which will be his next production.

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Photo by: Goldberg

Collection: Picture Play Magazine, July 1925