There are some universal truths in life that we can probably all agree on. The world is round. Cary Grant looks damn good in a suit. Washington, D.C. is the capitol of the United States. And classic Hollywood sure liked to drink. The bottled spirits flowed freely in movies made from the silent era, through the Prohibition and well into the 1970s. So freely in fact that you’d be hard-pressed to find an adult film that didn’t show a scene of someone drinking, refer to booze or offer a glimpse of something vaguely referencing the sauce that seemed to keep Hollywood running. It may have just been a bottle of empty scotch placed casually in the background of a scene or a six-pack of beer spotted in an open fridge. There’s just no denying that many of our favorite film performers regularly shared bottles of the bubbly (and not so bubbly) on screen but this love of liquor also continued off-screen.The recently published book, Of All the Gin Joints: Stumbling through Hollywood History by Mark Bailey, offers readers an interesting look into the drinking habits of some of Hollywood’s most beloved and recognizable stars including Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn. To celebrate the holidays I thought I’d share a few cocktail recipes from the book that you can make at home but before the adults in the room read any further please remember to always drink with caution!
John Barrymore’s Drink of Choice – Pimm’s Cup
2 OZ. Pimm’s NO. 1
3 OZ. Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
1 Lemon-lime soda (7-UP or Sprite)
2 cucumber slices
1 mint sprig
Assorted fruit optional: Orange slice, apple slice or strawberry.
Pour Pimm’s and lemonade into a chilled highball glass and fill with ice cubes. Top off with soda. Stir. Garnish with cucumber and mint, additional fruit may be added. Serve with straw.
Marion Davies’ drink of choice – Mimosa
2 OZ. Freshly squeezed orange juice
4 OZ. Premium champagne
Combine all ingridents in a champagne flute or highball glass.
Charlie Chaplin’s drink of choice – Martini
3 OZ. gin
6 dashes of Noilly Prat dry vermouth
2 olives or a lemon twist
Pour gin and vermouth into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with two olives, each on separate tooth-picks. Substitute lemon twist for olives if desired.
Errol Flynn’s drink of choice – Half and Half
8 OZ. chilled lager.
8 OZ. chilled Guinness stout.
Pour lager into a chilled pint glass. Pour stout in over the back of a bar spoon so as to make it float.
And finally…
Ava Gardner’s Drink of Choice – Mother’s Little Helper
Dump every type of liquor you can find into a jug, pitcher or punch bowl and suck it down.
That woman knew how to party! And I hope some of these drinks will find their way into your holiday parties. But in case you overdue it here are a few suggestions for nursing that unwanted hangover.
“A bath in ice water.” – Fatty Arbuckle
“Half an hour in a steam room.” – Errol Flynn
“Three swings of gin.” – Louise Brooks
If you’d like to read more about Hollywood’s booze-laden history I soberly recommend, Of All the Gin Joints: Stumbling through Hollywood History by Mark Bailey.