HOLLYWOOD STARS and Their Brand New CADILLAC

Actress Jean Harlow, known as the Blonde Bombshell and the Platinum Blonde, poses next to her Cadillac in 1934

 Tough guy: John Wayne, named by the American Film Institute as the 13th Greatest Male Screen Legends of All Time, also owned a Cadillac

Shaking on it: Actress Kim Novak, best known for her role as Judy Barton in the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo, picking up her Cadillac in 1957

 Driving happy: Actress Angie Dickinson bought a Cadillac in 1962

via Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165603/Stars-cars-Film-icons-golden-age-Hollywood-pose-brand-new-Cadillacs.html

For the biggest stars of cinema's golden age, success meant a multi-million Hollywood Hills mansion, a luxury Manhatten apartment - and a brand-new Cadillac. The classic cars became a symbol of success bought by the rich and famous - from American Presidents to Elvis Presley. But it was also the car of choice for many film stars - and a remarkable archive of photos uncovered in America shows how some of the biggest names went personally to the factory to collect their Cadillacs.

Even British-born stars including Bob Hope and David Niven joined the queue of big-screen celebrities wanting to get behind the wheel of a Detroit-built convertible or limousine.  Hard-man actors like John Wayne and Gary Cooper, entertainers Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Sammy Davis Jnr and Liberace and screen godesses including Kim Novak and Jane Russell all insisted on picking up their new chrome-clad Caddys themselves. The firm boasted at the time: 'Our customer list is a Who's Who of the Highway'. 

But the Detroit factory closed in 1997 during a downturn in the American auto industry that has left Detroit a ghost town. But General Motors launched a heritage centre in 2004 to mark 'Motor City's' contribution. There were few photographs on display - until an ex-employee turned up with a boxful of old black and white photos of the stars arriving to collect their new cars.' The A-listers were even invited to 'finish' their new vehicles by tightening the last screw and given a tour of the factory.  A spokesman for the heritage centre said: 'The 50's and 60's were a golden age in the US motor industry - and Cadillac was the most prestigious badge. 'The stars of the time were always invited to the plant to collect their cars and to see how they were made 'They took a genuine interest in the vehicles and often spent time talking with the workers.' 

Founded in 1902 Cadillac limped on into the 80's and 90's before its owners General Motors filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The company was re-launched with 60 per cent US Government funding in November 2010 and its models sell in 37 countries, the giant 4x4 Escalade one of its most popular models. But in 2010 it sold just 147,000 cars world-wide - by comparison Ford sold more Fiestas and Focus cars in the UK alone.

  Finishing touches: Bing Crosby with his brand new and custom made Cadillac in 1947

Funnyman: Danny Kaye, a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian, puts the final touch on his Cadillac in 1956