Beauty in the Balance

This glass slide is an advertisement for Berlei's free film Beauty in the Balance at the Savoy Theatre in Maitland, presented by Galton's department store. The women's-only film toured around NSW in the late 1930s. According to the Wingham Chronicle in 1939 the film, and a live show that only took place in Sydney, showed how women can be 'made over by simple diet, exercises, correct corsetry, proper posture, individual make-up and inexpensive frocks chosen to type'. The show included glass slides and a commentary.

Both the film and the live show featured everyday women who had followed a 'short course of beautification' prescribed by Berlei. The Chronicle described 'Huge photographs - taken before they commenced - will be shown in in comparison with these women as they are today - both in corsets and street clothes'.

Notes by Beth Taylor