Fred Astaire’s asbestos wig is the focus of this unusual Hollywood asbestos story. In this Asbestos Rewind episode, attorney Justinian Lane examines a 1939 account describing a comedy scene where Fred Astaire wore an asbestos-based wig and had it set on fire while sitting in a barber chair. The video also looks at how asbestos was used in showbiz props and special effects during the so-called Golden Age of Asbestos, and why that created possible exposure risks on set.
You’ll learn:
- How asbestos was used in Hollywood props and effects
- What happened in the 1939 Fred Astaire wig stunt
- Why a barber chair fire gag was part of the scene
- How compressed-air and fire-extinguisher effects may have spread asbestos dust
- Why old entertainment materials can reveal overlooked exposure risks
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