Class Act: William Haines Legendary Hollywood Decorator

William Haines came to Hollywood after winning a new-talent contest in 1922. He appeared in at least twenty films as a leading man to many of Hollywood’s famous stars, such as Joan Crawford and Marion Davies. As Haines’ film career faded, his skills as a self-taught decorator flourished. Soon, he was decorating the homes of the elite crowd of the movie industry, including mogul Jack Warner and director George Cukor. Peter Schifando, a longtime associate of Haines’ business partner, Ted Graber, and Jean H. Mathison, who worked with Haines for thirty years, have opened their private collections to bring together more than three hundred photographs and drawings of Haines’ fabulous interiors as well as his classic furniture designs, which include the influential Elbow, Hostess, and Seniah chairs.