Authenticity in Film Wardrobes

In 1952, in the Los Angeles Daily News reportedly said he didn’t like acting. His business was tying the turbans. –

 Singh (pronounced Sing) also consented to do a bit role as an Arabian villager in the film, but mainly he disdains acting in favor of creating turbans, both plain and exotic. As a matter of fact, no one would think of making a film about Hindus, Mohammedans, Arabs, Persians, Moroccans or Egyptians without calling in Singh to manipulate the fancy headdresses… – According to a post on X, which had this photo, Bhogwan Singh Sandhu was born on September 22, 1883 in British India. He was an Hollywood actor and a well known professional turban tier He died on March 6, 1962 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Hollywood Film Shop

Quirks of fate in the movie colony some times bestow distinction in unusual ways. Take for example the case of an Indian from the Punjab. In his native country, Bhogwan Singh Sandhu would attract no attention by his technique in wrapping turbans. But in Hollywood a man who can tie on a cranial diamond hitch, using a few yards of cloth, has great prospects. 

So Sandhu finds himself much-sought after by studios. He began his Hollywood career 20 years ago, as an extra. After four years of playing bits as a street beggar, a native servant or one of a thousand desert tribesmen, he got his big “break” during the filming of ‘The Sheik,’ which hoisted Rudolph Valentino to lasting fame.

Sandhu was working as usual in extra status on this picture. During the filming of a dashing desert scene, the star's turban chanced to come adrift. Quickly, Sandhu stepped up, offered his services, and in a trice had the thing reassembled. Thereafter, he was a wardrobe assistant, specializing in the assembly and repair of turbans.

On many occasions during that picture he gave valuable hints on the design and etiquette of the turban. With critical eye, he would make some seemingly un important change in the wrapped headgear which, he explained, made a considerable difference in the status of the wearer. After ‘The Sheik’ was completed, he found similar work elsewhere. And now he is Hollywood'\’s unquestioned authority on the 1300 ways of making a turban. 

Sandhu’s most recent assignment was chief of turbans for ‘Wee Willie Winkie,’ Shirley Temple’s latest picture. Based upon Rudyard Kipling's story of the defense of Khyber Pass, in northern India, it was replete with turbaned characters. – Hollywood (UP), 1937

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