designing costumes, but I obviously loved clothes." Looking to expand
her acting career into film and television, Eden relocated to Los Angeles
in 1969, and supported herself between acting jobs by designing clothing.
Her first costuming break
was a combination of luck
and years of honing her
sewing and design skills,
along with experience as a
dancer. Eden was asked by an
acquaintance to coordinate the
dancers' wardrobe for Ann
Margaret's nightclub act. "I was
hesitant, because I'd never done
that. The person rightfully said,
`Well, you've been a dancer,
you've worked with clothes,
and you're organized. Of course
you can do it.' So I accepted the
job and took to it immediately."
Through Ann Margaret, she
was introduced to Bob Mackie.
Recognizing Eden's talents,
Mackie offered her a position
at Elizabeth Courtney
Costumes, working as his assistant. At night she took extension courses
to improve her skills and knowledge of costume design and filmmaking,
but working alongside Mackie was where she really learned the business.
"His work ethic, his perfectionism, his attention to detail, and the people
he surrounded himself with--there was no better education."
During the five years Eden worked for Mackie, she assisted him on
the Las Vegas show Jubilee and on the Academy Awards show. "I did just
about everything, other than designing. I made sure everything from his
sketch was realized on time, and to some degree, on budget. I assisted
other people in the organization as well, like Pete Meneffee. Then I real-
ized it was time to become a designer in my own right."
While working at Elizabeth Courtney, Eden worked on outside proj-
ects, such as equity waiver theater productions, often for free, to make
contacts and gain design credits. "I would do a very, very tiny production
and that would lead to a slightly bigger production. Every time I got a
good review, I would send out a flyer to everyone I knew. I even took out
ads in the trade papers quoting the reviews, just to get my name out
there. Eventually it worked."
"Because of the
nature of the work, if
you're a negative person
who finds the hours
too long, the actors too
difficult, and the situations too confusing,
you won't be able to do good work. You
have to really love the work and the
challenge."--Diana Eden
"Want it badly enough that you're
willing to hang in there. Want it badly
enough to really work at it. It's hard when
you're young, because you want it right
away, but realize that every step along the
way is exciting. Even the process of getting
from point A to point B is exciting. Realize
that at each step there are things to be learned
and things to be enjoyed."--Diana Eden
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