Here’s a fun little blurb I came across while searching old newspaper files on Sunday night.
In Charles G. Sampas’ “N.Y. – Hollywood” column found inside the May 7, 1940 edition of the Lowell Sun comes the report that:
“Autographed pictures of film stars are in such demand by the forces overseas that the present supply of Hollywood stills in England has been exhausted, London reports. Deanna Durbin leads preferences by six to one …”
“Next to her is Dorothy Lamour …”
“… followed by Sonja Henie …”
“… Elizabeth Allan …”
“… Olivia de Havilland …”
“… and Hedy Lamarr in that order.”
An interesting list with obvious European flavor coming in the early days of World War II. It is still over a year and a half before America’s entry into the war, though only days before Germany heats up the war in Europe with their invasion of France and other nations.
I don’t know about my friends from outside the country, but if you’re from the U.S. and we played the word association game then if I said war time pin-ups to you, you would shout Betty Grable back at me. This is before that. The famous photo hadn’t even been snapped yet.
And again, this is just a tiny blurb, reproduced in its entirety on this page with images added to accentuate the original report. For all I know Sampas made it up himself, though even if he did I’d imagine his list is based on something.
I’m pleasantly surprised to see Elizabeth Allan on the list. Truth be told it was she who I was researching, curious about what happened to her after A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield. I won’t guarantee that we get to that, but I will say that I’ve begun looking into it! (We got to it, here’s the Elizabeth Allan biography!)
First though, a couple of other stories I found after this London Report interrupted my original search. How could I not go seeking more old news stories that referred to “pictures of film stars.” Back with the next one tomorrow!
Source
- Sampas, Charles G. “N.Y. – Hollywood.” Lowell Sun. 7 May 1940: 16.
I note the picture spells the name ‘Elizabeth Allen’ who as you know was also a film and TV star but at a much later date.
Hi @2a154fe9fb3c0a2b1f36f99a5bcfc6b1:disqus yes, her name is spelled differently on the item, though that is one of the easier to understand spelling errors in that set from Uruguay which off the top of my head messes up much worse on William Frawley (spelled Trawley with a “T” on card) and Claire Dodd (butchered as “Doot” on the card). The Allan/Allen difference is at least one I’ve seen on other cards and issues. They weren’t always very careful about their spelling!
Ha Ha Love it Cliff! But I’m a bit stunned that Durbin and Henie were in the top of the requests. I’ve never seen the Deann Durbin appeal. Now Dorothy Lamour and de Havilland I can see or Rita Hayworth and Linda Darnell.
What a fun article. Thanks for sharing it and these gorgeous old stills.
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Hey @a87ed4bb000f464cc65c3c09e2f1597b:disqus thanks for reading and replying! I’m no Deanna Durbin expert but this does seem to be right about the time of her absolute peak in popularity, no?
That’s what I especially like about lists like this: whether they’re official or not, they do give a specific peek to a very certain fixed point in time.
Once the Americans come over I doubt any of them are tacking photos of Sonja Henie to the walls,but I’m sure she was enjoying a unique bit of international celebrity, still, from those last Olympics in ’36. After all, that’s what made her a “movie star” to begin with.