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You are here: Home / News - Notes / Report from London, 1940 – Soldiers Need More Movie Star Photos

Report from London, 1940 – Soldiers Need More Movie Star Photos

June 25, 2012 By Cliff Aliperti 4 Comments

Helen Twelvetrees, Pefect Ingenue by Cliff Aliperti
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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 …”

Deanna Durbin 1930

“Next to her is Dorothy Lamour …”

Dorothy Lamour early 1940s Postcard sized Fan Photo

“… followed by Sonja Henie …”

Sonja Henie mid-1930s 8x10 glossy paper premium photo

“… Elizabeth Allan …”

Elizabeth Allan 1930s Aguila Chocolate Premium

“… Olivia de Havilland …”

Olivia de Havilland 1939 Ardath Photocards Series 12

“… and Hedy Lamarr in that order.”

Hedy Lamarr 1930

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.

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Filed Under: News - Notes Tagged With: collecting photos, fan photos, pin-ups, World War II

← Bonhams Offers Rarest Marilyn Monroe Magazine at Auction Actor Frank Keenan Auctions Film Star Photo Album for $7,500 – in 1918 →

About Cliff

I write about old movies and movie stars from the 1920s to the 1950s. I also sell movie cards, still photos and other ephemera. Immortal Ephemera connects the stories with the collectibles. Read More…



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Comments

  1. Pearlworm says

    June 25, 2012 at 9:42 am

    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.

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    • Cliff Aliperti says

      June 25, 2012 at 11:53 am

       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!

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  2. Page says

    June 25, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    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.
    Page

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    • Cliff Aliperti says

      June 25, 2012 at 1:38 pm

       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.

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