Article from the American magazine LIFE, 29 January 1940
To millions of young girls the world over, the ultimate pinnacle of achievement is to be a movie star. Of these millions, perhaps a hundred each year crash the magic gates of Hollywood. Of this 100, perhaps 25 survive initial training, get better parts, move up the ladder to stardom. Of the 25, three or four at best reach the top. Meet a few of them here.
Mary Healy in play suit was once a New Orleans Typist. Lovely voice and figure now rule very high among starlets.
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Dorris Bowden in street dress, stylish here, played home- spun girl in “Young Mr Lincoln” and “The Grapes of Wrath”
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Linda Darnell in slacks is considered Hollywood’s most beautiful girl. She started playing lead in her first two movies.
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Here LIFE presents a cross section of the newest crop of starlets. Some are brand new, some have been rediscovered. All have been singled out for notable miming in 1939. One, Linda Darnell, has in her first year practically sealed the heights.
All seven strangely enough, come from the South or the West. They average 5ft 4in in height, 109 lb in weight, 2o years in age. Most of them cut their acting teeth in high school or little-theatre plays, where they were spied by roving talent scouts. Now they are being tempered in training that would wilt all but the most determined. Their days are filled with acting, singing, dancing, dictating, school studies (if they’re under 18). In “spare” hours they pose for fashion picture, “leg” pictures, sports pictures. All the time they are told what to do, what to say, how to dress, where to go, whom to be with. For enduring this discipline, they get at first 75 dollars a week. Only if they obey implicitly and only if in addition, by some magic of beauty, personality or talent, they touch off an active response in millions of movie fans, will a few of them know the full flower of stardom, with it’s fabulous rewards of fame and wealth.
HELEN PARRISH: PERT YOUNG MISS Real name: Helen Virginia Parrish Born: March 12 1923, Columbus Ga. Discovered: at 3, in “Mad About Music ” Hobby: Collecting charms for her bracelet. Likes: Fried chicken Best Movie: First Love Speciality: Meany parts
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DORRIS BOWDEN: HOMESPUN HEROIN Real name: Dorris Estelle Bowden Born: Dec. 27 1917, Coldwater Miss. Discovered: Playing at Louisiana State University Favourite sport: Walking Likes: Sleeps Ambition: To be as good as Helen Hayes Speciality: Unglamorized girls
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JUDITH BARRET: DRAMATIC GIRL Real name: Lucille Kelly Born: Feb 2 1913, Venus Tex. Discovered: On Los Angeles Stage Favourite sport: Horseback riding Likes: Home, bicycling, Eggnogs in the morning Ambition: To have lots of money Speciality: Dramatic roles
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LANA TURNER: “GLAMOUR PLUS” GIRL Real name: Julia Jeanne Lana Turner Born: Feb 8 1921, Wallace, Idaho. Discovered: In a Hollywood tearoom Hobby: Water colours Likes: Clothes, lemon chiffon pie, china elephants Best Movie. Dancing co-eds Speciality: Once Harlow “oomph” roles, now “typical girl”
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LINDA DARNELL: CHARMING BEAUTY Real name: Monetta Eloyse Darnell Born: Oct 16 1923, Dallas Tex. Discovered: movie scout Hobby: Painting Favourite sport: Roller skating Likes: Rabbits, but they give her hay fever Best Movie: Daytime Wife Speciality: Sophisticated charm, youthful beauty
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LARAINE DAY: WISTFUL INGÉNUE Real name: Loraine Johnson Born: Oct 13 1917, Roosevelt Utah Discovered: Long Beach little theatre Favourite sport: Hobby: Own little theatre Favourite sport: Riding roller coasters Likes: Eating hamburgers Best Movie: Dr Kildare Speciality: Playing a lovely young nurse
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