Lamour, Dorothy

From New World Encyclopedia
(29 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{Images OK}}{{Submitted}}{{Approved}}{{Copyedited}}
 
{{epname|Lamour, Dorothy}}
 
{{epname|Lamour, Dorothy}}
  
Line 12: Line 13:
 
| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]],<br>Los Angeles, California, U.S.
 
| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]],<br>Los Angeles, California, U.S.
 
| other_names  =
 
| other_names  =
| occupation    = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}
+
| occupation    = Actress, singer
 
| years_active  = 1933–1995
 
| years_active  = 1933–1995
| spouse        = {{marriage|Herbie Kay|1935|1939|reason=divorced}}<br>{{marriage|William Ross Howard III|1943|1978|reason=died}}
+
| spouse        = Herbie Kay<br>(m. 1935; div. 1939)​
 +
<br>William Ross Howard III<br>(m. 1943; died 1978)
 
| children      = 2
 
| children      = 2
 
| website      =
 
| website      =
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''Dorothy Lamour''' (born '''Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton'''; December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American actress and singer. She is best remembered for having appeared in the ''[[Road to...]]'' movies, a series of successful comedies starring [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Bob Hope]].
+
'''Dorothy Lamour''' (born '''Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton'''; December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American actress and singer. Lamour began her career in the 1930s as a [[big band]] singer. In 1936, she moved to Hollywood, where she signed with [[Paramount Pictures]]. Her appearance as Ulah in ''[[The Jungle Princess]]'' (1936) brought her fame and marked the beginning of her image as the "[[Sarong]] Queen."
 
 
Lamour began her career in the 1930s as a [[big band]] singer. In 1936, she moved to Hollywood, where she signed with [[Paramount Pictures]]. Her appearance as Ulah in ''[[The Jungle Princess]]'' (1936) brought her fame and marked the beginning of her image as the "[[Sarong]] Queen."
 
 
 
In 1940, Lamour made her first ''Road series'' comedy film ''[[Road to Singapore]]''. The ''Road series'' films were popular during the 1940s. The sixth film in the series, ''[[Road to Bali]]'', was released in 1952. By this time, Lamour's screen career began to wane, and she focused on stage and television work.
 
  
 +
She is best remembered for having appeared in the ''[[Road to...]]'' movies, a series of successful comedies starring [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Bob Hope]]. Her role began in 1940 with the ''[[Road to Singapore]]'' and ended with the sixth film in the series, ''[[Road to Bali]]'', which was released in 1952. She continued working, appearing on stage, on television, and in films almost until her death in 1996; her last appearances being interviews.
 +
{{toc}}
 +
Although the sarong made her famous, Lamour always played the role of an attractive girl, not a sexual temptress. She did not approve of nudity on the screen, portraying her characters in ways that delighted and entertained audiences of all ages.
  
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
 
+
Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton<ref name=MySide>Dorothy Lamour, ''My Side of the Road'' (Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980, ISBN 978-0132185943).</ref> was born on December 10, 1914, in [[New Orleans]],<ref name=HS477> James Parish and Michael Pitts, ''Hollywood Songsters'' (Routledge, 2002, ISBN 978-0415937757).</ref> the daughter of Carmen Louise (née LaPorte; 1892–1930) and John Watson Slaton (1895–1963), both of whom were waiters. Her parents' marriage lasted only a few years. Her mother married for the second time to Clarence Lambour, whose surname Dorothy later adopted and modified as her stage name.<ref>[http://www.cmgww.com/stars/lamour/ Biography] ''Dorothy Lamour''. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</ref> That marriage also ended in divorce when Dorothy was a teenager.
Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton<ref name=MySide>Dorothy Lamour, ''My Side of the Road'' (Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980, ISBN 978-0132185943).</ref> was born on December 10, 1914, in [[New Orleans]],<ref name=HS477> James Parish and Michael Pitts, ''Hollywood Songsters'' (Routledge, 2002, ISBN 978-0415937757).</ref> the daughter of Carmen Louise (née LaPorte; 1892–1930) and John Watson Slaton (1895–1963), both of whom were waiters. Her parents' marriage lasted only a few years. Her mother married for the second time to Clarence Lambour, whose surname Dorothy later adopted and modified as her stage name. That marriage also ended in divorce when Dorothy was a teenager.
 
  
 
Dorothy quit school at age 14. After taking a business course, she worked as a secretary to support herself and her mother. She began entering beauty pageants, was crowned Miss New Orleans in 1931, and went on to compete in Galveston's Pageant of Pulchritude. She used the prize money to support herself while she worked in a stock theatre company. She and her mother later moved to Chicago, where she found a job working at [[Marshall Field's]] department store, working as an elevator operator at the age of 16.  
 
Dorothy quit school at age 14. After taking a business course, she worked as a secretary to support herself and her mother. She began entering beauty pageants, was crowned Miss New Orleans in 1931, and went on to compete in Galveston's Pageant of Pulchritude. She used the prize money to support herself while she worked in a stock theatre company. She and her mother later moved to Chicago, where she found a job working at [[Marshall Field's]] department store, working as an elevator operator at the age of 16.  
Line 38: Line 38:
 
Early in her career, Lamour met [[J. Edgar Hoover]], director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. According to Hoover's biographer [[Richard Hack]], Hoover pursued a romantic relationship with Lamour, and the two spent a night together at a Washington, DC hotel. In her autobiography ''My Side of the Road'' (1980), Lamour does not discuss Hoover in detail; she refers to him only as "a lifelong friend."<ref name=MySide/>
 
Early in her career, Lamour met [[J. Edgar Hoover]], director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. According to Hoover's biographer [[Richard Hack]], Hoover pursued a romantic relationship with Lamour, and the two spent a night together at a Washington, DC hotel. In her autobiography ''My Side of the Road'' (1980), Lamour does not discuss Hoover in detail; she refers to him only as "a lifelong friend."<ref name=MySide/>
  
On April 7, 1943, Lamour married Air Force captain and advertising executive [[William Ross Howard III]] in Beverly Hills.The couple had two sons: John Ridgely (1946–2018)<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?n=john-ridgely-howard&pid=188295708&fhid=3678 John Howard Obituary] ''Fresno Bee''. Retrieved August 2, 2022. </ref> and Richard Thomson Howard (born 1949).
+
On April 7, 1943, Lamour married Air Force captain and advertising executive [[William Ross Howard III]] in Beverly Hills.The couple had two sons: John Ridgely (1946–2018)<ref> John Howard Obituary ''Fresno Bee''.</ref> and Richard Thomson Howard (born 1949).
  
 
In 1957, Lamour and Howard moved to the Baltimore, Maryland, suburb of [[Sudbrook Park]]. In 1962, the couple and their two sons moved to [[Hampton, Maryland|Hampton]], another Baltimore suburb in Dulaney Valley, with their oldest son, John, attending [[Towson High School]]. She also owned a home in Palm Springs, California.<ref>Eric G. Meeks, ''The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes'' (Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe, Publisher, 2014, ISBN 978-0986218903).</ref> Howard died in 1978.<ref name=nytimes />
 
In 1957, Lamour and Howard moved to the Baltimore, Maryland, suburb of [[Sudbrook Park]]. In 1962, the couple and their two sons moved to [[Hampton, Maryland|Hampton]], another Baltimore suburb in Dulaney Valley, with their oldest son, John, attending [[Towson High School]]. She also owned a home in Palm Springs, California.<ref>Eric G. Meeks, ''The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes'' (Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe, Publisher, 2014, ISBN 978-0986218903).</ref> Howard died in 1978.<ref name=nytimes />
Line 45: Line 45:
  
 
==Career==
 
==Career==
In 1936, Lamour moved to Hollywood. That same year, she did a [[screen test]] for [[Paramount Pictures]] and signed a contract with them.<ref name=parish>{{cite book| last1=Parish| first1=James Robert |last2=Pitts| first2=Michael R.| title=Hollywood Songsters: Singers Who Act and Actors Who Sing: A Biographical Dictionary| volume=2| year=2003| publisher=Taylor & Francis| isbn=978-0415937757| page=447}}</ref>
+
In 1936, Lamour moved to Hollywood. That same year, she did a [[screen test]] for [[Paramount Pictures]] and signed a contract with them.<ref name=HS477/>
  
 
Lamour made her first film for Paramount, ''[[College Holiday]]'' (1936), in which she has a bit part as an uncredited dancer.
 
Lamour made her first film for Paramount, ''[[College Holiday]]'' (1936), in which she has a bit part as an uncredited dancer.
Line 51: Line 51:
 
===''The Jungle Princess'' and "sarong" roles===
 
===''The Jungle Princess'' and "sarong" roles===
 
[[File:Lamour Jungle Princess.jpg|thumb|300px|Dorothy Lamour in ''The Jungle Princess'', 1936]]
 
[[File:Lamour Jungle Princess.jpg|thumb|300px|Dorothy Lamour in ''The Jungle Princess'', 1936]]
Her second film for Paramount, ''[[The Jungle Princess]]'' (1936) with [[Ray Milland]], solidified her fame. In the film, Lamour plays the role of "Ulah", a jungle native who wore an [[Edith Head]]-designed [[sarong]] throughout the film. ''The Jungle Princess'' was a big hit for the studio and marked the beginning of her image as the "Sarong Queen." It also gave her a hit song "Moonlight and Shadows."<ref>{{cite book| last=Jorgensen| first=Jay| title=Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gyjob_gq3yoC&q=lamour|year= 2010| publisher=Running Press| location=Philadelphia| isbn=978-0-762-44173-0| pages=50–51}}</ref>
+
Her second film for Paramount, ''[[The Jungle Princess]]'' (1936) with [[Ray Milland]], solidified her fame. In the film, Lamour plays the role of "Ulah," a jungle native who wore an [[Edith Head]]-designed [[sarong]] throughout the film.<ref>Jay Jorgensen, ''Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer'' (Running Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0762438051).</ref> ''The Jungle Princess'' was a big hit for the studio and marked the beginning of Lamour's image as the "Sarong Queen." It also gave her a hit song "Moonlight and Shadows."
  
She followed it with a support role in a [[Carole Lombard]]–[[Fred MacMurray]] musical ''[[Swing High, Swing Low (film)|Swing High, Swing Low]]'' (1937) where she got to sing "Panamania". She was top billed in ''[[The Last Train from Madrid]]'' (1937).
+
She followed it with a support role in a [[Carole Lombard]]–[[Fred MacMurray]] musical ''[[Swing High, Swing Low (film)|Swing High, Swing Low]]'' (1937) where she sang "Panamania." She was then top billed in ''[[The Last Train from Madrid]]'' (1937).
 
[[File:The Hurricane Trailer screenshot Dorothy Lamour.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Lamour in ''[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]'' (1937)]]
 
[[File:The Hurricane Trailer screenshot Dorothy Lamour.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Lamour in ''[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]'' (1937)]]
Lamour supported [[Irene Dunne]] and [[Randolph Scott]] in ''[[High, Wide and Handsome]]'' (1937), singing "The Things I Want". [[Sam Goldwyn]] borrowed her for [[John Ford]]'s ''[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]'' (1937), where she was back in a sarong playing an island princess alongside [[Jon Hall (actor)|Jon Hall]]. Her swimming and diving scenes were handled by stunt double [[Lila Shanley|Lila Finn]], who at one point dropped the sarong and was filmed diving into a lagoon in the nude.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dCqCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32| title=Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story| first=Mollie| last=Gregory| year=2015| publisher=University Press of Kentucky| location=Lexington| isbn=978-0-813-16624-7| page=32}}</ref> The film was a massive success and gave Lamour another hit song with "The Moon of Manakoora".
+
Lamour supported [[Irene Dunne]] and [[Randolph Scott]] in ''[[High, Wide and Handsome]]'' (1937), singing "The Things I Want." [[Samuel Goldwyn]] borrowed her for [[John Ford]]'s ''[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]'' (1937), where she was back in a sarong playing an island princess alongside [[Jon Hall (actor)|Jon Hall]]. Her swimming and diving scenes were handled by stunt double [[Lila Shanley|Lila Finn]], who at one point dropped the sarong and was filmed diving into a lagoon in the nude.<ref>Mollie Gregory, ''Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story'' (University Press of Kentucky, 2015, ISBN 978-0813166223).</ref> The film was a massive success and gave Lamour another hit song with "The Moon of Manakoora."
  
 
Lamour had a cameo in ''[[Thrill of a Lifetime (film)|Thrill of a Lifetime]]'' (1937) and was third billed in ''[[The Big Broadcast of 1938]]'' (1938) after [[W.C. Fields]] and [[Martha Raye]]; the cast also included [[Bob Hope]] in an early appearance.
 
Lamour had a cameo in ''[[Thrill of a Lifetime (film)|Thrill of a Lifetime]]'' (1937) and was third billed in ''[[The Big Broadcast of 1938]]'' (1938) after [[W.C. Fields]] and [[Martha Raye]]; the cast also included [[Bob Hope]] in an early appearance.
  
Paramount reunited her with Milland and a sarong for ''[[Her Jungle Love]]'' (1938). ''[[Tropic Holiday]]'' (1938) cast her as a Mexican alongside [[Bob Burns (humorist)|Bob Burns]], Raye and Milland, then she supported [[George Raft]] and [[Henry Fonda]] in the adventure film ''[[Spawn of the North]]'' (1938). Raft was meant to be Lamour's leading man in ''[[St. Louis Blues (1939 film)|St. Louis Blues]]'' (1939) but he turned down the part and was replaced by Lloyd Nolan.
+
Paramount reunited her with Milland and a sarong for ''[[Her Jungle Love]]'' (1938). ''[[Tropic Holiday]]'' (1938) cast her as a Mexican alongside [[Bob Burns (humorist)|Bob Burns]], Raye, and Milland; then she supported [[George Raft]] and [[Henry Fonda]] in the adventure film ''[[Spawn of the North]]'' (1938). Raft was meant to be Lamour's leading man in ''[[St. Louis Blues (1939 film)|St. Louis Blues]]'' (1939) but he turned down the part and was replaced by Lloyd Nolan.
  
Lamour was [[Jack Benny]]'s leading lady in the musical ''[[Man About Town (1939 film)|Man About Town]]'' (1939) then played a Chinese girl in a melodrama, ''[[Disputed Passage]]'' (1939).
+
Lamour was [[Jack Benny]]'s leading lady in the musical ''[[Man About Town (1939 film)|Man About Town]]'' (1939); then played a Chinese girl in a melodrama, ''[[Disputed Passage]]'' (1939).
  
 
===The "Road" movies===
 
===The "Road" movies===
 
[[Image:Dorothy Lamour in Road to Singapore trailer.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Dorothy Lamour in ''Road to Singapore'', 1940]]
 
[[Image:Dorothy Lamour in Road to Singapore trailer.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Dorothy Lamour in ''Road to Singapore'', 1940]]
  
In 1940, Lamour starred in ''[[Road to Singapore]]'', a spoof of Lamour's "sarong" films. It was originally meant to co-star [[Fred MacMurray]] and [[Jack Oakie]], then [[George Burns]] and [[Gracie Allen]], before Paramount decided to use [[Bob Hope]] and [[Bing Crosby]]; Lamour was billed after Crosby and above Hope. The two male stars began ad-libbing during filming. "I was trying to follow the script but just couldn't get my lines out", she said later. "Finally, I realised that I should just get the general idea of a scene rather than learn the words by heart, then go along with the boys." Said Hope, "Dottie is one of the bravest gals in pictures. She stands there before the camera and ad-libs with Crosby and me knowing that the way the script is written she'll come second or third best, but she fears nothing."<ref>{{cite news| last=Vallance| first=Ton| date=September 24, 1996| title=Obituary: Dorothy Lamour| newspaper=The Independent| location=London| url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/312518321| id={{ProQuest|312518321}}}}</ref>
+
In 1940, Lamour starred in ''[[Road to Singapore]]'', a spoof of Lamour's "sarong" films. It was originally meant to co-star [[Fred MacMurray]] and [[Jack Oakie]], then [[George Burns]] and [[Gracie Allen]], before Paramount decided to use [[Bob Hope]] and [[Bing Crosby]]; Lamour was billed after Crosby and above Hope. The two male stars began ad-libbing during filming. She said later that she realized that following the script did not work, and she should just get the general idea of a scene and go along with Hope and Crosby. Said Hope, "Dottie is one of the bravest gals in pictures. She stands there before the camera and ad-libs with Crosby and me knowing that the way the script is written she'll come second or third best, but she fears nothing."<ref>Kami Spangenberg, [https://classiccouple.com/the-road-to-movie-must-see-road-to-bali-1953 “Road to” Movie Must-See: Road to Bali (1952)] ''Classic Couple''. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</ref> The movie was a solid hit and response to the team was enthusiastic.
 
[[File:Dorothy Lamour in Road to Bali 3.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Lamour in ''[[Road to Bali]]'' (1952)]]
 
[[File:Dorothy Lamour in Road to Bali 3.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Lamour in ''[[Road to Bali]]'' (1952)]]
 
[[Image:Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in Road to Bali.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dorothy Lamour, [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Bob Hope]] in a scene from ''Road to Bali'']]
 
[[Image:Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in Road to Bali.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dorothy Lamour, [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Bob Hope]] in a scene from ''Road to Bali'']]
The movie was a solid hit and response to the team was enthusiastic.
 
  
[[20th Century Fox]] borrowed her to play [[Tyrone Power]]'s leading lady in the gangster film ''[[Johnny Apollo (film)|Johnny Apollo]]'' (1940). She sang "This is the Beginning of the End" and "Dancing for Nickels and Dimes".
+
[[20th Century Fox]] borrowed her to play [[Tyrone Power]]'s leading lady in the gangster film ''[[Johnny Apollo (film)|Johnny Apollo]]'' (1940), where sang "This is the Beginning of the End" and "Dancing for Nickels and Dimes."
  
 
It was back to sarongs for ''[[Typhoon (1940 film)|Typhoon]]'' (1940). Her male co-star in the latter was [[Robert Preston (actor)|Robert Preston]] who was also with Lamour in ''[[Moon Over Burma]]'' (1940). Fox borrowed her again for ''[[Chad Hanna]]'' (1941) with [[Henry Fonda]].
 
It was back to sarongs for ''[[Typhoon (1940 film)|Typhoon]]'' (1940). Her male co-star in the latter was [[Robert Preston (actor)|Robert Preston]] who was also with Lamour in ''[[Moon Over Burma]]'' (1940). Fox borrowed her again for ''[[Chad Hanna]]'' (1941) with [[Henry Fonda]].
  
Response to ''Road to Singapore'' had been such that Paramount reunited Lamour, Hope and Crosby in ''[[Road to Zanzibar]]'' (1941) which was even more successful and eventually led to a series of pictures (although from this point on Lamour was billed beneath Hope). She and Hope then did ''[[Caught in the Draft]]'' (1941) which was one of the biggest hits of the year.<ref>{{cite news| title=Film Money-makers Selected by Variety:  'Sergeant York' Top Picture Gary Cooper Leading Star| newspaper=The New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1941/12/31/archives/film-moneymakers-selected-by-variety-sergeant-york-top-picture-gary.html?searchResultPosition=1| date=December 31, 1941| page=21| url-access=subscription}}</ref>
+
Response to ''Road to Singapore'' had been such that Paramount reunited Lamour, Hope, and Crosby in ''[[Road to Zanzibar]]'' (1941) which was even more successful and eventually led to a series of pictures (although from this point on Lamour was billed beneath Hope). She and Hope then did ''[[Caught in the Draft]]'' (1941) which was one of the biggest hits of the year.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1941/12/31/archives/film-moneymakers-selected-by-variety-sergeant-york-top-picture-gary.html?searchResultPosition=1 Film Money-makers Selected by Variety: 'Sergeant York' Top Picture Gary Cooper Leading Star] ''The New York Times'', December 31, 1941. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</ref>
  
Lamour was reunited with her old ''Hurricane'' star, Jon Hall, in ''[[Aloma of the South Seas (1941 film)|Aloma of the South Seas]]'' (1941). She did a popular musical with [[Eddie Bracken]], [[William Holden]] and [[Betty Hutton]], ''[[The Fleet's In]]'' (1942), which gave her a hit song, "I Remember You".
+
Lamour was reunited with her old ''Hurricane'' star, Jon Hall, in ''[[Aloma of the South Seas (1941 film)|Aloma of the South Seas]]'' (1941). She did a popular musical with [[Eddie Bracken]], [[William Holden]] and [[Betty Hutton]], ''[[The Fleet's In]]'' (1942), which gave her a hit song, "I Remember You."
  
There was another sarong movie, ''[[Beyond the Blue Horizon (film)|Beyond the Blue Horizon]]'' (1942). Both were well liked by the public but neither was as popular as her third "Road" movie, ''[[Road to Morocco]]'' (1942).<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://archive.org/stream/variety149-1943-01#page/n57/mode/1up| title=101 Pix Gross in Millions|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=November 21, 1943| via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
+
There was another sarong movie, ''[[Beyond the Blue Horizon (film)|Beyond the Blue Horizon]]'' (1942). Both were well liked by the public but neither was as popular as her third "Road" movie, ''[[Road to Morocco]]'' (1942).
  
Lamour was one of many Paramount stars who did guest shots in ''[[Star Spangled Rhythm]]'' (1942). She and Hope were borrowed by Sam Goldwyn for a comedy ''[[They Got Me Covered]]'' (1943), then she did one with Crosby without Hope, ''[[Dixie (film)|Dixie]]'' (1943), a popular biopic of [[Dan Emmett]].
+
Lamour was one of many Paramount stars who did guest shots in ''[[Star Spangled Rhythm]]'' (1942). She and Hope were borrowed by Sam Goldwyn for a comedy ''[[They Got Me Covered]]'' (1943), and then she did one with Crosby without Hope, ''[[Dixie (film)|Dixie]]'' (1943), a popular biopic of [[Dan Emmett]].
  
During World War II, Lamour was among the more popular [[pinup]] girls among American servicemen, along with [[Betty Grable]], [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Lana Turner]], and [[Veronica Lake]]. Lamour was also known for her volunteer work, selling [[war bond]]s during tours in which movie stars would travel the country selling U.S. government bonds to the public. Lamour reportedly sold $300 million worth of bonds earning her the nickname "The Bond Bombshell". She also volunteered at the [[Hollywood Canteen]] where she would dance and talk to soldiers. In 1965, Lamour was awarded a belated citation from the United States Department of the Treasury for her war bond sales.<ref name=nytimes />
+
During [[World War II]], Lamour was among the more popular [[pin-up]] girls among American servicemen, along with [[Betty Grable]], [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Lana Turner]], and [[Veronica Lake]]. Lamour was also known for her volunteer work, selling [[war bond]]s during tours in which movie stars would travel the country selling U.S. government bonds to the public. Lamour reportedly sold $300 million worth of bonds earning her the nickname "The Bond Bombshell." She also volunteered at the [[Hollywood Canteen]] where she would dance and talk to soldiers. In 1965, Lamour was awarded a belated citation from the United States Department of the Treasury for her war bond sales.<ref name=nytimes />
  
 
Lamour made ''[[Melody Inn]]'' (1943) with [[Dick Powell]], then ''[[And the Angels Sing]]'' (1944) with Fred MacMurray and Hutton, where she sang "It Should Happen to You". She made one last sarong movie, ''[[Rainbow Island (1944 film)|Rainbow Island]]'' (1944), co-starring Bracken.
 
Lamour made ''[[Melody Inn]]'' (1943) with [[Dick Powell]], then ''[[And the Angels Sing]]'' (1944) with Fred MacMurray and Hutton, where she sang "It Should Happen to You". She made one last sarong movie, ''[[Rainbow Island (1944 film)|Rainbow Island]]'' (1944), co-starring Bracken.
  
Lamour played a Mexican in ''[[A Medal for Benny]]'' (1945), based on a story by [[John Steinbeck]], co-starring [[Arturo de Córdova]]. She was one of many Paramount stars to cameo in ''[[Duffy's Tavern (film)|Duffy's Tavern]]'' (1945), then did a fourth "Road", ''[[Road to Utopia]]'' (1945), then ''[[Masquerade in Mexico]]'' (1945) with de Cordova.
+
Lamour played a Mexican in ''[[A Medal for Benny]]'' (1945), based on a story by [[John Steinbeck]], co-starring [[Arturo de Córdova]]. She was one of many Paramount stars to cameo in ''[[Duffy's Tavern (film)|Duffy's Tavern]]'' (1945), then did a fourth "Road," ''[[Road to Utopia]]'' (1945), and then ''[[Masquerade in Mexico]]'' (1945) with de Cordova.
 
 
She was in three big hits in a row: ''[[My Favorite Brunette]]'' (1947), a comedy with Hope; ''[[Wild Harvest]]'' (1947), a melodrama with [[Alan Ladd]] and Preston; and ''[[Road to Rio]]'' (1947). She also sang a duet with Ladd in ''[[Variety Girl]]'' (1947). Then she left Paramount.
 
  
The sixth film in the series with Hope and Crosby, ''Road to Bali'', was released in 1952.
+
She was in three big hits in a row: ''[[My Favorite Brunette]]'' (1947), a comedy with Hope; ''[[Wild Harvest]]'' (1947), a melodrama with [[Alan Ladd]] and Preston; and ''[[Road to Rio]]'' (1947). She also sang a duet with Ladd in ''[[Variety Girl]]'' (1947). Lamour emceed ''Front and Center'', a 1947 variety comedy show, as a summer replacement for ''[[The Fred Allen Show]]'', with the Army Air Force recruiting as sponsors.<ref name=HS477/> The sixth film in the series with Hope and Crosby, ''Road to Bali'', was released in 1952.
  
 
===After Paramount===
 
===After Paramount===
[[File:Dorothy Lamour and Bing Crosby in Road to Bali.jpg|thumb|Lamour with [[Bing Crosby]] in ''[[Road to Bali]]'' (1952)]]
 
Lamour emceed ''Front and Center'', a 1947 variety comedy show, as a summer replacement for ''[[The Fred Allen Show]]'', with the Army Air Force recruiting as sponsors.<ref name=HS477/> The show changed to ''The Sealtest''<ref>{{cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/onairencyclop00dunn|url-access=registration| page=[https://archive.org/details/onairencyclop00dunn/page/602 602]| quote=Front and Center {{!}} Sealtest Variety Hour Dorothy Lamour.| title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio| first=John| last=Dunning| year= 1998| publisher=Oxford University Press| via=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0199770786}}</ref> ''Variety Theater'' in September<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/_QwoODz2DEU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140123134920/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QwoODz2DEU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QwoODz2DEU| title=Sealtest Boris Karloff Halloween Party 1948| via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 1948.
 
 
 
After leaving Paramount, Lamour made a series of films for producer [[Benedict Bogeaus]]: the all-star comedy ''[[On Our Merry Way]]'' (1948); ''[[Lulu Belle (film)|Lulu Belle]]'' (1948), a melodrama with [[George Montgomery (actor)|George Montgomery]]; and ''[[The Girl from Manhattan]]'' (1948), also with Montgomery.
 
After leaving Paramount, Lamour made a series of films for producer [[Benedict Bogeaus]]: the all-star comedy ''[[On Our Merry Way]]'' (1948); ''[[Lulu Belle (film)|Lulu Belle]]'' (1948), a melodrama with [[George Montgomery (actor)|George Montgomery]]; and ''[[The Girl from Manhattan]]'' (1948), also with Montgomery.
  
Line 110: Line 104:
 
She had a bigger part in [[John Ford]]'s ''[[Donovan's Reef]]'' (1963) with [[John Wayne]] and [[Lee Marvin]], and made guest appearances on shows like ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'', ''[[I Spy (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]'' and ''[[The Name of the Game (TV series)|The Name of the Game]]'', and films such as ''[[Pajama Party (film)|Pajama Party]]'' (1964) and ''[[The Phynx]]'' (1970).
 
She had a bigger part in [[John Ford]]'s ''[[Donovan's Reef]]'' (1963) with [[John Wayne]] and [[Lee Marvin]], and made guest appearances on shows like ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'', ''[[I Spy (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]'' and ''[[The Name of the Game (TV series)|The Name of the Game]]'', and films such as ''[[Pajama Party (film)|Pajama Party]]'' (1964) and ''[[The Phynx]]'' (1970).
  
Lamour moved to Baltimore with her family, where she appeared on TV and worked on the city's cultural commission. Then [[David Merrick]] offered her the chance to headline a road company of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello Dolly!]]'' which she did for over a year near the end of the decade.<ref>{{cite news| last=Scott| first=John L.| date=February 1, 1968| title=No Time for Sarongs for Dorothy Lamour in 'Dolly'| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| id={{ProQuest|155831793}}}}</ref>
+
Lamour moved to Baltimore with her family, where she appeared on TV and worked on the city's cultural commission. Then [[David Merrick]] offered her the chance to headline a road company of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello Dolly!]]'' which she did for over a year.
  
 
==Later years==
 
==Later years==
===1970s===
+
In the 1970s, Lamour revived her nightclub act. She was a popular draw at dinner theatres and in shows such as ''[[Anything Goes]]''. Her husband died in 1978, but she continued to work for "therapy."<ref name="therapy"/>
In the 1970s, Lamour revived her nightclub act. Lamour was a popular draw at dinner theatres and in shows such as ''[[Anything Goes]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorothy Lamour Stars on Stage|date=February 5, 1971|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|156644159}}}}</ref>
 
  
She guest starred on shows such as ''[[Marcus Welby, M.D.]]'' and ''[[The Love Boat]]'' and films like ''[[Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]'' (1976) and ''[[Death at Love House]]'' (1976). In 1977, she toured in the play ''Personal Appearance''.<ref>{{cite news| last=Wisehart| first=Bob| date=October 2, 1977| title=The Road yes, films no, for Lamour at 63| newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| id={{ProQuest|169621710}}}}</ref>
+
She guest starred on shows such as ''[[Marcus Welby, M.D.]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[Hart to Hart]]'', ''[[Crazy Like a Fox (TV series)|Crazy Like a Fox]]'', ''[[Remington Steele]]'', and ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', as well as films like ''[[Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]'' (1976), and ''[[Death at Love House]]'' (1976).  
  
Her husband died in 1978, but she continued to work for "therapy".<ref name="therapy"/>
+
In 1977, she toured in the play ''Personal Appearance'', and in 1984, she toured in a production of ''[[Barefoot in the Park]]''.
  
 +
In 1980, Lamour published her autobiography ''My Side of the Road''.<ref name=MySide/>
  
===1980s===
+
In 1986 she said:
In 1980, Lamour published her autobiography ''My Side of the Road'' and revived her nightclub act.<ref>{{cite news| author=Wilson, J. S.|date=February 12, 1982| title=Cabaret: Dorothy Lamour| newspaper=The New York Times| id={{ProQuest|424302078}}}}</ref>
+
<blockquote>I'm still as busy at 71 as I was when I was just a slip of a girl. I do concerts, television and a lot of dinner theatre, where I sing old songs and talk about Bob and Bing and starting out at Paramount at $200 a week and working myself up to $450,000 a picture...I feel wonderful. Age is only in the mind and I'm grateful that God has taken care of me. And I'm very grateful for that sarong. It did a lot for me! But to be truthful, the sarong was never my favorite wearing apparel.<ref name="therapy">Smyth Mitchell, [https://www.proquest.com/docview/435476804 Whatever happened to...Dorothy Lamour? 'Sarong Girl' won't stop working] ''Toronto Star'', August 31, 1986. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</ref></blockquote>
  
During the remainder of the decade, she performed in plays and television shows such as ''[[Hart to Hart]]'', ''[[Crazy Like a Fox (TV series)|Crazy Like a Fox]]'', ''[[Remington Steele]]'', and ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''.
+
In 1987, she made her last big-screen appearance in the movie ''[[Creepshow 2]]'', appearing with [[George Kennedy]] as an aging couple who are killed during a robbery. The wooden, Native American statue in front of their general store comes to life to avenge their death. The 72-year-old Lamour quipped:
 +
<blockquote>"Well, at my age you can't lean against a palm tree and sing 'Moon of Manakoora'," she said. "People would look at that and say 'What is she trying to do?'"<ref name=nytimes/></blockquote>
  
In 1984, she toured in a production of ''[[Barefoot in the Park]]''.
+
During the 1990s, she made only a handful of professional appearances but remained a popular interview subject for publications and TV talk and news programs. Lamour's final stage performance was as "Hattie" in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera's 1990 production of [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s "Follies."
  
In 1986 she said "I'm still as busy at 71 as I was when I was just a slip of a girl. I do concerts, television and a lot of dinner theatre, where I sing old songs and talk about Bob and Bing and starting out at Paramount at $200 a week and working myself up to $450,000 a picture...I feel wonderful. Age is only in the mind and I'm grateful that God has taken care of me. And I'm very grateful for that sarong. It did a lot for me! But to be truthful, the sarong was never my favorite wearing apparel."<ref name="therapy">{{cite news| last=Mitchell| first=Smyth| date=August 31, 1986| title= Whatever happened to...Dorothy Lamour? 'Sarong Girl' won't stop working| newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]| id={{ProQuest|435476804}}}}</ref>
+
In 1995, the musical ''Swinging on a Star'', a revue of songs written by Johnny Burke (who wrote many of the most famous ''Road to ...'' movie songs as well as the score to Lamour's film ''And the Angels Sing'' (1944)) opened on Broadway and ran for three months; Lamour was credited as a "special advisor."<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/swinging-on-a-star-4309 Swinging on a Star] ''IBDb''. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</ref>
 
 
In 1987, she made her last big-screen appearance in the movie ''[[Creepshow 2]]'', appearing with [[George Kennedy]] as an aging couple who are killed during a robbery. The wooden, Native American statue in front of their general store comes to life to avenge their death. The 72-year-old Lamour quipped: "Well, at my age you can't lean against a palm tree and sing 'Moon of Manakoora'", she said. "People would look at that and say 'What is she trying to do?{{'"}}<ref name=nytimes/>
 
 
 
===1990s===
 
During the 1990s, she made only a handful of professional appearances but remained a popular interview subject for publications and TV talk and news programs. Lamour's final stage performance was as "Hattie" in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera's 1990 production of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies".
 
 
 
In 1995, the musical ''[[Swinging on a Star (musical)|Swinging on a Star]]'', a revue of songs written by [[Johnny Burke (lyricist)|Johnny Burke]] (who wrote many of the most famous ''Road to ...'' movie songs as well as the score to Lamour's film ''[[And the Angels Sing]]'' (1944)) opened on Broadway and ran for three months; Lamour was credited as a "special advisor". It was nominated for the Best Musical [[Tony Award]]; the actress playing her in the [[road movie]] segment, Kathy Fitzgerald, also was nominated.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}
 
  
 
==Legacy==
 
==Legacy==
 
[[File:Dorothy Lamour Grave.JPG|thumb|300px|Grave of Dorothy Lamour, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills]]
 
[[File:Dorothy Lamour Grave.JPG|thumb|300px|Grave of Dorothy Lamour, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills]]
 +
Dorothy Lamour's career spanned more than six decades in radio, movies, and the theater, and throughout she demonstrated her ability to succeed in a multitude of roles as both an actor and singer. Far beyond the "Sarong Queen," she is remembered not only for her unique beauty and charm, but also for her talent and versatility.
 +
 +
Although known as the "Sarong Queen," and a popular [[pin-up girl]] among American service men, Lamour did not take on roles that required her to wear clothes that revealed all. Rather, she described her roles as a "nice native girl" with whom a delightful and somewhat innocent romance could be enjoyed. 
 +
<blockquote>Let me say first that I am not a prude. But I don't approve of the nudity on the screen today. I think a woman is far more attractive in an evening dress, low cut in front so the cleavage shows, low cut in back, fit to her figure but leaving something to the imagination. I've been to colleges and asked young guys about this, and they say the same thing. The imagination is greater than the reality, I think. ... I know you have to come up a little bit modern. But all this filth and homosexuality and sex and nudity today are ruining any hope of our young people having the beautiful life.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0483787/bio#quotes Dorothy Lamour: Quotes] ''IMDb''. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</ref></blockquote>
  
 
For her contribution to the radio and motion picture industry, Lamour has two stars on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. Her star for her radio contributions is located at 6240 Hollywood Boulevard, and her star for her motion picture contributions is located at 6332 Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>[https://walkoffame.com/dorothy-lamour/ Dorothy Lamour] ''Hollywood Walk of Fame''. Retrieved July 31, 2022.</ref>
 
For her contribution to the radio and motion picture industry, Lamour has two stars on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]. Her star for her radio contributions is located at 6240 Hollywood Boulevard, and her star for her motion picture contributions is located at 6332 Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>[https://walkoffame.com/dorothy-lamour/ Dorothy Lamour] ''Hollywood Walk of Fame''. Retrieved July 31, 2022.</ref>
Line 488: Line 480:
 
| Episode: "No Accounting for Murder"
 
| Episode: "No Accounting for Murder"
 
|}
 
|}
 
==Broadway musicals==
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Year
 
! Show
 
|-
 
|1958
 
|''[[Oh, Captain!]]''
 
|-
 
|1995
 
|''[[Swinging on a Star (musical)|Swinging on a Star]]''
 
|-
 
|}
 
 
==In popular culture==
 
Lamour is the heroine of Matilda Bailey's [[young adult fiction|young adult]] novel, ''Dorothy Lamour and the Haunted Lighthouse'' (1947), whose "heroine has the same name and appearance as the famous actress but has no connection ... it is as though the famous actress has stepped into an alternate reality in which she is an ordinary person." The story was written for a young teenage audience and is reminiscent of the adventures of [[Nancy Drew]]. It is part of a series known as "[[Whitman Authorized Editions]]", 16 books published between 1941 and 1947 that each featured a film actress as heroine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.series-books.com/whitman/whitman.html |title=Whitman Authorized Editions for Girls |access-date=September 10, 2009 |website=Whitman Publishing}}</ref>
 
 
She was featured in a brief print run of 2-3 issues during the 1950s, in ''Dorothy Lamour Jungle Princess Comics'', a series of comic books dedicated to her on-film Jungle Princess persona (featuring screenshots from past movies as the covers).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.comics.org/series/711/| title=Dorothy Lamour| website=Grand Comics Database| access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
 
 
Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was featured in David Lynch's 2006 film Inland Empire.
 
 
Name-checked in Little Feat song Apolitical Blues.
 
 
Name-checked in Michael Penn's song "Seen the Doctor" (rhymed with "Singapore").
 
 
Referenced in the TV sitcom "The Golden Girls" when Sophia Petrillo refers to her son as a " six foot two, married man with kids who likes to dress up like Dorothy Lamour."
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 519: Line 485:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
+
* Gregory, Mollie. ''Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story''. University Press of Kentucky, 2015. ISBN 978-0813166223
 +
* Jorgensen, Jay. ''Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer''. Running Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0762438051
 +
* Keister, Douglas. ''Forever L.A.: A Field Guide to Los Angeles Area Cemeteries & Their Residents''. Gibbs Smith, 2010. ISBN 978-1423605225
 
* Lamour, Dorothy. ''My Side of the Road''. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980. ISBN 978-0132185943
 
* Lamour, Dorothy. ''My Side of the Road''. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980. ISBN 978-0132185943
 
* Lee, William F. ''American Big Bands''. Hal Leonard, 2006. ISBN 978-0634080548
 
* Lee, William F. ''American Big Bands''. Hal Leonard, 2006. ISBN 978-0634080548
Line 526: Line 494:
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
All links retrieved  
+
All links retrieved August 3, 2022.
 
* {{IMDb name|0483787}}
 
* {{IMDb name|0483787}}
 
* [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/107751%7C41006/Dorothy-Lamour/#overview Dorothy Lamour] ''Turner Classic Movies''
 
* [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/107751%7C41006/Dorothy-Lamour/#overview Dorothy Lamour] ''Turner Classic Movies''

Revision as of 09:39, 15 January 2023

Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy-Lamour-still.JPG
Dorothy Lamour, circa 1940
BornMary Leta Dorothy Slaton
December 10 1914(1914-12-10)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 22 1996 (aged 81)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park,
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress, singer
Years active1933–1995
Spouse(s)Herbie Kay
(m. 1935; div. 1939)​
William Ross Howard III
(m. 1943; died 1978)
Children2

Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton; December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American actress and singer. Lamour began her career in the 1930s as a big band singer. In 1936, she moved to Hollywood, where she signed with Paramount Pictures. Her appearance as Ulah in The Jungle Princess (1936) brought her fame and marked the beginning of her image as the "Sarong Queen."

She is best remembered for having appeared in the Road to... movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. Her role began in 1940 with the Road to Singapore and ended with the sixth film in the series, Road to Bali, which was released in 1952. She continued working, appearing on stage, on television, and in films almost until her death in 1996; her last appearances being interviews.

Although the sarong made her famous, Lamour always played the role of an attractive girl, not a sexual temptress. She did not approve of nudity on the screen, portraying her characters in ways that delighted and entertained audiences of all ages.

Life

Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton[1] was born on December 10, 1914, in New Orleans,[2] the daughter of Carmen Louise (née LaPorte; 1892–1930) and John Watson Slaton (1895–1963), both of whom were waiters. Her parents' marriage lasted only a few years. Her mother married for the second time to Clarence Lambour, whose surname Dorothy later adopted and modified as her stage name.[3] That marriage also ended in divorce when Dorothy was a teenager.

Dorothy quit school at age 14. After taking a business course, she worked as a secretary to support herself and her mother. She began entering beauty pageants, was crowned Miss New Orleans in 1931, and went on to compete in Galveston's Pageant of Pulchritude. She used the prize money to support herself while she worked in a stock theatre company. She and her mother later moved to Chicago, where she found a job working at Marshall Field's department store, working as an elevator operator at the age of 16.

She was discovered by orchestra leader Herbie Kay when he spotted her in performance at a Chicago talent show held at the Hotel Morrison. She had an audition the next day; Kay hired her as a singer for his orchestra and, in 1935, Lamour went on tour with him. The two married in 1935 and divorced in 1939.[4]

For several years beginning in the late 1930s, Harriet Lee was Lamour's voice teacher.[5] Lamour later starred in a number of movie musicals and sang in many of her comedies and dramatic films as well, introducing a number of standards, including "The Moon of Manakoora", "I Remember You", "It Could Happen to You", "Personality", and "But Beautiful".

Early in her career, Lamour met J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to Hoover's biographer Richard Hack, Hoover pursued a romantic relationship with Lamour, and the two spent a night together at a Washington, DC hotel. In her autobiography My Side of the Road (1980), Lamour does not discuss Hoover in detail; she refers to him only as "a lifelong friend."[1]

On April 7, 1943, Lamour married Air Force captain and advertising executive William Ross Howard III in Beverly Hills.The couple had two sons: John Ridgely (1946–2018)[6] and Richard Thomson Howard (born 1949).

In 1957, Lamour and Howard moved to the Baltimore, Maryland, suburb of Sudbrook Park. In 1962, the couple and their two sons moved to Hampton, another Baltimore suburb in Dulaney Valley, with their oldest son, John, attending Towson High School. She also owned a home in Palm Springs, California.[7] Howard died in 1978.[8]

Lamour died at her home in North Hollywood on September 22, 1996, at the age of 81.[8] Her funeral was held at St. Charles Catholic Church in North Hollywood, California, where she was a member.[9][10] She was interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.[11]

Career

In 1936, Lamour moved to Hollywood. That same year, she did a screen test for Paramount Pictures and signed a contract with them.[2]

Lamour made her first film for Paramount, College Holiday (1936), in which she has a bit part as an uncredited dancer.

The Jungle Princess and "sarong" roles

Dorothy Lamour in The Jungle Princess, 1936

Her second film for Paramount, The Jungle Princess (1936) with Ray Milland, solidified her fame. In the film, Lamour plays the role of "Ulah," a jungle native who wore an Edith Head-designed sarong throughout the film.[12] The Jungle Princess was a big hit for the studio and marked the beginning of Lamour's image as the "Sarong Queen." It also gave her a hit song "Moonlight and Shadows."

She followed it with a support role in a Carole Lombard–Fred MacMurray musical Swing High, Swing Low (1937) where she sang "Panamania." She was then top billed in The Last Train from Madrid (1937).

Lamour in The Hurricane (1937)

Lamour supported Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott in High, Wide and Handsome (1937), singing "The Things I Want." Samuel Goldwyn borrowed her for John Ford's The Hurricane (1937), where she was back in a sarong playing an island princess alongside Jon Hall. Her swimming and diving scenes were handled by stunt double Lila Finn, who at one point dropped the sarong and was filmed diving into a lagoon in the nude.[13] The film was a massive success and gave Lamour another hit song with "The Moon of Manakoora."

Lamour had a cameo in Thrill of a Lifetime (1937) and was third billed in The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938) after W.C. Fields and Martha Raye; the cast also included Bob Hope in an early appearance.

Paramount reunited her with Milland and a sarong for Her Jungle Love (1938). Tropic Holiday (1938) cast her as a Mexican alongside Bob Burns, Raye, and Milland; then she supported George Raft and Henry Fonda in the adventure film Spawn of the North (1938). Raft was meant to be Lamour's leading man in St. Louis Blues (1939) but he turned down the part and was replaced by Lloyd Nolan.

Lamour was Jack Benny's leading lady in the musical Man About Town (1939); then played a Chinese girl in a melodrama, Disputed Passage (1939).

The "Road" movies

File:Dorothy Lamour in Road to Singapore trailer.jpg
Dorothy Lamour in Road to Singapore, 1940

In 1940, Lamour starred in Road to Singapore, a spoof of Lamour's "sarong" films. It was originally meant to co-star Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie, then George Burns and Gracie Allen, before Paramount decided to use Bob Hope and Bing Crosby; Lamour was billed after Crosby and above Hope. The two male stars began ad-libbing during filming. She said later that she realized that following the script did not work, and she should just get the general idea of a scene and go along with Hope and Crosby. Said Hope, "Dottie is one of the bravest gals in pictures. She stands there before the camera and ad-libs with Crosby and me knowing that the way the script is written she'll come second or third best, but she fears nothing."[14] The movie was a solid hit and response to the team was enthusiastic.

Lamour in Road to Bali (1952)
Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in a scene from Road to Bali

20th Century Fox borrowed her to play Tyrone Power's leading lady in the gangster film Johnny Apollo (1940), where sang "This is the Beginning of the End" and "Dancing for Nickels and Dimes."

It was back to sarongs for Typhoon (1940). Her male co-star in the latter was Robert Preston who was also with Lamour in Moon Over Burma (1940). Fox borrowed her again for Chad Hanna (1941) with Henry Fonda.

Response to Road to Singapore had been such that Paramount reunited Lamour, Hope, and Crosby in Road to Zanzibar (1941) which was even more successful and eventually led to a series of pictures (although from this point on Lamour was billed beneath Hope). She and Hope then did Caught in the Draft (1941) which was one of the biggest hits of the year.[15]

Lamour was reunited with her old Hurricane star, Jon Hall, in Aloma of the South Seas (1941). She did a popular musical with Eddie Bracken, William Holden and Betty Hutton, The Fleet's In (1942), which gave her a hit song, "I Remember You."

There was another sarong movie, Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942). Both were well liked by the public but neither was as popular as her third "Road" movie, Road to Morocco (1942).

Lamour was one of many Paramount stars who did guest shots in Star Spangled Rhythm (1942). She and Hope were borrowed by Sam Goldwyn for a comedy They Got Me Covered (1943), and then she did one with Crosby without Hope, Dixie (1943), a popular biopic of Dan Emmett.

During World War II, Lamour was among the more popular pin-up girls among American servicemen, along with Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, and Veronica Lake. Lamour was also known for her volunteer work, selling war bonds during tours in which movie stars would travel the country selling U.S. government bonds to the public. Lamour reportedly sold $300 million worth of bonds earning her the nickname "The Bond Bombshell." She also volunteered at the Hollywood Canteen where she would dance and talk to soldiers. In 1965, Lamour was awarded a belated citation from the United States Department of the Treasury for her war bond sales.[8]

Lamour made Melody Inn (1943) with Dick Powell, then And the Angels Sing (1944) with Fred MacMurray and Hutton, where she sang "It Should Happen to You". She made one last sarong movie, Rainbow Island (1944), co-starring Bracken.

Lamour played a Mexican in A Medal for Benny (1945), based on a story by John Steinbeck, co-starring Arturo de Córdova. She was one of many Paramount stars to cameo in Duffy's Tavern (1945), then did a fourth "Road," Road to Utopia (1945), and then Masquerade in Mexico (1945) with de Cordova.

She was in three big hits in a row: My Favorite Brunette (1947), a comedy with Hope; Wild Harvest (1947), a melodrama with Alan Ladd and Preston; and Road to Rio (1947). She also sang a duet with Ladd in Variety Girl (1947). Lamour emceed Front and Center, a 1947 variety comedy show, as a summer replacement for The Fred Allen Show, with the Army Air Force recruiting as sponsors.[2] The sixth film in the series with Hope and Crosby, Road to Bali, was released in 1952.

After Paramount

After leaving Paramount, Lamour made a series of films for producer Benedict Bogeaus: the all-star comedy On Our Merry Way (1948); Lulu Belle (1948), a melodrama with George Montgomery; and The Girl from Manhattan (1948), also with Montgomery.

She tried two comedies: The Lucky Stiff (1949), produced by Jack Benny co-starring Brian Donlevy, then Slightly French (1949) with Don Ameche. Manhandled (1950) was a film noir with Dan Duryea for Pine-Thomas. None of these films were particularly popular.

Lamour played a successful season at the London Palladium in 1950 then was in two big hits: The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Cecil B. De Mille's circus epic, and Road to Bali (1952). However this did not seem to lead to better film offers, and Lamour began concentrating on being a nightclub entertainer and a stage actress.

She also began working on television, guest starring on Damon Runyon Theater and was on Broadway in Oh Captain! (1958).

1960s

Lamour returned to movies with a cameo in the final "Road" film, The Road to Hong Kong (1962); she was replaced as a love interest by Joan Collins because Bing Crosby wanted a younger actress. However, Bob Hope would not do the film without Lamour, so she appeared in an extended cameo.

She had a bigger part in John Ford's Donovan's Reef (1963) with John Wayne and Lee Marvin, and made guest appearances on shows like Burke's Law, I Spy and The Name of the Game, and films such as Pajama Party (1964) and The Phynx (1970).

Lamour moved to Baltimore with her family, where she appeared on TV and worked on the city's cultural commission. Then David Merrick offered her the chance to headline a road company of Hello Dolly! which she did for over a year.

Later years

In the 1970s, Lamour revived her nightclub act. She was a popular draw at dinner theatres and in shows such as Anything Goes. Her husband died in 1978, but she continued to work for "therapy."[16]

She guest starred on shows such as Marcus Welby, M.D., The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, Crazy Like a Fox, Remington Steele, and Murder, She Wrote, as well as films like Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), and Death at Love House (1976).

In 1977, she toured in the play Personal Appearance, and in 1984, she toured in a production of Barefoot in the Park.

In 1980, Lamour published her autobiography My Side of the Road.[1]

In 1986 she said:

I'm still as busy at 71 as I was when I was just a slip of a girl. I do concerts, television and a lot of dinner theatre, where I sing old songs and talk about Bob and Bing and starting out at Paramount at $200 a week and working myself up to $450,000 a picture...I feel wonderful. Age is only in the mind and I'm grateful that God has taken care of me. And I'm very grateful for that sarong. It did a lot for me! But to be truthful, the sarong was never my favorite wearing apparel.[16]

In 1987, she made her last big-screen appearance in the movie Creepshow 2, appearing with George Kennedy as an aging couple who are killed during a robbery. The wooden, Native American statue in front of their general store comes to life to avenge their death. The 72-year-old Lamour quipped:

"Well, at my age you can't lean against a palm tree and sing 'Moon of Manakoora'," she said. "People would look at that and say 'What is she trying to do?'"[8]

During the 1990s, she made only a handful of professional appearances but remained a popular interview subject for publications and TV talk and news programs. Lamour's final stage performance was as "Hattie" in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera's 1990 production of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."

In 1995, the musical Swinging on a Star, a revue of songs written by Johnny Burke (who wrote many of the most famous Road to ... movie songs as well as the score to Lamour's film And the Angels Sing (1944)) opened on Broadway and ran for three months; Lamour was credited as a "special advisor."[17]

Legacy

File:Dorothy Lamour Grave.JPG
Grave of Dorothy Lamour, at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills

Dorothy Lamour's career spanned more than six decades in radio, movies, and the theater, and throughout she demonstrated her ability to succeed in a multitude of roles as both an actor and singer. Far beyond the "Sarong Queen," she is remembered not only for her unique beauty and charm, but also for her talent and versatility.

Although known as the "Sarong Queen," and a popular pin-up girl among American service men, Lamour did not take on roles that required her to wear clothes that revealed all. Rather, she described her roles as a "nice native girl" with whom a delightful and somewhat innocent romance could be enjoyed.

Let me say first that I am not a prude. But I don't approve of the nudity on the screen today. I think a woman is far more attractive in an evening dress, low cut in front so the cleavage shows, low cut in back, fit to her figure but leaving something to the imagination. I've been to colleges and asked young guys about this, and they say the same thing. The imagination is greater than the reality, I think. ... I know you have to come up a little bit modern. But all this filth and homosexuality and sex and nudity today are ruining any hope of our young people having the beautiful life.[18]

For her contribution to the radio and motion picture industry, Lamour has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star for her radio contributions is located at 6240 Hollywood Boulevard, and her star for her motion picture contributions is located at 6332 Hollywood Boulevard.[19]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1936 College Holiday Dancer Film debut; uncredited
1936 The Jungle Princess Ulah
1937 Swing High, Swing Low Anita Alvarez
1937 The Last Train from Madrid Carmelita Castillo
1937 High, Wide, and Handsome Molly Fuller
1937 The Hurricane Marama
1937 Thrill of a Lifetime Specialty
1938 The Big Broadcast of 1938 Dorothy Wyndham
1938 Her Jungle Love Tura
1938 Tropic Holiday Manuela
1938 Spawn of the North Nicky Duval
1939 St. Louis Blues Norma Malone
1939 Man About Town Diana Wilson
1939 Disputed Passage Audrey Hilton
1940 Road to Singapore Mima
1940 Johnny Apollo Lucky Dubarry
1940 Typhoon Dea
1940 Moon Over Burma Arla Dean
1940 Chad Hanna Albany Yates / Lady Lillian
1941 Road to Zanzibar Donna Latour
1941 Caught in the Draft Antoinette "Tony" Fairbanks
1941 Aloma of the South Seas Aloma
1942 The Fleet's In The Countess
1942 Star Spangled Rhythm Herself
1942 Beyond the Blue Horizon Tama
1942 Road to Morocco Princess Shalmar
1943 They Got Me Covered Christina Hill
1943 Dixie Millie Cook
1943 Riding High Ann Castle
1944 And the Angels Sing Nancy Angel
1944 Rainbow Island Lona
1945 A Medal for Benny Lolita Sierra
1945 Duffy's Tavern Herself
1945 Road to Utopia Sal Van Hoyden
1945 Masquerade in Mexico Angel O'Reilly
1947 My Favorite Brunette Carlotta Montay Alternative title: The Private Eye
1947 Variety Girl Herself
1947 Wild Harvest Fay Rankin
1947 Road to Rio Lucia Maria de Andrade
1948 On Our Merry Way Gloria Manners Alternative title: A Miracle Can Happen
1948 Lulu Belle Lulu Belle
1949 The Girl from Manhattan Carol Maynard
1949 The Lucky Stiff Anna Marie St. Claire
1949 Slightly French Mary O'Leary
1949 Manhandled Merl Kramer
1951 Here Comes the Groom Herself Uncredited
1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Phyllis
1952 Road to Bali Princess Lala
1962 The Road to Hong Kong Herself
1963 Donovan's Reef Miss Laflour
1964 Pajama Party Head Saleslady
1970 The Phynx Herself
1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Visiting Film Star
1987 Creepshow 2 Martha Spruce (segment "Old Chief Wood'nhead"), (final film role)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1955 Damon Runyon Theater Sally Bracken Television debut

Episode: "The Mink Doll"

1967 I Spy Halima Episode: "The Honorable Assassins"
1969 The Name of the Game Stella Fisher Episode: "Chains of Command"
1970 Love, American Style Holly's Mother Segment: "Love and the Pick-Up"
1971 Marcus Welby, M.D. Mary DeSocio Episode: "Echos from Another World"
1976 Death at Love House Denise Christian Television movie
Alternative title: The Shrine of Lorna Love
1980 The Love Boat Lil Braddock Episode: "That's My Dad/The Captain's Bird/Captive Audience"
1984 Hart to Hart Katherine Prince Episode: "Max's Waltz"
1984 Remington Steele Herself Episode: "Cast in Steele"
1986 Crazy like a Fox Rosie Episode: "Rosie"
1987 Murder, She Wrote Mrs. Ellis Episode: "No Accounting for Murder"

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dorothy Lamour, My Side of the Road (Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980, ISBN 978-0132185943).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 James Parish and Michael Pitts, Hollywood Songsters (Routledge, 2002, ISBN 978-0415937757).
  3. Biography Dorothy Lamour. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. William F. Lee, American Big Bands (Hal Leonard, 2006, ISBN 978-0634080548).
  5. Erskine Johnson, In Hollywood Dixon Evening Telegraph, April 4, 1951. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  6. John Howard Obituary Fresno Bee.
  7. Eric G. Meeks, The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes (Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe, Publisher, 2014, ISBN 978-0986218903).
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Richard Severo, Dorothy Lamour, 81, Sultry Sidekick in Road Films, Dies The New York Times, September 23, 1996. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  9. Patricia Kasten, Where actors go to pray The Compass, September 19, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  10. Dorothy Lamour, Sultry Movie Star, Dies Los Angeles Times, September 23, 1996. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  11. Douglas Keister, Forever L.A.: A Field Guide to Los Angeles Area Cemeteries & Their Residents (Gibbs Smith, 2010, ISBN 978-1423605225).
  12. Jay Jorgensen, Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer (Running Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0762438051).
  13. Mollie Gregory, Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story (University Press of Kentucky, 2015, ISBN 978-0813166223).
  14. Kami Spangenberg, “Road to” Movie Must-See: Road to Bali (1952) Classic Couple. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  15. Film Money-makers Selected by Variety: 'Sergeant York' Top Picture Gary Cooper Leading Star The New York Times, December 31, 1941. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Smyth Mitchell, Whatever happened to...Dorothy Lamour? 'Sarong Girl' won't stop working Toronto Star, August 31, 1986. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  17. Swinging on a Star IBDb. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  18. Dorothy Lamour: Quotes IMDb. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  19. Dorothy Lamour Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved July 31, 2022.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Gregory, Mollie. Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story. University Press of Kentucky, 2015. ISBN 978-0813166223
  • Jorgensen, Jay. Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood's Greatest Costume Designer. Running Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0762438051
  • Keister, Douglas. Forever L.A.: A Field Guide to Los Angeles Area Cemeteries & Their Residents. Gibbs Smith, 2010. ISBN 978-1423605225
  • Lamour, Dorothy. My Side of the Road. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1980. ISBN 978-0132185943
  • Lee, William F. American Big Bands. Hal Leonard, 2006. ISBN 978-0634080548
  • Meeks, Eric G. The Best Guide Ever to Palm Springs Celebrity Homes. Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe, Publisher, 2014. ISBN 978-0986218903
  • Parish, James, and Michael Pitts. Hollywood Songsters. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 978-0415937757

External links

All links retrieved August 3, 2022.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.