The Strange Case of Delilah-Judith

You once could buy an old autograph of hers ... I think she carried these preprinted cards around with her (???)

[quote]Ink signature, “Delilah-Judith,” on an off-white 5 x 3 card with her photo affixed to the lower right. Light scattered toning, and the signature started and finished with different pens, otherwise fine condition. Originally acquired from the Buddy George Marshall in-person Hollywood collection.

Just looking at the picture, she does resemble Baby Jane.

She sounds like a cross between Baby Jane and Angelyne.

[quote]who Bette Davis used as an inspiration for her character in “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Bet she made this rumor up herself.

From a 1938 issue of "Hollywood Lowdown", a fan mag:

Delilah-Judith, whose first bit is in “Secret of Treasure Island"

Unusually interested in future great material is Delilah-Judith, — and, please, do not forget the hyphen. In her it is particularly gratifying to discover a new type that has all the requisites to success. She is a young lady richly gifted in musical talents and histrionic ability, combining the charm and personality of a true Southerner with the unusual grace that goes with red hair and brown eyes. Too, she has brightened the world by lending her services frequently to creators of magazine covers and lovers of the theatre know her well as a dancer of more than passing merit.

Of course, “Delilah-Judith” is not the name by which her friends in and around Louisville, Kentucky, know her best. There, when she was born in Hodgensville, she was christened Judith Churchill Howard but for the more practical purposes of stage and screen, she adopted the name suggested to her by the late Flo Ziegfeld from whom she got her start.

Professionally, Delilah-Judith has appeared throughout the country, being starred in Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” and “Honeymoon for Three” and playing the leading role in “The Doctor In Spite Of Himself,” French comedv by Moliere ; “Riders of the Sea,” “Two Sides of the Door,” “Because I Love You” and several Shakespearean productions. She has appeared as an instrumental soloist on the concert stage and the airways, spelling these appearances with occasional spots in the realm of the dance. When “at liberty,” Delilah-Judith has written, her finest contribution to literary fare being “Cloe Cunningham, Actress,” a modern drama first produced in 1936.

A delightful and interesting little person — Delilah-Judith stands but three inches over five feet — she has modeled for Harrison Fisher, Van Leshout, Devereux, Earle Rogers and others. She is happiest, perhaps because her hands and face have been perpetuated in a line of widely distributed dolls for which she served as the model for a friend. She speaks French and German and is an expert horsewoman.

But, more than that, she is an unusual personality, capable certainly of winning a high place in that grand, kaleidoscopeic array of talent that parades across the screens.

Yes, Hollywood — Mecca of the aspiring — still seeks the stars of tomorrow and will continue to seek them as each today passes into the limbo of the past.

Thanks, all! I find this SOOOO WEIRD ! ! !

Let me stress, she was STILL advertising herself for roles with those ancient publicity pictures [italic]in 1971!

[quote] r5 When “at liberty,” Delilah-Judith has written, her finest contribution to literary fare being [italic]“Cloe Cunningham, Actress,” [/italic]a modern drama first produced in 1936.

Could this script be found anywhere?

I desperately want to stage it in my living room!

Someone write up a plot for this lost masterpiece and the actors you would cast (besides Miss Judith herselfses).

From another fan mag (1939). Straight out of "Little Me"...

Player Model For Doll Faces and Hands Star: While Blind Discovers Talent by Telling Stories

Delilah-Judith, stage and radio star, has been named by artists, producers and writers, as being one of the most beautiful girls in the world. They mention her resemblance in both face and figure to the Venus de Milo, with her carrot-red hair, brown eyes and flashing dimples. A statue has been made of her, and her face reproduced in plaster for museums. She was discovered by Florenz Ziegfeld, shortly before his death, contracted by him and made a stage star in Los Angeles in "Honeymoon" two months after she became an actress. Ziegfeld had seen her first appearance as actress, as leading woman in Moliere's, "The Doctor in Spite of Himself," in Hollywood, when the audience cheered as soon as she appeared, because of her amazing beauty. She has been a leading woman in plays, including "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Merchant of Venice." She starred in Ibsen's "A Doll's House" last year in HollyWood and signed a star radio contract, while doing “The Woman in White," and later "Supernatural."

Delilah-Judith was featured this year on the Hollywood Screen World program on Monday nights from KMPC as dramatic actress. She is a model for dolls' faces and hands. Quoting from the Hollywood Screen World magazine, February, 1939: "Delilah- Judith possesses the perfect doll face and is the model for many of the dolls manufactured today. As artist and model, Delilah-Judith has posed I for internationally famous artists, including Harrison Fisher, and her face has appeared many times on front covers of Cosmopolitan magazine and other publications." The actress was model for Van Leshout and his class of 40 pupils in Louisville, Ky., when she was but 18 yenrs of age. Her face smiles at you daily from bathing suit ads, etc. She first played ln movies last year In "The Secret of Treasure Island," Columbia studios.

This star was born at Hodgenville, Ky., is single and her home in Hollywood is called "The Doll's House." She was a child prodigy at the piano and Is now on the air as a soloist, and is studying for grand opera. This unusual person was, as a child, blind and crippled, due to a fall. "It was during the suffering and misery of those dark years that I laid the foundation for my career," she told an editor recently. "To amuse myself I learned to play the piano, but not well. I limped up and down alongside the keyboard, not being able to reach enough keys when seated. I pretended I was the north wind rushing from base to treble. I was a dancer swaying back and forth over the keys. I was a kitten running up and down on black and white ivory. One thing. I learned in blindness, was that Stevenson was right when he wrote, 'Close all the roads of all the world, love's road is open still.' In blindness one. is certainly dependent on the outside world, and so In order to keep the other children near me, that I might have their companionship and be near the warmth of their childish joyousness, I told them stories of fairies and animals and all I could invent. And in trying to hold their interest I had to be emphatic at certain points — startling, breath-taking, speaking in whisper, rising to a crescendo — falling to a meekness, gay laughter, pretended sobs, and so on. In this way I learned to act. "The doctor said if I cried much my sight would never return — so I tried to sing instead. Well — now I am studying grand opera. After I was miraculously cured of being blind and my crippled condition was almost cured I danced and danced, pretending I was a butterfly or a rose or a scarlet cockatoo. I feel that in the dark in blindness I found the cold stone floor of acting. It is knowing how to pretend — how to act."

continued

Quoting Fred Schubert, columnist: "Delilah- Judith will bring a new type of beauty to the screen. She is a living prototype of the Venus de Milo, her measurements being exact with those of the Goddess of Loveliness." Then again quoting William Wolfe, vaudeville producer: "Delilah- Judith is the most beautiful girl in the world. I hope she will be my leading woman in vaudeville soon." The actress will soon be on the air on the new Hollywood Screen World program from KFWB in "Stardust of Yesteryear." She is a member of the American Federation of Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild and American Guild of Variety Artists. The Wood Radio Productions will feature the talented actress in a series of transcriptions. The assignment will present her acceptance of a part in "Pamela" which she had under consideration. She has been approached by scouts of the Selznlck studio.

Delilah-Judith is a ridiculous name. No wonder she went nowhere and descended into battiness. Hollywood was filled with such delusional old ladies living out their days in small apartments around town. There are probably still many around.

Here's a list of ladies I found who had some years of fame before fading into anonymity.

I’m thinking she must have had SOME talent - if she was playing in tours of Ibsen, Molier and Shakespeare.

Still — a doll model?

[quote]This unusual person was, as a child, blind and crippled, due to a fall.

[quote]"To amuse myself I learned to play the piano, but not well. I limped up and down alongside the keyboard, not being able to reach enough keys when seated ... I was a dancer swaying back and forth over the keys. I was a kitten running up and down on black and white ivory. One thing. I learned in blindness, was that Stevenson was right when he wrote,[italic] 'Close all the roads of all the world, love's road is open still.'”[/italic]

So, she was molested?

In the 1950 PLAYERS DIRECTORY - right under Livy and across from Nancy.

And a new out-of-date photo!

[quote]Hollywood was filled with such delusional old ladies living out their days in small apartments around town.

Fuck you, R11!

This is fascinating. The snarky part of me believes that she was in the middle of pestering Mr Ziegfeld at the stage door when he probably said, "Delilah, Judith, whatever!" and she took that to mean he named her!

Was she a Ziegfeld Girl?

Bump. Interesting thread.

This whole thing makes me think of this scene.

[quote]R11 Hollywood was filled with such delusional old ladies living out their days in small apartments around town.

[quote]r14 Fuck you! —Pola N.

An' that goes double for me!

I just noticed Faye’s using a headshot in the same volume that’s from 1966, so ....

I wonder if some unsuspecting casting assistant ever called someone in based on those out of date photos, and then got a shock when Delilah-Judith or whomever showed up.

They'd be like, "Yeah, so we're looking for a young Blanche Sweet type ... Oh, hello. Um, did you notice anyone in the elevator with you?"

I’ve been thinking of our little Delilah-Judith (that name COULDN’T have helped) and wonder how she ended up. Did she die alone? Is she in a pauper’s grave? Or was she rich?

Or HAS she died????

Who's the pretty girl, R23?

[quote]Her name lost to the ages, the mummy now known as The Beauty of Xiaohe is at least 3,500 years old. She was found in a tomb complex in western China, along with the remains of hundreds of other members of her lost culture.

SEE ARTICLE:

This is unexpected!

From article:

[quote]Her name lost to the ages, the Beauty wore a tall hat of white felt and fur-lined boots. Her body was surrounded by grave goods, including an intricately carved wood phallus placed on her chest

!!

Thank you, R25, I shall read it.

She died in L.A. at age 83, in 1984.

R28 I am impressed!

How did you find that? Maybe i’m not very good with internet searches....

Was she destitute? I would love it if she ended up somewhere okay, like the Actors Home, or the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.

That mummy looks like Rue McClanahan.

oh lort, you’re right!

Fantastic thread

R29 I couldn't find an obituary, just a date of death under the name "Judith Churchill Rogers". She was married in Kentucky in 1921 to Earle Aldridge Rogers, and it looks like she kept his name after they split. I also hope she didn't end up destitute in Los Angeles. Maybe someone else will have some more info.

I’m not r28 but I found the same info. Her full given name of Judith Churchill Howard is in one of the old stories linked above. Through that you can find her wedding announcement in 1921 and a couple of family obits from the 1930s. She married a man named Earle Aldridge Rogers from Pittsburgh and he died in Los Angeles in 1980, so she was perhaps married to him for all that time and was his widow when she died as Judith Rogers in 1984. Can’t determine what he did for a living or if they had any children.

One of the stories from the 30s says she is single, so it sounds like they had split by then, but maybe they got back together at some point.

She had a daughter named Barbara by 1934. It made the newspaper when she came back to Kentucky for a visit (no mention of the husband).

R36 Wow: it's a puzzle, and that's a good piece you found.

R11, the best find for me was that Elaine Stewart was a starlet but I remembered her from the game show Gambit where she was the dealer. I always thought the producer picked her up in a bar and just put her on TV, which is probably not far from the truth.

^^ Elaine Stewart WAS a promising starlet, one whose career ultimately didn't pan out as planned.

I think she's best remembered for THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, made her first year in Hollywood. She has a few small scenes in which she effectively plays a jaded, opportunistic actress. She did other parts, but I don't think she made as much impact in them, and her career petered out.

Does anyone remember Miss DuPont? Or so she was billed. She was a blond actress from the silent days, co-starred as Erich von Stroheim's love victim in Foolish Wives or Husbands, or one of the movies of such vintage. I believe she married a blue blood and died in Palm Beach in 1972.

Love that this thread is back. One of the best.

Oooh this one is interesting.

I was friends with someone whose mother was an actress-model. She was quite eccentric but also delightful. She cling to her former beauty, but I think she was more beautiful in her 70s! She was quite a character, and I’m glad to have known her for the last 25 years of her life. She had many former connections to show business, but died unknown.

In a 1956 Players' Guide, Delilah is listed as performing "Swing," Not the "swing" of Broadway performers.

When I was 21yrs old, my first entertainment job was an assistant in a casting office in NYC, circa 1983. We would use the Players Directory at times, and Delilah-Judith was a running joke. Whenever a new Directory would be delivered, they'd immediately check if her picture was still in there. We would occasionally put her name on casting lists for commercials, or if someone was, say, looking for a "Sigourney Weaver" type, one of us would predictably yell out "how about Delilah-Judith?" and we'd all laugh. Then the 84 directory came out and her pic wasn't in there. We were curious and very sad. No internet then to research. (I could be wrong on the dates but it was around that time).

I have't even heard or thought of the name until now, Thanks, OP!

R45, the directory you're remember is Players Guide, created in 1944 patterned after the Academy Directory in Hollywood. It's last edition was in 1996 when Online Casting began.

My 1971 edition shows Delilah at 694 South Burlington Avenue in Los Angeles, HUnter 3-8368. Credits include "Delilah-Judith Grand Opera Company (Prima Donna and Owner) and Delilah-Judith Record Company (Prima Donna and Owner.)

Gloria Grahame doesn't belong on that list.

Ed Fury namechecks Elaine Stewart in his interview with Skip E. Lowe, which can be found on YouTube.

New York Public Access has Florence Morrison, now in her late 80s, Claims to be a Spinto Soprano specializing in works by Verdi. Begins each show with a clip of her singing from a CD she made and peddled door-to-door at the "finest music stores." Always shows a full-page ad from Musical America that she paid for, with quotes of how wonderful she is. The Manhattan Neighborhood Network shows are at least ten years old. Florence can next be seen at 1:00PM on Saturday, January 25 on Spectrum 56, if their program log is up-to-date.

In 1971 694 S. Burlington, LA was a really dicey area east of MacArthur Park. It’s an apartment building that looks like it wasn’t especially nice, even when first built. I’m guessing she wasn’t drowning in cash.

Janis Paige really doesn’t belong on that list either.

True, R51. There's a throwaway line about Janis Paige "rebounding a bit" on Broadway. You could say that. She starred in the original production of "The Pajama Game" and later was an Angela Lansbury replacement in "Mame."

Paige got "The Pajama Game" after Dolores Gray turned it down. Gray was a finalist for "Mame" but lost out to Lansbury.

Janis Paige is still with us. She's 97.

[quote]Janis Paige is still with us. She's 97.

And writing an autobiography.

Oh DL, thankyou, this is the renaissance I waited 60 years for

Poor Delilah Judith

Poor Delilah - Judith

With a name like Delilah Judith, she must have been a fag hag surely. Add her to the list of celebrities who would have been DListers.

That cunt Bette Davis made a caricature out of me and ruined my career!

Retain the dash, DL!

I smell a DL documentary to be made; 'Looking For Delilah- Judith'. Our own Faye can host. I picture Ms Dunaway kneeling down at an unmarked grave in a small country graveyard pretending to shed tears for D.J.

Or a movie. Faye as old Delilah- Judith, in pancake makeup, living as a recluse in her bedsit apartment, with flashbacks of her life.

At this stage, it should be Madonna. She could recreate the graveyard scene from "Truth or Dare."

R39

Picture is finished Georgia; you're business, I'm company...... Burn!

Oh I forgot to tell you Georgia, I saw the picture; thought you were swell! Burn #2

They just don't make films, or have scripts like this anymore.

That's a lot of guests

A Judith C (Churchill?) Rogers grave;

Judith C. Rogers

Birth 10 Jul 1900

Death 8 Sep 1984 (aged 84)

Burial Inglewood Park Cemetery

Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Earle's grave very nearby, so she called herself Judith Churchill Rogers

[quote]R46 My 1971 edition shows credits include "Delilah-Judith Grand Opera Company (Prima Donna and Owner) and Delilah-Judith Record Company (Prima Donna and Owner.)

So she came up in the world!

Oh dear, THIS is dangerous!

The R66 link to her gravesite asks visitors, [italic] ”What’s one thing you’ll always remember when you think of Judith?”

R50

Is this same MacArthur park that melted in the dark? You know with all the sweet green icing flowing down?

Could her daughter Barbara (from R36) still be alive?

I wonder if it would be cruel to try to track her down. I mean, talk about parents that EMBARRASSED you...!!

I noticed that, R50. And the phone number is still using the old alphanumeric system that had been outdated for nearly a decade by ’71. It all seems rather sad.

“Rather”?

R73, I still have hope that maybe it's not as bad as it looks. Just call me a cockeyed optimist.

We have the power to write the ending. She lived a long, full life and was surrounded by loved ones when she died. Flowers are placed on her grave by visitors a number of times throughout the year.

r75 how do you know flowers are placed on her grave by visitors a number of times throughout the year?

Earle and Judith were living at 694 S Burlington Ave, Los Angeles in 1971 but in 1980 when Earle died they were living in Whittier, so no, Delilah-Judith didn't die in that pitiful apartment. She may have died in a pitiful apart in Whittier though.

#apartment

Delilah-Judith's family may have been quite influential since old mansions, masonry churches, Victorian homes, and enormous trees line almost the whole length of either side of the street mentioned in [R65]'s link

r79 they'd have to have been to cater for all those guests

Sounds like another Phoebe Price. Although, to my knowledge, Phoebe Price hasn’t landed a man.

engagement

her fathers' obit

sisters' house her father died in

grave of a sister who died young

What isn't mentioned about Dona Drake, another actress in r11's list is she was African-American who 'passed'. Her stage names were 'Una Velon' (!) and 'Rita Rio' who in her latter name, led an all-girl orchestra in the late 30s and early '40s.

A snappy Dona Drake "soundie", made right before she was signed by Paramount.

Interesting she was promoted at Paramount by Dorothy Lamour who explained her "exotic coloring" as a combination of her Irish, French, Spanish and "French Creole" ancestry. OK, Dot, whatever you say...

So she was a drag queen, right?

[quote]My 1971 edition shows Delilah at 694 South Burlington Avenue in Los Angeles, HUnter 3-8368

My telephone number is actually CUnter 3-8368

Get it right. I've been waiting for calls.

Great thread! Keep it coming.

I keep waiting for later photos to emerge, with her wandering LA like a later-day Angelyne.

Exchange names were in phone books of New York City's five boroughs until 1977. Philadelphia into the 80s

Looking like this, R91?

No one has mentioned the dolls she posed for. I wonder what ones they were? Baby Jane had dolls too.

Last I heard she was doing a World Tour while wearing an eye patch

[quote]r85 grave of a sister who died young

Surely there's more of a story there? Was she making her mark in the chorus of their community theater's operettas, and our little Delilah-Judith became cagey? Or perhaps doll manufacturer's wanted to use the sister's features to cast doll face molds from, instead of DJ's??

I don't believe Dona Drake was 3/4 black, 1/4 white. Flip those fractions and maybe I'd buy it.

If only Flo Ziegfeld had named her Judith Delilah, perhaps it all would have gone differently.

Love this thread

Delilah Dith. That's it. That's the name.

694 South Burlington Avenue.....sad....

Dona Drake

Did somebody mention Delilah?

I would never guess that was Carol Channing, especially with her original nose.

Get out'ta here with yer goddamn DONA DRAKE nonsense!

ANY role Dona did, Delilah-Judith could have done better. DONA'S the reason DJ failed!

D-J.

In the 1940 census she’s listed as Judith Rogers, age 40, living at 1580 Gower St with her daughter Barbara. Under occupation, a blank, and income for 1939, $0.

Was she entertaining gentlemen?

I wonder if she ever slept with JFK when he was blind drunk. (No close hole was safe!)

I like the idea of her incessantly calling the White House for a second date, at all hours.

[quote]r107 Under occupation, a blank, and income for 1939, $0.

[quote]r108 Was she entertaining gentlemen?

Maybe she and Babs were pullin' a mother-daughter act for their callers - -

R86

Ms. Dona Drake did rather well for herself considering background and what times were in USA regarding race.

She married fashion designer William Travilla (who did much work for Marilyn Monroe), and couple remained together until her death in 1989. Mr. Travilla lived only one year longer than his wife dying in 1990.

Drake looked reminiscent of Eileen Brennan

Can someone be three quarters black and have that hair texture?

Can someone SHUT UP about that g-damn INTERLOPER??

Oh, r111, how in the world could you leave out....

R113

Dona Drake had one set of "black" grandparents and other was mixed (one black, one white), but we don't know how "black" any of her ancestors given that designation truly were in terms of blood and or features.

Far as South and many other parts of USA were concerned it only took "one drop" of AA, Mexican, Indian or whatever non-white blood to make someone "black" or whatever non-white race.

In early part of 20th century well as good part of 1800's, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, etc... were all states where there was significant inter-marriage (and or just sexual relations) between native Indian populations (what was left of them anyway), along with Mexicans and later Italians who began arriving from Italy by 1900.

She reminds me of Datalounge posters asking questions aimed at "Eldergays".

[Quote] Far as South and many other parts of USA were concerned it only took "one drop" of AA, Mexican, Indian or whatever non-white blood to make someone "black" or whatever non-white race.

That makes sense. Thanks.

Why do people have to ruin a fascinating thread with off topic Dona Drake bullshit! I hate you right now!

[quote] Far as South and many other parts of USA were concerned it only took "one drop" of AA, Mexican, Indian or whatever non-white blood to make someone "black" or whatever non-white race.

And, now that has become the position of "woke" people.

R119

Fascinating to persons like yourself, but for those of us < age 90 that really don't know D-J from Eve we're just making conversation.

Any of you super sleuths track down her daughter, Barbara?

I wonder WHET Dixie Dunbar.

Well goodness, this isn't of much help.

Well, here we go....

*

Unhappy with filmmaking and disappointed at the lack of success she had, she left moviemaking altogether in 1939 and returned to the 'Great White Way' to appear with Buddy Ebsen, Phil Silvers and Judy Canova in "Yokel Boy." She met and married the co-director of the Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall, Gene Snyder, in 1940 and later toured in a nightclub act but things died down quickly. One vision of Dixie, ironically, was of only her legs! From 1949 to 1951 she was "seen" dancing in the now-famous television commercials ads that featured her totally covered head to hips by a giant Old Gold cigarette box. Divorced in 1953 and after some TV work, Dixie retired. She married twice more and once operated a restaurant for a time in Florida. In the late 70s she began losing her eyesight to glaucoma., dying in 1991 following multiple heart attacks.

Poor Dixie....

[quote]the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.

Delilah-Judith wouldn't have been allowed there. She has ZERO credits on IMDB, so her career was largely in her mind. Which is true for over half of the actors who list in the Academy Directory.

"Her name lost to the ages, the mummy now known as The Beauty of Xiaohe is at least 3,500 years old."

It's not lost. That's our dear Catherine Zeta.

[quote]I wonder WHET Dixie Dunbar.

Today, Jan 19, is her 101st birthday! Or would be, if she weren't rotting in the ground.

Oooweeooowee!

R128 = Gabrielle Carteris, cranky because she's going through Boniva withdrawal

Dixie Dunbar died in 1991. I'm fairly certain she's no longer rotting.

Either/or it's still her birthday. Happy birthday Dixie!

Her story reminds me of a less thirsty, more talented Liz Renay. Of course, John Waters gave Liz her screen infamy, and no one did that for poor D-J.

Liz and her daughter did a mother daughter strip routine in Vegas, and to read her tell it, Liz had quite the career in Hollywood, both on and off screen. I have both of Liz's books; I wish there was a Delilah-Judith one to read. Perhaps I will write one for her- it would be about the same amount of fiction as My Face For The World To See.

[quote]134 Perhaps I will write one for her- it would be about the same amount of fiction as My Face For The World To See.

[italic]My Face (in a 50-year-old headshot) For The World To See: The Delilah-Judith Story

She really does look like baby Jane

Back around 1969 I knew a young woman from a prosperous family in a wealthy area where I live. Her parents owned a furniture store and did quite well. Prior to marriage the mother was an extra in the 1930-4ss, with walk-on and bit parts in movies where lots of pretty women were in the cast, like the Ziegfield Follies. Eventually she married and left the business.

Fast forward 20+ years and she's got two young adult daughters and is rattling around this big elegant house. Except the one time I was there I noticed the ashes in the fireplace were piled over a foot high and spilling out onto the floor. Then, she made an appearance, a blowzy Baby Jane with an out of date hairstyle drunkenly yelling at her daughter about something petty. I was so shocked and embarrassed for my friend.

The daughter definitely had some issues, not the least was the drunken mother. But she also had the movie star looks of a 1930s ingenue, big wide eyes, pretty face, and really insecure.

Wow...fascinating story r137.

R137 was the daughter named Barbara?

1977 The Making Of Desperate Living

In the late 40s there was a rumor that Dinah Shore had a :Touch of Tar," despite her parents being Jews who came from Europe. The rumor was started by another singer who was jealous of Dinah's popularity. Anyone know who the other woman was?

Pearl Bailey?

I doubt it was Peggy...oops, I mean Miss Peggy Lee.

FFS no one cares about Dona fuckin Drake or Dixie Dunbar or fuckin Dinah Shore! This is about ME!

D-J was kind of the CZJ of her day, age wise.

Don't fuck with me, fellas! I have CREDITS!

I love the clip at R133 - Dixie and her happy feet! That little gal could move. How tall was she anyway? The male dancers that are with her... I always wonder about the guys when I see scenes like this. You know, what their story is, what kind of lives they had, were they happy? I don't know why.

I think the addition of Delilah-Judith to the DL pantheon is a great idea.

Delilah-Judith is not worthy of DL adoration. She did NOTHING! It was all a LIE! She was just an alcoholic mess who made a fool of herself on a daily basis. She had no talent at all. NONE!

"She did NOTHING! It was all a LIE! She was just an alcoholic mess who made a fool of herself on a daily basis. She had no talent at all. NONE!"

If that doesn't make her a DLer, I don't know what does.

r141: Kate Smith. She loathed the fact that sexy Dinah was another "Songbird from the South" whose radio shows were more popular than Kates.

Dinah Shore's original dark hair made it easier to start rumors that she was biracial. This may be one of the reasons she went blonde in the late 1940s.

Dinah was also very happy to feature black performers on her TV show - Pearl Bailey and Mahalia Jackson, for example. She enjoyed singing with them and would embrace them on-air, which led to criticism from network execs.

Poor Delilah-Judith! Not even the star of her own THREAD!

Delilah-Judith getting the spotlight stolen from her on a thread about her, by other female Hollywood hasbeens, is the very definition of soured optimism.

She was but yet another Mary C. Brown.

DL Documentary Special: Whatever Happened to the REAL Baby Jane?

Barbara, PLEASE....please, Barbara!!

Even the sad old cunts of DataLounge have forgotten me. And that's saying something. Sigh

Delilah-Judith would have been perfect for the musical!

Just think, this movie could have been "Samson and Delilah-Judith," if only our D-J had been cast in place of that plain-Jane Hedy Lamarr.

r159, that would have been a riot!

Delilah-Judith = Hattie

Dixie Dunbar = Sally

Dona Drake = Phyllis

If I hear Dixie Dunbar Dona Drake one more fucking time i'll rip you cunts a new asshole!

Why, why, why, Delilah - Judith

Lupe Velez = Carlotta

Dona Drake was great, and Dixie Dunbar was greater.

I wonder if Delilah-Judith even had a SAG card? I mean, to not even have one little IMDB credit? That's pathetic.

Two words:

Trixie Friganza

[quote]Dona Drake was great, and Dixie Dunbar was greater.

Nigger, please.

WHET juggling legend Trixie Frischke?

Don't forget about us!

Some DLer needs to get cracking on the script for Samson and Delilah-Judith

Dona sizzling in an unbilled specialty in STRIKE ME PINK (1936)!

R196 = Fat old white guy trying to be edgy

I'd like to thank R18 for contributing to this thread with that perfect clip. Funny to see Kramer being the sensible, sane one in that duo. Good job R18.

Dona Drake Travilla & Travilla

Dona Drake Travilla & Travilla

Get those OTHER FUCKIN’ WHORES out’ta here!!

[quote]I wonder if Delilah-Judith even had a SAG card? I mean, to not even have one little IMDB credit? That's pathetic.

She could have had a SAG card and done nothing but extra work, which would result in no IMDB credits. In New York, anyway. Hollywood had the Screen Extras Guild.

A non sequitur, I know, but all this talk of Dona Drake suddenly reminded me of early TV exercise pioneer Debbie Drake.

Debbie Drake was a doll, r178!

"Unbelievable" is right. Wow, the Debbie doll has an amazingly long set of gams. I don't remember the real Debbie being such a sourpuss, though. The head must be one of those used for cheapo imported fake Barbies.

I cornered the doll model market first.

Her Jaw Twist and Cheek Reducer were instrumental in keeping her face from looking like a cheapo imported fake Barbie, r180.

"You will literally suck away the extra fatty tissue."

I see where she's sometimes referred to as a "Beauty Culturist". She even rated an Eisenstaedt photo in LIFE.

With the photographer....

Debbie gives Dick a workout....

As I recall, Debbie Drake got her show following the TV success of Jack LaLanne, whose exercise show was also intended for women. But Debbie added a beauty angle. I don't think Jack ever concerned himself with cheek reduction exercises.

Forgotten and ignored once again. It's the story of my life.

It's because you have no talent, no union affiliation, and nothing to show that you are worthy of having the kind of renown you are seeking. Tough luck, D-J.

Mid-'70s, a friend and I were passing through an upscale department store in Denver. Miss Drake was in a roped off area leading a group of housewives through one of her work-outs. I guess she was on some sort of publicity tour. She was the personification of vivacity and glamour in her signature leotard and spike-heeled pumps.

[quote]R189 you have no talent, no union affiliation, and nothing to show that you are worthy of having the kind of renown you are seeking. Tough luck, D-J.

Now listen, it’s not like every single early movie or TV program is listed on IMDb. It was put together kind of like Wikipedia, built by contributors.

Delilah-Judith’s heyday simply fell under the radar.

Give the girl a chance!! That bitch spawn Barbara probably derailed her career.

The Debbie Drake doll at r179 has a lovely camel-toe.

As did Debbie, I'm sure.

Damn, even Davida Rochelle Kantor (poo shoes) has more credits on IMDB than D-J.

Slander and libel abound on this thread.

I meant [bold]#TeamD-J[/bold]

!!!!

(maybe the same thing...)

The r5 movie mag mentions her upcoming appearance in “The Secret if Treasure Island” (1938) for Columbia Pictures.

I don’t think this is her in the pic

It's hard to tell, r197. It does look like her profile.

I wonder if D-J ever worked with Miss Maila Nurmi.....

Delilah-Junkyard is not in that Treasure Island serial. The leading lady, Gwen Gaze, was an established Aussie actress. The only other woman in the cast was someone named Sandra Karina as “Nurse Zanya.” Its one of only two credits she has.

[quote] Now listen, it’s not like every single early movie or TV program is listed on IMDb.

Actually, yeah, it is. IMDB has been run by pros for years now. That Treasure Island thing is a good example - it’s there, along with the whole cast, including Sandra Karina & her two credits. If Delilah-Judith had appeared in anything, she’d be there.

Poor Delilah- Judith, it's hard being continually overlooked, upstaged and forgotten

Politico:

Republicans livid after Schiff cites supposed threat to GOP senators

^My apologies, D-J!

[quote]From a 1938 issue of "Hollywood Lowdown", a fan mag:

[quote]Delilah-Judith, whose first bit is in “Secret of Treasure Island"

From that item posted at R5, her part in The Secret of Treasure Island is described as a "bit", so she may have just been an extra, seen in the background or walking by or something.

The movie was based on a story by L. Ron Hubbard, of all people.

What an interesting read Bump

R169-the Ross contortionists with their potato salad song is one of the weirdest things I've seen in a while. All those crotch shots had to contribute to many a hot-blooded hetero male fantasy. I pity the mothers who washed their sons sheets after seeing that. Just bizarre.

Buck never would have been in such a tasteless act.

And neither would D-J!

[quote]From that item posted at [R5], her part in The Secret of Treasure Island is described as a "bit", so she may have just been an extra, seen in the background or walking by or something.

I beg your pardon, R204. It was a performance! Something made of fire and music!

so who’s tracing the daughter, Barbara? She’s the one with the real dish.

And perhaps a copy of Mommie’s 1930s play, [italic] Cloe Cunningham, Actress.

If anybody cares about Starlets.....

I think Madge Blake had the career D-J coveted....

I'm pretty sure that our dear Delilah-Judith saw herself as a leading lady and not as a dumpy character actress. No offense to dear Madge Blake, of course.

R211, Holy hole in the pass-around bottom Batman! That’s Aunt Harriet!

Dear Madge was instrumental in the A-bomb!

She looks like Shannon Beador at R208.

I think she’s tremendous!

[quote]r215 She looks like Shannon Beador at R208

D-J could have done [italic]The Real Housewives of Skid Row[/italic]

Gone too soon...

You want a strange case? Miss Susan Cabot. Now there's a strange case.

Can she run for President? It’s not too late.

Two words:

Reta Shaw

Reta Shaw was a very busy character actress. She was in the stage and movie versions of "The Pajama Game," a regular on TV"s "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," and, with Hermione Baddeley, one if the two domestics in "Mary Poppins.." She worked all the time.

And yet she never had her own DL thread.

Delilah-Judith wins.

Unfortunately, this was not a biopic about Delilah-Judith made after her passing. I guess the fact that it wasn't called "Dear Dead Delilah-Judith" should have tipped me off.

DDD....

Ugh, I totally want one of her autograph cards. Looks like the last auction for one was in 2012.

Goodness gracious....

Amazing find, R226, not least for the shout-out to DL.

It gives me LIFE that, to judge from the social column linked at R65, the gracious spirit of Mary Todd still held sway in the Louisville of 1916. "Mesdames"!

If anyone here bought the item at R226, I'll pay you $25 for it.

I will have these conversations with myself? I suspect she did, poor dear.

[quote]r228 If anyone here bought the item at R226, I'll pay you $25 for it.

It sold for $3.00 ? ? ?

What a pearl was so foolishly cast aside ! !

I am CRYING AS I TYPE THIS ... the ebay item was nine pages of correspondence from D-J herself!!! OMG - did the seller keep copies??

And why was he contacting her for an interview in the 1960s/70s?? How did he even know who she was??

Maybe he's the poster who worked in casting.

Only a Dlister would have bought it, no one else cares.

How dare you speak of your DL brothers and sisters that way?!

Oh for chrissakes. I clicked on this thinking it was going to be a career retrospective. Jeez.

You could have a reading at the DL Palm Springs get together.

I really wish someone could find her daughter, Barbara.

Unless there was a boozy (gay?!) neighbor D-J confided all to over many (many?!) afternoon stingers, Babs is the only one left who knows the ins and outs of this supposed “career”.

Speaking of Josie Lloyd.....

I wish D-J was still around to help us get through this.

Can someone from Acquisitions please place these in the Delilah Judith file?

Will explain later.

[italic]DL ICONS (second string) Page 1 of 2

[italic]Page 2 of 2

GREATEST OPERAS ONLY

D - J never spared any expense for us. Thank you D - J!

Bump

Bump