FFF & Happy Birthday to the incredible, Dorothy Lamour

 

One of the most legendary names in film and in sex symbols, Dorothy Lamour had the entire world in love with her, some of us still are...

Born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 10, 1914.

She turned heads as a teenager with her beauty and long dark hair, she went on to win Miss New Orleans in 1931.

She moved to Chicago, dreaming of being a famous singer, she found work as an elevator operator at a department store before becoming a vocalist for the Herbie Kay band, and then married Kay in 1935 but their marriage would only last four years.

In 1933 she began her Hollywood career as a chorus girl in, Footlight Parade (1933) but wouldn't be in another film until 1936 with, College Holiday, then later in the same year, she was cast in, The Jungle Princess (in her would-be famous sarong) and the film was a smash hit, and co-starred Ray Milland.  She would go on to star in many other similar films as a child of nature/female Tarzan type role.

Lamour would co-star in five of the famous "Road To" films with Hollywood legends Bob Hope and Bing Crosby; Road to Singapore, Road to Zanzibar, Road to Morocco and Road to Utopia.  A comeback, Road To the Fountain of Youth was in the works in 1977 but was cancelled due to the sudden death of Bing Crosby.

Lamour would star with many other Hollywood legends and was one of the "it girls" who really saw success with a great number of them.

My personal favorite, with Jungle Princess in close 2nd, is her role opposite John Wayne and Lee Marvin in 1963's South Pacific film, Donovan's Reef.

Lamour would only make 10 films from 1951 to 1987, as her popularity trailed off.  She would pass away in Los Angeles on September 22nd 1996.

Lamour was beloved for her beauty and body but also for her great range from comedy to dramatic, often quoted about her "Road To" films sayin, "I was the happiest and highest paid straight woman in the business.", referring to the constant comedic quips of Hope & Crosby, along with many others.

Today, we say Happy Birthday to, Dorothy Lamour 💘