LDC-Stills – Part 1
by Don Taylor
This week I looked at box of 1930s movie stills from the Linwood Dyer Collection. Fascinating pictures of a bygone era portraying some very glamorous people. A few of the images have some identification on the front; others provide only the copyright information (year & studio), but most have no identifying information. None has anything written or printed on the back. Today, I look at five of them, all from Paramount Pictures, 1936 and 1937. All appear to be original vintage photos, not reproductions.
Mary Carlisle (aka Gwendolyn Witter) (1914-2018), 1936
This vintage 1936 photo features actress Mary Carlisle wearing a classic 1930s black crepe daytime dress with distinctive horizontal striped detailing across the bodice.
- The dress features tailored 1930s sophistication with elbow-length sleeves and a high neckline.
- It is paired with a matching structured hat featuring a decorative bow.
- This image is a Paramount Pictures studio still promoting her work.
- Mary starred in two 1936 films, Love in Exile and Lady Be Careful.[i]
Wikipedia reports that Mary Carlisle[ii] was:
- Born Gwendolyn Witter on Feb 3, 1914, in Boston Mass to Arthur William & Leona Ella (Wotten) Witter.
- She married James Edward Blakeley in 1942
- She had one son, James.
- Died on August 1, 2018 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles at the age of 104.
- Buried in Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles.
Marsha Hunt (1917-2022), 1936
This image shows Marsha Hunt wearing a stylish 1930s-style tilted hat adorned with a feather.
- Marsha Hunt was a prolific American actress known for her roles in films during Hollywood’s “Golden Age”.
- The photo appears to be a publicity portrait from Paramount Pictures, dated 1936.
- In 1936 she appeared in no less than seven films, Desert Gold, Gentle Julia, The Arizona Raiders, Hollywood Boulevard, Easy to Take, The Accusing Finger, and College Holiday. [iii]
Wikipedia Reports that Marsha Hunt:[iv]
- Born Marcia Virginia Hunt on October 17, 1917 in Chicago, IL, to Earl and Minabel Hunt.
- Married Jerry Hopper on November 23, 1938; they divorced in 1943
- Married Robert Presnell, Jr. on February 10, 1936.
- She had one child, a daughter, who was born July 1, 1947 and died the next day.
- She died on September 7, 2022 at age of 104.
- She is buried at Hollywood Forever, Hollywood, Los Angeles County, CA.[v]
Gail Patrick (1911-1980), 1937
This photograph features Gail Patrick in a classic polka-dot ensemble, likely from a 1937 Paramount Pictures production.
- Actress: Gail Patrick was a prominent American film actress known for her roles in “My Man Godfrey” and “Stage Door”.
- Fashion: The outfit showcases a timeless polka-dot pattern on a flowing maxi dress silhouette, reflecting 1930s Hollywood glamour.
- Context: This is likely a promotional still or studio portrait from her contract with Paramount Pictures, which lasted from the early to late 1930s. [1, 2, 3]
Wikipedia reports[vi]
- Gail Patrick was born Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick on June 20, 1911 in Birmingham, AL.
- She married Robert H. Cobb on December 17, 1936, and divorced in November 1941.
- She married Arnold Dean White on July 11, 1944, and divorced in March 1946.
- She Married Thomas Cornwell Jackson in July 1947, and divorced him in 1969.
- She married John E. Velde, Jr. in 1974.
- Gail died on July 6, 1980 at the age of 69.
- She was cremated and her ashes were scattered of the shore in Santa Monica.[vii]
Shirley Ross (1913-1975), 1936
This 1936 publicity photograph features actress Shirley Ross in a Paramount Pictures production. [1, 2]
- Publicity Portrait: The image is a silver gelatin publicity photo produced by the movie studio for distribution to press agencies.
- Historical Context: It was made during the 1930s, a period when Paramount Pictures was expanding its studio lot and fostering legendary talent.
- Attire: Shirley Ross is depicted wearing a light-colored dress with a prominent bow on the bodice. [1, 2, 3]
Wikipedia reports[viii]
Shirley Ross was born Bernice Maude Gaunt on January 7, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska, the eldest daughter of Charles Burr and Maude C. (Ellis) Gaunt.
She married Ken Dolan in 1938; he died in 1951
She married Eddie Blum in 1955
She died on 9 March 1975 in Menlo Park, CA, at age of 62.
She is buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, CA.[ix]
Gladys Swarthout (1900-1969), 1936
This image shows Gladys Swarthout in a tailored 1930s-style suit, featuring prominent shoulder pads and a matching knee-length skirt. [1, 2]
Wikipedia reports:[x]
- She was born 25 December 1900 in Deepwater, Missouri.
- Her first husband was Harry Kern of Chicago; he died in 1931.
- She married Frank M. Chapman, Jr., in 1931; he died in 1966.
- Gladys died on July 7, 1969 in Florence, Italy.
- She was buried at Brookside Cemetery, Englewood, New Jersey.[xi]
Conclusion
These five stills offer a wonderful glimpse into the glamour of late-1930s Hollywood, capturing some of Paramount’s brightest stars at the height of their studio years. While details on the original owner or photographer remain elusive, the images themselves stand as beautifully preserved artifacts of the era. For collectors interested in adding a piece of this history to their own collection, the original vintage stills featured above are available for purchase — $25 each, or all five for $100. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested, and stay tuned for Part 2 as I continue working through more studio photos.
Endnotes
[i] IMDB – Mary Carlisle (1914-2018) – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0137638/.
[ii] Wikipedia – Mary Carlisle – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Carlisle
[iii] IMDB – Marsha Hunt (1917-2022) – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0402554/.
[iv] Wikipedia – Marsha Hunt (actress, born 1917) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsha_Hunt_(actress,_born_1917)
[v] Find a Grave – Marsha Hunt – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/243561104/marsha-hunt
[vi] Wikipedia – Gail Patrick – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Patrick
[vii] Find a Grave – Gail Patrick – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79560537/gail-patrick
[viii] Wikipedia – Shirley Ross – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Ross
[ix] Find a Grave – Memorial 41320183 – Shirley Ross – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41320183/shirley-ross
[x] Wikipedia – Gladys Swarthout – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Swarthout
[xi] Find a Grave – Gladys Swarthout – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154538975/gladys-swarthout
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