By Don Taylor
This week, I continue with a 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 of these five has anything written or printed on the back. Today, I look at five of them, one from Paramount Pictures, two from RKO, and two unidentified. All appear to be original vintage photos, not reproductions.
Shirley Temple (1928-2014), 1935
This adorable vintage 1935 photo of Shirley Temple is so recognizable her name on the bottom was unnecessary. It features Shirley wearing her famous “duck dress” from her 1935 hit film, Curly Top.
Wikipedia reports that Shirley Temple[i] was:
- Born Shirley Jane Temple on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California, to George Francis and Gertrude Amelia (née Krieger) Temple.
- She married John Agar in 1945.
- She gave birth to Linda Susan Agar in 1948.
- She divorced John Agar in 1950 on the grounds of mental cruelty.
- She married Charles Alden Black in 1950.
- She had two children with Charles, Charles Alden Black, Jr., and a daughter, Lorie Black, in 1954.
- A Republican, she was appointed a delegate to the UN by Richard Nixon, Ambassador to Ghana by Gerald Ford, and Ambassador to Czechoslovakia by George H. W. Bush.
- Shirley died on February 10, 2014, at the age of 85.
- Buried in Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, CA.
Sylvia Sidney (1910-1999), 1935
This image shows Sylvia Sidney wearing a stylish “Pied Piper” from a fashion promotion showcasing a “Spring Wardrobe” of smart hat styles for women.
Sylvia was a prolific actress known for over 100 roles[ii]. I remember her from her role of Juno in Beetlejuice (for which she won a Saturn Award) and her appearance in many episodes of Fantasy Island.
Wikipedia Reports that Sylvia Sydney:[iii]
- Born Sophia Koskow on August 8, 1910 in Bronx, New York, to Victor and Rebecca (née Saperstein) Koskow.
- Married Bennett Cerf in 1935 and divorced in 1936.
- Married Luther Adler in 1938 and had one child, Jacob, who was born in 1940. She and Luther divorced in 1946.
- Married Carleton Alsop in 1947 and divorced in 1951.
- She died on July 1, 1999, at the age of 88.
Movie: On Such a Night
This photograph features Roscoe Karns (left), Grant Richards, and Karen Morley from the 1937 Paramount Pictures production, “On Such a Night.” The film centers around a Mississippi River flood that intertwines the lives of a wrongfully accused man, his wife, and the killer a gangster who threatens the Karen Morley character’s life.
Roscoe Karns (1891-1970) was a prolific actor who appeared in nearly 150 films.[iv]
Wikipedia reports Rosco Kerns[v]:
- Was born on September 7, 1891, in San Bernardino, CA.
- Married Mary Frass in 1920 and had two children Mary Karns (later Hart) and Rosco Todd Kerns, Jr.
- Died on February 6, 1970, in Los Angeles, CA.
Grant Richards (1911-1963) performed in 18 films between 1936 and 1961. Wikipedia reports Grant Richards[vi]:
- Was born Irwin Jaffe on December 21, 1911.
- Married actress Joan Valerie in the 1940s, with whom he had a daughter. The marriage ended in divorce.
- Also married Jean Stevens with whom the marriage ended in divorce.
- Died on July 4, 1963, in Los Angeles, CA.
Karen Morley (1909-2003) signed with MGM which led to roles with them from 1931 until 1933. She left them in 1934. Wikipedia reports Karen Morley[vii]:
- Was born Mildred Linton on December 12, 1909 in Ottumwa, Iowa.
- Moved to Hollywood when 12 years old.
- Married director Charles Vidor in November 1932, had a son, Michael Karoly Vidor, with him. They were divorced on March 2, 1943.
- Married actor Lloyd Gough in 1943.
- Was blacklisted in 1947 after refusing to answer questions about her alleged American Communist Party Membership.
- Died of pneumonia on March 8, 2003, at the age of 93 in Woodland Hills, CA.
Movie: Conspiracy (1939)
This photo is from the 1939 RKO Radio Pictures political thriller, Conspiracy, set on the brink of World War II, staring Allan Lane and Linda Hayes.
Allan Lane (1909-1973), 1939. Wikipedia Reports Allan Lane[viii]:
- Was born Harry Leonard Albershardt on September 22, 1908, in Mishawaka, Indiana.
- Is best known for over 30 westerns he made as “Rocky” Lane and his faithful horse “Black Jack,” from 1947 to 1953 and as the Voice of Mister Ed in the 1960s.
- Died on October 27, 1973, in Woodland Hills, CA.
- Was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, CA.
Linda Hayes (1918-1995), 1939. Wikipedia reports that Linda Hayes[ix]
- Was born Rachel Fern Mendenhall on October 11, 1918, in Sac City, Iowa, the daughter of Cox Mendenhall.
- Married Lou Crosby in 1941; They had three children:
- Linda Lou Crosby in 1943
- Kathy Lee Crosby in 1944
- Lucinda Crosby in 1952
- Her husband Lou died in 1984.
- Married Frank W. Walker in 1984; Frank died in 1986.
- Died in December 1995 in Palm Desert, CA.
Movie: M’Liss (1936)
This RKO Radio Pictures promotional still is from the 1936 Western film M’Liss.The photo features John Beal, Barbara Pepper, and (behind the counter) Anne Shirley in the title role.
John Beal (1909-1997)[x]
- Was born James Alexander Bliedung on August 13, 1909, in Joplin, Missouri.
- Married Helen Craig on July 13, 1934, and remained married for 52 years until Helen’s death in 1986. They had two daughters.
- He served in the US Air Force during World War II.
- Died on April 26, 1997, in Santa Cruz, CA
Barbara Pepper (1915-1969)[xi] was:
- Born Marion Barbara Pepper on May 31, 1915, in New York City, NY.
- She married Leon Janney in 1937; they divorced in 1939.
- She married actor Craig Reynolds (aka Harold Hugh Enfield) in 1943; they had two sons, Dennis Michael Pepper and John Hugh Enfield Pepper. Craig died in 1949.
- Died July 18, 1969, in Panorama City, CA, at the age of 54.
Anne Shirley (1918-1993)[xii] was:
- Born Dawn Evelyeen Paris on April 17, 1918, in New York City.
- As a child she went by several stage names, including Lenn Fondre, Lindley Dawn, and Dawn O’Day.
- Her first film was as a four-year-old child in the 1922 film The Hidden Woman.
- She married John Payne in 1937; they had one child, Julie Payne. They divorced in 1943.
- Although she had 67 credits to her name, she left acting in 1944, at the age of 26.
- She married Adrian Scott in 1945, had one child, Michael Scott, with him. They divorced in 1948
- She married Charles Lederer in 1948, he died in 1976
- Died July 4, 1993, Los Angeles
Conclusion
These five stills offer a wonderful glimpse into the glamour of 1930s Hollywood, spotlighting both household names and faces time has mostly forgotten. From Shirley Temple’s unmistakable curls to the quiet drama unfolding in On Such a Night and Conspiracy, each photograph captures a small piece of the era’s craft and personality.
The original vintage prints featured above are available for purchase — $25 each, or all five for $100. If you’re interested in adding a piece of Hollywood history to your own collection, feel free to reach out. Stay tuned for Part 3 as I continue working through more stills from the period.
Endnotes
[i] Wikipedia – Shirley Temple – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Temple
[ii] IMDb – Sylvia Sidney – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0796662/
[iii] Wikipedia – Sylvia Sidney – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Sidney
[iv] IMDB – Roscoe Karns – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0439850/
[v] Wikipedia – Rosco Kerns – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe_Karns
[vi] Wikipedia – Grant Richards – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Richards_(actor)
[vii] Wikipedia – Karen Morley – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Morley
[viii] Wikipedia – Allan Lane – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Lane
[ix] Wikipedia – Linda Hayes (actress) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Hayes_(actress)
[x] IMDB – John Beal – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0063619/
[xi] IMDB – Barbara Pepper – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0672571/
[xii] IMDB – Anne Shirley – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794297