Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Carole Landis (the Ping Girl)



Carole Landis dropped out of high school at age 15 and went on to a career in show business. She started out as a hula dancer in a San Francisco nightclub and later sang with a dance band.. She dyed her hair blond and changed her name to "Carole Landis" after her favorite actress, Carole Lombard. Her 1937 film debut was as an extra in A Star Is Born. She performed in bit parts until 1940 when Hal Roach cast her as a cave girl in One Million B.C.. The movie turned Carole into a star. A press agent nicknamed her "The Ping Girl" (because "she makes you purr"). Landis performed in many successful films in the early forties, usually as the second female lead. In a time when the singing of many actresses was dubbed in, Landis's own voice was considered good enough and was used in her few musical roles. Landis landed a contract with 20th Century Fox. She had roles playing opposite fellow pin-up girl Betty Grable in Moon Over Miami and I Wake Up Screaming, both in 1941.
Carole Landis websight.
FUN FACTS :

Actress Diana Lewis once gave Carole a gold cross as a gift. Carole wore the cross for the rest of her life and was even buried wearing it.

Spent more time visiting troops during World War II than any other Hollywood star. She nearly died from malaria she contracted while traveling overseas.

Carole Landis list of films:

Brass Monkey (1948)
Noose (1948)
Out of the Blue (1947)
It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog (1946)
A Scandal in Paris (1946) .
Behind Green Lights (1946)
Having Wonderful Crime(1945)
Secret Command (1944)
Wintertime (1943)
The Powers Girl (1943)
Manila Calling (1942)
Orchestra Wives (1942)
It Happened in Flatbush (1942)
My Gal Sal (1942)
A Gentleman at Heart (1942)
Cadet Girl (1941)
I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
Dance Hall (1941)
Moon Over Miami (1941) Movie Clip Betty and Carole car hopping.
Topper Returns (1941)
Road Show (1941)
Mystery Sea Raider (1940)
Turnabout (1940)
One Million B.C. (1940)
Cowboys from Texas (1939)
Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939)
Three Texas Steers (1939)
Four's a Crowd (1938)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

A lovely tribute to Carole :-) She was a talented actress and a gorgeous woman. I wish more people would remember her. You should check out CaroleLandisOfficial.com and CaroleLandisOnline.com

Dawn said...

Thank you Elizabeth, I will.