The Picture Show Annual (1943)

Card Bruce. Evelun Anker*. Barn/ Nelson. Left : Rosemary de Camp. Barry Nelson made his debut in “ The Shadow of the Thin Man ” as the young reporter involved in a murder. Born in Oakland. California, he joined three friends in a daily fifteen-minute wireless programme as the easiest way he could find of earning enough money to pay his way through the University of California. He had five years of radio work behind him, and was playing the lead in a college production of “ Macbeth,” when he was spotted by an M.-G.-M. talent scout and began a screen career instead of fighting for recognition on the stage. He also appeared in “ Johnny Eager." Evelyn Ankers, blonde and blue-eyed, was born on August 17th, 1918, in Valparaiso, South America, of British parents, and until she was ten years old regarded Spanish as her native tongue. She decided on an acting career early in her life, and was only ten when she first appeared before the footlights in a Spanish play, “ Daughter of Dolores,” in Medellin, Colombia. She spoke only a little English when she arrived in England a year later. After studying dancing, elocution and sing- ing, she broke into British pictures, but her career did not “ take,” and after a little stage work as well, she returned to South America in 1939 to star in a film version of the same play in which she had made her debut in Medellin. She’s now in Hollywood, where her films have included “ Hold That Ghost,” “ Burma Convoy,” “ Bachelor Daddy,” “ Hit the Road,” “ North to the Klondike,” “ The Wolf Man,” “ Ghost of Frankenstein." In addition to acting and dancing and singing, she plays the accordion, piano and banjo. . rides well, plays tennis, squash, badminton, table tennis, and skis, bowls, skates and fences. Carol Bruce, black-haired, blue-eyed, five feet five inches in height, made her film debut in the feminine lead opposite Franchot Tone in “ This Woman is Mine." Born in Great Neck, Long Island, on November 13th, 1919, of an American father and Polish mother, Carol left school when she was fourteen to help the family income, her father’s investments having disappeared in the 1929 depression. From the age of three she had taken elocution lessons and at twelve she had begun singing. So while she was working in a shop, then as a model in a wholesale dress establishment, she tried for stage work. The musical director of a radio station, whom her father knew, signed a contract with her in 1937, and under his manage- ment she embarked on a singing career. She was cast in “ Louisiana Purchase," and overnight was the toast of Broadway. A year later she was on her way to Hollywood and film fame. Rosemary de Camp came to the screen from the radio. She made a success of small roles in “ Hold Back the Dawn ” and “ Cheers for Miss Bishop.” and as a result was signed for the role of Sabu’s young mother in “ The Jungle Book." Jean Phillips nearly lost her chance of fame by a slight resemblance to Ginger Rogers. Finally the studio changed her looks as much as possible, and gave her a small role in “ Among the Living.” Her performance was so good that leading parts followed. MacDonald Carey hails from Sioux City, Iowa, where his father was a banker. Although he entered the University of Wisconsin, he stayed only for his freshman year. He left for New York, shipped on a tramp MacDonald Carey and Jean steamer for Los Angeles, where he sold refrigerators. Phillips in “ Dr. Broadway." Stage and radio work won him a Paramount contract. S 98