Virginia Dale
She was originally Virginia Pax-
Ion. of Charlotte. As one of the
Paxton Sisters she made a name
for herself in the entertainment
world, and she has recently been
going places in Hollywood.
By HOYT McAFEE
BLONDE, lissome Virginia Dale
will never have trouble recalling
one particular thrilling moment
in her life. Reference is made here to
the day Paramount Producer-Director
Mark Sandrich tossed her the femi¬
nine lead in Jack Penny’s new
picture, “Buck Benny Rides Again,"
now before the cameras.
This windfall seemed almost too
good to lie true. Virginia, an up-and-
going actress who hails from Char¬
lotte, North Carolina, had to pinch
herself to make sure she wasn't dream¬
ing. But after her interview with
Sandrich, Virginia marched away —
her thoughts doubtless in the clouds —
with the most important role of her
brief film career tucked snugly under
her belt.
“Buck Benny Rides Again," an
ambitious production, is based on the
noted comedian's radio skits. Vir¬
ginia’s part in it is a juicy one. It
means far and away the brightest op¬
portunity she has ever had in pictures.
.If she capitalizes on this break — and
expectations are that she will — she
will have projected herself into the
ranks of candidates for stardom.
A Spicy Comedy
This outstanding picture of her
movie experience turns on the theme
of comedy, spiced with quips and
witticisms of Jack Benny and Roches¬
ter (Eddie Anderson). Virginia Dale
(as Joan Cameron), hand leader Phil
Harris, “gravel-voiced" Andy Devine,
and the Merriel Abbott Dancers com¬
plete the cast.
North Carolinians, nnd especially
Charlotteans. best remember Virginia
Dale as one of the dancing Paxton
sisters. Frances wae the other half of
that well-known team. Virginia was
only sixteen when her talents and
those of her sister were discovered by
Earl Carroll, celebrated producer of
lavish revues and colorful “girlie”
shows.
lie felt that they showed excellent
possibilities. He was particularly im¬
pressed by Virginia’s flawless beauty,
her clear-cut features ami her fair
complexion, lie picked her from a
group of competing Charlotte lovelies
and sent her to Zelli’s famous night
club in New York City.
Had Expert Instruction
In the giant metropolis, Virginia
studied intensively tinder the wing
of Ned Wybnrn. an accomplished
modern dance maestro. Her training
was polished off under the watchful
and critical eye of TamirolT. Russian
ballot master. Then she and her sis¬
ter struck off at a lively stride as
public entertainers. They pleased au¬
diences during an eight-month stand
at the Hollywood Restaurant in New
York. Then they embarked on a suc¬
cessful tour of other Eastern cities,
staging their performances at some
of this country’s best known night
spots. Wherever they went, applause
rang in their ears.
It was clear to all who saw them in
action that the Paxton sisters had
plenty on the ball. At any rate, these
two, encouraged by plaudits and the
receptions they had received, began
to cast their eyes toward greener pas¬
tures. As Virginia explains it: “Hol¬
lywood seemed like a logical next
step.” Arrived in the capital of movie-
doin, they reached the rueful conclu¬
sion that there was little, if any, pros-
|4'ct of their combination breaking
into pictures; and so they went their
separate ways, professionally speak-
ing.
Soon afterward Virginia landed a
contract at Warners and at Columbia.
She was only nibbling just inside the
movie reservation, it is true, yet she
had a toehold, and she was determined
to improve her position. A chance t<»
do just that came when she was
handed the second lead opposite Den¬
nis O’Keefe at Metro in "Kid From
Texas.” That was followed by a still
better role with jaunty, rugged Clark
Gable in “Idiot’s Deiight." Virginia
(Continued on page twenty-eight)
VIRGINIA DALE, a North Carolin¬
ian who has rapidly risen to stardom.
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