# WAMPAS Baby Stars

The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. The campaign ran from 1922 to 1934, except for 1930 and 1933.
Most failed to live up to their promotion; a small number of the selections went on to become major movie stars: Colleen Moore (1922), Jobyna Ralston (1923), Clara Bow (1924), Janet Gaynor (1926), Fay Wray (1926), Dolores del Rio (1926), Dolores Costello (1926), Mary Astor (1926), Joan Crawford (1926), Loretta Young (1929), Jean Arthur (1929), Joan Blondell (1931) and Ginger Rogers (1932). Gaynor, Astor, Crawford, Young and Rogers all were awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress during their careers, with Gaynor receiving the first one during the first year of the award's existence.
Clara Bow was a Silent era star known as The It Girl. She was Hollywood's greatest female draw at her peak and her final film was in 1933. Bow was also in the first movie to receive the Academy Award for Outstanding Picture, Wings, in 1929. Arthur and Blondell had long and fruitful careers in Hollywood, the former as a lead actress, the latter usually in supporting roles after the Pre-Code era.
Others with significant Hollywood careers included Evelyn Brent (1923), Joyce Compton (1926), Lupe Velez (1928), Constance Cummings (1931, who decamped to England), Frances Dee (1931), and Gloria Stuart (1932, whose career revived in the 1990s when she received a nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Titanic).

## Overview
### 1922—1935

The WAMPAS Baby Stars campaign began in 1922. Every year, publicists chose a group of young actresses who were under contract at major studios that they felt were on the threshold of stardom. Awardees were honored at a party called the "WAMPAS Frolic" and were given extensive media coverage. The awards were not given in 1930 and 1933 due to objections from independent film studios. When the campaign was revived in 1934, freelance actresses, along with studio contract players, were included as the chosen "Baby Stars". The campaign was discarded in 1935, after which the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers disbanded.

### 1956

In 1956, a group of veteran stars, among them 1932 WAMPAS Baby Star Ginger Rogers, chose a group of young actresses supposed to be known as The Wampas Baby Stars of 1956. The Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers no longer existed so the idea fizzled. The selection took place nevertheless;15 "babies" were chosen: Phyllis Applegate, Roxanne Arlen, Jolene Brand, Donna Cooke, Barbara Huffman (later known as Barbara Eden), Jewell Lain, Barbara Marks, Lita Milan, Norma Nilsson, Ina Poindexter, Violet Rensin, Dawn Richard, and Delfin Thursday.

### Last

The last surviving original WAMPAS Baby Star, Mary Carlisle, died at the age of 104 on August 1, 2018.

## List

Key :
| ‡ | Denotes actress born outside the United States |

### 1922

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Marion Aye | 1903–1951 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Helen Ferguson | 1901–1977 | Decatur, Illinois, U.S. |
| Lila Lee | 1905–1973 | Union Hill, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Jacqueline Logan | 1904–1983 | Corsicana, Texas, U.S. |
| Louise Lorraine | 1904–1981 | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Bessie Love | 1898–1986 | Midland, Texas, U.S. |
| Kathryn McGuire | 1903–1978 | Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| Patsy Ruth Miller | 1904–1995 | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Colleen Moore | 1899–1988 | Port Huron, Michigan, U.S. |
| Mary Philbin | 1902–1993 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Pauline Starke | 1901–1977 | Joplin, Missouri, U.S. |
| Lois Wilson | 1894–1988 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Claire Windsor | 1892–1972 | Marvin, Kansas, U.S. |

### 1923

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Eleanor Boardman | 1898–1991 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Evelyn Brent | 1895–1975 | Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Dorothy Devore | 1899–1976 | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Virginia Brown Faire | 1904–1980 | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Betty Francisco | 1900–1950 | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Pauline Garon | 1900–1965 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Kathleen Key | 1903–1954 | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Laura La Plante | 1904–1996 | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Margaret Leahy | 1902–1967 | London, England, U.K. |
| Helen Lynch | 1900–1965 | Billings, Montana, U.S. |
| Derelys Perdue | 1902–1989 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Jobyna Ralston | 1899–1967 | South Pittsburg, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Ethel Shannon | 1898–1951 | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |

### 1924

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Clara Bow | 1905–1965 | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Elinor Fair | 1903–1957 | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Carmelita Geraghty | 1901–1966 | Rushville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Gloria Grey | 1909–1947 | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Ruth Hiatt | 1906–1994 | Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S. |
| Julanne Johnston | 1900–1988 | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Hazel Keener | 1904–1979 | Fairbury, Illinois, U.S. |
| Dorothy Mackaill | 1903–1990 | Kingston upon Hull, England, U.K. |
| Blanche Mehaffey | 1908–1968 | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Margaret Morris | 1898–1968 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Marian Nixon | 1904–1983 | Superior, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Lucille Ricksen | 1910–1925 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alberta Vaughn | 1904–1992 | Ashland, Kentucky, U.S. |

### 1925

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Betty Arlen | 1909–1966 | Providence, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Olive Borden | 1906–1947 | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Anne Cornwall | 1897–1980 | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Ena Gregory ‡ | 1906–1993 | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Madeline Hurlock | 1897–1989 | Federalsburg, Maryland, U.S. |
| Natalie Joyce | 1902–1992 | Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Violet La Plante | 1908–1984 | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| June Marlowe | 1903–1984 | St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Joan Meredith | 1907–1980 | Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Evelyn Peirce | 1908–1960 | Del Rio, Texas, U.S. |
| Dorothy Revier | 1904–1993 | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Duane Thompson | 1903–1970 | Red Oak, Iowa, U.S. |
| Lola Todd | 1904–1995 | New York City, U.S. |

### 1926

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Mary Astor | 1906–1987 | Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |
| Mary Brian | 1906–2002 | Corsicana, Texas, U.S. |
| Joyce Compton | 1907–1997 | Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Dolores Costello | 1903–1970 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Joan Crawford | 1905?–1977 | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Marceline Day | 1908–2000 | Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Dolores del Río ‡ | 1904–1983 | Durango, Mexico |
| Janet Gaynor | 1906–1984 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Sally Long | 1901–1987 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Edna Marion | 1906–1957 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Sally O'Neil | 1908–1968 | Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Vera Reynolds | 1899–1962 | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Fay Wray ‡ | 1907–2004 | Cardston, Alberta, Canada |

### 1927

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Patricia Avery | 1902–1973 | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Rita Carewe | 1909–1955 | New York City, U.S. |
| Helene Costello | 1906–1957 | New York City, U.S. |
| Barbara Kent ‡ | 1907–2011 | Gadsby, Alberta, Canada |
| Natalie Kingston | 1905–1991 | Vallejo, California, U.S. |
| Frances Lee | 1906–2000 | Eagle Grove, Iowa, U.S. |
| Mary McAllister | 1909–1991 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Gladys McConnell | 1905–1979 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Sally Phipps | 1911–1978 | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Sally Rand | 1904–1979 | Elkton, Missouri, U.S. |
| Martha Sleeper | 1910–1983 | Lake Bluff, Illinois, U.S. |
| Iris Stuart | 1903–1936 | New York City, U.S. |
| Adamae Vaughn | 1905–1943 | Ashland, Kentucky, U.S. |

### 1928

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Lina Basquette | 1907–1994 | San Mateo, California, U.S. |
| Flora Bramley ‡ | 1909–1993 | London, England, U.K. |
| Sue Carol | 1906–1982 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Ann Christy | 1905–1987 | Logansport, Indiana, U.S. |
| June Collyer | 1906–1968 | New York City, U.S. |
| Alice Day | 1905–1995 | Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Sally Eilers | 1908–1978 | New York City, U.S. |
| Audrey Ferris | 1909–1990 | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Dorothy Gulliver | 1908–1997 | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Gwen Lee | 1904–1961 | Hastings, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Molly O'Day | 1909–1998 | Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Ruth Taylor | 1905–1984 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Lupe Vélez ‡ | 1908–1944 | San Luis Potosí, Mexico |

### 1929

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Jean Arthur | 1900–1991 | Plattsburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Sally Blane | 1910–1997 | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Betty Boyd | 1908–1971 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Ethlyne Clair | 1904–1996 | Talladega, Alabama, U.S. |
| Doris Dawson | 1905–1986 | Goldfield, Nevada, U.S. |
| Josephine Dunn | 1906–1983 | New York City, U.S. |
| Helen Foster | 1906–1982 | Independence, Kansas, U.S. |
| Doris Hill | 1905–1976 | Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Caryl Lincoln | 1903–1983 | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Anita Page | 1910–2008 | Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Mona Rico ‡ | 1907–1994 | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Helen Twelvetrees | 1908–1958 | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Loretta Young | 1913–2000 | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |

### 1931

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Joan Blondell | 1906–1979 | New York City, U.S. |
| Constance Cummings | 1910–2005 | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Frances Dade | 1910–1968 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Frances Dee | 1909–2004 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Sidney Fox | 1907–1942 | New York City, U.S. |
| Rochelle Hudson | 1916–1972 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Anita Louise | 1915–1970 | New York City, U.S. |
| Joan Marsh | 1913–2000 | Porterville, California, U.S. |
| Marian Marsh ‡ | 1913–2006 | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Karen Morley | 1909–2003 | Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S. |
| Marion Shilling | 1910–2004 | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Barbara Weeks | 1913–2003 | Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Judith Wood | 1906–2002 | New York City, U.S. |

### 1932

| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Lona Andre | 1915–1992 | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Lilian Bond ‡ | 1908–1991 | London, England, U.K. |
| Mary Carlisle | 1914–2018 | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| June Clyde | 1909–1987 | St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
| Patricia Ellis | 1918–1970 | Birmingham, Michigan, U.S. |
| Ruth Hall | 1910–2003 | Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Eleanor Holm | 1912–2004 | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Evalyn Knapp | 1906–1981 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Dorothy Layton | 1912–2009 | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Boots Mallory | 1913–1958 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Toshia Mori ‡ | 1912–1995 | Kyoto, Japan |
| Ginger Rogers | 1911–1995 | Independence, Missouri, U.S. |
| Marian Shockley | 1911–1981 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Gloria Stuart | 1910–2010 | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Dorothy Wilson | 1909–1998 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |

### 1934

From hundreds of entrants, thirty-eight actresses paraded, and thirteen were chosen, by more than 100 Hollywood press agents at The Writers' Club, in Hollywood, California, to comprise the 1934 edition of the Wampas Baby stars.
| Actress | Lifespan | Birthplace |
| Judith Arlen | 1914–1968 | Hollywood, Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Betty Bryson | 1911–1984 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Jean Carmen | 1913–1993 | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Helen Cohan | 1910–1996 | New York City, U.S. |
| Dorothy Drake | 1916–2005 | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Jean Gale | 1912–1974 | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Hazel Hayes | 1910–1974 | La Crosse, Kansas, U.S. |
| Ann Hovey | 1911–2007 | Mount Vernon, Indiana, U.S. |
| Neoma Judge | 1908–1978 | Mitchell, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Lucille Lund | 1913–2002 | Buckley, Washington, U.S. |
| Lu Ann Meredith | 1913–1998 | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Gigi Parrish | 1912–2006 | Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Jacqueline Wells | 1914–2001 | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Katherine Williams | 1908–1982 | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |