The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-28
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A Neu Cinderella!

win four Deanna Durbin hits
has been the aim of every dol
that reason tests of girls agiI
The 20 penguins and the four |
conducted at Universal stud
nave been strong enough to ,
After exhaustive tests, the studio
announced its selection Of the cast,
the juvenile lead to be played by
Gloria Jean, 11-year-old Scranton,
Penn, girl. Universal's new SEN
sational coloratura soprano discov-
cry. Shirley Mills plays second
lead. Ann ellis and Virginia
Weidler play the other two i'm
portant juvenile leads.
Strong Cast
Other well-known players In the
cast include Robert Cummings.
Nan Grey, Margaret Lindsey, C.
Aubrey Smith, Dickie Moore, Ray
mond Walburn, Billy Gilbert, Beau
lab Bondi, Samuel Hines, Frank
jerks, Paul Cavanaugh, Doris
Lloyd, and Earnest Truck.
How did Shirley Mills happen to
get into pictures? Well, one day
last April her agent. Miss Byrd,
who by the way. was Deanna Dur
bins first agent, was informed
that Universal was testing girls
of Shirley's age for the Under
pup" and upon presentation of her
stills" secured an appointment
with Richard Wallace who was to
direct the picture. He gave her
some script to take home and
study and the next day she read
the script for him and the pro-
Queer, Joe Pasternak, who, upon
hearing her, said, 81 don't think
We need look any further =. any
one who can read script with that
much feeling deserves the break
-. have her back for a screen
test tomorrow. On the following
DAY the tests proved very satisfac-
tory and she was "in."
Another Cinderella
And here is an unusual twist to
the Cinderella story. Just after
Shirley and her agent had passed
through Universal's gates on their
way to keep the appointment with
the director, Mr.. Wallace, they
were stopped by a man who in
quired at length about Shirley, and
said, II like your looks very much;
we have been searching for a child
to play the second lead in a pro-
duction." Shirley's agent then in
quired if he was Richard Wallace,
to which he replied, "No, I am Joe
Pasternak-go up and tell MI.
Wallace I certainly like your
looks" So they proceeded on their
way to Mr.. Wallace's offices and
upon arrival told him of what had
occurred. Then he replied, Tell
Mr.. Pasternak when you again see
him that I like your looks, too"
Shirley Born Here
Shirley's parents are Mr.. and
Mrs. Harold Mills. They lived in
Tacoma and both attended and
graduated from Stadium high
school. Shirley was very well
known in entertainment circles all
over the Northwest. Her first ap-
pearance in Tacoma was in one OF
Louis H~arter's prologues at the
Temple theater at the age of six.
She was a featured artist in Har-
ter's "Syncopated Menu at Ham,
rick's Music Box theater and ap-
peared on the late Sue Fechter's
Junior Broadcast" over radio sta
ton KMO.
1t was about a year and a hall
ago the Mills moved to Hollywood,
planning, as they had planned for
many years, a try at pictures for
Shirley. 1t is said that ten thou
sand arrive In Hollywood each
month of the year with the same
idea. few ever get a break"
Talented Youngster
Shirley is accomplished in sports
as well as the arts. She rides,
swims. has exceptional natural dra-
matte ability: is an excellent dane
err; has a pleasing singing voice;
speaks French fluently. and plays
drums in the Junior High School
orchestra. She is in the 9th grade
and is an honor student. She also
plavs accordion and is now study
ing piano. -.
On the set at Universal they
nick-named her butch" The play
ers on the set all have their pet
names for each other. Mrs. NILS
frankly admits she feels shiriey's
success In getting into pictures Is
due entirely to the training and
actual experiences she received here
in the Northwest hat II was