The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-06-22

the cinema capt.
tai would have
Irene Dunno kept her in must
Gals instead of
giving her the plum role of Sabra
in "Cimarron," a picture which
changed the entire course of her life.
HoU 1t Started
She'll never forget the day she
earned her first money singing
hymns in the Indianapolis Baptist
church choir-hymns taught her by
the nuns at the Loretto convent in
st. Louis. Her reward was crisp
new $40 bill, and just enough to
purchase her hearts desire-a new
hat.
"The hat was large, of silky straw,
pale blue affair with long stream
ers and extravagantly painted flow
ers under the brim. truly believe
that from the day l wore it SUBJ
consciously decided that l might
really earn my living by sing
ing. The hat did it," says Irene.
Perhaps she was thinking of that
hat when she won voice contest at
the Chicago Musical college, and so
the ambition which had lain dormant
since childhood crystallized into a
genuine aim to become singer.
On Her Way
A year later, after hard study, she
was singing the lead in the road
show Of the musical comedy Irene"
at salary of $3.50 week.
Back in New York, Henry w. Saw
age gave her chance to under
study Peggy Wood in "The Clinging
Vine" When Peggy's father died
Irene stepped into the lead for a
single Broadway performance! 1t
was enough to win her a chance at
summer of light opera sponsored
by the Chambers in Atlanta, Ga, a
similar stint in st. Louis, and the
lead in "The City Chap" for the
Dillinghams, which was followed by
the lead in Sweetheart Time"
This called for a new hat and a
party at the New York Biltmore. A
strange gentleman noticed the hat
first, and requested an introduction.
Three years later she married DR..
Francis Griffin-the same gentle
man. The bridal couple boarded the
Berengaria and sailed for a Euro
pean honeymoon.
THE day after I returned home
wearing a beautiful new blue hat
purchased in Paris" recounts Miss
Dunno, twas the day l met Flo
Ziegfeld in an elevator. Before I
left the building he sent for the girl
in the blue haiti -
A Dream Come True
Because of that hat, Edna Fer
ber's glorious "Show Boat was
lrene's for the asking.
The opening night of "Show Boat"
marked the starting of a rich and
varied career for the pretty girl with
voice and pretty hats.
When the search for the heroine of
"Cimarron" began, Irene inveigled
a test and there was an astounded
gasp from producers. Sabra,
straight dramatic role, the emotion
al plum of the year, to a musical
comedy actress? Nonsense!
Nonsense or not, she wanted it,
and got it-thanks to hat which
she borrowed from wig designer.
Trail Blazer
'tCimarron" started an entirely
new cycle Magnificent Obsession,"
Back Street." Symphony of Six
Million" s'The Secret of Madame
Blanche 'The Silver Cord" and
so on.
Then Irene had a bunch it was
time to try comedy. She accepted
the harum-scarum girl of Theodore
Goes Wild" 'sThe Awful Truth fol-
lowed, and she found herself hailed
as a comedienne.
Critics are again pointing with
pride to her as an emotional actress
for such romantic roles as the girl
of M-G-M's "a Guy Named Joe"
opposite Spencer Tracy, and that
veritable cavalcade of woman's
lifetime, sThe White Cliffs of
Dover"
Irene Dunno, accompanied by DR..
Griffin, went east for the premiere
of the latter picture. She's back
home now, ready for either drama,
comedy, musical, or romance.
Snooper-Dooper
Too bad that Here Come the
WAVES isn't ready for release
now. It would help recruiting. I Wis
tied the set the other day. Betty Hut
tan had them play back the record
she made singing duet with her
self. It's her first doubling job. She