Dorothy Lamour

Dorothy Lamour was a famous singer and actress.

She grew up in New Orleans. As a girl, she worked to help her mother.

Dorothy moved to Hollywood to work in movies. She became well known for wearing a sarong. A sarong is a wrap worn around the body.

She was in many funny movies. She acted with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. These films were very popular.

During a big war, Dorothy helped many people. She sold war bonds to raise money. She also danced for soldiers.

Dorothy loved to perform on stage and on TV. She was a very talented star.

Dorothy Lamour was a famous American singer and actress.

She was born in New Orleans in 1914. As a young girl, she worked hard to help her mother. She even worked as an elevator operator when she was 16.

Dorothy moved to Hollywood in 1936. She became a big star at Paramount Pictures. People called her the "Sarong Queen." This was because she often wore a sarong, which is a long cloth wrap. She was also in many funny movies called the "Road to" series. In these films, she acted with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. These movies were very popular in the 1940s.

During World War II, Dorothy helped the country. She traveled to sell war bonds to raise money. She was so good that people called her "The Bond Bombshell." She also danced for soldiers at the Hollywood Canteen. Later in her life, Dorothy worked on stage and on TV. She wrote her own book about her life in 1980. She died in 1996 at the age of 81.

Dorothy Lamour was a famous American singer and actress.

She was known for her beautiful voice and her many movie roles. People loved her for her talent in musical films and comedies. She became a major star during the 1930s and 1940s. Her career took her from singing in big bands to the bright lights of Hollywood. She remains a very important part of film history today.

Her journey to fame began with hard work and many different jobs. Born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton in New Orleans in 1914, she grew up in a poor family. She worked as a secretary and even an elevator operator at age 16.

After winning a beauty pageant, she moved to Chicago to find more work. An orchestra leader named Herbie Kay discovered her at a talent show. He hired her to sing, which led her to radio and stage shows. This path eventually brought her to a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1936.

In Hollywood, Dorothy became famous for a specific look. After her role in the 1936 film The Jungle Princess, she was called the "Sarong Queen." A sarong is a long piece of cloth wrapped around the body. She wore these beautiful wraps in many successful adventure movies. One of her biggest hits was the film The Hurricane in 1937. This movie was a huge success for the studio and the public.

Dorothy is perhaps best known for the "Road to" comedy series. These films starred her alongside Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. The first one, Road to Singapore, came out in 1940.

The movies were very funny and became very popular in the 1940s. She even had to learn to ad-lib, which means making up lines while acting. The sixth movie in this series was titled Road to Bali.

During World War II, Dorothy used her fame to help others. She traveled across the country to sell war bonds to the public. She was so successful that she earned the nickname "The Bond Bombshell." She also volunteered at the Hollywood Canteen to dance for soldiers. Later in life, she wrote her autobiography called My Side of the Road. She passed away in 1996 at the age of 81.

Dorothy Lamour was a prominent American actress and singer.

She became a major star during the 1930s and 1940s. Lamour is best remembered for her roles in musical comedies and adventure films. She achieved significant fame through her work with Paramount Pictures. Her career spanned several decades and included film, radio, stage, and television. She remains a notable figure in the history of Hollywood entertainment.

Lamour's path to stardom began with a series of diverse jobs. Born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton in New Orleans in 1914, she grew up in poverty. She worked as a secretary to support her mother. At age 16, she worked as an elevator operator at Marshall Field's in Chicago. She also competed in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss New Orleans in 1931. Her talent was discovered by orchestra leader Herbie Kay at a Chicago talent show. Kay hired her as a singer, which led to radio work and a 15-minute weekly program on NBC Radio.

In 1936, Lamour moved to Hollywood and signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. Her second film, The Jungle Princess, established a lasting public image. In this film, she played a character named Ulah. She wore a sarong, which is a long piece of cloth wrapped around the body. This role earned her the nickname "Sarong Queen."

She continued this trend in many adventure films, including the massive hit The Hurricane in 1937. This film featured hit songs like "The Moon of Manakoora."

Lamour is perhaps most famous for the "Road to" comedy film series. These films featured Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. The first film, Road to Singapore, was released in 1940.

These movies were highly successful during the 1940s. The films were known for their comedic timing and improvised dialogue. Lamour often had to ad-lib, or make up lines on the spot, to keep up with Crosby and Hope. The series included several other titles, such as Road to Zanzibar, Road to Morocco, and Road to Utopia. The sixth film, Road to Bali, was released in 1952.

During World War II, Lamour used her celebrity to support the United States government. She traveled the country to sell war bonds to the public. Her success in this effort was immense. She reportedly sold $300 million worth of bonds. This achievement earned her the nickname "The Bond Bombshell." She also volunteered at the Hollywood Canteen. There, she danced and talked with soldiers. In 1965, the United States Department of the Treasury gave her a citation for her bond sales.

As her film career began to wane in the 1950s, Lamour shifted her focus. She became a successful nightclub entertainer and a stage actress. She performed at the London Palladium in 1950. She also worked in television, appearing on various shows. In 1962, she made a cameo in the final "Road" film, The Road to Hong Kong. While she was not the primary love interest, Bob Hope insisted she appear in the film. Later, she appeared in John Ford's Donovan's Reef in 1963.

Lamour's personal life included a long marriage to William Ross Howard III. They married in 1943 and had two sons. They remained married until Howard's death in 1978. In 1980, she published her autobiography, My Side of the Road. She made her final movie appearance in 1987. Dorothy Lamour died at her home in 1996 at the age of 81.