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. However, a small number of the selections went on to become major movie stars: Colleen Moore (1922), 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, but her career predated the Academy Awards. 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 and she received a nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Titanic).

Overview

WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1925.
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.[1] When the campaign was revived in 1934, freelance actresses, along with studio contract players, were included as the chosen "Baby Stars".[2] The campaign was discarded in 1935, after which the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers disbanded.[2]

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.[3] However, since the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers no longer existed, the idea fizzled. The selection took place nevertheless, and 15 "babies" were chosen: Phyllis Applegate, Roxanne Arlen, Jolene Brand, Donna Cooke, Barbara Huffman (later known as Barbara Eden), Jewell Lain, Barbara Marks[3][4], Lita Milan, Norma Nilsson, Ina Poindexter, Violet Rensin, Dawn Richard, and Delfin Thursday.[5]

Last

The last surviving original WAMPAS Baby Star, Mary Carlisle, died at the age of 104 on August 1, 2018.[6]

List

Key
Denotes international star from outside the United States

1922

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Marion Aye19031951Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[7]
Helen Ferguson19011977Decatur, Illinois, U.S.[8]
Lila Lee19051973Union Hill, New Jersey, U.S.[9]
Jacqueline Logan19041983Corsicana, Texas, U.S.[10]
Louise Lorraine19041981San Francisco, California, U.S.[11]
Bessie Love18981986Midland, Texas, U.S.[12]
Kathryn McGuire19031978Peoria, Illinois, U.S.[13]
Patsy Ruth Miller19041995St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[14]
Colleen Moore18991988Port Huron, Michigan, U.S.[15]
Mary Philbin19021993Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[16]
Pauline Starke19011977Joplin, Missouri, U.S.[17]
Lois Wilson18941988Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.[18]
Claire Windsor18921972Marvin, Kansas, U.S.[19]

1923

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Eleanor Boardman18981991Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.[20]
Evelyn Brent18951975Tampa, Florida, U.S.[21]
Dorothy Devore18991976Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.[22]
Virginia Brown Faire19041980Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.[20]
Betty Francisco19001950Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.[23]
Pauline Garon19001965Montreal, Quebec, Canada[19]
Kathleen Key19031954Buffalo, New York, U.S.[24]
Laura La Plante19041996St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[20]
Margaret Leahy19021967London, England, U.K.[25]
Helen Lynch19001965Billings, Montana, U.S.[26]
Derelys Perdue19021989Los Angeles, California, U.S.[27]
Jobyna Ralston18991967South Pittsburg, Tennessee, U.S.[20]
Ethel Shannon18981951Denver, Colorado, U.S.[28]

1924

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Clara Bow19051965Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.[29]
Elinor Fair19031957Richmond, Virginia, U.S.[9]
Carmelita Geraghty19011966Rushville, Indiana, U.S.[30]
Gloria Grey19091947Portland, Oregon, U.S.[31]
Ruth Hiatt19061994Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S.[32]
Julanne Johnston19001988Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.[33]
Hazel Keener19041979Fairbury, Illinois, U.S.[33]
Dorothy Mackaill19031990Kingston upon Hull, England, U.K.[33]
Blanche Mehaffey19081968Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.[34]
Margaret Morris18981968Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.[35]
Marian Nixon19041983Superior, Wisconsin, U.S.[36]
Lucille Ricksen19101925Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[37]
Alberta Vaughn19041992Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.[38]

1925

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Betty Arlen19091966Providence, Kentucky, U.S.[39]
Olive Borden19061947Richmond, Virginia, U.S.[40]
Anne Cornwall18971980Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.[41]
Ena Gregory 19061993Sydney, New South Wales, Australia[42]
Madeline Hurlock18971989Federalsburg, Maryland, U.S.[43]
Natalie Joyce19021992Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.[44]
Violet La Plante19081984St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[45]
June Marlowe19031984St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.[46]
Joan Meredith19071980Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.[47]
Evelyn Peirce19081960Del Rio, Texas, U.S.[48]
Dorothy Revier19041993Oakland, California, U.S.[49]
Duane Thompson19031970Red Oak, Iowa, U.S.[50]
Lola Todd19041995New York City, U.S.[51]

1926

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Mary Astor19061987Quincy, Illinois, U.S.[48]
Mary Brian19062002Corsicana, Texas, U.S.[33]
Joyce Compton19071997Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.[52]
Dolores Costello19031970Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.[53]
Joan Crawford1905?1977San Antonio, Texas, U.S.[33]
Marceline Day19082000Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.[54]
Dolores del Río 19041983Durango, Mexico[22]
Janet Gaynor19061984Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.[33]
Sally Long19011987Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[33]
Edna Marion19061957Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[55]
Sally O'Neil19081968Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.[56]
Vera Reynolds18991962Richmond, Virginia, U.S.[57]
Fay Wray 19072004Cardston, Alberta, Canada[33]

1927

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Patricia Avery19021973Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[58]
Rita Carewe19091955New York City, U.S.[59]
Helene Costello19061957New York City, U.S.[19]
Barbara Kent 19072011Gadsby, Alberta, Canada[22]
Natalie Kingston19051991Vallejo, California, U.S.[60]
Frances Lee19062000Eagle Grove, Iowa, U.S.[61]
Mary McAllister19091991Los Angeles, California, U.S.[60]
Gladys McConnell19051979Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.[13]
Sally Phipps19111978Oakland, California, U.S.[62]
Sally Rand19041979Elkton, Missouri, U.S.[60]
Martha Sleeper19101983Lake Bluff, Illinois, U.S.[63]
Iris Stuart19031936New York City, U.S.[64]
Adamae Vaughn19051943Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.[65]

1928

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Lina Basquette19071994San Mateo, California, U.S.[66]
Flora Bramley 19091993London, England, U.K.[67]
Sue Carol19061982Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[68]
Ann Christy19051987Logansport, Indiana, U.S.[69]
June Collyer19061968New York City, U.S.[70]
Alice Day19051995Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.[60]
Sally Eilers19081978New York City, U.S.[60]
Audrey Ferris19091990Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[67]
Dorothy Gulliver19081997Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.[71]
Gwen Lee19041961Hastings, Nebraska, U.S.[72]
Molly O'Day19091998Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.[60]
Ruth Taylor19051984Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.[73]
Lupe Vélez 19081944San Luis Potosí, Mexico[19]

1929

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Jean Arthur19001991Plattsburgh, New York, U.S.[74]
Sally Blane19101997Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.[75]
Betty Boyd19081971Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[76]
Ethlyne Clair19041996Talladega, Alabama, U.S.[48]
Doris Dawson19051986Goldfield, Nevada, U.S.[77]
Josephine Dunn19061983New York City, U.S.[78]
Helen Foster19061982Independence, Kansas, U.S.[79]
Doris Hill19051976Roswell, New Mexico, U.S.[80]
Caryl Lincoln19031983Oakland, California, U.S.[81]
Anita Page19102008Queens, New York City, U.S.[82]
Mona Rico 19071994Mexico City, Mexico[83]
Helen Twelvetrees19081958Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.[84]
Loretta Young19132000Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.[60]

1931

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Joan Blondell19061979New York City, U.S.[48][85]
Constance Cummings19102005Seattle, Washington, U.S.[67][85]
Frances Dade19101968Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.[86][85]
Frances Dee19092004Los Angeles, California, U.S.[86][85]
Sidney Fox19071942New York City, U.S.[87][85]
Rochelle Hudson19161972Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.[88][85]
Anita Louise19151970New York City, U.S.[64][85]
Joan Marsh19132000Porterville, California, U.S.[67][85]
Marian Marsh 19132006Trinidad and Tobago[89][85]
Karen Morley19092003Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.[67][85]
Marion Shilling19102004Denver, Colorado, U.S.[90][85]
Barbara Weeks19132003Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.[91][85]
Judith Wood19062002New York City, U.S.[92][85]

1932

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Lona Andre19151992Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.[93][94]
Lilian Bond 19081991London, England, U.K.[95][94]
Mary Carlisle19142018Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[96][94]
June Clyde19091987St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.[97]
Patricia Ellis1915?1970Birmingham, Michigan, U.S.[98][94]
Ruth Hall19102003Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.[99][94]
Eleanor Holm19122004Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.[100][94]
Evalyn Knapp19061981Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[22][94]
Dorothy Layton19122009Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.[101][94]
Boots Mallory19131958New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.[102]
Toshia Mori 19121995Kyoto, Japan[103][94]
Ginger Rogers19111995Independence, Missouri, U.S.[104][94]
Marian Shockley19111981Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[105][94]
Gloria Stuart19102010Santa Monica, California, U.S.[48][94]
Dorothy Wilson19091998Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.[105][94]

1934

WAMPAS Baby Stars 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.[106]

Actress Lifespan Birthplace Image Ref.
Judith Arlen19141968Hollywood, Los Angeles, U.S.[107][108]
Betty Bryson19111984Los Angeles, California, U.S.[109][108]
Jean Carmen19131993Portland, Oregon, U.S.[110][108]
Helen Cohan19101996New York City, U.S.[111][108]
Dorothy Drake19162005Santa Monica, California, U.S.[112][108]
Jean Gale19121974San Francisco, California, U.S.[113][108]
Hazel Hayes19101974La Crosse, Kansas, U.S.[114][108]
Ann Hovey19112007Mount Vernon, Indiana, U.S.[115][108]
Neoma Judge19081978Mitchell, South Dakota, U.S.[107][108]
Lucille Lund19132002Buckley, Washington, U.S.[116][108]
Lu Ann Meredith19131998Dallas, Texas, U.S.[117][108]
Gigi Parrish19122006Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.[118][108]
Jacqueline Wells19142001Denver, Colorado, U.S.[119][108]
Katherine Williams19081982Seattle, Washington, U.S.[120]

References

  1. Vogel 2010, p. 20.
  2. 1 2 Slide 2014, p. 231.
  3. 1 2 Bettmann (November 1, 1955). "Wampas Baby Stars of 1956". Getty Images. Hollywood, California. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Wampas Baby Stars of 1956 pose after their selection as winners of the annual contest in Hollywood. From left: Fay Spain, 21, Phoenix, Arizona; Barbara Huffman, 21, Tucson, Arizona; Violet Rensing, 24, Berlin, Germany; Dawn Richard, 18, Los Angeles, California; Donna Cook, 18, Los Angeles, California; Norma Nillson, 18, Los Angeles, California; Ina Poindexter, 23, Covington, Tenn.; Phyllis Applegate, 22, Los Angeles; Del-Fin Thursday, 20, Honolulu; Jolene Brand, 21, Baldwin park, California; Roxanne Arlen, 21, Detroit, Michigan; Lita Milan, 21, Detroit, Michigan; Jewell Lain, 24, Indianapolis, Indiana; Doreen Stevens, 21, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Barbara Marks, 22, San Diego, California.
  4. Bettmann (January 1, 1956). "Winners Of Wampas Baby Stars Of 1956". Getty Images. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Left to right, front row, are Dawn Richard, 18, Los Angeles; Doreen Stevens, 21, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Barbara Marks, 22, San Diego; Second Row, Barbara Huffman, 21, Tucson; Jewell Lain, 24, Indianapolis; Fay Spain, 21, Phoenix; Jolene Brand, 21, Baldwin Park; Lita Milan, 21, New York; Third Row, Violet Rensing, 24, Berlin, Germany; Donna Cooke, 19, Los Angeles; Norma Nillson, 18, Los Angeles; Roxanne Arlen, 21, Detroit; Rear, Del-Fin Thursday, 20, Honolulu; Phyllis Applegate, 22, Los Angeles; and Ina Poindexter, 23, Covington, Tennessee.
  5. Chuck Anderson. "1956 lineup". B-westerns.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  6. Bernstein, Adam (August 1, 2018). "Mary Carlisle, a perpetual ingenue in dozens of 1930s films, dies at 104". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018.
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  85. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Bettmann (1931). "A Bumper Beauty Crop". Getty Images. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Here are the thirteen lucky girls selected as the 1931 Wampas Baby Stars of Hollywood. Selection by the Wampas has many times led to stardom in the past. Left to right: Joan Blondell, First National; Constance Cummings, Columbia; Francis Dade, an independent player; Frances Dee, Paramount; Karen Morley, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Marion Shilling, Pathe; Marian Marsh, Warner Brothers; Barbara Weeks, United Artists. Front row: Anita Louise, Universal; Joan Marsh, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Sidney Fox, Universal; Rochelle Hudson, Radio; Judith Wood, Paramount.
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  94. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Bettmann (December 15, 1932). "Thirteen of the fifteen budding moving pictures stars pictured in their first get-together since their selection as Wampas baby stars by Hollywood publicity agents". Getty Images. Retrieved 19 July 2023. This year the publicity men selected fifteen girls instead of the usual thirteen. These are the girls who, in the opinion of the agents are most likely to achieve stardom in the films. Left to right front row: Dorothy Wilson, Mary Carlisle, Lona Andre, Eleanor Holm and Dorothy Layton. Rear row left to right Toshia Mori, the first Oriental girl chosen as a Wampas star; Ruth Hall, Gloria Stuart, Patricia Ellis, Ginger Rogers, Lilian Bond, Evalyn Knapp and Marion Shockley.
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  106. Bettmann (March 30, 1934). "Wampas Baby Star Candidates Parade at Writers Club". Getty Images. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Thirty-eight beautiful young motion picture actresses parade before more than 100 Hollywood press agents at the Writers Club. From this number, 13 will be chosen to comprise the 1934 edition of the Wampas Baby stars. Results of the ballotting will be announced later. The entrants were chosen from the ranks of hundreds of youthful actresses who aspire to a career in the films.
  107. 1 2 Liebman 2000, p. 12.
  108. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Bettmann (March 30, 1934). "Wampas Baby Star Layout". Getty Images. Retrieved 19 July 2023. In this array of Wampas baby stars can be seen Judith Arlen; Betty Bryson; Katherine Williams; Gi Gi Parrish; Hazel Hayes; Jean Carmen; Jean Gale; Dorothy Drake; Lu Anne Meredith; Ann Hovey; Helen Cohan; Jacqueline Wells and Lucille Lund.
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Works cited

  • Liebman, Roy (2000). The Wampas Baby Stars: A Biographical Dictionary, 1922–1934. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0756-5.
  • Mank, Gregory William (2015). Women in Horror Films, 1930s. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0954-6.
  • Slide, Anthony (2014). The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. New York: Routledge. ISBN 1-135-92554-2.
  • Vogel, Michelle (2010). Olive Borden: The Life and Films of Hollywood's Joy Girl. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-5836-4.
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