Cindy Garner

Cindy Garner
1945 pin-up photo
Born(1926-12-21)December 21, 1926
High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 2002(2002-01-02) (aged 75)
Sanford, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, model, journalist
Spouse(s)Elmo Marshall (divorced)
Jerry Gray (divorced)
Children1

Dorothy Elizabeth Garner[1] (December 21, 1926[2] – January 2, 2002)[3] was an American actress and model.

Early years

Born in High Point, North Carolina, Dorothy Elizabeth Garner was the daughter of Douglas and Eula Garner.[2] She had two brothers, Neallei "Neal" Harrison (born 1918) and Joel Martin (born 1921). Before she graduated from High Point High School in 1941, she began working for the High Point Beacon newspaper, where her duties include writing the weekly Personality Parade column. She later operated a switchboard at a hotel.[1]

Career

Garner married a military man and moved to California, where he was stationed. Working as a cigarette girl at Ciro's nightclub,[1] she was discovered by film executive Henry Willson.[4] In 1943, she was introduced as a new member of the Goldwyn Girls dancing troupe.[5] She did well enough in a bit part in David O. Selznick's film Since You Went Away that she was put under contract with his Vanguard Films[6] in 1944.[7] She signed a long-term contract with Universal-International in 1951,[8] but the studio later ended it.[1] Garner's other films included One Sunday Afternoon (1948),[9] Flame of Araby (1951),[10] and Red Ball Express (1952).[11]

As a result of her modeling, Garner's picture appeared on magazines distributed nationally,[2] including Pic, Hit, Yank,[1] Esquire, Modern Romance, and Modern Screen.[12] She also was featured in pictures accompanying a Popular Photography article, Pin-ups or Trip-ups, in 1945.[13]

Garner was also active in visiting veterans' hospitals and making personal appearances on bond tours.[10]

Later years

After Universal-International terminated Garner's contract and she and her husband separated, she had a nervous breakdown. She and her daughter moved to separate sites in North Carolina. Garner went to her mother's home, and the daughter lived with a relative. Garner never recovered from her mental health problems despite stays in hospitals and treatments that included electroshock therapy and a lobotomy.[1]

Personal life

In the mid-1940s, Garner's marriage to her serviceman husband ended. She then married Elmo Marshall, and they had a daughter, Cathy Jo.[1]

She died on January 2, 2002, in Sanford, North Carolina.[3]

Filmography

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Tomlin, Jimmy. "The Fallen Star: High Point woman flirted with fame". The High Point Enterprise. Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Movie Starlet in Altoona August 15". The Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania, Altoona. August 11, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "'Cindy' Garner Gray". The Chatham Record. North Carolina, Pittsboro. p. 3. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Seven comes up twice in movie". The South Bend Tribune. Indiana, South Bend. International News Service. June 30, 1944. p. 18. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Hopper, Hedda (October 3, 1943). "Some Will Be Film Stars Of Future". The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah, Salt Lake City. p. 55. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Olson, Joyce (May 3, 1945). "On the Sets". San Fernando Valley Times. California, San Fernando. p. 30. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Shipp, Cameron (July 23, 1944). "Selznick Selects Tar Heels for Extra Quota of Glamor in New Film". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. p. 27. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Newcomer Trio Of Actresses Sign Contracts At U-I". Valley Times. California, North Hollywood. May 8, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Schallert, Edwin (October 1, 1951). "Cantor Deal Heralded; Korvin to Kirk Tarzan; College Awards Planned". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. Part III, page 11. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c "More Hollywood Beauties Join Biggs Air Base 'Daze'". El Paso Herald-Post. Texas, El Paso. June 26, 1951. p. 13. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Leh, Carol (November 18, 1951). "Cindy's Down South Again". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. p. IV 9. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Pennsylvania, Shenandoah, Carol (June 17, 1951). "Tar Heel Girl Reporter Crashes Filmland Gate". The Times Dispatch. Virginia, Richmond. p. 6 A. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Pin-ups or Trip-ups". Popular Photography: 109. September 1945. Retrieved May 9, 2020.