Dolores Gillen

Dorlores Gillen (1914 or 1915[1] - December 8, 1947) was an American actress who worked primarily in radio. She made a specialty of portraying children.

Early years

Born in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois,[2] Gillen was the daughter of Dr. B. J. Gillen, a physician, and his wife, Mary. She had a sister and two brothers.[3] She attended Webster College and graduated from the University of Illinois[4] with an A. B. degree in dramatics.[5] She also specialized in dramatics while graduating with a master's degree from the University of Kansas.[2]

Career

A successful audition at radio station WLS in Chicago led to Gillen's becoming a regular member of the cast for that station's Miniature Theater program in the fall of 1931.[6] She developed a technique of imitating a crying baby by the way she used a folded handkerchief over her mouth.[3] Gillen's career path changed in 1932[7] while she was portraying an ingenue on a serial on NBC radio. When a baby's cry was supposed to be heard on one episode, the sound-effects people could not find the appropriate recording. Gillen volunteered to supply the cry, and she did it so well that thereafter the director used her cries instead of the recording.[8]

She portrayed a 9-month-old boy on Front Page Farrell, a 4-year-old girl on Stella Dallas, 2-year-old Sammy on When a Girl Marries,[9] 5-year-old Barry on Joyce Jordan, Girl Interne,[10] 18-month-old Jackie on Kate Hopkins, 5-year-old Peter Alden on Against the Storm,[3] Alice Dudley on Northwestern Chronicle,[11] the baby on Helpmate, one twin on Pepper Young's Family[1] both twins in Abie's Irish Rose,[12] and Skippy on Right to Happiness.[13]

She was also heard on Mommie and the Men,[14] The Romance of Helen Trent, Fish Tales, Princess Pat Players, Today's Children,[15] The Play's the Thing,[16] Dr. Christian, and Life Can Be Beautiful.[3]

In one instance, Gillen's work brought disappointment to a film talent scout. After hearing an episode of CBS Workshop, he contacted the network to learn more about the small boy whom he had heard on the program. He lost interest when he was told that the voice he heard was that of Gillen, then age 22.[17]

Personal life and death

Gillen married attorney Vincent Paul Downey on June 15, 1940, in Chicago.[18] Late in 1946 or early in 1947, Gillen decided to stop performing on radio because she was suffering from headaches. Brain specialists determined that a tumor was causing that pain, and they recommended surgery.[19] She died on December 8, 1947, in New York Hospital after an operation.[3]

References
  1. Creason, Joe (April 29, 1943). "Radio Pays Grown-up Cry Babies". The Courier-Journal. Kentucky, Louisville. p. 13. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "The Cover Girl" (PDF). Radio Guide. September 8, 1934. p. 21. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  3. "Dolores Gillen of radio is dead". The New York Times. December 10, 1947. p. 31. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. "Gillen-Downey". The New York Times. May 8, 1940. p. 31. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. "She Entertains Radio Playgoers". Corsicana Daily Sun. Associated Press. December 2, 1931. p. 7. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Listening In". The Decatur Daily Review. October 23, 1931. p. 20. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Pett, Saul (January 6, 1946). "Dolores Gillen Cries Like A Baby For $500 A Week". The Sunday Ledger-Enquirer. Georgia, Columbus. International News Service. p. 5-C. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Dolores Gillen 'Cries' for Her Railroad Ticket to N. Y." Herald and Review. Illinois, Decatur. May 15, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "'When a Girl Marries"". The Richmond News Leader. Virginia, Richmond. November 10, 1944. p. 12. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Dolores plays role as small boy in serial". The South Bend Tribune. June 4, 1941. p. 19. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "New Program to Be Given by Yeastfoam". The Commercial Appeal. Tennessee, Memphis. March 19, 1933. p. 15. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Heyduck, Marj (May 9, 1943). "Kostelanetz Plays Host To Oscar Levant Today". The Journal Herald. Ohio, Dayton. p. 42. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Other Highlights". The Capital Times. Wisconsin, Madison. December 31, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Domestic Comedy Series Heard On WHP Daily, 7 P. M." Harrisburg Telegraph. August 25, 1945. p. 15. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Wolters, Larry (September 21, 1934). "News of the Radio Stations". Chicago Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Radio Actress". News-Journal. September 16, 1932. p. 17. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Lesser, Jerry (January 24, 1942). "Radio Talent: New York". Billboard. p. 7. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  18. "Dolores Gillen, Radio Actress, Marries June 15". The Decatur Daily Review. June 21, 1940. p. 14. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Luther, Paul (December 17, 1947). "Inside Radio". Portland Press Herald. p. 24. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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