1930 - an early publicity

Old Kaintuck' Gives Newest Star Of Films

"She was born in old' Kentucky,

Take her man - you's mighty lucky."

 This from the old song represents the way Radio Pictures' executives feel about signing Irene Dunne, exotic brunette from Louisville, Ky.

 She has a three year contract and plays the lead in "Leathernecking" now at the Strand Theater.

 Incidentally, this is Miss Dunne's first motion picture assignment.

 Her enthusiasm for the talkies and Hollywood has no bounds. The first day she was madeup and on the set a 7:45 a.m. The call was for eight-thirty and the old timers like Louise Fazenda, Ned Sparks, Lilyan Tashman and Edward Cline, director, found her watching all the preparations that were being made.

 This "early bird" business afforded a chance to get acquainted with the sixty of more technicians and probe a few of the mysteries of sound recording.

 Miss Dunne's musical inclinations are both hereditary and acquired. Her mother was a famous singer and pianist, and Irene spent four years studying music at the Chicago Musical College.

 She played singing and dancing leads in "Irene," "Clinging Vine," Dillingham shows, and Ziegfeld's "Show Boat."

 William LeBaron, vice president in charge of RKO production, saw her in "Show Boat" and immediately signed her to a contract.

(The Key West Citizen, 11.10.1930)

Obviously even Miss Dunne had to go through a short process of "trying her out", "looking for an image." Nonetheless, Irene started out in Hollywood with a contract as lead,with a preferential billing clause, very well paid, and quickly proved that she was worth that kind of ahead of time acknowledgement.