Dorla Jean Hood, Oklahoma's latest contribution to movieland finished her first picture in Hollywood last Saturday (the 21st) and will begin work on another next week, Kathryn Duffy reported on her return from the coast Friday.
Miss Duffy, dancing teacher and manager of the 3½ year old child star recently signed by Hal Roach and M. G. M. studios, reported that Hollywood "went crazy" over the tiny, piquant, song and dance find.
And Dorla Jeanne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hood of Leedey, Dewey County, loved it, Miss Duffy related Friday (the 20th).
Rushed to the studio upon her arrival in Hollywood and directly into the make up room for some grease paint, Dorla declared: 'Do I look like an Indian? I feel like an Oklahoma Indian or a papoosey.'
She fitted right into the children's group making 'Our Gang Follies of 1935' and captivated the well known Spanky at once.
Although the script for the picture was written before Dorla Jeanne was discovered, the part written in for the little star of the milk and ice fund show was a good one, her teacher said.
"She announces the acts for the show, does a song and dance and appears in a love scene with Alfalfa," said Miss Duffy.
Dorla was dubbed "Cookie" by the gang after she sang her Looky, Looky, Here Comes Cookie, song, to fit in with Spanky, Porky and Scotty, her fellow actors' names.
"Okey dokey!" an expression that Dorla Jeanne's pretty lips purse over most adorably, soon became a by-word on the lot, according to Miss Duffy and her husband, H. L. Braudis. She even uses it in the picture.
"They told us she was the child they had been looking for for three years," Braudis said, "and that she was chosen from 10,000."
Dorla Jeanne remained in Hollywood, where her mother has taken an apartment. In addition to her six hour day at the studio, she has posed for community chest publicity pictures, with Spanky for an ice-cream-for-children campaign, and for numerous other "stills."
Only one disappointment was experienced by the child actress. She's too young to go to the school on the lot which other child actors attend.
Miss Duffy, under contract to assist in Dorla Jean's direction, will return to Hollywood about once a month.
"They told me that if Oklahoma had any more children who could come up to Dorla Jean, to bring them along," the dancing teacher declared.
(Oklahoma City Times)