Darla Jean Hood and her shadow will be in Crescent next week, unless her Hollywood movie producers put a last minute bugaboo on her planned vacation.
Her shadow will appear on the screen of the Ritz theatre Sunday thru Tuesday, making her motion picture debut in Crescent with members of the famous "Our Gang" in a 30 minute comedy, "Our Gang Follies of 1936."
And at the same time the flesh and blood Darla may be in Crescent visiting her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hood, if mailed communications prove to be correct.
Darla, a four year old admirer of Shirley Temple and Indian clothes, left Leedey three months ago with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hood, for Hollywood where she played in two "Our Gang" comedies and portrayed one of the leading parts in "Bohemian Girl," a feature picture starring Stanley Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
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Altho proclaimed by many critics in advance reviews as "Shirley Temple's only rival" and "the greatest movie find this year," the small, petite, snappy-eyed actress still has a disappointment in Hollywood - she is too young to go to the school on the lots where child actors attend.
The other juvenile actors on the Hal Roach-Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lots immediately fell in love with the charming little miss from Oklahoma who went to Hollywood so "I could make a lot of money to buy an Indian suit and play with Shirley Temple."
After hearing her sing "Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie" for her new picture, the child prodigies nicknamed her "Cookie" to fit in with "Spanky," "Scottie," "Porkie," and other nicknames of her fellow actors.
"Okey dokey," an expression which is pursed from her adorable lips almost continually, has become a sort of by-word on the sets, according to information received by her proud father whose business keeps him in Oklahoma.
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Altho Darla is a decided brunette, her flowing black curls were made blond for the "Bohemian Girl." She didn't like the change in the color of her hair so well, however, it didn't bother the well-known Spanky, for he is reported as still captivated by the charming young lady from Oklahoma.
The path which led to the signing of her seven years contract resembles the dreams of thousands of "always wanted to but never could quite do it" people in the United States.
After taking several dancing lessons from Kathryn Duffy in Oklahoma City, Darla made her first important appearance at the Shrine auditorium in "Follies de Paree," which was directed by Miss Duffy. Next she won the hearts of a packed Criterion theatre crowd who had gathered for the annual Daily Oklahoman and Times milk and ice fund's "Theatre Cabaret."
Then the little dancer went to New York where she met celebrities and made several radio broadcasts. In Chicago Darla's smiles and songs won her applause from packed houses in the Continental room of the Hotel Stevens and at the St. Clair Roof and several Chicago theatres.
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The big opportunity, however, came when she was given the chance in New York to make a 1000 foot screen test at the Long Island studios. She sang 15 numbers, danced and dramatized a scene from one of Shirley Temple's pictures. Two weeks later her parents received a telegram from Hal Roach requesting Darla to "come to Hollywood immediately to start work on the latest 'Our Gang' comedy."
And the little town of Leedey was proud of its "leading lady."
When she left she was entertained at several banquets and given many honors. Recently, when Darla's first picture was shown there, the small western Oklahoma town declared a holiday and attended the local theatre in a body. School was dismissed and all of the teachers organized their classes into line parties. Because of the overflowing crowds, the theatre manager had to show special matinees.
Now, a real homecoming is planned by Leedey's population for their "leading lady" who is wondering what it is all about and wishing that "I could put on an Indian suit and play with Shirley Temple."