Darla Hood is the vocalist on "The Merv Griffin Show" making its debut on the American Broadcasting network and WTJS Radio Thursday, Oct. 8th, 7:15-8:00 P.M.
When Oklahoma-born Darla Hood was three years of age, her mother, a singer and pianist, discovered her daughter's talents were directed toward mimicking the style of radio vocalists and comedians. So twice a week Darla made the trip of 150 miles to Oklahoma City where she studied singing and dancing under the tutelage of Katherine Duffy.
When Miss Duffy vacationed in New York, she brought Darla with her. At this time, talent scouts were searching for a young girl to portray the "sweetheart" of the "Our Gang" comedies. Darla so impressed the movie executives that she was signed to a seven-year contract, and remained for two additional years.
"I would have had the part for even longer," says Darla, "but I was now bigger than the boys."
So Darla retired at the age of 12, to get a formal education. She came back into show business at the age of 15 when Ken Murray heard her vocal group organized for church socials. He signed her for his "Blackouts." Then came the Paul Whiteman and Spade Cooley TV shows. Teamed with songwriter Jimmy McHugh, Darla toured the more important supper clubs throughout the country, stopping off long enough to portray featured roles in the films "Calypso Heat Wave" and "The Helen Morgan Story."
One of the high points in her career took place at a White House Press Correspondent's Annual Dinner at the Statler in Washington, D.C., when Darla sang for President Eisenhower.