Film Star Raised $3 Million Here

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Huntington welcomes film star Dorothy Lamour
 during a huge 1942 war bond rally.

File photo | The Herald-Dispatch

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During World War II, many Hollywood film stars traveled
 the country, urging Americans to buy government bonds
to help pay the costs of the war. One of the first to do
 so was actress Dorothy Lamour, who appeared
at rallies in a long list of cities. By the war’s
 end, she was credited with selling more
 than $300 million in war bonds,
 including $3 million worth
 pledged during a
 whirlwind visit
 to Huntington.

During her May 11, 1942, visit here, Lamour rode down
 4th Avenue in a big parade, spoke at a mammoth rally
 that morning at City Hall, visited with workers at
 a quartet of industrial plants, then appeared
 again that evening at a second City Hall
rally. The crowd at the morning rally
 was estimated at 40,000 people. The
 public schools and Marshall
 College were closed for the day
 so students could attend. Many
 of the city’s businesses also
 closed for at least a few
 hours that morning.

Lamour made her film debut in 1936 and soon
 was one of filmdom’s biggest stars. Today
 she’s remembered for co-starring with
 Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in a
 series of comedies that started
 with “The Road to Singapore”
 in 1940 and went on to
 include a half-
dozen films.

In the “Road” movies, Lamour’s costume mostly consisted
 of a skimpy piece of cloth she made famous as a “sarong.”
 But the film star was wearing a demure suit when
she came down the steps of the Chesapeake &
 Ohio passenger train that whisked her to
Huntington. Upon stepping from the
 train, she was immediately surrounded
 by some of the 75 West Virginia
 State Police officers who were
 assigned to Huntington
 for the big day.

After a private lunch and quick rest at the Hotel
 Prichard, Lamour was off for quick visits to
 the American Car & Foundry plant, the
 C&O locomotive shop, the
 International Nickel
 Co. and the Owens-
Illinois/Glass Co.

The crowd for that night’s rally back at City Hall
 was far smaller than the huge turnout that
 morning, but the bond pledges kept
 coming, eventually totaling $3
 million. Factoring in for
 inflation, that would be
 more than $57 million
 in 2024 dollars.

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Note:  This Article and picture appeared in the Herald-Dispatch Newspaper on Oct. 29, 2024.

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