AVA GARDNER AS DREAM GIRL IN EARLY FILM APPEARANCE (1943) Photo

[Los Angeles]: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, [1943]. Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white glossy photo. Some border wear, about fine.

While learning to become a star actress, MGM utilized young Ava Gardner as one of the follies/showgirls. These ladies, some who would be featured in small parts, and a few who would achieve smaller star statuses, were under contract to decorate the many colorful musicals MGM produced. They were not trained dancers but were often women who had risen to the top in the modeling world; Ava was placed amongst them during her first contract days.

She is seen at left sitting in the first row. Amongst those showgirls, who are called “Dream Girls” for their stint in Two Girls and a Sailor, are Kay Williams (who would be Clark Gable’s last wife) and Hazel Brooks (who would be featured in a few B noir films). Typed blurb on verso gives all of the girls’ names. A very rare Ava Gardner image.