Dorothy Lamour – photos and quotes

“Glamour is just sex that got civilized. A pretty girl, tastefully posed in a scant costume, is even a sort of cultural achievement.” – Dorothy Lamour 

 

At the beach with Lloyd Nolan, Terry Walker, John Howard, Dororthy Lamour, and Larry “Buster” Crabbe.

 

 

“I never lead white men astray improperly. Never wreck their lives or anything like that. I’m always a nice native girl. They can remember their warm tropical romances with me with refined wistful sighs.” — Dorothy Lamour 

Source: Her September 22, 1996 obituary in the L.A. Times.

 

“I made at least 60 pictures and I wore a sarong in only six – well, maybe eight – of them.” — Dorothy Lamour

 

“When I was doing those silly, wonderful jungle pictures and road pictures they didn’t make any sense. But you’d forget the mortgage and the operation for grandma and you’d come out and be happy.” — Dorothy Lamour

Source: 1984

 

“I’ll never get into another picture with an animal, so help me!” – Dorothy Lamour

 

 

Spawn of the North (1938). With George Raft, Akim Tamiroff and Henry Fonda.

 

 

“I got very nervous in front of the cameras. I still do. I used to think I could overcome my shyness by not talking too much. Then I learned how to talk. Much to my surprise, I met a lot of nice people.” — Dorothy Lamour

Source: 1986

Photo: Aloma of the South Seas (1941)

 

“Nine years ago, I was running an elevator. Look at me now. I can’t see that I deserve it. I try the best I can to square things up, but I’ll never be able to. I’m not the best singer in the world and there are better actresses. I know a dozen girls who look better in a sarong. Why am I here?” — Dorothy Lamour

Source: Donald Hough (1941)

Photo: Road to Zanzibar (1941)

 

 

 

“I try to please everybody, and I never think I’m good enough.” — Dorothy Lamour

Source: 1986

“If the public doesn’t like me in the drawing-room, I’ll gladly go back to the jungle. I’m not too choosy.” — Dorothy Lamour

Source: Hedda Hopper (1948)
Photographer: Ned Scott (1948)

 

 

Directions:

 

Dorothy Lamour hanging out with Gracie Allen and Betty Hutton at the Hollywood Brown Derby in 1948.

As a two-for-one, here is a recipe that Lamour gave to the Brown Derby. I’ll leave it up to you to steam the rice:

SHRIMP CREOLE WITH RICE

Ingredients:

1 pnd large shrimp, shelled and deveined
4 tablespoons butter (clarified)
.5 cup of white wine
2 cups Creole sauce (see below)

Preparation: Bring a pot to boil and add shrimp. Boil for one minute, drain shrimp, refresh them under cold water, and then pat dry. Heat butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high. Add shrimp and brown lightly for about 30 to 40 seconds. Add wine, increase heat to high and reduce by 2/3. Add sauce and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Serve over steamed rice.

SPANISH OR CREOLE SAUCE

Ingredients:
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup ham trimmings or chopped salt pork
1 cup onion, sliced thin
4 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
1 cup julienned celery
1 cup julienned green pepper
.5 cup flour
.5 t-spoon thyme
.5 t-spoon oregano
1 t-spoon filé
1 cup white wine
2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon celery salt
2 cups tomatoes
1 cup tomato purée
1/8 t-spoon Tabasco or similar hot sauce
2 tablespoons salt
1 bay leaf

Preparation: Heat olive oil in a heavy kettle over medium heat. Add ham trimmings and sauté until lightly browned. Add onion and garlic until they, too, are lightly browned. Add celery and green pepper, mixing well, for 5 minutes. Add flour, oregano, and filé and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook 30 minutes over low heat.

Source: The Brown Derby Cookbook (1996).

 

Dorothy Lamour. “Her Jungle Love.” Artist: Justin McCarthy. Ink and watercolor. 9″ x 11.5.”