STARS—BEFORE SHINING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

STARS—BEFORE SHINING.

Where did the stars get their names? Joan Crawford, named Billie Ca6sin at birth, received her screen name from "fans" as the result of a magazine contest. Clarke Gable, whose real name is William Clark Gable, was named after his father.

Greta Garbo, christened Greta Gustafsson, changed her last name to Garbo at the suggestion of Mauritz Stider, her first director, and Edna May Oliver, christened Edna May Nutter, changed her last name to Oliver when she went on the stage.

Jean Harlow was christened Harlean Carpentier. Harlean was from her mother's maiden name, Harlow. When Jean entered the films she dropped her own name for the shorter Jean Harlow. Helen Hayes, born as Helen Brown, later changed to the last name which she has made so famous.

Frank Morgan, who started life as Frank Wupperman when on the stage deqided that Morgan would be a better last name for the theatre. His brother Ralph followed suit.

Although many stars have found it necessary to change their names for the screen, the majority have kept their true names. They include Norma Shearer, Elizabeth Allan, Lionel Barrymore, Freddie Bartholomew, Wallace Beery, Constance Bennett, Nelson Eddy, Constance Collier, Madge Evans, Robert Montgomery, Maureen O'Sullivan, William Powell and Luise Rainer.