A Dancing Star Is Rediscovered

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 14 (Supplement)

A Dancing Star Is Rediscovered

VERNA LESLIE WAS ONCE A ZIEGFELD GIRL P Moat people know of Eleanor Powell but few to-day know of ft girl named Verna Leslie. Yet only a few years ago Miss Powell and Miss Leslie were the featured dancers in Zicgfeld's famed Follies in New York.

When Ziegfeld died, Miss Powell and Miss Leslie looked toward Hollywood and pictures for their theatrical futures. Together they went to the film capital. Verna Leslie was signed to a long term contract at Fox and made her debut in a featured role with the late Will Rogers, while Eleanor Powell went to Metro under contract. In the years that passed, Miss Leslie was cast always as a sweet and simple girl. She was never allowed to" dance on the screen. Miss Powell was brought along slowly, tho studio pacing her beautifully until the time arrived when they starred her. Meanwhile Verna Leslie found herself out of pictures entirely and working in a Hollywood drug store for 25 dollars a week. She went to Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard to watch her old friend Eleanor rise to fame and fortune with her dancing feet in "The Big Broadcast." . It was just about this time that Lou Brock, Universal producer, was casting his musical extravaganza entitled "Top of the Town." He needed a few specialty dancers, and remembered Verna Leslie, the Ziegfeld beauty. He told his secretary to get hold of the girl. He remembered hearing about her being in Hollywood almost a year ago. Brock finally found Verna. He gave her a good dancing part in "Top of the Town," but most of all he gave her the chance sho has been waiting for in pictures. She is on her way up now and according to Brock and other Universal executives it will not be so_ long before Miss Leslie will again be in the same category with famed Eleanor Powell.