ANN SHERIDAN - #72 APRIL/2024 BHC

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body house chronicles, old hollywood, golden age of hollywood, classic movie actresses, classic movies, ann sheridan — Discover The Body House Shop…

Hello Body House Members;

2024 is moving quickly. There seems to be much change in the air, wouldn’t you say?

To celebrate Easter and the coming transformation into a new season we’re featuring the incredibly sensual Ann Sheridan.

You can find out more about Sheridan’s incredible career below.

If you want the full experience of celebrating vintage sensuality then sign up for our Substack newsletter here… https://bodyhousechronicles.substack.com/

Let’s discover more about ANN SHERIDAN!

Ann Sheridan was born Clara Lou Sheridann on February 21st 1915 in Denton, Texas. She passed away in Los Angeles, California on January 21st 1967 from lung cancer.

Ann Sheridan won the “Search for Beauty” contest which carried with it a Paramount screen test. Signed to a contract at 18, she was put into a number of small roles under her real name of Clara Lou Sheridan.

As her career blossomed, she changed her name to the snappier Ann.

In 1936, after two dozen films, Sheridan found a new agent who got her a 6 month contract with Warner Brothers. Those 6 months lasted 12 years.

BECOMING THE ‘OOMPH’ GIRL

How Ann Sheridan Became the Infamous Oomph Girl;

“In 1939, a comment by well-known columnist Walter Winchell inspired one of Hollywood’s most successful publicity gimmicks. Praising her role in Cagney’s gangster drama Angels With Dirty Faces (the title refers to the “Dead End Kids” in the movie), Winchell said she deserved parts with more “umph.”

Warner Brothers assembled a team of judges – including Busby Berkeley and Hollywood’s pre-eminent glamour photographer George Hurrell — to select the star who best deserved the “Oomph Girl” title. Ann Sheridan, ahem, “won” the undoubtedly rigged competition, beating out (or so we were led to believe) such hotties as Alice Faye, Carole Lombard, Hedy Lamarr and Marlene Dietrich.

“Oomph” was the 1930s euphemism for indefinable sex appeal, just as “It” had been in the 20s when author Elinor Glyn decreed that Clara Bow was the definitive “It Girl.” While it can be argued that the nickname really put her over, Ann Sheridan always hated it, saying “Oomph” is the sound a fat man makes when he leans over to tie his shoelace.”

– https://www.dametown.com/ann-sheridan/

It seems this publicity stunt is what catapulted Sheridan’s career for nearly the next 10 years.

After Sheridan became the Oomph Girl in 1939 she began giving great performances through the 1940s with hits such as Torrid Zone (1940) and They Drive by Night (1940).

In 1948, she was dropped by Warner Bros., but came strong in Howard Hawks‘ comedy I Was a Male War Bride (1949) with Cary Grant which was a big hit.

Sheridan continued to make films into the 1950s, but retired before the end of the decade.

Sheridan starred in the soap opera Another World (1964) and the western series Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats (1966).

Sadly, just as her career was reviving with this series, she died of cancer.

ANN SHERIDAN HAD 3 SHORT-LIVED MARRIAGES –

All to Actors

Edward Norris August 16, 1936 – October 6, 1938 (divorced)

George Brent January 5, 1942 – January 5, 1943 (divorced)

Scott McKay June 5, 1966 – January 21, 1967 (her death)

Ann Sheridan had no children.

Below is a video that gives up many factoids on Ann Sheridan and her life off the silver screen… Including her multiple affairs with Errol Flynn over many years. These contributed to the break down of at least 2 of her marriages.