“It’s your command Performance – to school…” is how this article begins. It features two very nice photos of Connie with other classmates at the 20th Century Fox Studio School. Connie is dressed very smartly in her little suit and very comfortable shoes. She is next to Peggy Ann Garner in both photos who she worked with in Home Sweet Homicide and Daisy Kenyon. Connie is surrounded by several other starlets in the second photo. I recognize Barbara Lawrence (second from right) who appeared in two movies with Jeanne Crain – Margie and A Letter to Three Wives. The article continues with a description of cosmetic and dressing tips and points out that these starlets have the same problems as any normal school girl. In fact, they actually have it a bit tougher because the law requires them to have at least four hours of classroom time per day. And, they still have the same amount of homework to complete. Hey, am I seeing things or is Connie carrying more and larger books than Peggy Ann Garner? Isn’t there a nice young gentleman around to carry Connie’s heavy books for her? _______________________________________________________________________
Movie Life, December 1945
This article is loaded with six small candid photos of Connie playing with her doll and Terrier named Rummy. These are all behind the scenes moments during the filming of Wake Up and Dream. We are shown a very normal child playing and releasing energy. All are very nice shots of Connie. _______________________________________________________________________
Song Hits, January 1946, “Give Me the Simple Life”
In Wake Up and Dream, the movie starts out with John Payne singing the song “Give Me The Simple Life” to Connie in the wagon while going into town to see Jenny (June Haver). It’s a sweet and simple song which requires limited singing talent. Singing this song to Connie immediately sets the tone of the movie as John Payne demonstrates his care and affection for his younger sister. I was, therefore so glad to find this music song magazine featuring the cast of Wake Up and Dream and two songs. The other featured song is “I Wish I Could Tell You.” Connie appears in two photos with her famous pigtails. The caption to the top photo of June Haver, Connie and John Payne states “…Sailor John’s affections are distributed just right between the two gals, so that neither of them mind.…” How appropriate. Remember, that at the beginning of the movie, Connie demonstrates a little jealousy toward John’s attraction to Jenny (June Haver). Later, Connie leans to appreciate Jenny and focuses on more important matters such as her missing-in-action brother. What a nice find. Anyone care to sing along? _______________________________________________________________________
Movie Story, October 1947, “Mother Wore Tights”
I really like this issue. It condenses the entire movie story of Mother Wore Tights. Remember, the entire story is being told by Connie’s character, Mikie, several years later as an adult. And, at the end of the movie, it is Connie’s adult character who is bringing her children over to visit their grandparents, Dan Daily and Betty Grable. Wow! Once again Connie is among Film Giants. Both Dan Daily and Betty Grable could act, dance, tap, and sing. If that was a minimum requirement today, Hollywood would be empty. Anyway, what I liked about this particular issue is that it has colorized versions of key movie scenes. I also like the photo scene where Connie’s character is putting her older sister, Mona Freeman’s character, in an embarrassing spot. She does a realistically good job at it, too. Hey, isn’t that what younger siblings are for? _______________________________________________________________________
Movie Screen, September 1948, “The Garner Gang”
Here is a great fun article entitled “The Garner Gang.” As the article explains, Peggy Ann Garner goes to visit her best Pal, Barbara Whiting. While there, the gang gets together for records, eats, swimming, and just all around fun. The names of the members of the group are Peggy Ann Garner, Connie Marshall, Bob Dozier, Harry Macy, Fred Soll, Arden Black, Faith Pennington, Frank Cole, and Jim Potter. According to this article, the group has been getting together for about two years. Of course, it could also be a publicity drill. Evidently, Peggy Ann and Connie are the only actresses in the group. The rest of the gang members have parents who are involved in the movie industry. Interestingly, even though the article is actually focused on Peggy Ann, Connie can be seen in every photo shot except for the one solo shot of Peggy Ann. In the early photos, Connie is hanging out with the girls tasting the snacks and playing records. Later she can be seen in the back seat of the second car of the Garner Gang caravan while they cruise the streets in Hollywood. Later photos are of the gang having fun around and in the pool. Connie can be seen sitting at the end of the diving board talking with a young admirer. Clearly, Connie is just as popular as Peggy Ann. The only two color photos in the article. In one color photo, Peggy Ann and Connie are giving a back massage to Jim Potter while he stretches out on the diving board. Connie looks really happy in this scene. Just look at her smile. The boys just refuse to leave Connie alone. In another photo, Bob Dozier is dousing Connie with ice water as she lay on a lounge chair. And, in yet another photo, two boys are attempting to push Peggy Ann and Connie into the pool. It seems that the boy underestimated Connie’s strength and reflexes and is about to fall backwards into the pool along with Connie. Ha! Ha! Though meant to be a very nice Peggy Ann publicity article, the reader can not go away without acknowledging the other very pretty starlet, Connie Marshall. _______________________________________________________________________
The Shrek Connection!!!
Life, Modern Living, “Small Fry Clothes”, April 6, 1942
This article is one of my most prized finds. It covers Connie’s modeling project with William Steig, the famous commercial artist and cartoonist. The article starts with a great photo of William Steig and his favorite young model, Connie, standing beside him in a modeling pose with one hand on Mr. Steig’s head in a playful manner. Look at those pigtails! No wonder, there can only be one Queen of Pigtails…Connie Marshall. The article continues with two other photos of Connie modeling other pretty and practical girl’s outfits along with some of Mr. Steig’s Small Fry Cartoon depictions of Connie’s modeled outfits in action. According to this article, the project was a collaboration between Mr. Steig and the children’s clothes designer of Freydberg Inc. with the task of creating a line of Small Fry children’s clothes based on the William Steig’s Small Fry cartoons. The end result of the clothes line and the Small Fry cartoon ads were so successful that 300 stores which stocked the experimental clothes line actually sent in re-orders in just one month. Once again, Connie is in the midst of yet another artistic giant. That’s right; William Steig was also known as the “King of Cartoons” and later wrote several children’s picture books from the age of 60 until his death. One of his most famous works is the children’s picture book of Shrek! This is no typo. William Steig is the creator of the original Shrek. In fact, the movie Shrek II honored him by incorporating his name near the end of the credits. "In memory of William Steig 1907-2003" with a small picture of Shrek and Donkey sadly looking at the moon as if they lost a dear friend [Wikipedia]. And, Connie modeled for and worked with this great man. Although Connie’s passing on went unpublicized, I’m left to wonder if he was ever aware that the world had lost his most treasured child model. I also can’t help but wonder if Connie was ever aware of her “Shrek Connection” and told her children and grandchildren that small fact or did she simply keep it to herself in humility. Another wonderful discovery in the Legacy of Connie Marshall. _______________________________________________________________________
