ADRIENNE AMES – #68 DECEMBER/2023 BHC

The Old Hollywood Newsletter

Dec 01, 2023

ADRIENNE AND I WISH YOU

A HAPPY THANKSGIVING & VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We’re FEATURING ADRIENNE AMES

Known for her beautiful figure and love of expensive designer gowns

If you don’t know who Adrienne Ames is it’s not surprising.

She had a fairly brief career as an actress in Hollywood before she died of cancer.

She was only in her early 40s when she passed away, although she made a big enough impact that she was given a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, posthumously.

It was said that Adrienne Ames had a love for designer clothes and men. So much so, her personal life often overwhelmed her acting career.

She was married 3 times and had one child, a daughter, who grew up to do some acting as well.

Adrienne Ames is best known for these movies;

George White’s Scandals (1934)

You’re Telling Me (1934)

The Death Kiss (1932)

Discover more about this beautiful actress below…

EARLY LIFE

Ames’ upbringing & career start

Adrienne Ames was born on August 3, 1907 and passed away on May 31, 1947. *Although on her grave stone it says she was born 1903.* This is a curious disparity that there seems no reason for.

She was born Adrienne Ruth McClure in Fort Worth, Texas, Ames began her film career in 1927 as a stand-in for Pola Negri.

Ames began her career as a Ziegfeld Girl. During the Golden Age of Hollywood many a new starlet lifted their legs for Ziegfeld.

These lovelies included Barbara Stanwyck, Lucille Ball, Louise Brooks, Paulette Goddard,

Adrienne Ames made thirty films during the 1930s and had a Hollywood career that spanned just 10 years. Her biggest success was considered to be George White's Scandals (1934).

Once the limelight faded, Ames left Hollywood for New York.

Ames had an extraordinary start in Hollywood.

Although it was not uncommon for a beautiful, young lady seeking acting jobs to be hired for her looks more than her talent, Ames’ beginning was a cut above.

Apparently, glamour photographs of her so enticed a Paramount Pictures executive that she landed a contract without having to do a screen test.

Her first roles found her essentially played herself, bedecked in furs, satin and jewelry.

HER SISTER’S IN THE BIZ TOO

Adrienne Ames was the older sister of actress Gladys. MacClure who was known to audiences as Linda Marsh. Tradgically, Gladys died in a car accident coming home from a party in November of 1933. She was just 19.

Juicy Tidbit In 1934, she filed for a $9,053 tax allowance for wardrobe expenses (today's equivalent of $146,000).

Many say her most memorable performance was as the charming princess in You're Telling Me! (1934) with W.C. Fields.

A ZIEGFELD GIRL

Many beautiful young starlets went on to become famous movies stars after their time with Ziegfeld. Ames was one of them.

Florenz Ziegfeld' was the creator and irector of the wildly successful Broadway revue spectaculars known as the Ziegfeld Follies.

They ran from 1907 to 1931.

The Ziegfeld Girls were touted to be the most beautiful girls in the world. Indeed, Ziegfeld has been quoted as saying the girl’s beauty came before her dancing ability.

The Ziegfeld Follies were produced in New York City and were based on the Folies Bergère of Paris.

Walk of Fame

Although Adrienne’s career lasted just 10 years, she was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1612 Vine Street.

“Glamour photographs of her (Ames) so enticed a Paramount Pictures executive that she landed a contract without having to do a screen test...”

AMES FOUND SUCCESS AS A RADIO HOST

THE BEAUTY BEHIND THE MICROPHONE

In 1941 Ames became a highly successful radio personality. She headlined a talk show on station WHN in New York City.

It was a difficult schedule doing 15 live shows a week. She also wrote her own scripts for the show.

As a former Hollywood actress and socialite she dished gossip, gave theater and movie reviews, as well as, beauty tips and anything else she found interesting and pertinent to her audience.

She was good at this job and found it “exhilarating”.

Her program ran up until 2 weeks before her death from cancer on May 31, 1947 in New York City.

THE ROMANCES

MARRIED 3 TIMES & HAD COUNTLESS LOVERS

A TEEN BRIDE

Ames was EXTREMELY young when she married her first husband in 1920. He was an oil heir named Derward Truex. She was just a teenager at the time.

They had one child together; a daughter. It would be Ames’ only child. Her birth name was Dorothy J. Truax. Although, she grew up and became an actress and changed her name to Barbara Ames.

Ames and Truex divorced in 1924.

A NAME TAKEN

The 2nd marriage was to stock broker Stephen Ames.

They tied the knot in 1929 and divorced on October 30, 1933.

Adrienne used the last name ‘Ames’ for the continuation of her career.

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM?

Her third and last marriage, was on October 31, 1933.

It was to fellow actor Bruce Cabot. Sadly, once again they divorced on July 24, 1935.

Bruce Cabot was a film actor whose birth name was Étienne de Pelissier Bujac Jr.

He’s best remembered as Jack Driscoll in King Kong (1933).

He was also known as one of "Wayne's Regulars", appearing in a number of John Wayne films beginning with Angel and the Badman (1947), and concluding with Big Jake (1971).