Jacqueline Dalya

Even the most ardent film buffs might struggle to remember her name. Still, in her heyday Jacqueline Dalya's fame was such that she was (at least on one notable occasion) mobbed by over-zealous 'bobby-soxers'. The incident took place in March 1947 while she was attending a Broadway premiere at the Tivoli. The actress ended up in hospital with a broken skull. In fact, during much of the 40s and 50s, Jackie was a vivacious, much in-demand supporting actress who sometimes played second fiddle (for example, to Betty Grable in Wabash Avenue (1950)) and on rare occasions even got to climb up higher on the bill as the nominal love interest to second feature stars like William Lundigan. Fluent in Spanish, she was often cast as exotic Latina dancers or singers and was able to secure at least one prominent headlining role alongside Cantinflas in the Mexican comedy Gran Hotel (1944). Jackie claimed fluency in several other languages, reputedly acquired while engaged in her erstwhile profession as a department store salesgirl. Her main problem -- aside from inhabiting mainly the B-grade film ranks -- was the fact that her screen credits alternated dramatically between fourth of fifth billed roles and 'no name' cameos. Jackie therefore decided to diversify into other endeavours. By 1950, she was employed as sales manager for a Californian automobile parts manufacturer, supervising a staff of twenty. A wise move, as it turned out, for she appeared just four more times in front of the camera. Her second husband was the lyricist and Songwriter's Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Hilliard.