Actress Claire Dodd: Iowa Time Machine December 29, 1908

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On December 29, 1908, Claire Dodd, a member of the Ziegfeld Follies and a famous film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, was born in Baxter. Over a whirlwind career spanning a dozen years, Dodd appeared in more than sixty films.

Dorothy Arlene Dodd was born to Jasper County pioneers Walter and Ethel Dodd, and the future actress only spent a brief portion of her childhood in the Hawkeye State. As the family bounced from Iowa to Colorado, Arizona, and Montana, the relationship between Dodd’s parents faltered. In 1927, the 16-year-old Dodd headed for Hollywood, where she began a career in show business.

Although some sources list Dodd’s birthplace as Des Moines, the confusion stems from the actress’s own vague memories of her tumultuous childhood. “My early childhood was a blur to me…I don’t remember a thing about Iowa. I’m sorry to say. I was so small when I left there.” Numerous relatives in and around Baxter confirmed the actress's birth in the small town in 1908.

After catching Florenz Ziegfeld’s attention in a bit part in a film called “Whoopee!”, a stint with the Ziegfeld Follies led to a five-year contract with Paramount Pictures. From 1930 to 1942, she often played supporting roles as a femme fatale or seductress, appearing in over 60 films. She was perhaps best known as Perry Mason’s secretary, Della Street, opposite Warren Williams. #Iowa #OTD #History #Actress #Hollywood