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Veronica Lake: The Girl With the Peek-a-boo Bang


© K Cruver

Veronica Lake is a Hollywood creation. Hollywood is good at doing that sort of thing.
-Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake was born Constance Ockleman in November 14, 1919 (some sources say 1922). She spent her early life in Brooklyn, New York with her mother, Constance and her father, Harry, a ship's master for an oil company. When Harry died suddenly in a 1932 ship explosion, Constance worried about her daughter growing up without a father.

A year later, Constance married Anthony Keane, an artist for the New York Herald. The new family moved to Montreal, Canada so Anthony could receive treatments for Tuberculosis. There Connie attended Villa Maria, a Roman Catholic boarding school. She misbehaved in class so frequently that she was expelled in 1937.

According to Lake biographier Jeff Lenburg, her mother worried about Connie's antisocial and delusional behavior. She purportedly took her to a doctor, where she was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. Her mother made doctor's appointments for her, but she skipped them so often that she stopped trying to convince her to go.

The family moved again in 1937, this time to Miami, Florida. Connie liked the sun and even made a rare effort to be social with her peers; she decided to pledge a sorority. One of the requirements of membership was to enter the "Miss Miami" beauty contest. Though she was reluctant to do so, she signed up, and to the surprise of everyone won third place.

As a finalist, she was eligible to compete for the "Miss Florida" title and this time she won. When contest officials found out she was too young to participate in the contest, they took away her title, but Connie was still happy. Vaudeville star Harry Richman had been one of the judges and he told Constance that Connie had a chance at making it in Hollywood

That one testimonial was enough for Constance. In 1938, the family moved to Hollywood. Connie was enrolled in the Bliss Hayden School of acting and started doing extra work on movie sets around town. Eventually, Connie caught the right eye around the studio and she won her first screen test. Unfortunately, she was stiff and nervous her first time alone in front of the camera. The test didn't lead to any offers.

While she struggled to gain attention at the studio, Connie started receiving daily bouquets of flowers from an anonymous admirer. Eventually, MGM art director John Detlie called and confessed that he had admired Connie at the studio and that the flowers were from him. They started to date and eventually eloped secretly in 1940.

   

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

5.   Oct 18, 2000 11:07 AM
In response to message posted by moviebuff:

Glad you like my topic! I'll write to you soon about exchanging links. ...


-- posted by kcruver


4.   Oct 17, 2000 8:55 AM
Hi Kendahl

What an interesting article and topic, can we exchange links?


-- posted by moviebuff


3.   Sep 12, 2000 5:49 PM
you're much too kind! Thank you. Speaking of the Birthday Club, that's how I found your topic. I was a big movie goer in the 50's, when I came to America, and the 60's. And of course, I have watch ...

-- posted by Renie_Burghardt


2.   Sep 12, 2000 4:06 PM
Thanks for the kind words. I checked out your site and I just LOVE it! Not only the topic, but your terrific writing. You are such a fantastic storyteller. I'm glad you're sharing your talent with us ...

-- posted by kcruver


1.   Sep 11, 2000 4:31 PM
I enjoyed the article on Veronica Lake and look forward to part 2. Thanks!


Renie


-- posted by Renie_Burghardt





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