IMDB stumped! or, Who are these lovely ladies?

A while back I picked up some studio-issued publicity photo cards at an antique show. Nobody terribly interesting or “major” among them, with the possible exception of Scarlett O’Hara’s sister, Evelyn Keyes. IMDB is stumped on two of them. Who can tell me everything there is to know about Mary Rollins and Elaine Kent?

:::bump:::

Aw come on, someone must know who they are!

Elaine Kent may be the same actress who apeared on a radio Soap Opera (hence not in the IMDB) called “Stella Dallas” NBC from 1937-1955. She was not in one of the principal roles, but was a regular.

Mary Rollins may have been similarly employed.

Also, way back in the days when Johnny Weissmuller was swinging around as Tarzan, the big movie studios also had quite a collection of B-movie starlets who had careers only because they bore a ressemblance to other A-list stars. So Mary Rollins could also have been one of the “up-and-comers.”

The second hit on a Google search for ‘“Elaine Kent” movie’ gives http://njcc.com/~tomkle/otrw.htm, containing the line:

*1972 2/15/72 Adele Ronson and Elaine Kent of John’s Other Wife R 1894

Probably not the one you want.

According to “The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio”, Elaine Kent was a radio actress (it doesn’t list her as every having done “Stella Dallas”, but she did do shows called “County Seat”, “Little Women”, and “Lora Lawton”).

However, Mary Rollins is not listed in that book.

Almost certainly rjk got it. Also verified by Governor Quinn. John’s Other Wife was a radio program from 1936.

Odds are, based on further analysis, is that Elaine Kent, based on the roles that she was listed as playing, was one of the group of NYC radio actors that tended to play (usually supporting) roles in virtually anything when called upon, but I have no clue who Mary Rollins was.

Rollins, Mary Lockett 1908-
Who’s Who of American Women. Fifth edition, 1968-1969. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who’s Who, 1967.
Who’s Who of American Women. Sixth edition, 1970-1971. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who’s Who, 1969.
Who’s Who of American Women. Seventh edition, 1972-1973. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who’s Who, 1971.

If that’s not her, I recommend that you check the American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures, the indexes to volumes F3 (features 1931-1940) and F4 (features 1941-1950). And the index volume of Variety Obituaries, 1905-1988. These books can be found in the reference section of larger libraries.