For immediate release – September 5, 2008
For more info, contact – Allen Pease at (812) 336-7456 or Marilyn Zengler at (219) 926-7048
Caren Marsh-Doll returns to Chesterton with new book . . .
Chesterton, IN – This year will be the sixth time that Caren Marsh-Doll, an original MGM babe, will be a guest star at Munchkinland Market Days on the grounds of the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop! She will appear Friday, September 12 only from 2 to 4 pm. Munchkinland Market Days runs through Sunday. Marsh-Doll will autograph photos and the expanded second edition of her book, re-titled “Hollywood’s Babe—Dancing Through Oz” (BearManor Press).
A 1940’s Hollywood icon, Caren co-starred with Bob Steele and opposite Alan Ladd in addition to being featured as a dancer in scores of Hollywood musicals. One of her most cherished memories is of being Judy Garland’s stand-in for MGM’s “The Wizard of Oz.”
Get a copy of her book, tap your heels together three times and join Caren Marsh-Doll as she dances through her rich Hollywood life. She started dancing lessons at four, danced throughout her school years and, after graduating from Hollywood High, appeared in musicals working for such famous dance directors as Busby Berkeley, Nick Castle, Hermes Pan and Charles Walters.
One of her earliest films was 1937’s “Rosalie” with Eleanor Powell. In 1938 she was the same size as Judy Garland and familiar with a movie set, which landed her the job of being Garland’s stand-in. She followed that up with a string of westerns, romances and musicals including “That Night in Rio,” “Hit Parade of 1943” and “Hands Across the Border” with Roy Rogers. She also appeared in such dramas as “Cry Havoc” and “The Human Comedy.” As a co-star, she scored solid hits in “The Navajo Kid” (1945) opposite Bob Steele and 1947’s “Wild Harvest” opposite Alan Ladd, Robert Preston and Lloyd Nolan. She also appeared with Kirk Douglas in “I Walk Alone.”
The 1950’s through 70’s saw her make several more movie musicals, marry prominent publicist Bill Doll, raise a child, appear on Broadway and in Las Vegas, model and become a sought after dance instructor. As she struggled up the ladder to stardom, she acted in many movies before achieving co-starring and starring roles, during World War II, Caren was seen by more servicemen than any other actress in Hollywood when she starred in a movie made at Paramount for the U.S. Armed Forces called “Pick Up Girl.” Her telling of this incident in the book is hilarious! In 2008, she is still dancing and remains the darling of Oz fans.
Caren’s book is over 300 pages with photographs including Caren with Judy Garland during “The Wizard of Oz,” dancing in Busby Berkeley musicals and publicity stills from “The Navajo Kid” and other films. The expanded second edition has new chapters and even more photos than the first—some never before seen! The new book shows Caren with such stars as Kirk Douglas, Orson Welles, James Stewart, Roy Rogers and more. Marsh-Doll is delighted to autograph copies of the book at no additional charge. She loves meeting fans.
Munchkinland Market Days is held at The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum at 109 E. Yellow Brick Road (Indiana Toll Road and St. Rt. 49), two miles south of downtown Chesterton. It features family-friendly activities including Auntie Em’s Pie Booth to benefit the Duneland Working Women’s Scholarship Fund, Oz kid’s games and hot caramel apples to benefit the Burns Harbor Lions Club, a hot dog stand to benefit Support Our Military, face painting, art and craft booths, celebrity autograph parties, thousands of Oz collectibles, Picture Yourself in Oz and more. Sales of a souvenir program book benefit the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry. The free event is sponsored by Centier Bank, Hilton Garden Inn-Chesterton and The Yellow Brick Road. They may be reached at (219) 926-7048 or at www.yellowbrickroadonline.com.
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