A Dumb Blonde and Her Friend Get Into an Elevator

I know a dimly lit parking garage isn’t the best place for an interview, but I had no choice. I shared an elevator with Shirley and Lila and by the time they agreed to talk to me on camera, we had gotten out into the garage. We met at a movie screening put together by the SAG Film Society. Shirley Chambers tells me she was the first “dumb blonde” in the movies, making her film debut in 1932. She tells me on camera that she’s been acting for 50 years, but clearly she made a mistake as it’s been 77 years since her first movie and she’s still acting. If you’re interested in seeing more of Shirley, I came across a website for a documentary movie which was made about her life: http://dumbblondemovie.com/

While Shirley started acting in her teens, Brooklyn born-and-raised Lila didn’t start working as an actor until she was 40. Lila already had a career in publishing when she decided it was time to live out her dream. Best friends for a long time, both women tell me they’re happy with the career choices they made in their lives. I just don’t know if that’s completely the case as according to IMDB, Lila booked a few jobs in the 70’s and early 80’s and hasn’t worked since. While Shirley, the first "dumb blonde" and “Goldwyn Girl,” hasn’t worked in TV or film since 1966. Maybe they’ve been doing commercials (which don’t get listed on IMDB) and maybe they’ve been doing regional theater, but I’m guessing both have gone for long stretches of time without work and I know how hard that is. I need to remember to ask these older actors what it’s been like for them during the times they haven’t been able to find any work. What do they do to keep busy, to keep sane, to keep feeling good about themselves? These days it’s not just actors finding difficulty getting work – it’s an overwhelming amount of people from all walks of life. And since most actors know what it’s like to struggle for long periods without getting the chance to act, I’m sure older actors can offer a lot of insight for the rest of us.

Shirley Chambers, age 96. Lila Teigh, age 83.