Paula Langlen(1906-2008)
- Actress
Pauline Hobbs was born in Salem, Indiana on August 12, 1906 to Flora
Mae and Leroy Hobbs. She had two older siblings, a brother Samuel and
sister Lois Evelyn, and enjoyed an idyllic southern Indiana childhood,
filled with great imagination and creative encouragement from her
family as she pursued roles in school plays and other performing
opportunities. In 1926, she left for New York to follow her dream of
being on Broadway, adopting the stage name Paula Langlen. She took up
residence at the famed Studio Club. It was there that she heard there
was to be an audition for the Winthrop Ames, Gilbert and Sullivan's
"Iolante". On a lark, she went to the audition, (her first ever) and
when asked if she could dance, responded, "You bet!" and began to do
the Charleston. "Please...anything but the Charleston!", Ames called
out. Having no formal dancing experience, she just began an impromptu
flitting around the stage. She sang a little song upon request, and
skipped offstage where she waited for the auditions to conclude. Mr.
Ames called out his selections for each part, and then, in what seemed
an after thought, asked where little "Skippit" had gone? She scurried
back on stage and was told that she too was hired. Having no additional
role for her to fill, Ames created one....adding a fourth fairy.
Opening night, famed theatre columnist Walter Winchell proclaimed in
his very favorable review of the play, that the "littlest fairy, Paula
Langlen, had stolen the show!" She was barely five feet tall and less
than 100 pounds. And with that, her career had begun!
