Lila Leeds: Movie star mystery photo

 

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times To be fair, this week's mystery movie star is more of a starlet. But you knew that, right? Can you identify her and, better yet, where the mystery photo was taken? Gosh, people really know their pictures of Lila Leeds! Steven Bibb guessed almost immediately that this is Leeds at her home after the raid in which Robert Mitchum was arrested, showing that it's not a marijuana shack. Also guessing correctly were Alexa Foreman, Richard Heft, Mary McCoy, Alan K. Rode and Charlie O'Brien. Congrats!

About last week's mystery guest. Nobody guessed who he was, so he will return for another 15 minutes of fame later this year. There were some great guesses but, alas, none of them was right.

Los Angeles Times file photo It was interesting to go through Lila Leeds' photos. This is the earliest one, from December 1948, when she was fined $5 for stopping traffic.

Photograph by Bob Martin / The Mirror And this is Lila Leeds in 1961, 13 years later, showing newspaper clippings about her relationsip with Erwin "Bud" Arvey, the son of Illinois Democratic leader Jake Arvey. She was trying to get child support payments from the Erwin Arvey, saying that he was the father of her son.

Photograph by the Mirror An enterprising Mirror photographer took this picture through a window, showing two crime scene investigators at Lila Leeds' home, Jan. 8, 1949. Los Angeles Times file photo Deputy Marjorie Kellog, left, escorts Lila Leeds and Robert Mitchum to jail after their sentencing to 90 days for marijuana, Feb. 9, 1949.

Photograph by Delmar Watson / The Mirror Lila Leeds in a gag photo from the Los Angeles Press Club, Aug. 29, 1949. Front row, from left, Mirror reporter Roger Beck, Leeds and Mirror photographer Bob Martin. Back row, Mirror reporter Bob Buhr and Mirror photographer Loren Smith.

Los Angeles Times file photo Lila Leeds appears with her two unidentified attorneys after being charged in Chicago with soliciting, Jan. 25, 1956. She denied the charges, was convicted and fined $10.

By 1974, Leeds had become a minister with a Hollywood group called Spiritual Mission, Inc., Laymen's Evangelist or SMILE, which operated a church on Western Avenue. In 1976, she was making personal appearances to promote one of Richard Lamparski's "Whatever Became of..." books. According to imdb, she died in 1999. Apparently, neither The Times nor any other major newspaper published an obituary on her.

Comments

[newsboyarizona]

Looks like Gwen Stephani at the house of the future in Disneyland. But I'm pretty sure that's wrong. So I'll take a stab and say Veronica Lake.

[Richard Heft]

Is it Lila Leeds at the Laurel Canyon pad where she and Robert Mitchum were arrested for possession of marijuana?

[janna]

Look at those legs! I'll say Betty Grable.

[Barry O'Brien]

I don't know who the starlet is but it looks as though she is at some function, like the Home Show at the Pan Pacific.

[MichaelRyerson]

I think it's Liz Renay which would make the setting someplace in the Cohen manse, probably his 'game' room.

[Jack]

Lana Turner in Mickey Cohen's pad.

[Delilah Schelen]

Audrey Totter -?

I believe Bronco Nagurski was also a football player.

Not sure if in college or professional.

[Arye Michael Bender]

Think I've placed the place, but havent't yet placed the face. so here's my half a guess: A vintage bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

[karen d.]

is it that actress they used to call the "ice cream girl"? i believe she died rather mysteriously after mixing alcohol with the exhaust of a car......

[Vincent]

Is it Dorothy Provine?

[splaver]

Lana Turner when married to Artie Shaw, she's playing his records

[mg]

Peggy Lee
Her home with husband Dewey Martin (?)

[Riley G.]

Just now, seeing the small version of the photo, I think it might be George Murphy.

[Bob]

Joi Lansing?

No idea about location.

[Ms. Kitty]

Is it Marie MacDonald? Is the place the beach house used in "Mildred Pierce"?

[Alan K. Rode]

Either Lila Leeds or Selene Walters

Not sure about location

[peaky]

Looks like Billy Wilders "Flat"...

[Charlie]

Lila Leeds at Robert Mitchum's pad?

[John O'Dowd]

I am interested in writing about Lila Leeds for either a magazine article or a book project and I would like Larry Harnisch to please contact me if he has any leads, suggestions or advice.

Also, I am Barbara Payton's biographer and if Larry wants to feature a story about Barbara here on his Blog, I would welcome the opportunity to share any material or photos I have of her with him, if he's interested.

Thanks very much-

John O'Dowd
jod6cindy@aol.com

[Jeff Hanna]

Richard Lamparski hosted a famous party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in the 80's. It was a movie buff's dream-come-true, with 100 guests, including Iris Adrian, Ann Savage, Virginia O'Brien, Adele Jergens, Liz Renay, Noel Neill - and the list goes on. BUT, Lila Leeds was (according to Lamparski) the one who elicited the most gasps when she was introduced because no one in the audience had heard of her for years.