From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Virginia Vale born Dorothy Howe 20 May 1920 14 Sep 2006 was an American film actress She starred in a number of Bmovie Westerns but took a variety of other roles as well notably in Blonde Comet 1941 in which she played a race car driver Vale was the daughter of Mr and Mrs H H Howe Before becoming a professional actor she was a switchboard operator in Dallas Texas and honed her acting skills in productions at a little theater in Dallas After a representative of Paramount Pictures saw her in a leading role he invited her to make a screen test which led to a contract Another source says that Howe was working at the switchboard in MetroGoldwynMayers Dallas office where a talent scout for Paramount found her and signed her to a contract Career Several of Vales early films were made using her birth name The name Virginia Vale had been chosen in advance for the female winner of the 1939 Gateway to Hollywood contest a nationwide talent search sponsored by producer Jesse Lasky as noted somewhat indignantly then by another Virginia Vale a syndicated columnist covering the film industry Vale edged out Rhonda Fleming in the 1939 contest After her film career she became an executive secretary at Lockheed and also a competition judge for the US Figure Skating Association She was eventually honored by the USFSA for 50 years of service in that role Before becoming a judge shed also briefly been a competition skater Her life in film and skating was featured at the 2002 US figure skating championships and a memorial trophy for most outstanding performance was given in her name at the 2007 California Championships
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