Tweet Vicki Lester

Does anybody know anything about this actress? Her filmography seems to begin in 1938 leading me to wonder if she didn't take her screen name from "A Star is Born." It would be a fun little footnote for John Gallagher's and my upcoming Wellman book if we could actually substantiate this but so far, I got nuthin'. Can anyone illuminate and enlighten?

Ignore this. I found the answer in a 1938 newspaper. Turns out it was an actress named Dorothy Day and when she was signed to RKO, in the wake of "A Star is Born" somebody -- maybe Dorothy, maybe RKO -- decided it would be a grand thing if she were to change her name to Vicki Lester.

So, as you were.

Ignore this. I found the answer in a 1938 newspaper. Turns out it was an actress named Dorothy Day and when she was signed to RKO, in the wake of "A Star is Born" somebody -- maybe Dorothy, maybe RKO -- decided it would be a grand thing if she were to change her name to Vicki Lester.

So, as you were.

Not Dorothy Dey the newspaper columnist?

Gargle with rusty razor blades and then say:

"Do you know what her name is?.....Esther....Victoria....BUH-LODG-ETT!!!"

Ignore this. I found the answer in a 1938 newspaper. Turns out it was an actress named Dorothy Day and when she was signed to RKO, in the wake of "A Star is Born" somebody -- maybe Dorothy, maybe RKO -- decided it would be a grand thing if she were to change her name to Vicki Lester.

So, as you were.

Not Dorothy Dey the newspaper columnist?

Nope, Dorothy Day.

Vicki Lester was my grandmother, her name was Dorothy Barnhardt. She lived in Beverly Hills 90210 zip code, same house my father was raised in. That I know of her husband was a director, first name Jack. This man was not my fathers father although. But thats a whole other story. Would love to find out who my fathers father is , his birth certificate (father unknown) this was in 1930 that my dad was born. She also has photos in Vogue and some movies. Thanks Valerie