Studio Talent Schools

[Brooksie]

In the 40s, J. Arthur Rank in Britain began what was formally titled the 'Company of Youth' but was informally referred to as the Rank Charm School. This was essentially a coaching school for aspiring film actors, established with a view to finding new talent for the British industry (it also gave Rank a lot of good opportunities for publicity photos of attractive, ambitious would-be stars). It does not appear to have been a very large operation, but a number of graduates did go on to have decent film and TV careers.

Is anyone aware of any other studio-operated drama or talent schools? I understand that MGM also ran one in the 30s or 40s, though I don't have many details.

[Lamar]

20th Century Fox had a New Talent Program in the late 60s, Jacqueline Bisset and Tom Selleck were in it at one point. Not really a school but Paramount had something called the Golden Circle in the late 30s/early 40s
http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/tribune/ ... 939002.pdf
Paramount dusted off the concept in the early 50s but it was dead a few years later
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WD ... rcle&hl=en
Ginger Rogers' mom ran a talent school at RKO that Lucille Ball said was helpful. Lillian Burns was the head acting coach at MGM for years, Esther Williams didn't care for her style
http://selfstyledsiren.blogspot.com/200 ... happy.html

[missdupont]

Universal had one in the 1950s. I've seen photos of Clint Eastwood, David Janssen, and others in it.

[Brooksie]

Thanks for this everyone. It sounds like it was a concept that came to the fore in the late 30s and early 40s - possibly after the first wave of new talent following sound had worn out its welcome and they were looking for new faces.

I'd be interested to know if there was any such concept in the silent era. There were certainly schools that taught 'screen technique' in Australia, at least one of which was affiliated with a working producer, though I suspect they were designed more to empty the purses of society girls than produce screen stars.