And talking of "'wannabes", there is a half idea that the type of little minxes, who would cut their mothers throat to 'be famous' are a new phenomena .... well they ain't.
Nina Quartero (born, born Gladys Quartararo) was a barely known film actress actress whose low level 'career' spanned the years 1928 - 1943. Her most famous movies were probably playing opposite "
Rin Tin Tin" (The Wonder Dog) and in two movies starring John Wayne, 'Arizona', an early John Wayne movie in 1931, where she was the second string love interest (big hearted saloon gal), and 'The Man From Monterrey' in 1933. Oddly, saloon gal, was something of a speciality role, as she was a bar-girl in her final role in a career of
44 movies, in 'A Lady Takes A Chance' in 1943.
However, with a career in terminal '
going no where fast' mode in the early 1930's, she cast around for some 'cunning plan' to get her noticed by an indifferent public, and she made the sort of ill judged choice that desperate, wannabee, starlets will make .... She made up a connection with a real celebrity to garner much needed publicity from the press. In this case by
claiming that she was betrothed to the 'Notre Dame All-American Quarterback', Frank Carideo, who was part of the famous '
Fighting Irish' football team from 1928 to 1930, and major star of the day.
It was an
ill judged publicity stunt, because Carideo immediately responded by saying that, although he knew Quartero from when they both resided in the Mount Vernon area of New York and that he had visited her home in Beverly Hills, California, just prior to the 1930 University of Southern California game, but merely to say hello (or was it 'Howdy Doody' in those days?).
Carideo demanded a
public retraction of Quartero's engagement announcement .....
red faces all round, and not a good career move
Trivia:
- She tried various names to try and get that elusive break through to 'Stardom' - Gladys Quartaro, Nena Quartaro, Nina Quartaro, and Nena Quartero ... not imaginative, but at least consistent
Pictures:
