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    Summer stock to M-G-M contract
    JP

    Summer stock to M-G-M contract

    Richard Hart started with a juvenile role in summer stock theatre that led to Broadway, a contract with MGM, and a role with Donna Reed.
    Watch her glide down the ramp
    JP

    Watch her glide down the ramp

    Donna Reed presented the Oscars for Costume Design (both Black-and-White and Color) at the 36th Annual Academy Awards in 1964.
    Donna the activist
    JP

    Donna the activist

    Donna Reed became a peace activist in 1967, co-chairing the group Another Mother for Peace to advocate against the Vietnam Conflict.
    Elegant but bored
    JP

    Elegant but bored

    A New York Times review of Backlash, said, "Donna Reed is cool (except with Mr. Widmark), elegant and slightly bored. You can't blame her."
    He made two films with Donna
    JP

    He made two films with Donna

    Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H) has more than 100 films to his credit. He appears with Donna Reed in Gentle Annie (1944) and Backlash (1956).
    Cast in two of Donna's notable movies
    JP

    Cast in two of Donna's notable movies

    Ward Bond played Bert, the cop, in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946). He starred in 23 films.
    A Donna and Frank moment
    JP

    A Donna and Frank moment

    The 35th Academy Awards Ceremony was televised by ABC on April 8, 1963. Frank Sinatra served as the host and Donna Reed was a presenter.
    It started as a short story
    JP

    It started as a short story

    Philip Van Doren Stern sent a short story, The Greatest Gift, to 200 of his friends as a Christmas card. We know it as It's a Wonderful Life
    She sang with Tex Williams
    JP

    She sang with Tex Williams

    Roberta Shore began her career at age ten, singing country-western songs at supermarket openings with Tex Williams.
    Good advice
    JP

    Good advice

    Donna Reed followed her dreams and became successful. Read about her philosophy.
    Donna the friend
    JP

    Donna the friend

    Donna Reed began a 48-year long pen-pal correspondence with Violet Linsay of Pittsburgh, Ohio at the age of 13. Violet saved all of them.
    Wasn't he right-handed?
    JP

    Wasn't he right-handed?

    John Wayne injured his right arm while filming Trouble Along the Way and had to learn to throw and write left-handed to complete filming.
    Is it my last movie?
    JP

    Is it my last movie?

    Donna Reed once commented that she didn't know if she would ever make another movie after filming Frank Capera's, "It's a Wonderful Life."
    Donna was a writer!
    JP

    Donna was a writer!

    Donna Reed was a lifelong writer of letters both personally and professionally. During World War II, she responded to service personnel .
    Donna the mother
    JP

    Donna the mother

    "To me, Mom was Donna Owen. She was not an actress at home but a mother concerned about the welfare of her kids." -Donna Reed's son, Tony.
    I need $1 more.
    JP

    I need $1 more.

    Wallace Berry was the highest-paid actor during the 1930s because his contract stipulated he be paid $1 more than other contract actors.
    Donna's close friend
    JP

    Donna's close friend

    Debbie Reynolds met Donna Reed while working with charities. They became close friends and teamed up to promote Another Mother for Peace.
    Gomez Addams guests with Donna Reed
    JP

    Gomez Addams guests with Donna Reed

    John Astin, the kooky patriarch of tv'sThe Addams Family, stars in “The Mouse at Play” (Season 4, Episode 4) of The Donna Reed Show.
    Donna the actress
    JP

    Donna the actress

    The drama department at Los Angeles City College wasn't impressed with Donna Reed's talent. She went on to make 40 movies during her career
    Good advice
    JP

    Good advice

    Imagine what can happen when you follow your dreams like Donna Reed - with integrity, courtesy, equity, and humility.
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    All Materials Copyright Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts © 1998 - 2020 - Oscar® and Academy Awards® are copyrighted © registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®.  DRFPA - Promoting excellence in education, community, and creative expression  since 1986.  The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EID: 42-1285098).

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