WAMPAS Baby Stars

The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom.

However, a small number of the selections went on to become major movie stars: Colleen Moore (1922), Jobyna Ralston (1923), Clara Bow (1924), Janet Gaynor (1926), Fay Wray (1926), Dolores del Rio (1926), Dolores Costello (1926), Mary Astor (1926), Joan Crawford (1926), Loretta Young (1929), Jean Arthur (1929), Joan Blondell (1931) and Ginger Rogers (1932).

Arthur and Blondell had long and fruitful careers in Hollywood, the former as a lead actress, the latter usually in supporting roles after the Pre-Code era.

Every year, publicists chose a group of young actresses who were under contract at major studios that they felt were on the threshold of stardom.

[1] When the campaign was revived in 1934, freelance actresses, along with studio contract players, were included as the chosen "Baby Stars".

The "WAMPAS Baby Stars" of 1932. Rear row: Toshia Mori , Boots Mallory , Ruth Hall , Gloria Stuart , Patricia Ellis , Ginger Rogers , Lilian Bond , Evalyn Knapp , Marian Shockley . Front row: Dorothy Wilson , Mary Carlisle , Lona Andre , Eleanor Holm , Dorothy Layton ( June Clyde is not pictured).
WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1925.
WAMPAS Baby Stars 1934