14 Garbos enter look-alike contest

Aug. 15, 1930: The new “Talkie Season” in Hollywood began with a contest sponsored by West Coast Theaters, The Times reported.

“Hollywood motion-picture stars never realized ... there are so many of their doubles in existence,” the newspaper said. “Between 600 and 700 who believe they resemble in appearance some film celebrity appeared on the scene.”

Before the best doubles were chosen, they traveled in an automobile parade from the Ritz Theater on Wilshire Boulevard to the Carthay Circle Theater, “where a Fox-Movietone news reel was taken.”

Then the doubles headed on to the Chinese Theater, where studio executives and the head of the theater chain judged them before a crowd of 3,000.

Winning doubles were chosen for a host of stars, including Joan Crawford, Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, Dolores Del Rio, Rudy Vallee and Mary Pickford.

Fourteen women showed up as Greta Garbo. The judges narrowed the best down to two. The eventual Garbo winner -- as well as a grand prize winner -- was to be announced later.

“The winners will be rewarded with screen tests, a certificate from the sponsors of the contest, as well as luncheons with the star they doubled, both at the studio and at the star’s home,” The Times reported.