Paula Langlen

Biography

Pauline Hobbs was born in Salem, Indiana on August 12, 1906 to Flora Mae and Leroy Hobbs. She had two older siblings, a brother Samuel and sister Lois Evelyn, and enjoyed an idyllic southern Indiana childhood, filled with great imagination and creative encouragement from her family as she pursued roles in school plays and other performing opportunities. In 1926, she left for New York to follow her dream of being on Broadway, adopting the stage name Paula Langlen. She took up residence at the famed Studio Club. It was there that she heard there was to be an audition for the Winthrop Ames, Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolante". On a lark, she went to the audition, (her first ever) and when asked if she could dance, responded, "You bet!" and began to do the Charleston. "Please...anything but the Charleston!", Ames called out. Having no formal dancing experience, she just began an impromptu flitting around the stage. She sang a little song upon request, and skipped offstage where she waited for the auditions to conclude. Mr. Ames called out his selections for each part, and then, in what seemed an after thought, asked where little "Skippit" had gone? She scurried back on stage and was told that she too was hired. Having no additional role for her to fill, Ames created one....adding a fourth fairy. Opening night, famed theatre columnist Walter Winchell proclaimed in his very favorable review of the play, that the "littlest fairy, Paula Langlen, had stolen the show!" She was barely five feet tall and less than 100 pounds. And with that, her career had begun!