Carrier Mills native Lorna Dallas a star for 50 years
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA["I often pinch myself and say, 'It's a long way from Carrier Mills.'"
Lorna Dallas, former Carrier Mills resident and star of the London stage, is keeping a very busy schedule this summer, she said.
Dallas currently is preparing for a royal gala at Buckingham Palace June 24 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Not Forgotten Association. The organization was formed by an American, Marta Cunningham, in 1920 to honor wounded servicemen.
"It's a wonderful organization. I've done a number of shows for them in the past," Dallas said.
At the June 24 gala, Dallas will be performing alongside Dame Judi Dench in part of the show, she said.
"I've never been in the grand ballroom before, so that will be interesting," Dallas said.
Talentsville USA
Dallas was set on the path to stardom 50 years ago when she won Talentsville USA, a forerunner of shows like America's Got Talent. The show was sponsored by Coca-Cola and the finals were held at New York Town Hall.
"I thought it would be fun," Dallas said. "But lo and behold, I kept winning all the heats."
Dallas was accompanied on piano by Mary Jean Miller Finch until the finals. In the finals, the contestants were accompanied by orchestra. Dallas and Finch have been friends since.
"She'll keep me posted on what's happening with this one or that one," Dallas said.
She ended up winning the entire contest, which was televised from New York.
"It felt like I was winning it for everyone," Dallas said in a recent e-mail
message. "I think everyone in Carrier Mills sang every note with me on that stage in New York to win and on national television."
"Yes, it seems like only yesterday, and I am delighted that it is remembered. My late mother and father, Loren and Velma Dallas, would be so proud too, as would be my late and beloved Sissy, Ellen Dallas Wiggins."
The grand prize was a scholarship or check - her choice.
"I was very fortunate that my mother and father made me make up my own mind," Dallas said.
Dallas used the scholarship to attend Indiana University. The experience opened up the world to her, Dallas said. While she was attending Indiana University, Dallas worked as a musical "Singing Ambassadress" for the school, which contributed to her next big break - an invitation to join the Metropolitan Opera National Company in New York.
While she was raising money for a show - putting on small performances to gain the interest of benefactors - the producers decided to explore a possible show in London. This led to a hectic five days in London.
"I had a whirlwind time in London presenting this show to producers," Dallas said.
The performances got attention, at least for Dallas. On her last day in London, Dallas decided to get in some sight-seeing before her flight. A London producer tracked her down and invited her to Drury Lane to audition in front of a few people. Dallas recalled reading and singing for the producer and his associates, then literally running for the door and her flight back to New York.
Six weeks later she was called back to London to perform in Showboat. Dallas recalled going through red tape at the Home Office (a British government office with duties that somewhat overlap Homeland Security) to get a performance contract. Mr. Fielding, Dallas' backer in London, had to show the home office no British actresses would fit the role as well as Dallas, she said.
On June 29, 1971, Showboat opened at the Adelphi Theater with Dallas in the starring role. The show was a great success - it was the longest run of Showboat at a single London theater.
"It was amazing, a very heady time. And I did fall in love with London," Dallas said.
London had begun to feel like home, she said. Unlike many major cities, London had greenery and very civil people, which reminded Dallas of Southern Illinois a little bit.
She met the love of her life, Garry Brown, in 1980. They were married two years later. They now split time between homes in New York and suburban London.
"We're urban there and suburban here," Dallas said.
London has changed since 1971, Dallas said. The pace of living has picked up considerably and the diversity of cultures is far richer.
"There's a real buzz about London now, but in a different way," Dallas said.
Her favorite view of London is from Waterloo Bridge. A person can see St. Paul's Cathedral on one side and parliament on the other. But now the skyscrapers have taken over the skyline behind St. Paul's.
"And that's a different world," Dallas said.
Right now there is a little tension in the household, Dallas said.
"At the moment we have both flags flying outside due to the World Cup," she said.
"All of England came to a standstill Saturday night during the World Cup."
The United States tied Great Britain in the match, which means Dallas has to be a little diplomatic for a while, she said.
Dallas' career is showing no signs of slowing down. In 2006 she played the role of Linda Gronlund in United 93, about the fourth airplane hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001. The plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers learned of the other hijackings and tried to take back the plane. Dallas described the 10 weeks of filming as mentally and physically draining. She hopes the film will stand as a documentary of the story of the 40 passengers on the airplane.
Family members of the passengers were very grateful the film was made.
"If felt like a real obligation to honor the person you were portraying in the movie," Dallas said.
Dallas formed a wonderful bond with the mother and sister of Linda Gronlund.
"I now have like an adoptive mother and sister through them," Dallas said.
Dallas has benefited from the movie in many ways, she said.
Carrier Mills
"I've had so many thoughts about Carrier Mills so often," Dallas said.
Dallas has always said she was fortunate to be raised as she was.
"I was extremely lucky to have the family I had that supported me and guided me in the right way," Dallas said.
Carrier Mills was a great community that backed Dallas throughout the Talentsville USA contest, she said.
"There was a great crop of families at that time," she said.
Dallas graduated with the Class of 1960.
"It was a pretty neat group of people, really," Dallas said.
In addition to Finch, Dallas recalled L. C. Keel, "who was like a big brother to me. He's a brilliant man."
The school system was strong, especially in the performing arts, Dallas said.
"We had a terrific music department. I think half the school was in the choir. We used to win all the contests," Dallas said.
"And we'd go up against all the giant schools."
Carrier Mills should be proud of many of the people who passed through the doors of Carrier Mills Grade School and High School at that time, Dallas said.
Royals
Dallas' musical and acting career has put her in front of audiences including the British royal family several times.
"I have sung for virtually all the royal family," Dallas said. "The only ones I've not sung for are William and Harry."
Dallas remembered performing at a gala celebrating the anniversary of VE Day at Hyde Park that had an unusual occurrence after the show. Often there is a formal reception before or after shows where the performers are introduced to the royal family. This time, the introductions were much more informal.
The performers were taken around by car to a tent area after the performance.
"As we got out of the car there, there is a servant standing there with glasses of champagne," Dallas said.
Dallas and her companion politely refused champagne and went on inside the reception.
"Everyone was standing around, sort of relaxed," Dallas said, when she felt this tap on the shoulder.
It was the queen. Dallas felt an adrenaline surge.
"I didn't know whether to dip quickly or what, so I said, 'yes'm."
The queen congratulated Dallas on the performance and went on her way through the gathering.
It was all very unusual, Dallas said, because normally the receiving line is very formal and performers don't speak until conversation is invited.
"They decided to mix and mingle with everyone, like they did that all the time," Dallas said.
Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, came up next, followed by The Prince of Wales.
"That was a unique experience in itself," Dallas said.
The more formal meetings with royalty at performances are nerve-wracking, Dallas said.
"I often pinch myself and say, 'It's a long way from Carrier Mills,'" she said.
"But I have to say there is royalty, too, at home in Carrier Mills and Southern Illinois."