Irene Dare

Dare's parents were Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Davidson,{{cite news |title=Twin City Girl, 6, to Skate in Films |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/812828674/?clipping_id=122251971 |access-date=April 4, 2023 |work=The Minneapolis Journal |date=April 17, 1938 |page=11|via = Newspapers.com}} neither of whom was a skater. She initially took lessons in acrobatic dancing. and was "very fond" of that activity. After a figure-skating teacher who was a friend of the family saw her dance, he suggested that she try skating. His instruction started her on the road to Hollywood.

Before she began working in films, Dare performed in ice shows—17 by the time she was 6 years old -- and skated at a New York club and at Madison Square Garden. Newsreels of the MSG performance were seen by a talent scout, leading to Dare's film contract.{{cite news|last1=Tildesley|first1=Alice L.|title=What Are Your Child's Chances in Hollywood?|url=http://newspaperarchive.com/profile/eddie-blick/clipnumber/50561/|work=Lincoln Nebraska State Journal|date=September 18, 1938|location=Nebraska, Lincoln|page=34|via = Newspaperarchive.com|accessdate = June 11, 2016}}

In 1938, at age 5, Dare was the world's youngest figure skater. At that point, she had been skating for {{frac|1|1|2}} years and had appeared in 16 ice shows.{{cite magazine |last=Sunfield |first=Elmer |date=November 1938 |title=Baby Queen |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywood27fawc/page/n704/mode/1up?view=theater |magazine=Hollywood |pages=30, 44–45 |access-date=July 5, 2022}} Also that year, Principal Productions announced plans to make a film of Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates with Bobby Breen in the title role and Dare portraying Greta.{{cite news |title=Screen News Here and in Hollywood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/30/archives/screen-news-here-and-in-hollywood-bobby-breen-will-be-seen-in-hans.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=April 30, 1938 |page=18|url-access=subscription}}

Film producer Sol Lesser learned about Dare from friends and watched her perform in New York, after which he eventually got her under contract to make films.

Dare's film debut came in Breaking the Ice (1938).{{cite news|title="Breaking the Ice" Bobby Breen's Most Ambitious Screen Venture|url=http://newspaperarchive.com/profile/eddie-blick/clipnumber/50570/|work=Havre Daily News|date=October 1, 1938|location=Montana, Havre|page=3|via = Newspaperarchive.com|accessdate = June 11, 2016}} {{Open access}} Dare's scenes in the film included dances, somersaults, spins, and whirls on ice in elaborate sequences.{{cite news |title=Talented Tots Starred In 'Breaking the Ice' At Olympic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5549879/altoona-tribune/ |access-date=July 5, 2022 |work=The Altoona Tribune |date=September 8, 1938 |page=10|via = Newspapers.com}} Her first starring role came in Everything's on Ice (1939).{{cite news |title='Everything's On Ice' At Park With Irene Dare |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104985122/irene-dare/ |access-date=July 5, 2022 |work=Reading Times |date=September 14, 1939 |page=10|via = Newspapers.com}} She also performed in the film Silver Skates (1943).{{cite news |title=Movie Parade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109510804/globe-gazette/ |access-date=September 14, 2022 |work=Globe-Gazette |date=April 23, 1943 |location=Iowa, Mason City |page=3|via = Newspapers.com}}

In 1939, Dare had a six-year film contract for $1,200 per week. She also performed in the Ice Vanities show in December 1941.{{cite news |title=Ice Vanities Opens Tomorrow Night |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104985946/oakland-tribune/ |access-date=July 5, 2022 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=December 18, 1941 |page=29|via = Newspapers.com}}

{{Reflist}}

{{IMDb name|0201125}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dare, Irene}}

Category:1931 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:American child actresses

Category:American film actresses