Faces of Oklahoma: Movie star Van Heflin turned heads in 1947 as he toured downtown Oklahoma City.

Linda Lynn, The Oklahoman
·1 min read
When Oklahoma born Hollywood actor Van Heflin sauntered up to an Oklahoma City theater, ticket taker Virginia Benbenuto was a little starstruck in April 1947. What might wow today's moviegoers, though, were the ticket prices: 75 cents for adults, 50 cents for children.
When Oklahoma born Hollywood actor Van Heflin sauntered up to an Oklahoma City theater, ticket taker Virginia Benbenuto was a little starstruck in April 1947. What might wow today's moviegoers, though, were the ticket prices: 75 cents for adults, 50 cents for children.
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Hollywood actor Van Heflin turned a few heads and drew some teenage autograph seekers when he visited Oklahoma City in April 1947. The Oklahoma-born movie star admitted he was a little nervous when he spoke to the Chamber of Commerce earlier in the day.

The transplant from Walters, Oklahoma, to Hollywood had starred in "Johnny Eager," for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. By 1947, he had appeared in many films, including "Santa Fe Trail," "Kid Glove Killer," "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers," "Possessed" and many more, acting alongside Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner and Errol Flynn. He went on to star in popular movies "Shane," "The Three Musketeers," "3:10 to Yuma" and "Presenting Lily Mars."

A movie advertisement in The Daily Oklahoman shows Oklahoma-born actor Van Heflin starring with actress Joan Crawford in 1941 in the psychological drama "Possessed."
A movie advertisement in The Daily Oklahoman shows Oklahoma-born actor Van Heflin starring with actress Joan Crawford in 1941 in the psychological drama "Possessed."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoman Van Heflin returned to OKC as a movie star in 1947