She helped blaze the trail in Tinseltown for many of today's African-American actors. Dorothy Dandridge was the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress, for her starring role in the 1954 film "Carmen Jones."

Now her life story is an HBO film. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" had its Baltimore premiere at the Senator Theatre, with HBO and TCI Communications of Baltimore serving as hosts of the event.

Among the 800 people who packed the theater to enjoy a bit of Hollywood history, along with their popcorn, were Lisa Bryant, HBO affiliate relations director; Jean Davis, TCI Communications director; Rose Greene, executive secretary of the Baltimore Film Commission; Michael Johnson, founder of Heritage Shadows of the Silver Screen; Harriette Taylor, Baltimore City deputy comptroller; Debby Haskins, Loyola College assistant professor; Maria Broom, actress and dancer; and Gary Myers, Armani specialist at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Pub Date: 08/29/99