Nola Luxford; Film Actress, Radio Figure

Nola Luxford, former film actress and radio announcer known as “Miss Anzac of the U.S.A.” during World War II, has died in Pasadena. She was in her 90s but did not like revealing her actual age.

A native of New Zealand, Miss Luxford began her career at Universal Studios in 1925. Among her films were “Girl Shy” with Harold Lloyd, “A Successful Calamity,” “Kind Lady” and “Sylvia Scarlett.”

In 1932, she broadcasted reports on the Olympics over Los Angeles radio station KFI, which were heard as far away as the South Pacific. In 1936, she moved to New York to join NBC’s Four Star News.

At the outset of World War II, Miss Luxford formed an Anzac (the acronym stands for Australia-New Zealand Army Corps) Club and made shortwave broadcasts of soldiers’ personal messages to relatives in New Zealand. She also helped create the memorial Anzac Gardens on the roof of New York’s Rockefeller Center.

Miss Luxford’s wartime efforts earned her the Order of the British Empire from King George VI and the U.S. Award of Merit from President Harry S. Truman.

In the 1950s, Miss Luxford wrote children’s stories, including “Kerry Kangaroo.”

Married to KFI station manager Glen Dolberg in 1958, she spent her last decades in La Canada Flintridge, where she was active in the La Canada Valley Beautiful Cub, the Garden Club and Keep America Beautiful. Glenola Park there is named in the couple’s honor.

Miss Luxford was named Woman of the Year in 1963 by the Town and Country Fine Arts Club for her efforts to promote international understanding and humanitarianism.

She is survived by five nieces and one nephew.