Gloria Metzner was born in Oakland, California, to Martha and Leo Metzner. Her father was a World War I veteran who later became a paint-store owner and also performed locally as a magician under the name “The Great Leo.” Growing up in this environment, Gloria was introduced to magic at a very young age.
She began performing magic tricks at the age of four and quickly demonstrated unusual talent. By the age of seven, she was already being described as the youngest working magician in the world. One of her signature routines involved a classic hat trick, from which she produced her pet guinea pigs and a pigeon. At eleven, she became one of the youngest members of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians, and a year later she won an award for excellence in working with live animals in competition.
On May 14, 1941, Metzner performed as a magician at El Rancho Vegas, marking her as the first magician ever to perform on the Las Vegas Strip—a milestone that would later be widely recognized in the history of American magic.
Film and Artistic Career
As her stage magic career slowed, Metzner relocated to Southern California and transitioned into film, adopting the stage name Gloria Dea. From the mid-1940s through the late 1950s, she worked steadily in Hollywood, often under contract with Columbia Pictures. She appeared in a variety of films as a dancer and supporting actress.
During the production of Delightfully Dangerous in 1944, filming was famously paused so that Dea could briefly leave the set to marry her fiancé, orchestra leader Jack Statham. The marriage was short-lived, and the couple separated the following year. She later married Hal Borne, a pianist known for his work with Fred Astaire.
Dea’s most prominent film role came in 1952 when she starred opposite Buster Crabbe as Princess Pha in King of the Congo. Her other screen appearances included Mexicana, Something to Live For, The Prodigal, The Sea Chase, Around the World in 80 Days, and the cult classic Plan 9 from Outer Space.
Beyond film, Dea developed a parallel career as a visual artist. She decorated her home with elaborate charcoal, oil, and gold-leaf drawings inspired by Greek mythology and gained national attention for custom-designed curtains adorned with hand-drawn imagery and beadwork.
Labor and Community Involvement
In the 1950s, Dea became involved in labor organization, serving as a founding board member of the San Fernando Labor Coordinating Council, a regional union alliance that predated the AFL–CIO merger. During this period, she married labor organizer Jack Shulem and continued her union involvement under the name Gloria Dea Shulem.
She was also deeply active in community organizations in Burbank, California, participating in civic groups including Hadassah, the Women’s Council, B’nai Brith, and various cultural committees. She served as president of the Burbank Hadassah chapter and received a Women’s Council service award for her community contributions.
Later Life
After leaving the entertainment industry, Dea worked in insurance and later as a car salesperson at a Chevrolet dealership in the San Fernando Valley. In 1980, she returned to Las Vegas, where she lived with her husband Sam Anzalone, an automobile dealer. Even in later years, she occasionally performed magic tricks for residents at her assisted-living community.
In August 2022, Dea celebrated her 100th birthday in Las Vegas, marking the occasion with fellow magicians, including David Copperfield. She remained mentally sharp and socially engaged well into her final years.
Gloria Dea died on March 18, 2023, at her Las Vegas residence from coronary artery disease. She was 100 years old.
Filmography
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The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) – Javanese nurse
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Delightfully Dangerous (1945) – Clown dancer
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Mexicana (1945) – Specialty dancer
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King of the Congo (1952) – Princess Pha
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Something to Live For (1952) – Slave girl
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The Prodigal (1955) – Faradine
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The Sea Chase (1955) – Señorita
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Around the World in 80 Days (1956) – Extra
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Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) – Girl
