Background
Vale was born Dorothy Howe, and was credited under that name in several of her earlier films.
Vale was born Dorothy Howe, and was credited under that name in several of her earlier films.
She starred in a number of B-movie Westerns but took a variety of other roles as well, notably in, in which she played a race car driver. Vale edged out Rhonda Fleming in the 1939 contest. After her film career, she became an executive secretary at Lockheed and also a competition judge for the United States Figure Skating Association.
She was eventually honored by the USFSA for 50 years of service in that role.
Before becoming a judge, she"d also briefly been a competition skater. Her life in film and skating was featured at the 2002 United States. figure skating championships and a memorial trophy for "most outstanding performance" was given in her name at the 2007 California Championships.