In 1943 when Dolores was a freshman at Lyons Township High School (La Grange, Illinois) she signed a seven-year contract with MGM. At the time she was living with her mother Mrs. Kenneth Dey in Western Springs, IL. In 1941 she won a contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune where she was noticed by a talent scout. She had a try out for a role in "Mrs. Miniver," which she did not get.