Jan Isbell Fortune (December 5, 1892 – October 2, 1979) was an American journalist, novelist, and screenwriter known for scripting several Western films in the 1930s and 1940s.[1][2][3] She also wrote for The Dallas Morning News and The Saturday Evening Post, among other publications, as well as several books.
Jan Isbell was born on December 5, 1892, in the back of a post office in Wellington, Texas.[2] She was the first girl born in that town.[2] As a child, she liked to write poetry and narrative, and was usually seen with a book. She graduated from Wellington High School in May 1910, in which she was part of the school's first graduating class. She later moved to Dallas with her mother and her sister Lucille. She had multiple jobs before she married her first husband, Joseph Byrd Fortune Jr., and they had four children.[2][3]
Career
She began working for The Dallas Morning News in 1922. She worked at the newspaper for 15 years before quitting in 1937 and moving to Hollywood to pursue a career in film screenwriting.[1][3]
"I landed in Los Angeles with $3.87", she told reporters. "I read in a paper that Republic studio was going to make a picture based on the life of Sam Houston. So I went after the job."[1] Upon arriving in Los Angeles, she and her daughter found themselves stealing food to survive. Eventually, she landed a contract with Republic Pictures before starting a career with MGM.[3]
Her work over the years appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Good Housekeeping, and Collier's. She also wrote several books after she stopped writing for films, including a book about Bonnie and Clyde.[1][4][5] She compiled and edited the memoirs of Emma Kraus Parker, mother of Bonnie Parker, in the 1934 book Fugitives: The true story of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.[6][7][8] She wrote dramatic sketches about the history of Texas, which were broadcast on radio.[9]
References
^ abcdFowler, Guy (June 15, 1948). "N.H. Woman Sells First Novel; Writing Another". The Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. p. 3. Retrieved September 13, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcd"Jan Fortune Stone Seeking Proof of Birth in Wellington". The Wellington Leader. Wellington, Texas. July 23, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved September 13, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcdOthman, Frederick C. (May 3, 1943). "Jan Fortune Chisels Niche in Hollywood". The Detroit Free Press. p. 15. Retrieved September 13, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Jan Fortune Writes New Book". The Wellington Leader. Wellington, Texas. May 13, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved September 13, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Glancing Through the New Books: Miss Abbie's Honor". El Paso Times. October 17, 1948. p. 6. Retrieved September 13, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Parker, Emma Kraus (1934). Fugitives: The true story of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Ranger Press, Incorporated.
^Kennedy, David (2018). Love & Murder The Lives and Crimes of Bonnie and Clyde. p. 53. ISBN9781540138972.
^Barrow, Blanche Caldwell (2005). My Life with Bonnie and Clyde. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 253. ISBN9780806137155.
^Stickle, Arthur Waldo (1937). The State of Texas Book: One Hundred Years of Progress. Capital printing Company. p. 64.
fortune, writer, isbell, fortune, december, 1892, october, 1979, american, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, known, scripting, several, western, films, 1930s, 1940s, also, wrote, dallas, morning, news, saturday, evening, post, among, other, publications, wel. Jan Isbell Fortune December 5 1892 October 2 1979 was an American journalist novelist and screenwriter known for scripting several Western films in the 1930s and 1940s 1 2 3 She also wrote for The Dallas Morning News and The Saturday Evening Post among other publications as well as several books Jan FortuneBornJan IsbellDecember 5 1892Wellington Texas U S DiedOctober 2 1979 1979 10 02 aged 86 Los Angeles CaliforniaOccupation s Journalist screenwriterSpouseJoseph Byrd Fortune Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksEarly life EditJan Isbell was born on December 5 1892 in the back of a post office in Wellington Texas 2 She was the first girl born in that town 2 As a child she liked to write poetry and narrative and was usually seen with a book She graduated from Wellington High School in May 1910 in which she was part of the school s first graduating class She later moved to Dallas with her mother and her sister Lucille She had multiple jobs before she married her first husband Joseph Byrd Fortune Jr and they had four children 2 3 Career EditShe began working for The Dallas Morning News in 1922 She worked at the newspaper for 15 years before quitting in 1937 and moving to Hollywood to pursue a career in film screenwriting 1 3 I landed in Los Angeles with 3 87 she told reporters I read in a paper that Republic studio was going to make a picture based on the life of Sam Houston So I went after the job 1 Upon arriving in Los Angeles she and her daughter found themselves stealing food to survive Eventually she landed a contract with Republic Pictures before starting a career with MGM 3 Her work over the years appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post Good Housekeeping and Collier s She also wrote several books after she stopped writing for films including a book about Bonnie and Clyde 1 4 5 She compiled and edited the memoirs of Emma Kraus Parker mother of Bonnie Parker in the 1934 book Fugitives The true story of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker 6 7 8 She wrote dramatic sketches about the history of Texas which were broadcast on radio 9 References Edit a b c d Fowler Guy June 15 1948 N H Woman Sells First Novel Writing Another The Valley Times North Hollywood California p 3 Retrieved September 13 2019 via Newspapers com a b c d Jan Fortune Stone Seeking Proof of Birth in Wellington The Wellington Leader Wellington Texas July 23 1970 p 1 Retrieved September 13 2019 via Newspapers com a b c d Othman Frederick C May 3 1943 Jan Fortune Chisels Niche in Hollywood The Detroit Free Press p 15 Retrieved September 13 2019 via Newspapers com Jan Fortune Writes New Book The Wellington Leader Wellington Texas May 13 1943 p 1 Retrieved September 13 2019 via Newspapers com Glancing Through the New Books Miss Abbie s Honor El Paso Times October 17 1948 p 6 Retrieved September 13 2019 via Newspapers com Parker Emma Kraus 1934 Fugitives The true story of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker Ranger Press Incorporated Kennedy David 2018 Love amp Murder The Lives and Crimes of Bonnie and Clyde p 53 ISBN 9781540138972 Barrow Blanche Caldwell 2005 My Life with Bonnie and Clyde University of Oklahoma Press p 253 ISBN 9780806137155 Stickle Arthur Waldo 1937 The State of Texas Book One Hundred Years of Progress Capital printing Company p 64 External links EditJan Fortune at IMDb Jan Fortune at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jan Fortune writer amp oldid 1073114362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
