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Jane Isbell

November 25, 2023

Jane Isbell (May 1, 1927 – October 19, 1981)[1] was an American actress who appeared in smaller roles in some major films produced during Hollywood's Golden Era in the 1930s-1940s.

Jane Isbell
Jane Isbell, c.1939
Born
Clarita Jane Isbell

(1927-05-01)May 1, 1927
Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Died19 October 1981(1981-10-19) (aged 54)
Los Angeles, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
OccupationActress
Years active1939-1948
Spouse(s)Jack M. Althouse
(m. 1947; ? 19??)

Biography edit

She was born Clarita Jane Isbell in Meridian, Mississippi,[2] the daughter of Theodore Clark Isbell and Elizabeth (Gully) Isbell.[3] Her father was a Vaudeville performer, her mother a granddaughter of Chief Justice George Washington Stone (1811–1894) of the Alabama Supreme Court.[4] Clark Isbell's great-great-grandfather was a colorful Revolutionary War soldier who once saved the life of Andrew Jackson.[5] Clark Isbell's father was also a cousin of Alabama Governor William J. Samford.

The Isbells moved to Los Angeles when Jane was an infant. The elder of two sisters, she began modeling and appearing as an extra in films when only four years old. In 1932, she made her first Mickey McGuire comedy starring Mickey Rooney and would eventually make five films in the Mickey McGuire series, similar to the Our Gang films.[6] She grew up with child stars for playmates and was among those tested for the role of Bonnie Butler in Gone with the Wind. She and Ann Gillis were best friends, working in several films together, usually with Gillis the featured player and Isbell an extra, stand-in or understudy. She was Gillis' understudy and stand-in for long shots on both Little Orphan Annie and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, appearing as an extra in some scenes.[7] She wrote her first article at age twelve, a piece published in Screen Book magazine (April 1939) about Mickey Rooney.[8] She worked with him again in 1944 in National Velvet. In 1943 she played the role of Jane in The Youngest Profession, with the screenplay co-written by her cousin Jan Isbell Fortune.

She graduated high school in 1944, Franklin High School in Highland Park, Los Angeles, with special dramatic coaching, and studied art and journalism under John Morley. She appeared on several magazine covers, more often from her modeling work than acting, such as the cover of the Farm Journal and Farmer's Wife magazine in 1944. She also appeared in The Robert King Hollywood Hair Design Book (1948).[9]

She married 11-29-1947 (Las Vegas) Lt. Jack Marvin Althouse, an investment banker and former Navy lieutenant[10] (12 Apr 1919 – 12 Sept 2000).[11] Her parents had kept her true age a secret, so newspaper articles at the time of her marriage claimed she was only seventeen years old although nearly twenty. These press statements ignored an earlier columnist who had leaked in the Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express that she would turn 18 on Apr. 31, 1945.[12] Various newspaper articles mentioned that she was a cousin of ballplayers Frank Isbell of the Chicago White Sox[13] and Cecil Isbell.[14]

Several internet databases, including the IMDB and Flixster, have confused her with Frank Isbell's niece Jane who was born in Sedgwick, Kansas, September 12, 1927, and who also died in Los Angeles, unmarried, but was never an actress.[15]

Jane Isbell's biggest roles were in forgettable B-movies, but as an extra she appeared in some of Hollywood's biggest successes, such as National Velvet (starring Elizabeth Taylor), Sergeant York (starring Gary Cooper), The Women (Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell), Broadway Rhythm, The Thin Man Goes Home (William Powell and Myrna Loy), Little Orphan Annie, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Frequently seen in the same frame with Hollywood's top stars, her face often appears in movie stills from a number of famous feature films. In Billy Wilder's The Major and the Minor, she was one of the wallflower girls doing Veronica Lake imitations, often called the funniest scene in this classic comedy.

Filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ California Death Index; Social Security Death Index.
  2. ^ California Death Index; Isbell Family Forum, Genforum.com.
  3. ^ Hollywood Citizen News, Aug. 11, 1939.
  4. ^ (Los Angeles) Highland Park News Herald, Oct. 18, 1947, p. 3.
  5. ^ THE LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON (1938) by Marquis James, p.25; Young Hickory: The Making of Andrew Jackson (2001) by Hendrik Booraem, pp. 87-89, 247; additional references to Littleton Isbell in Emerson's Magazine and Putnam's Monthly (1855), Vol. 2, p.183; The Women of the American Revolution (1856) by Elizabeth Fries Ellet, page 137; "Littleton Esbel's (sic) Race," Illustrated American Advertiser: The Historical Picture Gallery (1856), by John Reuben Chapin, vol. V, p. 371; Appletons' Journal (1876), p. 420; Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, Volume 103 (1969), p. 132; "Capt. Littleton Randolph Isbell," Isbell Forum, Genforum.com; The Duffies and Related Families," by Elizabeth Lindsay and Sue D. McLeod (Isbell chapter, pp.49-54). Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind, was a relative according to History of Clayton County, Georgia, p. 244 and Family Puzzlers Magazine #1047 (November 12, 1988); Isbell Family Genealogy Forum, Genforum.com.
  6. ^ SCREEN BOOK magazine, April 1939.
  7. ^ Toronto STAR WEEKLY, Nov. 19, 1938, p. 11.
  8. ^ SCREEN BOOK magazine, April 1939.
  9. ^ The Robert King Hollywood Hair Design Book (1948), modeling Hollywood Hair Style number 5.
  10. ^ Los Angeles Times, Dec. 10, 1947; Los Angeles Herald Express, Dec. 3, 1947, p. B-4 col. 2; "Jack Althouse Takes Movie Star Bride," Waterloo, Iowa, Daily Courier, Nov. 30, 1947, p.22, column 8; "Young Actress is Bride of Navy Man On November 29," (Los Angeles) Eagle Rock News-Herald, Dec. 26, 1947, p.6; some references incorrectly cite place of marriage as Las Vegas, N.M.
  11. ^ California Death Index.
  12. ^ Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express, Apr. 30, 1945, p.A8. The Hollywood Citizen News, Aug. 11, 1939, gives age as 12 years; "Movie Starlet Visits Here," Waterloo, Iowa Daily Courier, March 30, 1948, p. 6, gives age as 20 years.
  13. ^ "ON THE SIDE" by E. V. Durling, King Feature Syndicate writer, Los Angeles TIMES.
  14. ^ (Los Angeles) Highland Park News Herald, Oct. 18, 1947, p. 3.
  15. ^ The Internet Movie Database; Flixster.com.; http://www.torrentreactor.net; http://moviekids.info/mk/talent/display.php?id=13929&fd=A; https://www.flixster.com/celebrity/jane-isbell/

External links edit

November 25, 2023
jane, isbell, 1927, october, 1981, american, actress, appeared, smaller, roles, some, major, films, produced, during, hollywood, golden, 1930s, 1940s, 1939bornclarita, 1927, 1927meridian, mississippi, died19, october, 1981, 1981, aged, angeles, resting, placef. Jane Isbell May 1 1927 October 19 1981 1 was an American actress who appeared in smaller roles in some major films produced during Hollywood s Golden Era in the 1930s 1940s Jane IsbellJane Isbell c 1939BornClarita Jane Isbell 1927 05 01 May 1 1927Meridian Mississippi U S Died19 October 1981 1981 10 19 aged 54 Los Angeles U S Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale OccupationActressYears active1939 1948Spouse s Jack M Althouse m 1947 19 Contents 1 Biography 2 Filmography 3 References 4 External linksBiography editShe was born Clarita Jane Isbell in Meridian Mississippi 2 the daughter of Theodore Clark Isbell and Elizabeth Gully Isbell 3 Her father was a Vaudeville performer her mother a granddaughter of Chief Justice George Washington Stone 1811 1894 of the Alabama Supreme Court 4 Clark Isbell s great great grandfather was a colorful Revolutionary War soldier who once saved the life of Andrew Jackson 5 Clark Isbell s father was also a cousin of Alabama Governor William J Samford The Isbells moved to Los Angeles when Jane was an infant The elder of two sisters she began modeling and appearing as an extra in films when only four years old In 1932 she made her first Mickey McGuire comedy starring Mickey Rooney and would eventually make five films in the Mickey McGuire series similar to the Our Gang films 6 She grew up with child stars for playmates and was among those tested for the role of Bonnie Butler in Gone with the Wind She and Ann Gillis were best friends working in several films together usually with Gillis the featured player and Isbell an extra stand in or understudy She was Gillis understudy and stand in for long shots on both Little Orphan Annie and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer appearing as an extra in some scenes 7 She wrote her first article at age twelve a piece published in Screen Book magazine April 1939 about Mickey Rooney 8 She worked with him again in 1944 in National Velvet In 1943 she played the role of Jane in The Youngest Profession with the screenplay co written by her cousin Jan Isbell Fortune She graduated high school in 1944 Franklin High School in Highland Park Los Angeles with special dramatic coaching and studied art and journalism under John Morley She appeared on several magazine covers more often from her modeling work than acting such as the cover of the Farm Journal and Farmer s Wife magazine in 1944 She also appeared in The Robert King Hollywood Hair Design Book 1948 9 She married 11 29 1947 Las Vegas Lt Jack Marvin Althouse an investment banker and former Navy lieutenant 10 12 Apr 1919 12 Sept 2000 11 Her parents had kept her true age a secret so newspaper articles at the time of her marriage claimed she was only seventeen years old although nearly twenty These press statements ignored an earlier columnist who had leaked in the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express that she would turn 18 on Apr 31 1945 12 Various newspaper articles mentioned that she was a cousin of ballplayers Frank Isbell of the Chicago White Sox 13 and Cecil Isbell 14 Several internet databases including the IMDB and Flixster have confused her with Frank Isbell s niece Jane who was born in Sedgwick Kansas September 12 1927 and who also died in Los Angeles unmarried but was never an actress 15 Jane Isbell s biggest roles were in forgettable B movies but as an extra she appeared in some of Hollywood s biggest successes such as National Velvet starring Elizabeth Taylor Sergeant York starring Gary Cooper The Women Norma Shearer Joan Crawford Rosalind Russell Broadway Rhythm The Thin Man Goes Home William Powell and Myrna Loy Little Orphan Annie and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Frequently seen in the same frame with Hollywood s top stars her face often appears in movie stills from a number of famous feature films In Billy Wilder s The Major and the Minor she was one of the wallflower girls doing Veronica Lake imitations often called the funniest scene in this classic comedy Filmography editLuxury Liner 1948 Betty Co Ed 1946 as Mrs Leeds The Thin Man Goes Home 1945 Pride of the Marines 1945 Thrill of a Romance 1945 as Giggling Girl Mom and Dad 1945 as Mary Lou Gardner National Velvet 1944 as Schoolgirl Jane Broadway Rhythm 1944 as Co ed in Drugstore Bathing Beauty 1944 as Western Union Girl Junior Jive Bombers 1944 The Youngest Profession 1943 as Jane Nobody s Darling 1943 The Major and the Minor 1942 Sergeant York 1941 as Gracie s sister Reaching for the Sun 1941 as Amos Child I m Still Alive 1940 as Mrs Cady s Daughter The Women 1939 as Edith Potter s daughter Woman Doctor 1939 Little Orphan Annie 1938 as Annie stand in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1938 as Becky Thatcher stand in References edit California Death Index Social Security Death Index California Death Index Isbell Family Forum Genforum com Hollywood Citizen News Aug 11 1939 Los Angeles Highland Park News Herald Oct 18 1947 p 3 THE LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON 1938 by Marquis James p 25 Young Hickory The Making of Andrew Jackson 2001 by Hendrik Booraem pp 87 89 247 additional references to Littleton Isbell in Emerson s Magazine and Putnam s Monthly 1855 Vol 2 p 183 The Women of the American Revolution 1856 by Elizabeth Fries Ellet page 137 Littleton Esbel s sic Race Illustrated American Advertiser The Historical Picture Gallery 1856 by John Reuben Chapin vol V p 371 Appletons Journal 1876 p 420 Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine Volume 103 1969 p 132 Capt Littleton Randolph Isbell Isbell Forum Genforum com The Duffies and Related Families by Elizabeth Lindsay and Sue D McLeod Isbell chapter pp 49 54 Margaret Mitchell author of Gone With the Wind was a relative according to History of Clayton County Georgia p 244 and Family Puzzlers Magazine 1047 November 12 1988 Isbell Family Genealogy Forum Genforum com SCREEN BOOK magazine April 1939 Toronto STAR WEEKLY Nov 19 1938 p 11 SCREEN BOOK magazine April 1939 The Robert King Hollywood Hair Design Book 1948 modeling Hollywood Hair Style number 5 Los Angeles Times Dec 10 1947 Los Angeles Herald Express Dec 3 1947 p B 4 col 2 Jack Althouse Takes Movie Star Bride Waterloo Iowa Daily Courier Nov 30 1947 p 22 column 8 Young Actress is Bride of Navy Man On November 29 Los Angeles Eagle Rock News Herald Dec 26 1947 p 6 some references incorrectly cite place of marriage as Las Vegas N M California Death Index Los Angeles Evening Herald Express Apr 30 1945 p A8 The Hollywood Citizen News Aug 11 1939 gives age as 12 years Movie Starlet Visits Here Waterloo Iowa Daily Courier March 30 1948 p 6 gives age as 20 years ON THE SIDE by E V Durling King Feature Syndicate writer Los Angeles TIMES Los Angeles Highland Park News Herald Oct 18 1947 p 3 The Internet Movie Database Flixster com http www torrentreactor net http moviekids info mk talent display php id 13929 amp fd A https www flixster com celebrity jane isbell External links editJane Isbell at IMDb Jane Isbell at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jane Isbell amp oldid 1123979064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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