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John Boles (actor)

January 01, 1970

John Boles (October 28, 1895 – February 27, 1969)[1] was an American singer and actor best known for playing Victor Moritz in the 1931 film Frankenstein.

John Boles
Boles in 1930
Born(1895-10-28)October 28, 1895
Greenville, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 1969(1969-02-27) (aged 73)
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1922–1952
SpouseMarcelite Dobbs (m.1917–1969; his death)
Children2

Early life edit

Boles was born in Greenville, Texas to a middle-class family. He graduated from the University of Texas[2] in 1917.[note 1][3] Boles served in the intelligence service of the U.S. Army during World War I.[4] He returned to Greenville, where he was selected by an out-of-town producer to act in an opera at the King Opera House. This experience convinced John that he preferred music and the stage to the preference of his parents, who wanted him to pursue a medical degree.[citation needed]

While en route to a career as actor and singer, Boles earned a living by teaching French and singing in a high school in New York state and working as business manager and interpreter for a one-year tour of Europe by a student group. The latter venture led to his studying under tenor Jean de Reszke.[2]

Personal life edit

Boles married Marcelite Dobbs (1896-1982) in 1917, and they remained married until his death; they are interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Career edit

 
Lobby card for Rio Rita (1929)

He started out in Hollywood in silent movies, but became a huge star with the advent of talkies. After the war, Boles moved to New York to study music. He quickly became well known for his talents and was selected to replace the leading man in the 1923 Broadway musical Little Jesse James. He became an established star on Broadway and attracted the attention of Hollywood producers and actors.[citation needed]

Boles' Broadway credits include One Touch of Venus (1943), Kitty's Kisses (1925), Mercenary Mary (1924), and Little Jessie James (1923).[5]

He was hired by MGM to appear in a silent film in 1924. He starred in two more films for that studio before returning to New York and the stage. In 1927, he returned to Hollywood to star in The Love of Sunya (1927) opposite Gloria Swanson, which was a big success for him. Unfortunately, because the movies were still silent he was unable to show off his singing ability until late in the decade. In 1929, Warner Brothers hired him to star in their lavish musical operetta The Desert Song (1929). This film featured sequences in Technicolor and was a box-office success. Soon after, Radio Pictures (later known as RKO) selected him to play the leading man in their extravagant production (the last portion of the film was photographed in Technicolor) of Rio Rita, opposite Bebe Daniels. Audiences were enthralled by his beautiful voice, and John Boles suddenly found himself in huge demand. RCA Victor even hired him to make phonograph records of songs that he had sung in his films.

As soon as Rio Rita was completed, Boles went back to Warner Brothers as the leading man in an even more extravagant musical entitled Song of the West (1930) that was filmed entirely in Technicolor. Shortly after this film, Universal Pictures offered John Boles a contract, which he accepted. He starred in a number of pictures for them, most notably the all-Technicolor musical revue entitled The King of Jazz (1930) and a historical operetta entitled Captain of the Guard (1930). In 1931, he starred in One Heavenly Night (1931), which would prove to be his last major musical.

Boles portrayed Victor Moritz in Frankenstein (1931). He starred with Irene Dunne in a 1934 film adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 novel The Age of Innocence directed for RKO Radio Pictures by Philip Moeller, and took the role of Edward Morgan in Curly Top (1935), starring Shirley Temple. In 1937, Boles starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck in the King Vidor classic Stella Dallas. In 1943, he co-starred with Mary Martin and Kenny Baker in One Touch of Venus.

Later years edit

Boles retired from the screen and stage in 1952, after starring opposite Paulette Goddard in Babes in Baghdad. He later went into the oil business and lived the last 13 years of his life in San Angelo, Texas.[3]

For his contributions to the film industry, Boles was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 with a motion pictures star located at 6530 Hollywood Boulevard.[6]

Death edit

Boles died on February 27, 1969, in San Angelo, Texas, at age 73 from a heart attack.[3]

Partial filmography edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Boles' obituary in the Chicago Tribune says, "World War I interrupted his pre-medical studies at the University of Texas. He never went back."

References edit

  1. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-7864-5019-0. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b Bowers, Emilie (March 31, 1935). "That Boles Charm---'It's Devastating'". Oakland Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved 30 October 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "John Boles, Singing Film Actor, Dies". Chicago Tribune. February 28, 1969. p. A5. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ^ Minor, David. "Boles, John (1895–1969)". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  5. ^ "("John Boles" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. ^ "John Boles". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved November 29, 2017.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Boles.

January 01, 1970
john, boles, actor, john, boles, october, 1895, february, 1969, american, singer, actor, best, known, playing, victor, moritz, 1931, film, frankenstein, john, bolesboles, 1930born, 1895, october, 1895greenville, texas, diedfebruary, 1969, 1969, aged, angelo, t. John Boles October 28 1895 February 27 1969 1 was an American singer and actor best known for playing Victor Moritz in the 1931 film Frankenstein John BolesBoles in 1930Born 1895 10 28 October 28 1895Greenville Texas U S DiedFebruary 27 1969 1969 02 27 aged 73 San Angelo Texas U S Occupation s Actor singerYears active1922 1952SpouseMarcelite Dobbs m 1917 1969 his death Children2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Personal life 3 Career 4 Later years 5 Death 6 Partial filmography 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editBoles was born in Greenville Texas to a middle class family He graduated from the University of Texas 2 in 1917 note 1 3 Boles served in the intelligence service of the U S Army during World War I 4 He returned to Greenville where he was selected by an out of town producer to act in an opera at the King Opera House This experience convinced John that he preferred music and the stage to the preference of his parents who wanted him to pursue a medical degree citation needed While en route to a career as actor and singer Boles earned a living by teaching French and singing in a high school in New York state and working as business manager and interpreter for a one year tour of Europe by a student group The latter venture led to his studying under tenor Jean de Reszke 2 Personal life editBoles married Marcelite Dobbs 1896 1982 in 1917 and they remained married until his death they are interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles citation needed Career edit nbsp Lobby card for Rio Rita 1929 He started out in Hollywood in silent movies but became a huge star with the advent of talkies After the war Boles moved to New York to study music He quickly became well known for his talents and was selected to replace the leading man in the 1923 Broadway musical Little Jesse James He became an established star on Broadway and attracted the attention of Hollywood producers and actors citation needed Boles Broadway credits include One Touch of Venus 1943 Kitty s Kisses 1925 Mercenary Mary 1924 and Little Jessie James 1923 5 He was hired by MGM to appear in a silent film in 1924 He starred in two more films for that studio before returning to New York and the stage In 1927 he returned to Hollywood to star in The Love of Sunya 1927 opposite Gloria Swanson which was a big success for him Unfortunately because the movies were still silent he was unable to show off his singing ability until late in the decade In 1929 Warner Brothers hired him to star in their lavish musical operetta The Desert Song 1929 This film featured sequences in Technicolor and was a box office success Soon after Radio Pictures later known as RKO selected him to play the leading man in their extravagant production the last portion of the film was photographed in Technicolor of Rio Rita opposite Bebe Daniels Audiences were enthralled by his beautiful voice and John Boles suddenly found himself in huge demand RCA Victor even hired him to make phonograph records of songs that he had sung in his films As soon as Rio Rita was completed Boles went back to Warner Brothers as the leading man in an even more extravagant musical entitled Song of the West 1930 that was filmed entirely in Technicolor Shortly after this film Universal Pictures offered John Boles a contract which he accepted He starred in a number of pictures for them most notably the all Technicolor musical revue entitled The King of Jazz 1930 and a historical operetta entitled Captain of the Guard 1930 In 1931 he starred in One Heavenly Night 1931 which would prove to be his last major musical Boles portrayed Victor Moritz in Frankenstein 1931 He starred with Irene Dunne in a 1934 film adaptation of Edith Wharton s 1920 novel The Age of Innocence directed for RKO Radio Pictures by Philip Moeller and took the role of Edward Morgan in Curly Top 1935 starring Shirley Temple In 1937 Boles starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck in the King Vidor classic Stella Dallas In 1943 he co starred with Mary Martin and Kenny Baker in One Touch of Venus Later years editBoles retired from the screen and stage in 1952 after starring opposite Paulette Goddard in Babes in Baghdad He later went into the oil business and lived the last 13 years of his life in San Angelo Texas 3 For his contributions to the film industry Boles was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 with a motion pictures star located at 6530 Hollywood Boulevard 6 Death editBoles died on February 27 1969 in San Angelo Texas at age 73 from a heart attack 3 Partial filmography editSo This Is Marriage 1924 Uriah Excuse Me 1925 Lt Shaw The Love of Sunya 1927 Paul Judson The Shepherd of the Hills 1928 Young Matt We Americans 1928 Hugh Bradleigh Fazil 1928 John Clavering Virgin Lips 1928 Barry Blake The Water Hole 1928 Bert Durland Man Made Women 1928 John Payson Romance of the Underworld 1928 Stephen Ransome The Bride of the Colorado 1928 John Barrows The Last Warning 1929 Richard Quayle The Desert Song 1929 The Red Shadow Scandal 1929 Maurice Rio Rita 1929 Captain Jim Stewart Song of the West 1930 Captain Stanton Captain of the Guard 1930 Rouget de Lisle King of Jazz 1930 Vocalist Song of the Dawn It Happened in Monterey Resurrection 1931 Prince Dmitri Nekhludoff Seed 1931 Bart Carter Frankenstein 1931 Victor Moritz Good Sport 1931 Boyce Cameron Careless Lady 1932 Stephen Illington Back Street 1932 Walter D Saxel Six Hours to Live 1932 Karl Kranz Child of Manhattan 1933 Paul My Lips Betray 1933 King Rupert aka Captain von Linden Only Yesterday 1933 James Stanton Jim Emerson Beloved 1934 Carl Hausmann I Believed in You 1934 Michael Harrison Bottoms Up 1934 Hal Reed Stand Up and Cheer 1934 Himself Wild Gold 1934 Steve Miller The Life of Vergie Winters 1934 John Shadwell The Age of Innocence 1934 Newland Archer The White Parade 1934 Ronald Hall III Music in the Air 1934 Bruno Mahler Curly Top 1935 Edward Morgan Orchids to You 1935 Thomas Bentley Redheads on Parade 1935 John Bruce The Littlest Rebel 1935 Capt Herbert Cary Rose of the Rancho 1936 Jim Kearney A Message to Garcia 1936 Lieutenant Andrew Rowan Craig s Wife 1936 Walter Craig As Good as Married 1937 Alexander Drew Stella Dallas 1937 Stephen Dallas Fight for Your Lady 1937 Robert Densmore She Married an Artist 1937 Lee Thornwood Romance in the Dark 1938 Antal Kovach Sinners in Paradise 1938 Jim Taylor Road to Happiness 1941 Jeff Carter Between Us Girls 1942 Steven J Forbes Thousands Cheer 1943 Col Bill Jones Babes in Bagdad 1952 Hassan Muchachas de Bagdad 1952 Hassan final film role Notes edit Boles obituary in the Chicago Tribune says World War I interrupted his pre medical studies at the University of Texas He never went back References edit Ellenberger Allan R May 1 2001 Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries A Directory McFarland p 213 ISBN 978 0 7864 5019 0 Retrieved 7 September 2017 a b Bowers Emilie March 31 1935 That Boles Charm It s Devastating Oakland Tribune p 5 Retrieved 30 October 2021 via Newspapers com a b c John Boles Singing Film Actor Dies Chicago Tribune February 28 1969 p A5 Retrieved 7 September 2017 Minor David Boles John 1895 1969 The Handbook of Texas Texas State Historical Association Retrieved 30 October 2021 John Boles search results Playbill Vault Playbill Archived from the original on 7 September 2017 Retrieved 7 September 2017 John Boles Hollywood Walk of Fame Retrieved November 29 2017 nbsp Biography portal nbsp Film portalExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Boles John Boles at IMDb John Boles at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp https www playbill com person john boles vault 0000111975 John Boles at AllMovie Photographs of John Boles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Boles actor amp oldid 1215104542, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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