Lois January (October 5, 1912 – August 7, 2006) was an American

actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

and singer who performed small roles in several

B-movie A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second ...

s during the 1930s.

Early life

Born in

McAllen, Texas McAllen is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Hidalgo County. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, on the Mexican border. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, acros ...

, as Laura Lois January, she "was prodded into show business by her Texas-born mother, Lucile Clara ( Buck), whom Lois described as "pushy". Her father, Charles James January, competed in soccer at the

1904 Summer Olympics The 1904 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the III Olympiad and also known as St. Louis 1904) were an international multi-sport event held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from 1 July to 23 November 1904. Many events were conducted ...

. January attended Virgil Junior High School and the Marlborough School for girls. She also studied dance at the

Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts The Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts, founded in 1915 by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn in Los Angeles, California, helped many perfect their dancing talents and became the first dance academy in the United States to produce a professiona ...

and acted in stage productions in Los Angeles.

Career

January's first credited role was in 1933, in the

short subject A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film or ...

''UM-PA''. Her most famous role, however, is probably as the

Emerald City The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's ''Oz'' books, first described in '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900). Fictional description Located in the center of ...

manicurist in ''

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...

'' who sings to Dorothy that "we can make a dimpled smile out of a frown". Although the character was unnamed, many fans believe it to be an incarnation of novel character

Jellia Jamb Jellia Jamb is a fictional character from the classic children's series of Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. She is first introduced in '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900), as the head maid who works in the royal palace of the Emer ...

. During the 1930s, she played in numerous

westerns The Western is a genre of fiction typically set in the American frontier (commonly referred to as the "Old West" or the "Wild West") between the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the closing of the frontier in 1890, and commonly associated wit ...

as the heroine, usually opposite

Johnny Mack Brown John Brown (September 1, 1904 – November 14, 1974) was an American college football player and film actor billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career. He acted and starred mainly in Western films. Early life Born and raised ...

, Bob Steele,

Tim McCoy Tim McCoy (April 10, 1891 – January 29, 1978) was an American actor, military officer, and expert on Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American Indian life. McCoy is most noted for his roles in B-grade Western films. As a popular cowboy ...

and Bob Baker, among others. In 1935 she starred opposite

Reb Russell Ewell Albert "Reb" Russell (March 12, 1889 – September 30, 1973) was an American Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Career MLB Russell was drafted by the White Sox as a pitcher in 1912. In his ...

in ''

Arizona Bad Man ''Arizona Bad Man'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by S. Roy Luby and starring Reb Russell, Lois January and Edmund Cobb.Rainey p.349 Plot Cast * Reb Russell as Steve Donovan * Lois January as Lucy Dunston * Slim Whitaker as Black ...

'', and in 1936 she starred with Brown in ''

Rogue of the Range ''Rogue of the Range'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by S. Roy Luby and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Lois January and in her only film, Phyllis Hume, Miss California 1936 and first runner-up for Miss America, where she used the name P ...

'', and alongside Tim McCoy in ''

Border Caballero ''Border Caballero'' is a 1936 American Western film starring Tim McCoy. It was directed by Sam Newfield. Plot Undercover lawman Tim Ross is working his way across the country as a sharpshooter in a medicine show. He runs into a former colleag ...

''. While under contract with

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

she continued to play heroine roles in westerns, and in 1937 she starred opposite Bob Baker in ''

Courage of the West ''Courage of the West'' is a 1937 American western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis in which Bob Baker made his debut as a singing cowboy. Plot During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln establishes the "Free Rangers" to protect ...

''. The reissuing of the 1935

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that seeks commercial success by capitalizing on current trends, niche genres, or sensational content. Exploitation films often feature themes such as suggestive or explicit sex, sensational violence, drug use, nudi ...

'' The Pace That Kills'' (under the title ''Cocaine Fiends'') would eventually lend January even more exposure, however limited. January's

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

credits include ''High Kickers'' (1941) and ''Yokel Boy'' (1939) alongside

Judy Canova Judy Canova (November 20, 1913 – August 5, 1983),Although one source gives her birth date as November 20, 1916, (DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & ...

and

Buddy Ebsen Buddy Ebsen (born Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr.; April 2, 1908 – July 6, 2003), also known as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen, was an American actor and dancer. One of his most famous roles was as Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom ''The Beverly Hillb ...

.. By the mid-1940s, her starring roles had waned but she continued to act in non-starring parts. In 1942 she was the "poster girl" for

Chesterfield cigarettes Chesterfield is a brand of cigarette, named after Chesterfield County, Virginia. The brand is owned by conglomerate Altria and produced by its subsidiary Philip Morris USA. History Chesterfields, originally a blend of Turkish tobacco, Turkish an ...

. From 1960 through 1987, she played small parts on television series such as ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was filmed in black-and-white and broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seve ...

'', '' Marcus Welby, M.D.'' and ''

Barnaby Jones ''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective fiction, detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law. They run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, Califor ...

''. Her last acting role was in 1987, on the television movie ''Double Agent''. During the 1980s she attended several western film festivals.

Personal life

In April 1937, January married theatrical agent Abraham Meyer. They were divorced on August 9, 1940. She later married radio producer Bill Gernnant. The couple had a daughter, Jan (born 1949).

Filmography

*''

Double Agent In the field of counterintelligence, a double agent is an employee of a secret intelligence service for one country, whose primary purpose is to spy on a target organization of another country, but who is now spying on their own country's organi ...

'' (1987) as a Dowager *'' The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come'' (1961) as Mrs. Dean *''

'' (1939) as Emerald City woman with cat *

Life Returns ''Life Returns'' is an American film directed by Eugene Frenke. The film stars Onslow Stevens, George P. Breakston and Lois Wilson with a plot that involves a doctor who is convinced that the dead can be brought back to life gets the chance to pr ...

(1938) as Nurse *

Lightnin' Crandall ''Lightnin' Crandall'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Charles F. Royal. The film stars Bob Steele, Lois January, Charles King, Earl Dwire, Ernie Adams and Frank LaRue. The film was released on March 2 ...

(1937) as Sheila Shannon *'' Bar-Z Bad Men'' (1937) as Beth Harvey *'' The Red Rope'' (1937) as Betty Duncan *'' The Trusted Outlaw'' (1937) as Molly *''

The Roaming Cowboy ''The Roaming Cowboy'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Robert F. Hill and written by Fred Myton. The film stars Fred Scott, Al St. John, Lois January, Forrest Taylor, Roger Williams, Richard Cramer, Buddy Cox and Art Miles. The ...

'' (1937) as Jeanie *''

'' (1937) as Beth Andrews *'' Moonlight on the Range'' (1937) as Wanda Brooks *''

'' (1936) as Goldie Harris *''

Lightnin' Bill Carson ''Lightnin' Bill Carson'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. Plot summary A lawman captures the notorious "Pecos Kid", who is tried and hanged for his crimes – then starts to have doubts as to whether the Kid actually ...

'' (1936) as Dolores *''

'' (1936) as Stella amb*''

One Rainy Afternoon ''One Rainy Afternoon'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Francis Lederer and Ida Lupino, and featuring Hugh Herbert, Roland Young, and Erik Rhodes. It also marked the last film appearance by actres ...

'' (1936) as Mr. Pelerin's secretary *''

Flying Hostess ''Flying Hostess'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Murray Roth and starring William Gargan, Judith Barrett and William Hall.Paris p.75 Plot A group of stewardesses undergo their training, and later thwart the hijacking of an airplan ...

'' (1936) as Waitress *'' Easy to Take'' (1936) as Annie *'' Night Life of the Gods'' (1935) *''

Stolen Harmony ''Stolen Harmony'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring George Raft, Ben Bernie and Grace Bradley. It is a semi-musical, featuring Big Band numbers. It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Plot ...

'' (1935) as Woman in sextet *''

Society Fever ''Society Fever'' is a 1935 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Lois Wilson, Lloyd Hughes and Hedda Hopper.Pitts p.108 The film entered the public domain in 1964, because its copyright was not renewed. Plot ...

'' (1935) as Julie Prouty *''

Skull and Crown ''Skull and Crown'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Elmer Clifton. It was the final film of Molly O'Day. Plot Cast * Rin Tin Tin Jr. as Rinty *Regis Toomey as Bob Franklin posing as Rocky Morgan *Jack Mulhall as Border Patrolm ...

'' (1935) as Barbara Franklin *''

'' (1935) as Lucy Dunstan *'' The Pace That Kills'' (1935) as Jane Bradford, also known as Lil *''

The Affair of Susan ''The Affair of Susan'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Zasu Pitts, Hugh O'Connell and Walter Catlett.Lowe p.1968 It is a remake of the 1928 silent film '' Lonesome''. Plot Two lonely people meet at an amu ...

'' (1935) as Girl in candy shop *'' Splendor'' (1935) as Lena Limering *''

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head ''The Man Who Reclaimed His Head'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Edward Ludwig and written by Jean Bart (writer), Jean Bart and Samuel Ornitz. The film stars Claude Rains, Joan Bennett, Lionel Atwill, Juanita Quigley, Henry O'Neill an ...

'' (1934) *'' Let's Be Ritzy'' (1934) as Stenographer *''

The Love Captive ''The Love Captive'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Max Marcin and written by Karen DeWolf, adapted from Marcin's play of the same name. The film stars Gloria Stuart, Nils Asther, Paul Kelly, Alan Dinehart, Renee Gadd, and ...

'' (1934) as Girl *''

Uncertain Lady ''Uncertain Lady'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Karl Freund, written by Daniel Evans, Doris Anderson, Edward A. Curtiss, George O'Neil and Don Ryan, and starring Edward Everett Horton, Genevieve Tobin, Paul Cavanagh, Mary Nash, ...

'' (1934) as Maid *'' The Human Side ''(1934) as High school girl *'' The Black Cat'' (1934) as Cultist *'' Glamour'' (1934) as Chorus girl *''

Let's Talk It Over ''Let's Talk It Over'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Chester Morris, Mae Clarke and Frank Craven.Dick p.81 Plot summary A sailor rescues a young heiress who is apparently drowning. Little d ...

'' (1934) as Alice *'' By Candlelight'' (1933) as Ann

Death

Lois January died in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

on August 7, 2006, aged 93.

References

External links

*
B-western heroines, Lois January
{{DEFAULTSORT:January, Lois Actresses from Texas American film actresses American television actresses Deaths from dementia in California Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California People from McAllen, Texas 1912 births 2006 deaths 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women