Lois January


Lois January was an American actress and singer who performed small roles in several B-movies during the 1930s.

Early life

Born in McAllen, Texas, as Laura Lois January, she "was prodded into show business by her Texas-born mother, Lucile Clara, whom Lois described as "pushy". Her father, Charles James January, competed in soccer at the 1904 Summer Olympics. 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 and acted in stage productions in Los Angeles.

Career

January's first credited role was in 1933, in the short subject UM-PA. Her most famous role, however, is probably as the Emerald City manicurist in The Wizard of Oz 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.
During the 1930s, she played in numerous westerns as the heroine, usually opposite Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Steele, Tim McCoy and Bob Baker, among others. In 1935 she starred opposite Reb Russell in Arizona Bad Man, and in 1936 she starred with Brown in Rogue of the Range, and alongside Tim McCoy in Border Caballero. While under contract with Universal Pictures she continued to play heroine roles in westerns, and in 1937 she starred opposite Bob Baker in Courage of the West. The reissuing of the 1935 exploitation film The Pace That Kills would eventually lend January even more exposure, however limited.
January's Broadway credits include High Kickers and Yokel Boy alongside Judy Canova and Buddy Ebsen..
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. From 1960 through 1987, she played small parts on television series such as My Three Sons, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Barnaby Jones. 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.

Filmography

  • Double Agent as a Dowager
  • The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come as Mrs. Dean
  • The Wizard of Oz as Emerald City woman with cat
  • Life Returns as Nurse
  • Lightnin' Crandall as Sheila Shannon
  • Bar-Z Bad Men as Beth Harvey
  • The Red Rope as Betty Duncan
  • The Trusted Outlaw as Molly
  • The Roaming Cowboy as Jeanie
  • Courage of the West as Beth Andrews
  • Moonlight on the Range as Wanda Brooks
  • Border Caballero as Goldie Harris
  • Lightnin' Bill Carson as Dolores
  • Rogue of the Range as Stella
  • One Rainy Afternoon as Mr. Pelerin's secretary
  • Flying Hostess as Waitress
  • Easy to Take as Annie
  • Night Life of the Gods
  • Stolen Harmony as Woman in sextet
  • Society Fever as Julie Prouty
  • Skull and Crown as Barbara Franklin
  • Arizona Bad Man as Lucy Dunstan
  • The Pace That Kills as Jane Bradford, also known as Lil
  • The Affair of Susan as Girl in candy shop
  • Splendor as Lena Limering
  • The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
  • Let's Be Ritzy as Stenographer
  • The Love Captive as Girl
  • Uncertain Lady as Maid
  • The Human Side as High school girl
  • The Black Cat as Cultist
  • Glamour as Chorus girl
  • Let's Talk It Over as Alice
  • By Candlelight as Ann
  • Umpa as Nurse

    Death

Lois January died in Los Angeles, California of Alzheimer's disease on August 7, 2006, aged 93.