John Robert Powers
Encyclopedia
John Robert Powers was an American actor
and founder of a prominent New York City
modeling agency
.
In 1923, John Robert Powers founded a modeling agency. The John Robert Powers Agency represented many models
who went on to success in the Hollywood film
industry, and even Betty Bloomer
(Mrs. Jerry Ford) who became the First Lady of the United States
. While Powers' clientele was overwhelmingly female, and to be a "Powers Girl" was a much sought-after position, the agency also represented several men.
At its height, the agency was so significant within the industry that Hollywood made a 1943 musical comedy film titled The Powers Girl
in which Alan Mowbray
portrays John Robert Powers and features Anne Shirley
and Carole Landis
as aspiring models.
John Robert Powers married Alice Burton (1902–1972) and they are interred together in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
in Glendale, California
.
system and its franchises in the USA have been involved in a controversy over their status as a school vs a talent agency. Critics in the USA describe John Robert Powers franchises in America as using high-pressure sales tactics and misleading advertising. John Robert Powers USA asserts that is not an agency and does not make any percentage of the talents' earnings.
The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau
believes that Powers fits the definitions of a "talent agency" and an "advance-fee talent agent" as per California law. Nevertheless the BBB notes that Powers would "undoubtedly deny that they are either [type of agency]" and that Powers' contracts do not use such terms. The Los Angeles BBB further notes:
JRP websites include photos of famous personalities and name other celebrities as graduates. Pictures of well-known stars such as Lucille Ball
, Marilyn Monroe
and John Wayne
hang in the lobby of franchises. The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau
attempted to contact some of these celebrities through their agents or close family members, and those who responded neither attended classes at JRP nor authorized use of their likeness. Celebrities, their representatives or immediate family members who claimed no involvement with JRP schools included Lucille Ball, Heather Locklear
, Barbara Walters
, Henry Fonda
, Jane Fonda
, John Wayne and Betty Ford. According to the National First Ladies Library biography, Betty Ford worked as a model for the JRP Agency. A Vanity Fair article says Grace Kelly
was a model at the JRP agency.
John Robert Powers brochures in the USA continue to use the names of celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda and Betty Ford, describing them as "Powers models or graduates."
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and founder of a prominent New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
modeling agency
Modeling agency
A modeling agency is a company that represents fashion models, to work for the fashion industry. These agencies earn their income via commission, usually from the deal they make with the model and or the head agency....
.
In 1923, John Robert Powers founded a modeling agency. The John Robert Powers Agency represented many models
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
who went on to success in the Hollywood film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
industry, and even Betty Bloomer
Betty Ford
Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
(Mrs. Jerry Ford) who became the First Lady of the United States
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
. While Powers' clientele was overwhelmingly female, and to be a "Powers Girl" was a much sought-after position, the agency also represented several men.
At its height, the agency was so significant within the industry that Hollywood made a 1943 musical comedy film titled The Powers Girl
The Powers Girl
The Powers Girl, sometimes retitled Hello, Beautiful, is a 1943 musical comedy about women employed by John Robert Powers' modeling agency. Starring George Murphy, Anne Shirley, and Carole Landis, the film was directed by Norman Z...
in which Alan Mowbray
Alan Mowbray
Alan Mowbray MM, , was an English stage and film actor who found success in Hollywood.Born Alfred Ernest Allen in London, England, he served with distinction the British Army in World War I, being awarded the Military Medal for bravery...
portrays John Robert Powers and features Anne Shirley
Dawn Evelyn Paris
Dawn Evelyeen Paris , known as Anne Shirley, was an American film actress.Beginning her career as a child actress under the name Dawn O'Day, Shirley adopted the name of the character she played in Anne of Green Gables in 1934, and achieved a successful career in supporting roles...
and Carole Landis
Carole Landis
Carole Landis was an American film and stage actress whose break-through role was as the female lead in the 1940 film One Million B.C.. Landis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1765 Vine Street....
as aspiring models.
John Robert Powers married Alice Burton (1902–1972) and they are interred together in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
USA John Robert Powers "school" vs. "agency" controversy
The John Robert Powers system is a franchiseFranchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
system and its franchises in the USA have been involved in a controversy over their status as a school vs a talent agency. Critics in the USA describe John Robert Powers franchises in America as using high-pressure sales tactics and misleading advertising. John Robert Powers USA asserts that is not an agency and does not make any percentage of the talents' earnings.
The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
believes that Powers fits the definitions of a "talent agency" and an "advance-fee talent agent" as per California law. Nevertheless the BBB notes that Powers would "undoubtedly deny that they are either [type of agency]" and that Powers' contracts do not use such terms. The Los Angeles BBB further notes:
JRP websites include photos of famous personalities and name other celebrities as graduates. Pictures of well-known stars such as Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
, Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
and John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
hang in the lobby of franchises. The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
attempted to contact some of these celebrities through their agents or close family members, and those who responded neither attended classes at JRP nor authorized use of their likeness. Celebrities, their representatives or immediate family members who claimed no involvement with JRP schools included Lucille Ball, Heather Locklear
Heather Locklear
Heather Deen Locklear is an American actress best known for her television roles as Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty, Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J...
, Barbara Walters
Barbara Walters
Barbara Jill Walters is an American broadcast journalist, author, and television personality. She has hosted morning television shows , the television newsmagazine , former co-anchor of the ABC Evening News, and current contributor to ABC News.Walters was first known as a popular TV morning news...
, Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
, Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
, John Wayne and Betty Ford. According to the National First Ladies Library biography, Betty Ford worked as a model for the JRP Agency. A Vanity Fair article says Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
was a model at the JRP agency.
John Robert Powers brochures in the USA continue to use the names of celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda and Betty Ford, describing them as "Powers models or graduates."
External links
- http://www.johnrobertpowers.com- Official company site International
- JohnRobertPowers.net - Official company site USA
- JRP franchise sales