Lois January
Encyclopedia
Lois January was an American actress who performed small roles in several B-movie
s during the 1930s.
Born in McAllen, Texas
as Laura Lois January, her first credited role was in 1933, in the film UM-PA. Her most famous role, however, although she never achieved name recognition, 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" and, later in the same film, as the woman holding a cat which causes Toto to jump out of the hot air balloon just before it departs leaving Dorothy apparently stranded.
January had many roles during her Hollywood career. 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 Badman, and in 1936 she starred with Brown in Rogue of the Range
, and alongside Tim McCoy in Border Cabellero. While on 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.
Her career slowed in the way of starring roles by the mid-1940s, but she continued to act. In 1942 she was the "poster girl" for Chesterfield cigarettes
. From 1960 through 1987 she played numerous small roles on television
, to include roles on My Three Sons
and Marcus Welby, M.D.
. Her last acting role was in 1987, on the television movie Double Agent
. During the 1980s she attended several western film festivals.
of Alzheimer's disease
on August 7, 2006, aged 92.
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s during the 1930s.
Born in McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas
McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley and is part of the . Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.–Mexico border and the Mexican city of Reynosa, the Rio...
as Laura Lois January, her first credited role was in 1933, in the film UM-PA. Her most famous role, however, although she never achieved name recognition, is probably as the Emerald City manicurist in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
who sings to Dorothy that "we can make a dimpled smile out of a frown" and, later in the same film, as the woman holding a cat which causes Toto to jump out of the hot air balloon just before it departs leaving Dorothy apparently stranded.
January had many roles during her Hollywood career. During the 1930s she played in numerous westerns as the heroine, usually opposite Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
, Bob Steele
Bob Steele (actor)
Bob Steele was an American actor. He was born Robert Adrian Bradbury in Portland, Oregon, into a vaudeville family. After years of touring, the family settled down in Hollywood in the late 1910s, where his father, Robert N...
, Tim McCoy
Tim McCoy
Col. Tim McCoy was an American actor, military officer, and expert on American Indian life and customs.-Early years:...
and Bob Baker
Bob Baker
-External links:...
, among others. In 1935 she starred opposite Reb Russell
Reb Russell
Ewell Albert "Reb" Russell was a Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates....
in Arizona Badman, and in 1936 she starred with Brown in Rogue of the Range
Rogue of the Range
Rogue of the Range is a 1936 American film directed by S. Roy Luby. The film is also known as Spider and the Fly in the United Kingdom.- Cast :*Johnny Mack Brown as Dan Doran*Lois January as Stella Lamb*Alden 'Stephen' Chase as Lige Branscomb...
, and alongside Tim McCoy in Border Cabellero. While on contract with Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
she continued to play heroine roles in westerns, and in 1937 she starred opposite Bob Baker in Courage of the West.
Her career slowed in the way of starring roles by the mid-1940s, but she continued to act. In 1942 she was the "poster girl" for Chesterfield cigarettes
Chesterfield (cigarette)
Chesterfield is a brand of cigarette made by Altria. It was one of the most recognized brands of the early 20th century, but sales have declined steadily over the years. It was named for Chesterfield County, Virginia. Chesterfield is still being made today; it is still popular in Europe, but has...
. From 1960 through 1987 she played numerous small roles on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, to include roles on My Three Sons
My Three Sons
My Three Sons is an American situation comedy. The series ran from 1960 to 1965 on ABC, and moved to CBS until its end on August 24, 1972. My Three Sons chronicles the life of a widower and aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas , raising his three sons.The series was a cornerstone of the CBS...
and Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
. Her last acting role was in 1987, on the television movie Double Agent
Double Agent
A split album featuring performances by bands The K.G.B. and Alien Spy that was produced in 1997. This album includes 9 songs by Alien Spy and 10 songs by The K.G.B...
. During the 1980s she attended several western film festivals.
Death
Lois January died in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
on August 7, 2006, aged 92.