From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jane Isbell
Jane Isbell
Jane Isbell lieutenant.[10] (12 Apr 1919 – 12 Sept 2000).[11] As her
parents had kept her true age a secret, newspaper arti-
Born Clarita Jane Isbell cles claimed she was only seventeen years old at the time
May 1, 1927(1927-05-01)
Meridian, Mississippi, USA of her marriage, although she was almost twenty. These
press statements ignored a columnist who had previous-
Died October 19, 1981 ly reported in the Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express, Apr.
Los Angeles, California, USA
30, 1945, that she would turn 18 on Apr. 31, 1945.[12] Var-
Occupation Actress ious newspaper articles mentioned that she was a cousin
of ballplayers Frank Isbell of the Chicago White Sox [13]
Spouse Jack M. Althouse (1919 - 2000)
and Cecil Isbell.[14]
Several internet databases, including the IMDB and
Jane Isbell (May 1, 1927 - October 19, 1981)[1] was a minor
Flixster, have confused her with Frank Isbell’s niece Jane
actress, a bit player and extra who appeared in some ma-
who was born 12 September 1927 in Sedgwick, Kansas,
jor films produced during Hollywood’s Golden Era in the
and also died in Los Angeles.[15]
1930s-40s.
Jane Isbell’s biggest roles were in forgettable B-
She was born Clarita Jane Isbell in Meridian, Missis-
movies, but as an extra she appeared in some of Holly-
sippi,[2] the daughter of Theodore Clark Isbell and Eliz-
wood’s biggest successes, screen triumphs such as Na-
abeth (Gully) Isbell.[3] Her father was a Vaudeville per-
tional Velvet, Sergeant York, The Women, Broadway
former and her mother a granddaughter of Chief Justice
Rhythm, The Thin Man Goes Home, Little Orphan Annie,
George Washington Stone (1811–1894) of the Alabama
and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Frequently seen in
Supreme Court.[4] Clark Isbell’s great-great-grandfather
the same frame with Hollywood’s biggest stars, her face
was a colorful Revolutionary War soldier who once saved
is often found in screen stills from a number of famous
the life of Andrew Jackson when Jackson was a boy.[5]
movies. In Billy Wilder’s The Major and the Minor, she
The Isbells moved to Los Angeles when Jane was an
was one of the wallflower girls doing Veronica Lake im-
infant. The elder of two sisters, Jane began modeling and
itations, often called the funniest scene in this classic
appearing as an extra in films when only four years old.
comedy.
In 1932, she made her first Mickey McGuire comedy star-
Films include:
ring Mickey Rooney and would eventually make five
Luxury Liner (1948)
films in the Mickey McGuire series, similar to the Our
Betty Co-Ed (1946) as Mrs. Leeds
Gang films.[6] She grew up with child stars for playmates
The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)
and was among those tested for the role of Bonnie Butler
Thrill of a Romance (1945) as Giggling Girl
in Gone With the Wind. She and Ann Gillis were best
Mom and Dad (1945) as Mary Lou Gardner
friends, working in several films together, usually with
National Velvet (1944) as Schoolgirl Jane
Gillis a featured player and Isbell an extra and stand-in.
Broadway Rhythm (1944) as Co-ed in Drugstore
She was Gillis’ understudy and stand-in for long shots on
Bathing Beauty (1944) as Western Union Girl
both Little Orphan Annie and Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
Junior Jive Bombers (1944)
appearing as an extra in some scenes.[7] She wrote her
The Youngest Profession (1943) as Jane
first article at age twelve, a piece published in Screen
Nobody’s Darling (1943)
Book magazine, April 1939, about Mickey Rooney.[8] She
The Major and the Minor (1942)
worked with him again in 1944 in National Velvet.
Sergeant York (1941) as Gracie’s sister
She graduated in 1944 from Franklin High School in
Reaching for the Sun (1941) as Amos’ Child
Highland Park, Los Angeles, with special dramatic coach-
I’m Still Alive (1940) as Mrs. Cady’s Daughter
ing, and studied art and journalism under John Morley.
The Women (1939) as Edith Potter’s daughter
She appeared on several magazine covers, more often
Woman Doctor (1939)
from her modeling work than acting, such as the cover of
Little Orphan Annie (1938) as Annie (stand-in)
the Farm Journal and Farmer’s Wife magazine in 1944. She
Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) as Becky Thatcher
also appeared in The Robert King Hollywood Hair Design Book
(stand-in)
(1948).[9]
She married 11-29-1947 (Las Vegas, Nev.) Lt. Jack
Marvin Althouse, an investment banker and former Navy
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jane Isbell
References [10] Los Angeles Times, Dec. 10, 1947; Los Angeles Herald
Express, Dec. 3, 1947, p. B-4 col. 2; "Jack Althouse
[1] California Death Index; Social Security Death Index. Takes Movie Star Bride," Waterloo, Iowa, Daily
[2] California Death Index; Isbell Family Forum, Courier, Nov. 30, 1947, p.22, column 8; "Young
Genforum.com. Actress is Bride of Navy Man On November 29,"
[3] Hollywood Citizen News, Aug. 11, 1939. (Los Angeles) Eagle Rock News-Herald, Dec. 26, 1947,
[4] (Los Angeles) Highland Park News Herald, Oct. 18, p.6; some references incorrectly cite place of
1947, p. 3. marriage as Las Vegas, N.M.
[5] THE LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON (1938) by Marquis [11] California Death Index.
James, p.25; Young Hickory: The Making of Andrew [12] Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express, Apr. 30, 1945,
Jackson (2001) by Hendrik Booraem, pp. 87-89, 247; p.A8. The Hollywood Citizen News, Aug. 11, 1939,
additional refences to Littleton Isbell in Emerson’s states she was 12 years old; "Movie Starlet Visits
Magazine and Putnam’s Monthly (1855), Vol. 2, p.183; Here," Waterloo, Iowa Daily Courier, March 30, 1948,
The Women of the American Revolution (1856) by p. 6, states she was 20 years old.
Elizabeth Fries Ellet, page 137; "Littleton Esbel’s [13] "ON THE SIDE” by E.V. Durling, King Feature
(sic) Race," Illustrated American Advertiser: The Syndicate writer, Los Angeles TIMES.
Historical Picture Gallery (1856), by John Reuben [14] (Los Angeles) Highland Park News Herald, Oct. 18,
Chapin, vol. V, p. 371; Appletons’ Journal (1876), p. 1947, p. 3.
420; Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, [15] The Internet Movie Database; Flixster.com.;
Volume 103 (1969), p. 132; "Capt. Littleton http://www.torrentreactor.net;
Randolph Isbell," Isbell Forum, Genforum.com; The http://moviekids.info/mk/talent/
Duffies and Related Families," by Elizabeth Lindsay display.php?id=13929&fd=A
and Sue D. McLeod (Isbell chapter, pp.49-54). ...
Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind, Persondata
was a relative according to History of Clayton County,
Name Isbell, Jane
Georgia, p. 244 and Family Puzzlers Magazine #1047
(November 12, 1988); Isbell Family Genealogy Alternative names
Forum, Genforum.com. Short description
[6] SCREEN BOOK magazine, April 1939. Date of birth May 1, 1927
[7] Toronto STAR WEEKLY, Nov. 19, 1938, p. 11.
Place of birth Meridian, Mississippi, USA
[8] SCREEN BOOK magazine, April 1939.
[9] The Robert King Hollywood Hair Design Book (1948), Date of death October 19, 1981
modeling Hollywood Hair Style number 5. Place of death Los Angeles, California, USA
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jane_Isbell&oldid=457478356"
Categories:
• Extra (actor)
• Andrew Jackson
• 1927 births
• 1981 deaths
• Actors from Mississippi
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