From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jane Isbell
Jane Isbell
Jane Isbell lieutenant.[10] (12 Apr 1919 – 12 Sept 2000).[11] Her par-
ents had kept her true age a secret, so newspaper articles
Born Clarita Jane Isbell at the time of her marriage claimed she was only seven-
May 1, 1927(1927-05-01)
Meridian, Mississippi, USA teen years old although nearly twenty. These press state-
ments ignored a earlier columnist who had leaked in the
Died October 19, 1981 Los Angeles Evening Herald-Express that she would turn
Los Angeles, California, USA
18 on Apr. 31, 1945.[12] Various newspaper articles men-
Occupation Actress tioned that she was a cousin of ballplayers Frank Isbell of
the Chicago White Sox [13] and Cecil Isbell.[14]
Spouse Jack M. Althouse (1919 - 2000)
Several internet databases, including the IMDB and
Flixster, have confused her with Frank Isbell’s niece Jane
Jane Isbell (May 1, 1927 - October 19, 1981)[1] was a minor
who was born in Sedgwick, Kansas, September 12, 1927,
actress, a bit player and extra who appeared in some of
and who also died in Los Angeles, unmarried, but was
the major films produced during Hollywood’s Golden Era
never an actress.[15]
in the 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 Hol-
sippi,[2] the daughter of Theodore Clark Isbell and Eliz-
lywood’s biggest successes, such as National Velvet,
abeth (Gully) Isbell.[3] Her father was a Vaudeville per-
Sergeant York, The Women, Broadway Rhythm, The Thin
former and her mother a granddaughter of Chief Justice
Man Goes Home, Little Orphan Annie, and The Adven-
George Washington Stone (1811–1894) of the Alabama
tures of Tom Sawyer. Frequently seen in the same frame
Supreme Court.[4] Clark Isbell’s great-great-grandfather
with Hollywood’s top stars, her face is often seen on-
was a colorful Revolutionary War soldier who once saved
screen and in movie stills from a number of famous fea-
the life of Andrew Jackson when Jackson was a boy.[5]
ture films. In Billy Wilder’s The Major and the Minor,
The Isbells moved to Los Angeles when Jane was an
she was one of the wallflower girls doing Veronica Lake
infant. The elder of two sisters, she began modeling and
imitations, 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
Pride of the Marines (1945)
in Gone With the Wind. She and Ann Gillis were best
Thrill of a Romance (1945) as Giggling Girl
friends, working in several films together, usually with
Mom and Dad (1945) as Mary Lou Gardner
Gillis the featured player and Isbell an extra and stand-in.
National Velvet (1944) as Schoolgirl Jane
She was Gillis’ understudy and stand-in for long shots on
Broadway Rhythm (1944) as Co-ed in Drugstore
both Little Orphan Annie and Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
Bathing Beauty (1944) as Western Union Girl
appearing as an extra in some scenes.[7] She wrote her
Junior Jive Bombers (1944)
first article at age twelve, a piece published in Screen
The Youngest Profession (1943) as Jane
Book magazine (April 1939) about Mickey Rooney.[8] She
Nobody’s Darling (1943)
worked with him again in 1944 in National Velvet.
The Major and the Minor (1942)
She graduated high school in 1944, Franklin High
Sergeant York (1941) as Gracie’s sister
School in Highland Park, Los Angeles, with special dra-
Reaching for the Sun (1941) as Amos’ Child
matic coaching, and studied art and journalism under
I’m Still Alive (1940) as Mrs. Cady’s Daughter
John Morley. She appeared on several magazine covers,
The Women (1939) as Edith Potter’s daughter
more often from her modeling work than acting, such as
Woman Doctor (1939)
the cover of the Farm Journal and Farmer’s Wife magazine
Little Orphan Annie (1938) as Annie (stand-in)
in 1944. She also appeared in The Robert King Hollywood
Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) as Becky Thatcher
Hair Design Book (1948).[9]
(stand-in)
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 gives age as 12 years; "Movie Starlet Visits Here,"
Magazine and Putnam’s Monthly (1855), Vol. 2, p.183; Waterloo, Iowa Daily Courier, March 30, 1948, p. 6,
The Women of the American Revolution (1856) by gives age as 20 years.
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=472482843"
Categories:
• Extra (actor)
• Andrew Jackson
• 1927 births
• 1981 deaths
• Actors from Mississippi
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