Joan Barton (actress)

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Joan Barton
Barton circa 1946
Born
Mary Ann Bock

(1925-09-20)September 20, 1925
DiedAugust 27, 1976(1976-08-27) (aged 50)
OccupationActress
Years active1946–1952
Spouses
James Erwin Thomas
(div. 1946)
F. S. Guggenhelmer
(div. 1950)
(m. 1950; div. 1955)
  • Jerry Gray
Children1

Joan Barton (born Mary Ann Bock; September 20, 1925 – August 27, 1976[citation needed] ) was an American actress, best known for starring in Mary Lou (1948).

Early years[edit]

Barton was born Mary Ann Bock, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Bock. She was from McKeesport, Pennsylvania.[1] Her father was an attorney, and her mother was an actress whose stage name was Sara Snyder.[2] A whistling star who learned that Barton had a talent for throat whistling gave her lessons when she was a teenager, after which she and her parents went to Hollywood.[1]

Career[edit]

In 1946, Barton first appeared in Romance of the West as Melodie and in Lone Star Moonlight later that year. Her first prominent appearance was in Angel and the Badman (1947) with John Wayne and Gail Russell. She also made an appearance in Cigarette Girl (1947).[3] Barton was cast as a lead in musical Mary Lou (1948).[4] She appeared in Strange Gamble (1948).

Television series on which she appeared included Toast of the Town[5] and A Couple of Joes.

From 1951 to 1952, Barton made five uncredited appearances in various films, including Million Dollar Mermaid (1952).

Personal life[edit]

On May 25, 1946, Barton was divorced from James Erwin Thomas.[6] Barton's marriage to jeweler F. S. Guggenhelmer ended in divorce in 1950. She married businessman Earl Muntz on September 25, 1950, in Las Vegas.[1] They had a daughter Tee Vee (better known as "Teena") in 1953.[7][8] She was divorced from Muntz on February 16, 1955.[9] She married actor Doye O'Dell in 1955. Muntz contemplated attending their wedding reception, but decided against it at the last minute.[10] She then married Jerry Gray and they remained together until her death in 1976.

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1946 Romance of the West Melodie
1946 Lone Star Moonlight Jean White
1947 Angel and the Badman Lila Neal
1947 Cigarette Girl Glenda Paige
1948 Mary Lou Ann Parker/Mary Lou
1948 Strange Gamble Mary Murray
1949 A Couple of Joes Television Series
1951 Two Tickets to Broadway Showgirl Uncredited
1951 The Lady Says No Uncredited
1952 Aladdin and His Lamp Harem Girl Uncredited
1952 Glory Alley Chorus Girl Uncredited
1952 Million Dollar Mermaid Swimmer Uncredited

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "'Madman Muntz' Marries Actress". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. September 25, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Actress Sues Rich Mate". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. May 28, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved February 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Cigarette Girl (1947) – Cast & Crew on MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (September 26, 1947). "Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, September 26, 1947, Image 5". ISSN 0745-1989. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Inman, David M. (December 3, 2014). Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs. McFarland. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4766-0877-8. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Bite on Nose Wins Actress Divorce". The Cincinnati Post. United Press. May 26, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved February 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (May 26, 1952). "The daily record. [volume] (Dunn, N.C.) 1950-1978, May 26, 1952, Second Section, Image 8". pp. PAGE TWO. ISSN 2766-6107. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  8. ^ Turnquist, Jerry (July 17, 2005). "A one-in-a-million 'Madman' movie spotlights Elgin's Earl Muntz, quintessential entrepreneur". Daily Herald.
  9. ^ "Joan Barton Wins Divorce". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 17, 1955. p. 38. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Dispatch – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.