| June Allyson |
Featured Actress |
Ella Geisman (1917 - 2006) Singer / Dancer / Actress on film, stage and television
Born Ella Geisman in Bronx, NY on October 7, 1917. Her mother and father separated, and she lived with her mother, who barely managed to keep things together for them. At age eight she was seriously
injured when a large tree branch fell on her, and it was feared she would never walk again. But she went on to become one of Hollywood's most celebrated singing and dancing stars.
June began dancing when just a young girl, and by the time she was in high school, she was determined to make a career of it. She entered amateur dancing contests and began looking for work as a dancer. She found work
in nightclubs and Broadway shows, and even made some short films. She worked hard and steadily moved into better shows and bigger parts.
At last she got her big break when she understudied Betty Hutton in the Broadway production of "Panama Hattie". Hutton fell ill, and June played the part. George Abbott, the director, caught her act and offered her
a part in "Best Foot Forward". Later, when MGM bought the film rights to "Best Foot Forward", June went to Hollywood to repeat her role in the film version.
June Allyson was one of the most popular actresses in the 1940s and 1950s. She worked in comedies, musicals, and dramas, mostly at MGM. Some of her best-remembered musicals include Good News,
The Glenn Miller Story and Two Girls and a Sailor. She had a charming personality, she was a wonderful dancer, and she was known for her rather
"husky" sounding singing voice, which caused a sensation during the war years.
June was married to Dick Powell from August 19, 1945 until his death in 1963. They had two children. Later she was married again, to Glenn Maxwell and then to David Askrow.
June was in a total of 42 feature films. She also had a television series of her own in 1960.
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Photoplay Magazine, May 1947
With Peter Lawford in Good News, 1947
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Filmography:
That's Entertainment! Part III, [Herself, co-host], MGM, 1994
Blackout, [Mrs. Grant], Cinepix, 1977
They Only Kill Their Masters, [Mrs. Watkins], MGM, 1972
Stranger in My Arms, [Christina Beasley], Universal, 1959
My Man Godfrey, [Irene Bullock], Universal, 1957
Interlude, [Helen Banning], Universal, 1957
You Can't Run Away from It, [Ellie Andrews], Columbia, 1956
The Opposite Sex, [Kay Hilliard], MGM, 1956
The McConnell Story, [Pearl "Butch" McConnell], Warner Bros., 1956
The Shrike, [Ann Downs], Universal, 1955
Strategic Air Command, [Sally Holland], Paramount, 1955
Woman's World, [Katie], Fox, 1954
Executive Suite, [Mary Blemond Walling], MGM, 1954
The Glenn Miller Story, [Helen Burger Miller], Universal, 1954
Remains to be Seen, [Jody Revere], MGM, 1953
Battle Circus, [Lt. Ruth McCara], MGM, 1953
The Girl in White, [Dr. Emily Barringer], MGM, 1952
Too Young to Kiss, [Cynthia Potter], MGM, 1951
Right Cross, [Pat O'Malley], MGM, 1950
The Reformer and the Redhead, [Kathleen Maguire], MGM, 1950
The Stratton Story, [Ethel Stratton], MGM, 1949
Little Women, [Jo March], MGM, 1949
Words and Music, [Guest Star], MGM, 1949
The Three Musketeers, [Constance Bonacieux], MGM, 1948
The Bride Goes Wild, [Martha Terryton], MGM, 1948
Good News, [Connie Lane], MGM, 1947
High Barbaree, [Nancy Fraser], MGM, 1947
The Secret Heart, [Penny Addams], MGM, 1946
Till the Clouds Roll By, [Guest Star], MGM, 1946
Two Sisters from Boston, [Martha Canford Chandler], MGM, 1946
The Sailor Takes a Wife, [Mary], MGM, 1945
Her Highness and the Bellboy, [Leslie Odell], MGM, 1945
Music for Millions, [Barbara Ainsworth], MGM, 1944
Two Girls and a Sailor, [Patsy Deyo], MGM, 1944
Meet the People, [Annie], MGM, 1944
Thousands Cheer, [Guest Star], MGM, 1943
Best Foot Forward, [Minerva], MGM, 1943
Girl Crazy, [Specialty], MGM, 1943
Television:
The Kid with the Broken Halo, (made-for-TV movie) 1982
Letters from Three Lovers, (made-for-TV movie), 1973
See the Man Run, (made-for-TV movie), 1972
Vegas (TV pilot), 1978
The June Allyson Show, 1959 - 1961
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Photos:
"Pony Chorus" in Broadway's Panama Hattie, 1941.
Third from left is Vera-Ellen and fifth from left is June Allyson.
Also in the line are Lucille Bremer (2nd from left?), Betsy Blair and Janis Carter.
(from Hedda Hopper's column, Modern Screen, November 1951)
Original 1940s fan photo from MGM
Beautiful color portrait
from December 1945 Movie Stars Parade
Beautiful color portrait
from November 1954 Modern Screen
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Class Act is a resource site for movie musicals fans. There is no charge for using Class Act, and nothing is sold by the author from this web site. Links to independent online vendors are provided for the convenience of Class Act visitors. The author of this web site has no control over any transactions that may occur at any of the web sites to which Class Act is linked. All such transactions are solely the responsibility of the customer and said online vendor(s).
Orignial artwork, text and compilation ©1997-2008 Jim Johnson
see copyright statement
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, by June Allyson with Frances Spatz Leighton, 1982
