About

Known credits:
32
Birthday:
1912-10-05
Place of birth:
McAllen, Texas, USA
Website:
N/A

Lois January

Overview

Lois January was an American actress who performed small roles in several B-movies during the 1930s.

Lois also had a secondary part in the Wizard Of Oz, towards the end of the movie, holding a Siamese cat in her arms. Toto jumps out of the basket of the hot air balloon that was supposed to take him, Dorothy and the Wizard away from the Land of Oz.

January's first credited role was in 1933, in the film UM-PA. Her most famous role, however, 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". Although the character was unnamed, many fans believe it to be an incarnation of novel character Jellia Jamb.

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 Caballero. While under 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. The reissuing of the 1935 exploitation film The Pace That Kills (under the title Cocaine Fiends) would eventually lend January even more exposure, however limited.

January's Broadway credits include High Kickers (1941) and Yokel Boy (1939).

By the mid-1940s, her starring roles had waned but she continued to act in non-starring parts. 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.

Known for

Acting

1987 Double Agent Actor Dowager 58
Average
1977 The Richard Pryor Special? Actor Older Woman 59
Average
1973 My Darling Daughters' Anniversary Actor Nurse 59
Average
1961 The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come Actor Mrs. Dean 58
Average
1943 Three Cheers for the Girls Actor Brunette in Dressing Room (uncredited) 59
Average
1937 Courage of the West Actor Beth Andrews N/A
N/A
1937 The Red Rope Actor Betty Duncan 59
Average
1937 Moonlight on the Range Actor Wanda Brooks N/A
N/A
1937 The Trusted Outlaw Actor Molly Clark 59
Average
1937 Bar-Z Bad Men Actor Beth Harvey 58
Average
1937 Lightnin' Crandall Actor Sheila Shannon 58
Average
1937 The Roaming Cowboy Actor Jeannie Morgan N/A
N/A
1936 One Rainy Afternoon Actor Mr. Perelin's Secretary 58
Average
1936 Rogue of the Range Actor Stella Lamb 59
Average
1936 Lightnin' Bill Carson Actor Dolores Costello 59
Average
1936 Border Caballero Actor Goldie Harris 59
Average
1935 Skull and Crown Actor Barbara Franklin 59
Average
1935 The Pace That Kills Actor Jane Bradford 58
Average
1935 Society Fever Actor Julie Prouty 59
Average
1935 Stolen Harmony Actor Girl in Sextette (uncredited) 59
Average
1935 Arizona Bad Man Actor Lucy Dunston 58
Average
1935 Life Returns Actor Nurse 58
Average
1934 The Human Side Actor High School Girl (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1934 Tripping Through the Tropics Actor Sally N/A
N/A
1934 Let's Talk It Over Actor Alice N/A
N/A
1934 Susie's Affairs Actor Susie's Brunette Roommate 59
Average
1934 Let’s Be Ritzy Actor Stenographer N/A
N/A
1934 School for Romance Actor Student 59
Average
1933 By Candlelight Actor Ann 58
Average
1933 Umpa Actor Nurse 59
Average
1932 Show Business Actor Showgirl on Train (uncredited) 59
Average
1932 Too Many Women Actor Girl in White Wool Hat (uncredited) 59
Average