Catherine Moylan

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Catherine Moylan
Moylan in 1931
Born(1904-07-04)July 4, 1904
Rochester, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 1969(1969-09-09) (aged 65)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Spouse
John H. Singleton
​
​
(m. 1931; div. 1939)​
Children1

Catherine May Moylan (July 4, 1904 – September 9, 1969) was an American film actress, model, and beauty queen who won the 1926 International Pageant of Pulchritude. She subsequently appeared in two Broadway productions before having a short film career, including roles in Our Blushing Brides and Love in the Rough (both 1930).

From the mid-1930s onward, Moylan spent the remainder of her life living outside the public eye in Fort Worth, Texas, where she died in 1969 of heart failure.

Biography[edit]

Catherine May Moylan was born July 4, 1904, to Catherine Mary (née Sharkey) and William Moylan;[1] her mother was an Irish immigrant, born in County Cork, Ireland.[2] Though Moylan was born in the United States, sources differ as to her precise birthplace: Moylan herself reported that she was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on her daughter's 1932 birth certificate,[3] but Moylan's death certificate issued by the state of Texas states she was born in Rochester, New York.[1]

Moylan was raised in Dallas, Texas.[4] In 1926, after winning the title of Miss Dallas, Moylan competed in and won the Galveston-held International Pageant of Pulchritude, and was crowned "Beauty Queen of the Universe."[5] She subsequently made her Broadway debut in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927,[6] and subsequently appeared in the original Broadway production of Whoopee! (1928).[7]

In 1930, Moylan appeared in a minor bit part in the Joan Crawford-starring film Our Blushing Brides, followed by a supporting role in the Western Love in the Rough the same year.[8] Moylan continued to work as a model, appearing in advertisements in 1931 for swimsuits.[9]

Sometime in the 1930s, Moylan returned to Texas, settling in Fort Worth, where she lived the rest of her life outside the public eye.[10] She married Los Angeles real estate magnate John H. Singleton in the spring of 1931,[11][12] and remained married to him until 1939 when the couple divorced.[13] The couple had one daughter, Sylvia.[14] Singleton was an heir to a $5,000,000 (equivalent to $109,521,531 in 2023) estate left behind by his father, a venture capitalist from St. Louis.[13] Moylan filed for divorce from Singleton in early 1939, claiming that Singleton had deserted the marriage, and was awarded custody of the couple's daughter.[13] In the divorce agreement, Moylan was granted $100 per month in child support, as well as a $25,000 settlement, followed by a $15,000 sum two years after the divorce.[13]

Death[edit]

Moylan died at her home in Fort Worth on September 9, 1969, aged 65.[10] Per her official death certificate, her cause of death was attributed to rheumatic heart disease, though it was indicated that she suffered a number of secondary health issues, including chronic alcoholism, hypothyroidism, and longstanding pulmonary hypertension.[1] She was also noted as possessing a "psychopathic personality."[1] Her funeral was held at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Fort Worth, where she was a member.[10] She was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery.[10] Moylan was survived by her daughter, who resided in British Columbia at the time of Moylan's death, as well as numerous grandchildren.[10]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1927 See You in Jail Bit part Uncredited
1930 Our Blushing Brides Mannequin [8]
1930 Way Out West Carnival Show Girl Uncredited [15]
1930 Love in the Rough Martha [8]
1931 Ambitious People Short film
1936 Any Old Port Short film

Stage credits[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1927 Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 Dancer New Amsterdam Theatre [7]
1928 Whoopee! Ziegfeld Glorified Girl New Amsterdam Theatre [7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," Death certificates > 1969 > Vol 136, certificates 067501-068000, Aug, Smith-Taylor counties > image 324 of 514. State Registrar Office, Austin, Texas. Closed access icon Archived copy.
  2. ^ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," Death certificates > 1952 > Vol 104, certificates 051501-052000, Oct, Smith-Trinity counties > image 83 of 515; State Registrar Office, Austin, Texas. Closed access icon Archived copy.
  3. ^ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database Catherine Sylvia Singleton, 005035200; Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas. Closed access icon Archived copy.
  4. ^ "Little Stories of Little Stars". The Decatur Daily. February 9, 1931. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Beauty Prize Will Open College Door For Dallas Winner". Galveston Daily News. May 18, 1926.
  6. ^ Dietz, Dan (2019). The Complete Book of 1920s Broadway Musicals. New York: Rowman and Littlefield. p. 498. ISBN 978-1-538-11282-3.
  7. ^ a b c "Catherine Moylan". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Catherine Moylan". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020.
  9. ^ Lisbeth, Mme. (June 13, 1931). "Wild Waves Say, 'Welcome, Pretty Maidens' to Cinema Damsels". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Mrs. Singleton, Beauty Titlist, Dies at Age 65". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 11, 1969. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Stage Beauty Marries". Detroit Free Press. June 25, 1931. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Mrs. J. H. Singleton". Chicago Tribune. June 19, 1931. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c d "Texas Beauty Is Divorced". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. February 3, 1939. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Miss Singleton, Mr. Sullivan Wed in Church". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. February 24, 1950. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Moylan, Catherine". International Motion Picture Almanac. Quigley Publishing Company: 622. 1936.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catherine Moylan.
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