Duane Thompson

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Duane Thompson (1920s, photography by Fred Hartsook)

Duane Thompson (born July 28, 1903 as Lura Duane Malony in Red Oak , Iowa , † August 15, 1970 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actress who became famous during the silent film era . After the talk of the sound film, she had a successful career as a theater actress and speaker in radio plays.

Life

Duane Thompson and her mother, Georgia Ethel Manker, moved from Iowa to Los Angeles in the early 1920s after her husband, Dr. John Henry Malony had separated. Duane took her stepfather's surname, Tommy Thompson, after her mother's remarriage. After working as a dancer in a cafe, she got her first film role in Up and at 'em in 1921 .

Between 1923 and 1929 alone, Thompson took part in around forty films, including several comedies for the Christie Film Company. In 1925 she was voted one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars who were predicted to have a great film career. At times the actress also appeared under the stage name Violet Joy .

After her film career waned with the advent of the talkie, Thompson appeared increasingly in theater productions. So she was seen in 1931 with the theater group The Woodward Players in Philip Barry's play Holiday in St. Louis . In 1934 she became a spokeswoman for the Hollywood Hotel radio program, where she took part - often in a recurring role as a telephone operator - in a large number of radio plays. In 1937, Thompson appeared in the Hollywood Hotel film of the same name . It was her last screen appearance.

Duane Thompson was married twice. His marriage to actor and comedian Emmett K. "Buddy" Wattles in 1928 was divorced, the second marriage to radio producer William T. Johnson lasted until Thompson's death. They had a daughter with Johnson. After retiring into private life in 1940, Duane Thompson continued to live with her family in Los Angeles, where she died on August 15, 1970 at the age of 67.

Filmography (selection)

  • 1921: Up and at 'em
  • 1925: Some Pun'kins
  • 1927: The Silent Avenger
  • 1927: The Desert Pirate
  • 1927: One Hour of Love
  • 1928: The Fightin 'Redhead
  • 1928: The Flyin 'Buckaroo
  • 1928: Wizard of the Saddle
  • 1928: Phyllis of the Follies
  • 1929: Voice of the City
  • 1937: Hollywood Hotel

Web links

Commons : Duane Thompson  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ John Dunning: On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio . Oxford University Press , Oxford 1998, ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3 , p. 323.
personal data
SURNAME Thompson, Duane
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Malony, Lura Duane (maiden name); Joy, Violet
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actress and radio announcer
DATE OF BIRTH July 28, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Red Oak , Iowa
DATE OF DEATH 15th August 1970
Place of death Los Angeles , California