Lois January

Acting

Lois January

Born
Died
(aged 93)
Birthplace
McAllen, Texas, USA
Credits
36 titles

Biography

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.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 36

YearTitleRole
1987 Double Agent Film Dowager
1977 The Richard Pryor Special? Film Older Woman
1973 My Darling Daughters' Anniversary Film Nurse
1969 Marcus Welby, M.D. TV Mrs. Sloan (1 ep)
1961 The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come Film Mrs. Dean
1960 My Three Sons TV (2 ep)
1954 Father Knows Best TV Mrs. Martin (1 ep)
1943 Three Cheers for the Girls Film Brunette in Dressing Room (uncredited)
1937 Courage of the West Film Beth Andrews
1937 The Red Rope Film Betty Duncan
1937 Moonlight on the Range Film Wanda Brooks
1937 The Trusted Outlaw Film Molly Clark
1937 Bar-Z Bad Men Film Beth Harvey
1937 Lightnin' Crandall Film Sheila Shannon
1937 The Roaming Cowboy Film Jeannie Morgan
1936 One Rainy Afternoon Film Mr. Perelin's Secretary
1936 Rogue of the Range Film Stella Lamb
1936 Lightnin' Bill Carson Film Dolores Costello
1936 Border Caballero Film Goldie Harris
1935 Skull and Crown Film Barbara Franklin
1935 The Pace That Kills Film Jane Bradford
1935 Society Fever Film Julie Prouty
1935 Stolen Harmony Film Girl in Sextette (uncredited)
1935 Arizona Bad Man Film Lucy Dunston
1935 Life Returns Film Nurse
1934 The Human Side Film High School Girl (uncredited)
1934 Tripping Through the Tropics Film Sally
1934 Susie's Affairs Film Susie's Brunette Roommate
1934 Let's Talk It Over Film Alice
1934 Let’s Be Ritzy Film Stenographer
1934 Uncertain Lady Film Maid (uncredited)
1934 School for Romance Film Student
1933 By Candlelight Film Ann
1933 Umpa Film Nurse
1932 Show Business Film Showgirl on Train (uncredited)
1932 Too Many Women Film Girl in White Wool Hat (uncredited)
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