Catherine Moylan

Catherine May Moylan (July 4, 1904 – September 9, 1969) was an American film and television 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).

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.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • model
Spouse(s)
John H. Singleton
​
​
(m. 1931; div. 1939)​
Children1

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

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 $91,901,914 in 2019) 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

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
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
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
  1. "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. 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. Archived copy.
  3. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database Catherine Sylvia Singleton, 005035200; Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas. 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. "Catherine Moylan". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020.
  8. "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. "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. "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.
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