Lona Andre
Lona Andre (born Launa Anderson,[1] March 2, 1915 – September 18, 1992) was an American film actress, golfer, and businesswoman.
Lona Andre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Launa Anderson March 2, 1915 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | September 18, 1992 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, golfer, businesswoman |
| Years active | 1933–1949 |
| Spouse(s) | Richard E. Patton (m. 1942; died 194?) James T. Bolling (m. 194?; div. 1947) |
Biography
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Andre attracted attention with her first films in Hollywood and was named as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1932.
After a strong finish in the Paramount Panther Woman Contest – won by Kathleen Burke – she was signed to a movie contract by Paramount Pictures. When Paramount did not renew her option, Andre worked as a freelance artist.
During the 1930s she appeared frequently in films, usually as the lead in "B" pictures, and by the end of the decade had starred in more than fifty films.
In 1934 Andre was part of the cast of School For Girls along with Toby Wing, Lois Wilson, Sidney Fox, and Dorothy Lee. In 1936 she appeared alongside Laurel and Hardy in their feature film Our Relations.[2]
In June 1935, Andre eloped to Santa Barbara, California to marry MGM actor Edward Norris, then filed for an annulment action four days after her marriage in Tijuana, Mexico.[3] When she worked with Buster Keaton for Educational Pictures in the mid-1930s, she enjoyed his company and they were often seen nightclubbing.
In October 1942, she married Richard E. Patton.[4]
She was later married to salesman, James T. Bolling, and was divorced from him in March 1947. (An Associated Press story dated May 23, 1947, reported that a judge granted the divorce "yesterday", which would have been May 22, 1947.)[5]
In 1938 Andre set a then world golfing record for women by shooting 156 holes of golf in 11 hours and 56 minutes on the Lake Norconian, California course. Her best round was 91 for 18 holes and her worst was 115.[6]
Her acting career greatly diminished during the 1940s, and she made her last film appearance in 1943, in the Hal Roach featurette Taxi, Mister.
After her film career ended she became a successful real estate broker and never returned to acting.
She was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | The Mysterious Rider | Dorothy | |
| 1933 | The Woman Accused | Cora Matthews | |
| 1933 | Pick-Up | Party Girl | Uncredited |
| 1933 | The Girl in 419 | Chambermaid | Uncredited |
| 1933 | International House | Chorus Queen | |
| 1933 | College Humor | Ginger Chadwick | |
| 1933 | Her Bodyguard | Hat Check Girl | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Too Much Harmony | Show Girl | Uncredited |
| 1933 | The Way to Love | M. Prial's Assistant | Uncredited |
| 1933 | Take a Chance | Miss Miami Beach | |
| 1934 | School for Girls | Peggy | |
| 1934 | Come on Marines! | Shirley | |
| 1934 | Woman Unafraid | Peggy | |
| 1934 | Let's Be Ritzy | Store Clerk | |
| 1934 | Murder at the Vanities | Lona - Earl Carroll Girl | Uncredited |
| 1934 | The Old Fashioned Way | Girl in Audience | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Two Heads on a Pillow | Pamela Devonshire | |
| 1934 | The Merry Widow | Maid to Sonia | Uncredited |
| 1934 | By Your Leave | Florence Purcell | |
| 1934 | Lost in the Stratosphere | Sophie | |
| 1935 | One Run Elmer | The Girl | Short |
| 1935 | Under the Pampas Moon | Girl | Uncredited |
| 1935 | Border Brigands | Diane | |
| 1935 | Broadway Melody of 1936 | Showgirl | Uncredited |
| 1935 | Happiness C.O.D. | Beatrice Manning | |
| 1935 | Skybound | Teddy Blaine | |
| 1935 | The Timid Young Man | Helen | Short |
| 1936 | Custer's Last Stand | Belle Meade | Serial |
| 1936 | Three on a Limb | Molly | Short |
| 1936 | Lucky Terror | Ann Thornton aka Madame Fatima | |
| 1936 | Our Relations | Lily | |
| 1936 | The Plainsman | Southern Belle | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Death in the Air | Helen Gage | |
| 1937 | High Hat | Dixie Durkin | |
| 1937 | The Great Hospital Mystery | Miss White | Uncredited |
| 1937 | Slaves in Bondage | Dona Lee | |
| 1937 | Trailin' Trouble | Patience 'Patty' Blair | |
| 1938 | Sunset Murder Case | Nita Madera | |
| 1938 | Race Suicide | Florence Davis | |
| 1940 | Ghost Valley Raiders | Linda Marley | |
| 1940 | A Night at Earl Carroll's | Chorus Girl | Uncredited |
| 1941 | You're the One | Girl | |
| 1942 | Pardon My Sarong | Girl on Bus with Tommy | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Taxi, Mister | Chorus Girl | |
| 1943 | Confessions of a Vice Baron | Florence Davis (edited from 'Race Suicide') | Uncredited, (archive footage) |
| 1949 | Two Knights from Brooklyn | Chorus Girl | Uncredited, (archive footage) |
References
- Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. (2 volume set). McFarland. p. 22. ISBN 9780786479924. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- Maltin, Leonard (1993). The Laurel & Hardy Book. New York: Curtis Books. p. 272. OCLC 474919453.
- "Hollywood Round-Up". The News-Herald. Pennsylvania, Franklin. United Press. October 21, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved April 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Marriages". Billboard. November 28, 1942. p. 27. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- "Lona Andre Gets Divorce". The Monroe News-Star. Louisiana, Monroe. Associated Press. May 23, 1947. p. 8. Retrieved April 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ""The Norconian Resort Supreme" (in 1938 actress Lona Andre established the women's world golfing record by shooting 156 holes of golf in 11 hours and 56 minutes)". VividlyVintage.com. July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
- Los Angeles Times, "Change Of Mind Balks Marriage", November 2, 1933, Page 17.
- Los Angeles Times, "Musical Picture Tops Program On Pantages Screen", October 18, 1934, Page 19.
- Los Angeles Times, "Daughter Trio Elope; Cupid Snares Mother", June 7, 1935, Page A1.
- Los Angeles Times, "Lona Andre's Marriage Ends With Annulment", October 19, 1935, Page A3.
- Ogden, Utah Standard-Examiner, "Going Hollywood", October 28, 1938, Page 9.
- Syracuse Herald-Journal, "Big Phone Bill Wins Divorce", March 23, 1947, Page 104.
