Victoria Horne

Victoria Horne (November 1, 1911 – October 10, 2003) was an American character actress, appearing in 49 films (uncredited in 25 of these) during the 1940s and 1950s.

Victoria Horne
Victoria Horne (second from left) with the Three Stooges and co-star Patricia Wright (second from right) in Cuckoo on a Choo Choo.
Born(1911-11-01)November 1, 1911
DiedOctober 10, 2003(2003-10-10) (aged 91)
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Other namesVictoria Horne Oakie
Alma materAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts
OccupationActress
Years active1944-1959
Spouse(s)
(m. 1950; died 1978)

Early years

Horne was born on November 1, 1911, in New York City, New York, to Ignatz Hornstein (who emigrated from Braila, Romania) and Mary Louise Schoenwetter Hornstein.[1] She was the second of four children. The family named was changed to "Horne" when she was a child.

She was a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[2]

Career

The films in which she appeared included Blue Skies, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff. Perhaps her best-known film roles were as James Stewart's love-searching niece Myrtle Mae Simmons in the 1950 film adaptation of Mary Chase's play Harvey, as Roberta in the 1952 Three Stooges short subject Cuckoo on a Choo Choo, and as Nabura, a villainous Japanese agent in the 1945 serial Secret Agent X-9.

Personal

She married actor Jack Oakie in 1950 and remained with him until his death on January 23, 1978. After his death, she arranged the posthumous publication of her late husband's book, Jack Oakie's Double Takes and also published a number of other books about him.

Victoria and Jack Oakie lived their entire married life at "Oakridge", their 11-acre (45,000 m2) estate at 18650 Devonshire Street (just west of Reseda Boulevard) in Northridge, Los Angeles, California. Victoria Oakie continued to live there after her husband's death and bequeathed the estate to the University of Southern California. After two failed attempts to develop the property, Oakridge was acquired by the City of Los Angeles. The city plans to use the property as a park and community event center. Oakridge was originally commissioned by Barbara Stanwyck and designed by Paul Williams, and is considered to be one of the last remnants of the large Northridge estates famed for thoroughbred breeding. The house and grounds are Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #484.[3][4][5]

Death

Horne died on October 10, 2003, in a retirement home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 91.[2]

Legacy

The Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation underwrites "lectures on comedy and scholarships for deserving film and theater students at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country."[6] An official of Syracuse University said that money provided by the foundation "was a godsend" in helping the university establish its semester-in-Los-Angeles program.[7]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1944Phantom LadyMiss PaytonUncredited
1944Men on Her MindMinor RoleUncredited
1944The Scarlet ClawNora
1944San Diego, I Love YouMrs. AllsopUncredited
1944Murder in the Blue RoomSecond MaidUncredited
1945Roughly SpeakingMaid at MillwoodUncredited
1945The UnseenLilyUncredited
1945Pillow to PostMildred HenryUncredited
1945That's the SpiritPatience
1945Secret Agent X-9NaburaSerial
1945Love, Honor and GoodbyeMiss Whipple
1945Pillow of DeathVivian FletcherVoice, Uncredited
1946The Scarlet HorsemanLoma
1946Cinderella JonesAgnesUncredited
1946To Each His OwnNurse Daisy Gingras
1946In Old SacramentoMa DodgeUncredited
1946She Wrote the BookThe MaidUncredited
1946Blue SkiesMartha - Mary Elizabeth's Nanny
1947Suddenly, It's SpringWAC Lt. Billings
1947The Guilt of Janet AmesNurseUncredited
1947Smash-Up, the Story of a WomanWomanUncredited
1947The Ghost and Mrs. MuirEva Muir
1947The Crimson KeyMiss Phillips
1947Key WitnessNurse SibleyUncredited
1947Forever AmberQuaker WomanUncredited
1947Daisy KenyonMarsha - Dan's SecretaryUncredited
1948The Mating of MillieNurseUncredited
1948The Gentleman from NowhereMiss KeamsUncredited
1948The Return of OctoberMargaret GrantUncredited
1948The Snake PitWard 33 InmateUncredited
1949The Life of RileyLucy Monahan
1949Streets of San FranciscoWitnessUncredited
1949Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris KarloffMrs. Hargreave
1949Mary Ryan, DetectiveWilma Hall
1950The Good Humor ManBride
1950Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a ChanceMiss Tucker
1950The MenParaplegic's WifeUncredited
1950Never a Dull MomentShivaree PartyerUncredited
1950HarveyMyrtle Mae Simmons
1951The Company She KeepsMarcia GustonUncredited
1951Cuban FireballThe Maid
1952Scandal SheetMaryUncredited
1952DreamboatWaitress at Ruby'sUncredited
1952Cuckoo on a Choo ChooRobertaShort
1953The Blue GardeniaDisturbed Woman with Big FeetUncredited
1953Affair with a StrangerMrs. Wallace
1959The Wonderful CountryTownswoman at DanceUncredited, (final film role)

References

  1. Foote, Lisle (2014). Buster Keaton's Crew: The Team Behind His Silent Films. McFarland. p. 89. ISBN 9780786496839. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  2. McLellan, Dennis (October 17, 2003). "Victoria H. Oakie, 91; Gave Up Acting Career for Film Comic Husband". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  3. Book description for Jack Oakie's Oakridge at Amazon.com. Accessed June 16, 2007. (This appears to be incorrect; California Historical Landmark #484 is Georgetown, while Oakridge is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #484.)
  4. "City of Los Angeles Acquires Historic Oakridge Estate" (PDF). City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, Office of Historic Resources. July 2010. p. 5. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  5. "Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, Office of Historic Resources. August 9, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  6. "The Oakie Foundation". Syracuse University: Los Angeles Semester. Syracuse University. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  7. Saval, Malina (July 19, 2017). "Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation Gives Back". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2017.

Bibliography

  • Jack Oakie (1980). Jack Oakie's Double Takes. Strawberry Hill Press. ISBN 0-89407-019-3. Autobiography published posthumously by Oakie's widow on January 1, 1980. 240 pages.
  • Victoria Horne Oakie (1980). Jack Oakie's Oakridge. Strawberry Hill Press. ISBN 978-0-89407-102-7. A history of the Oakie family home, "Oakridge". 126 pages.
  • Victoria Horne Oakie (1994). "Dear Jack": Hollywood birthday reminiscences to Jack Oakie. Strawberry Hill Press. ISBN 978-0-89407-113-3. Letters of congratulation and reminiscence sent from almost 150 celebrities to Jack Oakie in celebration of his 70th birthday. Compiled & edited by Mrs Oakie to commemorate his 90th birthday. 140 pages.
  • Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie (1997). When the Line Is Straight: Jack Oakie's Comedy in Motion Pictures. Strawberry Hill Press. ISBN 978-0-89407-140-9.
  • Victoria Horne Oakie (2001). Life With Jack Oakie: Anecdotes. Strawberry Hill Press. ISBN 0-7862-3417-2.
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