Lois January

Personal Info

Known ForActing
Born1912-10-05
BirthplaceMcAllen, Texas, USA

Lois January

Acting

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.

Filmography

Acting (33)

1987
Double Agentas Dowager
5.8
1977
7.2
1943
Three Cheers for the Girlsas Brunette in Dressing Room (uncredited)
6.6
1937
Courage of the Westas Beth Andrews
8.0
1937
The Red Ropeas Betty Duncan
6.5
1937
Moonlight on the Rangeas Wanda Brooks
8.0
1937
The Trusted Outlawas Molly Clark
7.5
1937
Bar-Z Bad Menas Beth Harvey
4.4
1937
Lightnin' Crandallas Sheila Shannon
4.0
1937
The Roaming Cowboyas Jeannie Morgan
10.0
1936
One Rainy Afternoonas Mr. Perelin's Secretary
5.0
1936
Rogue of the Rangeas Stella Lamb
5.0
1936
Lightnin' Bill Carsonas Dolores Costello
7.0
1936
Border Caballeroas Goldie Harris
6.2
1935
Skull and Crownas Barbara Franklin
5.8
1935
The Pace That Killsas Jane Bradford
3.1
1935
Society Feveras Julie Prouty
7.0
1935
Stolen Harmonyas Girl in Sextette (uncredited)
8.0
1935
Arizona Bad Manas Lucy Dunston
6.5
1935
Life Returnsas Nurse
5.1
1934
The Human Sideas High School Girl (uncredited)
9.0
1934
Susie's Affairsas Susie's Brunette Roommate
6.5
1934
10.0
1934
Let’s Be Ritzyas Stenographer
10.0
1934
Uncertain Ladyas Maid (uncredited)
9.0
1934
4.3
1933
5.7
1933
Umpaas Nurse
4.3
1932
Show Businessas Showgirl on Train (uncredited)
6.5
1932
Too Many Womenas Girl in White Wool Hat (uncredited)
8.0