“Forgotten Hollywood”- Child Star Deluxe…

Posted on August 8, 2021 by raideoman1 | No Comments

Manny P. here…

“`Jane Withers was one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s,  with her films ranking in the top ten list for box-office tickets in 1937 and 1938. Withers’ breakthrough role was co-starring with Shirley Temple in the 1934 movie, Bright Eyes. Her parents would license her name and image for product lines. Paper dolls and books adorned her likeness.    JANE WITHERS –>

“`Jane launched her entertainment career at the age of three after winning a local amateur contest. She was cast on Aunt Sally’s Kiddie Revue, a Saturday-morning children’s program broadcast on WGST radio in Atlanta. She also had her own radio show called Dixie’s Dainty Dewdrop, where she interviewed celebrities who were visiting Atlanta. She moved with her mom to Los Angeles and performed on children’s shows on KFWB radio, did cartoon voice-overs, and also modeled.

        SHIRLEY TEMPLE     JANE WITHERS         

“`After success in It’s a Gift with W. C. Fields, and Bright Eyes, Jane signed a seven-year contract with Fox Film Corporation. She worked with Henry Fonda in his debut film,  The Farmer Takes a Wife. At age eight, she co-starred with sixteen-year old Rita Hayworth in Patty O’Day. In 1987, Withers would deliver Hayworth’s eulogy at her Beverly Hills funeral. After her time at Twentieth Century Fox, Withers signed with Republic Pictures.

“`Jane Withers memorable roles include  Cavalcade, Kid Millions, My Best GalPack Up Your Troubles, and after an eight-year retirement, Giant and Captain Newman M. D. She also did voiceover work for Disney productions. On television, she guest-starred on Bachelor Father, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Munsters, The Love Boat, and Murder She Wrote. From 1963 to 1974, she gained popularity with her portrayal of Josephine the Plumber -> in a series of television commercials for Comet cleanser.

“`Withers was active in dozens of charities.  During World War II, she participated in over a hundred war bond drives and military tours in the United States. She also sent her personal doll collection on a two-year touring exhibition that raised $2.5 million in funds for the Allied war effort. She served as a board member of a local branch of the American Cancer Society and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in the development of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She taught Sunday school at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church together with actress Eleanor Powell and Gloria Stewart, wife of actor James Stewart.

“`On a personal note, I met Withers on two occasions. The first was at the 75th anniversary celebration of Republic Pictures; and the other time was at a Pacific Pioneers Broadcasters luncheon honoring Michael Feinstein. Withers was a proud owner of an autographed copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History.

“`Jane Withers was ninety-five.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 8th, 2021 at 9:05 pm and is filed under Blog by Manny Pacheco. You can follow any comments to this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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