Allan Jones (actor)

Allan Jones (October 14, 1907 – June 27, 1992) was an American actor and tenor.

Allan Jones
Jones in 1945.
Born	Theodore Allen Jones October 14, 1907 Old Forge, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	June 27, 1992 (aged 84) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, actor
Years active	1928–1992
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Buel ​ ​ (m. 1929; div. 1936)​ Irene Hervey ​ ​ (m. 1936; div. 1957)​ Mary Florsheim Picking ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1964)​ Esther Marie Villavincie ​ ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	2, including Jack Jones

He is best remembered as the romantic lead actor in the film musicals Show Boat and The Firefly, as well as the male romantic lead in the Marx Brothers' first two films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races.

Early years

Jones was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania and raised in Scranton Pennsylvania where he graduated from Central High School.[1] His father and grandfather were Welsh coal miners, and he worked in coal mines early in his adult life. He left that occupation to study voice at New York University.[2]

In an interview in 1973, Jones recalled that his father and grandfather were musically talented: "My father had a beautiful tenor voice. So did my grandfather...Grandfather taught violin, voice and piano when he could. My father sang every chance he could get and realized his ambition through me."[3]

Stage

Jones appeared on Broadway a few times, including 1933's Roberta and the short-lived 1934 revival of Bitter Sweet[4] after debuting in Boccacio in 1931.[2]

Film

Jones starred in many film musicals during the 1930s and 1940s. The best-known of these were the original film version of Show Boat (1936), and The Firefly (1937)[5] in which he sang what would become his signature song: "The Donkey Serenade". He is probably best remembered today as the romantic lead opposite Kitty Carlisle and Maureen O'Sullivan respectively, in the first two films the Marx Brothers starred in for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: A Night at the Opera (1935) and A Day at the Races (1937), filling a straight-man role opened by the departure of Zeppo Marx from the team.

His appearance in A Night at the Opera, was well received, and as a result, he won the coveted role of Gaylord Ravenal in the 1936 film version of Show Boat (opposite Irene Dunne) over such screen musical favorites as Nelson Eddy and John Boles. It would be Jones's most distinguished screen portrayal in which, under the direction of James Whale, he displayed fine dramatic acting ability, as well as his obvious singing talent.

Jones made a brief appearance in the 1936 Nelson Eddy–Jeanette MacDonald film Rose Marie, singing music from Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette and Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, but according to Merchant of Dreams, Charles Higham's biography of Louis B. Mayer, Eddy, who apparently considered Jones a rival and a potential threat, asked that most of Jones's footage in Rose Marie be cut, including his rendition of the great Puccini aria E lucevan le stelle – and MGM agreed to Eddy's demand. Jones's final film for MGM was Everybody Sing (1938) opposite Judy Garland and Fanny Brice, in which he introduced the pop standard "The One I Love".

In 1940, Jones moved to Universal Pictures for two musicals: The Boys from Syracuse, with the stage score (severely cut) by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, and One Night in the Tropics with a score by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, was also the screen debut of Abbott and Costello. After these two films, he slipped to leads in several "B" musicals, at Paramount, and Universal, including a reunion with his A Night At The Opera co-star Kitty Carlisle in Larceny with Music (1943). The same year he made a guest appearance, as himself, in the Olsen and Johnson musical Crazy House, where he again performed "The Donkey Serenade".

Recordings

Jones recorded prodigiously throughout his career, primarily for RCA Victor. His 1938 recording of The Donkey Serenade ranks third among all-time sales of single records by RCA Victor.[2]

Radio

In the mid-1940s, Jones and pianist Frankie Carle starred in the Old Gold Show on CBS radio.[6]

Later years

Jones continued performing until the 1980s, starring in stage productions of Man of La Mancha,[7] Paint Your Wagon, Guys and Dolls and Carousel. In 1980, he appeared on the TV show The Love Boat with his son (Jack Jones) as Jack's estranged father.

He also bred and raised race horses on his ranch in California.[8]

Personal life

Jones was married four times. His wives included Hervey, Maria Villavincie,[2] and Mary Florsheim (granddaughter of Milton S. Florsheim).[9][10] He was married to actress Irene Hervey from 1936 to 1957. American pop singer Jack Jones is their son.[11]

Death

Jones died of lung cancer at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City in June 1992, at age 84.[12]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1935	Reckless	Allan
1935	A Night at the Opera	Riccardo Barone	with the Marx Brothers
1936	Rose Marie	Romeo
1936	Show Boat	Gaylord Ravenal
1937	A Day at the Races	Gil Stewart	with the Marx Brothers
1937	The Firefly	Don Diego
1938	Everybody Sing	Ricky Saboni	with Judy Garland and Fanny Brice
1939	Honeymoon in Bali	Eric Sinclair
1939	The Great Victor Herbert	John Ramsey
1940	The Boys from Syracuse	Antipholus of Ephesus / Antipholus of Syracuse
1940	One Night in the Tropics	Jim Moore	film debut of Abbott and Costello
1941	The Hard-Boiled Canary	Michael Maddy
1942	True to the Army	Pvt. Stephen Chandler
1942	Moonlight in Havana	Johnny Norton
1942	When Johnny Comes Marching Home	Johnny Kovacs - aka Johnny O'Rourke
1943	Rhythm of the Islands	Tommy
1943	Larceny with Music	Ken Daniels
1943	Crazy House	Himself
1943	You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith	Tony Smith
1944	Sing a Jingle	Ray King
1945	Honeymoon Ahead	Orpheus
1945	Senorita from the West	Phil Bradley
1964	Stage to Thunder Rock	Mayor Ted Dollar
1965	A Swingin' Summer	Mr. Johnson
1970	A Man Called Sledge

References

1. "Actor-Singer Allan Jones Dies; Got His Start Here," The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA, June 29, 1992
2. Anderson, Nancy (June 18, 1977). "Allan Jones may be starring in his son's movie". The Mercury. Pottstown, PA. p. 48. Retrieved July 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Caffery, Berthia (July 16, 1973). "'Donkey Serenade' Is His Song". St. Petersburg Independent. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
4. Allan Jones at the IBDB database, accessed May 13, 2012
5. "Comedians, Opera Singers Contrasted In Movies Here". Washington Court House Record-Herald. December 11, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved July 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Patterson, Pat (April 12, 1944). "On The Beam". The Mason City Globe-Gazette. p. 2. Retrieved July 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Felter, John (August 31, 1971). "Allan Jones Is Star Of Man of La Mancha". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. 1B. Retrieved March 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Langley, Frank (March 30, 1969). "Multi-Branched Career Keeps 'Oldtimer' Going". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 9E. Retrieved July 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Daniels, Serena Maria (February 15, 2010). "Noted figure in thoroughbred racing circles". Chicago Tribune.
10. "Allan Jones Weds Florsheim Heiress". The Desert Sun. United Press. January 3, 1958. p. 7. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
11. Collins, Glenn (June 30, 1992). "Allan Jones, 84, Hollywood Singing Star, Is Dead". The New York Times. p. D23.
12. "Actor-singer Allan Jones dies". The Bulletin. Bend, Ore. Associated Press. June 29, 1992. Retrieved 19 July 2015.

External links

• Martyn, Marguerite (August 19, 1932). "A New Muny Opera Hero" St. Louis Post-Dispatch

• Allan Jones Tribute
• Allan Jones at IMDb
• Allan Jones at the Internet Broadway Database
• "Allan Jones". Find a Grave. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
• Photographs of Allan Jones