auntba ( 2008-12-09 )

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Joan Carroll was born Joan Felt on January 18, 1932 in New Jersey. She became an accomplished child actress on both Broadway (Panama Hattie) and in pictures (Primrose Path). She became an RKO Radio Pictures resident juvenile personality in both "A" and "B" pictures. RKO starred Joan in two zany comedies - "Obliging Young Lady" and "Petticoat Larceny". Unlike the sweet screen portrayals of Shirley Temple, Joan Carroll's characters were mischievious and streetwise; her delivery of dialogue was naturalistic, and she often showed more maturity than the adult characters. She continued to work as an adolescent, though less frequently. Two of her best-remembered films of this time were "Meet Me in St. Louis" in 1944 as Margaret O'Brien's older sister and "The Bells of St. Marys" in 1945 when she played a troubled teen confronted by her parents separation.