June Allyson

Actor

About

Also Known As

Ella Geisman

Birth Place

Bronx, New York

Born

October 07, 1917

Died

July 08, 2006

Biography

Filmography

These Old Broads (2001)

Addie'S Mother

A Girl, Three Guys, and a Gun (2001)

Joey'S Grandma

That's Entertainment! III (1994)

MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

The Kid with the Broken Halo (1982)

Three on a Date (1978)

Photos & Videos

View All

Glenn Miller Story, The (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Four Saxes And A Clarinet

Girl Crazy (1943) -- (Movie Clip) Treat Me Rough

Family & Companions

Dick Powell

Husband

Actor, director. Married from August 19, 1945 until his death January 2, 1963.

Glenn Maxwell

Husband

Barber shop owner. Married in 1963; divorced in 1965; remarried in 1966 and divorced second time; was Dick Powell's barber.

David Ashrow

Husband

Retired dentist, actor. Married in October 1976; acted together on stage in "My Daughter, Your Son".

Bibliography

"June Allyson"

June Allyson with Frances Spatz Leighton, G.P. Putnam's Sons (1982)

Notes

There is an official Web site devoted to the actress at www.juneallyson.com

In 1988, Allyson was appointed by Ronald Reagan to the Council on Aging.

Biography

Vivacious blonde MGM star of the 1940s and 50s, in light comedies, musicals and romances, with a likably hoarse, slightly flat voice and a wistful girl-next-door quality. After a successful career on Broadway, Allyson appeared in several shorts and then made her feature debut, recreating her peppy ingenue role in the film version of the 1941 Broadway musical, "Best Foot Forward" (1943). Usually cast as sweet and wholesomely girlish types, Allyson brought an occasionally tomboyish quality to roles in films including "Good News" (1947) and "Little Women" (1949). She made a popular romantic team with the boyishly disarming Van Johnson, with whom she co-starred in five films ranging from the musical "Two Girls and a Sailor" (1944) to the rather strange drama "High Barbaree" (1947) to the farce "The Bride Goes Wild" (1948). Allyson's charmingly froggy singing voice also enhanced the appeal of such comic songs as "Thou Swell" and "Cleopatterer."

Allyson later matured into supportive wife roles in the 1950s ("The Stratton Story" 1949, "The Glenn Miller Story" 1954, "Strategic Air Command" 1955), switching gears once to play the shrewish wife in "The Shrike" (1955). When her film career petered out in the late 50s in ill-advised remakes of such 30s successes as "It Happened One Night" ("You Can't Run Away From It" 1956) and "My Man Godfrey" (1957), she turned to starring in a TV anthology drama, "The June Allyson Show," from 1959 to 1961. In later years Allyson did very occasional TV and film work and regularly made appearances in public and in the media to speak of the pleasures of the old Hollywood studio system (as in "That's Entertainment III" 1994). She was married to Dick Powell (with whom she co-starred in "Right Cross" and "The Reformer and the Redhead," both 1950) from 1945 until his death in 1963.

Filmography

Life Events

1937

Appeared in Vitaphone short films; debut, "Swing For Sale"

1938

Worked in educational films

1939

Acted in the stage musical "Very Warm for May", directed by Vincente Minnelli

1940

Understudied Betty Hutton in the stage musical "Panama Hattie", starring Ethel Merman

1941

Garnered attention in a prominent supporting role in the Broadway musical, "Best Foot Forward", choreographed by Gene Kelly

1943

First feature film as actress, "Best Foot Foward", recreating her stage role

1944

Established as a star with the musical films, "Music for Millions" and "Two Girls and a Sailor", the latter her first opposite Van Johnson

1946

Starred in first dramatic film, "The Secret Heart"

1948

Last appearance in a musical until the mid-1950s, near the end of her contract with MGM, "Words and Music", in which she was one of many guest stars; performed the song, "Thou Swell"; for the rest of her career, concentrated on comedies and dramas

1953

Last of five films opposite Van Johnson, "Remains to Be Seen"

1955

Made annual exhibitors poll, sponsored by the "Motion Picture Herald", of the top ten boxoffice stars; placed 9th

1956

Last film for MGM for many years, "The Opposite Sex"; film was also her last musical

1959

Starred in the TV anthology series, "The June Allyson Show"

1959

Played last feature starring role in "Stranger in My Arms"; was also last film for 13 years

1970

Succeeded Julie Harris as star of the Broadway play "40 Carats"; first stage role in two decades

1972

Returned to films in "They Only Kill Their Masters"

1978

Made one-shot return to films in "Blackout"

1984

Signed long-term contract with Kimberly Clark to be a commercial spokesperson for the company's products Depends & Poise

1990

Last film acting role in ""Stranger in My House"

1994

Was one of the hosts of the musical compilation documentary, "That's Entertainment III"

Photo Collections

Two Girls and a Sailor - Publicity Still

Here is a publicity still from Two Girls and a Sailor (1944), starring Van Johnson and June Allyson. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Little Women (1949) - Publicity Stills

Here are a few Publicity Stills from Little Women (1949). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Three Musketeers (1948) - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are a few photos taken behind-the-scenes of MGM's The Three Musketeers (1948), starring Gene Kelly, June Allyson, and Van Heflin.

The Glenn Miller Story - Movie Posters

Executive Suite - Group Publicity Stills

Here is a series of publicity stills taken of the all-star cast of Executive Suite (1954). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Good News - Behind-the-Scenes photos

Here are several photos taken during rehearsals and shooting of Good News (1947). Look for director Charles Walters, unit producer Arthur Freed, and stars June Allyson and Peter Lawford.

Good News - Publicity Stills

Here are a few publicity stills featuring the cast of MGM's Good News (1947). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Little Women (1949) - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Little Women (1949). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Two Sisters from Boston - Publicity Stills

Here are several Publicity Stills from Two Sisters from Boston (1946). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Three Musketeers (1948) - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for The Three Musketeers (1948). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

The Bride Goes Wild - Publicity Still

Here is a Publicity Still from The Bride Goes Wild (1948). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Opposite Sex - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for MGM's The Opposite Sex (1956). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Meet the People - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from MGM's Meet the People (1944), starring Lucille Ball and Dick Powell. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Battle Circus - Pressbook

Here is the campaign book (pressbook) for Battle Circus (1953). Pressbooks were sent to exhibitors and theater owners to aid them in publicizing the film's run in their theater.

The Stratton Story - James Stewart and June Allyson Publicity Stills

Here are a number of stills of James Stewart and June Allyson, taken to help publicize The Stratton Story (1949). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Reformer and the Redhead - Movie Poster

Here is the American One-Sheet Movie Poster for The Reformer and the Redhead (1950), starring Dick Powell and June Allyson. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Her Highness and the Bellboy - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945), starring Hedy Lamarr and Robert Walker. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Executive Suite - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Executive Suite (1954). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Words and Music - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for the MGM musical Words and Music (1948). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

June Allyson - Publicity Photos

Here are a few publicity photos of June Allyson.

Dick Powell and June Allyson - Publicity Stills

Here is a series of publicity stills featuring husband-and-wife Dick Powell and June Allyson in domestic situations. They were taken in connection with their co-starring film Right Cross (1950), produced at MGM.