The Glory of Gloria Jean

Tribute today to Gloria Jean (Schoonover, 1926-2018). No, she’s not a mash-up of Laura Brannigan and Michael Jackson songs! As any classic comedy fan can tell you, Gloria Jean was a fresh-faced All American Girl under contract with Universal Studios in the late 30s and 40s.

Gloria Jean had originally sung on radio with Paul Whiteman. Talent scouts found her and she was signed to a contract at age 12. One of her earliest notable films was If I Had My Way (1940) with Bing Crosby.

The bulk of her output consisted of throwaway swing era musicals for young people, but comedy fans know these high points best:

* Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941) with W.C. Fields. She plays herself, mysteriously somehow the niece of “Uncle Bill” in easily his most surreal script.

* Ghost Catchers (1944), with Olsen and Johnson, Leo Carrillo, Andy Devine, Walter Catlett, Morton Downey and Lon Chaney, Jr. 

* Copacabana(1947) with Groucho Marx and Carmen Miranda

* Her last starring film was Laffing Time (1959) with El Brendel and B movie western maven Edward Finney

and her last…

* The Ladies Man (1961) with Jerry Lewis! (as an extra)

Here’s a dispatch from the lady herself!