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Barbara Jo Allen

Barbara Jo Allen

Actress

From Wikipedia Barbara Jo Allen (September 2, 1906 – September 14, 1974) was an actress also known as Vera Vague, the spinster character she created and portrayed on radio and in films during the 1940s and 1950s. She based the character on a woman she had seen delivering a PTA literature lecture in a confused manner. As Vague, she popularized the catch phrase "You dear boy!" Allen's acting ability first surfaced in school plays. Following her high school graduation, she went to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. Concentrating on language, she became proficient in French, Spanish, German and Italian. After the death of her parents, she moved to Los Angeles where she lived with her uncle. In 1937, she debuted on network radio drama as Beth Holly on NBC's One Man's Family, followed by roles on Death Valley Days, I Love a Mystery and other radio series. According to Allen, her Vera Vague character was “sort of a frustrated female, dumb, always ambitious and overzealous… a spouting Bureau of Misinformation.” After Vera was introduced in 1939 on NBC Matinee, she became a regular with Bob Hope beginning in 1941. Allen appeared in at least 60 movies and TV series between 1938 and 1963, often credited as Vera Vague rather than her own name. The character she created was so popular that she eventually adopted the character name as her professional name. From 1943 to 1952, as Vera, she made more than a dozen comedy two-reel short subjects for Columbia Pictures. In 1948, she did less acting and instead opened her own commercial orchid business, while also serving as the Honorary Mayor of Woodland Hills, California. In 1953, as Vera, she hosted her own television series, Follow the Leader, a CBS audience participation show. In 1958, she appeared as Mabel, the boss of the flight attendants, in Jeannie Carson's syndicated version of her situation comedy Hey, Jeannie! The program aired only six episodes in syndication. Allen's first marriage was to actor Barton Yarborough. They had one child together. In 1946, the couple co-starred in the two-reel comedy short, Hiss and Yell, nominated for an Academy Award as Best Short Subject. In 1931-32, Allen married Charles H. Crosby. In 1943, she married Bob Hope's producer, Norman Morrell. They had one child and were married for three decades, until her 1974 death in Santa Barbara, California.

Born: September 2, 1906 in New York City, New York, USA

Died: September 14, 1974 (Age 68)

Streaming Sources for all Barbara Jo Allen Movies & TV Shows

Barbara Jo Allen  Movies & TV Credits

Title Rating Job Role(s) Year
Movie
6.6
ActressAunt Nellie1942
Movie
6.6
ActressVera Vague1944
Movie
6
ActressVeronica Whipple1940
Movie
7.3
ActressScullery Maid (voice) (uncredited)1963
Movie
6.4
ActressVera Vague1943
Movie
6.3
ActressIrene Hoffman1959
Movie
7.3
ActressHenriette Teagarden1941
Movie
5.4
ActressVera Vague1941
Movie
5.9
ActressDolly DeHaven1956
Movie
5.1
ActressMatilda Jones1943
Movie
7.3
ActressFauna (voice)1959
Movie
6
ActressAdelaide Barnett1940
Movie
5.7
ActressGypsy Jones1950
Movie
6.3
ActressLouise Watkins (as Barbara Allen [Vera Vague])1940
Movie
6.8
ActressSusan1940
Movie
6.6
ActressTabitha Hazy1942
Movie
4.7
ActressSuzie Banks1944
Movie
6.8
ActressAuntie1944
Movie
ActressVera Vague1940
Movie
6.5
ActressVera Watson1944
Movie
6.5
ActressCountess1944
Movie
6.6
ActressMyra Stanhope1941
Movie
6.9
ActressSherry Lane1946
Movie
6.5
ActressMariposa Ginsbotham1942
Movie
6.1
ActressJanie1941
Movie
7.1
ActressMademoiselle Gloria1942
Movie
5
ActressAunt Agatha1956
Movie
6.6
ActressVera Vague (archive footage)1956
Movie
7
ActressMrs. Terwilliger ("Blue Eyes")1944
Movie
7.1
ActressMs. Konk (uncredited)1940
Movie
7.6
ActressReceptionist (uncredited)1939
Movie
7.5
ActressMadge Stevens1945
TV Show
7.7
Actress1 Episode1960-1962
TV Show
7.8
ActressCelia Mallaver
2 Episodes
1957-1962
TV Show
6.6
ActressMrs. Parkinson
1 Episode
1953-1962
TV Show
7.5
ActressSelf
1 Episode
1954-1960
Short Film
5.8
ActressMrs. John Potter1939
Short Film
6.3
ActressVera Vague1944
Short Film
5.4
ActressVera Clayton1944
Short Film
6.4
ActressVera1944
Short Film
6
ActressVera Vague1945
Short Film
6
ActressVera Vague1945
Short Film
4.6
ActressVera Vague1946
Short Film
5.5
ActressVera Butts1946
Short Film
6.1
ActressVera Vague / Prudy Vague1947
Short Film
5.9
ActressVera Vague1949
Short Film
ActressVera Vague1949
Short Film
ActressVera1949
Short Film
ActressVera Vague1950
Short Film
ActressVera Vague1951
Short Film
ActressVera Vague1952
Short Film
5.7
ActressVera Vague1946
Short Film
6.5
ActressVera1943
Short Film
6.5
ActressGoliath II's Mother1960
Short Film
6.3
ActressMrs. Errol1939
Movie
6.6
ActressGoliath II’s Mother (voice)1991
Title Rating Job Role(s) Year
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