Joan Valerie

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Joan Valerie
Hollywood Comes to MO - Joan Valerie1.jpg
Valerie in 1939
Born
Helen Vlahakis

(1911-07-15)July 15, 1911
Sparta, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJanuary 30, 1983(1983-01-30) (aged 71)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1935–1953
Spouse(s)Paris Methusis
​
​
(m. 1940; div. 1942)​
Children2[1]

Joan Valerie (born Helen Vlahakis;[2] July 15, 1911 – January 30, 1983) was an American actress, who appeared mainly in B movies in the late 1930s and 1940s.

Early years[]

Born in Sparta, Wisconsin,[3] Valerie was the daughter of Michael Vlahakis.[4]

She was a 1931 graduate of Rhinelander High School.[5] She participated in local play productions in her hometown[6][7] and was active in theatrical productions[2] at Morningside College.[8]

In 1932, Vlahakis was runner-up for the title of "Miss Wisconsin."[9]

In 1934, Vlahakis was selected from a group of 44 women as Morningside College's "most beautiful girl,"[10] Miss Morningside.[3]

Film[]

Valerie initially changed her name to "Helen Valkis" for acting purposes.[2] She was discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse.

In 1928, she was the leading lady in Yukon Trails, a production that was filmed in Valerie's hometown, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with an all-local cast.[11]

Vlahakis' performance as the lead in 's Not So Long Ago in Hollywood led to two film studios' giving her screen tests, one of which resulted in a small part in Reckless (1935).[3] After signing a contract (as Helen Valkis) with the film company in 1935,[12] she received a long-term contract from Warner Bros. in 1936.[13]

Other of her films include Confession, The Prince and the Pauper, Day-Time Wife, Sergeant Murphy, Rio Rita, and the Charlie Chan film Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum.

Personal life[]

She was married to Paris Methusis[14] and, in 1940,[15] to Grant Richards.[14] She and Richards, with whom she had a daughter, Jo-Ellen Rose, were divorced September 9, 1942. A newspaper report said that Valerie "sued under her true name of Helen Jaffe."[15] She also had a son, George.[16]

Partial filmography[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Clipped from the Rhinelander Daily News". The Rhinelander Daily News. August 1951. p. 5.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Beauty of Girl Here Is Lauded by Californian". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. January 4, 1935. p. 5. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Bright Future in Drama Predicted for Local Girl". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. March 29, 1935. p. 8. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. ^ "Many Here for Wedding Rites". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. June 16, 1931. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. ^ "Helen Valkis Was Active in School Plays". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 18, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. ^ "(ad for play)". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 17, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. ^ "Announce Personnel for Historical Pageant Here". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. June 30, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. ^ "Orchestra Will Appear During Guild Program". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 17, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. ^ "Miss Vlahakis Wins Honor as Beauty Queen". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 26, 1934. p. 2.
  10. ^ "Miss Vlahakis Wins Honor as Beauty Queen". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 26, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. ^ "Rhinelander Movie Is Shown This Week". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 26, 1928. p. 2. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. ^ "Signs Movie Contract". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 21, 1935. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  13. ^ "Warners Sign Helen Valkis". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. October 7, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Joan Valerie". Omnilexica. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Wins Custody of Daughter". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. September 10, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  16. ^ Muller, Pat (August 1, 1951). "Movie Actress Is Vacationing In Home Town". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access

External links[]

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