Evelyn Venable

Evelyn Venable was born October 18, 1913, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She became interested in acting and theater while attending the local high school, where both her father and grandfather taught English. Following high school, Evelyn attended Vassar College and the University of Cincinnati. Her mother then died after a long illness which strained the family finances, so Evelyn decided to accept an offer to join Walter Hampden’s touring productions, and during a performance at the Biltmore Theater in Los Angeles, she was singled out and offered several film contracts. After initially turning down the offers, she signed a contract with Paramount in 1932. Her contract was unique in that she would not have to cut her hair, pose for leg art, or start her career in bit parts. *It is also claimed she was the original model for the Columbia Pictures logo, but I have seen the claim made for at least two other actresses.

Evelyn made her film debut with Cradle Song (1933) and proceeded to take leads or second leads in a number of "A" vehicles including Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934) with W.C. Fields, Death Takes a Holiday (1934) starring Fredric March, which is considered her best role, David Harum (1934) and The County Chairman (1935), both Will Rogers' vehicles, The Little Colonel (1935) starring Shirley Temple, and Alice Adams (1935), see inset, starring Katharine Hepburn in the title role. In each of these Evelyn proved a most solid performer, but perhaps her modest, rather delicate nature didn't carry enough weight to make her a star. In any event, she was thereafter relegated to working in second tier productions such as Streamline Express (1935), North of Nome (1936), Racketeers in Exile (1937), and Hollywood Stadium Mystery (1938). Evelyn did add her talents to the Disney animated classic Pinocchio (1940), where she voiced the "Blue Fairy" character. BTW, all voice actors were uncredited in Pinocchio, yet today voice actors are used to draw audiences in.

In 1934 Evelyn married Hal Mohr, the Oscar-winning cinematographer she met on the set of one of Will Rogers' films. The declining frequency and quality of roles caused Evelyn to decide that family came first and she completely retired after appearing in her 24th film opposite Stu Erwin in the light comedy He Hired the Boss (1943). Evelyn returned to college (UCLA) where she studied Greek and Latin and attained a Master's degree. Invited to join the UCLA staff as a drama instructor, she stayed there for decades. She is quoted as saying, "I've seen so many Hollywood families come apart because of the mother's career. I never regretted leaving films. If I have any regrets at all it is in leaving the stage. I might have been a really good actress. There simply was no chance in most of my pictures nor was I getting the proper training." Evelyn died November 15, 1993, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Click on the images for a larger view.

Photoplay, February 1934

Movie Classic Magazine, June 1934

This cigarette card is from the second Player's 1934 Film Stars series. Note the top text which states the card is adhesive (like an old postage stamp) and you can get an album to paste it into for one penny from your local tobacconist. PS - they misreported her birth date by one year.

Frame grabs from Death Takes a Holiday (1934)

Frame grabs from The Little Colonel (1935)

Frame grabs from Harmony Lane, a decidedly "B" production from Mascot.

Frame grabs from Hollywood Stadium Mystery (1938)


Undated publicity still.

Evelyn Venable - What do you think - Allure?