Mildred Coles (actress)

Mildred Blanche Coles (July 18, 1920 – August 31, 1995) was an American actress and former beauty queen, from Warner Bros.[6][7][8]

Mildred Coles
Coles in Blonde Ice (1948)
Born
Mildred Blanche Coles

(1920-07-18)July 18, 1920[1]
DiedAugust 31, 1995(1995-08-31) (aged 75)
Paradise, Butte County, California, U.S.
Other namesGloria Carter
Mildred Blanche Frost
Mildred Blanche Call
OccupationActress
Years active1938–1948[2]
Spouse(s)
John Rodney Frost
(m. 1939; div. 1979)
[3]
Mr Call
(m. 1980)
Children5[4][5]

Early years edit

Coles was born in Los Angeles.[9] The daughter of Thomas R. Coles and Josephine (Warrick) Coles,[10] she graduated from Van Nuys High School and attended Occidental College.[11]

Career edit

Coles came to Hollywood after having acted on stage,[12] initially working in two-reel comedies.[13] She acted primarily in Western films, appearing in more than 20 films overall.[9] Although she was known as a dramatic actress, she also sang and danced.[12]

Coles was the leading lady in the RKO films Hurry, Charlie, Hurry (1941) and Play Girl (1941).[14]

Personal life edit

Coles was married to John Rodney Frost, an attorney in Los Angeles.[15]

Partial filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1939 Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever Uncredited Doria – a Student
1939 Our Neighbors – The Carters Gloria Carter
1940 Money and the Woman Secretary at Bank
1940 Ladies Must Live Chorus girl
1941 Play Girl Ellen Daley[16][17][2][18][19] Grace's protégée
1941 Scattergood Meets Broadway Peggy Gibson
1941 Here Comes Happiness Jessica Vance
1941 Hurry, Charlie, Hurry Beatrice Boone
1941 Lady Scarface Mary Jordan Powell
1942 Sleepytime Gal Connie Thompson
1943 So This Is Washington Jane Nestor Marshall's Secretary
1948 Marshal of Amarillo Marjorie Underwood
1948 Oklahoma Badlands Leslie Rawlins
1948 Desperadoes of Dodge City Gloria Lamoreaux
1948 Bungalow 13 Hibiscus
1948 Bob and Sally Helen Cooper
1948 Blonde Ice June Taylor
1948 Back Trail Helen Frazer

References edit

  1. ^ Mildred Coles, 2015/06/27, Those obscure objects of desire
  2. ^ a b Nixon, Rob. "Play Girl" on TCM.com, Mildred Coles was snatched from uncredited roles and bits to play her first major part on screen. It didn't catapult the former beauty queen to stardom, but she settled into what was for her a satisfying career, mostly in Westerns, before retiring from acting in 1948 at the age of 28.
  3. ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850–1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8VZ-S69 : accessed March 21, 2016), Faith Orton in entry for John Rodney Frost and Mildred Blanche Coles, June 18, 1939; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,114,336.
  4. ^ "California Birth Index, 1905–1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLJ9-4CL : accessed March 21, 2016), Coles in entry for Josephine Faith Frost, May 14, 1942; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
  5. ^ Josephine Faith Frost Marcucci: May 14, 1942 – April 26, 2014, By Sally Anne Frost, 2014-04-28, meet Me in the morning
  6. ^ Actress Mildred Coles Wearing a Swimsuit – JS1561770 – Stock Photo – Corbis
  7. ^ "NOT NECK TO KNEE, BUT NICE". Truth. No. 2688. New South Wales, Australia. July 13, 1941. p. 37. Retrieved March 22, 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Original Fancies And Fads Beauty Theme Of Hollywood's Stars, By Donna Grace, Page 20-A, 1941-07-04, The Milwaukee Sentinel, Google News Archive Search, ...Mildred Coles, pretty Warner Bros, actress,...
  9. ^ a b Kear, Lynn; Rossman, John (2008). The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances. McFarland. p. 241. ISBN 9780786431984. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "Josephine Warrick – Historical records and family trees – MyHeritage". MyHeritage.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Joins Sorority at Occidental". The Van Nuys News. California, Van Nuys. February 17, 1938. p. 9. Retrieved January 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  12. ^ a b "Mildred Coles Lead in 'Stuff of Heroes'". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. November 23, 1940. p. Part II – Page 7. Retrieved January 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  13. ^ "Hollywood Girl Waited Long for Scouts' Return". Democrat and Chronicle. New York, Rochester. United Press. October 21, 1941. p. 10. Retrieved January 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  14. ^ "Mildred Coles Appears In 'Scattergood' Film". The Cumberland News. Maryland, Cumberland. September 17, 1942. p. 15. Retrieved January 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  15. ^ "Soldier Runs Into Legal Opposition in Writing to Actress". The Tampa Times. Florida, Tampa. April 27, 1941. p. Part 3 – Page 12. Retrieved January 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  16. ^ Play Girl began with the working title of "Debutantes, Inc.". Both Sheila Ryan and Elyse Knox were considered for the role of "Ellen Daly", but RKO eventually got Mildred Coles, a former beauty queen, from Warner Bros. to play the part.
  17. ^ "Notes" on TCM.com
  18. ^ Feminine Lead For 'Debutante, Inc.', Page 15, 1940-09-21, Reading Eagle Newspaper, Google News Archive Search, Mildred Coles, beautiful young brunette actress, has been borrowed from Warner Bros, by Lee Marcus, executive producer, to play the romantic ingenue lead...
  19. ^ Miss Coles Gets Break, By Charles R. Moore, 1941-03-30, The Pittsburgh Press, Google News Archive Search

External links edit