Barbara Jo Allen
Known for Acting · 58 credits
- Born
- 1906-09-02
- Died
- 1974-09-14
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Vera Vague · Marian Barbara Henshall
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (4)
Movies (54)
Sleeping Beauty
1959
as Fauna (voice)
The Sword in the Stone
1963
as Scullery Maid (voice) (uncredited)
The Women
1939
as Receptionist (uncredited)
Melody Ranch
1940
as Veronica Whipple
Goliath II
1960
as Goliath II's Mother
Mohawk
1956
as Aunt Agatha
The Opposite Sex
1956
as Dolly DeHaven
Cowboy Canteen
1944
as Vera Vague
Girl Rush
1944
as Suzie Banks
Ice Capades Revue
1942
as Aunt Nellie
Design for Scandal
1941
as Janie
Snafu
1945
as Madge Stevens
Broadway Melody of 1940
1940
as Ms. Konk (uncredited)
Larceny, Inc.
1942
as Mademoiselle Gloria
The Mad Doctor
1940
as Louise Watkins (as Barbara Allen [Vera Vague])
Moon Over Las Vegas
1944
as Auntie
Melody and Moonlight
1940
as Adelaide Barnett
Moving Vanities
1939
as Mrs. Errol
Swing Your Partner
1943
as Vera Vague
Earl Carroll Sketchbook
1946
as Sherry Lane
Lake Placid Serenade
1944
as Countess
Rosie the Riveter
1944
as Vera Watson
Priorities on Parade
1942
as Mariposa Ginsbotham
Village Barn Dance
1940
as Vera Vague
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
1942
as Tabitha Hazy
Buy Me That Town
1941
as Henriette Teagarden
Disney’s Coyote Tales
1991
as Goliath II’s Mother (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Ice-Capades
1941
as Vera Vague
Get Going
1943
as Matilda Jones
The Three Stooges Follies
1974
as Vera Clayton (archive footage)
Nursie Behave
1950
as Vera Vague
Miss in a Mess
1949
as Vera Vague
You Dear Boy!
1943
as Vera
Square Dance Katy
1950
as Gypsy Jones
Hiss and Yell
1946
as Vera Vague
Happy Go Wacky
1952
as Vera Vague
Columbia Laff Hour
1956
as Vera Vague (archive footage)
Strife of the Party
1944
as Vera Clayton
Sing, Dance, Plenty Hot
1940
as Susan
Kennedy the Great
1939
as Mrs. John Potter
Calling All Fibbers
1945
as Vera Vague
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
1941
as Myra Stanhope
Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid
1944
as Mrs. Terwilliger ("Blue Eyes")
Clunked in the Clink
1949
as Vera Vague
The Jury Goes Round 'n' Round
1945
as Vera Vague
Born to Be Loved
1959
as Irene Hoffman
Wha' Happen?
1949
as Vera
She Took a Powder
1951
as Vera Vague
She Snoops to Conquer
1944
as Vera
Cupid Goes Nuts
1947
as Vera Vague / Prudy Vague
Doctor, Feel My Pulse
1944
as Vera Vague
Headin' for a Weddin'
1946
as Vera Vague
Major Difficulties
Reno-Vated
1946
as Vera Butts
About Barbara Jo Allen
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 bec… With 58 credits spanning from 1939 to 1991, Barbara Jo Allen has appeared in 54 films and 4 TV shows.
Fans searching for Barbara Jo Allen movies, Barbara Jo Allen filmography, or the latest projects starring Barbara Jo Allen can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Barbara Jo Allen Movies
- Sleeping Beauty (1959) — as Fauna (voice)
- The Sword in the Stone (1963) — as Scullery Maid (voice) (uncredited)
- The Women (1939) — as Receptionist (uncredited)
- Melody Ranch (1940) — as Veronica Whipple
- Goliath II (1960) — as Goliath II's Mother
Where to Watch Barbara Jo Allen Films
Most Barbara Jo Allen movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Barbara Jo Allen, check our movies catalogue and browse page.