Janis Paige

Janis Paige (born Donna Mae Tjaden; September 16, 1922 – June 2, 2024) was an American actress and singer. With a career spanning nearly 60 years, she was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Paige began singing in local amateur shows at the age of five. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles, where she became a singer at the Hollywood Canteen during World War II, as well as posing as a pin-up model.

This led to a film contract with Warner Bros., although she later left the studio to pursue live theatre work, appearing in a number of Broadway shows. She continued to alternate between film and theatre work for much of her career. Beginning in the mid-1950s, she also made numerous television appearances, as well as starring in her own sitcom It's Always Jan.

Early life Paige was born Donna Mae Tjaden in Tacoma, Washington, the elder child of Hazel Leah ( Simmons) and George S. Tjaden on September 16, 1922, primarily of Norwegian, German, English, and Cornish descent. She had a younger sister named Betty Jane (June 21, 1925, Tacoma, Washington July 16, 2020, Windsor Locks, Connecticut), who was known by her married name of Betty Jane Finney.

Paige began singing in public at age five in local amateur shows. She moved, with her mother and sister, to Los Angeles after graduating from high school, and she was hired as a singer at the Hollywood Canteen during World War II. Courtesy of MGM, she helped entertain the troops in February 1944 at Camp Roberts, California, starring in Rio Rita along with Ann Ayars. During the war, United States Army Air Forces pilots flying the P-61 Black Widow chose her as their "Black Widow Girl". In appreciation, she posed as a pin-up model, dressed in an appropriate costume.

Film roles The Hollywood Canteen was a studio-sponsored club for members of the military. A Warner Bros. agent saw her there, saw her potential and signed her to a contract. She began co-starring in low-budget musicals, often paired with Dennis Morgan or Jack Carson. She co-starred in Romance on the High Seas (1948), the film in which Doris Day made her movie debut. Paige later co-starred in adventures and dramas, in which she felt out of place. Following her role in Two Gals and a Guy (1951), she decided to leave Hollywood.

Broadway Paige appeared on Broadway, and she was a huge hit in a 1951 comedy-mystery play Remains to Be Seen. She also toured successfully as a cabaret singer. In April 1947, she was crowned "Miss Damsite" and participated at the ground-breaking ceremony for the McNary Dam, on the Columbia River, alongside Oregon Governor Earl Snell and Mrs. Cornelia Morton McNary (the widow of Senator Charles McNary).

Stardom came in 1954 with her role as Babe in the Broadway musical The Pajama Game. She was on the December 1954 cover of Esquire, where she was featured in a seductive pose taken by American photographer Maxwell Frederic Coplan. For the screen version, the studio wanted one major movie star to guarantee the film's success, so John Raitt's role of Sid was offered to Frank Sinatra, who would have been paired with Paige. When Sinatra declined, the producers offered Paige's role of Babe to Doris Day, who accepted and was paired with Raitt.

Return to film After six years away, Paige returned to Hollywood in Silk Stockings (1957), which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse,

Paige appeared in touring productions of musicals such as Annie Get Your Gun, Applause, Sweet Charity, Ballroom, Gypsy: A Musical Fable, and Guys and Dolls. In 1984, she was back on Broadway with Kevin McCarthy in a nonmusical play, Alone Together. The tryout tour gave Paige her first experience of the eastern summer-stock circuit, where she said audiences "laughed so hard you just had to wait", and she enjoyed the role so much, she played it again in 1988 at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, this time with Robert Reed.

Television host and roles During the 1955–1956 television season, Paige starred in her own sitcom It's Always Jan as Janis Stewart, a widowed mother.

Janis Paige in It's Always Jan (1955–1956) Paige made her live dramatic TV debut June 27, 1957, in "The Latch Key" on Lux Video Theatre. She appeared as troubadour Hallie Martin in The Fugitive episode "Ballad for a Ghost" (1964). She also had a recurring role as Auntie V, Tom Bradford's sister, in Eight Is Enough.

Paige appeared as a waitress named Denise in both the seventh and ninth seasons of All in the Family. In her first appearance, she has a flirtation with Archie Bunker that threatens to become serious.

Personal life and death Paige was married three times. She married Frank Louis Martinelli Jr., a restaurateur, in 1947; they divorced in 1951. She married Arthur Stander, a television writer and creator of It's Always Jan, in 1956 and divorced him the next year. Paige married composer and music publisher Ray Gilbert in 1962. They remained married until his death on March 3, 1976.

In 2017, at age 95, Paige wrote a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter in which she stated that Alfred S. Bloomingdale had attempted to rape her when she was 22 years old. She alleges that she was sexually assaulted after being lured into Bloomingdale's apartment under false pretenses.

Paige turned 100 on September 16, 2022, and died at her Los Angeles home on June 2, 2024, at the age of 101.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1944 Bathing Beauty Janis musical film directed by George Sidney Hollywood Canteen Studio Guide musical film directed by Delmer Daves 1946 Her Kind of Man Georgia King film noir directed by Frederick De Cordova Of Human Bondage Sally Athelny Two Guys from Milwaukee Polly comedy film directed by David Butler. The Time, the Place and the Girl Sue Jackson 1947 Love and Learn Jackie comedy film directed Frederick de Cordova Cheyenne Emily Carson western film directed by Raoul Walsh Always Together Polly 1948 Winter Meeting Peggy Markham drama film directed by Bretaigne Windust and written by Catherine Turney from the novel of the same title by Grace Zaring Stone under the pseudonym Ethel Vance Wallflower Joy Linnett comedy film directed by Frederick de Cordova Romance on the High Seas Elvira Kent One Sunday Afternoon Virginia Brush 1949 The Younger Brothers Kate Shepherd western directed by Edwin L. Marin The House Across the Street Kit Williams comedy film directed by Richard L. Bare 1950 Fugitive Lady Barbara Clementi This Side of the Law Nadine Taylor film noir directed by Richard L. Bare 1951 Mister Universe Lorraine comedy film directed by Joseph Lerner Two Gals and a Guy Della Oliver / Sylvia Latour 1957 Silk Stockings Peggy Dayton musical film adaptation of the 1955 stage musical of the same name, which was an adaptation of the film Ninotchka 1960 Please Don't Eat the Daisies Deborah Vaughn comedy film directed by Charles Walters and partly inspired by the book of the same name by Jean Kerr 1961 Bachelor in Paradise Dolores Jynson comedy film directed by Jack Arnold1963 Follow the Boys Liz Bradville comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe The Caretakers Marion drama film produced and directed by Hall Bartlett and based on the novel of the same name by Dariel Telfer 1967 Welcome to Hard Times Adah western film directed by Burt Kennedy and based on the novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow 1994 Natural Causes Mrs. MacCarthy thriller film directed by James Becket

Documentary/short subjects Year Title Role Notes 1944 I Won't Play Kim Karol / Sally short film directed by Crane Wilbur 1947 So You Want to Be in Pictures Herself 2003 Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There Herself documentary film by Rick McKay 2021 Journey to Royal: A WWII Rescue Mission Herself documentary film by Christopher Johnson and Mariana Coku

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1949–1950 Bonnie Maid's Versatile Varieties herself 1953 Plymouth Playhouse guest episode: "Baby and Me" 1954 Philip Morris Playhouse guest episode: "Make Me Happy, Make Me Sad" 1955–1956 It's Always Jan Jan Stewart 26 episodes1957 Lux Video Theatre Iris episode: "The Latch Key" Studio 57 guest Episode: "One of the Family"1958 Schlitz Playhouse Bebe Evans episode: "Home Again" Shower of Stars herself episode: "Episode #4.7" Roberta Scharwenka TV film directed by Ed Greenberg and Dick McDonough1959 The Red Skelton Show School Teacher episode: "Bashful Clem" Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse The Redhead episode: "Chez Rouge" Andy Williams Show herself July 7, 1959, episode1960 The Secret World of Eddie Hodges Circus Star TV film and musical directed by Norman Jewison Maisie Maisie Ravier Usold television pilot directed by Edward Ludwig and based on Wilson Collison's novel Dark Dame, aired on the anthology series New Comedy Showcase. Hooray for Loveleading actress TV film and musical directed by Burt Shevelove The Ann Sothern Show Edith episode: "The Girls"1961 Wagon Train Nellie Jefferson episode: "The Nellie Jefferson Story" The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Kathy Hewitt episode: "Happiest Day"1962 87th Precinct Cheryl Anderson episode: "Girl in the Case" Alcoa Premiere Connie Rankin episode: "Blues for a Hanging" The Red Skelton Show Mrs. Cavendish episode: "Ten Baby Fingers and 12 Baby Toes" 1963 The Dick Powell Theater Lavern episode: "Last of the Private Eyes"1964 Burke's Law Sharon McCauley episode: "Who Killed the Swinger on a Hook?" The Fugitive Hallie Martin episode: "Ballad for a Ghost" 1965 The Red Skelton Show Hatta Mari episode: "Dial 'O' for Nothing" 1969 Roberta Scharwenka TV film directed by John Kennedy and Dick McDonough 1971 Sarge Marian Hart episode: "Psst! Wanna Buy a Dirty Picture?"1972 Columbo Goldie Williamson episode: "Blueprint for Murder" Banacek Lydia episode: "To Steal a King" 1973 Mannix Georgia Durian episode: "A Way to Dusty Death" 1974 Police Story Harry's Wife episode: "A Dangerous Age"1975 Gibbsville Lonnie Police Story Irene Doc guest episode: "The Other Woman" Police Story Mrs. Driscoll episode: "Vice: 24 Hours"1976 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Charlene Maguire episode: "Menage-a-Lou" All in the Family Denise 2 episodes All's Fair Barbara episode: "Jealousy" The Nancy Walker Show guest episode: "Dear Dr. Dora" 1976–1977 Lanigan's Rabbi Kate Lanigan 5 episodes 1977 The Betty White Show Wilma episode: "Mitzi's Cousin" 1977–1980 Eight Is Enough Aunt Vivian 5 episodes1978 The Love Boat Phyllis Morrison episode: "A Selfless Love / The Nubile Nurse / Parents Know Best" Alice Ruth episode: "The Cuban Connection" Fantasy Island Charlotte episode: "The Beachcomber / The Last Whodunit" Hawaii Five-O Minnie Cahoon episode: "The Case Against Philip Christie" Charlie's Angels Joan Sayers episode: "Angels Ahoy" The Rockford Files Miriam episode: "A Three-Day Affair with a Thirty-Day Escrow" All in the Family Denise episode: "Return of the Waitress"1980 Valentine Magic on Love Island Madge TV film directed by Earl Bellamy Angel on My Shoulder Dolly Blaine TV film directed by John Berry 1981 Fantasy Island Mabel Martin episode: "High Off the Hog / Reprisal" Happy Days Angela episode: "Mother and Child Reunion" Bret Maverick Mandy Packer 2 episodes Flamingo Road Jenny episode: "The Powers That Be" Lewis & Clark Rose episode: "The Family Affair"1982 Too Close for Comfort Irene Miller episode: "The Last Weekend" Romance Theatre Estelle 5 episodes1983 Matt Houston Lauren Calder episode: "The Purrfect Crime" St. Elsewhere Dee Mackaluso episode: "Remission" Gun Shy Nettie McCoy Fantasy Island Brian's Mother episode: "The Devil Stick / Touch and Go" The Other Woman Mrs. Barnes TV film directed by Melville Shavelson Baby Makes Five Blanche Riddle 5 episodes Trauma Center guest episode: "Trail's End"1984 Night Court Eleanor Brandon episode: "Welcome Back, Momma" No Man's Land Maggie Hodiak TV film directed by Rod Holcomb We Think the World Is Round Nina (voice) TV film directed by Rudy Larriva 1985 Rockhopper Helen Larabee TV film directed by Bill Bixby 1985–1986 Trapper John, M.D. Catherine Hackett 15 episodes 1987 Capitol Laureen Clegg episode: "Episode #1.1268"1989 Mission: Impossible Katherine Foster episode: "The Haunting" General Hospital Aunt Iona Huntington recurring role 1990 Shades of L.A. Ruth Lockwood episode: "Where There's No Will, There's a Weigh-In" 1990–1993 Santa Barbara Minx Lockridge 106 episodes 1992 Room for Two Charlotte Agnoletti episode: "Whose Mouth Is It Anyway?" 1995 Legend Delilah Pratt episode: "Clueless in San Francisco" 1997 Caroline in the City Loretta episode: "Caroline and the Bad Trip" 2001 Family Law Ann Fox episode: "The Quality of Mercy"

Theater Year Title Role Venue Notes 1951–1952 Remains to Be Seen Jody Revere Morosco Theatre (October 3, 1951 – March 22, 1952) directed by Bretaigne Windust, written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, and produced by Leland Hayward 1952 Remains to Be Seen Jody Revere National Tour, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland Summer 1952 1954–1955 The Pajama Game Babe Williams St. James Theatre (May 13, 1954 – June 23, 1955) 1959 High Button Shoes Unknown State Fair of Texas in Dallas at Fair Park 1963–1964 Here's Love Doris Walker Shubert Theatre (October 3, 1963 – July 25, 1964) 1967 Born Yesterday Billie Dawn Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ 1967 Sweet Charity Charity Kenley Players, Various Ohio Cities Summer 1967 1968 Mame Mame Dennis 1969 Mame Mame Dennis tour of various U.S. cities 1970 Gypsy Rose Hershey Community Theater (August 17–22, 1970) with Jack Haskell 1971 Applause Margo Channing performed in Johannesburg, South Africa 1973 Born Yesterday Billie Dawn Country Dinner Playhouse (July 17, 1973 – August 19, 1973) 1974 Desk Set Bunny Watson Thunderbird Dinner Theatre directed by Robert Bruce Holley 1974 Gypsy Rose national tour 1975 Annie Get Your Gun Annie Oakley national tour 1975 The Gingerbread Lady Evy Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (August 19, 1975–unknown) replacement for Carolyn Jones 1978 Guys and Dolls Adelaide national tour Helene Butler Music Box Theatre (October 21, 1984 – January 12, 1985) directed by Arnold Mittelman, written by Lawrence Roman, originally produced at the Whole Theatre Company, and produced by Arnold Mittelman and Lynne Peyser 1987 Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott! or Night of 100 Years Unknown Palace Theatre (June 22, 1987) 1987 The Gingerbread Lady Evy Equity Library Theater directed by Geoffrey C. Shlaes 1988 Alone Together