James Barton (actor): Difference between revisions
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| birth_place = [[Gloucester City, New Jersey|Gloucester City]], [[New Jersey]], USA |
| birth_place = [[Gloucester City, New Jersey|Gloucester City]], [[New Jersey]], USA |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|2|19|1890|11|1}} |
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|2|19|1890|11|1}} |
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| death_place = [[Mineola, New York|Mineola]], [[ |
| death_place = [[Mineola, New York|Mineola]], [[New York] |
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| deatj_cause =[[myocardial infarction|Heart attack]] |
| deatj_cause =[[myocardial infarction|Heart attack]] |
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| occupation = [[vaudeville|Vaudevillian]], [[character actor]] |
| occupation = [[vaudeville|Vaudevillian]], [[character actor]] |
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'''James Barton''' (November 1, 1890 - February 19, 1962) was an |
'''James Barton''' (November 1, 1890 - February 19, 1962) was an American [[vaudeville|vaudevillian]], stage performer, and a [[character actor]] in films and television. |
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Born into a theatrical family in [[Gloucester City, New Jersey|Gloucester City]], [[New Jersey]], Barton began performing in [[minstrel show]]s and [[burlesque]] houses throughout the country in 1898.<ref name=Street>[http://www.streetswing.com/histmai2/d2brton1.htm James Barton at StreetSwing.com]</ref> His years of experience working with [[African American]] performers led to his becoming one of the first [[jazz]] dancers in America.<ref name=Dance>[http://danceruniverse.com/stories/issues/200810/notable_feet-James-Barton-O35/ James Barton at DanceUniverse.com]</ref> |
Born into a theatrical family in [[Gloucester City, New Jersey|Gloucester City]], [[New Jersey]], Barton began performing in [[minstrel show]]s and [[burlesque]] houses throughout the country in 1898.<ref name=Street>[http://www.streetswing.com/histmai2/d2brton1.htm James Barton at StreetSwing.com]</ref> His years of experience working with [[African American]] performers led to his becoming one of the first [[jazz]] dancers in America.<ref name=Dance>[http://danceruniverse.com/stories/issues/200810/notable_feet-James-Barton-O35/ James Barton at DanceUniverse.com]</ref> |
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[[Category:1962 deaths]] |
[[Category:1962 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction]] |
[[Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction]] |
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[[Category:People from Gloucester City, New Jersey]] |
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Revision as of 04:18, 30 May 2013
{{Infobox person | name = James Barton | image = James barton 1962.JPG | alt = James Barton 1962 | caption = Barton in one of his last roles on CBS's Frontier Circus (1962). | birth_date = November 1, 1890 | birth_place = Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA | death_date = February 19, 1962 (aged 71) | death_place = Mineola, [[New York] | deatj_cause =Heart attack | occupation = Vaudevillian, character actor }}
James Barton (November 1, 1890 - February 19, 1962) was an American vaudevillian, stage performer, and a character actor in films and television.
Born into a theatrical family in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Barton began performing in minstrel shows and burlesque houses throughout the country in 1898.[1] His years of experience working with African American performers led to his becoming one of the first jazz dancers in America.[2]
After working with repertory companies in the South and Midwest, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revue The Passing Show of 1919 in a role originally intended for Ed Wynn.[1][2] He frequently was the highlight in otherwise-mediocre productions, and a critic for the Daily News noted, "Whenever the book failed him, he shuffled into one or more of his eccentric dances." [2] Barton's other theatre credits include Sweet and Low in 1930, Tobacco Road in 1933, Bright Lights of 1944 (which ran only four performances), The Iceman Cometh in 1946, and Paint Your Wagon in 1951.
While appearing on Broadway, Barton also achieved the highest pinnacle of status in vaudeville, headlining at the Palace Theater on Broadway not once but eight times, from March 1928 through April 1932.[3]
Barton's film career was also concurrent to his stage performances. It began in the silent era, in 1923, and he appeared in a number of Paramount short subjects in 1929.
On television he appeared in The Ford Television Theatre, Lux Video Theatre, Studio One, The Kaiser Aluminum Hour, Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theatre, The Rifleman, The Americans, Adventures in Paradise, Naked City, and Frontier Circus.
Bing Crosby considered James Barton to be one his ten favorite performers of all time, alongside names such as Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Judy Garland, and Nat King Cole.[4]
Barton died of a heart attack in Mioneola, New York.
Partial filmography
- The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)
- The Time of Your Life (1948)
- Yellow Sky (1948)
- Wabash Avenue (1950)
- The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950)
- Here Comes the Groom (1951)
- The Naked Hills (1956)
- The Misfits (1961)
References
- ^ a b James Barton at StreetSwing.com
- ^ a b c James Barton at DanceUniverse.com
- ^ Encyclopedia of Vaudeville, Anthony Slide, page 26
- ^ David Wallechinsky, Irving Wallace, Amy Wallace, The Book of Lists, 1977, p. 118
External links
- James Barton at the Internet Broadway Database
- James Barton at IMDb
- James Barton on Answers.com
- James Barton Filmography
- James Barton Papers, 1890s-1990s, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts