June Storey
| June Storey | |
|---|---|
June Storey in Rancho Grande (1940)
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| Born |
Mary June Storey April 20, 1918 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 18, 1991 (aged 73) Vista, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1934–1949 |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | Eric Bohling Marina Ostreyko |
June Storey (April 20, 1918 – December 18, 1991) was a Canadian-born American film actress who appeared in 45 films during the 1930s and 1940s. She was leading lady to cowboy singer Gene Autry in 10 films.
Mary June Storey was born on April 20, 1918 in Toronto, Canada. Her father, William Storey, was a forest ranger. Her acting interests were evident early when, as a little girl, she put on shows in her family's backyard.
Her family moved to Tyler Lake, Connecticut in the United States when she was five years old. She had a sister, Maxine, who became a "noted motion picture magazine feature writer."
In 1930, her family moved to Southern California, where she attended Laguna Beach High School. She gained acting experience with the Laguna Beach Little Theater.
Pretty in her youth, Storey caught the attention of Fox Film Corporation when she auditioned with them to star in films. After being hired as a contract player by Fox, Storey studied acting with Florence Enright and took dancing lessons from Rita Hayworth's father, Eduardo Cansino. Storey, like Hayworth and other young actors, participated in a "training school" operated by Fox. The school used one-act plays to develop the actors' talents.
In 1934, Storey made her first film appearance in Student Tour. In June 1935, Storey signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Her first credited role was in the 1936 film Girls' Dormitory. In the next two years, she appeared in eight films, including In Old Chicago (1937), Island in the Sky (1938), Down in Arkansas (1938), and Orphans of the Street (1938). In 1938, she was approached by Sol Siegel from Republic Pictures and offered an audition for a leading lady role opposite cowboy star Gene Autry. Storey later recalled, "He asked me if I were interested in trying out for the part. I was athletic and could ride a horse, so I thought I would enjoy the role."
On April 21, 1939, the day after her 21st birthday, Storey became a contract player with Republic Pictures. In 1939 and 1940, she co-starred in ten Gene Autry films as his leading lady: Home on the Prairie, Blue Montana Skies, Mountain Rhythm, Colorado Sunset, In Old Monterey, South of the Border, Rancho Grande, Gaucho Serenade, Carolina Moon, and Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride. According to writer Hans J. Wollstein, Storey was the "perfect leading lady for Autry: very agreeable to look upon, competent as a performer by then, and willing to work long, hard hours on location". The actress Mary Lee often starred alongside her, playing the role of her younger sister. Her career slowed considerably when Autry left acting for a time to serve during World War II. After five additional films with Republic, her contract was terminated by mutual agreement.
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