biography
Born on November 20, 1913, in Starke, Florida, Judy Canova began her career as a child in her family's vaudeville act, which moved to radio in the 1930s with the help of Rudy Vallee. She became a popular radio personality and made a few films in the mid to late 1930s, but her film career didn't take off until she signed with Republic in 1940. The studio put her in a string of popular low-budget films including Scatterbrain (1940) and Joan of Ozark (1943). In combination with her long-running radio show (1943-1955), Canova was dubbed the "Queen of Corn" due to her hillbilly brand of humor. Although her films were very popular with audiences (if panned by many critics), Canova let her film career slide in the late 1940s to concentrate on her popular radio show and her growing family.
LEFT: In June 1941, Canova married James Ripley in Hawaii, but the union was annulled a few months later. This was the second of Canova's four marriages. CENTER: Glamorous photo of Judy Canova from the late 1940s. An attractive woman away from the camera, Canova typically downplayed her looks for film roles. RIGHT: From a 1977 episode of Dinah!; pictured are Dinah Manoff, Lee Grant, Francesca Hilton, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Diana Canova, Judy Canova, and Dinah Shore
the films of judy canova
In Caliente (1935)
Canova with siblings Anne, Zeke, and Pete in In Caliente, Judy Canova's first appearance in a full-length feature film
Going Highbrow (1937)
From Going Highbrow with Gordon Westcott
Thrill of a Lifetime (1937)
From Canova's first starring vehicle, Thrill of a Lifetime with Johnny Downs and Eleanore Whitney
Scatterbrain (1940)
LEFT: From Canova's first film at Republic, Scatterbrain. RIGHT: Republic promotional photo
Puddin' Head (1941)
Canova falls prey to a prank in Puddin' Head
Sis Hopkins (1941)
From Sis Hopkins with Charles Butterworth and Charles Coleman
Joan of Ozark (1942)
With Don Curtis in Joan of Ozark
Sleepytime Gal (1942)
LEFT: With Billy Gilbert, Thurston Hall, and Fritz Field in Sleepytime Gal. RIGHT: With Jerry Lester
True to the Army (1942)
From True to the Army with Mary Treen, Gordon Jones, and Charlotte Sullivan
Louisiana Hayride (1944)
From Canova's first film at Columbia, Louisiana Hayride, with Jessie Arnold and Walter Baldwin
Oklahoma Annie (1952)
With John Russell, Si Jenkins, and Frank Ferguson in Oklahoma Annie
The WAC From Walla Walla (1952)
From the Republic comedy The WAC From Walla Walla
Untamed Heiress (1954)
With Don 'Red' Barry and Ellen Corby in Republic's comedy-musical Untamed Heiress
Television Guest Appearances
LEFT: With frequent co-star Chick Chandler in a 1958 episode of Make Room For Daddy. RIGHT: Canova had an uncharacteristic dramatic role in this 1960 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents
later years
When Judy Canova's contract with Republic lapsed in 1955, she put her career on the back burner and went into semi-retirement. Her her radio show ended roughly at the same time, and she spent time raising her daughters. Canova worked on occasion on Broadway and in nightclubs and television from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. After making a cameo appearance in Disney's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960; with Tony Randall), she made just one other theatrically released film, Paul Bartel's Cannonball (1976; with David Carradine and Mary Woronov). Sadly, Judy Canova passed away in Hollywood on August 5, 1983, of cancer at the age of 69. Canova's younger daughter, Diana Canova, is also an actress who is best known for her role on the ABC-TV sitcom Soap.judy canova films available from movies unlimited
TELEVISION
Pistols 'N' Petticoats, Vol. 1 [DVD] DVD
In "Harold's Double," a pretty young woman and her friend, who resembles Sheriff Harold Sykes (Gary Vinson), try to swipe a gold shipment. And in "The Golden Fleece," a former outlaw (played by Pat Buttram) tries to go straight--but has problems when a $10,000 gold mine deal is at stake; Judy Canova also guests. 50 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English. **2 episodes on 1 disc. 50 min.**
Make Room For Daddy: The Complete Fifth Season [DVD](1957) DVD
Thirty-four episodes from season five--including "Lose Me in Las Vegas," "Terry vs. Kathy," "The Dinah Shore Show," "Danny Meets His Father-in-Law," and "Rusty, the Bully"--are featured in a six-disc set. 13 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English; bonus episode "Danny Meets Andy Griffith"; more.
FILM
Hit The Hay [DVD](1945) DVD
When the owners of a struggling opera company discover a farm girl they believe will draw crowds, they make plans to put her on the stage as their new star under false pretenses. Before you can say "Singin' in the Rain," one of the company's divas threatens to expose their plan to the public. Delightful musical comedy stars Judy Canova, Ross Hunter, and Fortunio Bonanova; directed by Del Lord. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
Oklahoma Annie [DVD](1952) DVD
New deputy Judy Canova sets out to help her sheriff beau clean up a crooked frontier town in a wild western comedy. With John Russell, "Fuzzy" Knight, Denver Pyle. 90 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
The Groom Wore Spurs (1951)/Oklahoma Annie [DVD](1952) DVD
Jack Carson is a Hollywood cowpoke with a rough-and-tumble image onscreen, but who is a pushover in reality. After getting in trouble with gambling and gals in Las Vegas, he calls on lawyer Ginger Rogers, and sparks soon fly, in "The Groom Wore Spurs." Joan Davis also stars. Then, shopkeeper-turned-deputy Judy Canova helps sheriff beau John Russell clean up a crooked frontier town in the wild western/comedy "Oklahoma Annie." With Fuzzy Knight, Denver Pyle. 171 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; newsreel footage.
Lay That Rifle Down [DVD](1955) DVD
Countrified chaos erupts for Judy Canova in this charming "Cinderella" story that finds the comedienne enrolled in a correspondence charm school to better herself, then having to outwit con men trying to swindle her aunt out of her small hotel. Corn-fed comedy also stars Robert Lowery, Richard Deacon. 71 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English. Plays All Regions.
Cannonball [DVD](1976) DVD
"Death Race 2000" director Paul Bartel helmed this fast-moving, action-packed road flick about the illegal L.A.-to-New York Trans-America Grand Prix. David Carradine, Veronica Hamel, Bill McKinney, and Robert Carradine star, with a pre-"Rocky" Sylvester Stallone and filmmakers Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Jonathan Kaplan, and Martin Scorsese popping up in cameos. 94 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital stereo, mono; interviews; photo gallery; poster gallery; theatrical trailer; TV spots.
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filmography
FILM
Cannonball (1976) with Mary Woronov, David Carradine, Robert Carradine, and Aron Kincaid; directed by Paul Bartel
The Murdocks and the McClays (1970) with Dub Taylor and Noah Beery Jr.
Li'l Abner (1967) with Sammy Jackson, Robert Reed, Jerry Lester, and Jeannine Riley
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) with Tony Randall, Eddie Hodges, Patty McCormack, Neville Brand, Mickey Shaughnessy, Andy Devine, Buster Keaton, Parley Baer, John Carradine, and Royal Dano
Lay That Rifle Down (1955) with Robert Lowery and Richard Deacon
Carolina Cannonball (1955) with Andy Clyde
Untamed Heiress (1954) with Don 'Red' Barry
The WAC From Walla Walla (1952) with Irene Ryan and Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer
Oklahoma Annie (1952) with John Russell
Honeychile (1951) with Eddie Foy Jr. and Alan Hale
Hit the Hay (1946) with Ross Hunter and Gloria Holden
Singin' in the Corn (1946) with Allen Jenkins
Louisiana Hayride (1944) with Ross Hunter and Lloyd Bridges
Sleepy Lagoon (1943) with Dennis Day
Chatterbox (1943) with Joe E. Brown and Anne Jeffreys
Joan of Ozark (1942) with Joe E. Brown, Anne Jeffreys, and Eddie Foy, Jr.
True to the Army (1942) with Allan Jones, Ann Miller, and Jerry Colonna
Sleepytime Gal (1942) with Ruth Terry, Hillary Brooke, and Billy Gilbert
Puddin' Head (1941) with Chick Chandler and Eddie Foy, Jr.
Sis Hopkins (1941) with Bob Crosby, Jerry Colonna, and Susan Hayward
Scatterbrain (1940) with Alan Mowbray and Eddie Foy, Jr.
Thrill of a Lifetime (1937) with Ben Blue, Buster Crabbe, Betty Grable, and Leif Erickson
Artists & Models (1937) with Jack Benny, Richard Arlen, and Ida Lupino
Going Highbrow (1935) with Zasu Pitts
Broadway Gondolier (1935) with Dick Powell and Joan Blondell
In Caliente (1935) with Dolores del Rio
The Song of Fame (1934) a short featuring the Canova family
TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Love Boat, episode Captain's Captain, originally aired November 26, 1977
Police Woman, episode The Beautiful Die Young, originally aired September 20, 1974
Love, American Style, episode Love and the Clinical Problem/Love and the Eat's Cafe/Love and the Last Joke/Love and the Persistent Assistant/Love and the Unsteady Steady, originally aired November 9, 1973
Pistols 'n' Petticoats, episode The Golden Fleece, originally aired February 11, 1967
Pistols 'n' Petticoats, episode Daisy and the Gambler, originally aired January 7, 1967
Vacation Playhouse, episode Cap'n Ahab, originally aired September 3, 1965
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, episode Party Line, originally aired November 29, 1960
The Danny Thomas Show, episode The Country Girl, originally aired March 17, 1958
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