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Original and Reproduction Judy Canova Posters and Photos Available from Movie Goods
Judy Canova
1913-1983
Updated 2/2/2008.
biography
Born in November 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 radio show and raising a 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. RIGHT: Glamorous photo of Judy Canova from the late 1940s
Unhappy with the low budgets on her Republic films, she went on loanout to Columbia, but Canova found that Columbia, much like Republic, devoted too little money in producing her films. Between 1946 and 1951, she made no movies, focusing instead on her popular radio show. She returned to Republic in 1951 for the film Honeychile.
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 WAC From Walla Walla
Untamed Heiress (1954)
With Don 'Red' Barry and Ellen Corby in Untamed Heiress
Canova on Television
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 with her two growing 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), she made just one other film, Paul Bartel's Cannonball (1976; with David Carradine and Mary Woronov). Sadly, Judy Canova passed away in Hollywood in August 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn [DVD](1960) DVD
Cast off for a raft ride down the Mississippi you'll never forget in this fine rendition of Mark Twain's timeless adventure. Eddie Hodges is Huck, former boxer Archie Moore his comrade, Jim, and Tony Randall, Neville Brand, Andy Devine, John Carradine, and Buster Keaton are some of the folk they encounter on their perilous journey. 107 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; theatrical trailers.
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.
judy canova music available from amazon.com
Judy Canova Collectors Edition: This CD includes 12 of Canova's best songs, including Wasbash Cannon Ball, I Was Wrong, and Just Because.
filmography
FILM
Cannonball (1976) with Mary Woronov, David Carradine, Robert Carradine, and Aron Kincaid; directed by Paul Bartel
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) with Eddie Hodges
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 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
The Love Boat, episode Captain's Captain, originally aired November 26, 1977
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 ?, originally aired March 17, 1958
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This page premiered October 18, 2002.
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