John Boles (The leader of the Riffs)

Thanks Chimichanga for these great avatars!.....................You may well know me as Victor Moritz from Frankenstein but I was born John Boles to John Monroe and Jane (Love) Boles on October 27th, 1895 in Greenville, Texas. I graduated from University of Texas at Austin with honors majoring in medicine. In 1917 I met Marielite Dobbs whom I married and had 2 children with; Frances Marcelita and Janet. I served in WWI as a spy in the Army Intelligence Service and was a spy in Germany, Bulgaria and Turkey and was wounded twice. Afterwards I dropped the medical studies (much to my parents chagrin) and went to study music in New York where I starred in the Broadway musical LITTLE JESSE JAMES (1923). I then went to Hollywood where I starred in 2 MGM silent films SO THIS IS MARRIAGE and EXCUSE ME and then returned to New York. This was where my handsome physique got me noticed by Gloria Swanson. She had seen me in the play KITTY’S KISSES in 1926. She persuaded me to go back to Hollywood so I packed up my wife and kids and went west where I was in the film LOVES OF SUNYA (1926 – United Artists). Unfortunately, because the movies were still silent I was unable to show off my singing ability until late in the decade where it was very easy for me to transfer over to talkies. I would then star in RIO RITA (1929) and DESERT SONG (1930). The latter would make me a matinee’ idol and it was mostly because of my singing voice. Loaned out to Warner Brothers, I played Pierre Birbeau who masquerades as The Red Shadow, leader of the Riffs. – This incidentally was Hollywood’s first operetta. I was endorsed by The New York Times with them saying “John Boles has a voice that is quite pleasing.” RCA Victor would later hire me to make phonograph records of songs that I had sung in my films – songs such as “You, You Alone” and “For You” both from the musical for Universal called CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD which had me starring opposite Laura LaPlante of CAT AND THE CANARY fame and KING OF JAZZ fame. It was because of my screen presence in CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD that Universal signed me to a major movie contract. I would also record the two songs that made me a matinee idol – both from KING OF JAZZ, another Universal musical; “It Happened in Monterrey” (later recorded by Frank Sinatra) and “Song of the Dawn.” These two songs were actually supposed to be recorded by the main star of that film, Bing Crosby, however he was in jail because of drunk driving! Incidentally, Bela Lugosi is the master of ceremonies in the Hungarian version of this film – replacing Paul Whiteman) Of course you will see me in FRANKENSTEIN (1931) and unfortunately FRANKENSTEIN would also seal the lid on my career – not because it was a horror film but because I would never star in any more musicals after I did ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT in 1930. In 1931 I actually made 4 movies just in that year so it is clear that I was in demand. I would show up in some movies and sing maybe one or 2 songs but mainly because moviegoers grew tired of musicals and operettas and my singing services were no longer needed. Universal starred me in 2 more films both with Laura LaPlante; THE LAST WARNING and SCANDAL. I could then usually be seen playing Urban business men, men whose women were in love my best friend or even dads in such movies as SIX HOURS TO LIVE (1932) with Warner Baxter, AGE OF INNOCENCE (1934) with Irene Dunn, STELLA DALLAS (1937) with Barbara Stanwyck and several with Shirley Temple; CURLEY TOP (1935), LITTLEST REBEL (1935) and STAND UP AND CHEER (1934). At the end of the 1930s I left movie-making for 11 years and then went into the oil business of my home state of Texas. I would later show up singing in the Broadway production of SHOWBOAT as the dashing Gaylord Ravenal and in 1942 I did ROAD TO HAPPINESS– singing Danny Boy and Opera. I returned to Broadway in 1943 to star in ONE TOUCH OF VENUS and also did some radio shows. I did show up in 1950 in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (3 years before Marilyn Monroe would make it what it is today) and finally returned to the big screen in BABES OF BAGHDAD (1952) starring Paulette Goddard and Gypsy Rose Lee. This was probably my worst movie. I admit that if you didn’t see it “You didn’t miss much.” From the mid 50s I lived and worked in San Angelo, Texas where in 1954 I helped to found Pipecoat Service Company, Incorporated which serviced pipelines. You know, when my career started to slow down I didn’t want to just sit around so when I had the chance to get into the oil business I jumped at it. All of the fun appears to have gone out of making movies. In the old days we used to enjoy ourselves. My final return to Hollywood was in 1961 to promote the remake of one of my movies called BACKSTREET. I suffered a stroke on February 27th, 1969 at the age of 73. I was survived by my wife, 2 daughters and 7 grandchildren. There are also some wonderful pictures of me here: http://www.goldensilents.com/stars/johnboles.html...and a nice little write-up..thanks Golden Silents.com!.............. Thanks Chimichanga! Ahh, gotta love my fans!
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