Joy Hodges
Joy Hodges, born Frances Eloise Hodges, was an American singer and actress who performed on radio, on film, on Broadway, and with big bands. Winning a contest at a theater took Hodges to Chicago, where her national career began. From there, she traversed the United States, singing on the radio, in night clubs, with orchestras, and in Chautauqua programs. She performed at the Empire Room and the Hotel Sherman, both in Chicago. One of her early jobs was being the lead singer with Carol Loftner and his orchestra. She also sang with Ted Fio Rito, Ben Bernie, Jimmy Grier, Ozzie Nelson, and Abe Lyman and their orchestras, among others.
Hodges' Broadway credits include Nellie Bly, The Odds on Mrs. Oakley, Dream with Music, and I'd Rather Be Right. In 1972, she replaced Ruby Keeler in the revival of No, No, Nanette on Broadway. Perhaps the most memorable of Hodges' Broadway performances was singing "Have You Met Miss Jones?" in I'd Rather Be Right. She later said, "I became the toast of Broadway and sang the most recognizable song in America at that time — everyone adored Miss Jones."
Her screen debut came in a short, A Night at the Biltmore Bowl, for RKO Pictures, and her first film, after signing with RKO for five years, was Old Man Rhythm. She also made soundies (musical short films) in addition to regular films.
During World War II, Hodges sang with Harry James and his orchestra as they entertained military personnel on USO tours in Europe.
On old-time radio, Hodges was the female singer on The Joe Penner Show. She left that program to make her stage debut in I'd Rather Be Right. In 1944, she filled in for Arlene Francis as host of the radio version of Blind Date when it was broadcast from Detroit. She also sang and was co-host, with Durward Kirby, on Honeymoon in New York.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 1.028 |
Birthday | 1915-01-29 |
Place of Birth | Des Moines, Iowa, USA |
Also Known As | Frances Eloise Hodges, |
1936
Follow the Fleet
6.8/64
When the US Navy fleet docks at San Francisco, sailor Bake Baker tries to rekindle the flame with his old dancing partner, Sherry Martin, while Bake's...
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Follow the Fleet
1936
Special Agent K-7
3.8/3
Police detective Lanny resents the ongoing interference of the local FBI branch. Hoping to show up the feds, Lanny tackles a baffling espionage case....
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Special Agent K-7
1937
Merry Go Round of 1938
5/1
Two screwy characters travel to Hollywood and cause mischief.
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Merry Go Round of 1938
1938
Personal Secretary
0/0
Two rival newspaper columnists battle over whether or not a woman murdered her playboy husband.
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Personal Secretary
1938
Service de Luxe
6.5/6
Glamorous and efficient Helen Murphy runs a service that will provide any type of assistance to wealthy customers, but what she's really looking for i...
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Service de Luxe
1939
The Family Next Door
5.2/4
Rose Pierce is discontent with her life as the wife of a small town plumber and has visions of becoming a wealthy socialite. Consequently, when her sm...
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The Family Next Door
1935
To Beat the Band
0/0
An eccentric heir must marry a widow in order to collect the millions left to him in his aunt's will, so a suicidal neighbor agrees to marry the man's...
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To Beat the Band
1935
Old Man Rhythm
6.3/3
Romantic rivalries between father and son enrolled at the same college.
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Old Man Rhythm
1940
Laughing at Danger
0/0
Frankie Kelly, pageboy at the beauty salon ran by Madam Celeste, and his helper Jefferson find the routine broken when the body of one of the operator...
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Laughing at Danger
1940
Margie
0/0
Newlyweds Bret (Tom Brown) and Margie (Nan Grey) both aspire to show-biz careers: he wants to be a songwriter, while she is desirous of becoming a rad...
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Margie
1939
Unexpected Father
0/0
Jimmy Hanley learns that his former dancing partner has been killed, leaving a baby boy Sandy, so he takes the baby to live with him and his roommate...
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Unexpected Father
1939
They Asked For It
3/1
In this crime drama, the owner and chief editor of a newspaper gets together with two college pals and begins looking into the strange death of an old...
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They Asked For It
1935
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
6/1
Join vocalists broadcasting from the Biltmore Bowl in Los Angeles.
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A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
1939
Little Accident
2/1
A baby is passed from hand to hand after her father abandons her.
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