Evalyn Knapp
Encyclopedia
Evalyn Knapp was an American film actress of the late 1920s, 1930s, and into the 1940s. She was a leading B-movie serial
actress in the 1930s.
Born as Evelyn Pauline Knapp in Kansas City, Missouri
in 1906, Knapp started acting in silent films, her first role being in the 1929 film At The Dentist's. In 1932, Knapp was one of fourteen girls, including Ginger Rogers
and Gloria Stuart
, selected as "WAMPAS Baby Stars
".
Knapp achieved success in cliffhanger
serials, which were popular at the time. She played the title character in the 1933 serial The Perils of Pauline
. One of her better known film roles was opposite Ken Maynard
in the 1934 film In Old Santa Fe
. Her career flourished through 1941, but slowed afterward. In 1943, she played her last role, which was uncredited, in Two Weeks To Live, starring Chester Lauck
and Norris Goff
in one of the Lum and Abner
films.
, Dr. George A. Snyder in 1934. Following her retirement, she concentrated on her family. She and Snyder remained married until his death in 1977.
.
Also a search of the 1930 United States census by name shows that Pauline Knapp, as she was then calling herself, was born "around 1907". As the census began on April 1, and Knapp's birthday was not until June, this also supports the 1906 birth year. However the Social Security Death Index info (above) is more dispositive of the matter.
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
actress in the 1930s.
Born as Evelyn Pauline Knapp in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in 1906, Knapp started acting in silent films, her first role being in the 1929 film At The Dentist's. In 1932, Knapp was one of fourteen girls, including Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
and Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Frances Stuart was an American actress, activist, painter, bonsai artist and fine printer. Over a Hollywood career which spanned, with a long break in the middle, from 1932 until 2004, she appeared on stage, television, and film, for which she was best-known...
, selected as "WAMPAS Baby Stars
WAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
".
Knapp achieved success in cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
serials, which were popular at the time. She played the title character in the 1933 serial The Perils of Pauline
The Perils of Pauline (1933 serial)
The Perils of Pauline is a movie serial, and sound film remake, of the Pathé original. The 1933 12-chapter "cliffhanger" was produced by Universal Studios. Evalyn Knapp, herself a graduate of silent Pathé short subjects, starred as heroine Pauline Hargrave...
. One of her better known film roles was opposite Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard was an American motion picture stuntman and actor.-Biography:Born Kenneth Olin Maynard in Vevay, Indiana, he was one of five children. His younger brother, Kermit Maynard, also became a stuntman and actor....
in the 1934 film In Old Santa Fe
In Old Santa Fe
In Old Santa Fe is a U.S. 1934 Western film starring Ken Maynard and George "Gabby" Hayes. The movie features the first screen appearance of Gene Autry, singing a song with a bluegrass band that includes Smiley Burnette...
. Her career flourished through 1941, but slowed afterward. In 1943, she played her last role, which was uncredited, in Two Weeks To Live, starring Chester Lauck
Chester Lauck
Chester "Chet" Lauck , played the character of Lum Edwards on the classic American radio comedy Lum and Abner.Chester Lauck was raised in Mena, Arkansas, where he met his future comedy partner Norris Goff...
and Norris Goff
Norris Goff
Norris Goff was an American comedian in radio and film best known for his portrayal of Abner Peabody on the rural comedy Lum and Abner....
in one of the Lum and Abner
Lum and Abner
Lum and Abner was an American radio comedy network program created by Chester Lauck and Norris Goff that aired from 1931 to 1954. Modeled on life in the small town of Waters, Arkansas, near where Lauck and Goff grew up, the showed proved immensely popular...
films.
Family
She married a physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, Dr. George A. Snyder in 1934. Following her retirement, she concentrated on her family. She and Snyder remained married until his death in 1977.
Death
Knapp died from undisclosed causes on June 12, 1981, five days before her 75th birthday, in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Year of birth
Knapp was born in 1906, not 1908, as has been misreported, according to the Social Security Death Index under the name Evelyn Snyder.Also a search of the 1930 United States census by name shows that Pauline Knapp, as she was then calling herself, was born "around 1907". As the census began on April 1, and Knapp's birthday was not until June, this also supports the 1906 birth year. However the Social Security Death Index info (above) is more dispositive of the matter.
Partial filmography
- Sinners' HolidaySinners' HolidaySinners' Holiday is a 1930 crime drama film starring Grant Withers, Evalyn Knapp, James Cagney , Lucille La Verne, and Joan Blondell. It is based on the play Penny Arcade by Marie Baumer. Both Cagney and Blondell reprised their Broadway roles...
(1930) - River's End (1930)
- The MillionaireThe Millionaire (1931 film)The Millionaire is a 1931 comedy film starring George Arliss in the title role. The film is a remake of the 1922 film called The Ruling Passion, which also starred Arliss. The film was based on the short story "Idle Hands" by Earl Derr Biggers...
(1931) - Smart Money (1931)
- Side ShowSide Show (film)Side Show is a 1931 all-talking musical comedy film starring Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth and released by Warner Bros.-Production:...
(1931) - A Successful CalamityA Successful CalamityA Successful Calamity is a 1932 American comedy film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring George Arliss and Mary Astor. It is based on a play by Clare Kummer.- Plot :...
(1932) - High PressureHigh Pressure (film)High Pressure is a 1932 American comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Evelyn Brent.- Cast :* William Powell as Gar Evans* Evelyn Brent as Francine Dale* George Sidney as Colonel Ginsburg* John Wray as Jimmy Moore...
(1932) - Air Hostess (1933)
- His Private SecretaryHis Private SecretaryHis Private Secretary is a 1933 comedy film starring Evalyn Knapp and John Wayne.-Cast:* Evalyn Knapp - Marion Hall* John Wayne - Dick Wallace* Reginald Barlow - Mr. Wallace* Alec B. Francis - Rev. Hall* Arthur Hoyt - Little* Natalie Kingston - Polly...
(1933) - CorruptionCorruption (1933 film)Corruption is a 1933 American film directed by Charles E. Roberts.The film is also known as Double Exposure in the United Kingdom.-Cast:*Evalyn Knapp as Ellen Manning*Preston Foster as Tim Butler*Charles Delaney as Charlie Jasper...
(1933) - The Perils of PaulineThe Perils of Pauline (1933 serial)The Perils of Pauline is a movie serial, and sound film remake, of the Pathé original. The 1933 12-chapter "cliffhanger" was produced by Universal Studios. Evalyn Knapp, herself a graduate of silent Pathé short subjects, starred as heroine Pauline Hargrave...
(1933 serial) - In Old Santa FeIn Old Santa FeIn Old Santa Fe is a U.S. 1934 Western film starring Ken Maynard and George "Gabby" Hayes. The movie features the first screen appearance of Gene Autry, singing a song with a bluegrass band that includes Smiley Burnette...
(1934) - One Frightened NightOne Frightened Night- Cast :*Charley Grapewin as Jasper Whyte*Lucien Littlefield as Dr. Denham*Mary Carlisle as The Second Doris Waverly*Regis Toomey as Tom Dean*Arthur Hohl as Arthur Proctor*Fred Kelsey as Sheriff Jenks*Evalyn Knapp as The Fake Doris Waverly...
(1935) - RawhideRawhide (1938 film)Rawhide is a 1938 western film starring Lou Gehrig and made by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. The movie was directed by Ray Taylor and produced by Sol Lesser from a screenplay by Jack Natteford and Daniel Jarrett. The cinematography was by Allen Q. Thompson...
(1938) - Roar of the PressRoar of the Press- Cast :*Jean Parker as Alice Williams*Wallace Ford as Wally Williams*Jed Prouty as Gordon MacEwan*Suzanne Kaaren as Angela Brooks*Harland Tucker as Harry Brooks*Evalyn Knapp as Evelyn*Robert Frazer as Louis Detmar*Dorothy Lee as Frances Harris...
(1941)