Joan Barclay
Encyclopedia
Joan Barclay was an American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, starring mostly in B-movies and cliffhanger
s, with her career starting during the silent film era.
. Her family moved to California
when she was still a child due to her mother wishing to escape the cold climate of the north. Moving to Hollywood to pursue acting, Barclay received her first role at the age of 13, which was credited with her billed as "Geraine Greear", in the 1927 film The Gaucho
, starring Douglas Fairbanks
and Lupe Vélez
. It would be her only silent film. In 1930, still billed as Geraine Greear, she had a minor role in King of Jazz
. From 1932 to 1935 she would have thirteen uncredited film roles, which included an uncredited role in the 1932 film 42nd Street
, which was Ginger Rogers
' breakthrough movie.
, Hoot Gibson
, and Tom Keene. These roles would start a career for her in B-movies, and would be what she is most remembered for today.
Her first western starring role was opposite Tom Tyler in Ridin' On, followed by Feud of the West alongside Hoot Gibson, Glory Trail with Tom Keene, and Men of the Plains with Rex Bell
, all being in 1936. That year she received roles in other B-movies that were not westerns as well, including the 1936 crime drama Prison Shadows, which starred Lucille Lund
and Edward J. Nugent
, and the action/adventure
film Phantom Patrol starring opposite Kermit Maynard
.
From early 1936 to 1939, Barclay had both starring and supporting roles in a total of thirty five films, almost all of which were B-movies, many of which were westerns, serials
, or cliffhangers. Most had her playing the role of the heroine opposite the films hero. During the latter part of the 1930s she starred alongside such cowboy stars as Slim Whitaker
, Tim McCoy
, Ben Corbett
, Tex Fletcher
, and also rejoined Edward J. Nugent in the 1937 adventure film Island Captives.
Joan Barclay ( my mother ) second husband was Leroy Hillman, she had a son, Lloyd, and a daughter Donna Hillman- Walsh ( me ) sorry I cant remember her first husbands name, but I recall she was very young and only married to this man about one year. She was married to my father about twenty three years, then later married George Sullivan. Golf and Bridge were her favorite past times.
mystery The Shanghai Cobra. It would be her last film. She retired from acting, but for a time she remained in the Los Angeles
area.
She married three times in her lifetime, with her having children from her first marriage, which lasted from 1945 to 1967, ending in divorce. A second marriage was short-lived, and also ended in divorce. Her last marriage was to George Sullivan, with whom she remained until his death. The couple eventually settled in Palm Desert, California
, where she was residing at the time of her death on November 22, 2002.
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...
s, with her career starting during the silent film era.
Early life and career
Barclay was born Mary Elizabeth Greear in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. Her family moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
when she was still a child due to her mother wishing to escape the cold climate of the north. Moving to Hollywood to pursue acting, Barclay received her first role at the age of 13, which was credited with her billed as "Geraine Greear", in the 1927 film The Gaucho
The Gaucho
The Gaucho is a 1927 movie starring Douglas Fairbanks and Lupe Vélez set in Argentina. The lavish adventure extravaganza, filmed at the height of Fairbanks' box office clout, was directed by F...
, starring Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films such as The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro....
and Lupe Vélez
Lupe Vélez
Lupe Vélez was a Mexican film actress. Vélez began her career in Mexico as a dancer, before moving to the U.S. where she worked in vaudeville. She was seen by Fanny Brice who promoted her, and Vélez soon entered films, making her first appearance in 1924. By the end of the decade she had...
. It would be her only silent film. In 1930, still billed as Geraine Greear, she had a minor role in King of Jazz
King of Jazz
King of Jazz is a 1930 motion picture starring Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. The film's title was taken from Whiteman's controversial, self-conferred appellation...
. From 1932 to 1935 she would have thirteen uncredited film roles, which included an uncredited role in the 1932 film 42nd Street
42nd Street (film)
-Cast:*Warner Baxter as Julian Marsh, director*Bebe Daniels as Dorothy Brock, star*George Brent as Pat Denning, Dorothy's old vaudeville partner*Ruby Keeler as Peggy Sawyer, the newcomer*Guy Kibbee as Abner Dillon, the show's backer...
, which was 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....
' breakthrough movie.
Career in B-movies
Then, in 1936, her career changed for the better when she began starring in westerns opposite some of Hollywood's leading cowboy stars, to include Tom TylerTom Tyler
Tom Tyler was an American actor in silent and sound motion pictures, best known for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the acclaimed 1941 movie serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel.-Biography:...
, Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director and producer.-Early life and career:...
, and Tom Keene. These roles would start a career for her in B-movies, and would be what she is most remembered for today.
Her first western starring role was opposite Tom Tyler in Ridin' On, followed by Feud of the West alongside Hoot Gibson, Glory Trail with Tom Keene, and Men of the Plains with Rex Bell
Rex Bell
Rex Bell , born George Francis Beldam, was an American actor and politician. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and married actress Clara Bow in 1931. They had two sons, Tony Beldon and George Beldon, Jr...
, all being in 1936. That year she received roles in other B-movies that were not westerns as well, including the 1936 crime drama Prison Shadows, which starred Lucille Lund
Lucille Lund
Lucille Lund was an American film actress of the 1930s.-Background:Lucille Lund was born in Buckley, Washington to Oluf and Laura Lund, and was of Norwegian descent. She began her theatrical career as a child doing play extracts and readings...
and Edward J. Nugent
Edward J. Nugent
Edward Nugent was an American film actor. He appeared in 81 films between 1928 and 1937.He subsequently had a second acting career on Broadway. Brooklyn USA , the comedy Junior Miss , and See My Lawyer were some of his best roles...
, and the action/adventure
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
film Phantom Patrol starring opposite Kermit Maynard
Kermit Maynard
Kermit Maynard was an American actor and stuntman. He appeared in 280 films between 1927 and 1962. He was a younger brother of actor Ken Maynard. He was born in Vevay, Indiana, and died in North Hollywood, California, from a heart attack. He is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park...
.
From early 1936 to 1939, Barclay had both starring and supporting roles in a total of thirty five films, almost all of which were B-movies, many of which were westerns, serials
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...
, or cliffhangers. Most had her playing the role of the heroine opposite the films hero. During the latter part of the 1930s she starred alongside such cowboy stars as Slim Whitaker
Slim Whitaker
Slim Whitaker was an American film actor. He appeared in 345 films between 1914 and 1949.He was born in Kansas City, Missouri and died in Los Angeles, California from a heart attack....
, Tim McCoy
Tim McCoy
Col. Tim McCoy was an American actor, military officer, and expert on American Indian life and customs.-Early years:...
, Ben Corbett
Ben Corbett
Ben Corbett was an American film actor. He appeared in 283 films between 1915 and 1956.He was born in Hudson, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:* An Eastern Westerner...
, Tex Fletcher
Tex Fletcher
Geremino Bisceglia , better known as Tex Fletcher, was a singing cowboy with credits as a recording artist, Broadway and movie actor, night club performer, and radio and television personality.-Early life:Born in Harrison, New York, Fletcher was the fifth of eight children born to Italian immigrants...
, and also rejoined Edward J. Nugent in the 1937 adventure film Island Captives.
Joan Barclay ( my mother ) second husband was Leroy Hillman, she had a son, Lloyd, and a daughter Donna Hillman- Walsh ( me ) sorry I cant remember her first husbands name, but I recall she was very young and only married to this man about one year. She was married to my father about twenty three years, then later married George Sullivan. Golf and Bridge were her favorite past times.
Later years
By 1940, Barclay was working steadily, averaging better than six films per year. From 1940 to 1945 she appeared in thirty four films. However, by 1943 she had begun receiving more and more uncredited roles, a trend which would only increase with time. In 1944 she appeared in six films, four of which were uncredited. In 1945 she starred in the Charlie ChanCharlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
mystery The Shanghai Cobra. It would be her last film. She retired from acting, but for a time she remained in the Los Angeles
Los 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...
area.
She married three times in her lifetime, with her having children from her first marriage, which lasted from 1945 to 1967, ending in divorce. A second marriage was short-lived, and also ended in divorce. Her last marriage was to George Sullivan, with whom she remained until his death. The couple eventually settled in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, where she was residing at the time of her death on November 22, 2002.