June Storey
Encyclopedia
June Storey
June Storey (born Mary June Storey, (April 20, 1918 – December 18, 1991) was a Canadian-born American film actress during the mid-late 1930s and into the 1940s, who most often appeared in B-movie
s as the heroine of westerns.
Storey was born in Toronto
, and her family moved to the United States when she was a young girl, settling first in Connecticut
, then later in California
. Pretty in her youth, she caught the attention of Fox Film Corporation when she auditioned with them to star in films. Her first film was Student Tour in 1934, which was uncredited. Her first credited role was the 1936 film Girls' Dormitory
. She had roles in another seven films from 1935 through 1938. The first was In Old Chicago
, which was credited. She then had three uncredited roles, after which she starred in Island in the Sky
, Down in Arkansas, and Orphans of the Street.
She later went on contract with Republic Pictures
, and became best known for playing the role as heroine in ten Gene Autry
films, from 1939 through 1940. Her first series of films were South of the Border, Colorado Sunset, and Blue Montana Skies, all in 1939. Mary Lee
often starred alongside her, playing the role of her younger sister. Her career slowed considerably when Autry left acting for a time to serve during World War II
. She played several minor roles in films during the 1940s, and retired after marrying. Her last credited role was in the 1949 film Miss Mink of 1949. Storey made a total of 41 films in her career.
June married Fred Bohling, a businessman; they moved to Oregon and had one son, Eric. In 1950 June was involved in a serious auto accident, but survived. After she and Fred divorced, she married her second husband, Nick Ostreyko. This marriage produced a daughter, Marina, but the marriage also ended in divorce. As a single mom, June went back to school and became a nurse. Years later, she met and married Lincoln Clark, and spent many happy years with him until her death. She became a U.S. citizen, and devoted much of the remainder of her life to contributions to charity. During the 1980s she attended several western film festivals. She died of cancer
on December 18, 1991, in Vista, California
.
June Storey (born Mary June Storey, (April 20, 1918 – December 18, 1991) was a Canadian-born American film actress during the mid-late 1930s and into the 1940s, who most often appeared in B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s as the heroine of westerns.
Storey was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and her family moved to the United States when she was a young girl, settling first in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, then later in 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...
. Pretty in her youth, she caught the attention of Fox Film Corporation when she auditioned with them to star in films. Her first film was Student Tour in 1934, which was uncredited. Her first credited role was the 1936 film Girls' Dormitory
Girls' Dormitory
Girls' Dormitory is a 1936 American romance film directed by Irving Cummings.-Plot:Set in the fictional Montreaux School for Girls in Switzerland, the main focus of the film is Dr. Stephen Dominick, the school's popular director who is secretly admired by teacher Professor Anna Mathe and the...
. She had roles in another seven films from 1935 through 1938. The first was In Old Chicago
In Old Chicago
In Old Chicago is a 1937 American drama film directed by Henry King. The screenplay by Sonya Levien and Lamar Trotti was based on the Niven Busch story, "We the O'Learys." The film is a fictionalized account about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and stars Alice Brady as Mrs. O'Leary, the owner of...
, which was credited. She then had three uncredited roles, after which she starred in Island in the Sky
Island in the Sky (1938 film)
Island in the Sky is a 1938 drama directed by Herbert I. Leeds, starring Gloria Stuart and Michael Whalen.-Cast:* Gloria Stuart as Julie Hayes* Michael Whalen as Michael Fraser* Paul Kelly as Johnny Doyle* Robert Kellard as Peter Vincent...
, Down in Arkansas, and Orphans of the Street.
She later went on contract with Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
, and became best known for playing the role as heroine in ten Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
films, from 1939 through 1940. Her first series of films were South of the Border, Colorado Sunset, and Blue Montana Skies, all in 1939. Mary Lee
Mary Lee (actor)
Mary Lee, born Mary Lee Wooters in Centralia, Illinois , was a B-movie actress and singer from the late 1930s well into the 1940s, starring mostly in westerns....
often starred alongside her, playing the role of her younger sister. Her career slowed considerably when Autry left acting for a time to serve during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She played several minor roles in films during the 1940s, and retired after marrying. Her last credited role was in the 1949 film Miss Mink of 1949. Storey made a total of 41 films in her career.
June married Fred Bohling, a businessman; they moved to Oregon and had one son, Eric. In 1950 June was involved in a serious auto accident, but survived. After she and Fred divorced, she married her second husband, Nick Ostreyko. This marriage produced a daughter, Marina, but the marriage also ended in divorce. As a single mom, June went back to school and became a nurse. Years later, she met and married Lincoln Clark, and spent many happy years with him until her death. She became a U.S. citizen, and devoted much of the remainder of her life to contributions to charity. During the 1980s she attended several western film festivals. She died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on December 18, 1991, in Vista, California
Vista, California
Vista is a city in north San Diego County, California. It was incorporated January 28, 1963 and became a charter city on June 13, 2007. Located just seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean in northern San Diego County, the City of Vista has a Mediterranean climate...
.