Allyn Morgan Joslyn[1] (July 21, 1901 – January 21, 1981) was an American character actor of theatre, radio, film and television, specializing in comic roles.[2][3][4]
Early life and career
Born in Milford, Pennsylvania,[5] Joslyn was the son of Orlando West Joslyn Jr. and Gertrude Meyer.[1] He studied drama with Professor E. C. Durfee at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia,[6] and later attended Columbia University.[7]
From 1935 until her death in 1978, Joslyn was married to Dorothy Yockel, Philadelphia-born stage and radio actress—and fellow fishing enthusiast[12]—with whom he had frequently co-starred during the late 1920s.[13][4][14][15] Their union produced one child, a daughter.[4]
^"'WON'T FORGET' DRAMATIC THUNDERBOLT FOR LEROY: Debuts Of Dickson Norris, Turner Hits". The Hollywood Reporter. June 9, 1937. p. 3. ProQuest2297324974. All the other important roles are filled by screen newcomers, and a more promising group of debuts have seldom been seen in one picture. [...] Short in playing time is the role of the murdered schoolgirl, but as played by Lana Turner it is worthy of more than passing note. This young lady has vivid beauty, personality and charm. Allyn Joslyn scores decisively as a newspaperman. Clinton Rosemond is a standout as the colored porter, making much of his distinctive voice. Elisha Cook Jr. is notable in a small part...
^Carroll, Harrison (June 17, 1937). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Binghamton Press. p. 3. ProQuest2042798441. Allyn Joslyn, playing a conscienceless reporter, was so good that [when] he entered the Warners commissary the other day, the whole room broke into applause. First time it ever happened in the history of the studio.
^Coons, Robbin (June 17, 1937). "Film Paralleling Real Life May Stir Up Southern Fans". Asbury Park Evening Press. p. 3. ProQuest2002680814. Meanwhile, the producer has unearthed a couple of genuine finds in Gloria Dickson, a young leading lady of much emotional depth and sincerity, and Allyn Joslyn, a lanky character actor who as the reporter gives his role, unpleasant at best, a certain grim charm.
^Cameron, Kate (January 8, 1938). "Hollywood Scene of Palace, Rialto Films". New York Daily News. p. 24. ProQuest2284100064. The delightful fooling of Beverly Roberts, Patrick Knowles and Allyn Joslyn does much to enliven the romantic comedy [...] Allyn Joslyn does well by the agent role and the rest of the cast is excellent.
^D., R.W. (December 23, 1938). "On the Screen: 'Sweethearts'—Capitol". New York Herald Tribune. p. 10. ProQuest1248233699. [T]he introduction of certain farcical elements, which are handled smartly by Mischa Auer, Herman Bing, Frank Gardiner, Frank Morgan and Allyn Joslyn, does much to relieve a succession of sequences that become top-heavy with sweetness.
^Abel. (February 8, 1939). "Film Reviews: Cafe Society". Variety. p. 24. ProQuest1505721801. When MacMurray discovers she leapyeared him into nuptials, just to get into Allyn Joslyn's society column, the plot becomes one of those taming-the-shrew affairs [...] Joslyn, a composite of Winchell and Cholly Knickerbocker, is good as the light menace, better than the role is written.
^Cameron, Kate (January 23, 1939). "'Cafe Society' Adds to Town's Gaiety". New York Daily News. p. 47. ProQuest2284829366. Joslyn gives an amusing but definitely unflattering characterization of a gossip columnist.
^Cameron, Kate (August 25, 1940). "'Great McGinty' Lively Comedy". New York Daily News. p. 31. ProQuest2285056222. William Demarest, Allyn Joslyn and Thurston Hall contribute excellent support in their lesser roles.
^Cameron, Kate (September 7, 1940). "'No Time for Comedy' A Hit at the Strand". New York Daily News. p. B24. ProQuest2285136780. Allyn Joslyn has most of the good comedy lines and he handles them brilliantly.
^"THIS THING' RIOTOUS FUN: Top Perlberg Prod.; Al Hall Has Picnic". The Hollywood Reporter. December 23, 1940. p. 3. ProQuest2298031973. Allyn Joslyn shapes a hit performance from his supporting role, and Sig Arno finds a new kind of butler for another excellent job.
^Martin, Mildred (September 7, 1940). "'Hot Spot' Opens on Fox Screen; 'Hot Spot,' a 20th Century-Fox picture; from the novel, 'I Wake Up Screaming,' by Steve Fisher". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 20. ProQuest1832969885. Others lending dramatically helpful hands are Allyn Joslyn as the columnist; Alan Mowbray, the 'falling star,' and Elisha Cook, Jr., the hallboy.
^"'BEDTIME STORY' WAKES UP: Whirlwind Finale Delightful Farce". The Hollywood Reporter. December 8, 1941. p. 3. ProQuest2297906165. Robert Benchley is in for one of his typically potted parts,[sic] and Allyn Joslyn does quite a bit of scene stealing on his own. His embarrassed bridegroom is a gem.
^"'WIFE TAKES FLYER' SUREFIRE: Joslyn A Wow In Funniest Nazi Farce". The Hollywood Reporter. April 17, 1942. p. 3. ProQuest2297937105. Screams greet the posturing parody Allyn Joslyn draws with consummate skill, and his Major Zellfritz of the German Gestapo is a gorgeous romp. [...] The highlights are really choice and among those must be listed are Joslyn's Heils, the divorce judge's methods of keeping a he-she score, the banquet set with foods from conquered lands that omits caviar, Joslyn's ja-ja-ja mutterings and countless delightful escape switches. If this review appears as heavily pro-Joslyn as it is anti-Nazi, it is because his role conclusively takes the show.
^"IMMORTAL SERGEANT' FINE DRAMA OF TODAY'S WARFARE: Fonda, Trotti, Stahl Deliver Timely Hit". The Hollywood Reporter. January 11, 1943. p. 3. ProQuest2298649011. The four survivors of the patrol are splendidly personified by Allyn Joslin, Melville Cooper, Bramwell Fletcher and Morton Lowry, the latter as the single coward in the group.
^"'YOUNG IDEAS' BRIGHT FARCE: Peters, Reid, Astor, Marshall Top Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. July 30, 1943. p. 4. ProQuest2298606584. Richard Carlson makes a mighty nice thing of his instructor of modern drama. Allyn Joslyn sores sharply as the literary agent, and George Dolenz proves a find in his work as a French student.
^"'HEAVEN' HELLUVA FUNNY HIT IN LUBITSCH'S BEST STYLE: Ameche's Portrayal Finest Of Career". The Hollywood Reporter. July 21, 1943. p. 3. ProQuest2298591465. Spring Byington and Louis Calhern are grand as Henry's mother and father, and Allyn Joslyn as Cousin Albert has an assignment he matchlessly realizes.
^Cameron, Kate (October 9, 1943). "'Dangerous Blondes' Humorous Mystifier". New York Daily News. p. 15C. ProQuest2286005665. The murders and the mystery are subordinated to the comedy, furnished by Joslyn as a story-writing detective; Frank Craven, as the police inspector; and Evelyn Keyes, as Joslyn's helpful little wife. [...] This 'Dangerous Blondes' is not the formularized, spine-chilling mystery with all the silly old tricks. It's more the adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Craig, a couple who just can't sit by and let the police solve or bungle a case. They're a charming pair, whose home life is as entertaining as sleuthing. You'll like them and we hope we see more of them in other mysteries if they are produced as nicely as this one.
^Walt. (February 9, 1944). "Film Reviews: The Impostor". Variety. p. 12. ProQuest1285854504. Duvivier dwells much on characterizations, neatly etching the various characters assembled in the Free French forces. Gabin turns in a good performance while support, including Richard Whorf, Allyn Joslyn, John Qualen, Peter Van Eyck and Eddie Quillen, is uniformly good.
^Cameron, Kate (September 16, 1944). "Romantic Comedy on Place Screen". New York Daily News. p. 16. ProQuest2286491076. A bridge game, in which two of the players are on tenterhooks because their respective loved ones are tete-a-teting behind a closed door, is the most amusing scene in the picture, as Laraine Day, in the role of Norah, and Allyn Joslyn, as the secret husband of Norah's secretary, react expertly to Richard Wallace's slick direction.
^Edba. (November 29, 1944). "Film review: Strange Affair". Variety. p. 18. ProQuest1285857809. Whodunit packs plenty of fun and should more than hold its own on duals. Allyn Joslyn and Evelyn Keyes, who did so niftily in 'Dangerous Blondes,' are teamed again. Joslyn plays the creator of a whodunit comic strip who has a penchant for injecting his artist's theories in solving homicides.
^Brog. (April 4, 1945). "Film review: The Horn Blows at Midnight". Variety. p. 10. ProQuest1285841361. Alexis Smith [...] hasn't too much to do in the plotting. Same goes for Dolores Moran as hotel cigaret girl who has a yen for super-crook Reginald Gardiner. Latter, along with Allyn Joslyn and John Alexander, two fallen angels, whip over some of the picture's funniest moments.
^"'JUNIOR MISS' ROLLICKING FUN: Cast, Seaton Cover Work With Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. June 13, 1945. p. 3. ProQuest2320408462. It isn't just because this is the story of a couple of teen-age kids who manage to create all kinds of mischief that this picture is so funny. It's because it's got really funny lines in it and because a guy named Allyn Joslyn is just about one of the most human and funniest parents you've ever seen.
^"Film review: It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog". Variety. May 22, 1946. p. 10. ProQuest1285878849. With Allyn Joslyn on the celluloid for the full running time, film is a fast mix of gay situations and bright gags with no letdown at any point. [...] Joslyn gives full sway to his talents in this pic showing himself off as a maestro with the gag line. Using his unhandsome face to best advantage, Joslyn muggs and double-takes with a sense of timing that puts him in the top-draw class of comics.
^Grant, Jack D. (September 6, 1946). "'Thrill of Brazil' So Thin: 'White Tie & Tails' Switch; Wynn Has to Carry Musical 'Front Page'". The Hollywood Reporter. pp. 1, 4. ProQuest2320722076. Ellen Keyes impresses as being worth any trick to retain her affections. Allyn Joslyn plays the stuffed shirt suitor as only he can.
^"Cantor, Davis Top-notch in RKO Bill". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. February 20, 1948. p. 28. ProQuest1928229266. Allyn Joslyn, as the excitable newspaperman who runs the Cantor-Davis affairs, does an elegant job. He's completely convivncing.
^"Moonrise at Mayfair". The Baltimore Sun. October 8, 1948. p. 14. ProQuest541925381. The best performance is that of Allyn Joslyn, as the informal, friendly, countrified but shrewd sheriff. Mr. Joslyn, with a complete change of pace and style, may be entering a new phase of a career which seemed to be running down because of type-casting.
^"'HARRIET CRAIG' IMPRESSES AS ABSORBING WORK OF ART: Dozier-Sherman Pic of highest Quality". The Hollywood Reporter. October 27, 1950. p. 3. ProQuest2322762440. Allyn Joslyn gets full value out of his role of the husband's carefree pal.
^"'As Young as You Feel' (Continued from Page 3)". The Hollywood Reporter. June 5, 1951. pp. 3, 8. ProQuest2322747656. Allyn Joslyn is quite funny as the hypochondriac father.
^"'I LOVE MELVIN' PLEASANT: Zany Musical Makes Good Entertainment". The Hollywood Reporter. February 3, 1953. p. 3. ProQuest2338156344. Fine performances by the two stars, with able assists from Allyn Joslyn, Una Merkel, Richard Anderson and Jim Backus, help make this an agreeable item trhat should be well received. [...] Allyn Joslyn is genuinely funny as Debbie's irritable father.
^Brog. (April 15, 1953). "Film review: Titanic". Variety. p. 6. ProQuest1016974776. Allyn Joslyn is good as a coward who sneaks aboard a lifeboat disguised as a woman.
^"'ISLAND IN SKY' SOLID B.O. SMASH FOR WAYNE-FELLOWS: John Wayne Tops In Wellman Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. August 7, 1953. p. 3. ProQuest2338376480. Andy Devine is better—and bigger—than ever, turning in a top stint as one of the rescue pilots, with Lloyd Nolan, James Arness and Allyn Joslyn standing out as other pilots.
^"'FASTEST GUN' TOP WESTERN MARKED BY OFF-BEAT STORY: Ford, Crain Star In Greene-Rouse Film". The Hollywood Reporter. June 20, 1956. p. 3. ProQuest2338188766. Allyn Joslyn, J. M. Kerrigan, Rhys Williams, Virginia Gregg, John Doucette, Chubby Johnson, John Dehner, and Noah Beery all contribute important and valuable portrayals, well done.