Allan Jones

• Name — Allan Jones • Birth Name — Theodore Allen Jones • Born — 14 October 1907 • Birthplace — Old Forge, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 27 June 1992 • Place of death — New York City, New York, U.S. • Occupation — Singer, actor • Years Active — 1928–1987 • Children — 2, including Jack Jones

Jones was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and raised in nearby Scranton, where he graduated from Central High School. His father and grandfather were Welsh coal miners, and he worked in coal mines early in his adult life. He left that occupation to study voice at New York University. In an interview in 1973, Jones recalled that his father and grandfather were musically talented: "My father had a beautiful tenor voice. So did my grandfather...Grandfather taught violin, voice, and piano when he could. My father sang every chance he could get and realized his ambition through me."

Jones appeared on Broadway a few times, including 1933's Roberta and the short-lived 1934 revival of Bitter Sweet after debuting in Boccacio in 1931.

In the mid-1940s, Jones and pianist Frankie Carle starred in the Old Gold Show on CBS radio.

In 1979, Jones appeared in a summer performance of Man of La Mancha at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado. In December 1980, Jones made his final screen appearance on an episode of the ABC-TV series, The Love Boat, which also featured his son Jack Jones and Dorothy Lamour. During the 1980s, Jones appeared in several stage productions of Man of La Mancha, Paint Your Wagon, Guys and Dolls, and Carousel. Jones continued to make concert appearances until a few months before his death in 1992. Jones also bred and raised racehorses on his ranch in California.

Jones was married four times. He was married to actress Irene Hervey from 1936 to 1957; their son was pop singer Jack Jones. His other wives included Marjorie Annette Bull, Esther Marie Villavincie, and Mary Florsheim (granddaughter of Milton S. Florsheim).

Jones died of lung cancer at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City on June 27, 1992, aged 84.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1935 — Reckless — Allan — Film debut • A Night at the Opera — Riccardo Barone — with the Marx Brothers • 1936 — Rose Marie — Romeo — with Jeanette Macdonald • Show Boat — Gaylord Ravenal — with Irene Dunne • 1937 — A Day at the Races — Gil Stewart — with the Marx Brothers • The Firefly — Don Diego — with Jeanette Macdonald • 1938 — Everybody Sing — Ricky Saboni — with Judy Garland and Fanny Brice • 1939 — Honeymoon in Bali — Eric Sinclair • The Great Victor Herbert — John Ramsey — with Mary Martin • 1940 — The Boys from Syracuse — Antipholus of Ephesus / Antipholus of Syracuse • One Night in the Tropics — Jim Moore — film debut of Abbott and Costello • 1941 — The Hard-Boiled Canary — Michael Maddy • 1942 — True to the Army — Pvt. Stephen Chandler • Moonlight in Havana — Johnny Norton • When Johnny Comes Marching Home — Johnny Kovacs - aka Johnny O'Rourke • 1943 — Rhythm of the Islands — Tommy • Larceny with Music — Ken Daniels • Crazy House — Himself • You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith — Tony Smith • 1944 — Sing a Jingle — Ray King • 1945 — Honeymoon Ahead — Orpheus • Senorita from the West — Phil Bradley • 1964 — Stage to Thunder Rock — Mayor Ted Dollar • 1965 — A Swingin' Summer — Mr. Johnson