 Above, Jean Carmen using the screen name of Julia Thayer as the rider of the paint horse in THE PAINTED STALLION (Republic, 1937) chapterplay. |  | Julia Thayer / Jean Carmen (Real name: Jean Carmean which was shortened to Jean Carmen and changed again to Julia Thayer while at Republic) 1914 - 1993 |
| Born in Portland, Oregon on April 7, 1914, this lady's film career spanned a half-dozen years during the 1930s. As a youngster, Jean worked on the stage in Fanchon and Marco revues. Carmen was working at RKO and was one of the starlets selected as a 1934 WAMPAS Baby Star (the group was mainly utilized to publicize two films, Paramount's KISS AND TELL and Mascot's YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL). She made a few westerns with cowboy heroes Bob Steele, Fred Scott, Jim Newill (Renfrew series), and the Three Mesquiteers. When she signed with Republic to do THE PAINTED STALLION serial, her name was changed to Julia Thayer. Apparently, bigger roles and greater stardom were not in the cards for Carmen/Thayer. After THE PAINTED STALLION, she wound up doing bit and minor supporting parts - an example is Jean as one of the three 'singing sisters' in the Three Stooges western themed short, YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA (Columbia, 1939). She was unbilled in this two-reeler which starred Moe/Larry/Curly, and the western baddies were Dick Curtis and Lynton Brent. Somewhere in my dusty archives, I think there is a follow-up article/story about Jean Carmen. As best I can recall, she married, lived in Europe, did a film or two, had her own film production company in Rome, Italy, attended a couple of film conventions here, etc. | |  (Courtesy of Bill Sasser) Jean Carmen at the 1987 Charlotte Film Fest. She also attended the 1989 Charlotte Festival. |
Thayer/Carmen also did some plays, and the Internet Broadway Database (IBDb) has her listed as a replacement in the role of "June Stanley" in the Monty Woolley comedy "The Man That Came To Dinner", circa 1939-41 in New York City. Click HERE. | ||
 Above, Jean Carmen looks on as star Tom Tyler gets overcome by the baddies in BORN TO BATTLE (Reliable, 1935).  Above, Thayer/Carmen in her PAINTED STALLION costume.  Back row from L-to-R are: Max Terhune, Ray "Crash" Corrigan and Bob Livingston have cornered one of the baddies in GUNSMOKE RANCH (Republic, 1937), one of the Three Mesquiteers adventures. Looking on are Jean Carmen (Julia Thayer) and young Sammy McKim.  Above, Jean has won negotiations on who does the clothes washin' in this scene with melodious Fred Scott from IN OLD MONTANA (Spectrum, 1939).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Jean Carmen, James Newill, Milburn Stone, and Roy Barcroft in a scene from CRASHING THROUGH (Monogram, 1939), one of the Renfrew of the Royal Mounted adventures. On the stairs, and about to deliver a crushin' blow to Newill's noggin, is Iron Eyes Cody. In later life, Milburn Stone became 'Doc' on TV's long running GUNSMOKE. |
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Julia Thayer / Jean Carmen. Click