Barbara Whiting Smith

The Whiting sisters in 1955; Barbara is the brunette and Margaret is the blonde.

Barbara Whiting Smith (May 19, 1931 – June 9, 2004) was an actress in movies and on radio and television, primarily in the 1940s and 1950s. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Background

Born in Los Angeles to Eleanor and Richard Whiting, she was the daughter of Richard A. Whiting, the composer who wrote classics such as "Hooray for Hollywood," "Too Marvelous for Words," "On the Good Ship Lollipop," "Ain't We Got Fun?," and "Till We Meet Again".^[1]

Career

Her movie career began with the 1945 film, Junior Miss, a movie based on her popular radio show by the same name.^[1] This was followed by nine other starring roles until she married Gail Smith and retired. On television, she co-starred with her sister, Margaret Whiting in Those Whiting Girls on CBS. The program debuted July 4, 1955, as a summer replacement for I Love Lucy.^[2]

Other film credits include:

• Centennial Summer (1946)
• Home, Sweet Homicide (1946)
• Carnival in Costa Rica (1947)
• City Across the River (1949)
• I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951)
• Beware, My Lovely (1952)
• Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (1952)
• Dangerous When Wet (1953)
• Paris Follies of 1956 (1955)^[3]

Television Appearances:

• "The Ed Sullivan Show"
• "The Jimmy Durante Show"
• "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show"
• "Starlight Theatre"
• "Walt Disney anthology television series"
• "Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV series)"
• "The Bigelow Theatre"
• "Dragnet (TV series)"
• "The Public Defender (TV series)"
• "Fireside Theatre"
• "TV Reader's Digest"
• "Men of Annapolis"

Radio career

Barbara's radio career was what she was most known for during her lifetime. In 1948 she began to star in CBS's extremely popular radio program "Junior Miss" It was one of the most successful radio shows of the time especially with younger audiences.

Other radio roles both starring and guest appearing include:

• "Hollywood Star Time"
• "Meet Corliss Archer"
• "The Screen Guild Theater"
• "The Great Gildersleeve"
• "Family Theater"
• "The Bing Crosby Show"
• "Escape (radio program)"
• "The Railroad Hour"
• "Suspense (radio drama)"
• "Broadway Is My Beat"
• "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
• "The Line-Up"
• "You Were There (Radio Program)"
• "Romance (Radio Program)"

Walk of Fame

On February 8, 1960, Barbara was honored with a star, at 6443 Hollywood Boulevard, in the television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[4]

Life After Career

Barbara was a "longtime volunteer" at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan.^[1] She lived a quiet life, dedicated to her son Richard.

Personal life

On May 7, 1959, Whiting married Gail Smith, an advertising professional. It was her first marriage and his second.^[5] They had a son, Richard Whiting Smith.^[1]

Death

Barbara died of cancer, in Pontiac, Michigan, aged 73, June 9, 2004. She was survived by her sister and a son.^[1]

External links

• Short Biography
• IMDb profile

References

1. "Film Actress Barbara Whiting Smith Dies". The Index-Journal. June 13, 2004. p. 4. Retrieved August 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Premiere Set for New Show". The Daily Herald. June 27, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved August 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "(movie ad)". Brownwood Bulletin. June 13, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved August 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Barbara Whiting Smith". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
5. "Barbara Whiting And Ad Man Marry". The Times. May 11, 1959. p. 27. Retrieved August 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.