Jay Jostyn
Jay Jostyn | |
---|---|
Jostyn in 1939 | |
Born |
Eugene Josten December 13, 1905 or December 13, 1901 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Died |
July 24, 1977 or June 25, 1976 Los Angeles, California |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Wisconsin Conservatory of Music |
Occupation | Actor |
Known for | Portraying the title role in Mr. District Attorney on radio |
Spouse(s) | Ruth Hill (1928- ?) |
Children |
Jean Charles Jon George |
Parent(s) | George and Mary Josten |
Jay Jostyn (December 13, 1905 - July 24, 1977)[1] (another source gives his lifespan as December 13, 1901 - June 25, 1976)[2] was an actor in the era of old-time radio. He is best known for portraying the title role in Mr. District Attorney on radio.[1] An article in Radio-TV Mirror in 1952 reported, "He is so generally believed to be a real life lawyer that he frequently receives mail from listeners inviting him to move to certain cities where they feel crimes are going unsolved."[3]
Early years
Jostyn was born Eugene Josten, the son of George and Mary Josten of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended St. Joseph's parochial school, Marquette Academy,[4] Marquette University,[5] and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.[4]
Before going into acting full-time, he had a job with a telephone company.[6]
Stage
In 1948, Jostyn had the lead in a touring company that performed The Trial of Mary Dugan.[7] On Broadway, he played District Attorney McDonough in Deadfall (1955).[8]
Radio
Jostyn's career in radio began at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he was the first poetry reader for the station's late-night Moon River program.[9]
Jostyn's roles as a regular cast member included those shown in the table below.
Program | Role |
---|---|
Foreign Assignment | Brian Barry[10]:258 |
Hilltop House | Frank Klabber[11] |
The Life of Mary Sothern | Max Tilley[10]:396 |
Listen Carefully | Master of ceremonies[12] |
Mr. District Attorney | District attorney[10]:464 |
Our Gal Sunday | Jackie [13] |
The Parker Family | Walter Parker[10]:533 |
Popeye, The Sailor | Captain Dick[14] |
Second Husband | Ben Porter[15] |
This Day Is Ours | Curt Curtis[15]:336. |
Jostyn was also in the casts of This Small Town,[16] Silver Theater, The Top Guy,[10] and Mystery Man.[17]
Television
Jostyn's roles as a regular cast member included those show in the table below.
Program | Role |
---|---|
Mr. District Attorney | Paul Garrett[18] |
Night Court U.S.A. | The judge[19] |
The Secret Storm | Dr. Hadley[20] |
Jostyn also starred in Courtroom U.S.A., a syndicated series that dramatized actual court cases.[21] Additionally, he was also seen in episodes of The Doctor,[18]:163 and The Philco Television Playhouse.[22]
Other professional activities
In November 1943, Jostyn was elected to a one-year term as third vice-president of the New York local of the American Federation of Radio Artists.[23] In 1944, he was one of seven people elected to AFRA's national board.[24]
Personal life
On October 17, 1928, Jostyn married Ruth Hill in Pasadena, Claifornia. She was an actress whom he met when they performed together in a play. They had two sons, Jean Charles and Jon George.[25]
Death
Jostyn died June 25, 1977, in Los Angeles, California.[2]
References
- 1 2 DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 144.
- 1 2 Aaker, Everett (2006). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6409-8. P. 296.
- ↑ "Mr. D. A.". Radio-TV Mirror. 37 (3): 60. February 1952. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- 1 2 Thompson, Edgar A. (January 1, 1939). "Rose to Fame from Milwaukee Parish Hall". Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Journal. p. 10. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ "Radio Guide". Pennsylvania, Altoona. Altoona Tribune. March 15, 1949. p. 11. Retrieved February 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Mister D. A.". Radio Mirror. 28 (2): 62. July 1947. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ "Goodman Travels "Dugan"" (PDF). Billboard. September 18, 1948. p. 44. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ↑ "Jay Jostyn". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ↑ "Still Flowing". Radio and Television Mirror. 32 (1): 23. June 1949. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Pp. 616, 679.
- ↑ "Thursday's Highlights". Radio and Television Mirror. 14 (6): 48. October 1940. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ Frankern, Jerry (August 9, 1947). "Listen Carefully" (PDF). Billboard. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ "Questions and Answers". Nebraska, Lincoln. Sunday Journal and Star. June 27, 1937. p. 40. Retrieved February 8, 2016 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ↑ Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1939). Variety Radio Directory 1939-1940 (PDF). New York City: Variety, Inc. p. 506. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- 1 2 Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941. Variety, Inc. P. 330.
- ↑ "'This Small Town' Cast". Variety. October 9, 1940. p. 31. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1942). The 1942 Radio Annual (PDF). New York City: Radio Daily Corp. p. 747. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- 1 2 Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25525-9. P. 407.
- ↑ Vernon, Terry (April 25, 1958). "Maurice Evans in 'Dial M for Murder'". California, Long Beach. Press Telegram. p. 33. Retrieved February 8, 2016 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ↑ "The Secret Storm". TV Radio Mirror. 44 (6): 60–63. November 1955. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television. Penguin Books USA, Inc. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8. P. 183.
- ↑ "(photo caption)". Radio and Television Mirror. 33 (5): 60. April 1950. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ↑ "N.Y. AFRA Election" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 13, 1943. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ↑ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 17, 1944. p. 61. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ↑ Jostyn, Mrs. Jay (March 1946). "A very nice young man --". Radio Mirror. 25 (4): 46–47, 85–86. Retrieved 9 February 2016.