Colleen Townsend: Difference between revisions

Colleen Townsend
Colleen Townsend
	Townsend (1949)
Born	December 21, 1928 (age 97); Glendale, California, U.S.
Other names	Colleen Townsend Evans; Colleen Evans
Occupations	Actress, writer and humanitarian
Spouse	Louis H. Evans, Jr. (m. 1950⁠–⁠2008) (his death)

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Colleen Townsend Evans (born December 21, 1928^[1]) is an American actress, author and humanitarian.

Early years

Townsend was born in Glendale, California.^[2] Her parents separated "when she was a tot," after which she lived with her mother.^[3] She attended Brigham Young University, leaving during her sophomore year to pursue a film career.^[4]

Life and career

When Townsend was 15 years old, she began performing on television as a member of the dramatic company at station W6XAO in Los Angeles. A talent scout saw her work there, which led to her signing a contract with Warner Bros.^[3]

Townsend began a film career in 1944, appearing in minor roles in several films. By 1946, she was appearing on the cover of magazines, and in 1947, she was signed to a contract by 20th Century Fox. She was the subject of a cover story for Life in 1948, which discussed the way in which major studios groomed and manufactured their stars, using Townsend's story as an example.^[2] The studio created a photographic calendar for her to "put [her] face in every home, office and barracks in America all year around".^[5] Hedda Hopper was quoted as saying that Townsend was "going places."^[5]

She played a featured role in the film The Walls of Jericho (1948), and she was billed third behind Dan Dailey and Celeste Holm in Chicken Every Sunday (1949). Her biggest success was in the 1950 film When Willie Comes Marching Home, in which she was paired with Dan Dailey. Again Pioneers (1950), which she wrote, provided her with her first lead role.^{[citation needed]}

She grew up attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,^{[citation needed]} and in 1948, she became active in First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. In 1950, Townsend left her acting career and married long-time friend Louis H. Evans Jr., who was a seminary student at the time at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Evans was the founding pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church,^[6] which began in the Evans home. Bel Air Presbyterian Church exists today as the largest Presbyterian congregation in the Los Angeles area.^[7]

Later, the couple met and became friends with Billy and Ruth Graham. Townsend, now billed as Colleen Evans, returned to films briefly, starring in two films produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Oiltown, U.S.A. (1950) and Souls in Conflict (1955).^[8]

Post-acting

Colleen and Louis Evans moved to Washington, D.C. where he served at National Presbyterian Church. Thereafter she dedicated herself to humanitarian work, specifically in relation to racial or religious discrimination, human rights, and the role of women in society. She partnered with her husband in ministry and served on the board of World Vision. She served as the first female chair of the Billy Graham Crusade in 1986.^[8]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role
1944	Janie	Hortense Bennett
	The Very Thought of You	Young bride
	Hollywood Canteen	Junior hostess
1945	Pillow to Post	WAC's daughter
1945	Sing Your Way Home	Girl
1948	Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!	Girl leaving church service
1948	The Walls of Jericho	Marjorie Ransome
1949	Chicken Every Sunday	Rosemary Hefferan
1950	When Willie Comes Marching Home	Marjorie Fettles
1950	Again Pioneers	Sallie Keeler
1952	The Great Discovery	Connie
1953	Oiltown, U.S.A.	Christine Manning

References

↑ O'Leary, Dorothy (July 1948). "Colleen (Townsend) With a Plan". Movieland. p. 42. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
1 2 "The Big Build-Up". Life. August 30, 1948. pp. 77–81. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
1 2 Pollock, Louis (March 1949). "Soldier of God". Modern Screen. pp. 42–43, 111–112. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
↑ "Something For The Pupils". Kansas City Star. March 9, 1948. p. 3.
1 2 Life Goes to the Movies. Simon and Schuster. 1977. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-671-79000-5.
↑ "The Rev. Louis H. Evans, organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, dies at 82". LA Times. November 2, 2008.
↑ "Home - Bel Air Church". belairpres.org. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
1 2 "A Renaissance Woman for Christ". Wheaton College. 2005. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2018.

External links

Colleen Townsend at IMDb
Colleen Townsend at the TCM Movie Database (archived)
Colleen Townsend on the cover of Life magazine, August 30 1948

[1] O'Leary, Dorothy (July 1948). "Colleen (Townsend) With a Plan". Movieland. p. 42. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

[l-2] 1 2 "The Big Build-Up". Life. August 30, 1948. pp. 77–81. Retrieved January 7, 2018.

[ms-3] 1 2 Pollock, Louis (March 1949). "Soldier of God". Modern Screen. pp. 42–43, 111–112. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

[4] "Something For The Pupils". Kansas City Star. March 9, 1948. p. 3.

[Life-5] 1 2 Life Goes to the Movies. Simon and Schuster. 1977. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-671-79000-5.

[LATimes-6] "The Rev. Louis H. Evans, organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, dies at 82". LA Times. November 2, 2008.

[BelAirPres-7] "Home - Bel Air Church". belairpres.org. Retrieved September 27, 2022.

[BillyGrahamCenter-8] 1 2 "A Renaissance Woman for Christ". Wheaton College. 2005. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2018.

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
 {{Infobox person
-| name          = Colleen Townsend
+| name        = Colleen Townsend
-| image         = Colleen Townsend in When Willie Comes Marching Home trailer.jpg
+| image       = Colleen Townsend 1949.jpg
-| caption      = from the trailer for ''[[When Willie Comes Marching Home]]'' (1950)
+| caption     = Townsend (1949)
+| other_names = Colleen Townsend Evans<br>Colleen Evans
-| image_size   = 240px
+| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1928|12|21}}
-| othername    = Colleen Townsend Evans
+| birth_place = [[Glendale, California]], U.S.
-Colleen Evans
+| occupation  = Actress, writer and humanitarian
-| birth_name   =
+| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Louis Evans Jr.|Louis H. Evans, Jr.]]|1950|2008}} (his death)
-| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1928|12|21}}
-| birth_place  = [[Glendale, California]], U.S.
-| occupation   = Actress, writer and humanitarian
-| spouse       = {{marriage|Louis H. Evans, Jr.|1950|2008}} (his death)
 }}
-'''Colleen Townsend Evans''' (born December 21, 1928) is an American actress, author and humanitarian.
+'''Colleen Townsend Evans''' (born December 21, 1928<ref>O'Leary, Dorothy (July 1948). [https://archive.org/details/movielandtvtimev06unse/page/n575/mode/2up?q=%22colleen+townsend%22+%22december+21+1928%22 "Colleen (Townsend) With a Plan"]. ''Movieland''. p.&nbsp;42. Retrieved January 27, 2024.</ref>) is an American actress, author and [[Humanitarianism|humanitarian]].
 ==Early years==
-Townsend was born in [[Glendale, California]].<ref name="l">{{cite magazine|title=The Big Build-Up|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Colleen+Townsend%22&pg=PA77|access-date=January 7, 2018|magazine=Life|date=August 30, 1948|pages=77–81|language=en}}</ref>  She attended Brigham Young University, leaving during her sophomore year to pursue a film career.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Kansas City Star|date=March 9, 1948|page=3|title=Something For The Pupils|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79604018/colleen-townsend/}}</ref>
+Townsend was born in [[Glendale, California]].<ref name="l">{{cite magazine|title=The Big Build-Up|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Colleen+Townsend%22&pg=PA77|access-date=January 7, 2018|magazine=Life|date=August 30, 1948|pages=77–81|language=en}}</ref> Her parents separated "when she was a tot," after which she lived with her mother.<ref name=ms>{{cite magazine |last=Pollock |first=Louis |date=March 1949 |pages=42–43, 111–112 |title=Soldier of God |url=https://archive.org/details/modernscreen3839unse/page/n383/mode/1up?view=theater |magazine=Modern Screen |access-date=January 27, 2024}}</ref> She attended [[Brigham Young University]], leaving during her sophomore year to pursue a film career.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Kansas City Star|date=March 9, 1948|page=3|title=Something For The Pupils|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79604018/colleen-townsend/}}</ref>
 ==Life and career==
+When Townsend was 15 years old, she began performing on television as a member of the dramatic company at station [[KCBS-TV|W6XAO]] in Los Angeles. A talent scout saw her work there, which led to her signing a contract with [[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="ms" />
-Townsend began a film career in 1944, appearing in minor roles in several films. By 1946, she was appearing on the cover of magazines, and in 1947 was signed to a contract by [[20th Century Fox]]. She was the subject of a cover story for ''[[Life Magazine|Life]]'' in 1948, which discussed the way in which major studios groomed and manufactured their stars, using Townsend's story as an example.<ref name="l" /> The studio created a photographic calendar for her, to "put [her] face in every home, office and barracks in America all year around".<ref name=Life>{{cite book |title= Life Goes to the Movies |year= 1977 |publisher= Simon and Schuster|isbn= 0-671-79000-5 |pages= 98–99}}</ref> [[Hedda Hopper]] was also quoted as saying that Townsend was "going places."<ref name=Life/>
+Townsend began a film career in 1944, appearing in minor roles in several films. By 1946, she was appearing on the cover of magazines, and in 1947, she was signed to a contract by [[20th Century Fox]]. She was the subject of a cover story for ''Life'' in 1948, which discussed the way in which major studios groomed and manufactured their stars, using Townsend's story as an example.<ref name="l" /> The studio created a photographic calendar for her to "put [her] face in every home, office and barracks in America all year around".<ref name="Life">{{cite book |title= Life Goes to the Movies |year= 1977 |publisher= Simon and Schuster|isbn= 0-671-79000-5 |pages= 98–99}}</ref> [[Hedda Hopper]] was quoted as saying that Townsend was "going places."<ref name="Life" />
-She played a featured role in the film ''[[The Walls of Jericho (1948 film)|The Walls of Jericho]]'' (1948), and was billed third behind [[Dan Dailey]] and [[Celeste Holm]] in ''[[Chicken Every Sunday]]'' (1949). Her biggest success was in the 1950 film ''[[When Willie Comes Marching Home]]'', in which she was paired with Dan Dailey. ''[[Again Pioneers]]'' (1950), which she scripted, provided her with her first lead role.
+She played a featured role in the film ''[[The Walls of Jericho (1948 film)|The Walls of Jericho]]'' (1948), and she was billed third behind [[Dan Dailey]] and [[Celeste Holm]] in ''[[Chicken Every Sunday]]'' (1949). Her biggest success was in the 1950 film ''[[When Willie Comes Marching Home]]'', in which she was paired with Dan Dailey. ''[[Again Pioneers]]'' (1950), which she wrote, provided her with her first lead role.{{Citation needed |date=January 2024}}
-She grew up attending [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] and in 1948 became active in the Hollywood Presbyterian Church. In 1950, Townsend left her acting career and married long-time friend Louis H. Evans, Jr. who was a seminary student at the time at San Francisco Theologic Seminary.  Rev. Louis H. Evans, Jr. was the founding pastor of [[Bel Air Presbyterian Church]],<ref name=LATimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/la-me-evans2-2008nov02-story.html|title=The Rev. Louis H. Evans, organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, dies at 82|date=November 2, 2008|publisher=|via=LA Times}}</ref> which began in the Evans home. Bel Air Presbyterian Church exists today as the largest Presbyterian congregation in the Los Angeles area and has a beautiful and welcoming location on Mulholland Drive. Colleen was part of the groundbreaking on that location.<ref name=BelAirPres>{{cite web|url=http://www.belairpres.org|title=Home - Bel Air Church|website=www.belairpres.org}}</ref>
+She grew up attending [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]],{{Citation needed |date=January 2024}} and in 1948, she became active in [[First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood]]. In 1950, Townsend left her acting career and married long-time friend [[Louis Evans Jr.|Louis H. Evans Jr.]], who was a seminary student at the time at [[San Francisco Theological Seminary]]. Evans was the founding pastor of [[Bel Air Presbyterian Church]],<ref name=LATimes>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/la-me-evans2-2008nov02-story.html|title=The Rev. Louis H. Evans, organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, dies at 82|date=November 2, 2008|newspaper=LA Times}}</ref> which began in the Evans home. Bel Air Presbyterian Church exists today as the largest Presbyterian congregation in the Los Angeles area.<ref name=BelAirPres>{{cite web|url=http://www.belairpres.org|title=Home - Bel Air Church|website=belairpres.org|accessdate=September 27, 2022}}</ref>
-Later, the couple met and became friends with [[Billy Graham|Billy and Ruth Graham]]. Townsend, now billed as "Colleen Evans", returned to films briefly, starring in two films produced by the [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]], ''Oiltown, U.S.A.'' (1950) and ''Souls in Conflict'' (1955).<ref name=BillyGrahamCenter>{{cite web|url=http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/bulletin/bu0406.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102154125/http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/bulletin/bu0406.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 2, 2013|title= A Renaissance Woman for Christ|publisher=Wheaton College|year= 2005| access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
+Later, the couple met and became friends with [[Billy Graham|Billy and Ruth Graham]]. Townsend, now billed as Colleen Evans, returned to films briefly, starring in two films produced by the [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]]: ''Oiltown, U.S.A.'' (1950) and ''Souls in Conflict'' (1955).<ref name=BillyGrahamCenter>{{cite web|url=http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/bulletin/bu0406.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102154125/http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/bulletin/bu0406.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 2, 2013|title= A Renaissance Woman for Christ|publisher=Wheaton College|year= 2005| access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
-Colleen and Louie relocated to Washington, DC when Louie accepted a call to serve at National Presbyterian Church.  Thereafter she dedicated herself to humanitarian work, specifically in relation to racial or religious discrimination,  human rights, and in furthering the role of women in society.   She partnered with her husband in ministry and served on the board of World Vision.  She served as the first female chair of the Billy Graham Crusade in 1986.<ref name=BillyGrahamCenter/>
+==Post-acting==
-As "Colleen Townsend Evans" she is the author of several books.
+Colleen and Louis Evans moved to Washington, D.C. where he served at National Presbyterian Church. Thereafter she dedicated herself to humanitarian work, specifically in relation to racial or religious discrimination, human rights, and the role of women in society. She partnered with her husband in ministry and served on the board of [[World Vision]]. She served as the first female chair of the Billy Graham Crusade in 1986.<ref name=BillyGrahamCenter/>
-Colleen and Louie had four children.  She has nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Colleen and Louie retired to [[Bass Lake, California]]. After 58 1/2 years of marriage, Louie died in 2008 of ALS. Colleen now resides in Naples, Florida.
 ==Filmography==
@@ Line 82: / Line 79: @@
 |-
 |rowspan=1|1953
-|''Oiltown, U.S.A.''
+|''[[Oiltown, U.S.A.]]''
 |Christine Manning
 |}
+==See also==
+* [[Pin-ups of Yank, the Army Weekly]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
 ==External links==
-*{{IMDb name|0870109}}
+* {{IMDb name}}
+* {{Tcmdb name}}
 *[http://www.google.com/search?q=life+magazine+cover+august+30+1948 Colleen Townsend on the cover of ''Life'' magazine, August 30 1948]
@@ Line 96: / Line 97: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Townsend, Colleen}}
-[[Category:1928 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:1928 births]]
 [[Category:American film actresses]]
 [[Category:Actresses from Glendale, California]]
-[[Category:Actresses from California]]
 [[Category:American Christians]]
-[[Category:20th Century Fox contract players]]
+[[Category:20th Century Studios contract players]]
 [[Category:American Christian writers]]
 [[Category:Former Latter Day Saints]]
-[[Category:American humanitarians]]
-[[Category:Women humanitarians]]
 [[Category:San Francisco Theological Seminary alumni]]
 [[Category:American women writers]]

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