Sybil Jason (born Sybil Jacobson; 23 November 1927 23 August 2011)
was a South African-born, American child film actress who, in the late
1930s, was presented as a rival to Shirley Temple.Born in Cape Town,
South Africa, on 23 November 1927, Sybil Jason began playing the piano
at age two and, a year later, began making public appearances doing
impersonations of Maurice Chevalier. She was introduced to the
theatre-going public of London by way of her uncle, Harry Jacobson, a
then-popular London orchestra leader and also pianist for Gracie
Fields. The apex of her career came with a concert performance with
Frances Day at London's Palace Theatre. Her theatre work led to
appearances on radio and phonograph records as well as a supporting
role in the film Barnacle Bill (1935).Irving Asher, the head of Warner
Bros.' London studio, saw Jason's performance in Barnacle Bill and
arranged for her to make a screen test for the studio. The test was a
success, resulting in Warner Bros. signing her to a contract. Her
American film debut came as the lead in Little Big Shot (1935),
directed by Michael Curtiz and co-starring Glenda Farrell, Robert
Armstrong, and Edward Everett Horton.
was a South African-born, American child film actress who, in the late
1930s, was presented as a rival to Shirley Temple.Born in Cape Town,
South Africa, on 23 November 1927, Sybil Jason began playing the piano
at age two and, a year later, began making public appearances doing
impersonations of Maurice Chevalier. She was introduced to the
theatre-going public of London by way of her uncle, Harry Jacobson, a
then-popular London orchestra leader and also pianist for Gracie
Fields. The apex of her career came with a concert performance with
Frances Day at London's Palace Theatre. Her theatre work led to
appearances on radio and phonograph records as well as a supporting
role in the film Barnacle Bill (1935).Irving Asher, the head of Warner
Bros.' London studio, saw Jason's performance in Barnacle Bill and
arranged for her to make a screen test for the studio. The test was a
success, resulting in Warner Bros. signing her to a contract. Her
American film debut came as the lead in Little Big Shot (1935),
directed by Michael Curtiz and co-starring Glenda Farrell, Robert
Armstrong, and Edward Everett Horton.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.
Related Post
