Starring the glamorous Miss Duane Thompson ....

As much as I'd like to claim Duane Thompson (left), a glamorous star of silver screen in the silent era, as one of Lucas County's own, the best I can do is to report that she visited her father and two half-sisters here at least once, during 1930, as her career was fading.

Red Oak actually has Iowa's best claim to Duane, born there as Lura Duane Malony on July 28, 1903. But even that claim is tenuous --- she moved to Omaha with her mother at the age of two and spent her formative years in California where, after a stint as a cafe dancer, she achieved a modest degree of Hollywood stardom. There, she took her middle name, Duane, as her first and replaced her father's surname with that of her stepfather, Thompson.

Duane was the daughter of Dr. John H. Malony, a dentist, and his first wife, Georgia Ethel Manker. She had an older brother, Richard Malony, born during 1901. After her parents' marriage failed, Richard and Duane remained with their mother and Dr. Malony launched a new family.

He married Orpha Ellen Meighen in Omaha on during 1904 and they had two daughters --- Ruth (1906-1974) and Helen (1907-1969). I've written previously about Helen (Malony) Talboy, heroic World War II Army nurse who went on to become a pioneer in reforming Iowa's correctional system for women (Heroes among us: Capt. Helen Mahony Talboy). The Malonys moved to Chariton during the early 1920s and Orpha, John, Ruth and Helen all are buried in the Chariton Cemetery.

Lucas County had taken note of Ms. Thompson as early as March 12, 1925, when the following was published in The Herald-Patriot:

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Chariton has more than a passing interest in the moving picture industry at Hollywood, California. Also when a Christie comedy comes to town, more than the usual attention is given to the cast of characters. The reason is that Duane Thompson, at present leading lady for Walter Hiers, and well known figure in the screen firmament, is a daughter of Dr. J. H.  Malony, Chariton dentist. Miss Malony, whose screen name is Duane Thompson, began her picture career three years ago and has appeared with Bobbie Vernon, Neil Burns and other celebrities in the screen comedy features. It is probable that some of her latest releases will be shown here, according to the local theatre management.

Miss Thompson, it is said, has excellent prospects of advancing well to the top of the motion picture profession. She was one of thirteen debutantes who have been announced as selections at the Wampas Baby Stars of 1925. The announcement was made February 5, and appears in the March number of the "Photoplay" with a picture of Duane Thompson. Each year the Wampas, the film industry organization of advertising and publicity men, selects thirteen girls to be honored guests at the annual Wampas Frolic at Hollywood, California. Their selection is virtually an announcement of their beginning of a stardom career.

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According to her biography in Wikipedia, Duane launched her movie career as Violet Joy during 1921 opposite Vernon Dent in "Up and at 'em." She then adopted a version of her given name and once her career took off in 1923, made 37 films before the ground shifted under the silent movie industry during the late 1920s and "talkies" replaced them.

During 1928, Duane married Emmet K. "Buddy" Wattles, a comedic leading man; and as the silent screen darkened, they switched to stock theater, traveling from city to city. During the early 1930s, they returned to Hollywood and Duane turned to radio, where she was quite successful and met and married her second husband, radio producer William T. Johnson. She continued to live in Los Angeles until her death at age 67 on Aug. 15, 1970.

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Ms. Thompson's only known visit to Chariton occurred during late June, 1930, as reported by The Leader of July 1: "Duane Thompson, movie and stage actress who was born in Red Oak, arrived in Chariton Saturday from Hollywood for a visit with relatives. Her husband, Emmet King Wattles, stage star, joined her at Red Oak last week. The couple recently closed an engagement at Denver. Miss Thompson is the daughter of Dr. J.H. Malony of Chariton, and is now here."

There were no further reports, in large part I'm guessing because the occasion for the visit was a sad one. Orpha Malony, Duane's stepmother, had died unexpectedly at the age of 48 on June 5 at a hospital in Ottumwa of "an infection of the gall bladder."

Dr. Malony lived on, practicing in both Chariton and Corydon until his death at age 74 during early April, 1955. Daughters Ruth and Helen were living respectively in Des Moines and Van Meter at the time; and the two children from his first marriage, Richard and Duane, in Los Angeles.