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Barbara Jo Allen

Barbara Jo Allen

Actor · Died September 14, 1974, aged 68 · New York City, New York, USA

From Wikipedia Barbara Jo Allen (September 2, 1906 – September 14, 1974) was an actress also known as Vera Vague, the spinster character she created and portrayed on radio and in films during the 1940s and 1950s. She based the character on a woman she had seen delivering a PTA literature lecture in a confused manner. As Vague, she popularized the catch phrase "You dear boy!" Allen's acting ability first surfaced in school plays. Following her high school graduation, she went to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. Concentrating on language, she became proficient in French, Spanish, German and Italian. After the death of her parents, she moved to Los Angeles where she lived with her uncle. In 1937, she debuted on network radio drama as Beth Holly on NBC's One Man's Family, followed by roles on Death Valley Days, I Love a Mystery and other radio series. According to Allen, her Vera Vague character was “sort of a frustrated female, dumb, always ambitious and overzealous… a spouting Bureau of Misinformation.” After Vera was introduced in 1939 on NBC Matinee, she became a regular with Bob Hope beginning in 1941. Allen appeared in at least 60 movies and TV series between 1938 and 1963, often credited as Vera Vague rather than her own name. The character she created was so popular that she eventually adopted the character name as her professional name. From 1943 to 1952, as Vera, she made more than a dozen comedy two-reel short subjects for Columbia Pictures. In 1948, she did less acting and instead opened her own commercial orchid business, while also serving as the Honorary Mayor of Woodland Hills, California. In 1953, as Vera, she hosted her own television series, Follow the Leader, a CBS audience participation show. In 1958, she appeared as Mabel, the boss of the flight attendants, in Jeannie Carson's syndicated version of her situation comedy Hey, Jeannie! The program aired only six episodes in syndication. Allen's first marriage was to actor Barton Yarborough. They had one child together. In 1946, the couple co-starred in the two-reel comedy short, Hiss and Yell, nominated for an Academy Award as Best Short Subject. In 1931-32, Allen married Charles H. Crosby. In 1943, she married Bob Hope's producer, Norman Morrell. They had one child and were married for three decades, until her 1974 death in Santa Barbara, California.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 2, 1906
Died
September 14, 1974 (aged 68)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 18% in 30 days

What are Barbara Jo Allen's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
38%
Society
21%
Morality
20%
Self
18%
Power
2%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
5
Tense
3
Warm
3
Romantic
2
Thrilling
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Barbara Jo Allen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Jo Allen's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Disney’s Coyote Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Goliath II’s Mother (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)

  • The Three Stooges Follies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Vera Clayton (archive footage)

  • The Sword in the Stone(1963)

    as Scullery Maid (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Surfside 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Goliath II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Goliath II's Mother

  • Born to Be Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Irene Hoffman

  • Sleeping Beauty(1959)

    as Fauna (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · as Celia Mallaver

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Opposite Sex(1956)

    as Dolly DeHaven

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Mohawk(1956)

    as Aunt Agatha

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Columbia Laff Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Vera Vague (archive footage)

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Parkinson

  • Happy Go Wacky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Vera Vague

  • She Took a Powder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Vera Vague

  • Nursie Behave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Vera Vague

  • Square Dance Katy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Gypsy Jones

  • Wha' Happen? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Vera

  • Clunked in the Clink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Vera Vague

  • Miss in a Mess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Vera Vague

  • Cupid Goes Nuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Vera Vague / Prudy Vague

  • Reno-Vated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Vera Butts

  • Earl Carroll Sketchbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Sherry Lane

  • Headin' for a Weddin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Vera Vague

  • Hiss and Yell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Vera Vague

  • Calling All Fibbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Vera Vague

  • Snafu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Madge Stevens

  • The Jury Goes Round 'n' Round (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Vera Vague

  • She Snoops to Conquer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Vera

  • Lake Placid Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Countess

  • Girl Rush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Suzie Banks

  • Strife of the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Vera Clayton

  • Rosie the Riveter(1944)

    as Vera Watson

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Mrs. Terwilliger ("Blue Eyes")

  • Moon Over Las Vegas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Auntie

  • Cowboy Canteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Vera Vague

  • Doctor, Feel My Pulse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Vera Vague

  • You Dear Boy! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Vera

  • Get Going (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Matilda Jones

  • Swing Your Partner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Vera Vague

  • Ice Capades Revue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Aunt Nellie

  • Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Tabitha Hazy

  • Priorities on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Mariposa Ginsbotham

  • Larceny, Inc(1942)

    as Mademoiselle Gloria

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Design for Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Janie

  • Buy Me That Town(1941)

    as Henriette Teagarden

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Ice-Capades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Vera Vague

  • Kiss the Boys Goodbye(1941)

    as Myra Stanhope

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Mad Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Louise Watkins (as Barbara Allen [Vera Vague])

  • Melody and Moonlight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Adelaide Barnett

  • Melody Ranch(1940)

    as Veronica Whipple

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sing, Dance, Plenty Hot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Susan

  • Broadway Melody of 1940(1940)

    as Ms. Konk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Village Barn Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Vera Vague

  • Kennedy the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mrs. John Potter

  • The Women(1939)

    as Receptionist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Moving Vanities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mrs. Errol

  • Major Difficulties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles, 56 of them dated from 1939 to 1991.

Biggest box office

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

$52M worldwide

Highest rated

Larceny, Inc (1942)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 57: 57 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

By decade

1930s3 · acting1940s37 · acting1950s11 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s1 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Barbara Jo Allen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 11; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 12 titles divides audiences: 7 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed2

Most loved · actor

The Women (1939)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Barbara Jo Allen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Jo Allen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Santley shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers