On August 31, 1970, The Morning Standard in Uniontown, Pennsylvania ran a story about Jocelyn in connection with the showing of A Bullet For Pretty Boy in that town. The article relays Jocelyn's background as follows:
"Jocelyn Lane's life has been a series of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. She wanted to be a dancer more than anything else in the world. She was 'discovered' - for a role as an actress.
[S]he is English. Although a British subject and currently a resident of Hollywood, Jocelyn was born in Vienna, Austria. Her father, a corporation director, was handling affairs for his British employer in Vienna when Jocelyn was born. The family moved back to England, and then to the United States for several years.
When Jocelyn was twelve, her father was re-assigned to England, and the future actress continued her education in the United Kingdom. She was 'discovered' while studying ballet, and was signed for a series of films in Europe."
Promotional material for Tickle Me in 1965 gave this type of summary of Jocelyn's background:
"The petite English glamour girl...was 'discovered' by the same man who brought Audrey Hepburn to light. British stage producer Cecil Landau first saw her in a ballet class and was so impressed he built a lavish London revue around her. But illness took her out of the show at the last minute, and when she recovered Landau recommended her to Herbert Wilcox, who in turn was so impressed he gave her the juvenile lead (a juvenile delinquent) in her first film, made in London. 'And that's how it happened I became an actress. What I really wanted was to be a dancer,' says Jocelyn Lane."
Another promotional article for Tickle Me said:
"She was 'discovered' by Cecil Landau, the man who also brought Audrey Hepburn to light. He saw her in the London ballet class of George Goncharov, who had taught Margot Fonteyn, and proceeded to build a lavish West End revue around her. Illness struck her down. But when she recovered another stage producer was waiting. Then Herbert Wilcox grabbed her for an English film, immediately after which Rome imported her for an Italian one. Universal Studio head Edward Muhl saw a film clip of her and brought her to Hollywood...Born into a wealthy family and brought up with the daughters of Britain's 'Establishment,' she is a product of the exclusive Lady Eden's school, run by the sister-in-law of former Prime Minister Anthony Eden."
Perhaps adding to the mystery and allure that is Jocelyn Lane, those accounts of her life are part fact and part fiction.
Now, lets start a journey, to learn the rest of the story...
Jocelyn Olga Bolton was born on May 16, 1937 in Vienna, Austria. At age 5, Jocelyn was described as being of fair complexion with brown hair and brown eyes.
Jocelyn's mother, Olga Mironov, was born in Russia on January 23, 1898. Olga lived to be 99! She died in London in February 1997. At the age of 43, Olga was described as being 5' 2 1/2" tall, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes. In 1942, Olga's mother, Maria, was a resident of Moscow. I do not know the name of Olga's father.
Jocelyn's father, John Bolton, was an English citizen born in 1889 in Bucharest, Romania. In 1941, his mother, Caroline, was living at 27 Church Crescent in London. I do not know his father's name. John died in a car accident in New York on October 24 (or 25th), 1941. He was not a large man, standing about 5' 6" tall and weighing about 150 pounds. He was an engineer, who worked for the Ingersoll-Rand company. By 1936 he had become a director of the company.
John and Olga also had another daughter, Dorothy, born on August 1, 1928 in Vienna.
"Jocelyn Lane's life has been a series of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. She wanted to be a dancer more than anything else in the world. She was 'discovered' - for a role as an actress.
[S]he is English. Although a British subject and currently a resident of Hollywood, Jocelyn was born in Vienna, Austria. Her father, a corporation director, was handling affairs for his British employer in Vienna when Jocelyn was born. The family moved back to England, and then to the United States for several years.
When Jocelyn was twelve, her father was re-assigned to England, and the future actress continued her education in the United Kingdom. She was 'discovered' while studying ballet, and was signed for a series of films in Europe."
Promotional material for Tickle Me in 1965 gave this type of summary of Jocelyn's background:
"The petite English glamour girl...was 'discovered' by the same man who brought Audrey Hepburn to light. British stage producer Cecil Landau first saw her in a ballet class and was so impressed he built a lavish London revue around her. But illness took her out of the show at the last minute, and when she recovered Landau recommended her to Herbert Wilcox, who in turn was so impressed he gave her the juvenile lead (a juvenile delinquent) in her first film, made in London. 'And that's how it happened I became an actress. What I really wanted was to be a dancer,' says Jocelyn Lane."
Another promotional article for Tickle Me said:
"She was 'discovered' by Cecil Landau, the man who also brought Audrey Hepburn to light. He saw her in the London ballet class of George Goncharov, who had taught Margot Fonteyn, and proceeded to build a lavish West End revue around her. Illness struck her down. But when she recovered another stage producer was waiting. Then Herbert Wilcox grabbed her for an English film, immediately after which Rome imported her for an Italian one. Universal Studio head Edward Muhl saw a film clip of her and brought her to Hollywood...Born into a wealthy family and brought up with the daughters of Britain's 'Establishment,' she is a product of the exclusive Lady Eden's school, run by the sister-in-law of former Prime Minister Anthony Eden."
Perhaps adding to the mystery and allure that is Jocelyn Lane, those accounts of her life are part fact and part fiction.
Now, lets start a journey, to learn the rest of the story...
Jocelyn Olga Bolton was born on May 16, 1937 in Vienna, Austria. At age 5, Jocelyn was described as being of fair complexion with brown hair and brown eyes.
Jocelyn's mother, Olga Mironov, was born in Russia on January 23, 1898. Olga lived to be 99! She died in London in February 1997. At the age of 43, Olga was described as being 5' 2 1/2" tall, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes. In 1942, Olga's mother, Maria, was a resident of Moscow. I do not know the name of Olga's father.
Jocelyn's father, John Bolton, was an English citizen born in 1889 in Bucharest, Romania. In 1941, his mother, Caroline, was living at 27 Church Crescent in London. I do not know his father's name. John died in a car accident in New York on October 24 (or 25th), 1941. He was not a large man, standing about 5' 6" tall and weighing about 150 pounds. He was an engineer, who worked for the Ingersoll-Rand company. By 1936 he had become a director of the company.
- An English newspaper report stated that on Friday, October 24, 1941, John Bolton, a representative of Ingersall-Rand Company died in New York due to a "motor accident."
- A U.S. INS card for Olga dated October 30, 1942 shows that she, Dorothy, and Jocelyn re-entered the country at Niagara Falls, NY after having been out for almost two weeks. That card indicates that she was a widow.
- Olga Bolton is listed in the 1947 and 1950 city directories for New Rochelle, New York as the widow of John Bolton.
John and Olga also had another daughter, Dorothy, born on August 1, 1928 in Vienna.
- Dorothy used the stage name of Mara Lane for her modeling/acting career, and most sources list her birthday as August 1, 1930. That is either a mistake or Dorothy fudged a bit as starlets have been known to do through the years. A 1942 U.S. immigration document shows her birthday as 8/1/28. As further support, a March 5, 1948 ship manifest shows her age as 19. I do not know how Dorothy came to use the stage name of Mara Lane. Since Mara was a well-known model/starlet (amassing almost three dozen acting credits, mostly in England and continental Europe, between 1951 and 1964), my presumption is that Jocelyn used the "Lane" name to keep in step with her well-known sister. I do not know the reasoning behind her use of "Jackie."
The family was living in Vienna, Austria at the time that Dorothy was born, and they apparently continued living there through the birth of Jocelyn. They were all considered to be English citizens, presumably due to John's English citizenship. At some point between Jocelyn's birth and 1941, the family relocated to Budapest, Hungary. Then, in June of 1941, the family arrived in the U.S. by way of visas issued in Moscow, Russia on April 24, 1941 and a ship from Japan to San Francisco. They established a residence in New Rochelle, New York. Apparently, the family remained in New Rochelle after John's death a few months after their arrival, because Olga is listed as a homemaker in the New Rochelle City Directory in 1947 and 1950 (as the widow of John Bolton). Dorothy is also listed (as a student) in both directories. Jocelyn, due to her young age, would not have been listed separately.
My presumption is that the raging war in Europe against the Nazis had something to do with the family's movements, but I have no specific information in that regard.
Apparently, due to their travels and background, the family was quite bi-lingual. John spoke English, French, German, and Russian. Olga and Dorothy spoke English, German, and Russian. I have read that, over the course of her life, Jocelyn has been able to speak English, German, Spanish, and Italian.
I have read that, at 14 (around 1951-1952), Jocelyn moved to London where she studied ballet at Sadler's Wells Ballet of London. My presumption is that Olga decided to move the family closer to (or perhaps in with) her in-laws, rather than remaining permanently in New York. I do not know whether or not the entire family relocated at the same time, or whether Olga followed her daughters to England at a later date.
My presumption is that the raging war in Europe against the Nazis had something to do with the family's movements, but I have no specific information in that regard.
Apparently, due to their travels and background, the family was quite bi-lingual. John spoke English, French, German, and Russian. Olga and Dorothy spoke English, German, and Russian. I have read that, over the course of her life, Jocelyn has been able to speak English, German, Spanish, and Italian.
I have read that, at 14 (around 1951-1952), Jocelyn moved to London where she studied ballet at Sadler's Wells Ballet of London. My presumption is that Olga decided to move the family closer to (or perhaps in with) her in-laws, rather than remaining permanently in New York. I do not know whether or not the entire family relocated at the same time, or whether Olga followed her daughters to England at a later date.
In April of 1952, 14-year-old Jocelyn traveled first class on a ship from Southampton, England to New York, New York. Her stated destination was Forest Hills, New York. I do not know if her mother was still living in New York, or if Jocelyn traveled there for some other reason. At that age, you would think that she was returning to her mother after a trip to England (or visiting her).
I have not seen any pictures of Jocelyn or Mara as children, nor have I seen any pictures of their parents. This blog is dedicated to Jocelyn, but for reference, here is a magazine cover photo of Mara from May 1954. She and Jocelyn certainly look like sisters.
Finally, here is one of the cutest things that you will likely ever see on this blog. It is five-year-old Jocelyn's "signature" on a 1942 U.S. immigration document.
Finally, here is one of the cutest things that you will likely ever see on this blog. It is five-year-old Jocelyn's "signature" on a 1942 U.S. immigration document.
I will revisit this post and revise it in the future as new information or images become available.
In upcoming posts, I will begin to work my way through the period between 1954 and 1959, starting with posts for each of Jocelyn's film and TV projects during the period.
In upcoming posts, I will begin to work my way through the period between 1954 and 1959, starting with posts for each of Jocelyn's film and TV projects during the period.
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