Lobby card from "FOLLOW THE BAND" - Universal Pictures © 1943 (Dana Countryman Collection)

 

Filmography compiled by Margie Schultz
The King Sisters were usually presented as a specialty act in their movies,
playing themselves rather than fictional characters.
Their songs and the names of the sisters are listed when known.
All films are feature-length, theatrical releases unless otherwise noted.
NOBODY'S FOOL (Universal) released June 1936
CAST: Edward Everett Horton, Glenda Farrell, Cesar Romero, Alyce King.
The Hollywood Reporter (March 18, 1936) announced Alyce's casting in the film, then titled UNCONSCIOUS. Shot in March 1936, directly before CRASH DONOVAN, we have pictorial proof that Alyce played a singer, however we don't know what she sang. The American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40 credits Alyce in the small role of Peggy.

Read review here.

CRASH DONOVAN (Universal) released August 1936
CAST: Jack Holt, John King, Nan Grey, Eddie Acuff, Ward Bond, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie).
The movie was filmed March 30, 1936 through May 7, 1936, with retakes beginning June 8, 1936. The King Sisters are unbilled.
The American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40 lists "Alyce King and Sisters" as "Quartette." The songs are "Devoted to You,"
"Wake Up and Sing," "Polly Wolly Doodle," and "Hail to the Highway Patrol," though we don't know which, if any, were performed by the King Sisters.
The film is in the Library of Congress collection, but there is no viewing copy available.

KING OF BURLESQUE (Fox) released 1936
CAST: Alice Faye, Jack Oakie. According to the UCLA Film and Television Archives, the King Sisters are in this film. Other sources disagree.
This may be a computer search error involving the words "King" and "Sisters."

COMMUNITY SING NO. 1 (Columbia) released 1939
CAST: The King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Gene Markey (m.c./pianist).
In the ten-minute short, the King Sisters sing "One, Two, Button My Shoe," "Pennies from Heaven," "Love in Bloom," "I'm an Old Cow Hand," and "Blue Hawaii."
The short was rereleased for television and distributed by Official Films under the title CROSBY FAVORITES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY SING NO. 7 (Columbia) released circa April 1939
CAST: The King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Danny Webb (m.c.).
In the ten-minute short, the King Sisters sing "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?,"
"Yes, We Have No Bananas," "The Object of My Affection," "Tipi Tipi Tin,"
"A-Tisket A-Tasket," and "The Music Goes 'Round and 'Round."

COMMUNITY SING NO. 10 (Columbia) released circa June 1939
CAST: The King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Danny Webb (m.c.).
In the nine-minute "Songs of Romance" short, the King Sisters sing "All I Do Is Dream of You," "Among My Souvenirs," "I'll See You in My Dreams,"
"Thanks for the Memory," and "There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder."

SECOND FIDDLE (20th Century-Fox) released July 1939
CAST: Sonja Henie, Tyrone Power, Rudy Vallee, Mary Healy, Edna May Oliver, Lyle Talbot, the Brian Sisters, Alan Dinehart, Minna Gombell, Stewart Reburn, Spencer Charters, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie). The King Sisters sing a chorus of "I'm Sorry for Myself" with Mary Healy and others. They are unbilled.

 

 

 

 




SNOW FOLLIES (Universal) released December 1939
CAST: The Franchonettes, Lillian Roth, Bruce Holden, the Morrell Sisters and Billy, the King Sisters (presumably Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Lola Jensen.

Specialty acts are featured in vaudeville numbers in this twenty-minute featurette directed by Larry Ceballos. The musical director is Charles Previn. It is not known what the King Sisters sing.

SWINGIN' IN THE BARN (Universal) released May 1940
CAST: Tex Jim Lewis and His Band, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Fred Scott, Vernon and Draper, Lucille Walker, Chester Gunnels, the Hill-Billyettes.
The King Sisters sing "I Like Mountain Music" and "Good Old Mountain Music Makes You Swing" in this twenty-minute short. It is directed by Larry Ceballos and the musical director is Charles Previn. The short was retitled FARMYARD FOLLIES when rereleased by Castle in 1948. During the 1940s, Castle bought the rights to many Universal shorts and films made by Universal Studios and the Soundies Distributing Corporation. Castle edited the films and sold them for home projectors.
It is not known if anything is cut in the Castle version.

SING YOUR WORRIES AWAY (RKO) released in 1942
CAST: Bert Lahr, June Havoc, Sam Levene, Buddy Ebsen, Dorothy Lovett, Patsy Kelly, Margaret Dumont, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.
The King Sisters sing "Sing Your Worries Away," "Cindy Lou McWilliams," "Tiger Rag," and "How Do You Fall in Love?" A copy is in the Library of Congress, but there is no viewing copy.

FOLLOW THE BAND (Universal) released April 1943
CAST: Frances Langford, The King's Men, Skinnay Ennis, the Groove Boys, Ray Eberle, Hilo Hattie, the Bombardiers, Eddie Quillan, Mary Beth Hughes, Anne Rooney, Leon Errol, The King Sisters (Luise, Donna, Vonnie, Peggy Brosen), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.
The King Sisters sing "My Devotion" and "Rosie the Riveter." Peggy Brosen replaced Alyce during her pregnancy.

LARCENY WITH MUSIC (Universal) released September 1943
CAST: Allan Jones, Kitty Carlisle, Leo Carillo, Lee Patrick, William Frawley, Gus Schilling, Samuel S. Hinds, Sig Arno, the King Sisters (Luise, Donna, Vonnie, Peggy Brosen). Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.
The King Sisters sing "They Died with Their Boots Laced" (with Alvino's Orchestra), "When You Wore a Tulip" (with Alvino's Orchestra and Allan Jones), "For the Want of You" (with Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle), and "Keep Smiling" (with Alvino's Orchestra). They also appear in a patriotic finale with Carlisle, Jones, and soldiers, which includes "Fighting Alone Together," "Wild Blue Yonder," "Anchors Away" (King Sisters), and "From the Halls of Montezuma." Peggy Brosen replaced Alyce during her pregnancy. (Before this film was released, it was had a working title of CROSS YOUR FINGERS.)

MEET THE PEOPLE (MGM) released September 1944
CAST: Lucille Ball, Dick Powell, Bert Lahr, Virginia O'Brien, June Allyson, Rags Ragland, Steve Geray, Howard Freeman, Paul Regan, Betty Jaynes, Mata and Hari, Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Spike Jones and His City Slickers.
The King Sisters appear briefly in the all-star number "I Want to Recognize the Tune" with June Allyson, Virginia O'Brien, Vaughn Monroe, Ziggy Talent, and three other women (an unbilled sister act?). Despite their speciality status in previous movies, the King Sisters are unbilled.

THRILL OF A ROMANCE (MGM) released September 1944
CAST: Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Lauritz Melchior, Robert Allen, Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, the King Sisters.
Although the King Sisters are credited in many books' cast lists, appear on song sheets, and the sisters themselves have talked about it, they were cut out before the film's release, presumably after their agent messed up their deal with MGM. Footage of the excised "Please Don't Say No" has appeared on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). It is not known if the King Sisters recorded any other numbers for the film.

ON STAGE EVERYBODY (Universal) released July 1945
CAST: Jack Oakie, Peggy Ryan, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Johnny Coy, Julie London, Otto Kruger, Esther Dale, Wallace Ford, Milburn Stone, Stephen Wayne, Jimmy Clark. The King Sisters sing "Stuff Like That There."

 

 

 

SWINGIN' DOWN THE SCALE (Universal) released May 1946
CAST: Alvino Rey and His Orchestra, the King Sisters (Alyce, Donna, Vonnie, Marilyn).
The sixteen-minute short, performed at the Sham Sham Club, includes "Serenade over the Rainbow," "Whispering Bow," "Farrewell Blues," and "Isle of Capri." It is not known which were performed by the King Sisters. The short is directed by Will Cowan, who directed shorts with Alvino Rey 91948) and Del Courtney (1949). Marilyn, not yet fifteen, replaced a pregnant Luise.

CUBAN PETE (Universal) released June 1946
CAST: Desi Arnaz, Joan Fulton, Jacqueline De Wit, Ethel Smith, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Don Porter, Pedro de Cordoba, Beverly Simmons, Igor de Navrotzki, Yvette von Koris.

The King Sisters sing "El Cumbanchero" (with Desi Arnaz), "Dreamer's Lullaby," "Cielito Lindo," and an introduction to Arnaz's "Cuban Pete." The King Sisters play a Cuban quartet, the Rey Sisters, who eventually Americanize their name to King. Brother Bill Driggs wrote "Dreamer's Lullaby." Watch for a brunette Vonnie as Consuelo, the only sister 's character who has a name.

 

 

THE GREAT MORGAN (MGM) released 1946 (overseas only)
CAST: Frank Morgan, Eleanor Powell, the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Pete Smith, Carlos Ramirez, Lucille Norman, Virginia O'Brien, Leon Ames.
The King Sisters sing "Thank You, Columbus." This film primarily is made up of outtakes left over from other films, with Frank Morgan and Leon Ames appearing in the bridging segments. It is assumed this song was cut from MEET THE PEOPLE, since it is in black and white and the song was written by Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg, who wrote some of the film's score. Despite its "overseas only" release, it has been shown repeatedly on TCM.

STRICTLY INFORMAL (Universal) 1955
CAST: The Gaylords, the Four King Sisters (presumably Luise, Alyce, Vonnie,
Marilyn), Larry Finley, the Harmonicats, and Fay DeWitt. This 16-minute short is produced and directed by Will Cowan and edited by Tom Conlon, Jr.

BRIGHT AND BREEZY (Universal) filmed late April 1956
CAST: Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra, the Sportsmen, Romo Vincent, the King Sisters (presumably Luise, Alyce, Vonnie, Marilyn).
The featurette is directed by Will Cowan and mentioned in a Downbeat column May 16, 1956.

GOLDEN LADDER (Universal) copyrighted January 5, 1957
CAST: Gogi Grant, Rod McKuen, Buddy Bregman, the King Sisters (Marilyn, Luise, Alyce, and Vonnie). Black and white two-reel musical short (15 mins.) The King Sisters perform "Imagination" and "In Hamburg," as well as assist the other performers with background vocals.

THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON(Pacific International) filmed early 1958; released 1959
CAST: Bob Clarke, Donna King Conkling, Pearl Mortensen Driggs, Xan Conkling, Nan Peterson. Although the King Sisters do not appear as a group, the film includes several members of the family. Alyce's husband, Bob Clarke, produces, directs, and stars in the movie.
Among the actors are Donna, her daughter Xan, and the King Sisters' mother Pearl. Marilyn does not appear in the film, but wrote the song featured in the film: "Strange Pursuit" and dubs the voice of Nan Peterson singing it. A 16mm print is in the Library of Congress, #FCA 8657-8658.

IT CAME FROM HOLLYWOOD (Paramount) released 1982
Marilyn King's song from THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON is included in this comic documentary that shows clips of many campy monster movies. In his autobiography, Bob Clarke complained that Marilyn was paid more than he was for the use of her song in a scene that featured him as an actor. Narrators include SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE alums Dan Ackroyd and Gilda Radner. A 35mm print is in the Library of Congress, #FGE 3194-3198.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (20th Century-Fox) released 1965
CAST: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Peggy Wood, Eleanor Parker. Marilyn King allegedly dubbed someone's voice (one of the nuns?) and while she was alive, she regularly received a royalty check. She is uncredited. A 35mm print is in the Library of Congress, #FGC 845-856.

SOUNDIES

Soundies were three-minute juke box movies popular during the 1940s. Some were musical numbers extracted from feature films, while others were made expressly for the machines, which were found in restaurants, taverns, and depots. Like music videos, the performers often acted out a story or theme mentioned in the lyrics. The date indicates the copyright. Presumably, they were released around that date as well. Those found in the Library of Congress are noted. Billed as "Four King Sisters," it is assumed they were always Luise, Alyce, Donna, and Vonnie.

 

THE IRISH WASHERWOMAN copyrighted March 16, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra, "Skeets" Herfurt, Dick Morgan.
Library of Congress #: VAC 9096 or VAC 9104.

 

TYING APPLES ON A LILAC TREE (aka PERSPICACITY) copyrighted April 7, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra. A Minoco Production.
Library of Congress #: VAC 9095.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ST. LOUIS BLUES copyrighted May 5, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra. A Minoco Production.

THE CALL OF THE CANYON copyrighted May 26, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

CHOP FOOEY copyrighted July 7, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

JAVA JIVE copyrighted July 21, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra, "Skeets" Herfurt, Dick Morgan. A Minoco Production.
Library of Congress #: VAC 9106, dated September 6, 1943.

CIELITO LINDO copyrighted October 13, 1941
CAST: Four King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra, "Skeets" Herfurt, Dick Morgan. Library of Congress #: VAC 9106.

TELESCRIPTIONS

Telescriptions were made between 1950 and 1953, primarily by two companies: Snader (1950-52) and Studio (1952-53). Like soundies, they were precursors to today's music videos.However, instead of being made for video juke boxes, they were produced for television, to air as filler between sporting events or movies. According to Downbeat (December 1, 1950), the King Sisters came out of retirement to make a series of video shorts for Snader Telescriptions. They picture Luise, Alyce, Donna, and Vonnie in costume for "Some Days There Just Ain't No Fish." It is assumed that some of these songs were filmed at the same time. The participating King Sisters are listed when known.

DREAMER'S LULLABY (Snader Telescriptions) #301
CAST: the King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

LIFE BEGINS AT FOURTEEN (Snader Telescriptions) #302
CAST: the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

KEEP SMILING (Snader Telescriptions) #303
CAST: the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

DIVORCE ME C.O.D. (Snader Telescriptions) #304
CAST: the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra. Library of Congress #: VAC 9119.

SOME DAYS THERE JUST AIN'T NO FISH (Snader Telescriptions) #305
CAST: the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

IDAHO (Snader Telescriptions) #306
CAST: the King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

ROUTE 66 (Snader Telescriptions) #307
CAST: the King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Vonnie, Marilyn), Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

PENTHOUSE SERENADE (Snader Telescriptions) #308
CAST: the King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

DIPSY DOODLE (Snader Telescriptions) #309
CAST: the King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER (Snader Telescriptions) #310
CAST: the King Sisters, Alvino Rey and His Orchestra.

Related:

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER (Snader Telescriptions) #204
CAST: Alvino Rey and His Orchestra, the Blue Reys (featuring Marilyn King).

This filmography © 2003 Margie Schultz for The King Sisters Official Fan Page

Special thanks to Joe Vinikow and Bill Driscol

Please e-mail if you have any comments or corrections about the film section
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