Jane Gilbert (born Jane Kies, August 31, 1920) is an American former
actress.Gilbert was born in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Kies, who had five other daughters and one son. She was the
sister of actress Margaret Lindsay. As a student at Dubuque High
School, she participated in sports, graduating in 1937. Gilbert also
studied in dramatic schools.She acted in the Boothbay Stock Company in
Boothbay, Maine, using the name Gilbert because people were unsure how
to pronounce Kies. A 20th Century Fox scout offered her a film
contract while she was appearing in Death Takes a Holiday, but she
rejected it, citing a desire to gain more experience on stage. Soon
afterward, she performed in What a Life in New York.While in Maine,
Gilbert did a screen test for Warner Bros. Pictures but heard no
results. Eventually, she went to Hollywood, where Margaret Lindsay
introduced Gilbert as her sister, Jane Lindsay. Studio officials
finally realized that Jane Lindsay was the same actress as Jane
Gilbert, whose screen test they found to be good. In August 1939,
Gilbert signed a long-term contract with Warner Bros. As she became a
member of that company, Lindsay was leaving it, possibly to avoid
competing for roles with her sister, but perhaps also because she had
complained about her recent treatment by the Warner Bros.
actress.Gilbert was born in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Kies, who had five other daughters and one son. She was the
sister of actress Margaret Lindsay. As a student at Dubuque High
School, she participated in sports, graduating in 1937. Gilbert also
studied in dramatic schools.She acted in the Boothbay Stock Company in
Boothbay, Maine, using the name Gilbert because people were unsure how
to pronounce Kies. A 20th Century Fox scout offered her a film
contract while she was appearing in Death Takes a Holiday, but she
rejected it, citing a desire to gain more experience on stage. Soon
afterward, she performed in What a Life in New York.While in Maine,
Gilbert did a screen test for Warner Bros. Pictures but heard no
results. Eventually, she went to Hollywood, where Margaret Lindsay
introduced Gilbert as her sister, Jane Lindsay. Studio officials
finally realized that Jane Lindsay was the same actress as Jane
Gilbert, whose screen test they found to be good. In August 1939,
Gilbert signed a long-term contract with Warner Bros. As she became a
member of that company, Lindsay was leaving it, possibly to avoid
competing for roles with her sister, but perhaps also because she had
complained about her recent treatment by the Warner Bros.
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