VIVI JANISS
Unlike Virginia Gregg and Virginia Christine,
Vivi was a Vivian.
In keeping with the modus vivendi
of most radio Gunsmoke actors,
Vivi did a vivacious volume of appearances in radio
and a variety of television shows.
Listen to any good radio drama series,
and you will hear Vivi's vivid voice.
Every role needs to be filled with life,
and Vivi always found a way to vivify each one.
Whether it was sotto voce or mezza voce or forte that was called for,
Vivi would viva voce the words, and render them vivi voce.
Vivi Janiss not only amassed a vast radio and tv resume;
she also managed to become the second of Robert Cummings' five wives.
But never mind that brief lark,
because she finally found a lasting relationship with John Larch,
and became his wife, remaining with him until she died.
John Larch, of course, was one of those wonderful character actors
who never did less than a superb job.
He appeared in Gunsmoke seven times--six times in the half-hours,
once in the b&w hours--and had the wisdom & taste
never to appear in the colors.
Vivi herself only appeared in tv Gunsmoke once,
wisely not appearing in the episode where John Larch
buried his second wife under the columbines.
Married Almost Everywhere
John Larch's wife in the botanical episode mentioned above, 'Fingered,'
was played by Vivi's fellow radio Gunsmoke actor, Virginia Christine.
Yet in many other tv episodes,
Vivi and John were the ones married, as in real life:
The Alcoa/Goodyear Theatre 'The Proud Earth'
Vivi Janiss as Rebecca Macabee
John Larch as Isiah Macabee
Wagon Train 'The Cathy Eckhart Story'
Vivi Janiss as Sarah Harness
John Larch as Ben Harness
The New Breed 'No Fat Cops'
Vivi Janiss as Mary Clark
John Larch as John Clark
Hawaii Five-O 'Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born'
Vivi Janiss as Emma Trinian
John Larch as Joseph Trinian
Tales of Wells Fargo 'End of a Legend'
Vivi Janiss as Elsie
John Larch as Johnny
Various Vivi you can view:
It's a Great Life 'Go Home to Your Mother'
How did Vivi do in vaudeville, or at least comedy?
Very well--with vim, vigor, and verve.
Gunsmoke 'The Cover Up'
To what lengths will Vivi go for her husband?
Even vaster than you think.
Lawman 'The Visitor'
Will the gunman father be able to take Vivi's adopted son away?
Go ahead, guess.
State Trooper 'No Blaze of Glory'
Want to see Vivi play a villainous wife?
Vivi almost sets fire to Nevada.
How best to learn Vivi's vintage voice?
By listening to the Gunsmoke radio episode
'The Army Trial' (June 25, 1955).
August 5, 2005
Copyright © 2006-2013 E. A. Villafranca, Jr.
All Rights Reserved
Vivi was a Vivian.
In keeping with the modus vivendi
of most radio Gunsmoke actors,
Vivi did a vivacious volume of appearances in radio
and a variety of television shows.
Listen to any good radio drama series,
and you will hear Vivi's vivid voice.
Every role needs to be filled with life,
and Vivi always found a way to vivify each one.
Whether it was sotto voce or mezza voce or forte that was called for,
Vivi would viva voce the words, and render them vivi voce.
Vivi Janiss not only amassed a vast radio and tv resume;
she also managed to become the second of Robert Cummings' five wives.
But never mind that brief lark,
because she finally found a lasting relationship with John Larch,
and became his wife, remaining with him until she died.
John Larch, of course, was one of those wonderful character actors
who never did less than a superb job.
He appeared in Gunsmoke seven times--six times in the half-hours,
once in the b&w hours--and had the wisdom & taste
never to appear in the colors.
Vivi herself only appeared in tv Gunsmoke once,
wisely not appearing in the episode where John Larch
buried his second wife under the columbines.
Married Almost Everywhere
John Larch's wife in the botanical episode mentioned above, 'Fingered,'
was played by Vivi's fellow radio Gunsmoke actor, Virginia Christine.
Yet in many other tv episodes,
Vivi and John were the ones married, as in real life:
The Alcoa/Goodyear Theatre 'The Proud Earth'
Vivi Janiss as Rebecca Macabee
John Larch as Isiah Macabee
Wagon Train 'The Cathy Eckhart Story'
Vivi Janiss as Sarah Harness
John Larch as Ben Harness
The New Breed 'No Fat Cops'
Vivi Janiss as Mary Clark
John Larch as John Clark
Hawaii Five-O 'Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born'
Vivi Janiss as Emma Trinian
John Larch as Joseph Trinian
Tales of Wells Fargo 'End of a Legend'
Vivi Janiss as Elsie
John Larch as Johnny
Various Vivi you can view:
It's a Great Life 'Go Home to Your Mother'
How did Vivi do in vaudeville, or at least comedy?
Very well--with vim, vigor, and verve.
Gunsmoke 'The Cover Up'
To what lengths will Vivi go for her husband?
Even vaster than you think.
Lawman 'The Visitor'
Will the gunman father be able to take Vivi's adopted son away?
Go ahead, guess.
State Trooper 'No Blaze of Glory'
Want to see Vivi play a villainous wife?
Vivi almost sets fire to Nevada.
How best to learn Vivi's vintage voice?
By listening to the Gunsmoke radio episode
'The Army Trial' (June 25, 1955).
August 5, 2005
Copyright © 2006-2013 E. A. Villafranca, Jr.
All Rights Reserved
Look for Vivi Janiss at