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Jay Jostyn (December 13, 1901[1][2] – June 25, 1976[3][4]) was an actor in the era of old-time radio. He is best known for portraying the title role in Mr. District Attorney on radio.[5] An article in Radio-TV Mirror in 1952 reported, "He is so generally believed to be a real life lawyer that he frequently receives mail from listeners inviting him to move to certain cities where they feel crimes are going unsolved."[6]

Early years

Jostyn was born Eugene Josten, the son of George and Mary Josten of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended St. Joseph's parochial school, Marquette Academy,[7] Marquette University,[8] and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.[7]

Before going into acting full-time, he had a job with a telephone company.[9]

Stage

In 1948, Jostyn had the lead in a touring company that performed The Trial of Mary Dugan.[10] On Broadway, he played District Attorney McDonough in Deadfall (1955).[11]

Radio

Jostyn's career in radio began at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he was the first poetry reader for the station's late-night Moon River program.[12]

Jostyn's roles as a regular cast member included those shown in the table below.

Program Role
Foreign Assignment Brian Barry[13]: 258 
Hilltop House Frank Klabber[14]
The Life of Mary Sothern Max Tilley[13]: 396 
Listen Carefully Master of ceremonies[15]
Mr. District Attorney District Attorney[13]: 464 
Our Gal Sunday Jackie [16]
The Parker Family Walter Parker[13]: 533 
Popeye, The Sailor Captain Dick[17]
Second Husband Ben Porter[18]
This Day Is Ours Curt Curtis[18]: 336 .

Jostyn was also in the casts of This Small Town,[19] Silver Theater, The Top Guy,[13] and Mystery Man.[20]

Television

Jostyn's roles as a regular cast member included those show in the table below.

Program Role Notes
Mr. District Attorney Paul Garrett[21]
Night Court U.S.A. The Judge[22]
The Secret Storm Dr. Hadley[23]
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Morgan Season 4 Episode 3: "The Jokester" (1958)

Jostyn also starred in Night Court U.S.A. a syndicated series that dramatized actual court cases.[24] Additionally, he was also seen in episodes of The Doctor,[21]: 163  and The Philco Television Playhouse.[25]

Other professional activities

In November 1943, Jostyn was elected to a one-year term as third vice-president of the New York local of the American Federation of Radio Artists.[26] In 1944, he was one of seven people elected to AFRA's national board.[27]

Personal life

On October 17, 1928, Jostyn married Ruth Hill in Pasadena, California. She was an actress whom he met when they performed together in a play. They had two sons, Jean Charles and Jon George.[28]

Death

Jostyn died June 25, 1976, in Los Angeles, California.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRYR-DD9 : 30 January 2020), Eugene Joseph Josten, 1901.
  2. ^ "Wisconsin Birth Index, 1820-1907," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHHH-YMV : 4 December 2014), Eugene J Josten, 13 Dec 1901; from "Wisconsin Births, 1820-1907," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2000); citing Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reel 0199, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Vital Records Division, Madison.
  3. ^ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGR5-WVQM : 1 March 2021), Jay Jostyn, 1976.
  4. ^ a b Aaker, Everett (2006). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6409-8. P. 296.
  5. ^ DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. p. 144.
  6. ^ "Mr. D. A." Radio-TV Mirror. Vol. 37, no. 3. February 1952. p. 60. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  7. ^ a b Thompson, Edgar A. (January 1, 1939). "Rose to Fame from Milwaukee Parish Hall". Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Journal. p. 10. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Radio Guide". Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania, Altoona. Altoona Tribune. March 15, 1949. p. 11. Retrieved February 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ "Mister D. A." Radio Mirror. Vol. 28, no. 2. July 1947. p. 62. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Goodman Travels "Dugan"" (PDF). Billboard. September 18, 1948. p. 44. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Jay Jostyn". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Still Flowing". Radio and Television Mirror. Vol. 32, no. 1. June 1949. p. 23. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. pp. 616, 679.
  14. ^ "Thursday's Highlights". Radio and Television Mirror. Vol. 14, no. 6. October 1940. p. 48. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  15. ^ Frankern, Jerry (August 9, 1947). "Listen Carefully" (PDF). Billboard. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Questions and Answers". Lincoln, Neb. Sunday Journal and Star. June 27, 1937. p. 40. Retrieved February 8, 2016 – via Newspaperarchive.com. Open access icon
  17. ^ Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1939). Variety Radio Directory 1939–1940 (PDF). New York City: Variety. p. 506. Retrieved 8 February 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ a b Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940–1941. Variety, Inc. p. 330.
  19. ^ "'This Small Town' Cast". Variety. October 9, 1940. p. 31. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  20. ^ Alicoate, Jack, Ed (1942). The 1942 Radio Annual (PDF). New York City: Radio Daily Corp. p. 747. Retrieved 8 February 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946–Present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25525-9. p. 407.
  22. ^ Vernon, Terry (April 25, 1958). "Maurice Evans in 'Dial M for Murder'". Long Beach, Calif. Press Telegram. p. 33. Retrieved February 8, 2016 – via Newspaperarchive.com. Open access icon
  23. ^ "The Secret Storm". TV Radio Mirror. Vol. 44, no. 6. November 1955. pp. 60–63. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  24. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television. Penguin Books USA, Inc. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8. p. 183.
  25. ^ "(photo caption)". Radio and Television Mirror. Vol. 33, no. 5. April 1950. p. 60. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  26. ^ "N.Y. AFRA Election" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 13, 1943. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  27. ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 17, 1944. p. 61. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  28. ^ Jostyn, Mrs. Jay (March 1946). "A very nice young man". Radio Mirror. Vol. 25, no. 4. pp. 46–47, 85–86. Retrieved 9 February 2016.

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