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Old-time radio actor · 1911–1988

Vivi Janiss

Supporting player on Gunsmoke and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

We have her in 71 episodes of 18 series, 1941 to 1958, and 19 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

About Vivi Janiss

Vivi Janiss in Kansas City Confidential (1952)
Vivi Janiss in Kansas City Confidential (1952).Public domain in the United States (copyright not renewed). Wikimedia Commons

Hear all 71 Vivi Janiss episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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Vivi Janiss was born Vivian Audrey Jamison on May 29, 1911. Source: Wikipedia: Vivi Janiss

She started out as a singer, a protegee of bandleader Ben Bernie who sang with his orchestra at Chicago's College Inn, and was then signed for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934. Source: Wikipedia: Vivi Janiss

Radio logs usually spell her name Vivi Janis; under that spelling RadioGOLDINdex lists 166 programs, the earliest a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast of "The Awful Truth" on March 10, 1941. Source: RadioGOLDINdex: Vivi Janis

She was one of the supporting actors who filled the guest roles on radio's Gunsmoke. Source: Wikipedia: List of Gunsmoke (radio series) episodes

RadioGOLDINdex logs 23 of her Gunsmoke programs, from "Jaliscoe" (May 10, 1952) to 1957, and 23 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar programs from 1953 to 1956. Source: RadioGOLDINdex: Vivi Janis

The same index lists her in 13 Adventures of Philip Marlowe programs (1949 to 1951), 8 Escape programs (1949 to 1953) and 9 Family Theatre programs (1952 to 1954). Source: RadioGOLDINdex: Vivi Janis

She is listed among the other principal actors of radio's Dragnet. Source: Wikipedia: Dragnet (radio series)

On television she appeared on the Gunsmoke series and twice on The Twilight Zone, first in "The Fever" (1960). Source: Wikipedia: Vivi Janiss

She was married to Bob Cummings from 1935 to 1943 and later to actor John Larch, and died in Los Angeles on September 7, 1988. Source: Wikipedia: Vivi Janiss

Listen live: the channels that play Vivi Janiss

Free 24/7 stations. These play the episodes below, in rotation with the rest of their shows.

William Conrad, the voice of Marshal Matt Dillon on CBS Radio's Gunsmoke, in a 1952 publicity photo

The series' own channel

Gunsmoke

13 of her episodes: Gunsmoke (13)

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Illustrated cover for Escape: a jungle trail at dusk, an old brass compass and a torn map on a rock, a rope bridge over a gorge

The series' own channel

Escape

8 of her episodes: Escape (8)

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Illustrated cover for Suspense: a single desk lamp in a dark room, a revolver and a telephone off the hook on the desk, long shadows across the floor

The series' own channel

Suspense

8 of her episodes: Suspense (8)

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Larry Thor on a rain-slick Broadway at night

The series' own channel

Broadway Is My Beat

2 of her episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (2)

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Illustrated cover for Lux Radio Theatre: a 1930s Hollywood theatre stage before a closed gold curtain, a single ribbon microphone in a spotlight

The series' own channel

Lux Radio Theatre

2 of her episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (2)

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Black-and-white close-up of Raymond Burr in a jacket and open collar

The series' own channel

Fort Laramie

1 of her episodes: Fort Laramie (1)

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John Dehner in a dark vest, white shirt and tie on a frontier-town street

The series' own channel

Frontier Gentleman

1 of her episodes: Frontier Gentleman (1)

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Bob Bailey in a Los Angeles detective's office at night

The series' own channel

Let George Do It

1 of her episodes: Let George Do It (1)

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Illustrated cover for Our Miss Brooks: an empty 1940s high-school English classroom, a blank chalkboard

The series' own channel

Our Miss Brooks

1 of her episodes: Our Miss Brooks (1)

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Illustrated cover for The Whistler: a lonely rain-slicked city street at night

The series' own channel

The Whistler

1 of her episodes: The Whistler (1)

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Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

22 of her episodes: The Adventures of Philip Marlowe (11), Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (4), Dragnet (3), Broadway Is My Beat (2), Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (1), Let George Do It (1)

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Ophelia Crane, the host of The Midnight Exchange

Mixed channel

The Midnight Exchange

17 of her episodes: Suspense (8), Escape (8), The Whistler (1)

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Marshal Ramrod, the host of Dry Gulch

Mixed channel

Dry Gulch

16 of her episodes: Gunsmoke (13), Fort Laramie (1), Frontier Gentleman (1), The Roy Rogers Show (1)

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Illustrated cover for Opening Night: the front of a 1930s art-deco movie palace on premiere night, crossed searchlight beams in the sky

Mixed channel

Opening Night

14 of her episodes: Family Theater (11), Lux Radio Theatre (2), CBS Radio Workshop (1)

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Buster Pratt, the host of Laugh Track

Mixed channel

Laugh Track

2 of her episodes: Our Miss Brooks (1), Fibber McGee and Molly (1)

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Vivi Janiss’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
Gunsmoke1952 to 195513
Family Theater1952 to 195711
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe1949 to 195111
Escape1949 to 19538
Suspense1953 to 19568
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar1953 to 19564
Dragnet1953 to 19553
Broadway Is My Beat19502
Lux Radio Theatre19412
Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator19551
CBS Radio Workshop19561
Fibber McGee and Molly19541
Fort Laramie19561
Frontier Gentleman19581
Let George Do It19501
Our Miss Brooks19491
The Roy Rogers Show19521
The Whistler19501

Vivi Janiss episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Vivi Janiss on the air, in its cast list or in the show itself. Each title opens the episode’s page: what happens, the transcript from the moment she is named, and listens from any line.

  1. JaliscoeGunsmoke · May 10, 1952 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  2. The Juniper TreeGunsmoke · August 30, 1952 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  3. LochinvarGunsmoke · October 17, 1952 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  4. TaraGunsmoke · November 7, 1952 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  5. Season of Disbelief and Hail and FarewellCBS Radio Workshop · February 17, 1956 · Whole and free in the podcast

Hear all 71 Vivi Janiss episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 71 Vivi Janiss episodes, by show

The 66 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

Gunsmoke 13 episodes, 1952 to 1955
  1. JaliscoeMay 10, 1952 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Juniper TreeAugust 30, 1952 · Episode guide · Free
  3. LochinvarOctober 17, 1952 · Episode guide · Free
  4. TaraNovember 7, 1952 · Episode guide · Free
  5. KittyNovember 29, 1952 · Potato Plus
  6. The CabinDecember 27, 1952 · Potato Plus
  7. 047 CycloneMarch 14, 1953 · Potato Plus
  8. CycloneMarch 14, 1953 · Potato Plus
  9. Going BadJune 19, 1954 · Potato Plus
  10. Young Man with a GunAugust 23, 1954 · Potato Plus
  11. Gypsum Hills FeudApril 16, 1955 · Potato Plus
  12. Cow DoctorMay 28, 1955 · Potato Plus
  13. The Army TrialJune 25, 1955 · Potato Plus
Family Theater 11 episodes, 1952 to 1957
  1. The CliffOctober 22, 1952 · Potato Plus
  2. A Kind of TreasureJanuary 21, 1953 · Potato Plus
  3. Revolution in RodneyvilleAugust 5, 1953 · Potato Plus
  4. Journey of the PegasusSeptember 30, 1953 · Potato Plus
  5. Legend of High Chin BobDecember 9, 1953 · Potato Plus
  6. It's a GiftMarch 10, 1954 · Potato Plus
  7. Night CallerMarch 24, 1954 · Potato Plus
  8. Where There's a WillJune 9, 1954 · Potato Plus
  9. RimrockAugust 3, 1955 · Potato Plus
  10. The PenaltyOctober 12, 1955 · Potato Plus
  11. To the Losers Belong the SpoilsMarch 6, 1957 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe 11 episodes, 1949 to 1951
  1. The Dancing HandsMarch 19, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Key ManJune 25, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The Fatted CalfSeptember 24, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. The Strangle HoldOctober 15, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. The Kid on the CornerDecember 3, 1949 · Potato Plus
  6. The Big StepFebruary 28, 1950 · Potato Plus
  7. The Bedside MannersMay 30, 1950 · Potato Plus
  8. The Girl from Pitchfork CornersJuly 5, 1950 · Potato Plus
  9. The Glass DonkeyJuly 28, 1950 · Potato Plus
  10. The Good Neighbor PolicyJuly 28, 1951 · Potato Plus
  11. The Long Way HomeAugust 4, 1951 · Potato Plus
Escape 8 episodes, 1949 to 1953
  1. 060- A Shipment of Mute Fate -John LundMarch 13, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. 072- Second Class Passenger -Parley Baer- -1July 28, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. 072- Second Class Passenger -Parley Baer- -2July 28, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. 076- Evening Primrose -Harry BartellAugust 25, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. 125- Crossing ParisAugust 25, 1950 · Potato Plus
  6. 128- The Power of HammerOctober 15, 1950 · Potato Plus
  7. 183- North of PolarisMay 17, 1953 · Potato Plus
  8. 197- The Man from TomorrowAugust 23, 1953 · Potato Plus
Suspense 8 episodes, 1953 to 1956
  1. St James Infirmary BluesFebruary 23, 1953 · Potato Plus
  2. Final PaymentJanuary 13, 1955 · Potato Plus
  3. WaitingFebruary 22, 1955 · Potato Plus
  4. FrankensteinJune 7, 1955 · Potato Plus
  5. Backseat DriverJuly 19, 1955 · Potato Plus
  6. The Frightened CitySeptember 27, 1955 · Potato Plus
  7. The Seventh LetterApril 17, 1956 · Potato Plus
  8. WaitingOctober 2, 1956 · Potato Plus
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 4 episodes, 1953 to 1956
  1. The Marigold MatterJanuary 23, 1953 · Potato Plus
  2. The Cronin Matter - Ep 5December 9, 1955 · Potato Plus
  3. The Lansing Fraud Matter - Ep 5December 16, 1955 · Potato Plus
  4. The Todd Matter - Ep 5January 13, 1956 · Potato Plus
Dragnet 3 episodes, 1953 to 1955
  1. The Big RainNovember 3, 1953 · Potato Plus
  2. The Big NetApril 20, 1954 · Potato Plus
  3. The Big MissusAugust 9, 1955 · Potato Plus
Broadway Is My Beat 2 episodes, 1950
  1. The Julie Dixon Murder CaseFebruary 10, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Harold Clark Murder CaseOctober 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
Lux Radio Theatre 2 episodes, 1941
  1. The Awful TruthMarch 10, 1941 · Potato Plus
  2. The Lady from CheyenneJune 16, 1941 · Potato Plus
Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator 1 episode, 1955
  1. Corpse on the TownMarch 9, 1955 · Potato Plus
CBS Radio Workshop 1 episode, 1956
  1. Season of Disbelief and Hail and FarewellFebruary 17, 1956 · Free
Fibber McGee and Molly 1 episode, 1954
  1. Let Them Eat PancakeOctober 17, 1954 · Potato Plus
Fort Laramie 1 episode, 1956
  1. BoredomFebruary 19, 1956 · Potato Plus
Frontier Gentleman 1 episode, 1958
  1. The CannibalMay 11, 1958 · Potato Plus
Let George Do It 1 episode, 1950
  1. The House That Jack BuiltOctober 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
Our Miss Brooks 1 episode, 1949
  1. Weekend at Crystal LakeAugust 21, 1949 · Potato Plus
The Roy Rogers Show 1 episode, 1952
  1. The Phony GeologistFebruary 29, 1952 · Potato Plus
The Whistler 1 episode, 1950
  1. Burden of GuiltJanuary 29, 1950 · Potato Plus

Who Vivi Janiss worked with most

Named in the same cast lists, counted across the episodes above.

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