Jinx Falkenburg was a woman who LIFE made much of during the early years of the magazine.
A 1941 story about her carried the gushing headline “Jinx Falkenburg is Leading Candidate for America’s No. 1 Girl.” At the time Jinx—whose given name was Eugenia Lincoln Falkerburg—was an actress and model, and according to LIFE she had appeared in 1,500 separate print advertisements. LIFE also reported that she had the most fans waiting for her at the stage door of a New York show despite having only a supporting role. The magazine rhapsodized about Jinx if she were some mythic creature: “She does now grow upon men nor haunt them. She knocks them for a loop at first look. In the first delicious shock of beholding her, men will offer her marriage, contracts, starring roles or diamonds. Later they are often puzzled at their own reaction and wonder what to do with Jinx.”
Jinx’s charmed relationship with LIFE was still going strong in 1945, when the magazine chronicled the USO tour that she did with movie star Pat O’Brien. A few months later LIFE staff photographer Peter Stackpole was on hand for what turned out to be a turning point in her life. Stackpole went to cover a story that was supposed to be about Jinx opening a dress store in Hollywood, but the day before she had received a marriage proposal from her beau Tex McCrary, who had just returned home from the war, and so she also started modeling a potential wedding dress.
Jinx did marry McCrary, who was a journalist and PR man, and two went on to make broadcast history. She and her husband are credited with pioneering the talk show format on radio and early television. Their programs included Meet Tex and Jinx, Hi Jinx, and At Home. (They also appeared as a duo in magazine advertisements such as this one).
If you want to hear what an early talk show sounded like, the Internet Archive has five episodes of Meet Tex and Jinx available for streaming. The format of the show will be familiar to modern listeners: an opening from the hosts, the introduction of guests, conversation, and performances. In one of the episodes in the Internet Archive, guests include comedian/actress Nancy Walker and tennis star player Jack Kramer, who exchange banter that leans into Walker’s lovelorn persona. Walker also favors the audience with a song.
If there’s one big difference between Meet Tex and Jinx and today’s talk shows, it’s that much of dialogue on their show feels scripted. But if you are a fan of the modern podcasts that are taking the talk show format to new heights of spontaneity, it’s fun to listen to these old Jinx Falkenburg shows and think what America’s No. 1 Girl of 1941 helped get started.
Actress and model Jinx Falkenburg, 1942.
Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Actress and model Jinx Falkenburg, 1942.
Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Actress and model Jinx Falkenburg posed for a glamor shot, 1942.
Pater Stackpole?Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg signed a cast during a USO tour of the China-Burma-India theater of World War II, December 1944
US Army Signal Corps/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg conversed with a pilot during a USO Tour in December 1944.
US Army Signal Corps/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg visited the Taj Mahal during a USO Tour in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II, December 1944.
US Army Signal Corps/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg prepared for a whirlwind wedding to Tex McGrary, 1945.
Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg admiring a wedding gift from actress Paulette Goddard the day after Falkenburg received a marriage proposal from Tex McCrary, 1945.
Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg prepared for a whirlwind wedding to Tex McGrary, 1945.
Peter Stackpole/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Jinx Falkenburg at home in her television room with husband Tex McCrary popping in through a wall panel, 1948.
Al Fenn.Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
