User:Teblick/J. Anthony Smythe

J. Anthony Smythe (born Tony Svainaz, December 18, 1885 - March 20, 1966) was an actor in the era of old-time radio. He was perhaps best known for his role of Henry Barbour in One Man's Family.

Early years
Smythe's father came from Yugoslavia and had the last name changed from Svainaz to Smith. He was raised in San Francisco and graduated from St. Ignatius College there. When he became an actor, his manager changed the young man's name to Anthony Smyth. A subsequent manager changed the spelling of his last name and added the initial at the beginning.

Stage
In the early 20th century, Smythe acted in repertory theatre with the Ernest Wilkes Stock Company. For two seasons, Smythe was the leading man at the Maitland Theater in San Francisco. He also acted in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the early 1920s. In Phoenix, Arizona, he was leading man with the Metropolitan Players in 1925 and with the Clement-Walsh players in 1926.