John Robert Powers

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John Robert Powers (April 16, 1892 - November, 1977) was an American actor and founder of a prominent New York City modeling agency.

In 1923, John Robert Powers founded a modeling agency that became the most famous and powerful in the industry. The John Robert Powers Agency represented many models who went on to success in the Hollywood film industry, and even Betty Bloomer who became the First Lady of the United States. While Powers' clientele was overwhelmingly female, and to be a "Powers Girl" was a much sought-after position, the agency also represented several men who went on to fame in the movies such as Henry Fonda, Cary Grant, and Tyrone Power.

At its height, the agency was so significant within the industry that Hollywood made a 1943 musical comedy film titled The Powers Girl in which Alan Mowbray portrays John Robert Powers and features Anne Shirley and Carole Landis as aspiring models.

John Robert Powers married Alice Burton (1902-1972) and they are interred together in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

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[edit] John Robert Powers School Franchise operations

John Robert Powers is a performing arts academy and school. Powers Schools are found in many states all over the nation. The schools are owned and operated individually. Each school offers course to children and teens ages 4 to 18 years old. Several, but not all offer course for adults. The franchise system is currently led by President Ron Patterson.

Courses offered at John Robert Powers are for acting, modeling, and self development. The self development course, “Life” course is what the company was founded on. The course teaches young men and woman the importance of grooming, etiquette and poise. The course teaches hair and makeup techniques as well as wardrobe and voice and diction.

Over the past 20 years John Robert Powers has added acting classes to their curriculum. They now offer the following courses: TV Commercial Acting, Monologues, Soap & Sitcoms, Theater, Auditioning Techniques, Film Study and Voice and Diction. All courses at JRP are 10 weeks in length and can vary from 1 – 2 per class.

Modeling classes are still taught at JRP. They include Runway modeling and Fashion/Commercial Print.

There are currently over 40 franchised schools in the United States and 10 franchise schools in Asia.

[edit] List of notable JRP students

The John Robert Powers franchise marketing materials list the following actors and actresses as success stories.

[edit] John Robert Powers is a School and not an Agency

The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau believes that Powers fits the definitions of a "talent agency" and an "advance-fee talent agent" according to California law. Nevertheless the BBB notes that Powers would "undoubtedly deny that they are either [type of agency]" and that Powers' contracts do not use those terms. The Los Angeles BBB further notes:[4]

“ All complaints cited in this article were filed against the Ontario John Robert Powers office. Although our complaints against a number of other Powers franchises are similar, some Powers locations in our files have no complaints. Nevertheless, we urge you to check our reliability report before signing a contract and to [be] aware that John Robert Powers, wherever located, is a school. ”

John Robert Powers asserts that is not an agency and does not make any percentage of the talents earnings. Agents that visit John Robert Powers schools include: Elite, KSA, Brown Leader Management, Joey Paul Casting, MGM Casting, and LA Models.

Critics describe John Robert Powers franchises as using high-pressure sales tactics and misleading advertising.[5]

JRP websites include photos of famous personalities and name other celebrities as graduates. Pictures such as Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne hang in the lobby of franchises.[6] The Los Angeles Better Business Bureau attempted to contact many of these celebrities through their agents or close family members, and those who responded neither attended classes at JRP nor authorized use of their likeness. Those representatives or family members listed as claiming no involvement with JRP schools did so in regards to: Lucille Ball, Heather Locklear, Barbara Walters, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, John Wayne and Betty Ford.[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Success Stories (Teens 12-17) JohnRobertPowers.net Retrieved 2007-11-08
  2. ^ Success Stories (Adults 18 - 29) JohnRobertPowers.ca Retrieved 2007-12-18
  3. ^ Success Stories (Adults) JohnRobertPowers.net Retrieved 2007-12-18
  4. ^ a b A Model Of Acting Talent: John Robert Powers. Los Angeles Better Business Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
  5. ^ Traci Hukill (December 9, 1999). Powers That Be. Metroactive. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
  6. ^ Star Stuck. (May 26, 2004). NBC Team 4 Reports. Available from archive.org (June 6, 2004) or from 2nd-tier.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.

[edit] External links