Barton began performing in
minstrel shows and
burlesque houses throughout the country in 1898. His years of experience working with
African American performers led to his becoming one of the first
jazz dancers in America. After working with
repertory companies in the South and Midwest, he made his
Broadway debut in the musical
revue The Passing Show of 1919 in a role originally intended for
Ed Wynn. Barton's other theatre credits include
Sweet and Low in 1930,
Tobacco Road in 1933,
Bright Lights of 1944 (which ran for only four performances),
The Iceman Cometh in 1946, and
Paint Your Wagon in 1951. While appearing on Broadway, Barton also achieved the highest pinnacle of status in vaudeville, headlining at the
Palace Theater on Broadway not once but
eight times, from March 1928 through April 1932. Barton's film career was also concurrent to his stage performances. It began in the
silent era, in 1923, and he appeared in a number of
Paramount Pictures short subjects in 1929. On television he appeared in
The Ford Television Theatre,
Lux Video Theatre,
Studio One,
The Kaiser Aluminum Hour,
Playhouse 90,
Kraft Television Theatre,
The Rifleman,
The Americans,
Adventures in Paradise,
Naked City, and
Frontier Circus.
Bing Crosby considered James Barton to be one of his ten favorite performers of all time, alongside names such as
Al Jolson,
Frank Sinatra,
Lena Horne,
Louis Armstrong,
Judy Garland, and
Nat King Cole.
Sammy Cahn has stated he considered Barton to be the greatest entertainer ("If there was a decathlon for performing ... James Barton would win, going away."), and cherished the
St. Genesius medal he was given by Barton's widow above his Academy Awards. ==Death==