as Vic Brady, a gangster Theodora Thurman as Loretta, Brady’s mistress Bud Osborne as Paul McKenna, a Night Watchman in a theater Mona McKinnon as Miss Willis, a bookkeeper in a theater La Vada Simmons as Miss Lytell, Dr. Gregor’s receptionist Regina Claire as a Newspaper Reporter John Robert Martin as Detective McCall Don Nagel as Detective Dennis John Avery as a Police Doctor Production notes Jail Bait is set in Southern California, though this does not translate to the abundance of sunlight which is typically associated with the location. The action of the film takes place over several weeks, but "always at night". This perpetual night and darkness gives the film an "otherworldly ambience". The script of the film was co-written by Ed Wood and Alex Gordon. The narrative of the film has a tighter structure and a more coherent storyline than Wood's other known films, elements which Rob Craig suggests were the contributions of Gordon to the story. The music of the film was composed by Hoyt Curtin and previously used in the film Mesa of Lost Women (1953). The repetitious and nearly continuous soundtrack makes use of a flamenco guitar and a piano, with their sounds combined in what seems to be a free jazz composition. Craig sees the music as failing to add to the suspense of the film, instead giving the scenes using it a dream-like quality. The film was produced by Howco, a production company co-owned by Joy Newton Houck Sr. and J. Francis White. They were also the owners of their own chain of movie theaters in the Southern United States. According to the recollections of George Weiss, the producers took advantage of Wood. In exchange for the film's modest budget, Wood agreed to quit any demands on the film's box office earnings. Clancy Malone was actually a delivery boy for a grocery store before he expressed interest to Wood about becoming an actor. As such, this was his first and only role. The role of Dr. Gregor was originally intended for Bela Lugosi, but went to Herbert Rawlinson instead. Like Lugosi, Herbert Rawlinson was a seasoned actor who had seen better days. He was a leading man of the silent film and his career had lasted for about 40 years. Jail Bait was his swan song, as Rawlinson died from lung cancer the night after the film completed shooting. This was also