Mary Jane Higby
Mary Jane Higby | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Higby in 1953 | |
| Born | May 29, 1909 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 1986 (aged 76) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Playing female lead in When a Girl Marries on radio |
| Spouse | Guy Sorel (January 13, 1945 - ?) |
Mary Jane Higby (May 29, 1909 - February 1, 1986)[1] was an American actress in the era of old-time radio and the early years of television. She is best known for her 18 years in the leading role on When a Girl Marries.[2]
Early years[edit]
The daughter of vaudevillian parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Higby[3] (known professionally as the Higby Players) Mary Jane Higby was born in St. Louis, Missouri, "between a matinee and an evening performance."[4] According to a newspaper photograph's caption, "literally she was carried on the stage by her theatrical parents as a prop when she was only 2."[5]
Perhaps her earliest public performance occurred when she was 5 years old. An article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1914 listed Higby as one of "a number of helpful children [who] will give a performance for the benefit of the Post-Dispatch Pure Milk and Free Ice Fund."[6] A later article cited Higby as one of two "little performers" who were "brought out repeatedly for their excellent work."[7]
Radio[edit]
Higby's radio debut came in 1932 "in singing and dramatic roles."[8] In 1936, she played Desdemona in a production of Shakespeare's Othello on KECA in Los Angeles, California.[9] She also participated in network radio that year as a part of the cast of Death Rides the Highways on NBC.[10]
Higby's signature role was portraying Joan Davis, the female lead on When a Girl Marries, a part she played for 18 years.[1] Her other roles in radio programs included Cynthia in The Romance of Helen Trent[11] and various supporting parts in Perry Mason[12]
Higby was also in the cast of Joe Palooka,[13] John's Other Wife,[13]: 351 Joyce Jordan, Girl Interne,[13]: 357 The Listening Post,[13]: 399 Mary Marlin,[13]: 426 Parties at Pickfair,[13]: 510 Stella Dallas[13]: 662 and This Is Nora Drake.[13]: 687
In the 1970s, Higby once again appeared on network radio, acting in episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[14]
Television[edit]
Higby appeared in We, the People.[15]
Film[edit]
Higby "had a Hollywood career as a child actress,"[16] primarily acting in silent films for which her father was the director.[2] As an adult, looking back on her cinematic experience as a child, Higby said, "... the movies frightened me. I was, it seems, always being kidnaped, riding runaway horses or, generally speaking, being yanked around."[17]
As an adult, Higby appeared in The Honeymoon Killers.[18]
Book[edit]
In 1968, Cowles Publishing Company published Tune in Tomorrow, Higby's account of her life in radio's golden age. A reviewer called the book "a fast, bouncy, information-loaded" description of the era—one that focused on "actors, actresses, sponsors, engineers, agents, writers, sound men, on everything and everybody who made pre-TV radio tick" rather than on herself.[19]
Personal life[edit]
Higby married actor Guy Sorel[16] on January 13, 1945, in New York City, New York.[17]
References[edit]
- ^ a b DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 129.
- ^ a b Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8108-7616-3. P. 126.
- ^ "When a Girl Marries (continued)" (PDF). Tune-In. September 1943. p. 18. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "Day Dramatist Tells Story of Odd Debut". Harrisburg Telegraph. No. June 8, 1940. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. p. 22. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Reaches Stardom". The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. April 18, 1940. p. 26. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Children Busily Working Now to Save the Babies". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. May 30, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Saturday Matinee Benefit Realizes $28.65 for Babies". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. June 8, 1914. p. 9. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Girl". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. July 12, 1941. p. 25. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Farnum Will Star in New Adventure Serial Starting Over KHJ Tonight". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. January 14, 1936. p. 10. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Death Rides Highways' on Air Tonight; Hersholt To Broadcast; Carlotta King Opens Own Program". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. February 28, 1936. p. 8. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New Stars Join WHP "Romance of Helen Trent" Cast". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. February 17, 1945. p. 15. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Perry Mason". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. September 21, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 350.
- ^ Rhoads, B. Eric (1996). Blast from the Past: A Pictorial History of Radio's First 75 Years (PDF). Streamline Publishing, Inc. p. 337. ISBN 1-886745-06-4. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "(TV listing)". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. November 4, 1949. p. 29. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Gerhard, Inez (June 5, 1947). "Star Dust". Shiner Gazette. Texas, Shiner. Western Newspaper Union. p. 10. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Haller, Marie (June 1953). "When a Girl Marries". Radio-TV Mirror. 40 (1): 44–45, 67, 69. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "(The Honeymoon Killers ad)". The Ottawa Journal. Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. February 27, 1970. p. 25. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brockman, Zoe (August 11, 1968). "Observations About Books". The Gastonia Gazette. North Carolina, Gastonia. p. 47. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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