A Tribute to Helen Hayes                                                                                         To: Photo Gallery

Helen Hayes, "First Lady of the American Theatre," was active as an actor and a star personality throughout most of the 20th century. To trace her career is to watch the evolution and alteration of Broadway and "the road." Miss Hayes progresed gracefully from adored child star to sexy "flapper" to whimsical young matron, to playing Shakespeare and grand historical figures (Victoria Regina, her great triumph), and finally to character parts and film roles which did her scant justice. She was generous, witty, wise, and upstanding in her personal life, and peerless in the conduct of her public persona. She appeared endlessly as a champion of worthy causes throughout her long career. She knew tragedy (particularly in the untimely death of her young daughter, Mary, also an actor) and heady success, but never succumbed to drink, drugs or depression -- which are the lot of many performers who live as she did in the spotlight from their earliest childhood into old age. Helen Hayes was a star and frequent award-winner on Broadway, on tour, in films, radio and television. Mention her name in any group which contains individuals past middle-age, and someone is bound to say, "Oh, I remember when Helen Hayes...." Miss Hayes epitomized "CHARISMA"! We felt a great responsibility to capture both the flavor and detail of her very full professional and personal life in our book, Helen Hayes: A Bio-Bibliography - now in its second printing. Reading it brings back an era of great performances, many by Hayes and her wide circle of theatre friends and acquaintances.--- Donn B. Murphy and Stephen Moore

"Of course I have much pleasure in endorsing your publication of the bio-bibliography of Helen Hayes, whom I first saw acting in Coquette in 1928. I have followed her career with the greatest admiration, and was lucky enough to see her in Victoria Regina in 1937, when I also met her for the first time, and have cherished her friendship ever since. I only once worked with her when I directed her in The Glass Menagerie at the Haymaker Theatre in London. (She is) a great artist and a cherished friend." ---Sir John Gielgud

"Confronted with the manuscript of this detailed record of her unique career, Helen Hayes sighed: 'You boys know more about me than I do.' In their massed details of playwrights and players, news stories, and reviews, movies and TV, playhouses and charities, Messrs. Moore and Murphy literally reflect, through her singular character, our 20th century's theatrical history." ---Richard L. Coe, Critic Emeritus, The Washington Post

"Helen Hayes' life and career shine like a beacon from a barren shore---an inspiration to anyone, in any profession, who believes that integrity does not have to be sacrificed for success." --- Dean Jones

This reference traces in fascinating detail the exceptionally long career of Helen Hayes, the "First Lady of the American Theatre." In addition to a biography of the actress, which charts the development of her unique talent and the successes and tragedies of her personal life, the book supplies a chronology which provides quick access to the major events which shaped both her character and her career. In sections devoted individually to Stage, Film, Television, and Radio, the actress' work in each of these media is charted. Cast lists, plot synopses, reviews, and commentary bring vivid immediacy to these records. Additional material in the Appendices provides information on her aural/video recordings as well as her stunning list of Awards and Honors. Included is the program from a gala salute to her 50th Anniversary on the stage. A detailed index concludes the work.... It is unfortunate that the first lady of the American theatre died prior to publication of this book. Along with all theatre scholars, she would have been delighted with the depth and detail of its coverage; and, as she points out in her brief foreword, the book rectifies her failure to keep any scrapbooks or clippings. Similar to other volumes in the series, but at the same time, it is, undoubtedly, one of the best." --- Classic Images

Helen Hayes Books, Videos, and DVDs

Helen Hayes Links

    Publications by Helen Hayes

    • My life in Three Acts by Helen Hayes with Katherine Hatch (San Diego : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, c1990)
    • Loving life by Helen Hayes with Marion Glasserow Gladney (Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, 1987).
    • Our Best Years by Helen Hayes with Marion Glasserow Gladney (Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, 1984).
    • Twice Over Lightly; New York: Then and Now by Helen Hayes and Anita Loos (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1972).
    • On Reflection; an autobiography by Helen Hayes with Sandford Dody (New York, M Evans; distributed by Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1968).
    • A Gift of Joy by Helen Hayes with Lewis Funke (New York, M. Evans; distributed by Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1965).
    • Star on her Forehead by Helen Hayes and Mary Kennedy (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1949).

     

    Earliest Theater Credits

    The following are from Helen Hayes: A Bio-Bibliography by Donn B. Murphy and Stephen Moore (Greenwood Press, 1993)
    1905 "Miss Hawke's May Ball"
    Minnie Hawke's Dancing School recital
    (as Irish Dancer)
    1909 "Jack the Giant Killer"
    (as Gibson Girl and Nell Brinkley Girl impersonators)
    Belasco Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1909 "A Royal Family" (as Prince Charles Ferdinand)
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1909 "Children's Dancing Kermess"
    Chase's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Impersonation of "The Nell Brinkley Girl")

    1909 "Old Dutch"

    Herald Square Theatre, New York

    		 1909 "A Poor Relation"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Patch)
    1910 "The Summer Widowers"
    Broadway Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1911 "The Barrier"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Molly an Alaskan Child)
    1911 "Little Lord Fauntleroy"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Cedric Errol)
    1911 "The Never Homes"
    Broadway Theatre, New York
    1911 "The Seven Sisters"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Klara, the Youngest Daughter)

    1911 "Mary Jane's Pa"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1912 "The June Bride"
    Harmanus Bleecher Hall, Albany, New York
    (as The Holder's Child)    		 1913 "Flood Victim's Benefit"
    New National Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1913 "The Girl With Green Eyes"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Susie, the Flower Girl)

    1913 "His House in Order"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Derek Jesson, his son)
    1913 "A Royal Family"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Prince Charles Ferdinand)
    1913 "The Prince Chap"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1913 "The Prince And The Pauper"
    Columbia Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Tom Canty and Edward, Prince of Wales)


    1914 "The Prodigal Husband"
    Empire Theatre, New York
    (as Young Simone)
    1916 "The Dummy"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Beryl Meredith, the Kidnapper's Hostage)    		 1916 "On Trial"
    Poli's, Washington, D.C.
    (as His Daughter, Doris Strickland)
    1917 "It Pays to Advertise
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Marie, Maid at the Martins)

    1917 "Romance"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Suzette)

    1917 "Just a Woman"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as the Hired Girl)
    1917 "Mile-A-Minute-Kendall"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Beth)
    1917 "Rich Man, Poor Man"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Linda Hurst)

    1917 "Alma, Where Do You Live?"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Germain)
    1917 "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Asia)    		 1917 "Within the Law"
    Poli's Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    1917 "Pollyanna"
    Lyceum Theatre, Rochester, New York
    (as Pollyanna Whittier, The Glad Girl)

    1918 "Penrod"
    Globe Theatre, New York    		 1918 "Dear Brutus"
    Empire Theatre, New York
    (as Margaret, his daughter)    		 1919 "On the Hiring Line"
    National Theatre, Washington, D.C.
    (as Dorothy Fessenden, his daughter)
    1919 "Clarence"
    Nixon's Apollo, Atlantic City, New Jersey

    1919 "The Golden Age"
    Nixon's Apollo Theatre, Atlantic City, New Jersey
    1919 "Clarence"
    Hudson Theatre, New York
    (as Cora Wheeler)
    1920 "Bab"
    Park Theatre, New York
    (as Bab)

    1921 "The Wren"
    Gaiety Theater, New York
    (as Seeby Olds)

    (from: Helen Hayes: A Bio-Bibliography

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