Blanche Mehaffey (July 28, 1908 – March 31, 1968) was an American

showgirl A showgirl is a female dancer or performer in a stage entertainment show intended to showcase the performer's physical attributes, typically by way of revealing clothing, toplessness, or nudity. History Showgirls date back to the late 180 ...

and film actress.

Early life and career

The daughter of Edward Mehaffey and his wife, soprano Blanche Berndt, she had a brother, Edward Mehaffey Jr. She started as a dancer with the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air ...

before coming to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

to play comedy roles in motion pictures. Show producer

Florenz Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...

said she possessed the most beautiful eyes in the entire world. She was among the '' Baby Stars of 1924'' chosen by the Wampas. Others in that year's group were

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to "talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

Dorothy Mackaill Dorothy Mackaill (March 4, 1903 – August 12, 1990) was a British-American actress, most active during the silent-film era and into the pre-Code era of the early 1930s. Early life Born in Sculcoates, Kingston upon Hull in 1903 (although she l ...

, and

Hazel Keener Hazel Keener (October 22, 1904 – August 7, 1979) was a motion picture actress from Fairbury, Illinois. She was raised in Davenport, Iowa. Keener won a national beauty contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune and used her success to begi ...

. Her debut in movies was in the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

''Fully Insured'' (1923) at

Hal Roach Studios Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and business partners Dan Linthicum and I.H. Nance as the Rolin Film Company on Ju ...

. She played in many Hal Roach comedies for a number of years with her leading men usually

Charley Chase Charles Joseph Parrott (October 20, 1893 – June 20, 1940), known professionally as Charley Chase, was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. He worked for many pioneering comedy studios but is chiefly associated with pro ...

and later

Glenn Tryon Glenn Tryon (born Glenn Monroe Kunkel; August 2, 1898 – April 18, 1970) was an American film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1923 and 1951. Biography He was born as Glenn Monroe Kunke ...

. She occasionally appeared in features such ''

A Woman of the World ''A Woman of the World'' is a 1925 American silent comedy-drama film starring Pola Negri, directed by Mal St. Clair, produced by Famous Players-Lasky, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, C ...

'' (1925) with

Pola Negri Pola Negri (; born Apolonia Chalupec ; 3 January 1897 – 1 August 1987) was a Polish stage and film actress and singer. She achieved worldwide fame during the silent and golden eras of Hollywood and European film for her tragedienne and femme ...

. Mehaffey dropped out of filming to study voice and languages for over a year in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. Mehaffey returned to movies in '' The Sunrise Trail'' (1931), a film which featured her playing opposite cowboy star Bob Steele. The motion picture was her first

talkie A sound film is a motion picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, percep ...

movie.

Personal life

Mehaffey wed oil-well supply dealer George Joseph Hausen at the Jonathan Club in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

on January 4, 1928. Ten weeks later, she obtained an interlocutory divorce decree. She was also married to the film producer

Ralph M. Like Ralph M. Like (1894–1955) was an American film producer. He was involved with several independent film companies producing low-budget releases on Poverty Row. In 1932 he established Mayfair Pictures.Pitts p.231 Other companies he was involved w ...

Filmography

* ''

The Battling Orioles ''Battling Orioles'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Guiol and Ted Wilde and starring Glenn Tryon, Blanche Mehaffey, and John T. Prince.Munden p. 444 Synopsis When a young barber's girlfriend is effectively kidnapped by ...

'' (1924) * ''

The White Sheep ''The White Sheep'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Hal Roach and starring Glenn Tryon, Blanche Mehaffey Blanche Mehaffey (July 28, 1908 – March 31, 1968) was an American showgirl and film actress. Early life and caree ...

'' (1924) * ''

His People ''His People'' (also known as Proud Heart) is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Edward Sloman about a young, Jewish boxer growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

'' (1925) * ''

The Texas Streak ''The Texas Streak'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Lynn Reynolds and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. A copy survives in a private collector's collection.The Runaway Express ''The Runaway Express'' is a 1926 American silent action film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Jack Dougherty, Blanche Mehaffey, and Tom O'Brien.Take It from Me'' (1926) * ''

The Silent Rider ''The Silent Rider'' is a lost film, lost 1927 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film starring Hoot Gibson and directed by Lynn Reynolds. It was produced and released by Universal Pictures as a Jewel-Feature. Plot Cast * H ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Denver Dude ''The Denver Dude'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Hoot Gibson, Blanche Mehaffey, and Robert McKim. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine, ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Tired Business Man ''The Tired Business Man'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Allen Dale and starring Raymond Hitchcock, Dot Farley and Margaret Quimby.Munden p.816 It was produced and released by the independent studio Tiffany Pictures. The fil ...

'' (1927) * ''

Finnegan's Ball ''Finnegan's Ball'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Blanche Mehaffey, Mack Swain and Cullen Landis. It is based on an 1894 Broadway play of the same title.Munden p.246 Synopsis The Finnegan family e ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Princess from Hoboken ''The Princess from Hoboken'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Allen Dale and featuring Boris Karloff. This is now considered to be a lost film. Cast * Edmund Burns as Terence O'Brien * Blanche Mehaffey as Sheila O'Toole * Eth ...

'' (1927) * ''

Marlie the Killer ''Marlie the Killer'' is a 1928 American silent action film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Francis X. Bushman Jr., Joseph W. Girard and Blanche Mehaffey.Munden p.493 It was designed as a vehicle for Klondike the Dog, an imitator of ...

'' (1928) * ''

Air Mail Pilot ''Air Mail Pilot'' is a 1928 American silent action film directed by Gene Carroll and starring Earl Metcalfe, Blanche Mehaffey and DeWitt Jennings.Paris p.64 Cast * Jimmy Fulton as Jimmie Dean * Earl Metcalfe as Tom Miller * Blanche Mehaff ...

'' (1928) * ''

Smilin' Guns Smilin' Guns is a 1929 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film, directed by Henry MacRae and starring Hoot Gibson. Plot Cowboy Jack "Dirty Neck" Purvin travels to San Francisco to learn how to become a refined gentleman to im ...

'' (1929) * ''

Mounted Fury ''Mounted Fury'' is a 1931 American drama film directed by Stuart Paton and written by Betty Burbridge. The film stars John Bowers, Blanche Mehaffey, Robert Ellis, Frank Rice, George Regas and Lina Basquette. The film was released on Decembe ...

'' (1931) * '' The Sunrise Trail'' (1931) * ''

Dugan of the Badlands ''Dugan of the Badlands'' is a 1931 American Western film written and directed by Robert North Bradbury. The film stars Bill Cody and Andy Shuford. It was released on June 24, 1931, by Monogram Pictures. Plot Bill Dugan takes charge of a boy ...

'' (1931) * '' Soul of the Slums'' (1931) * ''

The Sky Spider ''The Sky Spider'' (aka ''Spy Spider'') is a 1931 American "youth-oriented" adventure film.Farmer 1984, p. 327. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the film starred Glenn Tryon, Beryl Mercer, Blanche Mehaffey, Pat O'Malley and newcomer John Trent. P ...

'' (1931) * '' White Renegade'' (1931) * ''

Riders of the North ''Riders of the North'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Bob Custer, Blanche Mehaffey and Eddie Dunn. Cast * Bob Custer as Mountie Sergeant Stone * Blanche Mehaffey as Ann * Eddie Dunn as Tim 'M ...

'' (1931) * ''

Dancing Dynamite ''Dancing Dynamite'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Noel M. Smith. It premiered in New York on 18 August 1931, and was distributed by State Rights and Mercury Pictures. ''Dancing Dynamite'' was filmed on location at S ...

'' (1931) * '' The Mystery Trooper'' (1931) * ''

Is There Justice? ''Is There Justice?'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film directed by Stuart Paton and starring Rex Lease, Henry B. Walthall and Blanche Mehaffey.Langman & Finn p.125 It is now considered a lost film. Synopsis The brother of woman who died i ...

'' (1931) * '' Sally of the Subway'' (1932) * '' Passport to Paradise'' (1932) * ''

Alias Mary Smith ''Alias Mary Smith'' is a 1932 American mystery crime film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Blanche Mehaffey, John Darrow and Raymond Hatton.Langman & Finn p.6 It was released by the independent company Mayfair Pictures. Synopsis A youn ...

'' (1932) * ''

Hypnotized Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention (the selective attention/selective inattention hypothesis, SASI), reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.In 2015, the American Psychologica ...

'' (1932) * '' Dynamite Denny'' (1932) * '' Border Guns'' (1934) * ''

North of Arizona ''North of Arizona'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Jack Perrin, Blanche Mehaffey and Lane Chandler.Pitts p.306 It was a low-budget B film made by Reliable Pictures. Main cast * Jack Perrin as Jack Loomi ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Outlaw Tamer ''The Outlaw Tamer'' is a 1935 American western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Lane Chandler, Blanche Mehaffey and George 'Gabby' Hayes.Pitts p.151 Synopsis A posse on the trail of masked bandit loses the trail of the wounded ma ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Silent Code ''The Silent Code'' is a 1935 American Western film written by George Morgan and directed by Stuart Paton. It was the third of a scheduled six films in the "Morton of the Mounties" series, although this would be the last one made. The first two ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Cowboy and the Bandit ''The Cowboy and the Bandit'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Albert Herman, starring Rex Lease, Bobby Nelson, and Blanche Mehaffey. Cast * Rex Lease as Bill * Bobby Nelson as Bobbie arton* Blanche Mehaffey (credited as Janet Mo ...

'' (1935) * '' Wildcat Saunders'' (1936) * '' The Sea Fiend'' (1936) * '' Held for Ransom'' (1938) * '' The Wages of Sin'' (1938)

References

* * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mehaffey, Blanche American film actresses American silent film actresses American female dancers Dancers from Ohio Western (genre) film actresses Actresses from Cincinnati 20th-century American actresses Place of birth missing Place of death missing 1908 births 1968 deaths WAMPAS Baby Stars Drug-related deaths in California 20th-century American dancers