Mary Katherine Linaker (July 19, 1913 – April 18, 2008) was an American actress and

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

who appeared in many

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

s during the 1930s and 1940s, most notably ''Kitty Foyle'' (1940) starring

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

. Linaker used her married name, Kate Phillips, as a screenwriter, notably for the cult movie hit ''

The Blob ''The Blob'' is a 1958 American science fiction horror film directed by Irvin Yeaworth, and written by Kay Linaker and Theodore Simonson. It stars Steve McQueen (in his first feature film leading role) and Aneta Corsaut and co-stars Earl Rowe a ...

'' (1958). She is credited with coining the name "The Blob" for the movie, which was originally titled "The Molten Meteor".

Biography

Linaker was born in

Pine Bluff, Arkansas Pine Bluff is the eleventh-largest city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff Combin ...

and graduated from a private school in Connecticut and from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

. She went on to attend the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

. Linaker acted in supporting roles on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

before signing a film contract with

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

She was signed by the studio after a talent scout saw her in ''Jackson White'' at the Providencetown Theater. Her Broadway credits included ''Every Man for Himself'' (1940), and ''Yesterday's Orchids'' (1934). She briefly changed her name to Lynn Acker "for screen purposes", but she soon dropped that name. Most of her film work had her in limited roles, with her one leading role coming in ''

The Girl from Mandalay ''The Girl from Mandalay'' is a 1936 American action film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Wellyn Totman and Endre Bohem. It is based on the 1931 novel ''Tiger Valley'' by Reginald Campbell. The film stars Conrad Nagel, Kay Linaker, ...

'' (1936). Her screen debut was in ''From this Dark Stairway'' (1935). Linaker wrote for the

Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...

during World War II in addition to working for the Red Cross. She later taught in the

film studies Film studies is an academic discipline that deals with various theoretical, historical, and critical approaches to cinema as an art form and a medium. It is sometimes subsumed within media studies and is often compared to television studies. ...

department at

Keene State College Keene State College is a public liberal arts college in Keene, New Hampshire. It is part of the University System of New Hampshire and the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Founded in 1909 as a teacher's college (originally, Keene Norma ...

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

from 1980 to 2006. From the 1960s to her death, Linaker dedicated much of her time supporting the children at Hampshire Country School in

Rindge, New Hampshire Rindge is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,476 at the 2020 census, up from 6,014 at the 2010 census. Rindge is home to Franklin Pierce University, the Cathedral of the Pines and part of Annett State ...

. Linaker volunteered countless hours over the many years as English teacher and drama coach at the very small private school for

twice exceptional The term twice exceptional, often abbreviated as 2e, entered educators' lexicons in the mid-1990s and refers to gifted students who have some form of learning or developmental disability. These students are considered exceptional both because of ...

children whose alumni include

Temple Grandin Mary Temple Grandin (born August 29, 1947) is an American academic and animal behaviorist. She is a prominent proponent for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and the author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. Gra ...

Personal life

Linaker – on June 9, 1953, in Bedford, New York – married Howard Baron Phillips (1909–1985), who initially was a baritone and writer but later worked as an executive with

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

television. In December 1936, for about a year, Phillips sang with

Ray Noble Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 2 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United ...

under the pseudonym Howard Barrie. : ''See "

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" is a popular song copyrighted in 1937 by its composer, Irving Berlin, and first recorded by (i) Ray Noble (January 5, 1937), Howard Barrie, vocalist, and (ii) Red Norvo (January 8, 1937), Mildred Bailey, vocali ...

Death

On April 18, 2008, Linaker died in Keene, New Hampshire.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Murder of Dr. Harrigan ''The Murder of Dr. Harrigan'' is a 1936 American mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Peter Milne and Sy Bartlett. The film stars Ricardo Cortez, Kay Linaker, John Eldredge, Mary Astor, Joseph Crehan and Frank Reicher. The f ...

'' (1936) - Sally Keating * ''

Road Gang ''Road Gang'' is a 1936 film directed by Louis King, written by Dalton Trumbo, produced by Bryan Foy, and starring Donald Woods and Kay Linaker. The film shows economic and social injustice due to political corruption. Premise The managing ...

'' (1936) - Barbara Winston * ''

'' (1936) - Jeanie Barton * ''

Easy Money A get-rich-quick scheme is a plan to obtain high rates of return for a small investment. The term "get rich quick" has been used to describe shady investments since at least the early 20th century. Most schemes create an impression that partic ...

'' (1936) - Carol Carter * '' Crack-Up'' (1936) - Mrs. Fleming * '' The Outer Gate'' (1937) - Lois Borden * '' Black Aces'' (1937) - Sandy McKenzie * '' Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo'' (1937) - Joan Karnoff * ''

Personal Secretary ''Personal Secretary'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Otis Garrett and written by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively and Charles Grayson. The film stars William Gargan, Joy Hodges, Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly, Samuel S. Hinds and Fran ...

'' (1938) - Flo Sampson * ''

The Last Warning ''The Last Warning'' is a 1928 American mystery film directed by Paul Leni, and starring Laura La Plante, Montagu Love, and Margaret Livingston. ''The Last Warning'' was also one of the very last silent films Universal made — except it was a ...

'' (1938) - Carla Rodriguez * ''

I Am a Criminal ''I Am a Criminal'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by William Nigh and written by John W. Krafft. The film stars John Carroll (actor), John Carroll, Kay Linaker, Craig Reynolds (actor), Craig Reynolds, Martin Spellman, Lester Matthews and ...

'' (1938) - Linda La Rue * ''

Trade Winds The trade winds or easterlies are the permanent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region. The trade winds blow mainly from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisph ...

'' (1938) - Grace (uncredited) * ''

Young Mr. Lincoln ''Young Mr. Lincoln'' is a 1939 American biographical drama western film about the early life of President Abraham Lincoln, directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda. Ford and producer Darryl F. Zanuck fought for control of the film, to ...

'' (1939) - Mrs. Edwards (uncredited) * ''

Charlie Chan in Reno ''Charlie Chan in Reno'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, based on an original story "Death Makes a Decree" by Philip Wylie. Plot Mary W ...

'' (1939) - Mrs. Russell * '' Man About Town'' (1939) - Receptionist (uncredited) * ''

Hotel for Women ''Hotel for Women'' (or ''Elsa Maxwell's Hotel for Women'') is a 1939 American drama film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Ann Sothern, Linda Darnell, and James Ellison. It was Darnell's screen debut. Plot When she is jilted by her boyfr ...

'' (1939) - Jane (uncredited) * '' Girl from Rio'' (1939) - Vicki * ''

Charlie Chan at Treasure Island ''Charlie Chan at Treasure Island'' is a 1939 American film directed by Norman Foster (director), Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, that takes place on Treasure Island (California), T ...

'' (1939) - Egyptian Princess Ectoplasm (uncredited) * ''

Drums Along the Mohawk ''Drums Along the Mohawk'' is a 1939 American historical drama western film based upon a 1936 novel of the same name by American author Walter D. Edmonds. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by John Ford. Henry Fonda and Clau ...

'' (1939) - Mrs. Demooth * ''

Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence ''Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence'' is a 1939 drama film written by Dalton Trumbo, directed by Ricardo Cortez, and starring Jean Rogers, Raymond Walburn, Marjorie Rambeau and Glenn Ford. This was the first major screen role for both Ford and Rich ...

'' (1939) - Nurse *''

Hidden Enemy ''Hidden Enemy'' is a 1940 American thriller film directed by Howard Bretherton and starring Warren Hull, Kay Linaker and Wilhelm von Brincken.McCarty p.159 Synopsis A newspaper reporter encounters a gang of German spies attempting to steal indust ...

'' (1940) - Sonia Manning * '' Green Hell'' (1940) - Woman in Cafe (uncredited) * ''

Free, Blonde and 21 ''Free, Blonde and 21'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by Frances Hyland. The film stars Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes, Joan Davis, Henry Wilcoxon, Robert Lowery, Alan Baxter and Kay Aldridge. The film was re ...

'' (1940) - Mrs. John Crane * ''

Buck Benny Rides Again ''Buck Benny Rides Again'' is a 1940 American Western comedy film from Paramount Pictures starring Jack Benny and Ellen Drew. The film featured regulars from Benny's radio show including Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Andy Devine, Phil Harris, and D ...

'' (1940) - Brenda Tracy * ''

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise ''Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise'' is a 1940 murder mystery film starring Sidney Toler in his fifth of many performances as Charlie Chan. It is based on the Earl Derr Biggers 1930 novel '' Charlie Chan Carries On''. Plot The famed detective seeks ...

'' (1940) - Mrs. Pendleton * ''

Sandy Is a Lady ''Sandy Is a Lady'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Charles Grayson. The film stars Baby Sandy, Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Eugene Pallette, Nan Grey, Tom Brown, Mischa Auer, Billy Gilbert and Edgar K ...

'' (1940) - Mrs. Porter, Writer's Wife * ''

Mystery Sea Raider ''Mystery Sea Raider'' is a 1940 American drama war film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Carole Landis, Henry Wilcoxon and Onslow Stevens. Plot A woman (Carole Landis) and a U.S. captain (Henry Wilcoxon) foil a German spy's (Onslow Stev ...

'' (1940) - Flossie La Mare * '' Kitty Foyle'' (1940) - Veronica Strafford * '' The Invisible Woman'' (1940) - Showroom Buyer (uncredited) * ''

They Dare Not Love ''They Dare Not Love'' is a 1941 romantic war drama film directed by James Whale and starring George Brent, Martha Scott and Paul Lukas. Whale left the picture before the end of production; it was the last film released to credit him as director. ...

'' (1941) - Barbara Murdock * '' Blood and Sand'' (1941) - Guest of Doña Sol (uncredited) * ''

Charlie Chan in Rio ''Charlie Chan in Rio'' is a 1941 film featuring the Asian detective Charlie Chan. It was the tenth film to feature Sidney Toler as the title character, who is called upon to investigate the death of a suspected murderer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ...

'' (1941) - Helen Ashby * ''

Private Nurse ''Private Nurse'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by David Burton and written by Samuel G. Engel. The film stars Jane Darwell, Brenda Joyce, Sheldon Leonard, Robert Lowery, Ann E. Todd and Kay Linaker. The film was released on August ...

'' (1941) - Helene * ''

Married Bachelor ''Married Bachelor'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell. It stars actors Robert Young and Ruth Hussey. Plot summary Cast * Robert Young as Randolph 'Randy' Haven * Ruth Hussey as Norma Haven, aka Norma Winters * Felix ...

'' (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Moon Over Her Shoulder ''Moon Over Her Shoulder'' is a 1941 motion picture comedy directed by Alfred L. Werker. Cast * John Sutton as Phillip Rossiter *Lynn Bari as Susan Rossiter *Alan Mowbray as Grover Sloan *Leonard Carey as Dusty *Dan Dailey Daniel James Dailey ...

'' (1941) - Radio Hostess (uncredited) * '' Cadet Girl'' (1941) - Minor Role (scenes deleted) * ''

Glamour Boy "Glamour Boy" is a song written by Burton Cummings and performed by The Guess Who, and was featured on their 1973 album, '' #10''. The song was produced by Jack Richardson. It was inspired by David Bowie and reached #14 in Canada in 1973. Th ...

'' (1941) - Mrs. Emily Colder * '' Remember the Day'' (1941) - Society Reporter (uncredited) * ''

A Close Call for Ellery Queen ''A Close Call for Ellery Queen'' is a 1942 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Eric Taylor and Gertrude Purcell. It is based on the 1939 novel ''The Dragon's Teeth: A Problem in Deduction'' by Ellery Queen. The film ...

'' (1942) - Margo Rogers * ''

The Night Before the Divorce ''The Night Before the Divorce'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes and Joseph Allen, adapted from the 1937 play of the same name by Gina Kaus and Ladislas Fodor.Alpi p.110 Main c ...

'' (1942) - Hedda Smythe * ''

Men of Texas ''Men of Texas'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Robert Stack and Broderick Crawford. Plot Chicago newspaper employees Sam Sawyer and Barry Conovan have been assigned to track down Sam Houston in Huntsvil ...

'' (1942) - Mrs. Sarah Olsen * ''

Orchestra Wives ''Orchestra Wives'' is a 1942 American musical film by 20th Century Fox starring Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery, and Glenn Miller. The film was the second (and last) film to feature The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and is notable among the many sw ...

'' (1942) - Margie (uncredited) * ''

War Dogs Dogs in warfare have a very long history starting in ancient times. From being trained in combat, to their use as scouts, sentries, messengers, mercy dogs, and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military ...

'' (1942) - Joan Allen * ''

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

'' (1942) - Secretary (uncredited) * '' Happy Go Lucky'' (1943) - Suzanne (uncredited) * '' Cinderella Swings It'' (1943) - Madame Dolores * ''

Two Weeks to Live ''Two Weeks to Live'' is a 1943 American Lum and Abner film directed by Malcolm St. Clair. Plot This time around, Abner Peabody, proud owner of the Jot 'Em Down general store in Pine Ridge, Arkansas, inherits railroad stock from his Uncle Ern ...

'' (1943) - Mrs. Madge Carmen * ''

The More the Merrier ''The More the Merrier'' is a 1943 American comedy film by Columbia Pictures starring Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea and Charles Coburn, and directed by George Stevens. The film script — from "Two's a Crowd", an original screenplay by Garson Kan ...

'' (1943) - Miss Allen (uncredited) * ''

Let's Face It '' Let's Face It'' is the fifth studio album by American ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It was released on March 11, 1997 by Mercury Records and Big Rig Records. The album sold very well due to the success of its single "The Impres ...

'' (1943) - Canteen Hostess (uncredited) * '' Wintertime'' (1943) - Wife (uncredited) * ''

Lady in the Dark ''Lady in the Dark'' is a musical with music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book and direction by Moss Hart. It was produced by Sam Harris. The protagonist, Liza Elliott, is the unhappy female editor of a fictional fashion magazine ...

'' (1944) - Liza's Mother * ''

Men on Her Mind ''Men on Her Mind'' is a 1944 musical drama film directed by Wallace Fox, produced by Alfred Stern. The screenplay was written by Raymond L. Schrock. The film stars Mary Beth Hughes, Edward Norris and Ted North. Plot Lily Durrell (Mary Beth ...

'' (1944) - Eloise Palmer * ''

It Happened Tomorrow ''It Happened Tomorrow'' is a 1944 American fantasy film directed by René Clair, starring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell and Jack Oakie, and featuring Edgar Kennedy and John Philliber. It is based on the one-act play "The Jest of Haha Laba" by L ...

'' (1944) - Anniversary Party Attendee (uncredited) * '' Laura'' (1944) - Woman (uncredited) * ''

Here Come the Waves ''Here Come the Waves'' is a 1944 American romantic comedy musical film directed by Mark Sandrich. It stars Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton. Plot The film opens with naval scenes and a chorus of WAVES singing ‘The Navy Song’ on stage, and conti ...

'' (1944) - Pretty Woman (uncredited) * '' Bring On the Girls'' (1945) - Commander's Wife (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links