Mabel Paige (December 19, 1880 – February 9, 1954) was an American stage and film actress.
Early years
Paige began acting at age four, when she appeared in ''Van, the Virginian''.
Career
When she was 11 years old, Paige began acting in
stock theater.
She appeared in dozens of stage plays, including ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' in 1892, ''Rip van Winkle'' in 1899, and ''At Cozy Corners'' in 1905. In the South, she became particular a favorite and was acclaimed as the "Idol of the South." Her Mabel Paige Theatrical Company toured the region for many years. She also had troupes known as the Mabel Paige Repertoire Company and the Mabel Paige Southern Company.
After she married, Paige left acting to raise her family. She was away from show business for more than a decade, but financial problems prompted her to return to acting.
Her Broadway credits included ''Gramercy Ghost'' (1951), ''Two Blind Mice'' (1949), ''Out of the Frying Pan'' (1941), ''Western Waters'' (1937), ''Murder in the Cathedral'' (1936), and ''Lost Horizons'' (1934).
Paige also acted in more than 50 films between 1914 and 1953. In her first silent films for the Lubin Company, she co-starred in romantic comedies with
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...
as her leading man.
One of Paige's last appearances as an actress was on the CBS-TV sitcom ''
I Love Lucy
''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...
''. That episode, "The Girls Go Into Business", aired on October 12, 1953.
Death
Paige died in
Van Nuys
Van Nuys () is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley.
History
In 1909, t ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
from a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
on February 9, 1954. She was 73.
Selected filmography
*''
Back to the Farm
''Back to the Farm'' is a lost 1914 silent comedy short film that co-starred Oliver "Babe" Hardy and Herbert "Bert" Tracy. Written by Will Louis and produced by the Lubin Manufacturing Company of Pennsylvania, the short was filmed in Jackson ...
'' (1914)
*''
A Fool There Was'' (1914)
*''
The Soubrette and the Simp'' (1914)
*''
She Was the Other'' (1914)
*''
The Servant Girl's Legacy
''The Servant Girl's Legacy'' is a 1914 American silent comedy film featuring Mabel Paige and "Babe" Hardy. Produced by Lubin Manufacturing Company, this short is the earliest surviving film performance of the comedian Hardy.Louvish, Simon. " ...
'' (1914)
*''
Shoddy the Tailor'' (1915)
*''
Mixed Flats'' (1915)
*''
Capturing Bad Bill'' (1915)
*''
Avenging Bill'' (1915)
*''
The Crazy Clock Maker'' (1915)
*''
It Happened in Pikesville'' (1916)
*''
Lucky Jordan
''Lucky Jordan'' is a 1942 film directed by Frank Tuttle, starring Alan Ladd in his first leading role, Helen Walker in her film debut, and Sheldon Leonard. The screenplay concerns a self-centered gangster who tangles with Nazi spies.
Plot
Dur ...
'' (1942)
*''
Freedom Comes High'' (1943)
*''
The Good Fellows
''The Good Fellows'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Jo Graham and written by Hugh Wedlock Jr. and Howard Snyder. The film stars Cecil Kellaway, Helen Walker, Mabel Paige, James Brown, Patti Hale and Kathleen Lockhart. The film was r ...
'' (1943)
*''
Young and Willing
''Young and Willing'' is a 1943 American comedy film produced and directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring William Holden, Eddie Bracken, Robert Benchley, and Susan Hayward. With a screenplay by Virginia Van Upp based on the play ''Out of the ...
'' (1943)
*''
The National Barn Dance
''The National Barn Dance'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Hugh Bennett and written by Lee Loeb and Hal Fimberg. The film stars Jean Heather, Charles Quigley, Robert Benchley, Mabel Paige, Charles Dingle and Pat Buttram. The film was ...
'' (1944)
*''
Murder, He Says
''Murder, He Says'' is a 1945 American black comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Fred MacMurray about a murderous rural family and the hapless pollster who becomes entangled in their hunt for a cache of money.
It was filmed in ...
'' (1945)
*''
Behind Green Lights
''Behind Green Lights'' is a 1946 American crime film directed by Otto Brower.
Plot
Police Lieutenant Sam Carson spots Walter Bard's bullet-ridden corpse in a car brazenly left in front of the police station. Carson questions Janet Bradley aft ...
'' (1946)
*''
Nocturne
A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night.
History
The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' 'of the night') was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensembl ...
'' (1946)
*''
Johnny O'Clock'' (1947)
*''
Her Husband's Affairs'' (1947)
*''
The Mating of Millie
''The Mating of Millie'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Henry Levin (film director), Henry Levin and starring Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes.
Plot
Millie McGonigle (Evelyn Keyes), is riding a bus home from work when the frustr ...
'' (1948)
*''
Half Past Midnight'' (1948)
*''
Canon City'' (1948)
*''
Hollow Triumph
''Hollow Triumph'' (working title ''The Man Who Murdered Himself'', reissued in the United States as ''The Scar'') is a 1948 American film noir crime film directed by Steve Sekely starring Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett and Leslie Brooks. It was rel ...
'' (1948)
*''
Johnny Belinda'' (1948)
*''
Edge of Doom
''Edge of Doom'' is a 1950 black-and-white film noir directed by Mark Robson and starring Dana Andrews, Farley Granger, and Joan Evans.
Plot
The story concerns a young mentally disturbed man, Martin Lynn (Farley Granger), who goes on a rampage ...
'' (1950)
*''
The Sniper'' (1952)
Television appearances
* ''
I Love Lucy
''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...
'', episode #68 (1953), "The Girls Go Into Business", as Mrs. Hansen.
* ''Annie Oakley'' (1954) Episode #7 titled "A Gal For Grandma," as Mrs. Frances Randall
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paige, Mabel
1880 births
1954 deaths
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
Actresses from New York City
20th-century American actresses
19th-century American actresses
American child actresses
American stage actresses