Maisie Ravier is a fictional character, the leading character of ten films (1939–1947) and the radio show ''

The Adventures of Maisie ''The Adventures of Maisie'' (aka ''Maisie'') was a radio comedy series starring Ann Sothern as underemployed entertainer Maisie Ravier and a spin-off of Sothern's successful 1939–1947 ''Maisie'' movie series, based on a character created by Wil ...

'' (broadcast 1945–1947, 1949–1953). She was played by actress Ann Sothern (1909–2001). Eight of the ten Maisie films were written by

Mary C. McCall Jr. Mary C. McCall Jr. (April 4, 1904 – April 3, 1986) was an American writer best known for her screenwriting. She was a charter member and the first woman president of the Writers Guild of America (then known as the Screen Writers Guild), servin ...

Unusually, there was no continuity from one picture to the next. For example, the first film ends with her marrying the leading man and inheriting a ranch, but in the next one she is single and footloose again. The concept for the ''Maisie'' series came from the story ''Dark Dame'' by

Wilson Collison Wilson Collison (November 5, 1893 – May 25, 1941) was a writer and playwright. Early years Wilson Collison was the son of John B. Collison, a clerk in the City Engineer's Office, and Mary E. Gardner. Wilson Collison abandoned plans to bec ...

. Sothern said in an interview that the series was originally planned with Jean Harlow as the star. After a string of other films failed to attract audiences, Sothern left RKO Radio Pictures and signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, making her first film for MGM in 1939. She was cast in ''

Maisie Maisie Ravier is a fictional character, the leading character of ten films (1939–1947) and the radio show ''The Adventures of Maisie'' (broadcast 1945–1947, 1949–1953). She was played by actress Ann Sothern (1909–2001). Eight of the ten ...

'' as Mary Anastasia O'Connor, a brassy but kindhearted Brooklyn

burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

dancer who went by the

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

of Maisie Ravier. ''Maisie'' brought Sothern her first real success. A string of sequels followed, beginning with ''Congo Maisie'' (1940) and continuing until ''Undercover Maisie'' (1947). Reviewing ''Swing Shift Maisie'' (1943), '' Time'' praised Sothern and described her as "one of the smartest comediennes in the business"."The New Pictures"
. ''Time''. October 18, 1943.

Filmography

* ''

'' (1939) * '' Congo Maisie'' (1940) * ''

Gold Rush Maisie ''Gold Rush Maisie'' is a 1940 drama film, the third of ten films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie Ravier, a showgirl with a heart of gold. In this entry in the series, she joins a gold rush to a ghost town. The film was directed by Edwin L. Marin. ...

'' (1940) * ''

Maisie Was a Lady ''Maisie Was a Lady'' is a 1941 American comedy-drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and is the fourth in a series of ten films starring Ann Sothern as good-hearted showgirl Maisie Ravier. Plot When wealthy drunkard Bob Rawlston causes Maisie ...

'' (1941) * '' Ringside Maisie'' (1941) * '' Maisie Gets Her Man'' (1942) * ''

Swing Shift Maisie ''Swing Shift Maisie'' (also known as ''Swing It, Maisie'') is a 1943 romantic comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod. It is the seventh in a series of 10 films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie, preceded by ''Maisie Gets Her Man'' (1942) and fol ...

'' (1943) * '' Maisie Goes to Reno'' (1944) * '' Up Goes Maisie'' (1946) * '' Undercover Maisie'' (1947)

Radio

On November 24, 1941, Sothern appeared in the '' Lux Radio Theater'' adaptation of ''Maisie Was a Lady'', and the popularity of the film series led to her own radio program, ''

'', broadcast on

CBS Radio CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by CBS Corporation and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W since the 1920s, and Infinity Broadc ...

from 1945 to 1947, on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1952, and in syndication from 1949 to 1953.

References

Film serial characters American film series Female characters in film Female characters in radio Film characters introduced in 1939 Radio characters introduced in 1941 {{film-char-stub