Sheila Bromley (born Sheila LeGay; October 31, 1911 – July 23, 2003), (The reference work ''Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003'' gave her birth date as October 31, 1907). sometimes billed as Sheila LeGay, Sheila Manners, Sheila Mannors or Sheila Manors, was an American television and film actress. She is best known for her roles in

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 featur ...

s, mostly Westerns of the era.

Early years

Bromely was born in

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

. She attended

Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. Histo ...

, and her first acting experience came at the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

. She was a Miss California.

Career

Bromley began her career in the early 1930s on contract with

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

, she was first billed as Sheila LeGay starring in 1930 westerns alongside

Tom Tyler Tom Tyler (born Vincent Markowski; August 9, 1903 – May 1, 1954) was an American actor known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films in the silent and sound eras, and for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the 1941 ...

. She frequently co-starred with

Ken Maynard Kenneth Olin Maynard (July 21, 1895 – March 23, 1973) was an American actor and producer. He was mostly active from the 1920s to the 1940s and considered one of the biggest Western stars in Hollywood. Maynard was also an occasional screenwrit ...

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...

Johnny Mack Brown John Brown (September 1, 1904 – November 14, 1974) was an American college football player and film actor billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career. He acted and starred mainly in Western (genre), Western films. Early lif ...

Bill Cody William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa, Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but ...

, and

Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jers ...

. She first starred alongside Bill Cody in the 1932 western ''Land of Wanted Men''. She starred opposite

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

in the

1935 films The following is an overview of 1935 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. The cinema releases of 1935 were highly representative of the early Golden Age period of Hollywood. This period ...

'' Westward Ho'' & ''

Lawless Range ''Lawless Range'' is a 1935 American Western film released by Republic Pictures, directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring John Wayne. He appears as a "singing cowboy" in the film, with his singing voice dubbed by Glenn Strange, who later ...

'' and the 1937 film ''

Idol of the Crowds ''Idol of the Crowds'' is a 1937 American drama sport film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring John Wayne as an ice hockey player. It was one of a series of non-Westerns Wayne made for Universal. The film was originally called ''Hell on Ice'' ...

''. Bromley appeared uncredited in the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

film ''

Horse Feathers ''Horse Feathers'' is a 1932 pre-Code comedy film starring the Marx Brothers. It stars the Four Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo), Thelma Todd and David Landau. It was written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S. J. Perelman, an ...

'' (1932) where she delivered the famous line "The Dean is furious! He's waxing wroth!" In 1944, she appeared in the touring production of ''Good Night Ladies''. Bromley performed on Broadway in ''Time for Elizabeth'' (1948). In 1960, she appeared as a central character Mrs. Spencer alongside Paul Brinegars character Wishbone in the '' Rawhide'' episode "Incident of the Deserter". She appeared in one episode of ''

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 ...

'' as Helen Erickson Kaiser, the childhood friend of Lucy Ricardo. She also made five guest appearances on ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'' during the series' nine-year run on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

. In her first appearance in 1959 she played co-defendant Agnes Nulty in ''The Case of the Borrowed Brunette''. In 1962 she played murderer Elizabeth Dow in ''The Case of the Mystified Miner''. She also guest-starred in a 1965 episode of ''

The Cara Williams Show ''The Cara Williams Show'' is an American situation comedy starring Cara Williams which centers on a married couple who try to conceal their marriage from their employer. Original episodes aired from September 23, 1964, until April 21, 1965 on CBS. ...

''. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

she worked often for the

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

, continuing that service until the war ended in 1945. There she met her husband Jairus Bellamy. She is credited with seventy-five films in her career, of which seventeen were westerns, for which she is best known. Bromley retired from films in the 1970s and lived in the Greater Los Angeles Area until her death in 2003.

Death

On July 23, 2003, Bromley died 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' ...

. The reference work ''Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003'' gave her age as 95.

Selected filmography

* ''

Call of the Desert ''Call of the Desert'' is a 1930 American silent Western film directed by J. P. McGowan and starring Tom Tyler, Sheila Bromley and Bud Osborne.Pitts, p. 396. Some versions of the film were released with added sound effects. Cast * Tom Tyler a ...

'' (1930) - Jean Walker * ''

The Canyon of Missing Men ''The Canyon of Missing Men'' is a 1930 American silent Western film directed by J. P. McGowan and starring Tom Tyler, Sheila Bromley and Bud Osborne.Pitts, p. 396. Some versions of the film were released with added sound effects. Synopsis Da ...

'' (1930) – Inez Sepulveda *'' The Storm'' (1930) – Girl with Horse and Buggy (uncredited) * ''

Playthings of Hollywood ''Playthings of Hollywood'' is a 1930 American romantic drama film directed by William A. O'Connor and starring Phyllis Barrington, Rita La Roy, Sheila Bromley and Donald Reed.Pitts p.167 Made by the independent producer Willis Kent during the ...

'' (1930) – Beth King *'' Ten Nights in a Barroom'' (1931) – June Manners *'' Daddy Long Legs'' (1931) – Gloria *''

The Lawyer's Secret ''The Lawyer's Secret'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Max Marcin and written by Lloyd Corrigan, James Hilary Finn, and Max Marcin. The film stars Clive Brook, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen, Fay ...

'' (1931) – Madge – Madame X's Girlfriend (uncredited) *''

Land of Wanted Men ''Land of Wanted Men'' is a 1931 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Bill Cody, Sheila Bromley and Gibson Gowland.Pitts p.177 Cast * Bill Cody as Silent Saunders * Andy Shuford as Mickey * Sheila Bromley as Cynt ...

'' (1931) – Cynthia *'' Girls About Town'' (1931) – Party Girl (uncredited) *'' Working Girls'' (1931) – Carrie (uncredited) *''

Texas Gun Fighter ''Texas Gun Fighter'' is a 1932 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Ken Maynard. It was produced and distributed by the soon to be defunct Tiffany Pictures. A print of the film is preserved in the Library ...

'' (1932) – Jane Adams *''

She Wanted a Millionaire ''She Wanted a Millionaire'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film starring Joan Bennett and Spencer Tracy. The film, produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation, was directed by John G. Blystone and also features Una Merkel. It is the only film ...

'' (1932) – Beauty Contest Contestant (uncredited) *''

Lady with a Past ''Lady with a Past'' is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic comedy film starring Constance Bennett as a shy and very proper young lady who decides to invent a scandalous past for herself to spice up her life. It is based on the novel of the same na ...

'' (1932) – Party Guest (uncredited) *'' Texas Pioneers'' (1932) – Nancy Thomas *'' Play Girl'' (1932) – Wedding Girl (scenes deleted) *'' One Hour with You'' (1932) – Colette's Downstairs Maid (uncredited) *''

Lady and Gent ''Lady and Gent'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stephen Roberts for Paramount, featuring a young Charles ("Durango Kid") Starrett, Syd ("Three Mesquiteers") Saylor and an early supporting role by John Wayne. Plot A young b ...

'' (1932) – Hat Check Girl (uncredited) *'' Winner Take All'' (1932) – Joan's Friend (uncredited) *''

'' (1932) – Wagstaff's Receptionist (uncredited) *''

Tiger Shark The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of requiem shark and the last extant member of the family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over . Populations are found in many tropical and tempera ...

'' (1932) – 'Red' (uncredited) *'' Cowboy Counsellor'' (1932) – Ruth Avery *''

Her First Mate ''Her First Mate'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by William Wyler and written by Clarence Marks, Earle Snell and H. M. Walker, who adapted it from the play written by Frank Craven, John Golden and Daniel Jarrett. The film sta ...

'' (1933) – Passenger on Boat Deck (uncredited) *''

Meet the Baron ''Meet the Baron'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film starring Jack Pearl, Jimmy Durante, Edna May Oliver, ZaSu Pitts, Ted Healy and His Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). The title of the film refers to Pearl's character ...

'' (1933) – Equestrienne Wearing Black Vest (uncredited) *'' Only Yesterday'' (1933) – May (uncredited) *'' King for a Night'' (1933) – Telephone Operator (uncredited) *''

The Woman Condemned ''The Woman Condemned'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Dorothy Davenport, best known as a silent actress and the wife of actor Wallace Reid. Plot A radio star takes a vacation and is later found murdered. Barbara Hammond is ac ...

'' (1934) – The Actress *'' Glamour'' (1934) – Chorus Girl (uncredited) *'' The Hell Cat'' (1934) – Minor Role (uncredited) *''That's Gratitude'' (1934) – Delia Maxwell *''

The Merry Widow ''The Merry Widow'' (german: Die lustige Witwe, links=no ) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt t ...

'' (1934) – Sonia's Maid (uncredited) *''

The Prescott Kid ''The Prescott Kid'' is a 1934 American Western film directed by David Selman, from an original screenplay by Ford Beebe, which stars Tim McCoy, Sheila Mannors, and Joseph Sauers. The picture was released on November, 1934. The screenplay was ...

'' (1934) – Dolores Ortega *''

Behind the Evidence ''Behind the Evidence'' is a science fiction novel by authors Amelia Reynolds Long and William L. Crawford writing under the pseudonym Peter Reynolds. It was published in 1936 by the Visionary Publishing Company in an edition of 100 copies. Pl ...

'' (1935) – Ruth Allen *''

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

'' (1935) – Puppet Assistant (uncredited) *'' Danger Ahead'' (1935) – Lorraine Matthews *''

Together We Live ''Together We Live'' is a 1935 drama film distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film was directed by Willard Mack. The film's events are related to the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike. Two starring actors were dead at the time of release which ...

'' (1935) – Mary *'' Westward Ho'' (1935) – Mary Gordon *''

Moonlight on the Prairie ''Moonlight on the Prairie'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by D. Ross Lederman. It was the first of a Warner Bros. singing cowboy film series with Dick Foran and his Palomino Smoke. A print is preserved in the Library of Congress ...

'' (1935) – Barbara Roberts *''

'' (1935) – Ann Mason *'' The Pace That Kills'' (1935) – Fanny *'' Desert Phantom'' (1936) – Jean Halloran *'' Kelly of the Secret Service'' (1936) – Sally Flint *'' Born to Fight'' (1936) – Ada *''

Lady Be Careful ''Lady Be Careful'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Theodore Reed and written by Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, and Harry Ruskin, adapted from the play by Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Knox Robinson. The film stars Lew Ayres, Mary Carl ...

'' (1936) – Hazel *''

Gold Diggers of 1937 ''Gold Diggers of 1937'' is a Warner Bros. movie musical directed by Lloyd Bacon with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley. The film stars Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, who were married at the time, with Glenda Farrell and Vi ...

'' (1936) – Chorus Girl (uncredited) *''

'' (1937) – Helen Dale *''

West of Shanghai ''West of Shanghai'' is a 1937 American adventure film directed by John Farrow and starring Boris Karloff as a Chinese warlord. It is based on the 1920 Porter Emerson Browne play '' The Bad Man''. Three other films, all titled ''The Bad Man'', ...

'' (1937) – Lola Galt * '' Luck of Roaring Camp'' (1937) – Susan Oakhurst *''

Missing Witnesses ''Missing Witnesses'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by William Clemens and written by Kenneth Gamet and Don Ryan. The film stars John Litel, Dick Purcell, Jean Dale, Sheila Bromley, Ben Welden and William Haade. The film was released ...

'' (1937) – Gladys Wagner *'' Midnight Interlude'' (1938) – Peggy Reitter *''

Making the Headlines ''Making the Headlines'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Jack Holt. Cast *Jack Holt as Lt. Lewis Nagel *Beverly Roberts as Jeane Sanford *Craig Reynolds as Steve Withers * Marjorie Gateson as Muffin Wi ...

'' (1938) – Grace Sandford *''

King of the Newsboys ''King of the Newsboys'' is a 1938 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus. Plot Jerry Flynn's girlfriend leaves him for a gangster with power and money, in order to show her that she made a mistake, Jerry starts his newspaper distribution ...

'' (1938) – Connie Madison *''

Accidents Will Happen "Accidents Will Happen" is a song written by Elvis Costello and performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It first appeared on the 1979 album '' Armed Forces''. Costello wrote the song about his many infidelities during this period of h ...

'' (1938) – Nona Gregg *''

Mystery House ''Mystery House'' is an adventure game released by On-Line Systems in 1980. It was designed, written and illustrated by Roberta Williams, and programmed by Ken Williams for the Apple II. ''Mystery House'' is the first graphical adventure ga ...

'' (1938) – Terice Von Elm *''

Reformatory A reformatory or reformatory school is a youth detention center or an adult correctional facility popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Western countries. In the United Kingdom and United States, they came out of social concern ...

'' (1938) – Mrs. Regan *''

Rebellious Daughters ''Rebellious Daughters'' is a 1938 American crime drama film. It was the first feature film directed by Jean Yarbrough, and starred Marjorie Reynolds. The film's producer was Ben Judell of Progressive Pictures, known for low-budget exploitation fi ...

'' (1938) – Flo *''

Girls on Probation ''Girls on Probation'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by William C. McGann and written by Crane Wilbur. The film stars Jane Bryan, Ronald Reagan, Anthony Averill, Sheila Bromley, Henry O'Neill and Elisabeth Risdon. The film was released ...

'' (1938) – Hilda Engstrom *'' Nancy Drew... Reporter'' (1939) – Bonnie Lucas *''

Women in the Wind ''Women in the Wind'' is a 1939 film directed by John Farrow and starring Kay Francis, William Gargan and Victor Jory. The plot concerns women pilots competing in the so-called "Powder Puff Derby", an annual transcontinental air race solely fo ...

'' (1939) – Frieda Boreman *''

Death Goes North ''Death Goes North'' is an American-Canadian action western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Edgar Edwards, Sheila Bromley Sheila Bromley (born Sheila LeGay; October 31, 1911 – July 23, 2003), (The reference work ''Obituari ...

'' (1939) – Elsie Barlow *'' Waterfront'' (1939) – Marie Cordell aka Mary Allen *'' Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite'' (1939) – 'Jackie' McGuire *''

Torture Ship ''Torture Ship'' is a 1939 American science fiction horror film directed by Victor Halperin, based on Jack London's 1899 short story " A Thousand Deaths". The film stars Lyle Talbot as a mad scientist who performs experiments regarding "the crim ...

'' (1939) – Poison Mary Slavish *''Thou Shalt Not Kill'' (1939) – Julie Mancini *''

Calling Philo Vance ''Calling Philo Vance'' is a 1940 American mystery/comedy film released by Warner Bros. and starring James Stephenson as the dilettante detective Philo Vance, his only appearance as the character; Margot Stevenson co-stars. The film also featur ...

'' (1940) – Doris *''

A Fugitive from Justice ''A Fugitive from Justice'' is a 1940 film starring Roger Pryor, Lucile Fairbanks and Eddie Foy Jr. Plot Fugitive Lee Leslie ( Donald Douglas) is wanted by three groups; the police, the gangsters who fear his testimony in court and the insu ...

'' (1940) – Ruby Patterson *'' Time to Kill'' (1942) – Lois Morny *''

The House on 92nd Street ''The House on 92nd Street'' is a 1945 black-and-white American spy film directed by Henry Hathaway. The movie, shot mostly in New York City, was released shortly after the end of World War II. ''The House on 92nd Street'' was made with the full c ...

'' (1945) – Beauty Parlor Customer (uncredited) *'' A Star Is Born'' (1954) – Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) *'' There's Always Tomorrow'' (1956) – Woman from Pasadena *''

World in My Corner ''World in My Corner'' is a 1956 American film noir drama sport film directed by Jesse Hibbs and starring Audie Murphy and Barbara Rush. It was one of the few non-Westerns Murphy made in his career. Plot Tommy Shea (Audie Murphy), a boxer from J ...

'' (1956) – Mrs. Mallinson *''

A Day of Fury ''A Day of Fury'' is a 1956 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Harmon Jones and starring Dale Robertson, Mara Corday and Jock Mahoney. Plot A gunslinger named Jagade happens upon a stranger in trouble on the trail and saves his ...

'' (1956) – Marie *''

Spoilers of the Forest ''Spoilers of the Forest'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Joseph Kane, written by Bruce Manning, and starring Rod Cameron, Vera Ralston, Ray Collins, Hillary Brooke, Edgar Buchanan and Carl Benton Reid. It was released on April 5, ...

'' (1957) – Linda Mitchell *''

The Lawless Eighties ''The Lawless Eighties'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars Buster Crabbe, John Smith, Marilyn Saris, Ted de Corsia, Anthony Caruso and John Doucette. The film was released on ...

'' (1957) – Mrs. Myra Sutter *''

Ice Palace An ice palace or ice castle is a castle-like structure made of blocks of ice. These blocks are usually harvested from nearby rivers or lakes when they become frozen in winter. The first known ice palace (or, rather, '' ice house'', ледяной ...

'' (1960) – Lucy Husack (uncredited) *''

Young Jesse James ''Young Jesse James'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by William F. Claxton and written by Orville H. Hampton and Jerry Sackheim. The film stars Ray Stricklyn, Willard Parker, Merry Anders, Robert Dix, Emile Meyer and Jacklyn O'Donnell. ...

'' (1960) – Mrs. Samuels *''

Judgment at Nuremberg ''Judgment at Nuremberg'' is a 1961 American epic courtroom drama film directed and produced by Stanley Kramer, written by Abby Mann and starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Werner Klemperer, Marlene Dietr ...

'' (1961) – Mrs. Ives (uncredited) *'' For Those Who Think Young'' (1964) – Mrs. Harkness *''

The Girls on the Beach ''The Girls on the Beach'' is a 1965 American beach party comedy film directed by William N. Witney and written by Sam Locke. The film stars Noreen Corcoran, Martin West, Linda Marshall, Steven Rogers, Ahna Capri and Aron Kincaid. The film wa ...

'' (1965) – Mrs. Winters *''

Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...

'' (1967) – Mrs. Grandin *'' Nightmare Circus'' (1974) – Mrs. Baynes

References

External links

* * *
Sheila Bromley
at b-westerns.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Bromley, Sheila 1911 births 2003 deaths 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women Actresses from San Francisco American film actresses American television actresses Hollywood High School alumni Western (genre) film actresses