Franc Hale Explained

Franc Hale (born – June 10, 1986) was an American actress.

Early years

Hale was a native of Tacoma.[1] The spelling of her first name was a compromise after she was born, because her parents had been expecting a boy. They had chosen "Frank" as the name, but it no longer seemed appropriate. Her mother did not favor "Frances" as a compromise, so they settled on "Franc", pronounced the same as "Frank".[2]

Hale played piano from an early age, and when she was 5 years old, one of her performances led to Tacoma newspapers commenting on her talents as a prodigy.[3] She graduated from Miss Hansom's School for Girls, and her performances in school plays developed her desire to be an actress. Her parents, however, wanted her to be a writer, so she had to change their minds. "I finally convinced them", she said, "that in order to write plays I should have some working knowledge of the stage".[4]

Career

Hale's early acting experience came in stock theater,[5] beginning in Portland and later touring in a production of Ma Pettingill with a company headed by May Robson, who had seen Hale perform in a school program, leading to Hale's debut as a professional.[6] By age 22, she had played 50 roles on stage, with the characters' ages ranging from 12 to 60.[7] For more than five years, she was the leading lady with Walker Whiteside's theatrical company.[8]

Hale's Broadway credits include The Arabian (1927), The Royal Box (1928), Sakura (1928, Three Men and a Woman (1932), and Late Wisdom (1934).[9] On radio, Hale played Dale Arden on The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon,[10] Annette Rogers on John's Other Wife[11] and Shanghai Lil on Jungle Jim.[12] She also was featured on Second Husband,[13] Aunt Jenny, Our Gal Sunday, and Young Doctor Malone.

Personal life and death

Hale was married to screenwriter Frank Gabrielson. She died on June 10, 1986, in Santa Monica, California.[14]

Notes and References

  1. News: April 21, 1928 . Tacoma girl in coming dramas . 2 . The Tacoma Daily Ledger . June 27, 2022.
  2. News: Actress' name was compromise . June 29, 2022 . Los Angeles Evening Express . July 25, 1929 . 23.
  3. News: Talent for music led to career: Franc Hale, Child Prodigy, Overcame Parents' Fears of Stage Life . June 28, 2022 . Los Angeles Times . July 28, 1929 . 41. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Braddock . Cleo . Franc Hale, Whiteside's Star, Has Modest Ambition . June 28, 2022 . The San Francisco Examiner . May 26, 1929 . 6 E. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Amusement Gossip . January 24, 2020 . The Cincinnati Enquirer . January 8, 1928 . Ohio, Cincinnati . 63. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Fran Hale once in Shakespeare . June 28, 2022 . Los Angeles Evening Post-Record . July 10, 1929 . 11. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Franc Hale is leading lady with 'Sakura' . January 24, 2020 . The Bismarck Tribune . May 14, 1928 . North Dakota, Bismarck . 2. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Franc Hale is leading woman with Whiteside in sea drama, 'Surf' . January 24, 2020 . The Gazette . November 11, 1931 . Iowa, Cedar Rapids . 12. Newspapers.com.
  9. Web site: Franc Hale . Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League . January 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200124220123/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/franc-hale-43695 . January 24, 2020 . bot: unknown .
  10. Book: Terrace . Vincent . Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows . September 2, 2015 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-0528-9 . 22 . June 27, 2022 . en.
  11. Book: Cox . Jim . Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas . 15 November 2005 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-6523-5 . 113–114 . June 27, 2022 . en.
  12. Book: Dunning . John . On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio . May 7, 1998 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-977078-6 . 378 . June 27, 2022 . en.
  13. News: Radio promises good programs . June 29, 2022 . The Spokesman-Review . November 2, 1937 . 5. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Franc Hale; Repertory Theater and Radio Actress During 1930s . November 18, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . June 12, 1986 . 5. Newspapers.com.

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